Episode 19: The Liar, The Witch & The Wronged Rogue!

With the defeat of the Ice Elemental and the curse lifted from Shayde, our heroes returned to the town of Goodmead for a couple of days of recuperation having now visited each of the ten towns. Aldrick needed to catch up on his studies. He had managed to unlock many of the ciphers in Dzaan's spell book and desperately wanted to copy them into his own. This would be his focus. Tor was curious about the bee keeping activities and how they managed to look after both insect and plants in the hostile Dale conditions. Grom was just looking forward to a warm bed and a few tankards of the delicious mead. Shayde longed for the warmth of a cosy fire and a dark corner where she could calm her mind once more. Halfdan and Nemeia were intrigued by the upcoming election of town speaker but were also keen to get back to Bryn Shandar and continue the search for Halfdan's missing father. 

On arrival back in Goodmead, Olevessa imparted that the election was to be held in two days time. Both herself and Shandar would make a final public speech to try and win over the townsfolk. Aldrick spent the evening in study, furiously inscribing spells. Everyone else relaxed and enjoyed the hospitality offered to them at the mead hall. 

The next morning Tor went to visit Finn's father. He was busy tending to the hives and working in what was essentially a giant sort of greenhouse that made up the majority of the mead hall. After some time conversing about bee husbandry and vertical farming Tor explained that through her divine link to the Earth Mother Theleya that she could help the town by enriching the earth for 1/2 mile increasing all plant yields for a whole year and that hopefully would help them while she sought to bring about and end to the Everlasting Rime. Tor then proceeded to sit in the middle of hall, dug her fingers into the soil while holding her Druidic Totem and proceeded to cast "Plant Growth" in a sort of meditation that lasted 8 hours. Later that day Tor also cast animal messenger on a magpie and sent it to Captain Skath of Targos that they had received Speaker Maxildanarr's letter and that they would be there the following day. 

In the evening Olevessa and Shandar gave their speeches.. The townsfolk seemed split. The election would be a close call but out heroes hoped Olevessa would prevail over the spurious Shandar. Aldrick took the time to study the wand and pearl and to attune to them both. Everyone enjoyed a second night of restful sleep. The aches and bruises of past encounters fading. Morning came soon enough and following breakfast our heroes were met by Speaker Waylan of Easthaven, come to officiate the voting. Goodmead is a small town of just 100 people so the election was quick. With the votes counted Shandar had come out on top much to everyone's surprise. 

Our party said their farewells, readied the sleds and dogs and set off for the Eastway, the road that would take them first to Bryn Shandar and then on to Targos. On arrival at Bryn Shander Halfdan and Nemeia departed the group for the "House of the Morning Lord" a temple dedicated to Amaunator. There they met with a priest named Mishann and a Rock Gnome Cleric named Copper Knobberknocker. The conversation lead onto the fact that they are worried about a friend named Macreadus who hasn't been to pick up supplies for some time from his cabin in the wilderness. Copper Knobberknocker asked if they could check in on him. Macreadus has been researching into trying to end this eternal winter. 

The rest of our heroes made a quick stop off at Black Iron Blades for supplies. Grom bought a new battle axe and a shield. Shayde purchased a short bow, quiver and 40 arrows. With the upcoming likelihood that they will be venturing out into the icy wilderness in the search for the lost spire some new gear would be welcomed. Plus Garn the Hammer had offered them a hefty 20% discount. 

New gear safely stowed and the final leg of the journey to Targos would take about an hour by sled. The invitation had stated to meet at the Luskan Arms near the docks where Speaker Maxidilnarr resides due to it reminding him of his home city of Luskan.

Upon arrival our party of adventurers were ushered through to a private dining area when they were warmly welcomed by speaker Maxidilnarr and Captain Skath. Skath and Shayde exchanged the briefest of glances before the four of them took their seats. Speaker Maxidilnarr having exchanged pleasantries proceeded to business while a multitude of Luskan speciality dishes were served; including Talyth, Brassla, Roasted Game, Eel Pie, Golden Pear Pie, Bramble berry Jelly, Luskan Lemon Cake and an assortment of Rye bread and Oat Cakes. All the Dishes were spiced with Cinnamon, Cumin, Pepper, Sea Salt, Onions. The flavours were such that Tor and Grom had never tasted such things while Shayde and Aldrick delighted in flavours they had missed since their arrival in Icewindale. 

Speaker Maxidilnarr was upfront with the fact that he was an agent for the Zhentarim. He had come North in order to establish an economic control over the ten towns. Maxidilnarr tried to persuade the party that the Zhentarim were not just a bunch of thieves and murderers but a more legitimate company. When questioned about the actions of a Zhentarim agent in Easthaven, Maxidilnarr stated that Prudence had acted of her own accord in a desperate bid to impress and that was not how business is conducted. He further also clarified that people like Torg were sometimes a necessary evil to help keep things in check with a little more direct enforcement but that he was not always happy with her methods and that it was a shame that their paths had crossed in a negative way.

By the time the last of the desserts were being served each member of the party started to feel unwell. And it was now that Maxidilnarr began his monologue about how the actions of this party has been causing big problems for him. All their questions about members of the Arcane Brotherhood. This was due to the fact that despite his dislike a certain member of the Brotherhood was already holding sway over him and his operation and that she was a very powerful mage and so the choice between her and them was easy one. Our party had to die!

As the party slumped forward into their bowls Tor still had the mind to cast "Lesser Restoration" on herself. "You won't get away with this" Tor explained as she pushed against the heavy wooden table standing to her full 7ft5 stature. While she wrestled with the idea of transforming into a bear using her "Wild shape", Captain Skath and 6 armed men entered the room. Alone and outnumbered Tor agreed to go quietly. They were all taken to the upper floor of the tavern and placed in a secure room while the sleeping  poison worked through their system. 

As the party came to, they were all bound with rope in a room at the top of the tavern. Standing in front of them was Maxidilnarr, Skath and an Albino Teifling whom they had met previously at Caer Dineval. 

In true villain style, the Albino Teifling introduced herself as Avarice, member of the Arcane Brotherhood and reason for our heroes ending up in their current predicament. As our heroes stayed silent and bound, Avarice went on to berate the other members of the brotherhood such as Dzaan for allowing himself to be captured and killed. Furthermore that the ship he had arrived on was now a frozen wreck caught in the Sea of Moving Ice. Most surprisingly was that Avarice appeared to be a follower and supporter of Auril the Frost Maiden, although from their previous exploits and Aldrick's mission, it was clear that she too was searching for a way to find the lost Netheresse city. As the party listened Avarice too belittled speaker Maxidilnarr and his handling of the whole situation which had started with the killing of Torga Icevein. He may well have managed to save his own skin by capturing the party. Eventually Avarice spoke more directly to Aldrick, wizard to wizard as it was, and called him a pup, of little or no ability, but was intrigued how they had come to be in possession of the purple crystal, an item so far as yet unidentified. With heads low and feeling the end was approaching Avarice growled at Maxidilnarr to arrange for their execution as it was time for the town to make it's next offering to Auril by way of human sacrifice. Maxidilnarr gave the order to Captain Skath to ready the prisoners and quickly followed Avarice out of the building following a pace behind like a subservient dog.

Shayde raised her head to Skath, the burning intensity of her eyes piercing into him. Skath strode across the room to her in silence, the heavy thud of his boots ringing all around. As he took her tied hands to lift Shayde to her feet he cut the bonds around her wrists, slipping his short sword in to her hand and whispered "When I say go, you go!". Feeling elated that her former love still held her in his heart Shayde readied herself to act.

"Hey you two........come here and give me a hand with the prisoners", Skath ordered to the guards in the next chamber. As they entered the plan was sprung. Skath pushed Shayde forward passed the incoming guards and drew his long sword. The others furiously tried to break free from their bonds but the knots held. Skath struck with his longsword inflicting a deep wound against the first guard. Shayde struck the second and he fell. Amid the commotion Grom had managed to get to his feet and hurled himself at the injured guard, the weight pushing the guard further onto Skath's sword rendering him dead. 

Skath cut through the ropes restraining the rest of the party and they all went to retrieve their gear. Shayde started to don her armour while Tor and Grom settled for their shields and stuffed their armour into their packs. It took a while to get all their gear stowed and sorted while Skath kept a watch on the stairs that lead down to next floor. 

Before they were ready voices called up from below. Skath was starting to get nervous. He knew they needed to get out of the Inn if they were to stand a chance of escaping. So as a distraction Tor reached into her "Grey Bag of Tricks" pulled out a fuzzy ball and threw it down the stairs. As it hit the wooden floor below it had transformed into giant rat which then proceeded to bite at the nearest thug. 

Aldrick had summoned Lookout who flew out the window and swooped along the front of the building allowing Aldrick to know that there were armed people in each room of the building. Our heroes were going to have to fight their way out. With the thugs below distracted Skath and Tor leapt down the stairs to engage with the 2 that were left.

Using her bonus Action Tor took hold of her bear totem and invoked her "Wild shape" transforming into a brown bear. The wooden floor creaked under the weight of the beast which reared up on it's hind legs and roared at the two remaining bandits. The element of surprise was now well and truly gone. 

Shayde was still getting into her armour as the rest of the group grabbed their gear and ran to join the fray. Swords clashed, fire bolts flew and bear claws and teeth tore into flesh and the party moved through the 2nd floor of the Luskan Arms. 

In the adjoining room the thugs and bandits had barricaded themselves at the top of the stairs. This didn't help them though as Skath and Tor the Bear charged straight at them, although they did manage to loose crossbow bolts at them using their reaction. Tor's bear form climbed the barricade to tear into them. Aldrick loosed further fire bolts and Skath was now joined by Grom as they pushed the attack home with superior numbers. 

As our heroes pushed forward valiantly the bandits and thugs fell one by one to the onslaught. Before his demise one of thugs managed to grab Grom and shove him down the stairs to the ground floor where he landed heavily taking a few points of Bludgeoning damage and landing prone. 

Knowing that the bear would be stuck in the narrow wooden staircase Tor dropped her "Beast Form". She had another plan up her sleeve. Descending as far as she could but with vision into the room below Tor cast "Summon Animals" and a pack of 8 wolves appeared adjacent to each and every enemy in the room. 

The wolves tore into their enemies, every attack at advantage due to the wolves "Pack Tactics" and a good number also ending in the assailant being knocked prone. 

Shayde by this time had finally finished donning her armour, sheathed her swords, slung her new bow and grabbed the rest of her kit into her pack and was now dashing through the blood spattered rooms of the upper floors, jumping over corpses and dodging the slick pools of blood seeping into the wooden floors. The Inn was a mess. "I'd hate to be the one cleaning this up she thought"

Grom got to his feet and felled the Zhentarim thug standing over him while the wolves continued to tear at the others clearing the room for the rest of the party who made their way down from the floor above. 

Thud went more crossbow bolts as Tor opened the last door into the bar/common room. "Go......Attack!" Said Tor to the wolves who poured through the open door into the room to attack. By this point the commotion inside had alerted those outside as one of the high ranking thugs came running out of the building.

As the last of the bandits in the Inn fell Avarice stared somewhat in shock at the escape of her prisoners. Maxidilnarr caught sight of his once loyal captain, Skath seeming allied with his enemies. Rage boiled inside him and he drew his weapon to advance towards his Inn. 

With the large double doors of the Inn wide open it afforded Avarice a direct line of sight into the centre of the Bar. She muttered her incantation and drew the sigil in the air with her hands before unleashing "Fireball" directly into the middle of the Inn. Only Shayde succeeded her Dex save and was spared the full force of the blast as the room erupted in a ball of flame. The timber furniture and hanging drapes and adornments on the walls were instantly licked by flames as it spread rapidly up the walls to the ceiling.

Everybody hurried outside to escape the searing heat.

Tor Looked up to the heavens, arms outstretched holding her focus, talking in Giant to the Earth Mother. Dark Storm clouds rolled in obscuring the evening aurora. Thunder clapped and lightning crackled and a fork streaked down to strike the earth where Avarice was standing. 

Aldrick, catching his breath looked across at Avarice as she stood indomitable on the platform and conjured his own Fireball in response.  Avarice sensing the tide had turned produced a glowing orb from her robes and vanished in the blink of an eye.

With all eyes turned towards the White Witch a veteran thug struck at Skath who went down. Seeing the traitor down Maxidilnarr moved to strike the unconscious Skath. Before Shayde could get there Maxidilnarr struck and Skath was dead. But Shayde avenged her fallen Love by driving Skath's short sword straight through Maxildanarr's back, piercing his heart and exploding out of his chest, before kneeling at the side of her fallen Love, a single tear tracing a line across her blood streaked face to fall on his cheek.

The remaining Zhent thugs and bandits turned and fled into the dark cold of Targos.

To be continued.................