Just as Ropetail said, four of the mutilated prisoners are keeping watch by a barred gate. One of them spots Gorn approaching and shouts the alarm, "I told you something was there! Look at all the flesh on that one!" They ready their battered clubs and bare their teeth, while Aegelm and the other guards draw their own weapons and look to you for the signal to charge.
What do you do?
Armor 2
Damage 1d6
Loyalty +1
Quality +1
• Decrease the followers Loyalty by 1.
• They complain loudly, now or later, and demand something in return.
• Caution, fear, or laziness makes them take their time.
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Gorn loudly scream a primordial warcry, and rushes toward the four mutants, ecstatic to have some tangible foe to cross blades with, instead of the ephemeral mysteries of unknown mental afflictions, and countless others having obsessive interest in his gastric concerns.
He hefts high the blued-STEEL Aquilonian blade and swings it at the foemen, seeking vital organs.
"Well... if they weren't hostile before, they sure are now," Yizid mutters, charging along with Gorn now that the doubt is resolved.
"Come on then!" he says to the group that has been following them around, as his knife pierces the skin of the first of them.
Gorn and Yizid leap into battle along with Vandram and expertly avoid their foes' counterattacks. The two remaining madmen rush Tublat and Ropetail, shouting hoarse battlecries.
What do you do?
Prisoner fighting Gorn, 6 HP
Prisoner fighting Yizid, 7 HP
Ramonde quickly reaches into his bag and pulls out a piece of old, half torn parchment. He whispers words that make any who hear it feel the energy of the roiling fires of hell.
A bolt of red energy lashes out at Yizid, but instead of harming him, it wreathes his weapon in fire, making it more powerful. It worked!
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"As long as we're in this gawds-forsaken place, 'twould be a safe bet to assume -everything- is hostile!" Gorn shouts in witty retort as he continues his sword play with the prisoner in front of him.
Alas he slips on some stonework grown slick with algae of an unknown type and an unhealthy color and his blade goes wide of his target.
The madmen snarl and one clubs Gorn over the head. His madness-fueled strength is easily equal to the massive fighter's, and Gorn nearly falls to the floor under the force of the blow.
Yizid dextrously stabs the foe before him, and Aegelm moves to flank with the thief. The madman shrieks and pulls back to get room for another swing.
What do you do?
Yizid fatally stabs the madman with his knife and quickly turns towards the one attacking Gorn.
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As Gorn charges into battle, he outpaces the friendly folk they had first met, and his wild flailing after his mis-step prevent any brave soul from coming to his aid. The fighter pays for his hubris as a madman's club crashing down on a shoulder...
...and leaves a nasty bruise under the heavy armor.
Gorn staggers under the blow of the heavy mallet, but manages to keep his feet under him.
Gorn shakes his head once and, screaming a wordless cry, rages against his attacker, thrusting deeply with the blee-iron blade.
This time, one of the worthies that followed them into the depths leaps in, ringing a blow against the madman's trenchoen, and keeping Gorn out of danger.
Yizid, The madman lashes out with his dying breath and strikes Aegelm! The guard is knocked across the corridor and slumps to the floor for a moment.
Gorn, Vandram's well-timed intervention saves you from the blow as you skewer the crazed man. Another foe steps to you as the remaining ambusher rushes Ramonde!
Ramonde, One of the prisoners has charged you with her jaws slavering!
What do you do?
Ramonde tries to jump out of the way, as the prisoner is too close to draw his rapier.
Tripping on a nearby rock, he falls and rips his parchment as he hits the ground. Screaming in frustration, he watches the slavering prisoner descend on him.
From behind you, in the direction that you came, you hear a sudden roar : "By Kali's name, I command thee to retreat!"
And the creature about to attack Ramonde suddenly backs up! With a look of surprise on what's left of its face, too...
If you turn to see who spoke these words, you'll spot a youngish-looking Dwarf, dressed in a Priest's habit, holding an axe in one hand, and a strange symbol on a necklace in the other.
"Well met, all! I assume you're here to claim Kas' reward for clearing out this keep, too? Mind if I join in?"
Yizid looks at the real priest who just showed up with apprehension. He flashes at him his best fake priest fake smile as he drives his knife into the next prisoner's flesh.
Ramonde jumps up, smiling. The legendary Galdhar! I am Ramonde He bows Pleased to meet you, good sir
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Gorn, full in the grip of the battle-heart, shifts his footing, getting an more solid ground. As another insane prisoner rushes to meet him, he hefts his blued-steel sword and brings it crashing down in an indomitable chop.
He spares a look back to gaze at the newcomer and nods his head in a breifest span.
He also looks Ramonde ingratiating himself to the priest. 'Hmmm. Typical bard. Practicing courtish manners while there's still enemies to fight.'
Gorn has at least learned enough to not say these things out loud. Which for him is an improvement.
Ramonde spins around Don't worry brave warrior! I haven't forgotten you! Picking up the two pieces of parchment, he tries to piece them back together. Dropping them, he sighs and picks up his horn. He closes his eyes, blows a loud and powerful note, before dropping it and shouting in what seems the language of cloud giants
Galdhar's timely arrival bolsters everyone's spirits, and the madmen are easily cut down. The gate the prisoners were watching is heavily barred, and a thick chain is wrapped around the lock. Beyond the gate you see a staircase that descends further into the gaol. Strange sounds are echoing up from the level below, almost like dozens of mouths chewing away.
What do you do?
"Is there someone who can handle the lock on that gate? By the way, name's Galdhar." He looks over at Ramonde and says "Have we met?"
"A lock? Let me see what I can do."
Yizid reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small tool he was accustomed to using for lock-picking.
"Well, what does an old priest know about lock-picking anyway?"
As Yizid fiddles with the gate, the chewing sounds grow louder and louder. The stones on the floor begin to vibrate softly when suddenly the floor cracks open and dozens of little horrors pour out. About the size of a cat, the bizarre egg-shaped creatures stumble about on a pair of stubby legs, with their entire 'face' taken up by a massive mouth filled with rows of teeth.
The little gnashing things begin streaming towards you all, what do you do?
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As the last of the madmen fall, Gorn cleans his blade on the ragged tunics of one of the corpses, then walks over to Galdhar, shaking his hand with one of his meaty fists. "Good to see you again, Galdhar," his deep baritone rumbles out. "I had thought to have seen the last of you after that tribe of cannibals overran the oasis at Aram Bakash. Glad I am that my small band were not the only survivors of that ill-fated venture.
But this business 'twould make that hell hole look like a pleasant evening of drinking and wenching. I know not what vileness invades this place, but its spoor is dark and evil"
Gorn steps back a pace to give Yizid room to work, and he is as surprised as any when the egg-demons erupt from the floor.
"By Ymir's great nutsack, what hell have you unleashed on us, Yizid?" Gorn calls out, but then he falls silent and sets to in the serious business of sword play.
Hefting his thick shield, he plies the blued-steel back and forth in a great fan, trying to hew through the cat-sized beasts as a thresher through wheat.
Gorn easily slices one of the aberrations, but a second one takes the opportunity to close in and tear a chunk off of the giant's leg. Squealing horribly the little monster hungrily gobbles the flesh and bares its razor-sharp teeth for another chomp.
Ramonde watches Gorn fight the beast, and puts his horn to his lips as he does so
"I am unsure myself," Yizid answers Gorn, annoyed at himself for not having been more careful.
He strikes at the closest mouth and manages to fell it.
"Bloody hell!" Galdhar shouts, and then says loudly and firmly "I call on Kali to close the stone opening!"
(Commanding something the deity represents [nature])
To emphasize it, he smashes his axe onto the stone floor, thus drawing the attention of the creatures to himself.
Yizid drops one of the foul creatures, but another quickly takes its place and snaps at the rogue's arm.
Gorn easily cleaves the demon in twain before its teeth reach his flesh.
Galdhar invokes Kali's name and the hole in the floor contracts and closes as the stone flows at the goddess's command. A half-dozen of the demons remain and surge towards you all again.
What do you do?
Yizid strikes back at the creature that bit him, but manages to be caught off guard at the wrong moment.
Galdhar attacks a nearby creature with his axe :
And succeeds, but leaves himself open for the creature to attack him.
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As his heavy boradsword cleaves the head from one foe, Gorn takes advantage of the hole it makes in the enemy's line and charges in the remaining demons! Their awed pause only serve to fuel his rage and he continues to weave before him a deadly arc of steel and death, determined that if he dies here, he shall take as many of the unearthly creatures with him as he can!
Pop!