Unable to effectively join the fight on a physical level, Avendryl begins singing a song of inspiration.
Unable to effectively join the fight on a physical level, Avendryl begins singing a song of inspiration.
Bat continues to cast guidance on Fezzik.
Fezzik takes another swing at the closest guard.
The front line of enemy warriors crumples as the party smashes through their defenses. The semi-skilled mercenaries collapse under a series of expertly-placed blows.
More warriors make their way down the hall, hurling javelins at Domeric as they come. The javelins bounce off the wall or Domeric's armor, but one of the warriors shouts "Clear the way!" and as he launches his javelin, it turns into a ripping bolt of lightning that fires down the hallway!
Zinnath will fire a ray of cold at the one just to his north...
vs flatfooted touch (I'm invisible)
Avendryl, while continuing his song, tries to move to a more advantageous position to launch a firebolt at shield wielding warrior.
(inspire, PBS, cover, vs. touch AC)
(inspire, PBS)
Bataleigha steps forward and channels positive energy, selecting out the two warriors just struck by Domeric and Zinnath.
Fezzik grins in satisfaction as they cut through the defenders. His grin quickly fades as he is caught by surprise by the javelin turning into a lightning bolt. His eyes get wide and he is frozen in place and unable to move out of the way as it catches him in the gut. He doubles over, yelling partly due to the pain but also out of frustration of being injured. "If he has another one of those, I want it!" he thinks as he rushes down the hall to attack.
Hmmm...there isn't really a place for me to safely go. I will join in with Avendryl's song and channel my inner bard.
Game on! So where were we?
The javelin of lightning had made its course, and now Fezzik moves in to rock the world of the hurler.
Fezzik steps up as the man is drawing his sword and lays a blow that rattles the fellow's heavy half-plate armor. Domeric likewise moves up and rains down a sword-stroke of incredible intensity, yet somehow the man remains standing, his breastplate dented but not yet sundered.
A bolt of ice lances out from somewhere up by the ceiling and blasts the fighter, finally felling him.
Avendryl likewise launches a fire bolt, but it spatters harmlessly off the warrior's shield.
Soldiers advance relentlessly on Domeric in the tight corridor!
These warriors, unlike the man that Domeric hit before, are clearly not well-trained - recent converts or simple mercenaries with little experience, perhaps. Still, as Domeric is smashing his blade into the one who hurled the javelin, one of the foes manages to batter the paladin's shoulder. His sword deflects off the pauldron but knocks it slightly loose.
Unable to see beyond the massive half-ogre, Avendryl finishes up his song before asking, "Um guys, would it be wise to consider a tactical retreat? If not, I'll do my best to keep you frontliners going."
Zinnath will fire a ray of cold at the one just to his north...
vs flatfooted touch (I'm invisible)
He then flies away and becomes visible.
Bataleigha steps back a bit and again channels positive energy, excluding the fellow Domeric and Zinnath just double-teamed.
Seeing an opening and the guards appear to be going down like flies, Tronar steps forward to take a swing with his long spear.
10'reach
I never said I was good with this thing. But it is better than just standing here.
Fezzik pauses for a moment to consider Avendryl's comment, but when his companions press the attack, he shrugs his shoulders and swings at the closest opponent.
Domeric and Fezzik smash through the line of guards. Zinnath blasts the one remaining, who is clearly demoralized and shouts unintelligibly as he backs away, making warding swings of his shield.
You hear moving metal and shouting from deeper in the complex - "Get into position! Spears ready! Come on, you dogs!"
"I don't have any area effect spells left to deal with all the enemies it sounds like we'll face at the next bottleneck," Bataleigha announces grimly. "If folks are still wounded, I can channel healing energy again...up to 5 more times today."
The cleric lowers her voice so the enemy won't overhear her remaining healing capacity. She looks to the others. "Do we press forward or execute a tactical retreat?"
”I will do either”
"I'll do whatever you all think is best, but personally, I think it's time for a tactical retreat." Avendryl says, hearing the preparations being made further down the hall.
"As is in the adventure party handbook, I support whatever the healer says about continuing or resting. But I could use a night's rest if you want me to do more than look menacingly with my long spear."
”In all honesty, you do not appear that menacing with the spear.”
Bataleigha frowns as it becomes apparent that most of the group's votes are for retreating. She tells Fezzik to growl or otherwise sound threatening to buy her a bit of time. Then she casts detect magic and begins to scan the area (mainly fallen enemies) for any emanations.
|
Give no quarter to evil, onwards I say! he shouts! Prepare for your doom you foul betrayers of goodness!
Quietly to the group I hate to retreat, but if we need to be better prepared to take on these foes, then so be it... but just be aware, more time we give them to regroup, the more prepared they will be
(130)
The former purpose of this room cannot be ascertained, but the four bunks in the south end obviously show that it now houses troops of some sort. Pegs on the wall are many, and one holds a brown cape. A bench is near the door to the west. Two torches give light to the area.
A trapezoidal area through the archway to the north contains four narrow cots, four small wooden chests, and a small wall fountain which dribbles smelly water into its basin. A long table with two benches and a chair at head and foot complete the furnishings. Light comes from a lantern, held aloft above the table by a thin chain; two unlit torches are mounted on the walls. An open cupboard by the table holds various dishes and four jugs.
You can see well enough to make out a passel of warriors, several better equipped than the ones you so handily slaughtered before. Two heavily-armored warriors stand their ground in the hallway where the room opens; others wait behind them with javelins at the ready.
"I see 6 ahead. A front line of 2 with javelin throwers behind them. I don't think I can get to them to attack before they do. Plus could be trouble if they have another of those lightning javelins," he thinks to Zinnath to pass on to the others.
Once Bat gets the mental report, she agrees that retreat may be the best option.
Tell the others to get a move on before those warriors figure out what we're doing! she says mentally to Zinnath as she starts to retreat herself.
"I suppose I will repeat my stance on tactical retreats." Avendryl says with a half grin. "Let's get out of here."
A few javelins tepidly launch your way as you start backing up, with Fezzik blocking the party's retreat with his massive form. The warriors in the other room holler and jeer. "You better run! Yeah!"
~~~~~~~~~~
It takes you a good twenty minutes to navigate the halls back up the stairs, as you're jumping at shadows and watching for patrols. You hear the sounds of pursuit behind you a few times, which pushes you to make your exit a hasty one. Fortunately you've been careful about not letting yourselves get blocked in, and you haven't run into any horrid traps... yet.
Once out of the temple proper and past the hedgerows, matters become more leisurely. You're able to break into the woods and avoid further pursuit, especially with the help of Avendryl's woodcraft for covering your tracks.
After a quick stop in Nulb and checking in with Otis the blacksmith, you set out to Hommlet. It takes a day to get back to the village, where you are happy once more to see flowers, sunlight, and open fields. It's hard to recognize how much the oppressiveness of Nulb's swamp and the temple's dungeons weigh down on you until you return to Hommlet after several days of exploring.
You're barely back in the village when Rufus and Burne send a young page to drag you to their tower for a report. They take the news somberly, and then consult with each other in whispered tones. Finally, Burne speaks up.
"Zinnath and Tronar," he intones stentorianly, "you will remain here to continue your training and assist in the creation of magical defenses for our village. I will oversee this process and assist you as needed in developing your skills."
Rufus then speaks up and says, "Meanwhile, I'm concerned about these reports of organized resistance in the old temple dungeons. It seems that the place has been re-opened for evil business. Do what you can to eliminate them. In the meantime, I'll be gathering reinforcements to bulk up the Badgers, with an eventual eye to moving into Nulb and finally putting paid to the villainous river pirates there."
"Repairs at the moathouse are still underway," continues the fighter, "but early in the process. Still, you can always use that as a spot to resupply."
"In addition, if you can find them, the Gnarley Rangers might be able to give assistance while you are in the woods. It may be prudent to have a hidden outpost there, closer to the Temple, and not under the suspicious eye of Nulb. If you can establish such a watchpost, we will undertake to supply it."
With that, you are given liberty to determine your next steps... and perhaps to unload some of the things Fezzik has hauled out of the temple.
Back in the friendly confines of Hommlet, Bataleigha first channels more positive energy to heal her friends. Then she procures a small fruit basket for Zinnath, saying she's sure the village "Is in good claws" with the small dragon among its protectors. She also gives some well-wishes to Tronar.
Once Burne and Rufus are done speaking, Bat gathers the others for a whispered conversation. "Perhaps, while we're here, we should do another sweep of the village to root out spies and sympathizers from the temple. I could prepare and cast detect evil and then we could do a walk-through of the village. Though not every evil person we might find would automatically be an associate of the temple, it would give Burne and the others a good idea of who to keep a close watch on."
"I'd settle for just not out-right evil." Avendryl says to Domeric's comment about potential adventurers.
"If nothing else, I could use a stiff drink or three and a decent night's rest."
Orveiss is not an early riser, but he often stays up late listening to villagers’ tales. He is charmed by non-elves and especially the short-lived humans. They like him buying drinks, even if he doesn’t join them, pleading low elven constitution. However, he is itching to begin investigating.
The adventuring group returns to the Inn of the Welcome Wench. The smell of the kitchen's fresh cooking is a happy scent indeed, as well as the sounds of mugs and tankards changing hands and the murmur of conversation from local farmers and laborers.
Elmo is present, as always, in his role as the town drunk; he gives Bat a brief, knowing nod as she comes through the door. A few farmers glance your way, but resume their drinking and conversation without further commentary. You spot a scribe in one corner, diligently taking notes, and a card sharp relieving laborers of their hard-earned silver. Notably, an elf visitor is at the bar, listening as the Ostler natters on about the village in his usual small-talk-that-says-nothing sort of way.
A smile crosses Avendryl's face as he re-enters the Welcome Wench, his home away from home so to speak.
The bard makes his way through the room, greeting fellow frequent patrons and in particular stopping by to say hello to Ostler before making his way over to the corner of the room and getting out his lyre and playing a bit of music.
Orveiss turns to look as the party enters, raising a curious eyebrow. He quietly asks the Ostler a question, nodding his head towards them.
He breaks into a charmed smile as Avendryl begins playing.
Ostler Gundigoot is as talkative as ever.
"Been all abuzz with activity here the last few days! Rufus and Burne still overseein' construction of the castle, but they're also going to rebuild the old moathouse a few miles outside o' the village, staff it with soldiers. Y'know, to keep the roads clear of riff-raff and banditry. Also been a lot of folks comin' and goin'. That's good business for me! Brisk, brisk, brisk."
He goes on in this fashion a bit, giving the impression that he loves to talk, but he rarely says much of detailed substance - for instance, he never explains what prompted Burne and Rufus to rebuild and staff the moathouse now when it's been there for years, or what kinds of travelers have been coming through the inn lately.
"Them folks? Some of the aforementioned travelers," he says when Orveiss glances at the rest of the team. "The lady's an ordained warrior-priestess! We haven't seen the like in some time. Uh, I guess except Canon Terjon up at the church of St. Cuthbert. But he's more keen on collecting tithes than on smitin' the wicked."
Fezzik squeezes through the door, and pauses to inhale deeply. The smell of food makes his mouth water and he looks around for an open table and a sturdy chair. He motions to the server to bring him some food and ale. Too focused on eating, he doesn't really notice who is in the inn.