Episode 15
"Death and Redemption"
(c) Tom Morin and J. Sage Schreiner
 
Tron Malkaszar, an irreverant elf -- Matt Grossman (not present)
Norel Bolderdash, hulking woodsman of the Adri forest -- Tom Morin
Nigil Palom, noble from a far-distant land -- Kevin Osborn
Aran, a beefy (ex-)Paladin from Tenh -- AJ Drexel
Tika, a tiny gnome -- Corey Paganucci
Rhahid, aka "Ibn", a mysterious spell-crafter -- Eric Kruller 
All others -- Sage Schreiner
 
Having just finished fighting for their lives against the strange, pale,
cave dwellars, the party re-groups and considers their options.
 
Aran: I must cleanse the evil from this place and that cloaked figure needs
cleansing - bad.
Nigil: Let's go after Rhahib. He's probably still alive.
Norel: Rhahid.
Nigil: Whatever.
Tron: Yeah, we can take them. Wait... I'm almost dead. He can take care of
himself!
Norel: We also need to bring food back to the people on the island.
 
Everyone looks at the dead bodies strewn on the beach.
 
All: Naaaahh...
Nigil: I'm still in fighting shape, we could go kill some goblins for them
to eat.
Skanda: We have lost too many friends already. We must go after Rhahid.
Desh: (through Skanda) Much time before water demon.
Aran: We need healing before we go after Rhahid.
Tron: How do we know they'll even keep him alive?
Desh: (through Skanda) They take prisoner... put in pit... I know where.
Aran: Way! I had no idea! Can you take us?
Desh: (through Skanda) Yes... go to beach... down tunnel... past guards... under
water... to cave where young men and women (pounds the heals of his hands
together)... through secret... to pit. Easy!
Norel: Skanda needs 8 hours of sleep for more healing. By then we'll be in
high tide so we'll need to wait another 8 hours.
Nigil: Don't we need 24?
Aran: No. six plus two plus six is fourteen.
Norel: Don't you mean eight plus six...
Skanda: Why don't we just go during high tide. They'll never expect it.
Desh: (through Skanda) They sleep when tide high.
Aran: I like it. Why don't we go put some bodies out for the octopus to play
with while we go to the beach.
Norel: Sounds go to me. Let's go.
Tika: Me too!
Nigil: You stay here.
Tika: But...
Nigil: Someone had to guard the wounded.
Tika: $#*&$ human. (sulks)
 
Skanda sleeps with Tron and Tika keeping watch while the rest plant bodies
for the octopus. When done they return and get some sleep. Skanda casts her
healing and has a water breathing and light spell in reserve. They bring a
few bodies with them just in case and head out. Time passes slowly as they
attempt to paddle quietly. As they near the harbor they see movement in the
water behind them and toss out the bodies while making a dash for the
harbor. Tentacles reach out of the darkness but cannot reach them. They
beach the boat and enter the tunnel. Skanda casts her light spell on her
holy symbol.
 
Aran: (whispers) I thought we were camping on the beach...
 
Tika: (whispers) No. We charge ahead.
 
Nigil: (whispers) There should be some guards up ahead... Tron?
 
Tron: (whispers) No problem.
 
Norel: (whispers) Hold on. (takes off armor) I'll go too.
 
Tron and Norel sneak ahead in the darkness. Tron knock over some rocks as
they approach and they hear a gong in the distance. Tron peaks around a
corner is it hit in the head by a rock.
 
Tron: They're all yours.
 
The rest of the party charges past as Norel puts on his armor. They find
themselves in a fairly large room with no light and no sign of the enemy.
Sling stones continue to whiz past them.
 
Tika: I see one! (charges in to melee and rams her sword through his leg)
Guard: Arrgh! (dies)

Skanda moves forward far enough to reveal the rest of the guards. Aran and
Nigil charge forward but are brought up short by a pit in the ground. Aran
manages to go around it but Nigil falls in and is slightly wounded.
 
Norel: (to Tron) Let's make sure we don't get attacked from behind. (they
hide in shadows)
Aran: Die! 
Guard 1: (drops weapon) I surrender!
Aran: Very well. (moves past and attacks the next guard)
Tika: (charges in to attack)
Nigil: (climbs out of the pit) You'll pay for that. (attacks guard)
 
Guard 1: (picks up his sword, backstabs Aran then drops it again) I
surrender!
 
Aran: Why you... (knocks the guard out with the flat of his sword)
 
All the guards are killed except for the one that was knocked out. The
bodies are tossed into the pit. Desh emerges from hiding and reveals a
secret passageway. As the party enters the tunnel Norel covers up their
trail and leaves a false trail to another tunnel. As they follow the tunnel
they reach a point where it dips down underwater. 

Aran: Will this make my armor rust? I need a new page. (eyes Desh)
 
Skanda casts water breathing on the party and they travel 20 feet under
water to a pool. They can see men waiting for them in torchlight and the
pause while they come up with a plan. Desh is having fun breathing water.

Desh: Blurb blarg higullup blurp.

Tika, Nigil, Aran, and Norel form up and charge out of the water. The first
rank they meet is quickly dispatched but the second rank proves to be more
formidable. Tika is wounded by a shadowy figure which appears right next to
her then disappears back into the darkness.
 
Tron: (from underwater) Ferk-ding blast!
 
Norel finds himself facing the two toughest foes and they score some mighty
blows which leave him bleeding heavily and barely standing.

Norel: Help!
 
Nigil and Aran manage to dispatch their foes and come to Norels rescue while
crossbow bolts come out of the darkness. One of them hits Aran.
 
Aran: Ow! Hey... I don't feel good... ok, I'm all right.
 
As the last of the men are felled they hear footsteps in the darkness
leading away. At this point everyone is gravely wounded except for Aran and
Nigil.
 
Nigil: What's the mater with you guys. I'm still fine.
Aran: Desh, how far?
Desh: (through Skanda) Almost there. That way.
 
Aran and Nigil take point as the party travels a short distance down a
tunnel to a room with bronze door s on one side and a pit in the floor from
which they hear groaning. Norel and Tika watch the rear while Tron looks
in the hole.
 
Tron: Hey! It's Ibn! And another gnome.
Aran: (lowers rope) Ok, grab on and I'll lift you up!
Tron: They're out cold.
Aran: ...
 
A crossbow bolt comes out of the darkness barely missing Norel. 
 
Norel: Bastard! Skanda, get me a torch. (throws the torch into the
darkness)
 
The shadowy figure runs from the light.
 
Norel: (makes and obscene gesture at the fleeing figure)
 
The rest of the party gets the two bodies out and find them both alive. They
use the cup to bring them back to wakefulness.
 
Rhahid: What? Where am I? Was it just a dream?
Gnome: (in Gnomish) Tika! Why are you with these humans? The indignity
of it all, being rescued by humans!
Tika: Well, they are keeping us alive. Where is every one else?
Gnome: I think the goblins have some of the others.
 
Tron, meanwhile, is checking out the bronze doors which he easily unlocks.
Inside they find a whole bunch of bronze weapons and armor. They find some
small items for the gnome.
 
Norel: I hear lots of footsteps coming this way. We have to leave. Now!
Nigil: We can't go back to the water because of the octopus.
Aran: We could go and hang out underwater...
All: NO!
Skanda: Desh says that there are catacombs nearby. No one goes in there.
Tron: There's probably a reason...
Norel: Good enough, lets go.
 
They all charge down the hallway and find a large, barred bronze door facing
a dark hallway. Norel grabs the bar and ushers everyone through. More
crossbow bolts come out of the darkness as they get through the door and use
the bar and spikes to seal it shut. They find themselves in a corridor
leading off into the darkness.
 
Aran: Desh. What's down hear?
Desh: (through Skanda) Many demons.
Rhahid: "Demon" just means monster to them. I hope.
Norel: But you've been through here right?
Desh: No.
Norel: (groan)
Nigil: I remember the last time we were in catacombs and it wasn't good.
Rhahid: Last time? I just came back from death. I don't want to die again.
Aran: Let's find somewhere safe to camp.
 
They start off and quickly find a large pit in the floor.

Desh: Keep demons out.
 
They all cross the pit and keep going. Aran and Nigil in the lead and Norel
in the rear. They notice that the walls are covered in moss. They reach an
area where the moss is all gone.
 
Aran: What the...
 
Something shimmers in the air and a clear tendril tries to hit Aran but
misses. He can now see that the whole tunnel is closed off by some clear
substance which is slowly moving toward him.
 
Aran: Run!
The party runs away for a bit.
Norel: What is it?
Aran: I don't know. Some big blob. It tried to hit me.
Norel: (stops) So why don't we kill it?
Aran: I don't want to get close to it.
Norel: That's what arrows are for. (takes out his bow) My bow string is ok.
Tron: My bowstring is mush. (sulks)
Nigil: My bowstring is just fine. Let's go.
 
Nigil, Norel, and Aran (holding the torch) head back with Norel tossing
stones ahead to make it's location. Eventually they reach a section where
the stone he tosses lodges in something clear and hangs in the air.
 
Norel: I'm not taking any chances. (rubs burning tar on the arrow tip and
shoots two arrows)
The arrows hit the blob and it dissolves into mush.
Nigil: Damn it! You killed it too fast.
Norel: Sorry...
 
They continue on for some time and after turning left at a Y intersection
and left again at a X, they reach a dead end.
 
Aran: I don't like the term "Dead End" but lets camp. We have no egress.
 
Norel makes some warning traps and the party rests for three days to get up
to full fighting strength. The three days pass slowly, with each of the
adventurers thinking their own thoughts about close calls and lost comrades.
The catacombs are dead silent -- there is no breath of moving air, no sound
of distant footsteps.
 
Skanda: By Pholtus' grace, I have slow poison, hold person, many healing spells,
and light prepared for the battle.
Aran: (a grim look on his face) Let's go.
 
Back at the bronze door Tron hears voices on the other side.
 
Tika: They're going to hear us.
Nigil: What choice do we have?
Aran: None.
 
They remove the wedges they had in the door making a lot of noise but are
faced with a problem. No door handle on this side.
 
Tron: Well, they already know we're here so more noise won't hurt. (begins
disabling the hinges)
Tika: Here. Let me do that.
 
After a couple of hours the door is ready to fall.
 
Aran: Valor and courage. Heironeous be with us.
 
Nigil: Hold on. Every time we do this sort of thing without a plan we get
our asses kicked. Let's make a plan...
 
Using a wedge tied to a rope, the party sets things in place so that a pull
on the rope will bring the door crashing down. They set up a torch at the
door then set up the shields as a wall on the other side of the pit which
Aran and Rhahid support. Everyone hides behind the wall except those with
ranged weapons who use it for cover.
 
Aran: Ready? One... two... three! (yank)
 
The door comes crashing down and after the dust settles they see a head poke
around the door frame at which the party shoots but misses.
 
Then they wait.
 
And wait some more.
 
More waiting.
 
Norel: I bet they have their own defensive position around the corner and
are waiting for us to come out. Unfortunately I think time is on their side.
Aran: Cover me.

Aran crosses the pit and sets up on the other side using his shield as
cover. Nothing happens so Nigil crosses over. As Tika begins to cross over a
crossbow bolt comes from the corner and hits Aran who falls to the
floor. Return fire misses. As Norel crosses another bolt flies out and Nigil
drops to the floor.
 
Norel: Screw this. (peaks into the hallway seeing it empty) Tika, keep watch
while I haul these two back over the pit.
 
The bodies are dragged over and Tika and Norel make it back over with no
problem. The two warriors are alive but their pulse is sluggish.
 
Norel: Skanda, can you do something for them?
Skanda: It doesn't really look like poison... wait, they're waking up.
Aran: What?
Nigil: Even when we make a plan we still get beaten. Let's get 'em!
Aran: Tron, take point and look for traps.
Nigil: This is where they live. There won't be any traps.
Aran: I don't know...
Nigil: If we find any you can say it was my fault.

The party crosses the pit uneventfully and proceed to the King's rooms under
Desh's direction. As they walk along they pass a room with children it it
who Desh talks to.
 
Desh: (through Skanda) The men are gone. Raiding Island... Mother! (sob) 
Tika: You humans are strange.
Aran: Someone's going to pay.
 
They continue on past more rooms with frightened children. As they enter a
side passage a crossbow bolt comes out of the darkness barely missing Norel.
 
Norel: Mr. shadowy figure is back. (ducks around a corner) 
As they start to go around a corner...
Desh: STOP!
 
He comes forward and points out a raised panel in the floor and makes
squishing motions. The party all steps over helping the three smaller ones
over. Desh points out a door as their destination. The door is barred.
 
Tron: Step back. Leave this to the professionals. (flips the bar off of the
other side of the door) Heh.
 
They all go through the door and Norel bars it behind him.

Norel: So much for mister shadow.

They descend a stairwell with Aran in the lead. Halfway down he falls
through the floor and lands on pointy bits 20 feet below.
 
Nigil: You OK?
Aran: (glares at Nigil) Throw me a rope.
Norel: Maybe we should look for traps again...
Tron: Got it. (looks ahead)
Tika: There's another pit there. The stone work around it is weak.

Meanwhile Aran is hauled out and healed by Skanda. There is a door
at the end of the passage.
 
Tron: Once more the master... err... this lock is unpickable!

Aran: Sure... stand aside. (bashes the door down)
 
They emerge onto a hallway going left and right. Aran and Nigil go left
while Tika and Tron go right. Norel holds the rear. No enemy are seen. Aran
peeks around the corner and sees another left right passage. To the right is
darkness but to the left is six burley guards and the King.
 
Aran: Hey King!
King: I am the King!
Aran: I know that, I want your surrender.
King: I will not surrender, I am the King!
Aran: If you don't surrender you'll all die.
King: We are not whelps. Come and we kill you quickly... I am the King!
Tika: Come on Tron, let's see what's over here.
 
They follow their corridor which quickly leads to a treasure room.
 
Tika: Hmmm... check this out for secret doors while I head back. (leaves)
Tron: (grinning from ear to ear) Treasure...
Nigil: What do we do?
Aran: We have to attack them before help arrives. Charge! (hits a guard)
Nigil: Do you think someone else should help him? Nah...
 
At this point the 5 closest guards attack back and wound Aran.
 
Aran: Maybe not such a good idea...
Norel: What the...? (sees a secret door open and the shadowy figure emerge)
Hey, it's a black elf!!
Tika: What!?! Drow!?! DIE!!! (charges and attacks the drow who is pushed
back into the secret passage)
Drow: (Slashes Tika viciously)
Norel: Great, I can shoot right over her head. (twang, twang)
 
Aran sees a cloaked figure emerge from a recess in the back wall.

Aran: I sure hope this isn't Nerull's avatar... 
Cloaked figure: These are not the Flan you're looking for (woogie woogie)
Aran: These are not... Hey!
 
Five guards attack Aran and hit him pretty hard.
 
Nigil: I'll go see what's down the other way. (finds an empty room)
Rhahid: Cloaked figure? How about some magic missiles... Damn. can't see him.
(shoots a guard)
 
Desh and other Gnome: (cower)
Skanda: (charges forward and cast hold person freezing two of the guards)
Aran: (attacks a guard)
Tika: Take that Drow! (hits the drow)
Drow: (Slashes Tika again)
Tika: I don't feel well... but there can be no retreat!
Norel: Whoops! (narrowly misses Tika with one arrow but hits the drow with
the other)
Nigil: I'm coming! (attacks a guard)
Rhahid: Tron! Come here! You're going to like this...
Tron: What? (dissapears) Hey... cool...
Guards: (attack Aran and Nigil, Aran falls)
Skanda: (casts hold person on two guards and the King)
Cloaked figure: (to Nigil) We're friends... (wooga wooga)
Nigil: I don't think so.
Tika: (hits the drow)
Norel: Darn it! (almost hits Tika again but kills the drow) Hey, something
just passed me.

At the end of the passage a door opens revealing the fight. 
 
Tron: Surprise mage! (appears right next to the Cloaked figure scoring a
major hit) Hey! Why aren't you dead? Uh-oh...
Rhahid: Magic missile on stand-by...
Nigil: (attacks guard)
Skanda: (attacks guard)
Cloaked figure: (Glares at enemies) 
Skanda, Tron, and Rhahid: (fall over stunned)
Tika: Charge! (attacks a guard from the rear)
Norel: The cloaked guy is mine! (hits the cloaked figure)
Cloaked figure: (Glares at enemies)
Tika and Norel: (fall over stunned)
Nigil: Guess it's up to me (pushes past the guards and attacks the cloaked
figure scoring two massive blows in quick succession)
Cloaked figure: Arrgh!!!! (dies)
Nigil: You sure weren't very tough for th god of death.
Guards: (attack Nigil)
Nigil: You two still here? (kills them both) Ha! Who da man!
 
Eventually all the stunned party members come to and tie up the held guards
and King. Tika makes sure the Drow is very dead. Then they examine the cloaked
figure. They yank back the cloak and see a humanoid face with tentacles where
the mouth should be.
 
Tika: Mind flayer! Most evil!
King: (Skanda translating) I... my head... what happened...?
Aran: You were under the control of this evil creature but we saved you.
Tron: (loots the bodies) The Drow have nice stuff...
King: My thanks... but we're tied up.
Aran: I have come to convert you to my God-
King: Your God is uncouth, and an interloper. Your god responsible for our plight.

The king and Aran go back and forth for a while with the king not getting
convinced of any need to convert.

Aran: You want me to prove it?
King: Show us this "valor" and "courage" that you speak of. They do not sound
like the path of a wiseman. Kill something that cannot be killed by man's hand
alone.
Aran: Like what? The octopus?
King: Yes.
Tron: D'oh!
Aran: Ah...
Nigil: That's crazy!
Norel: I don't know about that.
Tika: Well... it would prove it.
Aran: I have faith in Heironeous. Give me one night to prepare and I will do
this.
King: Agreed.
 
Meanwhile, Tron finds some money, a very nice dagger, an excellent short
sword, some small mushy packets, and some potions. The party unties the king
and his guards and rests for the night.
 
Nigil: You know guys, I really saved the day back there. If I hadn't been
there you'd all be dead.
Tika: Are humans all this conceited? How curious.

The next day Skanda heals Aran back up to full and has a water breathing and
light spell ready. As they leave word spreads and the whole community tags along
to watch. The party also finds out that the raiding party returned with a few prisoners.
 
Norel: Damn! We should have told them to hide.
Desh: (in Aerdy) Mama dead. [sniff]
Skanda: The deaths of our friends will weigh heavy on our hearts.
 
Since it is low tide they all go out in boats to Galuup's island and look
for the Troll.
 
Aran: Galuup! GALUUP!!!
Galuup: (from out in the water) Why you all come to my island?
Aran: To kill the octopus. Show us the way.
Galuup: (grins) You follow. Did you hear my newest?
ALL: [sigh]

They follow the troll to a cave mouth after which he disappears. During low
tide they can see that the cave is above the water line.
 
Aran: Its lair.
 
As Aran enters the cave with the King and his guards in tow, Skanda casts
water breathing on Aran. His helmet begins to glow with divine light,
much to the awe of the people watching. Aran and the others move forward 
until they hit the water where Aran plants his two-handed sword in the ground
and prays to Heironeous. He then draws the shortsword in his right and the
dagger in his left and walks into the water. He disappears below the surface
with no bubbles.
 
King: (impressed)
 
The black water is silent and motiolness for a time. Then it begins to roil and
foam. A gout of spray spews out of it. The violence of the water increases.
Minutes pass, and then the water begins to calm. Minutes pass.

King: He is dead. It is as I expected.

Suddenly, the dark water parts and Aran limps slowly out, water and blood pouring
from the joints in his heavy armor. He is dragging the octopus by one thick tentacle
over his shoulder.
 
King: (greatly excited, motions to his guards to help carry the beast)

They all head back to the boats, meeting Nigil along the way. 
 
Nigil: I was going to kill the thing if it killed you...
 
Back at the boats there is cheering from the people as they see the dreaded
beast dead.
 
Aran: Tron, you should go check out the ceiling of the cave...
 
Tron does so and finds many gems in the rock. Everyone returns to the shore
where the people live where a celebration is underway.
 
King: You are very powerful but I need one more proof. My god grants my wife
the power to heal. Can yours? 
Aran: Yes...
King: (cuts his arm) Prove it.
Aran: (prays to Heironeous) Heal this man. (lays on hands)

The wound is healed.

King: (grins) Can you teach me to be like you?
Aran: Heironeous will judge your valor.
Desh: Octopus! Mmmmmmmmm....

To Be Continued...