SESSION 33E: MAGGOTS & RATSBANE

December 28th, 2008
The 18th Day of Kadal in the 790th Year of the Seyrunian Dynasty

RATSBANE

As they pushed their own way through the secret door to pursue him, however, a carpet of dire rats poured through the illusionary wall.

There were dozens of them, but Agnarr just smiled grimly. “Okay, I think we’ve got this.” Twirling his blade slowly he moved forward.

But the rats were followed by a platoon of ratmen, all armed with dragon rifles. Several of them fired at Agnarr as they entered and the sickly-sweet scent of burning flesh filled the air.

Dominic reflexively laid his hands on Agnarr and the burn marks softened away. The barbarian was already bellowing with rage and a moment later, gritting his teeth, he charged. Tor followed in his wake with a rallying cry of his own. They cut a swath through the dire rats, trying to open a path to the rifle rats… but they were going to be too late. The riflers were coming into formation and lowering their guns for what was certain to be a lethal barrage.

But Ranthir, seeing what was happening, focused all of his energy. He had already cast one fireball that day, and the effort of trying to reforge the pathways of mystical force through his own mind and soul through sheer force of will was literally excruciating…

A ball of fire burst forth in the middle of the room, leaving in its wake a hillock of burnt ratflesh.

With a triumphant cry, Agnarr and Tor finished their swath of death through the dire rats and cut into the three rat riflers who were still standing. The riflers fell back before them with a desperate panic in their eyes. Theral and the only rat chieftain who had escaped the blaze, seeing their seeming triumph rendered instantly into desolation, turned and fled back through the illusionary wall.

MAGGOTS’ END

Tee and Elestra, meanwhile, dashed past the melee, hot on the heels of Vocaetun (who had disappeared down the stairs during the confusion). Tee forced him to turn and fight, dissipating one of his illusionary images in the process. But with a wave of his wand he blinded her again.

He turned to run again. Seizing the moment, Elestra murmured a few words, called upon the Spirit of the City, and laid her hand on his back… to no seeming effect.

He dashed around the corner… and then there was a bone-chilling scream which ended in a hideous gurgling.

Tee, her vision clearing, glanced at Elestra and then rounded the corner.

Vocaetun lay on the stairs. His mouth was frothed with maggots, which were also ripping their way out of the skin on his arms and around his neck. He was dead.

They quickly searched his body, taking his wicked wand so that Ranthir could turn it to their own purposes, and then dragged the corpse back up into the kaleidoscopic hall. By the time they returned, Tor and Agnarr had finished mopping up the last of the rats and ratmen.

Dropping Vocaetun’s corpse unceremoniously on the floor, Tee quickly searched the bodies of the others they had slain. On the weasel-faced man they found a note:

LETTER TO GREALDAN

Brother Grealdan—

We have intercepted letters from Reggaloch to others in the Ebon Hand. They are planning to betray us. When the signal comes, be prepared to purify the cause of chaos. Be wary.

And now they were faced with a decision: Should they pursue Theral? Descend the stairs? Finish their explorations of this level of the temple? Or retreat before more reinforcements arrived?

Running the Campaign: Battles at the Door – Campaign Journal: Session 34A
In the Shadow of the Spire: Index