Session 10 8/22/2021

Tasha, Michael, Bill, and Megan (special guest Jeff)

Elektrah, Arden, Brottar, and Lucia

The party was camping next to the lake reviewing all of the loot they recovered. Brottar took the first watch. He noticed that it was much darker than it normally was at night (No moon, No stars). It was also raining and Lucia was covered in a thin layer of frost. They had noticed that Lucia's eyes were glowing and had vertical pupils (like a snake) now. The campsite across the lake seemed quieter than normal and the fire had been banked (just embers, not a full fire). After awhile, he heard a splash and heard someone swimming around in the water. He called out to them but whoever it was ducked under the water. A little later, he heard a wolf-like creature howling, None of these seemed to be important enough to wake everyone up, so he held his peace until it was time for Elektrah to take over the watch. The rest of the watch passed quietly. The rain stopped and the clouds dissipated. There were no stars. No moon. It was unusually dark, but not unnaturally so.

The party wakes up in the morning and decides to head back to the Wizard's tower. They hear what sounds like thunder from the east. They kinda shrug it off and continue on their way. Eventually, they see a dust cloud approaching and getting bigger. They try to change their path a little bit and the dust cloud follows them. It seems to be gaining on them. Arden is able to see shiny reflections of light in the cloud and begins to look for some sort of cover, but there is none to be found. Soon, they find themselves surrounded by 5 men who order them to stop and come with them. The party refuses and a fight breaks out. After several minutes, Lucia and Elektrah are down and out, Brottar is one hit away from unconsciousness, and Arden is the only one in any condition to fight. One of the slavers is dead, but the other 4 are still ready to fight.

The slavers give them a chance to surrender or be killed. It doesn't matter to them. They'll just take the bodies back to the temple and have them raised. They will be taken back to The Plateau and given back to the Mayor. Arden and Brottar surrender. Arden quickly blesses Lucia and Elektrah to stabilize them. The girls are tossed onto the backs of the horses and the men are shackled and tied to the back of the saddle. They group makes camp. The party is shackled and tied to a post driven into the ground, tethered like horses. The slavers to into their large tent and celebrate.

Lucia is still very weak from her ordeal and is unable to picks the locks. Elektrah shifts into a Rat, escapes her shackles and chews through the ropes. Brottar, blessed with a Bull's Strength, is able to break his and Lucia's shackles. Lucia is able to pick the locks for Arden. They wait a bit for the slavers to fall asleep. Arden heals the party of their most grievous wounds. Lucia tries to carefully approach the tent but fails gracelessly. The slavers do not hear her and she's able to sneak in to get their gear. She ties up the slavers and loots them for whatever she can find (water, food). She gets their gear and heads outside. The party discusses the idea of killing the slavers, but Lucia vetoes it, saying they were wearing collars, too. Meaning their slaves and will face their punishment when/if they return. But at least they have a chance as long as they're alive. Several times during the evening, they hear a wolf howling, closer each time.

The party takes the horses and heads to the Wizard's tower. Behind them they hear the wolf howling, men screaming, and the sounds of an attack. The party shrugs and continues on their way.

They eventually arrive at the tower, which now looks like a small English cottage. They knock and the door opens, admitting them into the sitting room outside of the Wizard's lab. The wizard is wearing a dress, a boot on his head, and some sort of goggles. After some very confused conversation and a request for tea, he accepts the crown and rattles off a list off effects for each of the mushrooms that they collected. He will need the white mushroom as it increases magical effects He has Grave Dust, Acid Flasks, Basilisk Scales, and a Scroll. He can, technically, remove the torqs now, but it would be safer to wait for a week. He has a phoenix that will die in the next week and he needs that ash to mix with the white mushroom in case something goes wrong and he accidentally cuts their heads off. The magic in the phoenix ash will repair the damage and the white mushroom will allow them to survive the process. The party is directed down the hallway to rest and recuperate after their ordeal.

XP 1,000 (Combat and escape from slavers)

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