Session 18, Devils Blood and the Coward!
Coins End
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Session 18 – 2024-04-27
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Summary
Detail
They started in the forge building after having just completing one phase of the creation of the coin. At the end of the ceremony, someone was heard outside the forge falling over something and then scrambling away. Brandy looked out the window just in time to see someone disappear around a corner, moving quickly away. Geolain had left and returned to his home. Halaan wanted to celebrate but the whole thing was disturbing and learning that this coin was as evil as the other coin certainly struck a nerve, especially with Brandy. They stayed there that night and woke in the morning fully rested. The coin was still very hot even though the rest of the forge had cooled. They discussed the person that ran from the area the night before. Who was he, did he see anything, does he know anything. Was it someone that just ran through the area and in the darkness collided with some crates and fell down, getting up and continuing on?
Pyreece felt like there needed to be a security ramp up around forge. Halaan suggested that she talk to Geolain about adding security on here. She and Audra made there way to Geolain’s home and discussed it with him. He agreed and told them that Joah would return with them and stay there until Geolain could arrange to have some people there to protect the place, and the coin. He then told Pyreece and Audra about where they might find a devil. There was a wizard in the town of Teshull, Milead was his name. He was a very powerful practitioner of necromancy. He used devil creatures to guard his home. He didn’t know where they’d find a coward to perform the act of obtaining the blood but he did have some advice about what the instructions really said and meant. It specifically stated that the coward must spill and collect the blood of a devil. It didn’t say the devil had to be dead. It didn't say that the coward had to kill a devil. They just need to slice open a vein and collect the blood. It’s a small clarification but It changed their thought process as to how to get it.
Pyreece, Audra, and Joah returned to the forge. They explained to the others what Geolain had told them about the devil’s blood. They now knew where to possibly find a devil and with better clarification, that this may be more possible than they originally thought. Joah pointed out something else that they also hadn’t considered. An Imp has devils blood, so does a hell Hound. It didn't have to be a Balrog or some other monstrous creature, although the other creatures mentioned weren't going to be a picnic either. It did sound a lot more doable. They set out as the rain was dying down. Joah stayed behind to help protect Halaan and the coin. The party left through the north gate. The guards there told them about the fighting going on around Memnon and points north of there. There was fighting going on as creatures banned together and were attacking the city and other villages north of it. The party thanked them and set out. The first night the arrived at the Dalabad Oasis. They shopped and picked up several items. For the good of the party and the completion of the quests, they pooled their money to acquire the weapons and equipment they needed. Several people acquired plus 1 weapons and Brandy acquired some special arrows. The big ticket item was a ring for Elenor, it would store spells, effectively doubling her spell capacity.
They rested at the oasis that night and set out again in the morning. They traveled for another day and set up camp that night. While they were setting up camp, Kipp noticed that the background scenery to the west was growing less focused. It was as if something was between the mountains and the city towers in the distance, and them. That’s when he realized there was something there. It was coming in their direction, getting closer and closer very quickly. He deduced it was a sand storm. They pulled out a small tent that Kipp had and everyone got under it. As they pulled it over them, the sand storm arrived and it was almost blinding. While waiting it out, they were suddenly set upon by Sand Mephits. Four of them attacked. They rose and fought back while the sand storm raged on. After a round or so, a Sand Elemental appeared and joined against them. It turned into a 30 foot high tornado of sand and moved through Audra and Kipp's space, battering them with the sand and wind. They fought and quickly took out two of the Mephits. After that some of the party split off to deal with the Elemental, while the rest continued on the two remaining Mephits. A round or two later and they’d defeated the Elemental. They quickly dispatched the last two Mephits.
Pyreece had fallen during the fight but Elenor had bandaged her and brought her back from the brink. They rested for the remainder of the night after the sand storm let up. The next day, they arrived at Teshull late in the afternoon. They found a tavern and entered it and found a place to sit. There was a comedian performing on the stage. A barmaid came to the table and took their orders for drinks. She asked if they wanted any food. The menu was full of items that sounded unappealing. The comedian was telling jokes about Orcs. The table in front of the stage had four large Orcs sitting at it. After a few jokes about how stupid Orcs can be, and not getting any laughs out of the Orcs, he decided to sing a song. It started off okay but at one point, he sang something about Orcs and one of the female Orc’s got up and approached the stage. Brandy, assuming the worst was going to happen, moved up to the stage. The Orc was intimidating the comedian. He was cowering on the floor trying to calm her down. Brandy spoke up and shouted, what about the Halfling jokes. “I want to hear those!”, she called out. After another tense moment, the comedian was able to use that and started telling Halflings jokes. Brandy laughed and returned to her chair. The Orc re-thought the situation and left the bard to finish his act.
After the performance, the comedian approached the table and thanked Brandy for the save. During the conversation, the name Milead was mentioned and that brought a hush over the room. Gonathan, the comedian, pointed out that Milead was dark and strange and no one really wanted anything to do with him. Although they didn’t say anything to Gonathan about his being a coward, when he went to the rest room, they discussed it amongst themselves. They decided he would be a great patsy. Now, how do they get him there and get him to perform the service for them. When he returned, Brandy convinced him to show them around the town. Gonathan kept acting like there wasn’t much to see but he did mention the Oasis outside the eastern side of the town. He mentioned that people hang out there and relax, singing, playing games, and just talking. He finally agreed to show them around. As they approached the oasis, Gonathan pointed out the dark and foreboding building in the background as Milead’s place.
They spent the next few minutes, like a group of teenagers, convincing Gonathan to come with them while they went to check it out. He was not keen on the idea, but he eventually followed them. As they approached the house, they came to a high wall all around it. Brandy looked over the top of the wall and saw no lights on and nothing moving around. Then she thought she’d seen some little blue light moving around in the grounds but it disappeared. She ignored it and climbed back down and moved to the gate. It was locked. She got Oglesby to pick it then she opened it and went in. Gonathan was getting very scared but they convinced him to stay with them as they moved up to the gate and started through. After Pyreece, Brandy, and Kipp were inside, something suddenly appeared in front of Pyreece ad attacked her. They would determine later that it was a Hell Cat. They fought this one but were eventually attacked by a second one. One was terrifying enough for Gonathan but two was two too many and convinced him that it was time to hide. He moved behind a tree and hid, cowering, while they finished off the Hell Cat’s.
Brandy approached Gonathan who was curled up and losing it. She convinced him to approach the creatures and to cut one and capture some of it’s blood in a vial she provided. She did that by promising him a kiss if he did. Terrified as he was, the kiss was too tempting and he made himself move up to do that. A light had come on inside the house during he fight and now a man had stepped out onto the front steps in his dark night clothes. Brandy was able to keep Gonathan focused on the task and he did acquire the blood. The arrival of the man on the steps sent him running away again. Every one else fled the scene as well, much as teenagers would run away after pulling some sort of prank. They stoppered the vial and continued back into town. Brandy did have to follow through on her promise and allowed him to kiss her. I won't describe it except to say that Brandy was the hero that day.
That’s is where the session ended.
Start the recording.
Exp 1143 + 114 = 1257
