So on we go... Into the teeth.. er... meat of the story..!
Btw, in case you didn't notice, as this is a CAMPAIGN JOURNAL this will contain SPOILERS. And in the spirit of many old campaings, if you're a player who has yet to play this...
STOP READING.
The city of Cauldron is built around the inside of a long dormant volcanoes peak and surrounded by steaming jungles. Surrounding Crater Lake, a caldera in the center, it builds outward in ever-increasing finery. Despite it's locale, Caldron is like any city on Oerth, it has is squalor and it's destitute. Tonight, in the rain soaked back alleys, one such example is taking place. Ruphus Laro, a small man, priestly and unassuming travels up a winding road towards the Chapel of Saint Cuthbert. One moment, he is walking slowly, yet self-assuredly - the next, he staggers to the side. A punch to the jaw sends him staggering against the stone side of a building. He pulls himself to his feet, struggling in the darkness as three men approach. Two of the men grab Rufus' shoulders while the third sends his fist into Rufus' unprotected gut. The man who punched Rufus looks to the other two.
"You two have some fun, I'll keep a watch," he growls. The shadows shift as the man takes a step back.
"Your life is not forfeit, priest," he begins. "Stay away from the orphanage, and it will stay that way."
Laro's eyes widen as the newly revealed moon sends faint light filtering through the thick clouds. All three men have their faces painted half white and half black. His mind churns at this information. "What does the Last Laugh want with the orphanage," he manages to ask through his aching insides.
One of the men holding Rufus sends a thick boot into his side, and Rufus shouts in pain.
"Excuse me," a rough voice chimes in. "Can we help you?"
The three thugs stop mid-beating to look down the cobbled street.
Standing in the rain are six very odd strangers. A half-orc, three humans and two elves, obivioulsy twins. They stand with hands on weapns. Many weapons.
One of the thugs plants another kick into Rufus' side, and as he doubles over, he watches through tear stained eyes as the six spread out, and then advance. With a quick snap of her wrist, one of the human females unleashes a barbed whip, snapping one thugs short sword to the ground. The half-orc, the one who had spoken, Rufus realized, waded in with the flat of his double axe, breaking the arm of the nearest thug. The last was quickly overwhelmed by the beautiful elven twins, and soon, all three lay in teh muddy street, trussed like pigs.
Via gathered what was left of her rope and shot a grin at her friends. "Not bad for a night's work, huh?"
Lya, Via's sister rushed to Rufus. Seeing him battered and bloody, she sent a short prayer to Corelleon Larethian, then placed her hands on his chest. In short order, Rufus' wounds were gone. As he looked past the cleric smiling at him, he could see the rest of the party gathered around a group of town guards.
"Look at you!" A feminine voice cried from a nearby rooftop. Startled, the small crowed turned to look.
"What a lovely band of heroes," She continued. "Laro lives because the Last Laugh wishes him to. No other warning is necessary." She turns, and in a fleeting instant, is gone.
"Thieves," Via comments.
"Jil..." one of the thugs murmers. "She left us..."
to be continued.