Ramiera’s Machinations

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As the snakes slithered out of the baskets and crates their sheer size had the party hesitating. Twice long as a person was tall, if not bigger, these reptiles moved forward with the angular head that identified them as some type of viper. Excessively venomous, aggressive and agitated they advanced in large sweeping arcs towards the party, their tongues flicking menacingly.

The first of the strikes are far reaching and swift, bitting down upon the characters boots as they tried to take down the larger creatures in front of them. The party imagined the splattering venom hissing as it hit the tiled floor – but it was droned in the hisses, snaps and snarls as the snakes lashed out again.

The hallway was silent as the party crept out of the storage room, their wounds still burning from the venom of the snakes. A sound could be heard from a nearby room before a woman stepped out from the shadows of the wall near by its door.

‘You survived the snakes. The Princess will be disappointed. She told me not to trust the outsiders who had shown their face after the prince did as she asked. But sadly for you, no one can hear you scream or cry out from here as,’ she paused and listened as a cheering and clapping roared down the hall. ‘It looks like Ramiera has started the dance in full now. No help is coming so I hope you make peace with your pathetic gods.’

The party was quickly aware of the doors to the other rooms opening. The dark clothes didn’t conceal that these were the same people they saw talking with Ramiera earlier as they adjusted their formal clothes to protect them from the anticipated spilled blood.

‘No one will stop Ramiera’s plans. We will see to it that her vision is a reality!’ one roared as he charged the party and for the second time this evening, the party was fighting for their life.

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Omelga Hunters

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As the party watched the Omelga hunters move in they noticed that several of them hung back and positioned themselves behind cover. Armed with bows and a short spear these hunters watched with eagle eyes for where the party would appear, ready to strike from a distance and judging by their gear and behaviour they would rarely miss.

The others were more brash. Armed with a larger spear, thicker armour and a sword on their belt these hunters were set more for brawling. Getting stuck into melee with orcs, bears and worse you could tell that they wouldn’t go down easily in a fight. These hunters more suited for brawling struck out and moved ahead of the others, searching for any sign of their quarry but, frequently very nearly blundering into the traps set.

The moment came when the party was able to trigger one of the larger traps that sent a cascade of logs hurtling towards the hunters. Several were crushed and in the confusion others blundered into the other traps and found themselves suspended, impaled or otherwise injured.

Now the true fight could begin.

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Sewer Skulkers

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As the party watched the first of the dozens of men and women rip off their dark clothes to reveal the city watches emblems they knew that they were not the first on the scene. As the city watch rushed towards the cultists chanting near the cursed blade the party also took this moment to engage. The shadows seemed to move as more cultists appeared and rushed forward, dark gleaming blades seemingly dripped with the malicious magic from the ritual.

A select few, maybe half a dozen, remained kneeling and chanted as the others rushed to protect those who chanted closest to the altar and the reverberating blade shards that they were intent on mending. As the fight ensued the unholy energy from the blades cut deeper than anticipated. A evil seeped from the blades and made the wounds they left even more painful.

The party did their best to aid the city watch but it wasn’t long until a few of their numbers fell to magic or blade, the party needed to increase their effort. The footing was not only unpleasant but treacherous. The stones of the canal gave way to any substantial weight and what they did manage to find stable near the sewage filled drains was slippery.

Repressing their bile they fought against the cultists, a few of their members lay unconscious or dead and they fought harder knowing that their plans were in jeopardy.

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Feli and the Felons

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As the rough inmates rush across the worn stone of the courtyard they pick up any weapon they can. Some have raided the guard house, or had weapons thrown to them and are sporting heavy crossbows and maces – the weapon the guards at Mouler’s Peak. Feli makes another appearance handing a dagger to an escaped prisoner before darting behind more rushing madmen it which point the party lose sight of her.

It’s obvious now that Feli, their employer wanted to create the prison break and to frame the party but the reason was still not known. As the guard and the party stood firm against the felons as they rushed, stabbed, shot, slashed and swung at the defenders a hushed wave of quiet washed over them.

Feli walked next to a towering man who must have had giant or at least orcish blood in his veins. He stood at least eight feet tall and was busy pulling on the armour of a guard that still had the blood of its previous owner on it. This man must have been Feli’s target as he was given scimitars from a bag that Feli had on her hip and a bandoleer of daggers.

‘Drendle Bloodknuckle’ several escapees muttered and made room for the hulk of a man as he strode forward rolling his shoulders as if preparing for the fight ahead. The one thing that the wannabe warlord of Kestel needed was a weapon and that weapon was this man it seems. Played hook, line and sinker.

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Undead Farm Hands

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A normal Zombie stat-block will do nicely for our Farm-hands while Simon wasn’t opposed to also trying to hide dead farm animals in his fields too.

Farm hands will form the bulk of the attacks in this weeks primary encounter. Where as the Draft horse zombie will be a singular figure. It moves a bit faster, is a bit (not much though) more durable than the normal zombie but its animalistic strength will make it hit harder.

But the antagonist I hear you asking? Well young Sara Tode, Simon Tode’s daughter who grew tired of her fathers meddling in her life and resented him from his abuse of her budding magical talent. Used for years to rot the crops of her neighbours while bolstering her father she grew tired of the evil he made her do. So using the farm hands he disposed of against him and his crops was easy.

The encounter depends on the parties level. If they are strong enough to face Sara and five zombies then have that go. Sara can summon a strong undead ally using Summon Undead. She will select Putrid due to her affinity with zombies but if the party aren’t ready to face her then have the undead turn against her and they now need to decide if they save her from her creations or let fate decide.

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