The group was torn between more exploring and going back for some hirelings/henchmen. Decided to go back, train a bit, and hire some people. Good call!
Follows (Sorry, no pics this time):
After some discussion, we opted to leave. Maybe go to the Tower and rest up, but we’ve done a good exploration of the greater Temple for now. We wanted to maybe talk about some further training, set up the wizards for a mage’s test, and possibly hire a thief if we could before going deeper into the Temple. So we worked our way to the exit corridor when we heard voices down there. Snarling and murmuring. Damn it – Ophelia confirmed it along with Pestle and Albert – ghouls. And more than 1 easily.
So we drew ourselves up and the thought was to hit the corner hard and then go on through, but the ghouls were closing and…they were armed! Three of them had shields standing in front at the ready, 2 with clubs, and one with a crossbow that was shot as Pestle – knocking the gnome to the ground. Damn it – everyone got behind a column as we hoped to goad them to come in – but they were wily – and knew about the cage trap – so stayed back and loaded up again.
We then came up with the half dress/on fire/ tied to a spear/flame burst version of great plans – and it worked! The ones in the front were battling the flames while Furd hurled one of the nickel bowling balls at them, making the lead one splinter his shield. With only 1 missile weapon on their end and not wanting to risk the cage trap, the ghouls were surprising to us in their decision to withdraw – showing more cunning and thought than we were comfortable with.
At this point, we wanted out so we drew up with Torrand and Furd in the front, and then the rest of the group behind. And we jogged down the hall, engaging 2 ghouls that were at the corner and waiting for us! As the 2 fighters struggled against the undead, the rest of the group hit the corner and turned south, running. Once everyone was clear, the two of them disengaged and ran after the rest of the party, Torrand’s new bracelet preventing him from being paralyzed. Thanks Furd!
Pestle shot off a Mirror Image spell in case things went horribly, and the group could hear MORE ghouls giving chase – the number now swelling to 9. We ran south the next intersection, turned west, and hit the stairs at over 12 mph, legs pumping and arms reaching as we raced up them, the ghouls not too far behind. Once up to the priest’s room, we ran out the door, Albert already casting, finishing his spell a split instant after Torrand and Furd ran from of the portal, slamming it closed. It immediately sealed up in place, a deep red and silver glow coming from it. “Three minutes people!” Sir Albert of Blackstaff shouted out, spurring the group to run on.
We ran through the temple, the nave, and the vestibule, hitting the main doors out about the same time that echoing crashes from in the Cathedral let us know the ghouls were no longer held by the ensorcelled door. We ran across the grounds, leaping over brush and roots, the cry of Ravens chasing us as we charged through the Uskfruit grove and then finally the Tower.
Once there we exhaustedly entered and decided yes, we are going back to Nulb for now. Torrand was invited, but we didn’t know if he could come, and how that would work. He went to his room, came out and relocked the door and we left, heading north and west. Pestle used her new Figurine to summon a horse, feeling pretty good sitting in its saddle. Once at the area that we had hacked our way through, we made it out of the Temple grounds and back to the Gnarley Woods.
Torrand had some sort of coughing fit, almost making his fall over, weird smoke was billowing off his back, nose, eyes, and ears, and then he stood up and was able to talk. He was Sir Torrand Feywind and he and his troupe had been hired to escort a group of scholars and merchants southward to Hommlet maybe 6 or 7 months ago when they were waylaid and lured off course, eventually overrun and brought to the Temple Grounds. Since then he has been doing his best to survive, and his older memories of the Temple are a jumble, but the last week were still clear, as well as any time before he was on the grounds. He has a family, wife, and kids.
We agreed to go back to Nulb and he’d head home, let everyone know he was fine, and then return here in 2 weeks and rejoin them for the same rate: 10 crowns/day plus a share of the treasure. It took us 4 hours to get back to Nulb, Pestle loving her steed, learning that it could ride across water as we rode through the river here and it ran across the top. Albert gave a withering glower and offered an ill meaning, “Very nice.”
It was 9 PM when we arrived back at the College at Nulb and then eventually a meeting with Shev Jackson. We were given leave to stay on campus tonight and would meet with the 4 heads tomorrow to share what we had learned. We also spoke with the Viscountess’s man, Eela, catching him up to speed. Finally we paid a portion of the funds we owed to the Church of St Cuthbert: 13 crowns, 18 nobles, and 40 coppers – leaving us with about 8,485 crowns to go. Ugh
We rested and after getting dispensation to study, some of us spoke with Percy Threecoppers about our mage’s tests. He arranged to have it done during the next 2 weeks while others spoke to Tricia Ferris about hiring a thief if possible. She arranged for us to meet with 3 of them to interview and we had a nice meet with 2 of them so far. Still much to do before we go back out there and 2 weeks pass quickly.
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