And the group finally finished up their final fight in Hommlet. Everyone one is 3rd level and they are heading off to Nulb next to make their report and eventually meet the Viscount's man.
Follows:
Restmonth the 14th, 2:35 in the afternoon. The fog was still thick and Rannos Davi’s men were trying to organize themselves better as well as cut their way free (those trapped) from Rowan’s Entangle spell. From the second cliff up, Aredhel hurled another Fireburst spell down into the already mess and scattered more fire in all directions, setting a few others ablaze. Near the base of the slope by the road, Elmo and Ophelia continued to hold their own, dispatching one of the two pit bulls attacking them. The two skeletons here slashed and cut as well. Albert called for another summons, getting a goblin to appear and she had “Ronnie” the goblin throw himself at Gremag, Rannos’ thin and well groomed second in command.
Rannos and his 3 drew closer to the base of the slope, cutting and hitting the skeletons – one of them fell. Arrows flew about, Furd getting pegged. The bard was free and strumming hard, calling, “You might as well, Jump! Jump! Jump!” and two of the mercenaries leapt up the 15’ and ran to the half-ogre, cutting and stabbing. Elmo smacked the last pit bull in the face, making it howl at being hit and then running away. Captain Charles and his 2 men came down the slope to support Elmo and Ophelia. Rowan and Hamburger tried to climb over the cliff and down but he slipped off and the two of them rolled down the embankment and flailed at the bottom, dazed but ok. The Bard then fired a flare at Aredhel to blind her. “Blinded by the light! Revved up like a deuce a nuhnun nuhnun hunhun night!”
Pestle fired off a 4 count swath of magic missiles from her wand at Rannos Davi, each one cracking with a spray of sparks and fire. More of the men cut themselves free. Arrows continued to rain about from both sides. One of the skeletons faded away and Albert summoned a zombie to help us. The goblin continued to engage 3 of Rannos’ men, military fork stabbing and slashing.
Albert went down the slope to get closer and Pestle shot off her own spell of magic missiles. Gremag got the ok from Rannos and the thug used a poisoned dagger, thrusting it hard at Captain Charles, the Fighter gasping as he fell over, badly hurt and dying. He needed to be healed and soon or he was doomed to die horribly. Choking and gasping, he spit up some dark blood and waved the rest of his men on to face Rannos.
More people cut themselves free and Aredhel shot off a sleep spell at the bard, knocking him out. Arrows flew and Furd hit one of the guys, cutting him in half, before turning about and cleaving into the next one, killing him off. Another one climbed the cliff and assaulted Rowan and the bull. Albert hurled a knife into the fight and Elmo’s battle axe smashed another mercenary to death. Ophelia danced around with her sword, Grace, dropping a heal on Captain Charles who managed to fight off the secondary effects of the poison.
More and more of Rannos’ people were getting free and the group was massing up, swinging and firing. More arrows and missiles fired and then Rannos Davi went down with a scream. As he hit the ground, his body boiled away to a black sludge and the party was like…Whoa! WHOA! They started to back up the slope, fighting a retreating battle. Gremag grabbed his poison dagger and thrust it at Elmo, cutting the ranger but he managed to make a save and avoid the poison effects.
Furd finished off the last of the mercenaries on our level and went to where Rowan and Hamburger were cleaning up on their end. Rowan got shot again but stayed with it. Ophelia had run back to the top level where she, Pestle, Aredhel and Albert were discussing plans. They could see Rowan and Hamburger go over the ledge, the bull charging the nearest mercenaries. It knocked one aside and then trampled a second one to death. The druid was getting hit, Furd was there.
And the area where Rannos had been killed split open and a Hellmouth opened up. A 7’ tall burning red demonic figure emerged and those mercenaries closest to it were overwhelmed with joy. “Rapture! The compact! Come and kill!” Fuck, and fuck.
We ran off and back, racing to the top as the demonic figure shuffled forward and slaughtered Sergeant Scorlis. Pestle fired off a 4 count of magic missiles at the demon and we were talking about new plans. “Rowan! Furd! Come back!”
Rowan and Hamburger tried to climb the sloping earth but the druid slipped back and fell down where he was stuck and hit again – this time, killing him. Aredhel could see there was almost no time left so she told her brother goodbye and then ran, armor class to the wind. She managed to keep her feet on the first slope and ran loping forward, the demon charging up the hill and Elmo’s axe having no effect on the foul figure. She took the next slope and fell on Rowan who had slipped to -3 hp. Furd ran down the hill and Hamburger tried to block some arrows before Aredhel called to Hades and managed to pump a cure spell into the druid, getting him back to positive.
Albert and Pestle had a plan. Albert passed a magic dagger to Elmo while the two wizards swapped staves and magic wands. He also read off the Protect from Demons spell, firing it on Elmo who was able to stand his ground finally with the Demon. More magic missiles fired and the demon was starting to blow away, fading in and out. Ophelia came back down with Grace and the rest of the group at the road finally killed the last of the mercenaries. They ran to the Hellmouth, Aredhel leading the way. The sorceress was able to tell that something was coming out of the mouth and it needed to be closed. “Ophelia!? Can you do it!?”
Pestle cranked up her staff of striking to 3 and had a mirror image on herself, hoping to square off with the demon. Elmo stabbed at it, enchanted knife scoring deep. More missiles flew and the Demon picked up Elmo after getting furious, being unable to hit him, and hurled him to the side where he hit with a bone jarring crunch. It then slayed Captain Charles and continued to step up.
An Imp like demon burst out next to the Hellmouth, 5’ tall, winged and stinking. Furd, Rowan, and Aredhel engaged it, two of them grappling with it, twisting the wings to keep it from flying up and away. The Demon popped one of Pestle’s images, and then did it again to another – leaving the gnome with a single image left. She meanwhile was swinging and the staff was popping and hissing – but she could not connect – until she did. The concussive blast was like a crack of thunder and it blew most of the demon apart – forcing it to draw the ragged bits back together long enough for Albert to finish it off with a burst of magic missiles.
The Hellmouth slammed closed as the Demonic faded away – the Imp trapped on the wrong side – and the group then hacked, slashed, and even snaked (thanks to Rowan’s staff) the thing until it fell over dead.
Over – Hommlet was free. With the help of the council, we spent a few days helping to talk to the locals and set things right. We had gone off to the Moathouse where they found Peri and his men trapped in the cells in the basement area. We freed them and then going into the last of the two hidden rooms, took all the weapons and armor out of it, the Captain of the watch seriously appreciative to the party.
The thought was that we would go to Nulb, a town about a day and a half from here up the High Road. Once there we would have a chance to meet with the Viscount’s representative and explain what we did, Many members of the town supporting the group's actions and activities. We each got a large stipend of coins as thanks and our share and eventually with Elmo’s company arrived at Nulb.
3 times the size of Hommlet, Nulb was home to maybe 1200 people in a cleared area on the northern end of the Gnarley Forest. We were introduced to the Mayor, an elected figure of middling years named Merydis with an interest in his own voice and a strange fleshy lipped smile. He mentioned that the town was considered to be theirs for the time being and they should make use of the Guild Hall here while they await the Viscount’s representative to arrive – they had about 3 weeks time. Enough time to formally train up, gather some studies and supplies, and more importantly – rest after a ridiculous 14 days.
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