Bandaluthia Session 59

Lupa remained in the inn. Roth awaited the party outside town. Barry, falsely accused of rape, had cast gaseous form on himself and long-since left the militia barracks. In turn, each member was interrogated. Held as they were in separate cells, each had a dilemma. Negri denied all knowledge of the attempted theft. Coolio explained the group were on an extremely important mission and the Captain would get in trouble if they held them up further. Tyler also sought to place doubt in the Captain’s mind, explaining that the party were seeking to counter an undead threat from the north. They were on a special Bandaluthian mission and she was an important military figure. Finally, Dreizack apologised for attempting to take the key, and explained that the halfling was their leader and spoke for them all. As a soldier he could say no more and if his lot was to be tortured then so be it.

Some days later Colonel Virgil arrived and spoke to Tyler. Although he denied all knowledge of the mission to the Captain, Tyler was informed, via telepathy, that an attempt to free them would be made once they reached the high-security stockade to which they were to be taken (once sentenced).

A few days later the four remaining members of the group were led, in turn, into the dock. The judge stood before them and each was offered a plea-bargain. Admit their guilt and they would be set-free, sans their equipment. Otherwise they were to be sentenced to prison-terms of between 7 and 20 years. Coolio and Tyler declined the judge’s offer. Negri and Dreizack, unaware as they were of the immanent rescue attempt, accepted. The former two were escorted to a high-security prison-cart, while Negri and Dreizack were escorted to the border of Brolin where they met-up with a small group of Kifko’s barbarians, who took them back to Bandaluthia. Barry, Lupa and Roth returned their own way, while Coolio and Tyler began their incarceration. The showers were chilly, but that was the least of Coolio’s worries.

In the meantime the rest of the Animals had returned from the south, with another key. They began to relax in the Rising Sun. Important figures began to arrive. Among these were Jo-Arne and, eventually, Ruth. Sinn had turned up, and sat in the corner of the room, enjoying the game. ‘So’ began Ruth ‘where have you been, what have you been doing, and why did you sell 500,000gp worth of moondust for 25,000gp, mentioning my name as your sponsor.’ The group began to squirm. Ellodee explained that the ‘moondust’ incident had been her fault and she realised as soon as she’d said it that she’d made a mistake. In the meantime the others told Ruth that the Ravensley’s had been seeking the Keys of Shar Shakiron, and they had been searching for them in an attempt to keep them away from the Guild’s enemies. Ruth pressed the issue – ‘and who are you attempting to get them for?’ The party felt trapped between two powerful foes, either of which could kill them with a flick of their hand. ‘Better they argue with each other’, thought Rätsel. ‘Er, … him’, stated the Tiefling, pointing at Sinn. The Animals were ordered to leave at this point.

On their return Ruth informed them of their fate. They were to carry on searching for the Keys, but pay a fine of 500,000gp in recompense for making her look like a criminal-underworld lightweight. The party provided a deposit of 50,000gp.

The refit of the Red Charlotte went well, and the curse-breakers were paid. Thelonius was installed as Ship’s Wizard and the party began to gather what they needed, including a cargo of 1000gp of wool, for their voyage to the southern oceans. News also came to the party, via Sinn, that the others had been captured and an attempt would be made to free them. Concerned as they were that one of the keys would be lost, they persuaded Sinn to teleport one of them into the strong room where the key held by Coolio was stored. Rätsel was sent, and located the key quickly, via the spell detect magic. He then got what he could of the rest of the party’s magic equipment (only Negri’s, Barry’s and Dreizack’s was there) and, while being shot-at by Guards (he had cast hold portal on the gate) he also liberated a number of other mundane magic items. Once returning to the Rising Sun he placed the group’s equipment in the strong room, with the other items, in the hope they would look there for their kit on their return.

Ti Ying, Ellodee, Gannon, Orc, Shaniqua, Thelonius and Rätsel went to their ship. It was impressive, adorned as it was with blood-red sails. The semi-clad statue of a bare-chested whore on the font was testament to their past; their ship evidence of how far they had come. The sailors stood ready and the first-mate, newly promoted to Acting Captain, turned to Ellodee and asked if they could set sail. She nodded, and the vessel slowly began to move.