Bandaluthia Session 14

By Bruce...

Bandaluthia: Session 14

The Animals waited in The Satyr and Sickle until midnight. As time passed, Coolio sat nervously biting his fingernails. Doogle paced, with simmering violence and menace emanating from him. Shaniqua sat, thinking about sparkly things and her new pony. As the hour passed Rätsel stood up and walked to the door. Coolio went up to Dave and questioned him about the Arch Angel, to no avail.

Another hour passed and a sick feeling hit the pit of Coolio’s stomach. It was increasingly looking like he was going to fail and his sister was to be transported to Yondalla-knows-where. Desperate, yet unable to think of what else to do, he continued to pace. Meanwhile Shaniqua looked at the chandelier as if hypnotised. She was trying to work out whether the sparkly object could be detached and removed without anyone noticing, to be the centrepiece of her bedroom ceiling.

Time wore on further. Hope began to desert The Animal’s and Rätsel’s guilt grew: how could he have misjudged Bob and Dave so much, with dire consequences. Sensing his despondency, Affe looked sad.

Then, in walked a Water Rat. The party noticed the ring on his finger. ‘Are you The Animals?’ he asked. ‘I am Marcus, Bob’s brother. He is dead, slain by my hand. I have come to take you to the Arch Angel’.

After a brief discussion it transpired that Marcus had slain his brother to retain good relations with the Guild. A plan was in place. The Water Rats planned to take the Arch Angel, for not paying their dues. The Animals were to guard the quayside, ensuring nobody escaped. Thereby the kidnapped children would be secured, and released. At this moment Doogle’s irritation got too much for him, and he announced ‘I’m off’. Höllenlord walked in, smiling, followed separately by Vinnie and another halfling. The latter was introduced to the party as Brother Quentino. He was a strange halfling, wearing armour but with various pouches and tubes located about his person. Vinnie had brought Brother Quentino (Qu to his friends) to help the party: a portent of events yet to transpire.

The Animals got in a large black carriage and set-off to the docks. Marcus spoke little, but explained the carriage had been “pimped” by Yzibit: a famous, if unconventional carriage-maker. Marcus got the party through the dock gates and they made their way stealthily through the goods stored on the quayside. After a few moments events began to unfold. A small boat emerged from behind the Arch Angel and pulled up in between the quay and the ship. A large box was hoisted off and placed on the quayside. At that moment the Water Rats made their move, appearing as-if from nowhere from all parts of the ship. The ships crew on the quayside may to escape, but Qu hit them with a web. Höllenlord, in amongst the sticky thread, slew countless enemies. Qu fired his crossbow, but was hit by an exploding ball of flame case from the ship. It seems, the Animal’s enemies, had brought a wizard of their own. Sensing the prospect of a magical duel, Rätsel hid behind a box.

Gus and Raj, also hit by the fireball, slew the stragglers. The mission had been accomplished and the Halfling children were freed. Not only that, but a number of gnome and dwarf children were found also. Shortly after Vinnie arrived with a dwarf and a gnome. Vinnie explained to Coolio, relief etched on his face that the two accompanying him were also looking for missing children. The gnome and dwarf were grateful and the dwarf gave The Animals a small (no bigger than the fist of a dwarf child) stone anvil, which entitled the holders to a “favour”. The gnome, likewise, gave a gift. A heavy metal shield. ‘Shiny but hardly discrete, thought Shaniqua.

So the session ended. The mission had been accomplished, and the Animals had a new member. He had proved useful indeed. But, this was only the start. ‘Let’s hope Qu lasts longer than the last two members of the Animals’ remarked Coolio. ‘Where’s Doogle?’ asked Höllenlord? Fighters never were the sharpest …