Aredhel’s cell was open and after crawling out from the shadowed area, bypassed the three guards that had passed out. She could hear Furd in the next cell and after stepping out shut the cell behind here. There were 2 more here unconscious in the hall and she could see in the distance another down into the next room. Looking at the 2 guys here she found a set of keys but the angry half ogre ripped the door of his cell open.
Reconnected together they looked in the next 4 cells, eventually freeing the remainder of the party. Ophelia was missing. Everyone was pretty beat up, battered, bruised, and they took the time to look over Aredhel’s many injuries – including the half elf’s missing ear. We suspected that we were in the basement level of the Church of St. Cuthbert. And at this time, the other temple guards were waking up. Furd picked one of them up and throttled him against the wall. Rowan and Albert were trying to get the other one to relax and answer questions but the blade to the neck and the gyrating only served to get his throat nicked – followed by a deep puncture to his chest. Fight went out of him.
We wanted some answers, where was Ophelia, what was going on, where was our stuff. The guards didn’t answer much but something went wrong when we could hear the other guard that had been down the hall had also woken up and was running. Calling for Calmert. Calmert? Terjon’s leader – the Cannon, and master of the Temple. Shit.
Furd dropped the guy he was holding and took off as fast as he could in pursuit. The party was going to shove the last guys in the cells, some choice words from Aredhel and Albert left with them.
Furd ran hard, racing to the west he looked left and right, spying a set of stairs going up. Charging there he took them two at a time, clawing and racing, hearing the other person running ahead, calling Calmert’s name. The top of the stairs was a private set of rooms, he ran to the swinging doors, misjudged the swing, and slammed into them, ripping them down and hurting himself in the process. He could see another set north of here swinging and 2 temple workers looking scared. He ran on, hitting the doors the right way and spied another set of stairs going up. And the fleeing temple guard running up them. “I’ll get you!”
He hit the stairs and ran up, 2 other temple guys here and the guard making his way to the east and through the last door. Here was Calmert, another temple guard – and Ophelia – tied in effigy on an “H” frame and set to dangle over the railing to the ground beyond. “Blasphemer!” Calmert cried out. “You shall PAY!”
Furd swung in, chains flailing, flashing and banging around. Ophelia slipped a bit but hung there, ropes in place. The half ogre tried to choke out Calmert but could not get a decent loop with his chains. The party meanwhile had caged up the last of the guards and were now running, 4 minutes behind Furd, to help their friend out.
The combat was brutal and Furd was on the losing side. The Cannon was a competent fighter and things went poor when he critically hit the half ogre in the skull with his enchanted cudgel, cracking his skull and dropping him to the ground – at 0 hit points. The other temple workers were here and they were trying to tie him to the other H frame – Calmert wanted them both to dangle over the balcony and then burn.
And from there, the rest of the party arrived. Clad in underwear, on single digit hit points, sporting stolen daggers and little else, they hit Calmert’ chamber like a wave. Albert’s knife flew out and struck one of the workers in the chest. Aredhel snatched up a metal tripod and waded in, beating and smashing the closest priest found. Pestle was scavenging for items to throw and Rowan called out to Demeter. A hyena appeared and he ordered it in and the canine charged. But it misjudged the floor and leapt…over the rail and down to the floor below where it screamed and laughed and it hit the ground broken and dying.
Albert summoned colored lights to block Calmert’s view and the priest called a blessing out, filling his followers with glory and banishing their fear. Ripping a mirror off the wall, Elmo ran in to smash one of the followers down but slipped and catapulted over the railing! Catching the end of the “H” frame where Ophelia hung, making her cry in pain as her leg was twisted. But he hung there – 15’ off the ground and managed to get a solid grip.
Pestle summoned dancing lights and then also blinded Calmert as best he could, bringing them together into a effigy of burning man. We brought the fight closer, hitting and smashing. Calmert did get a series of good hits, slamming Albert hard, the wizard brought to a single hit point. Rowan managed to get closer and poured a single Cure Minor wound into the hurt Furd – and the half ogre went to 1. And up he came. Chains flailing around he smashed one of the helpers to the group and then continued on, felling another in his effort to close to Calmert. Elmo meanwhile climbed up over Ophelia, kissing the priestess once for luck, making his way unseen to the top again.
And then the party attacked the last temple servant and Calmert in force. Knives stabbed, clubs were smashed, chains flailed. The Cannon staggered and then finally fell over. Dead. Wasting little time we dragged Opehlia back up to the ledge and cut her free. She was overcome and hugged Elmo hard. Furd took Calmert’s cudgel for now as we looked him over. We could hear other temple followers running out of the Church. Pestle wanted to get to a window to see where they were heading. Aredhel discovered a silver key behind a badge of office on Calmert’s neck.
There was another chamber that we went to look in, assuming it was Terjons. Pestle could see out a window that those who fled the temple were bee lining for the Sword and Cheese trade post. Rannos Davi. “Guys! Make it fast!” There was a desk with a small lock in the back and Aredhel went to use the key to unlock it- but triggered a trap – was pricked- and passed out.
Fuck.
It was still locked and Pestle used her Mage hand spell to turn the key – opening the top of the desk. We found some serious coin, 3 vials of healing potions, and a scroll. Healing potion went right to Elmo, Albert, and Furd who were all the worst off. The set of vestments we had picked up we tied into a bag and tossed the coins in. Albert broke the seal and it was a scroll of protection versus Demons. It seemed that Terjon before he was turned by Lareth had some suspicion but couldn’t put defenses in place before he was turned.
We had to go and now. So we left the Church of St. Cuthbert where we had defended ourselves to be sure – but also inadvertently killed some innocent and good men. Things we would have to square up with at a later date. Right now we had to avoid Rannos Davi and getting recaught.
The herdsman was close to the Church and he had a flock of some 75, 100 sheep. Rowan led the group through the gathering gloom to the field where we hid amidst the sheep. Plenty of time as we watched Rannos and some FIFTEEN of his mercenaries make their way to the Church where they eventually entered. Voices were raised and angry calls came out. Our actions were discovered. They freed the church workers from the cells and they in force, left the Church. Rannos wanted us found and his men fanned out, going door to door, looking for us.
We waited as they tried to cow the herdsman but it sounded like he was not a fan of what has been going on. Also, we discovered that 5 of the town’s children had been slain as we had not been brought to them. Once they were long gone, we went off to the Herdsman’s house and Elmo managed to get us through the door. Black Jay was an older grizzled man who had lost his wife and kids some time ago. Elmo’s father had been sent this morning along with the watch to the Moathouse to find out where we were. Auva had then been taken into custody and Burne, Rannos, and Terjon were consolidating power in the town.
He wanted us to go to Rannos in the morning but was willing to let us eat and sleep here tonight. So we were exhausted and agreed (in theory) for now and would address the issues tomorrow.
While we slept two things occurred – Albert woke up – and had the dice and had rolled it! In his sleep. It was pulsing and warm to the touch. Three rolls and then there was a flash. And found himself dreaming he was in a tower, looking over the blasted plains of Tartarus. And Lareth, broken, burned, was talking to him. He was upset with what had happened and wanted Albert to know that if he could, take his dice and eventually make it to Nulb. There, he will learn where to find the Temple of Elemental Evil would be – hidden from the world of men by Lolth and Zuggotomy. And once there – the room that has signs of his dice – roll them. Roll all of them. And if he does, great rewards and magic would be given to Albert. Albert was seriously tempted.
Meanwhile Aredhel had another vision from Hades while she slept – the lord of the underworld reminding her that he will support her. And to watch out for Albert. Be wary.
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