Bandits

Bandits

Date: Wednesday March 15th, 2000

The Adventurers
* Nialis: high elf, enchanter, Mage 5, LN
* Rodan the Billet, human, male, Priest (of St Cuthbert) 6, LG
* Ulthran, half elf, male, bard 6, NG
* Grumbleduke, dwarf, male, fighter 5, LG

Several weeks have passed since the adventure in Tallow's Deep, summer has turned to autumn and the farmers are busy in the fields with the harvest. Life is good for the Champions of the Cudgel, as the band have become known to the locals of Saltmarsh. Rodan had become especially well known as he had spent most of his spare time door knocking round town gathering alms for the poor. So successful has he been in his endeavours that most locals try to avoid him whenever possible! Closing doors, or crossing the road, as he approaches.

The Cudgel's also have a new manservant/ sailor. Bob, formerly a member of the smuggler ring operating beneath Milthorpe Manor, has been pardoned by the Crown and is now working for the companions. He needed a job and his friend, Ulthran, agreed to take him in (Bob is still under the influence of Ulthran's charm spell by the way.) Rodan, is trying to learn sailors lingo from the former smuggler but with varying degrees of success. Bob, is now very wary of the cleric, viewing him as being "not all there" as he confided to Ulthran.

Waterday Harvester, 19th
There is a knock on their door about mid morning. One of the serving wenches from the Seaspray Tavern is at the door, her friend Natasha, Ulthran's part-time lover is missing. The girl, Meg, went to see her but her place had been ransacked and there was no sign of Natasha. Apparently, Willy Stoutfoot, the local sheriff, is unable to do anything until a day has passed in case she has run off with her lover. "If I had to chase down every lovestruck hussy having a tryst with here lover I'd be busy 24 hours a day" the sheriff allegedly said. So the adventurers gather their equipment and head to Saltmarsh to investigate.

Questioning Meg, they learn that Natasha is studying as an apprentice for the local mage, Nimrod and was working at the Seaspray in the evenings to make ends meet. So they headed off to see Nimrod. The mage opened the door, and spying Rodan his hand went immediately to his pocket. "So, you're that bolshy cleric I've been hearing about, 'suppose ye're collecting for the poor. He ye go." Nimrod deposited a few coppers into hands of the surprised Rodan and tried to close the door.
"Well, no actually, we're here about Natasha," replied the priest, jamming his foot in the door.
"Oh, in that case I'll have my coins back."
"Well, I'm sure that the church appreciates your donation, I'll make sure it is well used."

The Champions of the Cudgel inform Nimrod that his apprentice is missing. He is very surprised and doesn't know why anyone would want to hurt her. He suggests that she has been running round with a "good-for-nothing, sleazy half-elf. I heard him and his friends captured some smugglers awhile back, maybe they've created some enemies and want to get back at them by hurting Nat."
"That would be me," volunteers Ulthran sheepishly on hearing a rather unflattering description of himself- not for the first time that the day I might add.

Nimrod has little other information apart from the fact that Nat sometimes went picking herbs and flowers down by the 'Brook. "Maybe she wandered down there."

The party decides to check out this lead but before heading off to the Brook, the Champions of the Cudgel, stop in to visit Natasha's parents who have also not seen their daughter. They too are upset and alarmed at the disappearance and want their daughter back. Like the wizard, they have heard that she's been seeing a good-for-nothing half-elf and wonder if he's somehow mixed up in all of this. Ulthran, then introduces himself again.

With few other clues the party heads down to the Brook and follow a trail along the banks of the stream. Just before it enters a copse three farmers step out of the trees. Pleasantries are passed and the party asks the farmers if they've seen the missing woman but they say they haven't. Just then a volley of arrows rips through the party. "Bandits" yells one of the farmers. Rodan is slightly wounded as an arrow flashes past him but the others are unscathed. Grumbleduke and Rodan charge towards the tree line in search of their assailants, Nialis turns invisible and Ulthran is bought down by a flurry of blows as the "farmers" pounce on him.

Grumbleduke catches sight of one of the bandits, and charges towards him. The bandit fires and misses just before the dwarf lops off his head. Rodan, spies two other bandits and stops them with a hold person spell, while Nialis sleeps the others. Before long the five remaining bandits are tied up and being questioned.

The Champions question their prisoners about who hired them asking if it was a thin guy wearing purple robes (Sanbalet) but the bandits swear that they were hired by dark haired guy of medium build who wears an eye patch. This puzzles the party for they have no idea who is after them or why.
"We was told to look out for and capture four or five adventurers that would be searching down by the Brook, they are evil spell casters and there is a reward out for them. Old One-eye told us to bring the people to the old Steadmast place, (about a mile down the road) tonight and they would be well rewarded. He promised us 2 gold sovereigns each" says the bandit leader.

By now the Champions of the Cudgel are most upset that whoever was after them thought so little of their abilities as to send this band of rag tag peasants to do the dirty work and swore to make, him (or them) pay. Time to set an ambush...Shadowblade was summoned to look after the prisoners while the other Cudgels' prepared the ambush. Ulthran, Rodan and Grumbleduke would sit round a fire in the old abandoned house, pretending to be bandits, while an invisible Nialis waited outside. Rodan put a glyph of warding (hold person) on the door and then they waited for something to happen... another complicated plan set in motion.

About 10 o'clock that night Nialis whispered that someone was approaching through the weed choked fields. The person wandered up to the door, was zapped by the glyph and held. He was quickly bundled inside, the spell was dispelled, and the prisoner questioned. "What's the signal?" demanded Grumbleduke.
"Wave a torch or brand from the fire across the window."
So Ulthran did.

"There are six or seven more of them coming" whispered Nialis as his elven vision picked up more bandits coming out of the field. "One's hanging back, I bet he's the leader."

As the first bandits reached the door the party swung into action. Ulthran cast a sleep spell, felling three bandits, while Rodan held two others. Grumbleduke charged out of the building smashing into the last of the bandits. The bandit was struck a fierce blow but his armour must have deflected some of the impact for he still stood before the dwarf, dazed and bloodied, but still alive. Grumbleduke was followed by his companions, but he and Ulthran were then stopped by a hold spell cast by the guy in the field. "Get him" yelled Rodan as he charged across to where the spell caster was, his bullseye lantern, illuminated by a continual light, brightening the scene. The remaining bandit, drew a dagger and smiling gleefully showed the panic stricken, and paralysed, Grumbleduke and Ulthran just what he intended to do with it. "Do something, Rodan" shouted Nialis seeing their predicament.

Rodan pulled a scroll out of his belt and quickly read the words, dispelling the magic spell affecting his friends, or so he thought. Unfortunately the bandits were freed but the spell failed to work on the magic cast upon his comrades. So then there were five more opponents!

"Damn", muttered Nialis. Who quickly cast a hold spell of his own, once again stopping four of the five freed brigands. "So much for plan A!"

Both Rodan and Nialis cast hold spells, this time directed at the remaining bandits and their leader. The underlings fell victim to the enchantments but their evil leader seemed resistant to the magic. He cursed both Rodan and Nialis, and then closing with the cleric of St Cuthbert drew a footman's flail, preparing to end the battle quickly. "I do hate followers of St Cuthbert" hissed the bandit. Then he had an idea, put away his weapon and smiled. Bat-like wings grew out of his back and he grabbed Rodan in a vice like grip and leapt into the air!

Rodan, was hanging on for grim life as he was lifted higher into the heavens while Nialis cast another spell, ray of enfeeblement, at the demonic creature that had grabbed his comrade. This spell seemed to get thorough the creatures defences and he let go of the priest. Rodan, still holding on for dear life though, reached into his pouch with one hand, grabbed a vial (holy water) and then slammed the potion down the creatures pants! Unfortunately, as he did this he lost his grip just and went crashing back to earth, landing heavily. The bat-creature flew off to the north.

A short time later all the bandits were rounded up and question. The Cudgels' learned that their leader was a follower of Nerull, god of the Underworld, and that he had a base in an abandoned castle called Broken Spire Keep, to the north. Taking all the prisoners back to town they left them with Willy Stoutfoot for safe keeping and headed to the Seaspray inn for the night. Ulthran, managed to find a barmaid sympathetic to his recent loss and was "comforted" though the night.

Earthday, Harvester 20th
The morning is spent in town checking out various bits of information gleaned from the bandits the night before. The focus of the inquires being the library and the planning office. It is discovered that about 100 years ago the Palfrey family's keep was abandoned for unknown reasons, and has since remained empty. They copied an old map of the area they'd found which showed the keeps location then checked out the planning office. Ulthran is thwarted in his endeavours by the local town planner who says that the plans to the keep were destroyed at the Palfrey's request several decades ago.
"So what is it you plan?" asked Rodan.
"Well I'm working on a new harbour which will make Saltmarsh a port to rival Gradsul, want to see a model of it I'm working on? We are going to have to move this hill of course" he says pointing to a local promontory on his 3D rendition of the town. "I've yet to get any of the local business community leaders interested in this but I'm sure it will go ahead...eventually" His eyes light up. "You guys could be my first investors..." Rodan shakes his head, mutters something about local government bureaucracies, excuses himself and leaves. "This place is going to be big!" says the official as a parting shot as the door to his office is slammed. "Now where was I..."

Stopping back in at Milthorpe Mansion, the Cudgels's gathered together some provisions, grabbed Bob, saddled their horses, and headed off towards Dreadwood. Ultran even gave Bob his new sword, Reptile Slayer. Towards evening they approached the ruins of Broken Spire Keep, and after an interesting discussion on the warrants of keeping horses while exploring dungeons- "useful as fodder for monsters" was one comment , while "bury them up to their nostrils" seemed one novel way of keeping the creatures alive while delving in dungeons and was the most original idea aired. In the end however they settled on picketing them further back in the trees and leaving Bob to guard them.

Creeping towards the edge of a clearing they spied Broken Spire Keep for the first time. Although its single tower was over-grown with ivy and crumbling (hence its name), it still looked a formidable structure. After a brief consultation a (typically) hurried plan was hatched and the invisible mage, Nialis, crept forward to scout out the keep.

Suddenly, there was a cry from somewhere in the clearing, followed by a thump. "Help..." cried Nialis. He'd fallen into a pit! Ulthran crept out to rescue him but as he neared the edge of the pit came under missile fire from arrow slits in the keeps walls and sprinted back to the clearing.
"Help... help... help..." cried the mage.
"Climb out yourself" answered Ultrhran.
"I can't."
"Well, we are not coming for you, we're under attack."
"The roads not trapped" said Rodan after completing a spell (detect traps). "There are several pit traps near it though."
"In that case I've got a plan," said the dwarf testing his axe. "CHARGE!!!!!!"
With that Grumbleduke sprang up and charged across clearing towards the gates to the keep, with Rodan following hot on his heels.
By now it was getting dark and Ulthran's infravision was working so he cast a magic missile spell at a heat source he saw behind one of the arrow slits.

Rodan and Grumbleduke drew fire from the defenders but made it to the gates relatively unscathed.
"Now what?" asked Rodan examining the sturdy, and closed, gates.
"Hmmm. I was hoping they'd left the gates open" answered the dwarf. "Oh well" he leaned against the gates and heavied.There was a creaking sound, followed by the crack of splintering wood as the gate gave way. "Not as sturdy as it looks" Then examining the former crossbeam closer spied a number of small burrows throughout it. "Riddled with borer I'd say."

Beyond the gate was a narrow passage that opened into a larger courtyard, the way forward was blocked however by four zombies and skeletons, behind which stood a familiar, one-eyed figure.
By now Nialis had finally succeeded in escaping the pit and he and Ulthran rushed forward to help their comrades as they fought off the undead.

The priest, Ranchefus, held Rodan but then fled as Grumbleduke made short work of his servants. Ulthran picked up the priest Rodan and manhandled him into a guard room until the evil priest's spell wore off. Then they made a dash out of the room to the next door as a sniper fired at them from across the courtyard. From the safety of the storeroom in which they found themselves Rodan, opening the door a crack, cast a hold person on the sniper. The party, led by Grumbleduke, then charged across the courtyard. The dwarf shouldered the door open and burst into the main hall, cutting down the surprised comrade of the held bandit.

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