Session 038 Nightmares in daylight and Horin learns to surf

Session Details

Session Date:
Game Date:

Session Summary

Synopsis

The abbey marshals its evil forces to keep the party from taking the children.

This Session

    Luthaist manages to snake up behind Stirkirk and locks him out of the Abbey in the gathering storm. He then stealthily moves along the west and south walls back towards the main building avoiding the shambling corpses of the kids moving into the courtyard. In the meantime the demon appears to have regenerated somewhat and begins slowly advancing toward the children. The rest of the party works their way downstairs to the entrance floor where the kids begin to act even more strangely. The party debates whether to leave the abby or stay while some malevolent force speaks to each of their fears within their now mind - they begin to argue over the best course of action. The demon now hanging from its perch over the stairs unleashes another cloud of poison gas wounding and killing some of the kids. Its joined by its shadowy companion who leaps through the hole in the floor and torments both the party and the kids already there.

    Gallandrin casts rope trick and has the kids flee up into an extra dimensional void while the remainder of the party rushes back upstairs to attack the demon. Gallandrin finds a few more kids in a far room and rushes them past the demon with a lightning bolt to cover their retreat. The ensuing battle is truly to the better end for the demon at least, as defeat here on a plane other than the material means permanent death. Its claws and teeth prove no match for arcane weapons and divine inspiration as it falls at last. 

    Yet the battle is not over as upon the gathering storm brings the nightmare and its rider along with a strange fog that rolls into the building. This time they smash through the roof where the rider pokes and prods at the party with its blackened lance. Outmatched they flee back down the stairs and gather the kids to send them down the slope to the houses below - the shadow demon in pursuit as Luthaist rushes into the building. Horin and Mourn watch over them realizing they wont make it before the demon is upon them - Horin decides to leap upon his shield and ride it to the bottom but loses his balance careening through the fence below. 

    In the Abbey Ragnum, Gallandrin begin a fighting withdrawal to buy time to get the kids out of the while Luthaist makes his way down the hill just behind the last of the kids. After Luthaist douses it with holy water it dissipates into the fog, while the kids attempt to flee in two different directions along the fence. Horin still unbalanced from his "fall" makes a running grab for a child, stumbles hard, and crushes him instead. Luthaist and Mourn manage to grab the remainder while Horin casts spare the dying on the injured child as they duck for cover in the nearest house. Atop the hill Ragnum and Gallandrin prepare for battle while Luthaist runs back up the hill to lend assistance.

Session Results

Experience

• XP 460 defeating the fiends
• XP 1000 finding the other children upstairs and getting the entire group to the village below

Individual Experience Bonus

• Gallandrin: XP 600 - Quick thinking casting rope trick to hide the kids
• Horin: XP 710 - Comedic relief, riding the shield down the hill, successful taunting of the demon, healing
• Luthaist: XP 250 - Playing in character, sowing doubt, use of holy water

Treasure

•  9 Kids

Tasks or Quests

• Recover the High Priest and Elvish clan lord along with the stolen dwarf artifacts from the demi-plane.
• Recover the dwarves relic from Logeth Hold
• Advance north and secure an old ruined keep in the Ripper Highlands for the demi-human army to use as a stronghold for upcoming raids north.

Rumors or Intelligence Gained

• The prisoners may held in the dungeons of Azal'Lan's castle.
• On rare occasions small black skinned humanoids (possibly Drow) have been seen outside the town.

NPC's of Note

• Dimitri - Innkeeper and mayor
• Ileena - Inkeeper, wife of Dimitri
• Aileen - Half-elven spy and body guard
• Stirkirk - Dwarven mercenary captain