Session 13: Intrigue at the Standing Stones

Chapter 2:

In a small room in the temple of Justicia, in the village of Hadlers Gap, Sir Krius finds a letter atop his possessions simply addressed "Paladin of Justicia". It informs him to gather his group of adventurers and meet an agent of the Sable March at the Watchful Wyvern sundown that very day.

He sets off to the Inn of the Prancing Unicorn to find his companions who have been keeping to themselves for the past week. Once there he finds Prophit holed up in his room, it takes little convincing to persuade the grizzled cleric to join in another quest. Next up the halflings. Krius heads to their room. As the paladin knocks on their door, Alton with shadow clinging to him appears as if out of thin air. Alton then reluctantly opens the door the shared room of the halflings.

In the room glyphs and runes etched in chalk and ash cover the walls, in the middle sits Mannon in the midst of some ceremony burning the magical tomes he acquired in the kobold infested caves. Krius and Alton watch as he mixes in a bit of water, then the innards of a large beetle, then the unexpected occurs, he eats the sickening concoction. Perplexed but undeterred Krius informs the halflings that a quest is at hand and that Prophit has already agreed to join, he asks the halflings to join as well. Eager for knowledge and treasure they agree.

Krius learns from the halflings that Rhin has been spending his time at the Watchful Wyvern drinking ale and sleeping in the common room. Together they set off to seek his aid in the upcoming endeavor.

Approaching the edge of town they see a small crowd gathered in front of the Watchful Wyvern. There two hulking figures, a brutish half-orc and a barbarous human are flaking a dwarf. All three have fists raised. As they get close enough to recognize Rhin he delivers a walloping blow to the half-orc knocking him unconscious, he then spins and gives the same treatment to the human. His reputation as a brawler intact Rhin agrees to go along with the paladin on another quest.

With only a few hours before sundown the group disperses to prepare for the possibility of having to take to the road. Once travel preparations are complete they meet back at the Watchful Wyvern.

Smokey air, stong ale, tough locals, and traveling mercenaries fill the place, but standing at the door an elf woman, a silver tattoo of a rose on her forearm, the sign the letter Krius received told him to look for.

Halflings and humans take a table in the back of the bar with the elf while Rhin sits at the bar keeping an eye out for trouble. Introductions are made, then Marwyn tells her story. She is an agent of the Sable March, sent on behalf of the Empire to investigate rumors of an evil cult. She has knowledge that this very night a ritual of some kind is to be preformed at the old standing stones a few hours ride to the east of Hadlers Gap. She beseeches the group to join her, offering a bag platinum.

Krius, eager to champion the cause against chaos immediately agrees to join in any expedition; he even idealistically refuses the bag of coins. Overjoyed Marwyn orders a round of drinks for the company. Soon the serving boy drops off wine and ale for all with Krius taking only water. She toasts the group, takes a drink, then her eyes go wide; she grasps her throat and falls to the floor, poisoned.

On the other side of the tavern the serving boy whips off his apron and darts into the kitchen.

Immediately Rhin leaps over the bar and into the kitchen. He sees the boy drink a potion of some kind and then turn invisible. Just as quickly the rest of the heroes are on their feet, only so to is the rest of the patrons of the tavern. Angry voices shout out, "she's dead" and "they killed her"!

Rhin grabs his axe and shield from the lock box behind the bar; using his reputation he attempts to calm the crowd. As he does Krius bolts for the door with Mannon right behind him. Out in the dark street the paladin sees a riderless horse gallop by. Mannon's aberrant vision tells a differing story, he sees the elf serving boy, urging the horse on towards the trail leading east.

No time to waste Krius leaps on his war horse, he grabs Mannon, pulls him on the horse and they begin a mad dash out of town to pursue the assassin.

Mannon pulls forth strange energies and imbues the horse with extra stamina, as Krius pushes the poor creature to its limits, together they begin to catch up to the villain who turns, utters an incantation, and sends two bolts of green magical fire into the paladins chest.

Knowing he can't escape pursuit the assassin leaps off his horse and pulls a vial out of his cloak. As he does Krius draws his sword and charges full speed at the villain. He scores a mighty hit but the elf still stands. Unwilling to be taken alive the elf uncorks his potion and drinks it down; he convulses, and then drops dead.

Meanwhile back in town-- with the help of the local constable the rest of the group calms the crowd at the tavern. They then make hasty plans to catch up with Mannon and Krius.

Soon the two groups meet up. Plans are made to continue out of town to the standing stones and attempt to ascertain details of the cultists and of the ritual to take place there this very night.

Two to three hours ride out of town the weather turns foul. Winds, clouds, thunder, lightening and heavy rain blanket the night in complete darkness. After another two hours of riding in the rain lightening illuminates a hill protruding out of the trees. Another flash of lightening reveals standing stones atop the hill and dancing madly amidst them tall humanoid figures.

Mounts are tethered in a copse of trees off the path and lighting sources are doused then the group makes its way carefully up the path towards whatever profane ritual is occurring at the top of the hill.

Believing they have surprise on their side the group edges closer to the stones. Occasional flashes of lightening illuminate a group of humans all wearing blood red robes and wielding vicious black swords. In the middle of the group a large half-orc holding a mighty hammer chants to the sky. Unknown to the heroes, four pairs of beady kobold eyes peer from behind brambles and foliage. Over eager the kobolds burst forth from cover and launch a volley of crossbow bolts, then draw spears and block progress to the ritual in progress on the hill.

Rhin and Krius burst into action; Alton draws his own crossbow while Prophit pulls forth his war hammer. Mannon sends an eldritch blast of energy into the ranks of kobolds. Kobolds are no longer a match for the group and are quickly dispatched; however the cultists and their orc leader on the hill are now warned.

The mad cultists quickly form a defensive line between the heroes and the orc as he continues to chant madly into the air. Ritual magic causes lights to dance among the tops of the stones casting strange illumination across the soon to be battlefield.

The cultists taunt and cajole the companions. Sensing evil afoot, Krius and Rhin charge up the hill ready to engage the orc priest and his minions. As paladin and warblade charge so to do the cultists.

A vicious fight ensues, Mannon jumps in unleashing dark bolts of energy while using an icy blast from a wand to catch several foes at once. Rhin and Krius engage in hand to hand, Prophit blesses the group; Alton creates dark flames that leap below the feet of the madmen.

Although unarmored, the wicked black blades of the foes strike deep and leave weeping wounds that won't close. Chanting continues atop the hill, but then stops as the mighty orc turns his attention to the battle below. He utters a profane prayer; as he does Rhin feels his muscles freeze him in place.

The cultists begin to froth at the mouth, eyes go wide, and berserker frenzy overcomes them. Thunder explodes, lightening strikes; their black blades find their mark. The heroes stagger under heavy wounds...

The characters present:
* Alton (Aaron), halfling shadowcaster
* Mannon (Dave), halfling swordsage/warlock
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Squire Krius (Matt), human paladin
* Rhin No-Clan (Jim), dwarf warblade

Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* Letter from Captain Sentri
* Meeting with Marwyn, info on the cultists
* Orc's unholy ceremony, murder of crows "fly, fly my ravens, fly to Garland's Fork"

Treasure found (this session):
* gold three clawed pendant -- thrown into the woods by Krius
* bag of 100 platinum pieces -- refused by Krius

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* chasing down 1 elf-assassin
* 4 kobold skirmishers (no xp yet, fight ongoing)
* 6 berserker cultists of Pyraxus (no xp yet, fight ongoing)
* 1 Torslak, half-orc cleric (no xp yet, fight ongoing)

Experience gained (this session):
290 each player