Session 15- The Scions of Fallcrest Part 2 In search of the Crimson Hand.
And so in double-quick time the Knights intend to find out who has been stealing things from the Dev'shir family tomb, a little unhappy that they have been waylaid by this task- prevented from heading straight back out of Fallcrest in pursuit of the good citizens of the Vale that have been sold into slavery by the Bloodreavers.
Lucan leads the Knights into the final chamber, one of the tombs ahead seems to have been broken open.
In play this week we have the same players as last week-
Cathal, Human Fighter Level 4
Farkill, Dwarven Cleric of Moradin Level 3
Ignaran, Human Druid Level 4
Lucan, Elven Rogue Level 3
Rock, Dwarven Fighter Level 2
It seems someone, singular, has been here recently, a lone set of booted tracks disturb the dust, otherwise the place has lain empty for years.
Lucan makes his way cautiously forward, a tomb on the southern wall has been smashed open, and recently, the tracks end here- he can make out the name on the tomb- Dugesia Dev'shir, he files away this information for later use. Within the cramped chamber of the tomb all is chaos- the broken body of a once beautiful woman lies bent and abused on the floor- long dead but only recently attacked it seems- strange, who would want to attack a corpse?
Unseen by Lucan and the other Knights, a little way further down the unlit corridor, one half of a marked brick, like the ones in the Dev'shir family tree encountered earlier, rises, seemingly unaided, into the air.
Then violently hurtles forward and smashes into the side of young Lucan's skull- the blood pours as the Elf screams and darts back out of the tomb, only to be confronted by the screaming spectral figure of a once beautiful young woman.
“TOMB ROBBERS! DESPOILERS!”
The ghost screams, howls and rages- the horrifying sound leaves all of the Knights covering their ears, trying vainly to block out the terrifying sound, they're dazed and struggling to comprehend what is happening.
All save one.
Lucan looks up at the once beautiful woman, and whispers “Dugesia?” he accompanies the plea with his best doe-eyed expression.
Which brings the action to a sudden stand still.
It goes quiet.
The once ferocious ghost looks betrayed, or else becalmed, unsure of who the beautiful Elf addressing her is.
“Sir Knight?” she tentatively enquires of Lucan.
All eyes are on the Elven Rogue, who rises to his full height, about five foot six, puffs his chest out and begins his spiel.
“I am Sir Lucan the Brave, Holy Paladin of...” Lucan casts around trying to summon the name of a benevolent deity to mind, “... Erathis?” he offers.
The ghost of Dugesia Dev'shir, for it is she, bows.
“Fear not beautiful maiden for I have come to revenge your loss, to seek out and destroy the evil miscreants that have fouled your final resting place.” Lucan adds and half-heartedly salutes, sort of.
[DM Interlude- Lucan rolls something ridiculous like 34 for his Bluff check, damn him.]
Lucan, not even the dead are safe from his charms.
[DM Interlude Encounter #46 [700 XP = Level 1] Dugesia Dev'Shir, Tormented Ghost (Level 8 Elite Controller)]
“Oh Sir Lucan- me? Beautiful?” The Ghost of Dugesia Dev'shir goes all weak at her spectral knees.
Lucan turns back to look at the other Knights, winks at Cathal who is bristling with rage, and indicates that they should leave the room, he wants to be alone with his new 'special' lady.
Thirty minutes later Lucan reappears, he looks to have very faded lipstick smears on his face.
“Well that was interesting!” he declares and applies a wonky grin to his physog.
His kiss-and-tell story goes a little like this- the tomb was raided about three days ago, the robbers broke into the first chamber it seems, took a few items from here and there and then broke into the side tombs. The tomb robbers were lead by a woman. Dugesia, the Ghost, heard her giving orders- the woman then broke into her tomb and, seemingly enraged, smashed up the place- hence her body lying bent and busted on the floor.
The woman was very angry about something, then she and the other tomb robbers left, although before they left she heard them say something about the 'Crimson Hand'.
Some time later Dugesia realised that she was no longer trapped within her broken body, she was a ghost, returned to haunt this place- to ensure that the tomb robbers, and in particular the cruel woman, were punished for their treachery.
Lucan finally adds that Dugesia Dev'shir told him she is indeed the sister of Elam (Lady Markelhay) and Lacki Dev'shir. The latter, the older sister of Elam and Dugesia, having died many years ago of a wasting disease.
“So we're looking for Lacki then?” Cathal surmises.
“I figure.” Lucan nods and then throws over the two halves of one of the missing bricks from the family tree- it's marked with the name Dugesia Dev'shir of course.
“Which means we're just missing the one with Lacki Dev'shir written on it?” Ignaran concludes.
[DM Interlude- bloody hackneyed plots, you could write them on the back of a postage stamp.]
The Knights form up ready to head off, next step the Famished Froghemoth. As they're about to leave the spirit of Dugesia Dev'shir reappears, buttoning up her blouse, and bearing the same wonky grin Lucan is toting.
“Farewell Lord Lucan. I wish you well brave sir Knight, you and your men; and your pet Dwarves of course- Rollo and Fatty. Hurry back, I'm dying to see you again.”
She waves the Knights off.
And winks at Lucan.
Lucan looks a little sheepish and files out, the other Knights wait till they're a good distance away before expressing their disgust and/or admiration.
[DMs Interlude- after some excellent role-playing Lucan now has enough XP to advance to Level 4, after a (much needed) extended rest that is.]
Next stop the Famished Froghemoth, or so you'd think- however the time is not yet right for the Knights to head to the pub, Cathal has other plans.
He and Ignaran head off to the Civic Hall, in the hope they can wake a clerk or two and get into the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Rock and Farkill, still bristling from Lucan's previous insult, are sent back to visit Oskar the Pawnbroker- the question that needs answering is 'who or what is or are the Crimson Hand?'
Lucan volunteers to stay with Dugesia Dev'shir- pump her for more information.
And so it goes.
The Friday Knights meet up in two hours later to share their findings- Lacki Dev'shir it seems is really dead, at least that's what the register says, she died a dozen years ago although the records are a little confused. It seems the wayward Dev'shir sister spent much of her adult life in a secure mental institution, this after attacking and killing a servant of the household- she was known to have a blistering temper. Regardless, she's dead, that is unless the records have been falsified- now who would do such a thing?
The Dwarves, Rock and Farkill, have no problems with Oskar the Pawnbroker, he's very pliant now and eager to help- particularly when Rock gets his axe out again. The Crimson Hand it seems are a local gang of ne'er-do-wells. Latimer, the tomb robber who sold the amulet to Oskar, is a low ranking member of the organisation.
Inevitably the conversation at the Pawnbroker's circles a while-
“Why didn't you tell us this?” Rock asks.
“You didn't ask.” Oskar responds.
Repeat and rinse.
[DMs Interlude- after some excellent role-playing Rock also has enough XP to advance to Level 3, likewise after an extended rest.]
Lucan, back from visiting with Dugesia, has no new information to offer, although the wonky smile is back.
The Knights head for the Froghemoth and venture in. The place is a dive, packed with a variety of Fallcrest's nastier specimens, foremost of which is Gwaldys Protheroe, one of the nastiest Halfling's, scratch that- the nastiest Halfling inhabitant of Fallcrest. A known gang land boss, she's playing cards- and winning, with a number of cowed crooks.
Lucan makes a bee-line for her table, and on-form, begins to make an arse of himself and in the process prevent the bad-tempered Halfling from winning any further hands.
[DM Interlude- Lucan is a somnambulist adrenalin junky; one word answers or grunts, belligerence in abundance, the morals of a... no, nothing springs to mind- when he doesn't have to move he doesn't move, in combat at times he becomes one with the furnishings. And then danger comes along, his little eyes light up, particularly at the thought of annoying someone else, preferably Cathal, and off he goes.]
Latimer, the Half-Orc tomb robber, is in the Inn, and already drunk, it seems he's bent on spending all of his ill-gotten loot as quickly as possible. Soon enough Rock and Farkill are on the scene and helping him waste his gold.
The other Knights scope the place and ready themselves for trouble.
Once again the Knights and their silver-tongues hold sway, Latimer- now in his cups, and a little maudlin; is made to see the error of his wanton ways, through jagged crocodile tears he tells his story, or at least a little of it- however he's interrupted mid-flow, almost fatally.
As is Lucan and Gwladys, who are about to go head to head, the Halfling gang leader having finally run out of patience with the Elven Rogue.
The interruption takes the form of a cowled Tiefling who enters the bar flanked by two muscle-bound no-necked Human Thugs.
“Slayer business- leave now or die- we've come for him.” The Tiefling points at Latimer who spills the last of his pint and then empties his bladder.
Who are the Slayers you ask?
Actually it's Rock that asks.
“Assassins.” Lucan whispers, even he looks a little worried- Gwladys and her cronies depart, clearly indicating that she and Lucan will meet again some not so sunny day, and things will not go so well for the Elven Rogue at their next meeting.
The other revellers within the bar make their escape, even Marsupial Joe, the Inn owner, heads into the back room and locks the door.
Which just leaves the three Slayers, the Knights and Latimer.
“I wont tell you again.” Traenor, the Tiefling Slayer states, and glares at each of the Knights in turn.
“You just did.” Cathal answers back and draws his longsword.
No guesses what happens next.
The Slayer Thugs are straight into the fray, this after loosing a volley from their hand crossbows, which they then discard. The pair are flailing wildly with their greatswords, and connecting more often than not.
Traenor is a different proposition altogether, he's a Warlock- Cathal is swiftly cursed, then Eldritch Blasted. The Slayer follows up with all manner of foul incantations, including his Crown of Thorns which as well as bloodying the Warrior of Kord also clouds his mind and judgement- Cathal slashes furiously and injures Rock.
Then, of course, just as Cathal regains his senses and closes in, the Tiefling teleports away and becomes invisible.
In the meantime the Slayer Thugs continue to soak up the damage, however when Traenor reappears again, all of the Knights turn to face the Slayer- Cathal's orders, disregarding for a moment the Thugs entirely, and unleash whatever they've got left in their armoury. The Knights figure this is the last confrontation for this evening- the dailies are spent.
In double-quick time Traenor is taken down, courtesy of Cathal and Rock's joint Villain's Menace, And Lucan with his Positioning Strike; the others weigh in but are less effective.
It's soon over.
Only a curse for the living as Treanor and his Thugs are bested.
“I'll get you... see if I... aaaagggghhhhhh.”
The Inn returns to silence, save Latimer hiccuping and being sick in the corner, his nerve has finally gone.
The Half-Orc Rogue eventually finishes his confession, he and several other Crimson Hand members were ordered to break into the Dev'shir Tomb by his boss Haledon, even now the Crimson Hand are ensconced in an abandoned Iron Mine a little more than two miles north west of Fallcrest.
This one will Slay you.
[DM Interlude Encounter #47 [950 XP = Level 4] Slayer Thug x2 (Level 4 Brutes) & Traenor, Tiefling Warlock Assassin (Level 7 Elite Skirmisher)]
The Knights, or at least the Dwarven contingent, spy an opportunity, hop over the bar and settle themselves beneath the beer taps- take it in turns to open the flow. In the meantime the pair continue to make as much noise as they can in order to prevent Marsupial Joe from thinking about re-entering the bar, and in doing so extend their period of free boozing.
And when Marsupial Joe does return-
“A Slayer... You've killed a Slayer. In my bar... A Slayer!”
He's not happy.
Lucan explains that the Knights may have just dashed their chances of getting on the Slayers Erathismass card list- they're not going to be very popular.
“Kord will not be stopped- we are here to fight crime!” Cathal declares, to beery cheers and hiccups.
Eventually the Knights head home (singing), or at least back to the Blue Moon Alehouse, their home from home. There they meet up with Eoffram Troyas, councillor of Fallcrest, and explain all that has gone on.
Eoffram is excited at the prospect of finding the Thief, this Crimson Hand gang, so excited is he that he doubles the reward to 1,500 gold coins for each of the Knights should they prove successful in bringing them to justice.
He further confirms that Lady Markelhay does indeed, or rather did indeed, have two sisters- Dugesia who died in a fire, and Lacki who was taken by madness and killed herself, all but a prisoner in a far off sanatorium- so not a wasting disease as Dugesia told them.
The Knights retire for the night, wake early, take breakfast and then march straight out of Fallcrest- about two miles north west of the city, following a map that Latimer supplied them with. That is before the Half-Orc borrowed some money from the Knights and went to the docks in search of the first boat out of Fallcrest. The Slayers are known for their persistence.
A short steep-sloped valley lies before them, Lucan is sent forward a way- hidden in the lee of the cliffs he spies out the enemies position. He returns to the Knights and tells them that there is a tree house, or at least a platform, in the tree to the left with guards in it.
The Knights settle upon a plan- they charge straight towards the tree with the platform in it, pull up short and unleash all manner of ranged fury at its inhabitants, not much of a plan admittedly, but it works.
In the tree there are three Crimson Hand members, two Human Bandits, one of whom is quickly killed, the other doesn't last much longer, and Selvin, the Elven Ranger. He holds the fort and fires down upon the Knights, who don't have it all their own way.
Rushing out from the tree on the opposite side of the valley comes Bork, yelling all manner of indecorous threats to a personage, he's a spear wielding Human Warrior; alas the furious fellow is cut down by Cathal and Rock before he even has the chance to land a blow.
Selvin screams his surrender, and under instruction makes his way down from the tree platform, he spills the beans- the Crimson Hand are indeed within the mine complex, the entrance is trapped, a little- and other than numbers- maybe two dozen, there's little else he can tell.
The Elf is kicked and tied and wedged behind one of the trees to contemplate where he went wrong in life. 'Getting caught by the Friday Knights' is his first thought.
The Crimson Hand gets bloody.
[DM Interlude Encounter #48 [600 XP = Level 1] Human Bandit x2 (Level 2 Skirmishers); Bork, Human Warrior (Level 4 Brute) & Selvin, Elven Archer (Level 4 Artillery)]
The Knights then get a little creative, the platform up in the tree is wrenched down to the ground, shaped a little- with axes; into a sort of large wooden shield. Selvin having previously warned them that there is a crossbow trap within the mine entrance.
The Knights head on and enter a cave which is dark and dry, with a dusty, rubble-strewn floor. The walls are rough hewn, with roots hanging from the ceiling like tendrils. The corridor ends at a t-intersection with passages leading to the east and west.
Lucan scouts a little to the west, hears noises and moves a little further in- there seems to be some sort of blockage in the passage, scratch blockage- make it blockade; behind which are a gang of crossbow wielding Orcs, they seem to be on alert, funny that.
The Elven Rogue scuttles back and informs his friends of his find.
A moment or two later the Orcs can't believe their eyes, there seems to be a large wooden wall jogging towards them, they wonder what manner of strange creature it is- they hope it will prove to be friendly.
It turns out, of course, to be Cathal and Rock holding what remains of the wooden platform before them, the pair crash into and through the blockade, spill their large improvised shield and trample over it and into the fray. The Orcs are in disarray very quickly.
Choo-choo, here comes the Knight train.
Tizer, an Orcish Cleric spots the danger, his Chaos Hammer explodes with fury and smashes both of the front rank to the ground- Rock and Cathal stumble to their knees- exposing the rear rank to the Orc Bandits, who unleash a volley of crossbow bolts- all of which miss.
The action slows right down, the standing Knights check themselves all over, searching for leaks to plug- and yet... find none- not a scratch.
Hell comes early this year for the Orcs, Cathal and Rock are back on their feet and Tizer is soon after down, the Bandits take a little while longer- two of them even try to flee but there's nowhere for them to go except back down the entrance passage- and that's where the Knights are.
The dust settles on dead Orcs.
[DM Interlude Encounter #49 [800 XP = Level 3] Orc Bandit x4 (Level 3 Skirmishers) & Tizer, Orc Cleric (Level 5 Controller). Don't worry that these are easy encounters, I'm building slowly.]
The Orcs are searched, the room is scoured, and sure enough a secret door is found. Meanwhile Lucan and Ignaran head back down the passage to the entrance to the mine, instead they take the eastern spur, cautiously follow it a little way, spot the crossbow trap, which Lucan - with a little help from the Druid - disarms.
Back in the Orc guard chamber the Knights reassemble, gather their kit, and prise open the secret door, another darkened passage sloping upwards lies beyond- heading north, there's a pair of heavy metal rails, the kind that you find in mines.
“Shhh!” Lucan announces, grins, and then disappears into the black.
And that concludes the fifteenth session of play, with 7841 XP to share between the players.
