Upon successfully sealing the North Tunnel, we re-entered Dashar to a hero's welcome. Despite our best efforts, many guards were lost in the struggle and the route is now closed to us. Barnaby Jones, a large lizard creature who accompanied us for a time, seems to have disappeared immediately afterward.. I will not miss him. As I struggled with those brave men trying to close the gate, I believe I saw him laughing as if watching some grand comedy unfurl.
As we navigated the town, a halfling appeared to have found his hand inside Graal's coin pouch, then got lost in the crowd, to Graal's great fury.
The guard captain(whose name I did not note) rewarded us each 400 gold pieces, and offered us information on an alternate route through the mountains. For the moment, we must contemplate the rigors of our upcoming journey, and Bahamut willing, prepare and supply ourselves adequately.
The market provided me with fresh rations, ingredients necessary to brew healing potions, and I was fortunate to find climbing gear suitable for a dwarf. The others went their own way, with Pip trailing after Graal despite Graal's murderous glances. One hopes reason will prevail and he'll not lay a hand on the child in town.
The captain provided us with a young guardsman by the name of... Lennie? Lionel? Linden? who knows the route's location, and we set out from the city before mid-day.
As the sun shone directly overhead, Lucan suddenly dashed off into the rocks to our left, and as we stood puzzled, two rather seedy looking dwarves from that drinking competition came wandering along from behind, claiming to seek adventure. Rather suspicious of them.. we were then accosted by that strange robed human from our earlier encounter(whom we had thought dead) who demanded we hand over our map.
Given that we have no choice but to complete these accursed trials we naturally could not provide them the map. I ducked behind my shield as it became apparent that we were to be attacked, and no sooner had I done so than the seedy dwarves both took to me with their weapons.
Linden(?) fell with an arrow in him somewhere(I could not clearly see) and Pip dove squeamishly into the brush. A ring of fire burst up around us, and Graal, charging, lept over it and tried to hurl a lasso up the cliffside to where our enemy stood above us.
Bringing my attention to my own situation, I found myself facing the hateful eyes of what must have been low-blooded dwarves. Taking a step back, I summoned a holy Shield Bearer, that I might buy a moment. The brutal efficiency of murder on both sides was stunning, and soon both of my assailants lay on the ground, giving me a moment to tend to young Lionel(?)'s wounds.
Cries from Graal behind me made it clear that the halfling from earlier had surfaced, and worse still, stolen the map from Lucan. I pray forgiveness for this, but despite my oath of pacifism I brought a divine fist down on the already-injured fellow, as he could not be allowed to escape. When my head cleared, the combat would seem to have been over, but for the cries of an injured woman on the hill above.
Everyone gathered the bodies, and apparently the archer woman had surrendered. By the time she was brought to us by Thar, she had knife wounds through both hands, and was missing a few fingers from each. It would seem this new addition to our group is as monstrous a creature as Graal has proven to be.
Together they pondered the means by which they would torture her to death as I bandaged her hands and apologized for their cruelty. During this time the others had gathered the bodies, and Graal had decided a stump would be a grand headsman's block so he set about hewing down a tree. As one of these folk had returned from the dead once already, the fallen were set alight where they lay on the ground, with whatever nearby wood could be gathered.
After a moment of prayer I decided that I would not let the half-orcs have their way, and promised no further healing should they proceed with any torture or execution of someone who surrendered fairly. After reluctant agreement, healing prayers were dispensed, mending our group's wounds and getting Lennie(?) back on his feet.
Jasmine, as this archer was called, was taken with us a bit further, but not far enough that she might know our destination. As planned, she was set on her way back to town, maimed as she was.
Soon after, we arrived at a tunnel into the mountainside blocked with stones. For some reason I thought it was a mountain pass, but now that I think of it I know he said tunnel. These things tend to slip my mind at times.. perhaps climbing gear will still be useful in a tunnel. After removing some stones we were able to climb inside, strike some torches, and set forth into the darkness.
After an hour or so, our calming walk into the cold stone of the mountain was disrupted by two flame-spewing bat creatures. Although everyone was burned in the ensuing battle, for the most part we made it out ok. I thought for a moment their flaming ichor might be used in some potion, before realizing I had nothing appropriate to carry it in, their bodies were mashed into the dust by Graal's shovel.
If my stone-sense is correct, it should be about 5pm now, date unknown.
Notes: I didn't know what kind of writing style to go with for someone who's already known to the party, has high Wisdom, and below average Intelligence. I decided on well spoken with factual errors - deliberately forgetting it was a tunnel and buying climbing gear, not being able to place Linden's name(at least I think that's what it really is, I've forgotten myself now), the clueless in-the-moment handling of the potential bat-ingredients. I would have liked to have done better, but I missed some opportunities during the actual play session. Ideally Phil won't be too mad I absconded with his character and will be able to enjoy the recap from Pazus' perspective.
