Session 29: The Trouble With Thieves

With the demonic skull safely secured inside the rune inscribed box and its psychic attacks no longer a concern the group decided it was time to rest, have food and drink, and to begin discussing the next course of action.

Each member of the group had a difference of opinion on what to do with the demon skull. Return to the witch queen, use it as a bargaining chip, destroy it, leave the blighted swamp with it, leave the swamp without it.

About half way through the argument the paladin and dragonborn both sensed something, they felt a presence in their mind followed by psychic laughter, it would seem the demonic skull had somehow found a way to mock them from within the confines of its strange metal box.

At last a decision was made. Mannon would attempt to "talk" to the skull and try and learn what its intentions and motivations were. With that the group got up and walked to their newly acquired flat boat. Once there they opened the box only to discover that the skull was missing, stolen!

Elarios noticed faint evidence that a humanoid had been here recently and it was concluded that someone or something had stolen the skull and made off into the swamp with it.

With great haste the group set out after the bandit. Elarios was in the lead finding barely detectable clues in the murky water. With a little luck, some skill, and some help from mother nature Elarios caught up to the thief.

Elarios was able to move through the muck of the swamp much faster than the demon skull encumbered thief. When the ranger closed to within longbow distance he took aim and bid the rogue to halt. The bandit, a human, stopped and turned around to see who was after him. This pause gave the rest of the group time to emerge from the fog.

Elarios kept the rogue in his sights while Krius, furious at the sneak, thief closed the distance shouting out a volley intimidating challenges and rebukes. This confrontation seemed to cow the rogue and make him reconsider his larceny, he knew this group of adventures wanted the skull even worse than he did and wouldn't hesitate to kill him for it.

At this point the rogue decided that it was time to negotiate and a serious back and forth between he and the paladin ensued. Eventually it was determined that he would return the skull and offer his services as sneak thief to the group in compensation for his crime.

Once the potential for a violent confrontation was diminished the thief introduced himself as "Lash" and admitted his weakness of a proclivity towards absconding strange and exotic items. Seeing this group of adventures as a means to expand his opportunities he decided it would be in his best interest to be as cooperative as possible. To garner the trust of the group (Mannon was already fond of this kindred soul) Lash divulged much useful information that he had obtained while casing the witches lair.

He spoke of reinforcements she had obtained, the general disposition of her guards, and the secret password for her magical sentries. All this information was very useful to the heroes and soon a plan was hatched. The witch queen’s fort was to be infiltrated. Elarios and Lash would employ their stealth in an effort to set themselves up to flank from the walls of the fort, while the rest of the crew would attempt to distract the guards by simply walking up to the front gate and demanding an audience with the witch queen.

The group split up, the ranger and the rogue branching off to scale the walls and set themselves up to deliver ranged support, while Krius, Mannon, Kobarr, Morrainna, and the demonic skull in tow via a magic disc went in for the direct approach.

The witch’s fort was warded by a series of magic animated alarm skulls set throughout the swamp. By speaking the secret password (which Lash informed the group of) it was possible to bypass the sentries without setting them off. As each group approached any of the annoying devices they were forced to utter the phrase "All hail lady Kyleth the most beautiful elf of the swamp" to prevent the cursed items from emitting a piercing screech and thus putting her guards on alert.

Krius lead the main group right up to the front gate of the witch queen's forge where he and the rest were greeted by Hans-- the old gnoll captain of the guard, a pair of gruff dwarven crossbowmen, and a pair of sinister grey skinned duergar.

While Krius, Morrainna and Mannon attempted to negotiate with Hans, Elarios and Lash put their cunning abilities of stealth to good use and managed to scale the walls of the fort without notice. Mannon, Morrainna, and Krius each took turn attempting to convince Hans that they should be let into the fort, but Hans didn't buy any of it. While the others were parleying Kobarr stood in the back wearing a cloak to keep his identity as an ancient dragonborn hidden.

Eventually Lady Maeve, the witch’s apprentice, joined Hans on the wall to further negotiate with the group. In the end an arrangement was made and the group would be allowed into the fort where the demon skull would be turned over in exchange for a fair payment.

Almost immediately the heavy gate was lifted by and the group entered. They were greeted by the sight of a group of ragged kobolds led by Torgo (the craven leader of the kobold miners), more gnoll guards, and the duergar who had doubled their size using their added bulk to allow them to open the gate. The gruff dwarven crossbowmen remained on the wall their weapons aimed at Krius and Mannon.

Up on the wall Lash and Elarios were hidden behind the parapet ready to attack when needed. On the ground the others began to subtly position themselves for action. A pair of gnoll guards where leading the group to a storage building, but something didn't seem right about the situation, it felt like a trap. Krius, ever insightful, decided it was time to jump into action and upon his signal anarchy broke loose. Weapons were drawn, oaths uttered, arrows flew. A great melee was underway. Kobarr let loose with a blast of elemental dragon breath, Krius and Mannon sprung into action while Morrainna, demon skull floating right behind her, with an agenda all her own fled the melee following Torgo back to the witch queen inner sanctum...

The characters present:
* Morrainna (Aaron), drow dark pact warlock
* Mannon (Dave), shire halfling warlord
* Squire Krius (Matt), human paladin
* Kobarr (Witt), dragonborn fighter
* Elarios Amanodel (NPC, guest played by Doug), elf ranger
* Lash (Jeff), human rogue

Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* None this session

Treasure found (this session):
* None this session

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* Catching the thief
* Negotiating with Hans and Lady Maeve
* Infiltrating the fort
* 3 Gnolls (No XP, fight on going)
* 4 Kobold guards (No XP, fight on going)
* 4 Kobold miners (No XP, fight on going)
* 2 Dwarf crossbowmen (No XP, fight on going)
* 2 Duergar slavers (No XP, fight on going)

Experience gained (this session):
170 each player