Last Session 38>> into this session 39 ((recap))
When last we met, the party were situated all together, in front of a small stone altar, which they could only assume was being used for dark rituals, by Diablo cultists, who were yet to be seen within the domain of the countess.
Given the shock of this sight to behold, the party decide against going any further just yet, and head back up a floor, grab Francis who was waiting there for them, and use a portal to escape out of the tower, and into the Rogue Encampment once again, wherein they can take a moment to regroup, plan ahead, and maybe seek out any information they could get.
Whilst taking some time to rest up, shop about a bit, and chat with the NPC’s – Another, unknown face, a holy man by the name of Rhyker, approaches the encampment and is instantly welcomed with open arms by all who dwell within, and after introducing himself to Ophi, and Akara, it was always going to be that where there was evil, he would destroy it, and so joined the party in their quest.
Ophi and Akara speak for a moment about the horrific sights within the tower that Ophi had witnessed, and wanting to aid her, Akara gives Ophi a small but useful potion as a gift… Once the talking was over, and the party regrouped by the fire, they took a moment to fix up any open wounds they may have had, and just relax by the fire, talking about things to come, and introducing themselves to Rhyker one by one..
Cain receives the ring from Ophi, and agrees to research it and draw out its hidden magical properties on her behalf, as she once more gets ready to embark into the tower with the rest of her party members.
Meanwhile, as they party in town make haste for the portal back to the tower, something else awakens, under a pile of dead bodies, and deep within the lower section of the structure itself, we switch location and scene to one where a lone Barbarian by the name of Wulfstan, comes to from a terrible dream he had about battling a demonic skeletal looking being, who broke both of his axes with a single block, and returned the favor with a fireball of its own… This recurring dream he has, must mean something, however, Wulfstan is unable to ascertain what the meaning behind it is… just yet.
The party at this time, are also on the move, and they are already back near to where the altar of blood was discovered.
This time, the party press on, turning a couple of corners until they ran into a small group of Blood Clan goat demons, awaiting any intruders that pass by their way.
A battle is inevitable, and during the battle the Barbarian struggling to break free from the dead weight laying on his back, so he can go look for his best friend who was taken not too long ago, is able to wriggle free and help the main party in the fight with the red demon goat-men, whilst whipping himself into a rage all covered in the blood of the many bodies that were piled on top of him at one point.
The battle continued on for a moment, but then died down, and as the goat men dwindled in number, the party gained the upper hand, and killed them all.
With the battle soon over, and looting done, there was only one more place to search within sight, and Baxter did it first… The throne room.
He tried his very best to go in stealthily, but failed miserably, and instead stumbled headlong, into the final chamber.
There, to behold in all her glory, was the Countess of Blood, the owner and ruler of the very domain the party have recently invaded.
She stands tall among her corrupted rogue bodyguard, and soon begins to exchange words with Baxter… She even tries to sway him, but Baxter’s mind is an impenetrable fortress, and so she fails her attempt to make him succumb to her will.
Scarlett in the mean time, aims her crossbow at one of the corrupted rogues, from a long distance, she now waits, poised for a chance to attack… but Aleric, filled with rage and the hunger to get answers which burn inside of him, darts forward from the shadows, and confronts the countess where she stands about the death of the assassin in laid out bare on the altar.
The situation gets a little heated as expected, as Baxter just watches as Aleric closes in, all the while losing his temper bit by bit, but so too do the other rogues, and not heeding the warning from the Countess, Aleric is soon surrounded, and out of fury, attacks her with his thrown dagger, just as Scarlett lets loose her bolt.
This, is the situation we find ourselves in, and this is where we pick up from last session…. Dying time is upon us! – So let the fun commence!
Act One: Episode 39 – The Dungeon Heart
