Both wizards spent a bit of time studying while we hung out upstairs in the kitchen area and discussed our soon to be trip back to Hommlet. We wanted to meet with Auva and explain to him what was going on, and not to get the rest of the council involved. We also went over possibly going to the “Cheese and Sword” tradeshop but given that Rannos Davi would be there or one of his men – we wanted to skip it entirely.
As for Ortti, the nobleman’s treasures (platinum and coins) we opted to replace in one of the nice boxes we had and return it to the space under the bed slats. If we didn’t have it on us, we had no idea about it – especially if it was eventually discovered that the noble scion seemed to have disappeared.
So we loaded the giant frog onto the back of a Mount that Albert conjured up (Jerry the Horse!!) and made our way out of the swamplands, 2 hours plus to return to Hommlet. We know we were seen by some of the watchers on Burne’s tower but paid them no additional mind- going instead to the Elder’s estate and getting a meeting and dinner with Auva and his sons.
The Elder listened to our tale so far and did ask and wonder about the casual killing of people’s who had “given up”. In the heat of battle, sure, defend yourself without doubt. But once it has ended? Mercy is the better choice amongst the options. We represent him and should keep that in mind in our actions and deeds.
Otherwise he was fascinated with the Frog, agreed that more investigation is merited. He would hold off on calling the council until 10 tomorrow, that should allow us time to sleep in the Welcome Wench and be gone before the council would have requested our presence. We then went off to the Gnarley Oak Grove and met with Jaroo.
The one legged druid was fairly baked at this time, high and happy to see the party. We filled him in and he was pleased to learn that it was a giant frog that had bit him. A few of us partook of the druid’s weed (an almost requirement to be healed – it channels the healing energy man!) and he patched up the worst of our hurts. There were 4 healing potions available so we bought them from him and then made our way to the Wench.
The Innkeep sold us a room and some drink for the night and the party did their best to get some rest. We awoke early and discussed plans on what to do, but we wanted to be gone before 9 so we figured another time. We did take our own steed and wagon – both worked on and in good repair as per Ales the Wench’s stablehand, and we were off once again.
It took us again close to 2 hours or so to get to the Moathouse, and once there, we dismounted from the wagon to avoid overloading the bridge, and we drove it across to the walls and then the courtyard. The bridge did make some deep groans, and we could hear things falling off the bottom to the moving water below – but it held for us. We then set up some hay for the horse and a bit of water, tying the animal and wagon up to a wall ring that someone had set up before.
Once ready, it was between 11 and 12 when we reentered the Moathouse. Torches ready, we went down the stairs behind the pantry and looked around with care. There were no slimes, so that was good. And no one looked like they had moved any of the furnishings we had disturbed and then replaced again. But the dead humanoid zombie bodies? All gone. And the doors to the cells? All closed again.
Damn it.
We went to the first door and looked in – and there were two of the bandits from the room we had killed upstairs! Naked, covered in small painted or dyed bits of runes. Some sort of spell? New zombies? Ophelia called to Athena and got some sensations that this was potential evil – and there was more north and east of here – dirty tasting. Alright!
We wanted to prevent these bodies from getting up (and looking in the next 4 cells, we saw the rest of the bandits – and the giant lizard! In the other rooms. Screwing with the spell was beyond our skills – so we then decided to make the zombies useless. We would hack off one foot and one hand (from the opposite side of the body). With sword, axe, even staff and dagger we swung and beat and chopped. It was grisly work and one by one, we all lost our taste for it, but we did manage to ruin every body we could find.
Taking stock of ourselves, we went to the north door on the east end of the room and after listening, checked it out. It was a store room of some sort but mostly garbage was remaining. There was another door on the east end of the chamber, so we went up, listened, and got ready to open it up. When the door burst open from the other side and a soul milk stinking 1,000 lb Ogre named Lubash was there.
“Rrrah! I’ll get you!” he roared as the flinging door hit and crushed Aredhel and Pestle – knocking both the sorceress and gnomish wizard to the ground and threatening to kill them! We ran up to do battle while Rowan and Opehlia dared to try and drag the two friends back. Before Elmo could ply his axe though, Albert managed to cry out a spell – summoning a Giant Ant (random check), not just any type, but the Warrior type! It screeched and reared up, leaping onto Lubush and slamming its mandibles on either side of the ogre’s head (Critical hit, 00 – Decapitated – instant death – the 2nd time ever I’ve rolled that option on the bladed/edged weapon critical chart!) and then tore it free!!!
“Way to go, Ant-oni!” Albert cheered and we all sort of looked around, stunned at the rapidity that the battle just…ended!
Our druid and cleric worked to get the sorceress and wizard vertical as well. So we took stock of the room and figured out what to do next.
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