Bandaluthia Session 62

Bandaluthia 62

Each Animal felt a jolt, a rushing of air and a blast of grit as if caught in a sandstorm. Then each found themselves on a small sandy island. They recognised each other. However, in addition there was an individual unknown to any of them: a heavily-muscled male human wearing red clothes. ‘So’, the stranger announced, ‘what did you want to say?’ He looked to Tyler. She began to pace and shout at Dreizack and Negri – ‘Why did you leave us to rot in Brolin? Why did you desert us?’ Sensing the tension, Ti Ying and Rätsel went to stand between her and the attention of her ire. Dreizack tried to reason, but badly misjudged the situation – now, it transpired, was not the time to suggest to Tyler that maybe she should have left with them. The Guard drew her blades and tore into Dreizack, wounding him slightly. He stepped back, and pressed his vambrace. His armour covered him, but he did not draw his blade. Tyler stepped forward again, and struck once more. The armour absorbed some of the strike. Dreizack tried to block the advancing Tyler with his shield. ‘Are you going to fight?’ asked the unknown human. Dreizack shook his head.

The surroundings spun and next the group found the island transformed. A round dining table, laid with food, was before them. It transpired the human was Sinn, and Tyler was incapacitated. He woke her, and the debate started. Her loathing and sense of betrayal towards Negri and Dreizack was apparent. More than one of the other Animals felt unsettled – they would have done the same as the former Tiefling and the Dragonborn. Was this to be the moment the Animals unravelled?

‘Er, you sister’s abroad Rätsel’ announced the red dragon, as if trying to defuse the situation with a change of subject. ‘She’s trying to blow up some monuments on the Arthurian Island. The colour drained from Thelonius’s face – the touch paper was lit. ‘What, WHAT … Those are all that keeps the servants of our enemies – the orcs, goblins and minotaurs – at bay. If they succeed the war with Ravensleys will be lost. All manner of imprisoned evil which was imprisoned will return. You must stop them.’ Faced with the external threat, the Animals sprang into action.

The two parties decided to reconfigure themselves, and asked Tyler who she should like to travel with. Moments later she set out via a flying boat to the Island, with Coolio, Gannon, Orc, Shaniqua and Rätsel.

Meanwhile, on the Island, Jean-Luc, Freda, Milo, Pandora, Kharkin and Sylvie pressed on to the second monument. Struggling across a rope-bridge they eventually found their way to a mighty stone figure of a dragon. The charges were set, and an explosion ripped through the air. Dust and rock settled, and a naked female figure lay before them. The breeze cast the rock-dust about, she opened her eyes and looked up. ‘Who are you?' She paused. 'Where are we?' Again, a moment's thought. 'Who am I?’