48. Basement Brawl

General Summary

Jester engaged the closest Rysmarckian soldiers while the rest of the group conducted a round of attacks on the surprised guards. After, the assailed soldiers called foul, and their yells attracted the rest of the floor’s personnel. Both sides engaged in a brawl with the Rysmarckian introducing soldiers better equipped to counteract even capable mages. Despite the guards’ superior numbers, the adventurers defeated them, gathered their equipment, and proceeded further through the basement. They came upon a corridor lined with heavy-set doors, each of which opened into a cell holding imprisoned mages. Halfway through the effort, Andraste, who had been put on watch, caught sight of a shadow coming from a staircase on the other end of the hall. Thereafter, the Warden, who appeared to be a beholder, appeared, though instead of attacking them directly, it requested a parlay. Over the course of the discussion, the Warden requested the party to destroy three seal stones located in the underground complex. In exchange, it promised to keep the prison guard from swarming the party as well as aid in locating their targets. The adventurers ultimately agreed, to an extent, while the Warden allowed them to free more mages, including Albern. They then retreated back to the tower underneath where they considered their next course of action.