Rivals in the Under Crypt

The Half-Dead City

Session 4 Part 2

The Gunslinger Tabitha Gale
by bcpstudio

Roll Call:

Visceral, a broad-shouldered, half-orc Dark Knight who wields a wicked orcish double-ax
Tabitha Gale, a slight, young human Musket Master from across the sea
Katakama Iga-Ryu, an exiled Ninja from Tian Xia
Xavos Darksun, a half-elven Summoner from Varisia

Having surprised the Mighty Ebon Lions, the skeletal champions rushed forward, with their leader causing a grievous injury on the half-orc Visceral. Under threat of a heavy attack, the Lions retreated back down the hall to set up a defensive position. The skeletons followed, but their leader remained at the back magically sending his spear flying into continue the attack. After several rounds of tense combat, the Lions wore down their opponents and finished them off. Collecting the Skeletal Leader's magical spear, they continued on through the under halls.

After a little more searching, Katakama came across a group of adventurers looting the place - adventurers they recognized as the Scorched Hand, led by one Velriana Hypaxes. When Katakama was spotted sneaking around, he tired to engage in conversation and negotiate with the rival band. Unfortunately, Velriana was having none of it and demanded that the Lions turn over any loot they found, for she believed as followers of Nethys, it was their right to claim all that lie within the temple. As Katakama and Visceral stayed to negotiate and buy time, the rest of the group tried to sneak around behind the Scorched Hand and engage them from two sides.

Velriana Hypaxes
by bcpstudio

Combat was joined from two fronts and the battle was fierce. Aziz, the Scorched Hand's wizard magically greased the entrance that Sir Pounce, Xavos, and Tabitha were trying to enter and lit it on fire with a flaming sphere, causing massive damage to Sir Pounce. Idorri, the Scorched Hand's muscle, tripped Sir Pounce with her Khopesh which landed him further in the flames and forced Xavos to send him back to his home plane.

Meanwhile Katakama and Visceral entered from their side and began hacking into Khelru (the Hand's cleric) and Aziz. It wasn't long before Visceral's merciless pounding brought the cleric low. A couple of well placed shots from Tabitha soon felled Idorri as well. Xavos summoned a fire elemental which took to burning Velriana and Katakama took out Aziz after being hit with a shocking grasp spell. Velriana continued to fight on despite being the only one conscious and managed to fire off a couple of scorching rays before Tabitha put a bullet through her skull and dropped her dead.

The Lions bound the unconscious members of the Scorched Hand, looted their magic and prepared to leave the Sanctum. On their way out, they came across a secret room which housed a statue. The statue looked like it at one time wore a mask, but it had recently been removed. After consulting the tablet they had found earlier, it was guessed that the mask was the dangerous artefact alluded to therein. Upon questioning, the Scorched Hand admitted to no knowledge of the secret room or the mask. It appeared as though a third party had entered the Sanctum before everyone else and taken off with the artefact.

Not ones to be daunted, the Mighty Ebon Lions headed back to the living city of Wati to catalogue their finds and prepare for a princely haul at the auction to be held later that week. There were more than a few itchy fingers in the group that wanted to use their newly won gold to purchase items of powerful magic.