Oh boy. Because there is too much, your humble scribe will return to the bullet point summation for this last session. If last week was an emotional rollercoaster, this session was simply a runaway train continuing to pick up steam as it heads for the broken bridge.
Last week left our heroes surrounding a stunned Azuke Sure, leader of the orc army. In a somewhat general order, this is what happened next
- Zezu pokes some holes in Azuke as Wander votes for interrogation, casting zone of truth. They learn that Azuke may not be in as control as he wants, he can’t kill them outright, and Tumak Skull Drinker is calling all the shots. They’re looking for the feeble mind Stone, but the don’t know where it is. Grumdark joins the fun and is called “son” by Azuke.
- Ryker, having killed the white dragon and seeing the orc army moving up quickly, turns to run back. As he does, the army starts unleashing arrows. Ryker evades what he can, but is hit and stumbles out of the woods as an unconscious pincushion.
- Realizing now how close the army had gotten while they talked, Yevin heals Ryker and takes off down the hill as he yells back to claim leadership of the group, bluffing since he’s beyond the Zone of Truth effect.
- Meanwhile the crystalline dragon, having landed in town and asked about Yevin’s location, lands behind the group, with perfect timing to make Wander look ominous.
- Very quickly everything takes a turn. Azuke signals the army and a few things happen at once. The dragon is suddenly stricken, mid sentence, and begins to disintegrate. The army unleashes volly of arrows. Everyone but Yevin is struck, with Wander, Ryker, Havayla falling unconscious (again). Spark is killed and transforms back into an egg.
- The orcs move forward, capturing the group. Nahtan is given special attention as his divine powers made quite an impression. He manages to sneakily cast cure wounds on Wander, who continues to feign death. Everyone is drug down the hill into the village of Mountainroot. After attempting to reach out to Knowledge, Wander carefully casts healing word on Havayla, who in turn heals Ryker.
- Azuke and his men throw down the Derailers in front of the clan elders, locking them in magical binds. He lists out all the actions that lead to this incursion. All actions set in motion by the Derailers.
- Wander, realizing that she is the lynchpin for much of these events, speaks up. “It was me. You found MY cave. I was there when you came. I knew about it long before you did.” Now having his full attention, Wander uses her divine connection to read his thoughts and attempts to persuade him “I’m the only one you need, let everyone else go and take me.” Unconvinced, Azuke turns to Yevin.
- Yevin is asked about the council of Draconum and where they’re located, as Azuke threatens to harm the others. This demand loses weight as the orcs are somehow unable to land a strike on a bound Nahtan. Yevin gives vague information, but claims his memory is foggy due to his previous amnesia.
- As Azuke gets frustrated by his men’s incompetence, the Derailers and elders continue to goad him. Azuke’s veneer of cool command begins to give way…
- And then Tumack makes an appearance by possessing Azuke, Havayla, and Donkey. Tumack thinks that the Derailers might know where to find the Feeble Mind Stone, but he has been unable to possess those that might know more. He demands that they remain unharmed and are brought to him for further… interrogation…
- At that, all the Derailers are tied up. Wander, Havayla, Yevin, and Donkey are tied together, back to back, around a pole. Zezu, Ryker, and Arunak around another. Nahtan is take away to Azuke’s tent while Cindy is drug off to another location. Meanwhile, the orcs start to discover and round up villagers, led by Grumdark, taking them to the northerns side of the village.
- Through all of this, Aurora the Unicorn becomes the conduit for information between the Derailers and the elders, who remain untouched by Azuke and his army. She telepathically communicates with Grumdark and discovers that he is allied against his will, but she is unable to convince him to do anything, yet.
- Everyone takes turns telepathically talking with Aurora, establishing statuses and plans. Query is noticed by a few, hidden in a tree close to Wander, waiting for an opening.
- Spark’s egg is discovered by Zezu’s guards. They argue a bit, and then one swallows it whole. He’ll have a rude awakening in about 7 days.
- Nahtan is interrogated by Grumdark and also discovers his reluctance to participate, but is told that “[they] can hear everything I say and do”. Azuke reenters the negotiation and vaguely threatens Nahtan with sending a “present” to his parents. None of this phases our Goliath Paladin and he is left for the night.
- Everyone settles in for an uncomfortable night. Aurora tells Wander that the elders have a plan: Vineyard has opened the portal, but died in the process. Moss can turn all the Derailers into animals so they can escape. The Elders are going to cause a distraction and lead as many Firbolgs as they can through to the Feywild. This will happen at dawn. Wander agrees to the plan and Aurora begins walking through the village, informing the team and any Firbolgs she comes across.
- Surprised by Aurora’s message waking him, Yevin decides to turn his startled awakening into an opportunity to unbalance his guards. Threatening them with visions of their god dying, Carvacas betraying the orcs, the dragons controlling everything, Yevin continued to do his bardish best to confuse, intimidate, and bewilder the orcs.
- Meanwhile, Nahtan, unable to break his bonds, convinces his guards that he really has to pee. After some discussion, they carry him out to a near by pond, place him in it, and step back for him to do his business. “So you’re not suppose to let me die, right?” Nahtan asks, as he tips over, submerging himself. Convinced that he’s up to something, and also afraid of his potential might, the orcs just watch. Using the water and “drowning” as cover, Nahtan attempts again to escape his bonds. Until he really does drown. Unconscious, he’s pulled from the water by a trio of panicked orcs. Unable to revive him, they begin to take him back.
- And are met by a set of unhappy Firbolgs. Tinker, Steady, Flint, Wisdom, and Root rescue Nahtan. After resuscitating and freeing him, they say that they know of the Elder’s plan and are going to find as many people as they can. Tinker tearfully tries to give Nahtan a message for Wander, before giving Nahtan command of his Golem.
- Back at the village, Arunak realizes that he knows Orc. He heard the orcs say the code for the bonds. He can say the word and unlock the bonds. He takes a breath, and speaks…
And that is where we left off. Will Arunak’s experiment threaten the escape plan? Will anyone actually get a long rest? Can they convince Grumdark to defect? We’ll find out next time… which will be in two weeks. This next session will be a one shot led by yours truly.