Bandaluthia Session 46

Bandaluthia 46

The battle was over. Davarious, badly beaten, and “Pierre” were dragged back to the Rising Sun. Who to interrogate first? Davarious — it seemed a more straightforward situation, since he had been beaten and tortured by the New Thieves Guild.

Ellodee cast “detect thoughts” and the interrogation began. He was a shattered man, feeling he had let himself and the Guild down in his conquest of Anastasia. Davarious had been foolish — both to think he could deceive this Councillor and to walk, without caution, into a trap. After detecting for residual magic, the Animals were happy to let him sleep. Next, the more difficult task.

Rätsel began: ‘Antoine, why were you working for the New Thieves Guild?’

‘Oh, but ah am so glad you rescued me’ he said, in his broad Toulousian accent.

Ellodee, detecting his thoughts, discerned something different: ‘merde, je suis mort’.

Rätsel continued: ‘Did you betray us? Why do you now go by the name Pierre?

‘Because’, Antoine continued, ‘ah was tricked and charmed by the oh-so-beautiful Anastasia’ the Touloisian claimed.

Ellodee discerned something different: ‘Ces seins, ils sont magnificant. Sont-ils à être la mort de moi? J'aimerais sucer ces chiots.

‘Finally, Antoinne, did you betray us and the girls at Number 22?’

‘No, ov course ah did not.’

His thoughts betrayed him: ‘Naturellement, et moi a été bien payé pour faire ainsi. Merde, merde, merde.’

Rätsel cast a glace to Ellodee, who rendered him unconscious. He drew his knife. Convinced, as he was, of the Toulosian’s innocence, Ti Ying left the room. Swiftly, the Tiefling dispatched the former employee with a stab of his knife to his neck. The reasons for this act — be it vengeance or mercy — were not clear to any in the room save Rätsel himself.

Ellodee left to dispose of the body. The rest of the Animals took counsel. Sinn’s contribution was most illuminating. Piecing together information gathered by Barry, it seemed Quin-Taal had hired the Ravensleys to obtain the Keys. Moreover, it transpired that the Ravensleys were the lost bloodline of the ruling family of Palanthia. And, Sinn owed them a favour. These revelations were interrupted by a tapping at the window and Vic, one of the Four, appeared: ‘The New Thieves Guild are coming. The magic which prevented their entry into Monterey dissipated with the killing of Anastasia.’ The party got Davarious from upstairs and summoned all they could to the Satyr and Sickle. Battle would seen be joined.

Scouts reported the advance of a group of armed men from the north. Protective spells were cast on the Animals and an almighty collision occurred as the opposing forces met. Rätsel, invisible, stepped through the melee, towards the elderly enemy wizard hanging-back. As Davarious, Coolio, Ti Ying, Ellodee, Tyler, Dreizack, Barry and Orc fought, their enemies were seemingly protected by an invisible force-field. Even the Enchantress’s charms could not penetrate their adversaries’ minds. Barry and Orc dispatched some enemies, but took mortal wounds which were only stayed by the swift action of their Wayward Warden. Ti Ying was vicious. Dreizack took punishment, too, but seemed unable to penetrate the enemies’ defences. Slowly, the enemy began to be overcome. At the back Rätsel used his most powerful magic to take down the enemy wizard, but his magic could not penetrate his protective field.

When the battle was over only the Animals, their allies, the enemy wizard and his two bodyguards remained.

‘Tielfing, I have come to assess how strong you are. And, to ask this. We wish to have a truce for two days, so that I can mourn my daughter. What say you?’

Daughter? It dawned on the Animals that this enemy was none other than Alistair Ravensly, their main protagonist. The Animals agreed — principally because they thought this wizard was beyond them (for now) — and returned to the Rising Sun.

The night had been illuminating. But, before they could think too much about the chain of events Sinn stepped from the shadows, smiled, and asked: ‘So, are you going to get me the keys?’ What choice did the Animals have?

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