~ SESSION 13 > SESSION 14 – (BRIEF RECAP) ~
Welcome back my friends!
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We started last session with the party all sat around a breakfast table, within the tavern of the rising sun.
As they enjoyed their morning meal and beverages, Ogden approached them, clasping a burlap sack in his hands.
He moved to Ebrin’s side, and passed the sack over to him, and explained that during the night, whilst the others slept soundly in their beds…Tavi had departed the building, but before she exited the tavern, she left behind a bag with Ogden, with instructions for him to pass it over to the rest of the party when he next saw them.
Ebrin emptied the contents onto the table, and saw two potions of healing fall from the sack, along with a small folded piece of parchment.
He grabbed the paper and read it aloud, the letter read…
“I’m not one for goodbyes, and I barely knew you all – but… here’s a few parting gifts from me to you.
I think you will need them a lot more than I will – that’s for sure.
See ya around! – Tavi”
Just as Ebrin finished reading, Arthas rejoined them at the tavern.
He was warmly greeted with a hug from Lyra, but Arthas wasn’t very forthcoming with his whereabouts or actions over the past few days.
However it was clear to see that his frame of mind was far better than when they last saw him.
He joined them all for breakfast, and engaged in conversation about his past battle experiences – and very quickly, the hot topic became about King Leoric.
Time went by quickly, and eventually after much planning and all preparations made, the party were ready to be off again.
Together, with Arthas leading the way, the party thanked Ogden for the food and board he had so generously provided, and headed into the corrupted cathedral once more, to deal judgement on the demonspawn residing within.
Floor by floor they passed through the once hallowed halls, lit sconces lining the walls giving off just enough light to see ahead… Until they finally reached their destination… The entrance to the icy-cold tomb of King Leoric.
Descending the stairs, there was a little unrest felt among them, but the party pressed on, courageously, and as they set foot in the frosty domain of the Skeletal Overlord – King Leoric’s voice boomed out, echoing through the rooms and passages of that tainted place.
The party knew that they had all been detected, and from that moment on there was to be no hiding from what was about to come.
They moved further into the Skeleton King’s domain, and stood just outside of his burial chamber, where they gathered their wits, and made any last minute preparations.
Levi attempted once more to sneak into the chamber of the giant armored skeleton, but the attempt was foiled yet again.
All Levi could do was watch as the Skeleton King with sword in hand, moved across the room faster than expected, an unholy power pushed him forward, allowing him to close the distance on Levi in seconds.
Reaching Levi, King Leoric summoned a couple of his loyal undead minions to his side, and then launched his attack.
Meanwhile, Arthas and Ebrin tried to set up a defensive position, hoping to stop the giant foe and his minions, from reaching the others behind them.
At some point of the battle that ensued, it looked a little bleak for the party, as the situation seemed to turn from bad to worse.
Although he was outnumbered, Leoric was able to stand steadfast, and he managed to turn the tide of battle on the party, a few times.
Many things happened during the confrontation, but one in particular was the odd turning point of the entire battle… Let me explain.
Fearing the battle wasn’t going to end too well for them, the rest of the party fled through a town portal, back to Tristram… This seemed like it was their only lifeline, or way out.
This did however leave Arthas on his own, facing his old King.
However, somehow, in what little safety Tristram had to offer, the party managed to gather courage once more, formed a new attack plan, and rejoined the fight… The portal of course, faded from sight behind them as they rentered the tomb.
………It was do or die time … Their final stand!
Bravely, Arthas stood his ground, and weathered blow after blow from his corrupted leige, soaking up the damage or avoiding it with his guile, fortitude, and defensive magical abilities.
However, with the second assault incoming, Arthas would not be left alone to his fate any longer.
The party – with renewed bravery, launched their second wave of attacks.
All seemed to be going well, but, fate it seemed had a twist in store for them all.
Ebrin was suddenly struck down – He was left unconscious, and bleeding out on the floor.
Whilst in that vulnerable state, King Leoric stood over his body, and plunged mercilessly his 2-handed sword, deeply into Ebrin’s chest.
The blade pierced all the way through Ebrin’s torso, slicing through his heart and lungs, coming out of his back, and burying itself into the stone floor.
The attack instantly killed Ebrin, and the Skelton King focused again on Arthas.
An enraged Levi, at the sight of his companions lifeless body, being impaled into the ground, launched an assault of his own on the Skeleton King.
He leapt up into the air, and with one precise swing of his sword, landed such a deadly strike that it decapitated to weakened monster.
He struck two more times into the body of the Skeleton King and watched as the cursed body of this once beloved King… Turned to dust before his very eyes, leaving behind only a golden gem inlaid crown.
The battle was over, and the crown was collected.
The party took Ebrin’s body back to town, and as difficult a task as it was to carry his corpse through the cathedral, they all helped each other, and got it done.
Upon reaching the surface, they left his body where they intended to bury Ebrin, off to one side of the cathedral graveyard.
The party were weakened after the ordeal, and dealing with the heavy loss of a companion, they covered Ebrins corpse, and retreated to the tavern for some well needed rest.
The following morning, Levi returned to the graveyard to bury his friend, with Griswold, both of them carrying shovels, to dig a grave for Ebrin, but upon arriving there, they both saw that the body was missing.
Confused, Levi went to the others and told them of the situation, but with nothing they could do about it, they decided to leave it alone for the time being, and take care of their resting and training needs first.
The day passed by quickly, and that night, the party spent their time mostly alone and reflecting over what had happened recently.
They had taken down a powerful adversary together, but they had to pay the ultimate price to do so.
The town and all who lived there, were safer – for their actions.
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The Present Scene:
We catch up to the party as 8am rolls around on the following morning, and once more they are all sat around the breakfast table, yet not a word is spoken for quite some time.
The thought of losing Ebrin, still fresh in thier minds, and Arthas once more was left alone by request, inside of the dungeon, to contemplate his own feelings of morality, and reflect on what he had been a part of.
People had been going missing from the party, first it was Jack, then Tavi… but no answers were coming easily, and now the party have important decisions to make.
So join me friends in this session of…. Adventure in Sanctuary!
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