Guard 1 - 39/60
Guard 2 - 60/60
Lydia slashes effectively at the guard standing to the right of the tent's flap and it yells out in horror as she appears before its eyes.
The fetchling appears as well, slashing with her blade that glitters with electricity.
Lydia slices and dices!
Sercha attacks the guard to the right of the entrance in synchronicity with Lydia, appearing before it with a fright.
Guard 1 - OUT
Guard 2 - 40/60
Guard 3 - 60/60
Lydia slices through the guard's torso as its guts erupt out to the floor as it collapses to the ground.
Another robed creature appears from within the tent's entrance, this time, its hood down revealing pale scarred skin. Four chains whip from its sleeves towards Lydia.
The guard that Sercha attacked, stares at Sercha contorting its face under its hood to resemble Lydia's face. Lydia's expression staring back at her with deep disgust.
Will DC 15 negates. A kyton can make its face resemble one of an opponent’s departed loved ones or bitter enemies. Those who fail their saves become shaken for 1d3 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Another Kyton appears from behind Sercha, whipping at her back with a barbed chain.
Sercha takes a step closer and slashes her blade at the chain-clad figure.
Alainn sees the two investigating robed figures turn sharply to a sudden increase yelling and shouting from the other side of the camp; they begin hurrying in that direction whilst yelling at other slaves to stay where they are.
Sercha, steadying herself after seeing the creature in front contort its face to represent Lydia, slashes at it and it crumbles to the floor.
Tent Guard 1 left - OUT
Tent guard 2 right - 40/60
Tent Guard 3 behind Sercha- 60/60
Tent guard 4 in tent 60/60
A Guard edge of camp 60/60
A Guard edge of camp 60/60
The slaves around, having realised what is going on, start yelling and shouting, scattering around. A couple pick up some heavy pots looking around trying to find more of their oppressors and another picks up a pitchfork from the animal pen.
The two original guards at the tent entrance are bleeding out over the sand, there is an additional; guard whipping at Lydia from inside the tent and one from behind Sercha who had cracked a chain across her back.
Since the guards cannot be allowed to interfere Alainn targets them both with a spell to scramble their minds.
Lydia declares a judgment, her wounds starting to heal as she slices at the guard in front of her.
The two guards hurrying away from Alainn pause, one shakes its head and continues towards the racket.
The other doesn't move, and then all of a sudden a barbed chain lashes out from its hand, flagellating itself.
-----------------
The devilish creature behind Sercha continues to unleash its chains at her back, as she fells its companion.
Another seemingly coming out of nowhere to the side of the tent rushes up to Sercha's right-hand side.
---------------
Lydia steps inside the tent, slashing the kyton as before. Just as it falls down, it reveals a slick and pasty-skinned creature standing at the rear of the tent cloaked in rich red robes with a tall turban sitting atop his head.
It steps up into the space previously occupied by its guard.
"You give me no choice." It says with pure malice.
------------
The few slaves that were arming themselves come to try and bash the kytons next to Sercha, with their pots. This appears to be fairly ineffectual, causing a couple of minor injuries only.
Tent Guard 1 left - OUT
Tent guard 2 right - OUT
Tent Guard 3 behind Sercha- 58/60
Tent guard 4 in tent OUT
A Guard edge of camp 1 58/60 (now at tent attacking Sercha)
A Guard edge of camp 2 51/60 confused
Nightpedder 95/95
Alainn, seeing things going somewhat south, swoops over the confused kyton towards the major melee. With slaves everywhere and Sercha engaged in melee Alainn has to make a snap decision about how best to resolve this conflict.
The solution is jokes!
"Did you hear the one about the centaur who was caught in a thunderstorm? It wasn't fit weather for man or beast!"
Hideous Laughter DC19 will negates on the kyton that ran over from my side of the camp.
The Kyton shakes off Alainn's spell.
Lydia staggers as the creature's bite drains her agility. "Your slaves shall be free!" she shouts defiantly, attacking the strange peddler. "Alainn! The Foreign Trader!"
Sercha takes a short step , putting her within range of the one behind her and directs her ire at it.
Tent Guard 3 behind Sercha- 4/60
A Guard edge of camp 1 52/60 (now at tent attacking Sercha's right)
Nightpedder 23/95
Alainn, with a good birds eye view can see that the guard she had confused continues to self-flagellate with its chains amongst a crowd of slaves whaling upon it. Some slaves are helping the injured up and others are aiming to break free from their chains.
Sercha's Kyton is frazzled by her electrical attack as well as being battered by pots and pans, but still stands. It moves backwards between the slaves that it ignores and whips at her viciously with its chains whilst the slaves continue to batter it.
The other takes another step towards her and attacks her from behind.
------------
The nightpeddlar stumbles, taking a nasty slice across his shoulder, blood spurting everywhere. "Marzalee sent you didn't she! You're just doing that evil b*****'s bidding." the Nightpeddlar sneers. He lunges forwards to bit and scratch Lydia.
Alainn reaches out with a tendril of temporal magic and speeds his allies with haste!
Lydia is barely able to move from the toxin. Still, she shouts defiantly, ”I serve only Desna!” Her blade flashes with deadly results.
With the slaves, and Alainn, Sercha manages to deal with the rest of the guards in the way that she does best.
The slaves around them erupt into cheers and begin to help any wounded around them and some start fleeing into the desert in small groups, seemingly in a rush to get away from here.
------------
The Nightpeddler collapses to the ground suffering from Lydia's vengeance, twitches, and moments later his body vanishes, leaving behind his clothes and equipment. Among the garments, there is a massive emerald which is very out of place.
This is a scroll of greater restoration.
Lydia is mystified as the peddler disappears. She gathers the valuables and emerges into the sunlight, satisfied that the slaves are now free. ”We are done here. Let us return to Marzalee.”
Alainn examines the various items with interest and nods at the scroll. "That makes sense. This can restore Lydia." Oddly the gathlain chooses to say this to Sercha, not the inquisitor in question. "I could try to use it but I might fail. That would be more dramatic."
"We should go to Tik Tok first." It adds when Lydia makes her decision. "The larvae will not last forever. Do that first, then Marzalee."
As soon as the outside guards are dealt with, Sercha races into the tent to assist Lydia, but finds the woman standing over a pile of empty clothes. "Where is he?" she asks, her eyes searching the tent.
~~~~~
The fetchling takes the scroll from the fey and presents it to the inquisitor. "Álainn says that this can restore your abilities," she says holding out the parchment. "Can you use it?"
Lydia shrugs. ”He disappeared when he died. Wherever he went, he’s no longer a threat to us or this realm.”
She studies the scroll then shakes her head. ”It is beyond my skill set, alas.”
Sercha frowns, but then cheers up when she sees the huge ruby. "This is gorgeous," she gushes and reaches out to drape the stone around Lydia's neck.
Lydia blushes as she touches the gemstone. ”Not more so than you,” she tells Sercha, then she looks back at Alainn. ”We will go to whichever location is closest, with Tick Tock as the preference.”
Heading back towards the centre of the realm takes another day and night of travel through the desert before reaching the treetops with relief.
Finding your way back to the volcano by following the outskirts of the tree line isn't too hard with Lydia and Sercha's joint mapreading skills with Alainn aiding your scouting mission.
The volcano hasn't changed at all, with the hot-headed forgers still working, although this time, they pretend you do not exist as you make your way up the stairs to the bar.
The publican allows you membership of the honorary giant club for helping to deal with the mad fire-giant next door which allows you to visit Tick-Tock's workchamber again.
Without a welcome, you hear a familiar high-pitched voice from behind a workbench in between the sound of hammering.
"You have the larvae then? No idea how it took you this long to get them - usually only takes me a morning! Come and put them on the workbench over here and then we can do business."
Lydia obliges, placing the larvae where indicated. ”We fulfilled our end of the bargain. Your token, now, please.”
"What are these, shrivelled things? How exactly are these going to help me? You've picked the worst you could probably find on purpose, haven't you? Just to spite me! Why should I live up to my end of the bargain when you have come up short yourselves?" his voice is getting higher and higher by the second.
”You should be grateful that we brought you anything. The token, now. I will not ask nicely again.”
"Yes," Alainn says in a stage whisper, "That really is her asking nicely..."
He sighs and points to the cabinet sitting in the corner of the room, on which lays a jumble of different contraptions lying abandoned.
"Fine, get it yourself - its the lens, called the Clouded Vision. Now, get out of here -and make sure you slay that dragon whilst you're at it." He turns his back to you and goes to work on another contraption as far away as he can get, leaving the larvae to sit on the table.
With three tokens now in hand, you trudge back through the dense forest to Marzalee but dont make it until the night has fallen. The manor looks just as foreboding as before and you find your way through the secret passages, as the corridor's lamps flickering making it seem as if the wax statues are moving.
In the main chamber, you come across Marzalee and the dwarf crafting together at one of the benches. As they notice you, Marzalee begins chittering and the dwarf starts to translate.
"Marzalee wants me to relay her gratitude to you all for allowing her this opportunity. She is currently reforming the Nightpeddlar now! It will take many many weeks to get through the agonising process."
She walks over to you and hands Sercha a bangle, with a large diamond set into the centre of the band.
"This is Marzalee's Conspirator token named The Busy Hand. She entrusts it to you to help you defeat the Patchwork Lord but does ask you to return it when you are done. She asks if there is anything else you need to continue on your quest?"
"Fine, get it yourself - its the lens, called the Clouded Vision. Now, get out of here -and make sure you slay that dragon whilst you're at it."
"Wait, what did he say about a dragon?" Sercha turns a frowning face to Lydia.
~~~~~
"Shall we try the lake next?" the fetchling asks.
”The Patchwork Lord is a dragon. Don’t worry, we have faced one before. We only got mildly mauled,” Lydia says reassuringly.
***
”Aye, let’s go to the lake.I hoped you packed a swim suit,” the half elf says.
"Will we get a chance to swim?" The fetchling then frowns. "Oh, but I didn't bring any swimming clothes."
”I suppose we’ll have to skinny dip, then,” Lydia says with a casual shrug.
The fetchling's mouth drops open and her cheeks flush a bright pink.
"Uh, um ... ok."
"What is 'skinny dip'?" asks the gathlain innocently.
”Swimming without any clothes on,” Lydia clarifies.
Sercha makes a noise that sounds, strangely enough, like "eep!" and turns away, refusing to look at the fey.
As it is such a warm night and the manor is very musty, you set up camp for the night in the clearing just outside the manor.
Just as you finish setting up and tuck into your trail rations, you hear the snap of a twig and a tall man clad in heavy golden armour emerges from the trees. He is standing tall, wearing a helm with elaborate wings and an impressive plume through which you can see his glowing eyes; he is wielding a shining longsword that glints in the moonlight.
"Halt there, travellers. I have been searching for you, as you moved through this Realm, and I gather that you seek to slay the evil tyrant, Zassrion. But your quest is futile, for I am Algon the Ever-Seeing, the only one who is fated to defeat the monster! Hand over to me the way to reach the Striding Fortress, lest I be forced to do harm unto you, for my righteous cause. I shall not enjoy it, but I will do so if you force my hand."
"You must be the Paladin!" Alainn says, producing the card and showing it to him. "Look, its a really good likeness of you! The golden armor, the chiseled jaw. You really do look like a hero. Unfortunately you won't find any romance here, my Heroes have already found their True Love. But don't get yourself down, there's a lovely dwarf woman in the manor who will be very impressed by your sword. I'm sure of it!"
Then what the Paladin actually said registers and Alainn frowns. "I'm sorry, we can't do that. You see Lydia and Sercha are The Heroes." The capitalisation is evident. "We can't just leave the story halfway through you see, that would be leaving duty undone, the ending untold! But we could all work together? The best results always come when Good is United Against Evil!"
He golden eyes focus on the card Alainn shows and he nods slowly.
"Alas you misunderstand me little one, I am not on a quest for true love; that would be a distraction from my true purpose. I propose that we form a noble alliance to slay the Evil Tyrant - what a fantastic quest that would be! We could each go hunting for further tokens and then lay siege to the Striding Fortress in union!"
”That sounds good to me. We are on a holy quest from Desna, and it would be in all of our best interests to join forces to defeat Zassiron.” Lydia offers the paladin her hand—after studying his aura to be sure he is both lawful and good, just in case!
Lydia's instincts confirm that the Paladin is lawful, but does not confirm that he is good. She then detects evil which confirms your momentary fears.
The Paladin shakes Lydia's hand in return.
"Splendid - I will continue to seek for any tokens and I will seek you down again when I have found one. I wish you goodnight - sleep well." He bows as much as his armour allows and disappears back into the night.
---------------------------------
At sunrise you continue your journey towards the lake on the map, from the poem that Alainn seems to have memorised, it surmises this is the "Demon's Fen".
The Demon's Fen is, without question, the most depressing and dismal place you have seen in the whole Harrowed Realm. A dark, fetid swamp with a deep feeling of sorrow and unhappy endings without purpose, it reeks of decay and mildew. Small orbs of light like foxfires hover around the watery swamp, wandering aimlessly.
A short distance from where you entered the swamp, a black and frigid-looking lake spreads out from the broken terrain of the swamp. Its still surface reflects the distant shore. A single, rocky island rests in the center, capped with sickly grass and tangled growth and glowing with dozens of those flickering, colored lights. An ancient, withered suspension bridge runs from the island to the banks. A gorgeous song—part lullaby, part dirge—pierces the otherwise haunting silence before dissolving into sobs.
Something started following you as soon as you moved into the Fen. Something large.
Lydia watches the knight leave through narrowed eyes. "He will be true to his word, but his heart is black. Expect betrayal upon his return."
***
Lydia cautiously leads the way through the swamp. She casts heroism and shield of faith on herself and Sercha as they approach the bridge. "Looks like our swim will have to wait for more pleasant climes. Alainn, the Demon's Lantern here?"
"Oh, that Paladin." The gathlain says, but makes no effort to explain.
--------------------------
"Umm... Lydia." Alainn says as it pulls out the Demons Lantern. "What's that?"
”What’s what?” Lydia asks, drawing her blade as she looks to where Alainn is pointing.
Lydia watches the knight leave through narrowed eyes. "He will be true to his word, but his heart is black. Expect betrayal upon his return."
"And when he does so, I will kill him," Sercha says with calm confidence.
~~~~~
She looks around as Álainn points out something she doesn't notice. "What? Where?"
"I thought I saw something that way..." The gathlain says, sounding rather unsure.
From the trees just behind you, Alainn and Lydia heard a twig crack followed by the rustling of a disturbed bush.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Lydia shouts menacingly.
Alainn also casts heroism.