Session 34 - An Unexpected Randasvous

The party made their way to the old decrepit graveyard outside the city gate, nestled against the Nasham River. Lichen grew over toppled-over gravestone and the air stank of cold frozen excrement; we had found the sewer outlet. Despite the abandoned state of the graveyard, a suspicious number of footprints marred the frozen ground.

Meanwhile, Marxiros rode at the head of the post-tournament-parade. Though his legend had already spread throughout the city, few had actually known that legend to be reality and not fable. Now, as rode by waving confidently to the masses, his mere gaze was enough to cause citizens to topple over as their knees grew weak. One lucky young woman managed to slip past the parade security and touch the leg of the Champion, before nearly fainting and being pulled away by the guards. Upon reaching his destination, Marxiros claimed (ordered) his prize of +1 plate barding to be refitted for a Giant Eagle. The dwarf who was handling it promised to instruct the stables to expect a Giant Eagle to arrive to have its measurements taken. Satisfied, Marxiros rejoined the rest of the party.

We delved into the excrement pipe and followed the winding tunnels within. A few hundred feet into our journey a strange wraith-like creature emerged from the wall. Its face rapidly shifted between dozens, perhaps hundreds, of different people as it wailed and descended upon Louie. It tried to SUCC, but Louie said "no thank i'm married". Instead, it fulfilled the dream that most women of the city would have tonight: to SUCC Marxiros. Content that the creature could now die happy, Zunigri dealt the killing blow to the phantasm.

The tunnel opened up into a larger chamber. A cacophony of pained moans was revealed to be an enormous mass of zombies (more like zomb-sea amirite?) frozen with their feet to the ground. Lacking the time to cut a bloody way through the undead, we took an alternate route through some grates in the wall. We emerged into a torture room with Jinis Green's body lying dead on a table. A hidden door creeked open and an interesting (more like intestine-ing amirite?) skeletal creature assaulted us. With its tongue and intestines whipping around, it proved a formidable foe, before finally succumbing to our superior numbers (number of dice that is) (and sneak attack).

The next room we entered proved equally interesting. The Ragesian Ambassador Seramus and Inquisitor Torax were lounging inside. We caught them unprepared, if not completely surprised, and a silence spell really rained on their parade. With another Inquisitor mask added to our collection (and a head) we entered into the prison beyond and had an unexpected randasvous. It would appear that Randas had been taken prisoner (to ensure he wouldn't meddle?) and thrown in the dungeon. He was appalled, APPALLED I TELL YOU, to be treated with such disrespect. He was however content to have learned that the King was only planning to poison everyone and that Randas's skills as a chef were not actually questioned. We freed Randas and took him with us to guide us through the castle.

Two guards were very confused to see a bruised and battered Randas emerge from the stairs they were guarding along with a group of strangers. Thanks to some quick thinking and very lucky rolls we somehow managed to convince them that Randas was needed in the kitchen and we were let through. In the kitchen we saw that they were preparing the deserts. The main dish had already been served. We had arrived too late, or had we? Siveril charged invisibly into the banquet hall, his arrival drawing everyone's attention. He proclaimed that the food was poisoned and that the King himself was the culprit. The rest of the party followed him into the hall and threw a dead corpse (RIP Jinis) onto the floor to accentuate his point. King Steppengard was not pleased with the accusations. As the Lords and Ladies turned their questioning gazes towards him, the King broke. He sputtered that they had slain his family so he, their king and homeland, would slay them as well. He created the country and he would take it with him into destruction. He drew his flail and charged towards Siveril. As the hall descended into chaos, an evil cackling could be heard. Nina Glibglammer, wizard and advisor to the king, was laughing wickedly as her body began to twist, bubble, and contort. In just a few moments she transformed into a huge monstrosity.

Has the King fallen victim to mind-control? Were the pre-drinks poisoned as well? Exactly why did Nina Glibglammer turn into a giant purple meatball? Find out next week (not actually next week sad) on War of the Burning Sky!