Bandaluthia Session 24

Bandaluthia Session 24

Where others may have hesitated, Gus did not. Springing forward he closed on the two-bladed sword-wielding advisory and struck twice with his dire flail. The enemy fell, his head crushed. Coelho followed, with more caution. On entering the room he looked left and right, and beheld enemies on both sides. Coelho shot at the nearest, and missed. Höllenlord joined the fray, though he initially struggled to find the enemies since he could not hear the sounds of battle. Jacob entered and engaged the guards – a fighter and a rogue – on the right. Qu shot at a heavily armoured man – the leader – on the left. Finally, Shaniqua climbed and manoeuvred along the ceiling, carefully selecting a position from which to drop and backstab a likely victim. The enemies struck, wounding Jacob and Coelho. However they were felled by a combination of mighty and precise blows from Gus, Shaniqua and Jacob, ably supported by arterial support from the halflings. Towards the end of the fight Höllenlord also rejoined the fray, having taken a circuitous route consequent to his aural incapacity.

On investigating the battlefield the party discovered a young girl who had been the plaything of these guards. After some coaxing the found her name was Caitlin, and Jacob returned her to her home on Riggers’ Alley, with Shaniqua covering invisibly. When Jacob and Shaniqua returned to the Consulate they explored the upper levels in more detail. It was an opulent building, but had plainly not been used for some time. The Animals returned to exploring the lower levels. In the guardroom they discovered a hidden staircase (behind a dresser) which descended deeper into the complex. Shaniqua sneaked down the stairs, discovering a small room with a large door at the bottom. Beside the door was a wooden box containing a number books (dealing with religion). Lifting two such books she stole back up the stairs to Coelho, who perused them and thought they could be used to develop knowledge of religion. They were also of some value, perhaps 100gp each. Shaniqua went down the stairs once more. On arriving at the bottom this time she listened at the door; silence greeted her. She checked for traps and found none. Moreover the door was unlocked. Gently turning the doorknob she peered into a well-lit room, only for it to disappear in a wall of fire, erupting with explosive force in the stairwell. Stepping back, she collapsed.

Hearing the noise, Gus and Höllenlord sprang into action. The latter guarded the door while the massive Gus picked up the elf and made off up the stairs. The party made a decision to retreat, and promptly did so.

After some respite at the Avenue the party returned with their trump card – the evoker from hell (quite literally). This time Gus led the way down the stairs and opened the door at the bottom. Another explosion erupted but this one impacted on the doors, forcing them shut. Gus charged forward, the rest of the Animals following rapidly behind. The entered an ante-chamber then moved to a door at the other side. Who or what had summoned the magical fire they did not know, though Rätsel suspected an evocation such as fireball. Moving from the ante-chamber the party shattered this lighter door and charged into what seemed to be a temple. The walls were hewn of beautifully cut black stone blocks; the room lit by wall torches, casting a flamed glow. Two rows of black stone pillars led away from the door and at the other end of the room was a black stone altar with manacles atop. Behind the alter the Animals saw a tapestry of a beautiful woman, with small horns, wielding a copper whip. The floor was made from large stones in a chequer pattern, black and white, save for in the middle where a black circle was traced with an inlaid red stone pentacle. The party charged in looking for their adversary. Atop the alter a tiefling wizard appeared, though strangely attired in a red metal breastplate with devilish reliefs upon it. Gus closed and was struck by a spell. Sensing the power he focussed and redoubled his efforts to close and kill their enemy, Höllenfeuer. The mighty warrior closed and struck the evil wizard twice, powerfully, with his dire flail. At this juncture their enemy disappeared, and those close heard him drop from atop the alter.

Thinking quickly Qu cast a spell into the area behind the alter, intending to reveal the hidden menace. But, he had slipped beyond the area of the effect. Jacob and Rätsel moved down the left hand side of the room: Höllenlord and Shaniqua the right. Flame erupted once more. Coelho covered the back, scanning the room for an opportunity to unleash the power of his crossbow. The party’s saviour came from a strange source. Jacob’s dog, sensing the presence of their enemy, closed and tried to bite Höllenfeuer. The party began to congregate. Gus closed. Coelho shot, but missed. Qu shot likewise. Eventually their advisory was surrounded, and Jacob finished him with a well-placed strike. In this temple to Hell the Animals had prevailed.

There were two doors in addition to the one the party had entered, and through one there were two human females imprisoned. What is the significance of these prisoners? Why are the servants of Glasya pursuing Rätsel? And, most importantly, what stuff is there within the wizard’s chamber? These questions, and more, will be answered in the next session of Bandaluthia.