Return of the Lichemaster

**"Return of the Lichemaster"** is Chapter 10 of *The Vagabond Chronicles* series. The episode begins with our heroes finishing their talk with Blitzen & Vixen and heading off towards La Maison Tal.

## Summary

Vixen tells the party that she'll meet the party at La Maison Tal. She whispers into Ziggy's ear 'Look after Ratty. There's something about him that Blitzen finds interesting. I'll be in Maison Tal in 2 weeks.' giving him a slap on the shoulder before walking away towards the stretcher Prancer is on. Blitzen thanks the party for their support in the battle at Sinta Klaas' camp, saying they'll meet again and wishes them farewell and good luck. She touches Rattigan's forearm and gives him a kiss on the cheek farewell, thanking him for the help. Rattigan is flabbergasted by this since it's the first time he's had this sort of attention on him. Dr Dasher comes up to the party and explains that the war penguins might be an issue. Ziggy talks about letting the war penguins go to the water and release them there. The party talks about this for a bit, to which Dasher says that they should probably avoid civilisation for a bit. Ziggy wonders if the war penguins are female and male or if they're both males. Bondo says he doesn't want to find that out. The party needs to stop by in Greniere. From there it would be around 40 miles to La Maison Tal.

Bondo passes a drive test and manages to avoid being spotted by many people. Rattigan gives Dr. Dasher some berries and a mushroom to pay for provision, which Dr Dasher unceremoniously chucks over his shoulder. Rattigan gets upset, since they are good berries and he runs after them down the hill, unable to fully catch up. He tells Noodle and Mr. Spidge to retrieve them for him. Noodle eats one. Teddy gives Ziggy the stolen candelabra and gems for appraisal, who doesn't really know what to do with it. Dr. dasher and Ziggy come back with provisions as Dr Dasher goes into the pub. He comes back with bottles in his bag and is now definitely drunk. The party heads off once more towards la Maison Tal. The party goes through the Frügelhoffen Valley. While they're travelling Rattigan is picking up small objects from nature (leaves, stones, bits of metal from the cart) and he's playing around with them. There's still half a day's travel to Maison Tal. There is a tallite shrine somewhere around here but the party doesn't know where exactly. The weather suddenly shifts and there's a torrent of rain, wind and lightning flashes. Dr dasher puts up the collar of his coat, to hide from the weather. Rattigan enjoys the rain as Bondo is hiding under Rattigan. The party (apart from Teddy) fails a toughness test and gets a cold from the horrible weather, temporarily giving them a -10 to fellowship test. The wind is growing stronger and the storm is now really raging, the sky is turning darker too.

The party sees a light in the distance, this must be the tallite shrine, a sort of waypoint for weary travellers. Rattigan is praying to tal but it doesn't go through, as he sneezes through the word Tal. The rain slows down the war penguins from running full power even though the water just rolls of them. Dr. Dasher hitches the war penguins to a nearby tree. Rattigan, Teddy and Ziggy step into the shrine, where there is already a fire going. Around which are men with rat tails and dense fur. They turn around as the party enters. The enemies get a surprise round and the Skaven puts a pirate hat into Teddy's mouth. Teddy runs out and calls for Bondo. Ziggy is delaying his turn for now. The Skaven threaten the party and tell them to get out and live long. Rattigan offers them cheese to which the Skaven tells Rattigan that they eat flesh and snarls at him. Bondo instantly recognises the Skaven. Teddy runs back to the cart and gets on it. Dasher is about to draw his pistol. Bondo is trying to push Rattigan towards the door. The Skaven tell the party that their time is up as they approach to fight, but they completely miss Ziggy. Rattigan hits the shielded Skaven. Bondo smashes Ratty out of the way to charge the Skaven, which costs Rattigan 1 wound (now on 7 wounds). Bondo misses his attack. The white rat is in the back, muttering words to his staff, the three other Skaven guarding it. Ziggy attacks with the spider sword for 12 damage, killing the Skaven, by stabbing him in the neck. The white rat and the remaining Skavens are trying to make a tactical retreat by blowing the back wall of the shrine out. Two Skaven at the entrance critically fail their attack roll as they clash heads, running into each other. Rattigan shoots a taser's worth of lightning towards the ass of the Skaven, making it fluff up. Bondo hits a Skaven on its midrif and Bondo gets +10 for next round. Teddy hugs the building and walks around to the back, successfully stealthing around. One of the Skavens at the front entrance is trying to retreat, the other one attacks Bondo and suffers 7 wounds, Bondo fails his toughness test and passes out.

Teddy gets a critical hit on the Skaven for 28 points of damage, killing it by hitting it in the head which makes it pops. Ziggy critically fails his attack roll as the Skaven catches his halberd, disarming him. Rattigan gets hit by a Skaven, suffering 2 wounds, Ratty counters by using the spell Butterfingers against it, rubbing butter all over his face. Ziggy deals 21 points of damage and spears the Skaven from his chin up. The Skavens run off to join their brethren. Dasher is helping to patch Bondo up rubbing Stinkshit weed over his wounds. No one in the party saw Ziggy's heroic attacks.

The session ends with the party making camp at the shrine to wait out the storm. Rattigan finds a deluxe hedge to sleep in, with a U port to watch the storm. The ferrets are grabbing his face and trying to direct him towards the shrine. The party falls asleep and experiences interesting dreams

## Quotes

* **Pete:** "Neil, are the Skaven ... erm... wearing Pirate hats?"
*-2 seconds of absolute silence in the chat-*
 **Neil:** "Oh my god, you fucker! What have you done in discord? What are you trying to get me to do?"
 **Pete:** "Erm, I'm just asking the question!"
* **Bondo: '**Come on, Ratty. I think this is not the time for us to be playing ''cheesy cheesy, mousey mousey' **Rattigan:** ' Oh, but you know that 'cheesy cheesy, mousey mousey' is one of my favourite games!!'

## Trivia

* Intro is 35 minutes long
* They mention the great adventurer Macguyver
* Exp update: Teddy gets +10 to his ballistic skill(47), dex +10 (43) and 1 wound up
* Exp update: Ziggy gets + 10 to his weapon skill(45), initiative +10 (46) and 1 wound (at 7 now)
* Exp update: Ratty gets +5 int (38) and 1 wound up (8), saving 100 points
* Exp update: Bondo gets +10 to his weapon skill (52), 1 strength point (3), failed to learn 'strike mighty blow'(about the bombs) and learn 'herb lore' from Dr. Dasher