Post by David on Sept 20, 2005 11:16:22 GMT -5
The morning of the 27th began like any other; the heroes gathered for breakfast, preparing to launch another assault on the Temple of Elemental Evil. Andorallan had gone downstairs early for a liquid breakfast in the Waterside Hostel when the whole group heard the sound of combat outside.
Racing outside, Andorallan saw a party of four Grecian adventurers being completely overwhelmed by about thirty brigands. Two were down and two more completely surrounded. Andorallan charged in to the rescue, drawing several brigands away. Ironically, the heroes were not clear precisely the ethics of these two groups as three skeletons protected the body of one of the fallen.
Within moments, the rest of the heroes arrived, making short work of the majority of brigands. Jellie's fear and Trillian's sleep took out the vast majority of the foes, while Soren cut a bloody swath through many more with her hand axes. Right on cue, several leader types arrived, but Trillian's new magical rope quickly overcame these foes as well.
The party then set about trying to figure out what had happened. There was only survivor of the other party, a young cleric of Hades named Thera. Through a bit of interrogation, the heroes discovered that the Greeks had been attacked on accident; the New Heroes had been the real target!
The questioning, however, was cut short when a poisoned dart embedded in one of the men's throats. Andorallan charged into the Hostel, but only found a serving wench, no assassin. Andorallan proceeded to drop the woman, killing her. Thera then spoke with her spirit, learning yet more about the nature of Nulb. It would seem that the majority of the town is in service in one way or another to the nearby Temple.
No wonder Otis is keep his eye on this little den of evil.
But, what to do with the surviving brigands? At least two thirds of them were evil, as revealed by Soren, but murder in cold-blood? Finally, after having to dig graves for their allies, they were released (although Andorallan managed to murder a few in cold blood).
As for the leaders, one had admitted to serial rapes and murders, but the party agreed to release him for his honest revelations. Kara, however, did not agree to it...and rapist hold a certain place in her heart...the man's screams could be heard in town as a sand lion overpowered him, carefully bit of his hands, and ripped off his genitals. Hastily bandaged, he stumbled back into town, Kara saying "now you know what it will be like to be a victim for the rest of your life. Just as you sew, so shall you reap. If only I could have saved your victims their anguish..."
The actual leader of the pirates, the party released in exchange for quite a lot of information. Tolub even admitted that he would love to return and slay the heroes, but that it was unlikely he would have the resources to do that. He also fingered the faction of Earth as those seeking the party's death.
On the 27th, the party carefully went through the various magical items they had recovered from the Brigand leaders. Andorallan read a cursed scroll and was transformed into some sort of brown-furred yeti. He also discovered a powerful urge to eat fresh meat, Jellie's scent being particularly intriguing...but it was the broken husk of the rapist that Andorallan secretly hunted and ate.
In the evening, the heroes began planning their new offensive against the temple, including Thera in their plans. Kara, meanwhile, waited hopefully for Chastity's return, so she could finally be reunited with her far-off family.
Racing outside, Andorallan saw a party of four Grecian adventurers being completely overwhelmed by about thirty brigands. Two were down and two more completely surrounded. Andorallan charged in to the rescue, drawing several brigands away. Ironically, the heroes were not clear precisely the ethics of these two groups as three skeletons protected the body of one of the fallen.
Within moments, the rest of the heroes arrived, making short work of the majority of brigands. Jellie's fear and Trillian's sleep took out the vast majority of the foes, while Soren cut a bloody swath through many more with her hand axes. Right on cue, several leader types arrived, but Trillian's new magical rope quickly overcame these foes as well.
The party then set about trying to figure out what had happened. There was only survivor of the other party, a young cleric of Hades named Thera. Through a bit of interrogation, the heroes discovered that the Greeks had been attacked on accident; the New Heroes had been the real target!
The questioning, however, was cut short when a poisoned dart embedded in one of the men's throats. Andorallan charged into the Hostel, but only found a serving wench, no assassin. Andorallan proceeded to drop the woman, killing her. Thera then spoke with her spirit, learning yet more about the nature of Nulb. It would seem that the majority of the town is in service in one way or another to the nearby Temple.
No wonder Otis is keep his eye on this little den of evil.
But, what to do with the surviving brigands? At least two thirds of them were evil, as revealed by Soren, but murder in cold-blood? Finally, after having to dig graves for their allies, they were released (although Andorallan managed to murder a few in cold blood).
As for the leaders, one had admitted to serial rapes and murders, but the party agreed to release him for his honest revelations. Kara, however, did not agree to it...and rapist hold a certain place in her heart...the man's screams could be heard in town as a sand lion overpowered him, carefully bit of his hands, and ripped off his genitals. Hastily bandaged, he stumbled back into town, Kara saying "now you know what it will be like to be a victim for the rest of your life. Just as you sew, so shall you reap. If only I could have saved your victims their anguish..."
The actual leader of the pirates, the party released in exchange for quite a lot of information. Tolub even admitted that he would love to return and slay the heroes, but that it was unlikely he would have the resources to do that. He also fingered the faction of Earth as those seeking the party's death.
On the 27th, the party carefully went through the various magical items they had recovered from the Brigand leaders. Andorallan read a cursed scroll and was transformed into some sort of brown-furred yeti. He also discovered a powerful urge to eat fresh meat, Jellie's scent being particularly intriguing...but it was the broken husk of the rapist that Andorallan secretly hunted and ate.
In the evening, the heroes began planning their new offensive against the temple, including Thera in their plans. Kara, meanwhile, waited hopefully for Chastity's return, so she could finally be reunited with her far-off family.
