At the end of last session, we left our heroes trying to get as many townsfolk into Vendikon Keep as possible. Karelia had used her special (magical) relationship with Captain Blacklock to get the gates open.
Once the gates were open, the townsfolk surged toward safety behind the keep’s stout stone walls. Others decided to try escaping southwards to Ratik.
Satisfied they had done all they could, the party’s minds turned to escape. They quickly realised that heading out through the undead horde might not be the best plan. In particular, they were worried what would happen if the lich spotted Hell’s Vengeance and Heaven’s Fury.
Instead, they hit upon the clever plan of using Venleng’s roc companion to fly them all up the bluffs south of town. From there they could make their way northwards while skirting the undead horde.
It took an hour to get everyone up onto the bluff and on their way. By now, including the Grey Maidens and Shiyara the party were almost 30-strong. Progress was slow but by midday the party had left the rocky uplands and were again on the plains. Ahead to the north, faint wisps of smoke yet spiralled upwards the air; finding the abbey would be no problem.
By mid-afternoon, the band were again in a range of wooded hills. They were not alone, however. Sadly, the band was so large they fell prey to an ambush: four ettins led a squad of Abyss-tainted orcs from the surrounding woods. The ensuing battle was brief and brutal. Although Zainnis was badly injured, the attackers were quickly crushed.
Resting, the party healed their wounds, looted the bodies and pushed ever onwards.
By dusk, they reached the end of the hills. Now only a half-mile or so of plains stood between them and Windsong Abbey’s smouldering ruins. Similarly, the village clustered about the abbey was destroyed. Several of the party spotted a dozen or so large humanoids moving about the ruins.
Undeterred as dusk was falling, the party and all their retainers lit torches and marched out onto the plain toward the abbey. They were keen to get into the ruins before the dragon and the lich they had left at Piren’s Bluff discovered the two weapon-relics were missing.
Unfortunately—and inconceivably—the giants lurking amid the ruined village saw and heard the party approach. Once the heroes had got with 100 feet or so of the ruins, several of the giants emerged from the shattered village and started hurling chunks of building at the advancing party…
One thought on “Shattered Star #84: Inconceivable!”