Following up on the generalized looting they climb to the top floor and ransack the commander’s bedroom, seizing several magic items and a wardrobe full of fine clothing – left behind. They exit through a concealed door and find themselves in a short hallway – they hear some noise around the corner and move to investigate – but a portcullis drops from the ceiling and blocks their path. An orcish face pokes out from around the corner, surveys the scene and then the sound of running feet and slamming doors announces their swift departure from the area.
The group backtracks and races down the stairs to the ground floor and manages to slay the soldiers before they can escape. With the tower still under their control, they do a bit of ruminating and eventually latch onto the idea that the attacking force is headed towards the fortified town that anchors the defenses of the northern region. The paladin opines that the group has an obligation to warn the town of the impending attack and to aid if possible. The mage is dispatched to provide the warning but after he returns a more powerful case is made for aiding in the defense of the town.
It is too far to ride and flying will take too long, but a little extra-planar jaunt deposits the party within bow shot of the walls. They enter and confer with the garrison commander.
When the attackers come into view, it is a formidable sight. Some hundred mailed and well armed human foot soldiers, about 60 overly muscled and homicidal ‘uruk-hai’ and a phalanx of undead – perhaps a hundred skeletons and a couple dozen zombies. Near the rear of the grouping sit three figures on horseback, presumably commanding the attack.
It is clear that this would certainly pose a grave threat to the town, but the defenders are greatly encouraged when the flying mage begins launching fireballs into the massed ranks of orcs and humans. Meanwhile, the cleric flies into battle with his helm of brilliance glowing, he erects a wall of fire and simply sweeps through the ranks of undead, leaving behind a charred trail of bones and burning turf. Within seconds of joining the fray, the group has managed to wreak havoc on the battle plans of ‘Lord Arliss’ and the horsemen flee the scene post-haste while the group helps the defenders mop up the rabble that are left. Some prisoners are taken the the Purple Dragon commander vows to get to the bottom of the issue.
the cleric takes advantage of the situation to talk up the power of Torm and extol his virtues to the townsfolk and military members alike.
After taking a victory lap and participating in t a celebratory feast, the esteemed adventurers pass through their extra-planar gate and return to Arabel…to have a meeting with the bard that set them upon this trail in the first place and to see what he chooses from the treasure accumulated so far…
Leave a reply