Flashback - Savage Tides of Kalamar - Session 16

 Session 16
The Big Brawl
November 29, 2008

Players:

Sean – Dorian Windseeker, High Elf Ranger/Rogue

Gary – Katan, Half-Hobgoblin Paladin

Bec – Arianne, Grey Elf Cleric of The Lantern

Rebec – Quillathe, Grey Elf Paladin of The Lantern

Steve – Tylock, Human Fighter

Sherry – Michella, Human Wizard

Will – Solveliss, High Elf Sorcerer

Dave – Razik, Human Fighter/Rogue

We pick up with the party in a hidden temple somewhere under Freeport…

As Brother Egil finishes his story sounds of movement emanate from the hall. The heroes draw weapons and prepare spells as at least a dozen serpent men rush the temple, enraged. The battle is surprisingly brief as the degenerate fiends are cut down and blasted apart by the now veteran adventurers. None of the creatures survive and they inflict only minor wounds.

Razik notices a secret door behind the idol atop the temple dais. Investigating, the band finds another steep shaft leading upwards. Dorian secures a rope and makes the ascent. he emerges in what appears to be a wine cellar (an unfortunatley poorly-stocked wine cellar, he notes) and drops the rope down to the rest of the party. Moving uptairs, they quickly determine that they are in a house – a rather nice, large house.

On the top floor the group encounters a gang of assassins who appear to have already been at work – but who are not finished yet! Ambushed, the party is pressed at first but then numbers and toughness begin to tell and only one memeber of the gang, the toughest, nastiest one, escapes through a window, slides down the roof, and bounds off into the city streets.

Searching the upper rooms, the heroes find the mangled body of Lord Verlaine, hacked up in his own bed. The party finds some evidence that they are to be blamed for this incident and begin discussing how to deal with that.

Meanwhile, Quillathe has been trying to get Tylock raised from the dead, which is turning out to be a little more difficult than expected. She eventually does find the donations neccessary and a temple that is willing to do it, and 5,000 gp later Tylock is back among the living. Quillathe and the still – recovering Tylock head for the temple of the Mule.

Coincidentally, the rest of the party has also decided to head for the temple and our heroes finally reunite there. Comparing notes, the group is convinced that the serpent cultists of the Brotherhood of Yig will attack the temple soon. Sure enough, bands of priests and acolytes begin showing up bloodied and bruised, saying they were attacked while in the city streets by hooded strangers. As more and more of them show up, the party gets a funny feeling and at this moment the new arrivals throw off their robes and are revealed as bloodthisty cultists!

The real clerics and acolytes attempt to protect their elderly high priest but are taking a serious beating at the hands of the brotherhood. Our heroes target certain leaders of the brotherhood, including one familiar looking fellow from earlier in the day – the assassin! Much magic is used in this vcious fight – blesses, heals, magic missles, even web spells are thrown and ensnare many opponents. Finally though, the superior skill of the party turns the tide and the invaders are defeated. Several followers of the Mule have fallen, but the high priest still stands…for now. Leaning on swords and staves, the party catches its breath.

DM Notes (2012) - Three  big battles in one session! Serpent Men revealed! The safety of the Temple of Knowledge compromised! This session was a lot of fun and while it was close at times and the players felt they were right on the edge, no one died - it was a razor sharp session and everyone was into it the entire time which was hard to do sometimes with a group this size. One of the high points of the campaign.