Session 42 - A Close Shave
23rd October 2022
In-game timeline: DR1489 Eleint 26 - Eleint 27
Our "Heroes" engaged in a difficult battle with Bayleaf (the guard), Ogmund, Braydol and Sophia (the clerics). The party (eventually!) decided to attack the temple building directly, even though they had no idea how many people were In there, but were met with 2 spiritual weapons that attacked them as they closed in on the building. Bayleaf then ran out and engaged Kandi, who was loitering quite close to the door. Two clerics were hiding behind the doors, looking out only to control their Spiritual Warhammers that were clobbering TC. TC engaged Bayleaf to try to help Kandi - but he ended up quite battered, especially when Ogmund managed to paralyse him for a turn.
Mahtis heated up Bayleaf's spear, but he held on to it, and Ogmund dispelled the magic before it could do too much harm. TC threw off his paralysis and got some well-needed hits on Bayleaf, who seemed remarkably resilient and strong.
TC eventually fell, so did Kandi soon after as Bayleaf could focus his attention on the poorly armoured bard. Mahtis' Moonbeam spell was shrugged off by the still quite healthy guard. Carro ran inside to take on the clerics and got battered by both, and by the floating skulls that Ogmund had summoned as protection. The elf managed to take down Braydol but then fell himself to an attack by Ogmund. Mahtis meanwhile revived both TC and Kandi with Healing Words. Bayleaf ran after Kandi to try to bring him down once more. TC ran in to see how Carro was getting on and saw that the elf had fallen. The paladin revived Carro, but could only give him a small amount of health and the ranger soon fell again to another strike from Ogmund.
Outside, Kandi and Mahtis battered Bayleaf with Shatter and Poison Spray spells, and eventually the mercenary tried to run, but Kandi brought him down with a shortsword attack as he ran.
TC took on both Sophia and Ogmund and, in an uncharacteristically skilful display, took them both out with successive hits from Dragonsboon.
All the enemies here were now dead, but was close - all party members took hits and three of them fell unconscious during the battle - Carro twice! Possibly the toughest battle the group had experienced so far, and the party were visibly shaken.
They searched the clerics and found some loot in their chests. TC and Mahtis managed to avoid the trapped chest of Ogmund. A bit of gold, some spell scrolls and an engraved bracelet that they think may be used to ward off the skeletons in the dunes, that Ogmund was wearing. A note from Braydol was translated with a Comprehend Languages spell and seemed to imply that Braydol was originally on the island to spy on the Clerics of Shar, but was seemingly indoctrinated by the Shar ideology. However, some "recent developments" have shaken his new-found faith in their somewhat evil and necromantic teachings.
At least one Harpy was spotted atop the tower, but they luckily didn't involve themselves in this battle. The buildings attached to the tower are emanating evil, according to TC, who is a little sensitive to such things, as is one black-stone building close to where they currently are.
The group decide to escape the abbey ruins for now and have a long rest, as they are very low on health and spells, making use of Kandi's Tiny Hut spell to rest without worry of attack. They awake just after midnight the following day - the ship is due in about 6am and was going to stay for only about 6 hours. Kandi and Carro still have one level of exhaustion - if they fall again, they will be slow to get back in time for the ship.
A decision looms - whether to head back to the ship with their lives, but without any relics and leaving the fate of the girl, Clarice, unknown, or to try to clear the place of remaining evil but risk missing the boat home - or, worse still, risk losing their lives in the attempt?