Bandaluthia Session 61

Session 61

The rescuers – Milo, Kharkin, Jean-Luc and Pandora – had returned with Sylvie. After a confusing set of comments from the elf, they were not sure whether she had thanked them or threatened them. Their next job was now explained to them by Thelonius. Together with Freda they were to travel to an island south of Palanthia City and destroy four ancient monuments. The power of these monuments, Thelonius explained, was in some sense linked to a battle between the party’s sponsor, and a group of dangerous enemies. He briefly explained the process through which these monuments were to be destroyed, using a magical explosive device.

As the party left to gather equipment – the now helpful Sylvie offering to get hold of the rations – Milo was approached by one of the elders from the Temple of Kord. It transpired that the bandit that had been converted to Kord was of limited use to them, and Milo was offered him as a henchman. He accepted Felix into his service.

The journey to the island, via magic carpet, was swift and exhilarating. On landing the party had some difficulty getting ashore – dropped off as they were on a reef some distance out to sea. Once they all gained the beach they had something to eat. Freda remarked on how tasty and unusual the dried meat was.

As the party left the beach they heard whispering in the grasses below them. They continued until they reached a forest. On stepping into the forest they shrunk to a tiny size and encountered small sylvan creatures with wings. The pixies questioned the party about who they were and what they wanted. They questioned them about names some had heard in passing – Ruth, Jo-Arne, N’Thaal Dar. The party said little and were eventually allowed to pass. After a brief fight with a monstrous centipede the party reached a part of the forest where they were restored to their normal height. Looking back it seemed they had travelled a yard or less from the forest’s edge.

They pressed on until they found a stone platform with a set of steps going down beneath – the Labyrinth. They cautiously advanced, Pandora now leading since they were below ground. After travelling some distance down the stone staircase a room opened up ahead of them. Inside, a strange-shaped installation lay before them, tracing out a three-pointed curved shape. It glowed blue.

Under Pandora’s direction the charges were set and the party simultaneously set the timers. However, something went wrong. An almighty explosion rocked the room bringing debris and rock down. The party also felt themselves dropping.

Caught as she was between all three of the charges, and still holding one of them when it blew, Pandora was blasted from all directions. Her legs shattered, her ribs collapsed, her innards practically pulped. The drop did not add significantly to her almost certainly fatal wounds...

Some unknown time later Pandora heard the plaintive voice of Kharkin asking if anyone else was alive. She replied that she was. She hurt all over and was apparently under quite a lot of rock. No wonder the dwarf had survived. Rock to him seemed as good as a healing draght. The pair soon found each other in the rubble and set about finding the others. Each of them seemed to have faired better than either the dwarf or the Tiefling. The dwarf used the power of Moradin to cure Milo, the half Orc Cleric of Kord, and between them they began to heal the others to bring them round.

Pandora kept looking at the state of her clothing, and wondering how she survived. True she was sore all over, but her skin showed no damage from the wound that had practically severed her leather leggings. This was the curse of her line. The curse she held to be a fairy tale; designed to impress youngsters with the importance of their bloodline. She was regenerating.

After coming-to they dusted themselves off. It seemed the floor had collapsed some 200 feet, and the doorway could be seen high above them. Another doorway exited the room from the level they were now on. At least this part of the monument was destroyed.

The party set about healing themselves. First Kharkin, then Milo cast cure light wounds on Sylvie. Milo’s spell was limited in effect, and Sylvie noticed this – ‘is that it?’ remarked the elf. Then, metaphorically, all hell broke loose. Felix, incensed by Sylvie’s lack of respect, shot her at point-blank range with a short bow. She stepped behind Milo, seeking protection, and Pandora punched the hireling in the face. He dropped like a stone. The Tiefling then helped Sylvie pull the arrow out and more healing was administered to her, to stem the wound.

The party now considered their predicament. Up, or into the Labyrinth? They decided to leave the way they had come and tied together ropes. First Pandora scaled the rock wall; then Sylvie. The beautiful half-elf from Brolin was next, followed by Jean-Luc. Milo struggled up the wall next, and the group then began hauling the unconscious dead-weight Felix up. They dropped him once, but Kharkin ministered healing to him at the bottom. The second time they managed to get Milo’s henchman to the top. He was put at the back as Freda (at the front), Milo, Jean-Luc, Pandora and Sylvie hauled the rope and dragged the stone dwarf to the top.

The group then set to leave. But, it seemed the unfortunate Felix had expired in the meantime. They dragged his body with them up the corridor. Near the top, still in the dark corridor, Sylvie suggested: ‘Since we’re going to blow the top off the monument might it be a good idea to leave Felix’s body here so he can be fittingly buried?’ The party agreed and the hireling remained in the darkness. A further charge was set and the stone monument was brought down on the henchman’s body. Pandora again volunteering to be the one who set the charge, having discussed the merits of different handling of magical devices with the Tolousian wizard.

Her careful handling was to no avail. She funbled the tricky move Jean-Luc advised, and once more the blast was almost immediate. This time though, being wary if an impending bang, she was able to leap and missed much of the blast, being blown several yards out of the entrance.

‘May he rejoice in Kord’s Feasthall’ remarked Milo. ‘Dried horse-meat anyone?’ asked Sylvie.

Pandora eyed the elf ranger sideways and frowned, knowing what she had seen her do, but said nothing.

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