Out of the Frying Pan

"**Out of the Frying Pan**" (1x14) is the 14th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

## **Synopsis**

### **Previously on *Dun-Johns and Dragons***

The party found themselves framed for serial murder, arrested, and taken to the Netherkeep, where they were interrogated by Shayne Ironsprinter of The Wolfpack. While in the dungeon, they also met a mysterious figure named Shadowscale, who seemed mostly uninterested in escaping or taking part in the action, though they did toss the party a few subtle magical assists. Stone, meanwhile, managed to evade capture and get Captain Olo's memory restored with the help of Makaria Quest, discovering the real murderer was most likely Lord Stanton Owsley, one of the highest-ranking officials in Westerhaven. Stone managed to infiltrate the Netherkeep through the sewers, where they found the rest of the party having escaped from their cells and fighting their way through a corridor full of guards. Stone cast Sleep, downing all but one of the guards.

### **Part I**

[NB: This episode consists entirely of a single combat sequence. The area is laid out thus: There are four corridors laid out in a rectangle, with stairs at the top, the lavatory through which Stone entered (and through which they all plan to escape) at the bottom, and two rooms in the middle with doors opening to both the side corridors.]

Magpie and Stone deal with the one guard left awake after Stone’s Sleep spell, while the others search for their missing weapons. They're trying not to hurt the guard; he makes no such effort, but his attacks are largely ineffectual. The shadowy archer who shot and briefly enchanted Yoolna before, who seems much more skilled than the rest of the guards, also harries them from the top corridor. Zander, Dugluss, Father Buckitt, and Yoolna end up in a storage room off the right corridor, where they spot their belongings in a gated-off area.

The remaining guard, meanwhile, has disengaged from Magpie and Stone and backed up the stairs, where he is banging on the locked trapdoor. Stone, still trying to keep things peaceful, climbs the stairs as well and tries to push the door open for him, but it slides open of its own accord and a wave of guards appear at the top of the steps. Magpie, meanwhile, has stealthily stolen all the arrows from the archer's quiver.

Buckitt, Dugluss, and Yoolna manage to break into the gated area of the storeroom, while Zander and Magpie exchange sallies with the archer in the corridor. Yoolna finds the Portable Hole, and they dump the entire contents of that part of the room inside, to be sorted through later; the archer dashes into the storerooom, grabs a fresh bundle of arrows, and runs out toward the bottom corridor.

By this time, the guards have driven Stone down the steps and into the top corridor; one group is attacking Stone while another is waking up their sleeping comrades. Stone casts Twilight Sanctuary, making themself much more difficult to hit, and is purposely trying to keep the guards' attention on themself so the rest of the party can escape.

### **Part II**

Magpie backs into the top corridor and, seeing Stone in their twilight circle facing a very large number of guards, jumps into the fray, casting Firebolt. The rest of the group, meanwhile, emerge from the storage room and join Zander in the right corridor. He is using Eldritch Blast against the archer to some effect, but she lands several arrow hits in a row and he falls to the ground "like a tiny Boromir".

In the top corridor, Magpie's joining the fight has thrown off Stone's plan; since Twilight Sanctuary makes him much harder to attack, the guards are attacking Magpie instead, and she’s not looking good. Stone drops Twilight Sanctuary and casts Moonbeam, taking out several of the guards, but more keep pouring down the stairs. Magpie manages to disengage and runs into the right corridor, where she leans briefly against Dugluss, panting, "Stone's in trouble — lots of guards!" Father Buckitt revives Zander with Lay on Hands, and they all chase the archer across the bottom corridor, making whatever attacks they can; just as they reach the corner of the left corridor, Magpie lands the final blow with a Firebolt spell before ducking into one of the middle rooms.

Stone, meanwhile, is taking considerable damage as yet more guards come pouring down the stairs. He sees the rest of the party emerging at the bottom end of the left corridor, casts Sanctuary again, and tries to draw the guards in the other direction across the top corridor. He is quickly surrounded, trying to fend off twelve attacks in a single turn, and finally is knocked unconscious.

Zander, Yoolna, and the dwarves, seeing the archer down and the way clear to the lavatory, head in that direction. Zander immediately cannonballs down the pipe, followed by Yoolna. Dugluss and Father Buckitt post up outside the door, intending to keep watch and make sure everyone else gets out before going down themselves. Magpie, low on health but concerned for Stone, dashes out of the middle room and back up the right corridor, yelling for him and getting no response.

Back at the lavatory, Dugluss asks if Buckitt has seen Magpie and Stone; when Buckitt says no, Dugluss replies, "If I'm not back in two minutes, go down the hole!" and dashes around the corner up the right corridor. He spots Magpie and follows after her, sending Folar (whom he found in the storeroom) flying ahead. At the top of the corridor, the mass of guards advancing past the unconscious Stone rounds the corner into view. Magpie calls for Stone and again gets no response. Dugluss tells her to go. Swearing, she casts Thaumaturgy to make herself look as terrifying and demonic as possible, screams at the guards, then turns and flees back to the lavatory and down the hole, sending one more Firebolt over her shoulder as she goes.

Despite taking several attacks from the guards, Folar manages to let Dugluss know that Stone is around the corner in the top corridor. Dugluss charges at the mass of guards and casts Thunderwave, clearing several, but Folar is also hit by the spell and explodes. When he hears the spell, Father Buckitt, already edging up the left corridor in spite of Dugluss' admonition, goes charging through the rear guard and into the top corridor, taking some moderate damage. Dugluss advances and catches sight of Stone and Buckitt; he casts Thunderwave again, being careful to avoid his allies. On a third successful saving throw, Stone regains consciousness. Buckitt uses Lay on Hands on himself then runs over to Stone, taking more attacks along the way. (Dugluss in his armor, meanwhile, has barely been touched.) Shouting "Back, I say!" Dugluss casts his final Thunderwave, finally clearing a path. He yells, "On your feet, Stone, we’re leaving!"

Stone casts Cure Wounds on themself and stands up, but doesn't move; they were expecting to sacrifice themself to save their friends, and now two of those friends have put themselves back into danger on Stone's behalf; part of them still wants to remain and fight to make sure the others can escape.

Father Buckitt casts Heroism on himself and Stone and runs toward Dugluss yelling, "Let's get out of here, friends!" He takes another attack, which would have downed him if not for the extra points granted by the Heroism. Dugluss moves closer to the two guards nearest Stone and downs one with his lightning launcher. He hits the other one with a second attack, then grabs Stone's arm and yells, "Come on, we need to leave! The others have already gotten out!"

The injured guard provokes an attack of opportunity from Stone, which downs him, and Stone is finally convinced; the three of them dash down the corridor to the lavatory and down the pipe to join the others.

**Eulogy for Folar** by Erian

(to the tune of Fire and Flame)

*Let me sing you a song, boys, of Folar the bird!

Who in brave rescue combat was mortally hurt!

In a loud boom exploded, over yards could be heard,

When the cogs, springs and levers dispersed*

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Dugluss Deep-Forge
* Father Buckitt
* Magpie
* Stone
* Yoolna
* Zander Brushspark