Don't Blink

**Don't Blink** is the 20th Session of the Second Season in Where Shades Rule. It marks the first session with itisi2 as Tore Wolfram.

## Recap

After the party recount what they've learnt about the Barricade they go about setting up a transaction for the saliva of a Blink Dog that they need. Upon leaving the Spa however they learn they are being followed and resolve to investigate further themselves to see if they can find the elusive Barricade hideout. Upon entering a sewer on the East side of the City, they find the Barricade operation and attempt to discover what they can until they hear a girl scream and confront the gangsters only to find the girl was a disguised man who stabs Tore opening combat as the Barricade strikes to keep its location secret.

## Summary

As the Six attack the three figures, the girl reveals herself to be a creepy old man with some magical powers called Milton that Tore begins striking with his axe. He casts *Slow* on the Six and gives him and his comrades a fighting chance. However, battle soon turns against them as Davion disarms Nicodemus by getting him to drop his wand and stands over it. Dagmar blasts Nicodemus with a Lightning Bolt from the Spell Scroll given to her by Kravix. Dolnom faces down Vandor and Tully but takes a lot of hits. Milton attempts to flee as the Six are slowed but is blasted by Vandor's *Guiding Bolt* which pierces through Milton leaving a gaping hole in his chest.

As Milton is slain, Nicodemus is left barely standing after successive blows from Davion and Dagmar that he voluntarily surrenders. Dolnom also tries to flee but is forced to the ground when Tully hits him with a non-lethal arrow blow to the Dwarf's rear-end. The two remaining gangsters become more pliant as Vandor threatens them with death unless they begin co-operating. Left with little option despite the fear of what their bosses might do to them they agreed to take them to the store room where the Saliva is kept.

Upon exiting the chamber, they are confronted by Bumkin who is a Huge Ogre with limited intelligence who has come to investigate the loud sounds of combat and to deal with the intruders. Nicodemus tries to talk down Bumkin but is unsuccessful as the Ogre gets annoyed and insists that the intruders must be killed. As such, Bumkin strikes his maul in the wooden bridge in front of him causing Nicodemus, Dolnom and Vandor to fall into the Sewer waters of the Drainage chamber. Vandor with Tore's help is able to climb free of the waters despite being weighed down by his new Plate Armor. However, the two other gangsters are left presumed dead.

The Six attempt to talk down the Ogre themselves with offerings of food as the Ogre complains that he is not allowed to rest or eat until he deals with the problem his boss sent him to deal with. Realising he had destroyed the bridge he needed to walk over to the intruders, Bumkin paced and eventually got a run up to charge over the breach and land on the party. Combat ensued and concluded with a weary Bumkin being lulled to sleep by Dagmar's *Earth Tremor*. Vandor attempts to slay Bumkin in his sleep but is unable to press the dagger into Bumkin's skin and incidentally wakes up the Ogre that then attempts to grab him and drag him into the sewer water beside him. Vandor evades this and watches as the Ogre disappears under the water. His fate is unknown.

After this, the party realise their is a gate to another chamber that they missed and after some cautious investigation for traps and/or magic they determine it is safe to enter. Inside they find a circular chamber with chests, a desk, bookshelves and large barrels. Investigating further Tore finds a *Staff of Phylon* and a *Quiver of Ehlanna*. Sir Davion finds a chest of Finery with one particular *Ermine Coat* preserved in a case that appears older and worn. Dagmar finds pages from a book called "*The Rare Myths of Immorhia*" that is said to contain wide and secret knowledge of Immorhia composed by Fallenew Aud. She also finds a couple of notes, one requesting for more information to find more valuable pages of Aud's Tome and another noting the capture of the Blink Dog but that the Barricade had lost several Bounty Hunters capturing it.

Tully successfully befriends the dog after she finds him in a locked chest with inconspicuous holes in it. She converses with him through *Speak with Animals* to offer his freedom in return for some of his saliva. The Dog agrees and salivates the eminently magical matter. Tully, true to her word, releases him and takes him into her care to Basil's noted jealousy.

## Featured Characters

### The Six

* Sir Davion Phylund
* Tore Wolfram
* Tully Tanglefoot and Basil
* Vandor Tah
* Dame Dagmar Woodfang

### New Characters

* Nicodemus
* Dolnom
* Milton
* Bumkin
* The Blink Dog
* Fallenew Aud (Mentioned Only)