Freedom – Session 3

The Crimson Citadel: An imposing structure that rises out of the desolate red rock of the Bloodstones, its curved walls are adorned with spikes, tusks, and jagged crenelations that bristle with weaponry. It is a savage fortress for a savage land.

Currently in the possession of the Iron Brotherhood, a powerful group of slavers operating across Zydar and the lands of the H’Nev, the main tower has enough space for a sizeable army as well as auxiliaries, equipment, and livestock. It houses the bulk of the Brotherhood forces. The underground levels have been converted to hold captives before they are either taken to the markets of Sokol and Vulk or used by the necromancer Gargan Chel in his grisly experiments.

The foundations of the Citadel date back to the time of the Exodus and it’s whispered that hidden in the lower levels is an entrance to the vast, interconnected Deeps of the Underworld.

As the characters prepare to leave the workshop, Lana moves to the eastern door and listens carefully, hearing footsteps and muffled snippets of a murmured conversation. She estimates there are two guards patrolling the area on the other side, and the group quietly decides to leave via the south door instead. They follow the corridor and Bordan scouts the junction ahead, which leads to long passageway running north. Meanwhile, the thief attempts to eavesdrop at the doors along their route.

At the first door on the right, Lana hears a low chanting and a wet sucking noise. Muffled screams of terror and pain penetrate the thick wood, and she instinctively lifts the latch and pushes into the room. Mira calls out to stop her, but it is too late. Cursing, the warrior swiftly draws her sword and follows the thief in.

On the other side is a dark, damp 40’ by 45’ room filled with cold mist that clings to the floor. The space is illuminated by a string of dark purple candles that give off a sickly black light. A staircase in the southwestern corner descends into darkness, and eight humans hang limply against the wall, five of which look like they’ve been clubbed to death and then gnawed upon. The remaining three are chained to the west wall and surrounded by five figures. A robed individual stands before them chanting, whilst three Iron Brotherhood guards loiter close by, and a shambling, rotten figure noisily feeds on a screaming captive.

Apprentice: AC 9. HP 6. Dagger (1d4). Magic Missile. Charm Person.

Zombie: AC 8. HP 9. Claws (1d8).

3 x Guards: AC 6. HP 4/6/4. Sword (1d8)/Shortsword (1d6).

Round 1

As the characters run in after Lana, the guards cry out in surprise, draw their weapons and charge. The first aims a wicked slash at Bordan’s abdomen, slicing flesh and grinding against bone. As the barbarian grunts in pain another guard attacks, the thrust going wide and glancing off his bracer. The third guard barrels into Breka, his clumsy attack missing by mere inches.

In desperation, Ostrik moves to the doorway and casts Magic Missile, his voice low and powerful as the incantation echoes around the room. With a flash of green light and a streak of energy, the bolt hits the third guard, burning through his chest and killing him instantly. Raising her blade to the mage in thanks, Breka jumps over the smouldering body and joins the melee around Bordan. Her strikes are precise but fail to penetrate armour.

The apprentice necromancer commands the shambling abomination to cease feeding and attack the trespassers, before quickly moving to the top of the stairs, ready to flee should things take a turn for the worse.

Mira sweeps forward, catching the second guard off balance and disembowelling him with a series of vicious thrusts. Bordan brings his axe down in a deadly arc, the blade biting deep into the neck of the remaining slaver and killing him. Subira, moving to avoid the brutal melee, fires her crossbow at the approaching zombie, the bolt sinking deep into its rotted flesh. The thing lumbers on, seemingly unaware of the damage.

Round 2

Subira pauses to reload the unfamiliar mechanism, as Dragos creeps past her, hugging the shadows and slowly moving around the outside of the room. He silently leaps over the staircase railing and comes up behind the necromancer, who has begun a low chant. A split second later, the orcan’s dagger slides across the apprentice’s throat, cutting off the spell in a burbling escape of blood and air.

Mira runs at the zombie, with Breka and Bordan following close behind. They hack away in a disgusted frenzy and the creature, unable to take such damage, begins to fall apart. As it sinks to the ground, it lashes out with gnarled claws, inflicting a dreadful wound upon the half elf, who screams in pain and drops to her knees.

Q – Does the apprentice have a spellbook?

A – Yes.

Q – Is the prisoner being fed to the zombie still alive?

A – No.

Q – Did anyone hear the battle?

A – Yes.

The characters take a moment to catch their breath. Breka and Bordan are in a bad way, and Subira does her best to tourniquet their wounds whilst Mira warns the group not to tarry in this area for too long. The captives from the workshop help Lana to unlock the chains of the prisoners, who tell everyone of the gruesome experiments that occur in the lower levels. Meanwhile, Ostrik busies himself with appropriating the dead necromancer’s spellbook.

Then, with a heavy sense of dread, the fighter hears footsteps coming up the stairs. She shouts a warning as three humans and two hyene, all in full Brotherhood uniform and with weapons drawn, enter the room. The leader, an older man brandishing sword and shield, looks around at the carnage with a scowl, his gaze coming to rest on the dead apprentice.

“You’ll pay for that,” he snarls.

Mira narrows her eyes and draws both her swords.

Featured Image by Jeff Brown.