AW008

## AW008 - The Gang is Bad at Sneaking

### Creepy Dungeon - Midmorning

While the battle of the blood baths is ongoing, Kalo finds himself deep in the labyrinth seeking Sylas. Making his way all the way back to the entrance, he is startled to see Sylas's sword and no sign of its owner. He senses a powerful and unsettling aura from it, and after some study realises it is posessed. Using *Augury*, he is informed that it must be destroyed due to its evil nature, but there is no place on the Material plane for it. He takes on the challenge, picks up the sword and makes his way back inwards to find the rest of the gang.

Back in the blood baths, Thurstwell exits the fight in Scooby Doo villain fashion and the room begins to quake and collapse. As Billie, Puffin, Mortlock and Vendetta dash for the portal, Antrak and Thurstwell's minions stand transfixed, fading in and out of reality before collapsing as the portal closes.

Catching their breath, they bump into Kalo and they catch each other up. Kalo felt an invisible presence run past him, and Mortlock deduces that Thurstwell will be found at the family estate nearby. They make for the exit, with Puffin stopping to recover Neebra's body. Billie finds a Scroll of Fireball and passes it to Kalo.

Moving into the light of the bathhouse, the gang confronts Jebaz who has done a spectacular job of tidying up. He seems to have no idea about Thurstwell, but did reveal he came this way. The gang take a short rest, with Puffin washing the residue of the torture room off Neebra and wrapping her respectfully.

### Elturel - Early Afternoon

As the gang are getting ready to move out, the door flies open and Tarina bursts in. There is a tense standoff between Tarina, Vendetta and Mortlock until everyone agrees they're on the same side. On inspecting Neebra at Puffin's request, Tarina believes she was a trader in the market. Puffin files this away.

The gang plus their groupies move out to the Estate. On the way they stop at a small chapel of Lathander, where they leave Neebra in the care of Brother Tendre. He knows her family and will inform them of Neebra's death, and of the gang's kindness.

Arriving at the Estate (a converted orphanage) they are spotted by a stone gargoyle which comes to life, growls and flies off. Mortlock advises there is an area of the perimeter wall that might suit for the gang to vault over. Tarina and Vendetta offer to guard the perimeter.

With all the grace of used car yard floppy guys, Puffin and Billie flop in a windmill of limbs over the wall, ruining any chances of a stealthy entrance. Against all the rules of physiology, Kalo and Mortlock complete the vault elegantly and land ready to fight the Iron Consul and 2 Reapers of Bhaal who are walking the perimeter and ready to murder the intruders sprawled on the grass. A tight-quarters melee ensues, again heavily featuring flame from fingers and mouth. The final death is a grim one. Searching the bodies, they find a Bane-themed key and Mortlock advises they will need one key for each of the dead three to enter the basement. These Vanthampurs really went all-in on their worship.

Puffin *Disguises Self* as a scantily-clad Reaper of Bhaal with blue hair tips, and with Mortlock moves off towards the library to find the other keys. Preparing an ambush, the gang takes positions either side of the door and Puffin reprises his disguised imperious bad guy role from AW003 lambasting the two cultists within. They reveal that Thurstwell is waiting for the gang, and that there is some ritual or surprise planned. Confidence does a lot of work where rank and authority seem to be lacking, and Puffin confuses the cultists into following him out into the waiting ambush, where they are comprehensively unalived in under three seconds.

When searched, the other two keys are located along with some more potions of healing. The curtain falls on the episode as the gang stuffs the bodies into the corner, Prestidigitates the carpet clean and makes tentative preparations for a delve into the cellar with few spell slots remaining.