26 July 2016

Averaigne campaign - session 20



[The story so far]

Session 20 - Is it the end of the world, or just the end of the adventure?
Those still fit to fight (Dumnorix, Aurelius, Oiseau, Montagne, Tybalt, Jean, and about a dozen watchmen) checked their weapons and armour, shared out the remaining handful of Black Jacques Specials [in effect, Molotovs] and headed for the great Temple of Alathea that formed the heart of the great and ancient city of Corcelle. The remaining Vespertine Guards had fled into the dark but it seemed likely some would be heading in that direction. The streets were dark and quiet. Any citizens who heard the disturbance had bolted their doors and shutters, all the panic of the Temple's desecration flooding back. The party and the dwindling watch were on their own.



As they approached the Temple, it too was in darkness save for an unearthly flame billowing up into the night sky from where the Flame of Alathea normally burned. Aurelius, having been told about the success of the flanking ambush on the Vespertines, wanted to carry out an ambush of his own and lead three of the Watch around to the West side of the Temple while the others advanced carefully on the Northern edge. Only Tybalt hung back; two near death experiences in twelve hours had taken their toll, with strands of hair falling out whenever he pushed his fringe back.

The main party spread out into a line as they carefully stalked their way through the densely pillared portico towards the central plaza in which the unnatural flame burned. Oiseau's ears popped and he swallowed heavily trying to sort them out, while Dumnorix felt dizzy. "It's coming from that flame," muttered the cleric of Alathea. "What devilry are they committing?"

They paused uneasily on the edge of the portico, trying to make out what they faced. The whole plaza was fitfully illuminated by the purplish-blue flame, in some places glinting off helmets and speartips of the remaining Vespertines, but the light wasn't constant or reliable. What couldn't be missed, however, was the guttural chanting that came from the eight robed figures standing in a ritual circle around the flame, arms raised and circling it, sidestepping counterclockwise.


"The fiends!" swore Dumnorix. Just then, one of the watchmen lost his nerve and threw his lit bottle; it was a poor throw, as were the rest of them that followed instinctively. They all crashed uselessly to the cobbles doing nothing but alert the Vespertines to the party, and then both sides charged straight for each other, blades drawn. The fight was fierce, brutal, and no quarter was given or asked, the floor of the temple was soon slick with blood from both sides. It was a strangely quiet fight, the atmosphere deadened by the malign influence of the flame.

Spotting an opportunity to attack the cultists with the Vespertines engaged, Aurelius and his men rushed out of the shadows. The wizard had his staff raised high but tripped and fell hard on the stone slabs, nearly knocking himself out. His companions went to the aid of their fellows, cutting into the Vespertines from behind and allowing Jean and Oiseau to run at the robed figures. Jean cut his down and was horrified to see the snarling visage of a gnoll under the hood, Oiseau's target was human but had been warned by Jean's attack and did not succumb.

The cultists were aware of their danger now and withdrew to the far side of the flame as Dumnorix charged in. The swing from his polehammer lifted the nearest robed figure from its feet and hurled it back into the flame itself. He was incinerated immediately, the flame growing in height and intensity, burning with flickers of orange, green, red, and, impossibly, black flames!

Now the remaining cultists retaliated. One clamped glowing hands to either side of the head of a watchman who screamed briefly then fell lifeless to the floor.


Another sent a bolt of green flame that washed over Jean's shield, not injuring him but slowing his advance enough that the two ended up in an evenly matched sword versus magic melee. Montagne fared better, braining one cleric and charging into the one who had killed the watchman.

Finding himself not engaged, Dumnorix turned his attention to the clear leader of the cultists. With an incoherent cry of righteous fury, he charged... Aractheon's cleric raised a hand and from the depths of his hood came a pressure wave that shimmered the air more completely than the heat from a blacksmiths forge. It struck Dumnorix square in the chest and hurled him thirty feet to land a crumpled and unconscious rag doll in an ignominious pile.



Aurelius was back on his feet and belaboured an unsuspecting cultist with his staff, determined to do his bit. Montagne slew his current foe and turned on the evil cleric, spinning his morningstar menacingly and advancing cautiously. Tybalt had heard the clamour and seen the flash of spellcasting, he snuck in to the temple but a combination of odd lighting and his earlier travails meant he failed miserably to shoot anything. Jean had just triumphed over his adversary and was about to turn on the spider-god's cleric when a group of armed men came out of the side chambers of the temple - it was Berignon, Alaric and other priests of Alathea, in chains, but Jean had never met those men, it was the guards that caught his eye. A couple of Vespertines, a couple in the livery of green with a white fox's head of de Frith, and there, leading them, was Henri de Frith himself! "Traitor! Murderer!" he yelled and charged at the man he felt responsible for his master's cowardly slaughter.



"Stop them! If they get them into the flames, gods only know what will happen!" shrieked Aurelius, flapping across the paving to obstruct the prisoners.

Montagne wasn't going to take his eyes off the leader, and wisely so. He advanced, but the cleric raised a hand and then suddenly clenched it into a fist. The ex prize-fighter felt his lungs squeeze as though they were being pulled through his chest, but it lasted only a moment. Then a coiling black strip of no-light twisted through the air and cut him savagely across his cheek. But now he was close enough and he ran. Ran as fast as he could, knowing if he missed he would die and maybe the world with him. With every ounce of his strength he brought his mace down, down, crashing into the chest of the cleric where it embedded briefly, before evaporating and spitting like water dropped onto a hot pan. On his knees, Montagne waited for the end. The cleric seemed to grow in size, arms raised aloft, pulsing with near-visible power, darkness pooling around him... except at the point where the mace had hit him. He brought his hands down sharply in front of him and a jagged line of light appeared in the air. He reached forward and pulled it apart, an opening in the air, and stepped through. It snapped shut behind him; he was gone. The flame, too, vanished and with it the feelings of nausea that had afflicted our heroes.

Someone hit Jean in the side of the head and de Frith and his remaining men ran off into the now-normal darkness, abandoning their prisoners.

The temple fell silent. They had won. For now.


*****

Two successive saves against spells, followed by a modified 21 to hit, and 10 damage by Montagne was enough to persuade Aractheon's cleric off through a portal to... somewhere else. Their combat rolls generally must have been blessed by Alathea because they just became unstoppable in hher temple. I do hope it won't make them rash in future... mwahahaahahah!

Epilogue, and new story arc, to follow, but that was our last session until next academic year in September.

37 comments:

  1. You're performing admirably, and I'm genuinely impressed by your recent work. I came across a post about cricket not too long ago, and it's clear they're excelling too. Asian cricket championship

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're doing a great job, mate! I'm really impressed with your work. I have come across a website that provides information related to books and books. Hayde Miller Books I like their work and want you to benefit from it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "You're doing a fantastic job, my friend! I'm truly amazed by your dedication. Just a few days ago, I stumbled upon a website type beat that's excelling in every way, and I wanted to pass it along to you. I believe you can glean valuable insights and benefits from it as well."

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're performing exceptionally, my friend! Your unwavering dedication is truly astonishing. I chanced upon a website that's excelling in every aspect LAMTOGEL just a few days ago, and I thought of sharing it with you. I'm confident that you can extract valuable insights and advantages from it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I must commend your commendable efforts and express my genuine amazement at the outstanding quality of your work. Nevertheless, I recently came across another website that has been achieving remarkable success as well. I believe it's worth exploring the potential for your website to grow and evolve in a similar fashion. This might entail adopting some of the successful strategies and approaches employed by the other site, which has undeniably made significant progress. By pursuing this avenue, we can aspire to amplify the impact and reach BMW steering wheels of your website, ensuring it maintains its competitiveness and continues to excel in its field.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You're doing an excellent job, my friend! I'm genuinely impressed with your work. A few days ago, I came across a website that's performing exceptionally, roofers near me and I thought I'd share this with you so you can also reap the benefits from it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your work is truly impressive! I recently discovered a fantastic website that's excelling in its performance. I wanted to share it with Miami metal roofing contractors you so that you can also benefit from it. Great job, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I must express my admiration for your remarkable work! Lately, I stumbled upon an extraordinary website that truly stands out for its outstanding performance. I couldn't resist the urge to share this discovery Online Certification Courses with you, as I believe it can bring tremendous value to your online experience. Kudos, my dear friend, for the outstanding job you've done!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm truly impressed by your outstanding work! Recently, I came across a remarkable website with exceptional performance. I couldn't wait to share it with you, as I think it'll greatly enhance your online experience. Prepaid Cards Kudos to you, my dear friend, for your exceptional efforts!

    ReplyDelete
  10. In the ominous darkness of Corcelle, the party, armed with Black Jacques Specials, advanced toward the Temple of Alathea. The once-holy place now glowed with an unnatural flame, and a fierce battle unfolded against Vespertine Guards and robed cultists, revealing dark secrets and a devastating power surge within the temple's flame.





    ReplyDelete
  11. Creating a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed invitation is a surefire way to inject a burst of excitement into any event! Just imagine the thrill of receiving an sonic the hedgehog invitation invitation that channels the energy and speed of everyone's favorite blue blur. From vibrant colors to iconic rings, crafting a Sonic-inspired invite guarantees a spin-dashing start to your celebration!

    ReplyDelete

  12. I would like to commend you on
    Gamingboss your excellent work; it has proven to be both impressive and incredibly beneficial to me. Recently, I discovered a website dedicated to online application.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The effort put into crafting such insightful content is truly commendable. Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you for sharing this valuable information. I also come with a website which is providing valuable information about the work boots. https://bootsphile.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. The idea of the end of the world or the end of an adventure can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the context in which it is presented. In a literal sense, the end of the world typically refers to catastrophic events that lead to the destruction of the planet or humanity. However, in a more metaphorical or philosophical sense, the end of the world can symbolize significant changes, transitions, or the conclusion of a particular era.

    On the other hand, the end of an adventure suggests the completion of a journey or a series of experiences. It doesn't necessarily imply a catastrophic outcome but rather marks the conclusion of a particular narrative or set of events.

    The perspective you choose to adopt largely depends on the context in which you encounter the phrase. In literature, movies, or personal reflection, the end of the world or the end of an adventure can carry different meanings and emotions. It could signify loss, transformation, rebirth, or simply the cyclical nature of beginnings and endings.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I recently discovered your seafood restaurant staten island website, and I'm genuinely impressed! The layout is user-friendly, and the content is both informative and visually appealing.
    It's clear that a lot of thought and effort went into creating this space.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You're excelling in your efforts, and your work is both impressive and incredibly beneficial for me. Likewise,
    I recently led rasvjeta discovered a website related to led rasvjeta, and it's proving to be highly effective.
    I wanted to share this find stubišna rasvjeta with you, hoping that you can also derive benefits from it, just as I have.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You're excelling in your efforts, and your work is both impressive and incredibly beneficial for me. Likewise,
    I recently blackfyre discovered a government contracting website related to blackfyre, and it's proving to be highly effective.
    I wanted to share this find with you, hoping that you can also derive benefits from it, just as I have.


    ReplyDelete
  18. You're excelling in your efforts, and your work is both impressive and incredibly beneficial for me. Likewise,
    I recently discovered a website Website onderhoud en optimalisatie related to you, and it's Dezigny.nl proving to be highly effective.
    I wanted to share this Dezigny.nl find with you, hoping that you can also derive benefits from it, just as I have.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You're excelling in your efforts, and your work is both impressive and incredibly beneficial for me. Likewise,
    I recently meetwise discovered a Productive Meetings website related to meetwise, and it's proving to be highly effective.
    I wanted to share this find with you, hoping that you can also derive benefits from it, just as I have.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about Elimination of Fear

    ReplyDelete
  21. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about Italian Honeymoon Package

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about domains

    ReplyDelete
  23. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about Smart home



    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm very impressed with your work,gaming boss! It has been quite beneficial for me. Speaking of which, I stumbled across a website aimed at online packages that I thought you might find interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about bike accessories

    ReplyDelete
  26. The phrase "the end of the world" is often used metaphorically to describe significant and sometimes challenging events or situations. It does not necessarily mean the literal end of the planet. In the context of "the end of the adventure," it suggests the conclusion of a particular journey, experience, or phase in life.

    So, rather than signifying a global catastrophe, it likely implies the conclusion of a specific chapter or period, possibly prompting reflection on the experiences gained, lessons learned, and the anticipation of new beginnings or adventures. It's a perspective on transitions and change rather than an apocalyptic scenario.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about E-Bike Recycling

    ReplyDelete
  28. Urnotinvited offers a fantastic selection of digital invitations for all occasions. Their designs are stylish and modern, perfect for those looking to make a statement with their event invitations. I highly recommend checking them out!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about Subway menu

    ReplyDelete
  31. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about sofia to plovdiv transfer

    ReplyDelete
  32. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about extended essay tutor


    ReplyDelete
  33. An seo experts in dubai is a professional skilled in optimizing websites for better visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. These experts employ a variety of strategies and techniques to improve a website's ranking on the search engine results pages (SERPs), with the ultimate goal of driving more organic traffic to the site.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about buying guide .

    ReplyDelete
  35. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about aerial surveying .

    ReplyDelete
  36. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about mama nature .

    ReplyDelete
  37. Such an amazing post, I really like it. I also want to tell you about the website which is providing very helpful information about dewispin .

    ReplyDelete