The Rescue of Princess Seraphine (Session 74)

Summary

Company Clandestine’s battle inside the Rook’s Eye continued when Zardo emerged from a concealed panel and fired a lightning bolt down the hallway, striking Symon, Eryn, and Angelique. X'or charged him. As Cal-El, Eryn, and Cassandra fought the surrounding Sahn guards, Priestess Jenka temporarily incapacitated Cassandra with a Command spell. Angelique struck Jenka with Magic Missiles, while Zardo used the same spell against X’or. Once Cassandra recovered, she charged Jenka, X’or killed Zardo, and the company finished the priestess and remaining guards. They recovered gold and several weapons, armor pieces, and magical items from Zardo and Jenka.

While searching the adjoining rooms, the company discovered a comfortable sitting room containing an old logbook from Captain Hawthorn’s ship, the Hurricane. It chronicled years of Hawthorn’s activities, including names, contacts, ports, his network, and his decision to send John Laroque against the company. Recognizing its value as evidence, they kept it for Jesse Jack Johnson. A nearby library and alchemical workspace contained books, scrolls, research materials, spell components, and saltpeter, but no sign of Princess Seraphine Valoris.

The company climbed farther upward into a lit chamber filled with tables, strange plants, armor, braziers, clear windows, and octopus-like decorations. From the window, Eryn spotted ships in the distance. A pair of western doors glowed with sickly pale light and bore necromantic symbols. Angelique and Eryn were both overwhelmed by the evil radiating from them, although Cassandra resisted it. The company decided to investigate another pair of doors before confronting whatever lay beyond the necromantic entrance.

Those doors opened into a large dining hall where Captain John Samuel Hawthorn was waiting. He taunted the person he believed to be Captain Hurst and revealed that he had sent his pupil, Captain Turde, aboard the Hurricane to destroy Jesse Jack Johnson and the Blade. The supposed Hurst removed a magical hat of disguise, revealing Lady Jessica Primrose Smythe—Jesse Jack herself. She told Hawthorn that Hurst was commanding the Blade and declared that Hawthorn would pay for what he had done to her family.

Jesse Jack and Company Clandestine attacked Hawthorn and Captain Turde. Turde struck Eryn before Symon transformed him into a bass with Polymorph Other. With no water nearby, Turde died on the floor, his equipment still merged into his new form. Cal-El, X’or, Angelique, Cassandra, and Jesse Jack then concentrated on Hawthorn until Jesse Jack ran him through as X’or also struck him. Hawthorn carried several weapons and magical items, including two potions of extra healing and a potion of invisibility, and the company used some of the healing before continuing.

After briefly searching a pantry, the company returned to the necromantic doors. A tremendous shock rattled the fortress as the Blade arrived and fired its magical weapon to announce Captain Hurst’s presence. Symon opened the doors with Knock, causing five specters to appear around the company. Angelique turned one away, but the others attacked, and one drained some of Eryn’s vitality. Sir Kael Vossler, the death knight Xantha had warned them about, then emerged and overwhelmed Cassandra and X’or with terror.

Symon weakened Vossler with Ray of Enfeeblement, while Angelique, Jesse Jack, Eryn, and the others battled the undead. Vossler wounded Cassandra with both physical and negative-energy damage, but Cal-El eventually destroyed him with a powerful blow. The death knight faded into mist, the final specter vanished, and Cassandra and X’or were released from their fear. Inside the room, the company found Princess Seraphine lying cold and motionless upon an altar. Angelique determined that necromantic magic had trapped her and used a Remove Curse scroll, causing the princess to awaken unharmed.

Captain Hurst soon arrived aboard the Blade with Captain Smythe and the forces of Valdernost. They secured the Rook’s Eye and raised the Valdernost flag over it. Hurst reported that he had destroyed the Hurricane, commanded by Old Tom, and sunk a slave ship arriving from Nox. With Seraphine ready to be escorted home and Hawthorn’s logbook available as evidence, Jesse Jack reaffirmed her promise to take Company Clandestine to Tim Montague’s island in search of the Heart of the Dragon before they would all travel to Nox to rescue her sister. The company identified and divided the useful enchanted equipment recovered from Zardo, Jenka, and Hawthorn as they prepared for the voyage ahead.

This is where the session ended!

Please start the recorder!

Exp: 8,819 + chapter bonus 5,000 = 13,819

Gold = 171 each

Detail

Company Clandestine’s battle inside the Rook’s Eye continued when Zardo emerged from a concealed panel and sent a lightning bolt down the hallway, striking Symon, Eryn, and Angelique. Cal-El and Eryn worked on the two Sahn guards in the room while a third emerged form another room and engaged Cassandra. X’or charged Zardo while a Priestess Jenka emerged from the room south of Cassandra and used the Command spell to temporarily incapacitate Cassandra. The hallways were cramped so getting passed people to get to their foes was difficult. Angelique struck Jenka with Magic Missiles, while Zardo retaliated with the same spell against X’or.

Cal-El, Eryn, Cassandra, and X’or fought through the guards surrounding them. Once Cassandra recovered from Jenka’s command, and dealt with the guard in front of her, she charged the priestess. X’or killed Zardo, the priestess fell, and the company finished the remaining guards. Zardo carried a ring, cloak, bracers, dagger, sling, wand, and one hundred gold pieces. Jenka possessed an exceptionally made mace, shield, chainmail, ring, and one hundred and fifty gold pieces.

While searching the adjoining rooms, the company found a comfortable sitting room with a desk. Among the papers was an old, leather-bound logbook from a ship called the Hurricane, Captain Hawthorn’s vessel. The log chronicled years of Hawthorn’s activities and contained names, contacts, ports, and information about the network he had established. It also included notes about sending John Laroque to deal with the company. Realizing how valuable the evidence was, they kept the logbook to give to Jesse Jack Johnson.

Another room served as a library and alchemical work area. It held books, scrolls, research material, spell components, and some saltpeter, but no sign of Princess Seraphine Valoris. The company then climbed a staircase leading farther upward. Eryn went first and emerged into a lit chamber containing tables, clear windows, strange plants, armor, braziers, and peculiar octopus-like decorations. Looking through a window, she spotted several ships moving on the distant horizon.

A large pair of doors on the western side of the chamber glowed with sickly, pale light and bore necromantic symbols. Eryn felt uneasy merely looking at them. Angelique approached but was overwhelmed by the evil radiating from the doors and had to retreat. Eryn suffered the same reaction, while Cassandra managed to resist it. Rather than open the necromantic doors immediately, the company investigated another pair of doors nearby.

Beyond them was a large dining hall with a fireplace and a long table. Captain John Samuel Hawthorn was seated at the far end. He taunted the man he believed to be Captain Hurst, revealing that he had sent his prized pupil, Captain Turde, aboard the Hurricane to destroy Jesse Jack Johnson and the Blade. The person the company had believed was Hurst then removed a magical hat of disguise, revealing Lady Jessica Primrose Smythe—Jesse Jack Johnson herself. She told Hawthorn that Hurst was actually commanding the Blade and that Hawthorn would pay for what he had done to her family.

Jesse Jack attacked Hawthorn with her two weapons while Eryn crossed the tables to join the fight. Captain Turde charged into battle, striking Eryn. Cassandra moved against him a well while Cal-El and X’or engaged Hawthorn, Angelique fired into the battle, and Symon made himself invisible before entering the room. Symon then cast Polymorph Other on Captain Turde, transforming the large fighter into a delicious bass. With no water nearby, Turde died on the floor, and everything he had been carrying remained merged into his new form.

The company and Jesse Jack concentrated their attacks on Hawthorn. Cal-El and X’or wounded him repeatedly, and Angelique struck him with Magic Missiles. Jesse Jack finally ran Hawthorn through as X’or also struck him, killing him. Hawthorn carried a wicked-looking cutlass, a heavy crossbow, a dagger, chainmail, two rings, three potions, and an amulet. The potions were identified as two potions of extra healing and one of invisibility. The company used some of the healing before continuing.

A nearby pantry contained expensive food, wine, and other supplies, but nothing else of importance. The company returned to the necromantic doors. As they gathered there, a tremendous shock passed through the fortress and rattled the windows. Jesse Jack looked outside and recognized the arrival of the Blade, whose magical weapon had been fired to announce Captain Hurst’s presence.

X’or managed to approach the evil doors without recoiling, but he refused to touch them. Symon ordered everyone to stand back and cast Knock. The doors slammed open, and five specters immediately appeared around the company. Angelique turned one of them, forcing it to flee, while the others attacked. Cal-El, Eryn, X’or, Cassandra, Jesse Jack, Symon, and Angelique fought the remaining undead. One specter struck Eryn and drained some of her vitality.

A heavily armored undead warrior then emerged from the room, carrying a two-handed sword and staring through glowing blue eyes. The company recognized him as Sir Kael Vossler, the death knight Xantha had warned them about. His presence overwhelmed Cassandra and X’or with terror, leaving them unable to fight. Symon weakened Vossler with Ray of Enfeeblement and later attempted to slow both him and a remaining specter. The specter was slowed, but Vossler resisted the spell.

Angelique knew she could not turn a death knight as powerful as Vossler, so she joined the physical battle instead. Vossler struck Cassandra with his sword, inflicting both physical and negative-energy damage. Jesse Jack and Eryn continued battling the specters while Cal-El faced Vossler directly. Cal-El eventually landed a powerful blow that destroyed the death knight. Vossler froze, faded into mist, and dissipated. When he vanished, the final specter disappeared as well, and Cassandra and X’or were released from their fear.

Inside the room, the company found Princess Seraphine lying upon an altar. She was pale and cold, with her eyes open but unmoving. She was not dead, but appeared trapped in a trance or state of hibernation. A healing potion had no effect, and Angelique determined that poison was not responsible. Recognizing necromantic magic at work, she used a scroll of Remove Curse. Seraphine immediately sat up, awake and unharmed.

The princess remembered being kidnapped at sea but recalled nothing after being taken aboard the ship. She recognized Jesse Jack as Lady Smythe, who embraced her and explained that she had been rescued. The company assured Seraphine that an escort was waiting to take her home.

Captain Hurst soon arrived aboard the Blade, accompanied by Captain Smythe and the forces of Valdernost. They secured the Rook’s Eye, searched the fortress, and raised the Valdernost flag over it. Hurst had caught the Hurricane, commanded by Captain Turde’s pupil Old Tom, maneuvered across its course, and destroyed it with the Blade’s magical weapon. He had also sunk a slave ship arriving from Nox to collect the prisoners the company had freed.

The company rested and recovered while the captured fortress was made secure. The princess would be escorted home, and the evidence from Hawthorn’s logbook could be used against his remaining contacts. Jesse Jack reaffirmed her promise to take Company Clandestine and their map to Tim Montague’s island in search of the Heart of the Dragon. The company also remained committed to helping her travel to Nox afterward to rescue her sister.

Once the recovered equipment was identified, Zardo’s possessions included a ring and cloak of protection, bracers of defense, a magical dagger, and a Wand of Magic Missiles with ten charges. Jenka’s mace, shield, chainmail, and ring were all enchanted. Hawthorn’s cutlass was a powerful weapon called Vengeance, capable of inflicting additional cold damage on especially accurate strikes. His remaining equipment included a magical crossbow, dagger, chainmail, a ring of protection, a Ring of Free Action, and an Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location. Company Clandestine divided the useful items as they prepared for the voyage ahead.

This is where the session ended!

Please start the recorder!

Exp: 8,819 + chapter bonus 5,000 = 13,819

Gold = 171 each