"Obey"

Session Notes for 12/16/2009

It was an interesting turn of events this night. All had assembled at the usual starting time (with Matthias coming in at the sound of the bells), and within minutes we were back into the world. When we last visited, the intrepid adventurers had vanquished many brigands in the name of justice, notoriety and not a little bit of money. They had killed the mob, but not the leader of the mob -- and there were more mob types in the camp that lay just ahead.

Tanendur still had one of the brigands under his charm spell, and after much discussion the decision was made to ask "Fred, the charmed brigand" to go ahead into camp and lure the others out of camp, into their ambush. All of the companions hid skillfully in the wooded area surrounding the most recent fight scene, but not before moving the corpses of the vanquished foes to a small area where they were sure to be found. The plan worked swimmingly! Fred led a group of five brigands down the path a ways, going past the hiding troupe. They decided from there to sneak into the camp and, with likely most of the brigands scurrying around trying to find them, they could overtake the leader with little resistance. The plan had no foreseeable flaws, and so they went ahead. Garkor, the Gnome Illusionist, chose to stay where he was so that he could continue to create noises with his cantrip ability to do so, thereby guiding the hapless brigands further and further away from the real battle.

Imagine their surprise when the got to the edge of the forest where the saw Baell, the fast-learning rogue, being held captive with a dagger at her throat and a hand over her mouth by the leader of the brigands, Roland! With a sneer and a revelation to all that he was the one who killed Baell's guardian some years ago, and with the protection of Baell's body, Roland forced the companions to agree to leave the area as he retreated back into the camp, continually using Baell as a shield. once gone from view, Roland quickly forced the rogue into a tent and, binding her hands, feet and mouth, quickly left the area and headed north... but not before cutting Baell's left cheek deeply enough to likely leave a scar. In an effort to confuse the companions, Roland left his own horse and took another instead, heading towards Goodhaven.

The companions, having satisfied their promised agreement to leave the area, and having dispatched the remaining brigands that had come to their senses and attacked the party, immediately returned to the area just outside the camp. While the rest remained hidden among the trees, Matthias quietly moved around the camp perimeter to see if Roland or any of his ilk remained. Matthias did find someone in a tent, but he seemed to be more intent upon gathering his things and vacating the area than staying and fighting an apparent mob of fighters. He quickly gathered his things and left hurriedly to the north as well, trying vainly to keep up with his leader.
Meanwhile Baell, having escaped from her binds, waited beside the tent flap to see if Roland was watching for her to escape.

Long story short, the group reunited with Baell, and after an initial search and chat with Roland's horse (see Spell, "Speak With Animals"), using Torrwin the Ranger's tracking ability, followed off after Roland, eventually leading back to Goodhaven! Very interesting... what could be in Goodhaven that would make Roland want to head there to hide?

Interesting side-note: Paranoia is running rampant in the group. Albreicht and Garkor conspired together to get the truth of what happened once Baell and Roland left the party's sight -- It seems the crew aren't certain that Baell isn't a member of Roland's crew. Via the Command spell, Baell was forced to relate what had happened -- which turned out be exactly what she had told them in the first place! Methinks those two may want to be looking over their shoulder for a while... Baell was rather put out.

Thus ended the evening... could this be the party's first defeat? Will they find Roland and complete the quest? Or will they continue on their master journey to the dreaded MageTower Ruins in search of the artifact that could save the Child Of Light?