The
group left the sleeping Lily under the care of Dusty and the mutt (as described
by Zaven) or pure-bred Wardog (as described by Thovan) Rusar while the rest of
the party went back to the keep. They arrived at the keep to find the mouth
lowered and the bars back in place. Inside, the Kobolds waited with their
crossbows. Using a potion of giant strength and shield spell cast by Styve,
Zaven lifted the gates. Once Zaven lifted the gates the party took out the
eight Kobolds in short order. The party found the statue back in its place
after having been knocked over during their previous visit. Offended by the
poor quality of the statue, Katie had Zaven toss the sculpture down the stairs.
The party then took the hallway leading left.
The
hallway led to a circular room. An ancient rune on the floor at the center of
the room depicted a dragon eating its own tail. A maggot infested Kobold body
lay at the center of the room. Alcoves around the room contained armored
statues, and a weapon rack across the room contained obviously magic weapons.
Zaven and Thovan both took weapons from the rack (bastard sword and long sword
respectively). Immediately the golems activated. Zaven sliced his in two with
one mighty blow. One-by-one the other golems activated. Zaven fell unconscious
with a critical miss and stayed out for the next four rounds. Zaven awoke to
find the combat still going. He quickly finished off the remaining golems
(armored skeletons).
At
the end of combat everyone had new magical weapons, but Thovan, at the
suggestion of the party, spider-climbed to the ceiling and pried a glowing gem
out of the ceiling. Once removed Styve and Katie’s weapons lost their magical
abilities.
Spent,
the party decided a retreat was necessary for healing and new spells. Spiking
the lever and gates open at the entrance, the party went back to camp.
Everything was fine at the camp, and Lily had awakened from her fey induced
slumber. The party ate, sharpened weapons, trained the dog, and prepared for
the next day’s fighting. Zaven kept watch through the uneventful night.
Upon
arriving back at the keep, the party found the doors barred and the statue
remnants gone. Zaven blasted through the door with an axe. The party entered
the keep. Taking the hall to the right led the party into a swarm of Kobolds.
The Kobolds quickly brought down Thovan, Zaven, and Katie the Great One. Styve
and Dusty kicked Kobold butt while the rest of the party recovered. Things
looked dire as the party, having been overrun by the Kobolds, took quite some time
to recover and eventually defeat the Kobolds. Two Kobolds, paralyzed during
combat, were left tied up.
What
will the party do? Zaven is barely alive, their spells depleted again, and the
party doesn’t have any healing kits. Will they retreat again, or will they hold
up in the keep to prevent the Kobolds from resetting their traps? Tune in next
time for As Mistledale Turns.
(As
reported by Zaven)
