The door flings open. The figure has black eyes, no pupils – he stares through the door. It’s a bleak, overcast day. The figure says “Release him to us.”
Leshanna and Miss Moss sidle a little closer. Inside, Londer brandishes his axe and says “Steady on, we don’t want any trouble here.”
The figure responds, “Final warning.” Water starts streaming out of his mouth.
Gunther walks over to the door, “There seems to have been a little miscommunication.” He closes the door.
Outside, the other figures snap to attention, ready for action with mad expressions on their face.
The Weevil, darts up the stairs and hunched behind the balcony. Miss Moss climbs up onto the roof, draws her bow and calls out, “You there!”
Gunther calls out to Thoradin and Londer, “What are we going to do?” He suggests someone guards the Weevil, he’s worth a bit of money. Gunther runs over and jumps onto one of the horses, ‘Hello my Equine friend, how about if we bust some asses.” There’s no saddle, the horse bucks a little.
Under the robed figure’s robes, there’s a lot of business going on. They all hear a sound in another language that none of them recognise. It shakes the room. It is other worldly. Leshanna and Miss Moss are frightened. The horse has bucked, throwing Gunther.
Leshanna, still frightened, bravely raises her black adamantine staff with a spider on top. She casts a sticky web over the strange group and briefly surrounded by a silvery mist, she teleports up to the roof with Miss Moss.
Londer jumps forward and swings his great axe at the Squid guy. He hits, then takes a sweeping attack at a figure that looks like a mage. They have a strange, wide eyed expression as he attackes.
The mage looks at Londer and looks deep into his soul. It reverberates through every part of his being. He says, “Flee.”
Londer flees.
The others struggle in the web, all but one remain stuck. One climbs up the wall.
Thoradin goes running up the stairs and casts on the Weevil, holding him in place.
Miss Moss is paralysed by indecision, still a little scared. She shakes herself off and takes two big confident strides – she pulls out the great sword – she eyeballs the little guy and he sees a flicker of fear in her eyes. He is cut in twain, it falls – almost like art. Miss Moss is very relieved. His two halves splatter in the snow below. He’s very dead. She looks at Leshanna and gives her a knowing glance. Leshanna looks back in respect. Miss Moss draws her bow, aims and hits.
Gunther is still falling off the horse, very nicely. The horse paces around the room, agitated. Gunther walks to the door and casts fear. He gets out his bagpipes and screams “I will strike the fear in all of you!”
The figure raises his hands and speaks a strange language. Above them a cloud starts to form. Mist starts to swirl. Electricity starts to sizzle. A bolt of lightning shoots down towards Londer. Leshanna casts counterspel
The sparks fly out and kills the two guys near him.
The fire ball massacre is severe and swift. One by one, Leshanna kills all but one. The final figure moves around, his robes on fire. He writhes around, tentacles come out and water pours from his mouth. Steam comes off from the water that is putting out his flames. The barn is burning.
Londer runs away.
Thoradin says to the Weevil “I don’t really know who you are and what you’re up to but I can’t let you get away.”
The Weevil looks up with eyes wide and clear fear. He says, “I can help you, I hate these guys.”
Thoradin says he doesn’t trust him, he’s staying tied up. Miss Moss draws her magical bow and hits the robed, burning figure. She draws again, hits again.
Gunther casts detect thoughts. A flash of otherworldly fear appears in Gunther’s thoughts – it was clear it was not scared of us, but of something far greater. He opens his eyes and mouth wide, he becomes rigid and and water pours out of his mouth. With a bolt he dies and slumps to the ground.
Thoradin carries the Weevil downstairs. Miss Moss jumps down and gets water to put the fire out. As she passes the guy, she notices a tattoo of a Black Octopus on him. She searches but finds nothing at all on them. There’s old daggers and swords – nothing of any worth.
Gunther turns his mind listening skills to the Weevil.
It’s early afternoon and there’s not much outside to speak of. Miss Moss drags all the bodies into the barn and cleans up the mess. Leshanna helps, neither of them are sure this has been a terribly good idea. Noone is around. Thoradin peers out and sees all the burned corpses and a puddle of water. He hands Londer his Flagon. Londer feels a little sheepish for running away. Thoradin knows it’s nothing to do with Londer’s heart. He comforts him.
The Weevil begins to talk to them, “Please don’t turn me into Mirrabar.” He’s being honest. Leshanna asks, “Who were those guys, what’s this all about?”
“When I was on the run, I was being chased for stuff – I did the stuff – these guys said they’d help if I follow their stupid religion.” The priest is a powerful telepath, with a Master called Slar. They are in his command. He doesn’t know why they helped him. He heard them talking about a female Storm Giant. He didn’t understand. There were connections with big stuff. He had to swear to be a follower of the religion.
Suddenly he grabs his head, water starts coming out. He begins to gush and dies.
They all stare at him.
“Well,” Leshanna says, “That’s good, means we didn’t have to make a decision. Let’s get out of here. “
They begin to leave.
As they begin to leave they see some happenings as the gates are beginning to close – the guard says they are under attack – from Giants. From over the top of the battlements, something lands of the street – a high pitched scream rings out.
A goblin with a spiky helmet, dead on impact, hits the road.
“They’re launching fucking goblins at us!”
Thoradin lets out a laugh and then sobers himself.
They all move closer to have a look – they climb up the battlements and look past the defenders. There is an air of panic all around. They see giant ogres, each of which has a sling filled with goblins. They are launching them into the city where they are slamming into the wall. The goblins shriek as they fly through the air. In the middle, an enormous frost giant is calling the shots. One single light-blue skinned giant. It is the largest giant they have seen with a big white beard. It is the height of several men, maybe 20 feet high.
The head of the town militia starts marching towards them, orders them to get down – “Who are you? I don’t know who you are, I don’t know where you’re from – get down from there!”
They try to negotiate with him – we’re experienced fighters, heroes of a lot of places. Miss Moss pulls out her giantslayer sword – it shimmers a little. He listens a little but is still very angry.
He says “I’m sure you’re very good at what you’re doing – we don’t need your help – you do your thing and we’ll do ours.”
The snow is laying around, it’s overcast and miserable. They decide to go to have a rest. No point helping out where they are not wanted. It’s been a big day.
As they are walking through, they see dark figures on the rooftops around them. They are a hooded strike force, expertly hidden in the rooftops. Suddenly, javelins fly at them, hitting and missing. They seem to come from everywhere.
One casts Sacred Flame on Leshanna, she is hit. Another throws a javelin. It’s Miss Moss’ turn.