Session 2 Recap

**Previously...**

## And Now...

   In the hour-or-so after the characters agree to defend the Scholar....

To the Scholar's considerable annoyance, he is not left alone by the PC's at any point (even if the players are otherwise busy, then Tivram is guarding him). Arik boards up the upper window.

Goldie (still in cat-form) tries to read the translated pages the Scholar is working on, but gets kicked out. She manages to take two pages with her and reads them. The pages are a page of translation notes and one page on the history of Waiqar (pre-betrayal)

Bogga (the innkeeper) grants them access to the basement level of the inn and they discover the basement links into several underground tunnels (including a former crypt) which have been boarded up. Dandy takes a lot of interest in these tunnels, and learns that one has been boarded up more recently than the others (a few years, rather than 10+).

Gar is standing vigil inside the half-burnt-out stables. A voice begins to talk to him, and seems to be tied to the sword. The sword is encouraging Gar to brutal violence. He ignores it for a while, and it goes silent but after nearly an hour it warns that 'Death is coming' and Gar goes to warn the others.

Dandy questions the cultist/assassin captured in the previous session, who gives up little and threatens that a bigger, more direct assault will soon come to take the book.

Goldie ventures into the basement and investigates the barricade. She squeezes inside and gets distracted chasing rats. She notices a ward on the wall (which was already partially noticed by Dandy), but opts not to investigate right away.

Everyone begins preparing for a fight, arming-up and organizing. Arik tries to encourage the patrons into the basement for a strategic advantage but they seem to fear going down there, instead they rally and bunker down on the ground floor.

Outside, figures can be seen approaching the tower, though they hang back at the edge of the light. Inside the Fire erupts into the fiery vision of a head (Unidentified Gnome Cultist). It warns everyone that they only want the book and the translation, but if they don't give the scholar and books up, that everyone inside will soon die.

Several PCs investigate the basement looking for supplies/a way out. Dandy squeezes through/breaks the barricade and investigates the tunnel. A malfunctioning mechanical table-waiter is discovered amongst several other inventions in Bogga's basement workshop. It's moved from the basement to the ground floor doorway to serve as a distraction.

The crowd of men are encouraged by Dandy (who's cooking fish-on-a-stick for the prisoner) to chant 'We won't die!", but the crowd twists it and chants 'We might die, but we won't die easy!".

PCs start creating barriers at the bottle-neck on the basement stairs and everyone begins to move into the basement. The Scholar refuses to stop his translation, claiming he's very close to finished, and has to be forcibly carried.

The siege begins, but the doors don't hold up for long. When reanimated dead break in through the door it sends waves of fear through the patrons, and many begin to flee downstairs. Giana uses her magic and entourage to try and slow the dead down.

Several PCs start forming a get-away plan, but the Scholar demands more time. He claims he only needs a few more minutes to finish his translation. Meanwhile, Gar reads several pages of the translated text.

Dandy decides to clear the tunnels clear of rats by pouring lantern oil through the barricade and throwing fire through. Seconds later a similar fire happens on the ground floor as Giana uses fire magic to repel the 'first wave' of attackers, but she overexerts herself and falls unconscious. Her guards being her and the remaining patrons downstairs.

With an exit found, the PCs plan to cave in the Inn to cover their tracks (using chains around a weak structural support); they're only waiting on the word from the Scholar. The second wave of Undead reaches the bottom of the stairs just as the Scholar is ready and the roof is caved in.

In the chaos that follows, everyone grabs what they can and heads into the tunnels. Giana is revived and given the translated pages (although Gar ends up with them shortly after). Cat-Goldie points to the wards and it is explained it is a ward that was used to stop monsters wandering up the tunnels into the Inn. The innkeeper explains that he had a partner, a Mage named Joanne, who used to renew the wards yearly, but she went missing three years ago, and hasn't been seen since.

As they're heading down the tunnels, Bogga explains he used to use these tunnels to access an underwater tunnel connecting to the lake, until a sea-monster settled in and he blocked it up. There are 2 main routes out of the tunnels - one will take them under the lake and out to the other side, near the sea monster, the other will bring them west to the mountain hills, where some other creatures have settled in and litter the entrance with mutilated bodies. The PCs choose the second route.

#What they have learned about the book. The Book is written by an insane author. It contains a detailed history about Waiqar, information about the location of Kellos (who is 'slumbering') and prophesies involving both those figures and a group of Five people who have a vital role in the upcoming conflict. 'The Five' are described as 'The Liar', 'The Deceived', 'The Collector', 'The Novelty' and 'The Cursed'.

### Continued in Session 3...

15xp

(30xp Total)