Gnomes, Tomes & Catacombs: Episode 13

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== Synopsis ==
After the party hands over a mutilated giant to Arc Bromulon in Hillsborough, they engage in a series of events that lead them to Fortune. Brad scams a farmer and donates to an orphanage, while Gerald acquires a spell and the group hires a carriage driven by Devin. During their journey, they are attacked by Blink Dogs and Rust Monsters, and after a battle, they continue past the ruined Plainsview. In Fortune, they are initially barred entry but gain access through a name drop. The party hides from hostile locals and infiltrates a ritual led by the corrupt High Cleric Rupert Thorn, who they ultimately kill. Their battle against Sheriff Dramos and rising undead proves challenging, and after dispatching a vampire and fleeing the city, they regroup with mercenaries led by Captain Thaydin, buying their contract to escape safely.
==Recap==
===Day 140 (1510-12-18)===
The party are in Hillsborough, having just handed over the mutilated giant to Arc Bromulon.
Brad Barbo scams a farmer, claiming the 4 donkeys he is selling are magical. He then donates 200 gold to an orphanage.
Gerald Knott goes to Scarlet and buys the spell Tasha's Hideous Laughter.
The party hire a carriage, driven by a hulking 22 year old peasant named Devin. They set out for Fortune across the plains. 
===Day 143 (1510-12-21)===
The carriage is attacked by a Blink Dog. Brad tries to handle it alone, but vanishes with the Blink Dog to another location. He appears in the middle of a pack of Rust Monsters & Blink Dogs. The rest of the party mobilise to save Brad.
The party kill some of the creatures, while the rest of the creatures retreat into burrows. 
The party travel past Plainsview, ruined in the Demon Invasion of Eridon. Devin the driver talks about the types of Demonss he has heard of. He says the Demons are now in Heatstroke, and the ground itself is being blighted.
At the end of the day, the party camp. During Midori's watch, 3 riders ride towards the party. Midori wakes up the party. Locke demands the riders reveal their identity and the riders ask the party the same question. The riders say they are mercenaries from Fortune, scouting for monsters that might threaten Fortune. The mercenaries are led by Captain Thaydin.
After the riders leave, Midori is contacted by Voraci. She talks of a Priest named Rupert Thorn, who has betrayed Voraci for years. Voraci asks Midori to ensure Rupert Thorn dies. Midori agrees.
Brad prays to Efra to inspire him and hears the sounds of hundreds of suffering souls in Fortune. 
===Day 144 (1510-12-22 Winter Solstice)===
The party arrive in Fortune. Devin the Driver doesn't enter the town and drops them off outside.
The party approach the 30 foot high city walls. It is the night of the full moon and the guards don't want to let the party into the city. Gerald name drops Captain Thaydin, and they are allowed in.
The party head to a nearby tavern. The party talk with Captain Thaydin. Captain Thaydin is also an outsider. She and her riders are there to keep the peace while Count Vicious is away with his army attacking Meadstead.
Gerald tries to play his bagpipes and the locals hate it, but Brad spots Gerald getting hurt.
Midori talks with the local priest, and he talks about the town's high priest of Voraci, Rupert Thorn. Midori tries to get the priest drunk, but he walks away disgusted.
Captain Thaydin says the locals kick out outsides during the night, including mercenaries.
The party hide in a tiny hut in a ruined building and hide as the villagers kick out any outsiders they find. The villagers form search parties but are unable to locate the party.
Afters sunset, Gerald's owl familiar scouts around. He sees a great gathering in a square of maybe 5000 people. The people are chanting, almost humming. Rupert Thorn is leading the chant.
The party disguise themselves as peasants and join the crowd. They see a cart of dead bodies is taken to the stage where the High Cleric is chanting. He lifts a body and carries it into a catacomb. Each time he comes out, he says the name of the dead and proclaims that they have entered the "Ranks of the Eternal." Locke pretends to help carry the body of an overweight man into the catacombs.
High Cleric Rupert Thorn confronts Locke, saying he is an outsider. Locke lies about why he is there. Rupert Thorn starts to cast a spell when Locke attacks the High Cleric, knocking him unconscious.
The other helpers carrying the body come out of the catacombs. The party go invisible and head inside the catacombs. Sheriff Dramos is concerned and heads inside as well. The party follow Sheriff Dramos inside. Midori and Gerald overtake the Sheriff and head towards Locke and the unconscious Cleric, but Midori takes a wrong turn.
Gerald finds Locke, and hi owl familiar hoots continuously so the others can find them. Midori finds the unconscious cleric and casts her Touch of Death, killing him. Voraci is very pleased.
Brad arrives with the Sheriff. The Sheriff raises his arm to show a Mark of Servitude. The party attack him, but before he falls, he is able to command the undead to rise. The party hear the undead rise from their rest in the catacombs.
Skeletons and Zombies attack the party. The party fight, but it is a losing battle as more and more undead come. Midori calls upon Voraci to bless her sword, Graybane, to fight against the undead. Gerald Fireballs the corridor, destroying all the undead, but knocking himself and Midori unconscious.
Locke and Brad drag the party outside and they are confronted by a noble lady. Locke tries lying to her about what they are doing, but the noble lady doesn't care; she reveals a set of fangs and attacks the party. The vampire grapples Brad. Brad and Locke fight with her. Locke uses Midori's blessed sword and it surprises the vampire with the amount of damage it does. Brad hits her and knocks the vampire unconscious. Locke decapitates her with his swords.
Captain Brad calls upon Efra and tries to intimidate the crowd but fails, disappointing his God. Locke throws the noble vampire's head at a person in the crowd and implies that he will them if they give the party trouble. The few remaining members of the crowd, intimidated by Locke, flee.
Locke and Brad, carrying the unconscious Gerald and Midori, get their donkey, Dominic, and head towards the town gate. They spot 5 people heading to the town gate, but Brad is able to fool them and say the intruders are over in another direction, leading them away.
The party leave though the unguarded town gates.
They meet up with Captain Thaydin and the tents of her mercenaries. Locke explain some of the crazy things they saw in Fortune to Captain Thaydin and her riders and buys out their contract for 500 gold. They meet up with Devin and his wagon and head away from the town.
Category:Gnomes, Tomes & Catacombs Episodes