Thiaphin's Son

A quick review. We are in The Whitelands, The Kingdom of Berna, in search of King Thiaphin Crolos II. The city is known as Telmarine.

Highlights:

• The Church of Franaxa:
  • Jean-Luc's marathon meditation session
  • Insight gained by Prentice - King behind the Golden Veil, Twin Swords
• The Brothers: Leaf and Sven - we bought their warehouse
• The Musuem: has a crashed Spelljammer
• The Hand of Franaxa: Resistance group - subtle
  • The gnome information broker.
• King Thiaphin: One man resistance army. Taking the fight to the orcs and disappearing into the night.
• Thiaphin's son. About to be executed. The Hand needs us to rescue him.
• Dwarven neighberhood suffered extreme losses.

The escape

This did not go as well as planned. As per the previous hanging, every entrance into the square was guarded by orcs. Unlike the previous hanging, the number of guards surrounding the gallows went from approximately 12 up to 25 or so. Four of these guards were better equipped and trained then the average orcish meat shield. Also the orcs stationed approximately 10 guards throughout the crowd. On top of all this, there were 5 snipers located in the buildings surrounding the square with heavy crossbows.

We sat in position and waited. Tyke flying above the scene before taking a position on the wall. Jean-Luc, invisible and standing at corner of the wall and gate. The rest of us in the crowd attracting way too much attention from the three guards lingering around. Hermen, Sven, and Leaf were waiting outside the courtyard with our cart.

The War Priest came in through the back gate and Prentice quickly notified us that he was not alone. Standing beside the warpriest was an invisible Bearded Devil. After saying his usual prayers, the trundle cart came through the back gate flanked by 4 more guards.

Like clockwork, our plan went into action. Prentice brought forth a Celestial Bison, then immediately created a wall of stone separating the gallows from about 1/3 of the orcish guards. As soon as Prentice's spells went off, the guards lingering near us approached and informed us we were under arrest. Tyke hit the guards on our side of the wall with Chain Lightning. After the lightning has subsided Jean-Luc entered the fenced in square with the gallows. Rondax engaged the one nearest him and dispatched the guard with great haste. Sol drew his sword and engaged a second orc.

The War Priest grew bigger with the aid of some spell, the Bearded Devil appeared at the end of the gallows nearest Jean-Luc. Bono finished off the guard that I had engaged. Prentice hit the remaining guards on our side with a fireball. The Celestial Bison took up a position at the end of the stone wall Prentice created and attacked a guard there. Tyke hit the guard with another spell. Jean-Luc approached the trundle cart and engaged one of the guards there. The guards on our side the gallows spread out toward the fence. Rondax jumped the fence and engaged the gallows guard nearest the wall. Sol moved over to the area vacated by Rondax to engage the guards that remained.

The War Priest attempted to cast a spell either on Rondax or Jean-Luc without success. The Bearded Devil continued to hammer away at Jean-Luc. Bono engaged the guard that approached from the top of the courtyard. Prentice continued to rain down fire on the orcs around the gallows after watching the Bison return to its own realm. Tyke appeared in the trundle cart with the prisoners. Jean-Luc finished off the guard at the trundle cart. Rondax dispatched the gallows guard then moved in to support Jean-Luc. Sol dispatched one of the two guards he had engaged.

I believe I may have missed a round in recollection

The War Priest hit Rondax with a curse. The Bearded Devil left the gallows but remained in combat with Jean-Luc. Most of the orcs inside the fence have died. Bono finishes off the first orc guard blocking our way out. Prentice continues with clean-up. Tyke teleports the prisoners out of the trundle cart to safety. Jean-Luc continues to battle the Devil without much sucess. Rondax stands there dumb-founded. Sol finished with the second guard.

The War Priest, seeing the battle going against him, jumps from the gallows out into the crowd. Bono takes out the second guard closest to him while Prentice continues with his spells. Jean-Luc closes with the Bearded Devil and kills it with his Laying on of Hands. Sol, seeing no more guards in his area charges the closest orc at the nearest exit and kills the guard.

The War Priest hits Jean-Luc's donkey and Prentice with a lightning bolt. Bono moves towards the exit. Jean-Luc mounts Rondax who jumps the fence and heads for the exit. Sol finishes the guards at the exit.

The War Priest hits Sol and Bono with a fireball. Bono continues towards the exit. Prentice mounts the donkey. Jean-Luc leaves the area through his dimension door. Rondax exits the courtyard, quickly followed by Sol.

The group quick moved to where Herman, Leaf, and Sven await with the cart. From there they head to the Safe House provided by the Hand of Franaxa only to discover that Tyke never arrived with the prisoners.