Session 4 – Kojo’s Last Stand
Campaign I, session 4. Previous: Session 3. Next: Session 5.
Pash is despondent about the loss of Val. Alwyn wants to collect some evidence on Peleos’ involvement with the bandits. Singil is out for blood. Casino just wants to make money. So, the party agrees to leave the bodies of the fallen with the men-at-arms and head straight back into the dome to attack the human bandits.
Travain says the inspirational words “As they said to us, we say unto them: FUCK IT!”, at which point Singil breaks down the door and… the brigands, having recruited back up to their full complement in the intervening time, are completely unsurprised and also roll incredibly for initiative on their first couple of rounds.
Singil is dropped early, as are a couple of bandits. When her wounds are checked, she has lost an ear, but will recover. No longer in fighting shape, she looks for an opportunity to apply her healing skills to others. Travain takes a slice to the face, splitting his nose and jaw. Kojo’s leg is hacked off. Nevu takes a blow to the head and collapses, stunned.
Despite these hits, the PCs and their henches are able to overcome the initial bandits as well as two waves of reinforcements, taking two prisoners. They surmise that another wave is laying an ambush ahead, so they stop to bind their wounded and assess the situation. While Singil applies healing herbs, Alwyn spots that one of the broken statues is slightly off-kilter and shoves it off it’s base to reveal a hidden compartment with a handful of amethysts. He attempts to pilfer the gems unnoticed, but Casino catches the glint.
Sadly, Singil’s efforts are insufficient to save Kojo from blood loss, and he dies on the way back to the cart, cursing the world and asking for his possessions to be burned so that they can benefit nobody else. The party makes their way to the nearby homestead to stay the night. Despite their wounds, the party is well enough to continue operating, but decides to return to Teryk with their prisoners. Along the way, Travain uses his newly horrifying visage to intimidate the prisoners into admitting that Peleos was working with their band to fence goods.
In Teryk, the party hears news that a Shulassakar – one of the feathered serpents, divine Keepers of the Binding Flame – has arrived in Teryk, causing a major stir. They attend to their business first, delivering the prisoners and their testimony to Count Varnel, who rewards them for their efforts and sends for Peleos, who has apparently fled. The Count then suggests they share their newfound information with his advisors.
The local historian and annalist, Hometri Soccolo, surmises from their descriptions that this temple was once dedicated to the Daughter of Khyber, sometimes called Tiamat. He drew them a symbol to look out for as confirmation. Attendant Garalen of the local hospital, upon hearing the party’s story, offers to repair the party’s wounds, though he warns them that “this will subject you to the scrutiny of Talavosh, who may pass his own judgment on you.” Travain, desperate to restore his beauty accepts, as does Hugo, who’s leg was injured previously. Neither character faces any lasting issues – this time.
Alwyn checks in with the local thieves’ guild and is granted an honorary membership for helping to remove Peleos. Through Alwyn, the party can now hire ruffians to perform hijinks on their behalf. Pash hires a few carousers to listen for rumors, particularly about any kobold bands in the area (for Meathead’s sake). Sadly, the only news on that front is that someone saw some smallish bodies stuck in giant spiderwebs. Meathead wrestles with the fact that his people are gone, and ultimate clings to Pash to lead him.
In the following few days, the party hires on several additional henches (to be named later), with a heavier focus on frontline armor, planning to return to the dome and press their advantage, hoping to collect the bounty on Drusus before he can recruit reinforcements.
Singil recruits an Orcblooded paladin candidate named Abiyir Ar-Ujdan, who has spent some time as a local judge before hearing the calling of Numilvara.
Pashlateen has hired a hedge wizard named [???] as a replacement valet, who wishes no longer to be an apprentice for Malyn, the local wizard. Pash attempted to hire the Shulassakar adventurer, who politely but firmly declined, and combed the local ranks of soldiers for any other unusual races, eventually hiring a dwarven warrior named [????].
Casino wanted to hire a cook from the local soldiery. Sadly, casino’s translation module malfunctioned when attempting on the first recruitment attempt, and the candidate left in a huff, annoyed and insulted. When the second candidate arrived, Casino offered a substantial wage to overcome his handicap, and was able to hire a human warrior named [??].
Alwyn attempted to hire another mage apprentice, but the candidate backed out – “perhaps this isn’t the right group for me.”