Honorbound: Episode 12

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==Recap==
The party starts out in the city of Goldfort. Bowen gets the tarot cards from Therin, and uses them to cast Augury. He asks if their new companions are trustworthy, and he gets wheel and woe. He draws three cards - Vengeance, Justice, and Strength. He then casts Detect Good and Evil, finding that his flail is neither consecrated or desecrated. Sir Balrog radiates a good aura, and their other companions radiate nothing. The party goes to the temple and buys two healing potions. They then set out.
The party discusses battle strategy with their new allies. They also discuss whether or not raising the dead is inherently evil, even if they are used for a good purpose. The camp they are seeking is 5 days of travel away. As they travel, they are battered by rain and cold weather. They stop at a small cave with a red mark above it to rest. Lady Arrenworth tries to cozy up to Therin, but he rejects her advances. On the third day, they come across a cave, and Therin sneaks up to take a look. He looks in, finding only an old campfire, and when he goes to leave he sees a 9 foot tall wolf. Therin turns and runs, with the wolf giving chase. Therin takes a bite from the wolf as he runs towards the party. The wolf breathes a breath weapon and Therin is battered by extreme cold. The party charges in to engage. Therin drinks a healing potion and continues to run. Bowen casts Magic Weapon on Lady Arrenworth's bow. Lady Arrenworth lands several hits with her bow. Therin scrambles up a hill away from the Wolf, and it runs away, disappearing around a corner. The party hears more howls in the distance. The party pushes forward, with Therin drinking another healing potion.
They reach a cave with a safe haven, and camp for the night.
===Darkmantle===
The next day they reach a pile of rubble that blocks the way. Lady Arrenworth tells the party there are three ways around it, two on the surface and one in a cavern system leading underneath. The party choose to camp for the night and try to climb up the rubble pile in the morning.
During the night, the party is awakened as rocks fall down and block the cave entrance. The party pushes into the cave in the morning, having no other choice. They move 100 feet in and find several skeletons on the floor. As they look at the bodies, several Darkmantle come down from the ceiling and attack. One of the creatures lands on Martur and wraps around his head. The Darkmantle create an aura of darkness around them, and the party flail around trying to hit them. Bowen activates a charge on his flail and smashes one to the ground. Martur rips the Darkmantle off his head and casts Expiditious Retreat. Therin moves out of the darkness and explores further into the cave. The party's allies kill a Darkmantle as Therin sees one of the stalagmites move, and then he runs from it. Bowen kills the last Darkmantle, ending the darkness. The stalagmite, now a creature, flings a tentacle out and grabs Sir Balrog and drags him towards it. Therin hits it with an arrow as Bowen charges at it. Martur casts Web, but is unable to ensnare the creature. The creature wraps a tentacle around Bowen as Martur casts Magic Missile at it. The creature gets stuck in the web, but takes a large bite out of Bowen and nearly drops him. Therin is grabbed by a tentacle, but severs it with a well placed shot and retreats. Bowen is bitten one more time, and falls unconscious. Several blows, burning web damage, and magic missiles later, the creature dies. Sir Balrog uses Lay on Hands and heals Bowen, bringing him back up.
===Rust Monsters===
The party discusses that there will probably be more monsters, and that there is probably something that gathered all the treasure somewhere in the cave. Almost immediately the party is beset by a group of seven Rust Monster. They surround Bowen and Martur, landing a blow on both. Bowen's armor starts to degrade. Bowen brings one down and casts Healing Word on himself. The party's allies collectively bring one down. Bowen takes more hits and his armor starts falling apart. Martur casts Thunderwave and knocks a few of the monsters back. The party finishes off the rest of the creatures.
Exploring where the Rust Monsters came from, the party finds a small shaft leading further into the mountain. The party holes up and rests for an hour, recovering health. Martur uses his Blood Power to give Bowen temporary hit points, and the party explores past the dead Roper, finding an exit. Therin explores the shaft past the Rust Monsters, and the party exits to find the destroyed camp of the dwarves. Therin finds a broken up map on a dead body which gives a small indication of where the horn might be. The party holes up inside the cave and attempt to rest for the night.
===Bulette===
Shortly into the night, Therin hears the sound of something burrowing during his watch. When no creatures appear, the party goes back to sleep and completes their rest. They move out into the dwarven camp through the Roper exit, and begin inspecting it. They find little of value except some large footsteps in the snow leading up the mountain. Lady Arrenworth finds a small tunnel, and spots something approach them and burrow into the ground. The party prepares, spreading out while Bowen blesses some of the party. Varissa starts making noise, and a Bulette springs out of the ground near her. It jumps into the air and lands on her, knocking her down. Therin lands several shots, doing large amounts of damage. The Bulette tries to jump on Bowen, knocking him sideways. Bowen smacks the Bulette with his flail, discharging a charge of fire damage. Martur casts Web but is unable to entangle it. The creature bites Lady Varissa, ripping her in half while Therin continues to rain arrows into it. Martur casts Melf's Acid Arrow, but it deflects off the creatures scales. The Bulette bites Bowen and knocks him unconscious. Martur casts Magic Missile against the Bulette as it tries to retreat to the tunnel it came out of. Sir Balrog heals Bowen and brings him back up while Martur chases after the Bulette. Martur casts another Web, but the Bulette again escapes it's clutches. Therin jumps off the cliff and shoots the Bulette as it runs down the tunnel. The Bulette disappears as the party tries to prepare for it's return. Therin pulls out his swords and chases after the Bulette down the tunnel. The Bulette pops out of the ground and jumps on top of Martur, knocking him unconscious. Bowen charges after the Bulette and casts Healing Word on Martur, waking him up. Sir Balrog charges up to the Bulette, but misses his attack. The Bulette bites him and knocks him unconscious, and then charges up to Bowen. Bowen casts Healing Word on Sir Balrog, waking him up while he smashes his flail into the Bulette. Martur casts Web on the Bulette, and finally restrains it. The Bulette tries to bite Martur, but he casts Shield and blocks it. Several blows land on the Bulette, and Martur finishes it off with his hammer.
The party mourns the loss of Lady Varissa, and then hears Wolves howling in the distance.
==Experience==
The party gains 1000 XP.
Category:Honorbound Episodes