Session 238 - Ambush
General Summary
18th to 30th Nuzyael (First month of Spring) 725TR
The story so far
Four years ago, Acheron and Avon spied on the infamous mercenary group, the Company of Dead Men. They foiled the evil organization's plans to recover a cursed artifact and destroyed their operations in a long-abandoned gold, silver, and gem mine.
The Dead Men had finally caught up with the heroes, likely using the drop of blood they provided when they joined the evil organization. The heroes have evaded the Dead Men's fiendish traps and are now following their trail, planning retribution.
This is the continuation of Session 237 - The Quartermaster.
Location - Four leagues West of the City of Coranan in the Thardic Republic.
Part 1 - Planning
Using the marked coins she hid on the Company of Dead Men's horses, Jolanta precisely determines the direction they are traveling. It is easy for the party to get ahead of them and set up their own ambush. They select a wooded area out of sight near a small stream with a bridge crossing.
The party hides in the woods or under the bridge. Avon has borrowed some magic from a water sanctum, focuses his magical energies, and gains control of the water in the stream. He summons a Water Elemental but is well aware if distracted, he may lose control of it.
Part 2 - Ambush
They catch their prey completely unprepared. The Water Elemental emerges from the river and blocks the Dead Men's means of escape while Jolanta drenches them with her Acid Rain spells. Mauger retaliates by summoning Zombies and Skeletons, which harass Moneypenny and Acheron; however, he and many of his soldiers are briefly blinded as Jolanta's Acid Rain irritates their eyes.
Eventually, the Dead Men soldiers and summoned undead are eliminated. Acheron strikes Mauger with a series of mighty blows with his silver sword, enhanced with the divine energy of the goddess Larani. His last Divine Smite stabs Mauger in the chest, and then suddenly he disintegrates, exploding into dust. Mauger is revealed as an Amorvin, a free-willed undead. He will likely soon reform in some hidden sanctum as a more powerful undead menace. Unfortunately, the heroes have no idea where this will happen, so they have no opportunity to disrupt this evil process.
Part 3 - Back at the Angry Dog Inn
The heroes return to the Angry Dog Inn, the nearby business associated with the Dead Men. The party sneaks in and locates Mauger's room, finding some well-hidden papers. Moneypenny applies her analytical business mind to study them. They turn out to be logistic records for the Company of Dead Men. Something doesn't add up; the records show funds, weapons, and equipment being directed to soldiers, which do not seem to exist.
Location - City of Coranan in the Thardic Republic.
Part 4 - Captain of the Purple
The adventurers return to the City of Coranan, where Avon continues scheming to gain a promotion in the Red Guard. The Lieutenant wants to become the Captain of the Purple, in charge of assigning guards to senators and patrolling the city's senatorial residences.
He deceptively arranges for inappropriate documentation to be found on one of his rivals (a successful Sleight of Hands Check).
Next, he carefully watches and listens in on his rivals and superiors, looking for any opportunity to gain an advantage. Unfortunately, his spying reveals nothing of value (a failed Perception Check). However, he uses the petition of merit he acquired from dozens of senators to support his cause.
Finally, he uses his knowledge of his rivals to discover weaknesses, which he uses against them (a successful Insight Check).
Now that he has enough support, Warden Azikain Gelber promotes him to the rank of Captain. Unfortunately, his unethical tactics have made him many enemies in the Red Guard. Nevertheless, he is in an excellent position to make many friends among the rich and powerful in the Senate.
Planning
The Heroes are concerned that the Dead Men seem to be able to track them, using their blood, which was used as ink when they signed their name in the Company of Dead Men role book. They also need to warn their friend Sabretooth , who also inscribed his symbol in the Dead Men role book. So they ask the most senior priest of the local Church of Ilvir to send a message to the island's most prominent Ilvirian temples to pass on a message warning him that the Dead Men are tracking him.
Now, the heroes seek some magic to stop the Dead Men from tracking them. Jolanta suggests traveling to the Kingdom of Melderyn. The wizards there should be able to help with some form of Non-detection magic.
NPC Interactions
The various staff at the Angry Hound Inn.
Challenges Overcome
10 x Company Dead Men Soldiers and Quartermaster Mauger.
Avon becomes a Captain of the Red Guard.
Rewards
Nothing this week.
Created Content
Nothing this Week.
Related Reports
Player Character Status
Acheron- Human - Level 6 Devotion Paladin, Level 4 Hexblade, and Level 4 Divine Soul.
Jolanta - Human- Level 14 Evoker.
Avon- Half-Elf - Level 14 Thief.
Next Session
Avon
Jolanta
Acheron
NPC Companions
Moneypenny
Avon's able assistant
Blaine
Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.
The Company of Dead Men
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