Written by:
Orvasa Inkeelah
The Company of the Broken Banner (the Company) set out with the unified clansmen of the Unbound Lands to lay siege to
Vaethryn Castle and defeat the
The Sons of Avlar. A new addition to the Company,
Tuzi Ren, ejects Pluto’s soul from his body to breach the inner wall and conduct reconnaissance.
Pluto Trellman gauges the castle’s defences (and the alarming lack of diversity amongst the Sons of Avlar #AvlarBro). The Company decides to send scouts under the cover of darkness to check the battlefield for traps before attacking.
After successfully disarming the traps lain between the outer and inner wall of the castle, the Clans of the North surged through the outer wall at dawn.
Manannán led the charge with a rallying battle cry that was not at all matched by
Aldan Brokkr and
Ellri Brooir. While caught by surprise, the Sons of Avlar put up a formidable defence, raining down magic arrows and fireballs, and summoning bloodthirsty hydras. The most fearsome of all guarded the way to the gate. The Company led the charge to slay the monster and the clear the way for the battering ram.
The battle was brutal. Tuzi Ren is the first to hit the creature followed by Pluto who swiftly severs one of the hydras head with his mighty pitchfork. To the Company’s alarm, two heads grow back in its place. The Company began to crumble under the unrelenting attacks of the hydra and the Sons of Avlar who continued to unleash terror from above.
Buffman Beefalot stood against all odds, at one point rebuking the hydra for trying to deal a blow to Pluto, successfuly halting its attack.
Hope is restored when
Lucian shouts across the battlefield that fire will stop the hydras heads from reforming. Suddenly a figure appears on the battlements and hurls a fireball at Tuzi and
Oruwin Fiddlecheek. The old gnome cannot recover and lays dying on the ground.
Orvasa Inkeelah chooses to focus her healing spells on the frontline. Close at hand, Tuzi is able to heal him to within an inch of his life. Rather than seek cover from the magic arrows in the mist summoned by
Elara Windwalker, Fiddlecheek shoots the hydras head with fire bullets from the ground. Fiddlecheek misses multiple times. Orvasa notes that their return on investment in Fiddlecheek’s health has been low.
The Company begin fighting fire with fire. Aldan the Knee Breaker, is the first to cauterise the hydras heads by throwing a fire potion and chopping off another burning head. Elara elegantly eviscerates and cauterises a head.
Roknar, after many failed attempts at hitting the hydra, ignites oil and throws it, causing another 2 head to explode. Seeing the path to victory, the Company is rallied by the distant sound of Mannanan’s battle horn. None is more emboldened than Tuzi, who with great courage, jumps at the hydra to attack it with claws of fire and light. Unfortunately, she completely misses the hydra head and flops onto the ground face first. Then out of nowhere, a shimmering vision salvation, a nameless shield maiden joins the battle, missing the hydra multiple times with her arrows before finally landing a single blow. The mysterious woman then watches the remainder of the battle from the sideline.
The Company continues to take heavy damage. Many clansmen are falling beneath the onslaught. In a stunning display of arcane prowess, Elara eviscerates a hydra head, leaving the last head scorched. The mysterious recent defector from the Sons of Avlar themselves Lucian, steps forward with the power of the void and blasts the last head to smithereens. With the way cleared, the clansmen drive the battering ram forward.
The Company takes the opportunity to rest and recover. Buffman attempts to resuscitate Ellri by jumping on his chest and instead deals damage, bringing him closer to death. Fiddlecheek attempts to heal Aldan and again, does more harm than good. Orvasa casts her last healing spell and makes a mental note to organise a mandatory First Aid Training session. In the span of ten minutes Buffman lights a fire and makes noodles and tea for everyone. Orvasa makes a bomb. Much to his chagrin, Fiddlecheek fails to make a bomb. All this occurs while the Company is pressed against the inner wall and avoiding enemy fire.
The gate is finally breached. After a team huddle, the Company charge through the fray on a wave of battle maddened Northmen. The Sons of Alvar fall under their savage fury. Choosing to divide and conquer, Mannanan proceeds to the throne room while the Company scour the dungeons. Passing empty cells, they enter a lavish bedroom. Amid burnt papers they are able to recognise references to:
- Lord R taking power in Wallsend
- Ancient ruins with many riches
- A group known as The Forsaken which are a thorn in the Sons of Alvar’s side
- A ritual furthering the offering of souls sent to their Lord in Trinity, The Pearl of the Empire
- Darkness claiming the world
There is also a half written letter to Trinity from Lord R stating: "While operations here have been going well, there have been reports of disappearances where the Sons of Avlar are not operating."
Fiddlecheek pockets the wand responsible for the fireball that almost killed him but needs to be charged. While the Company searches through the desk, Roknar pisses on the emasculate bed frame and curtains. Orvasa recognises that the curtains are designer and wears them as a cape so she can sell them later (after they have been washed).
On entering the next room, the Company is faced with a ghastly sight. It is clear this chamber has been used to torture and murder the missing clansmen of the
Unbound Lands. There is blood and mutated bodies everywhere. Lord R and his clerics ritually sacrifice innocent captives dressed as
The Avanís Pantheon, although it should be noted that he didn’t deign to introduce himself (rude). Towards the back of the chamber is an ominous black orb. Its purpose and origin isn’t obvious.
Battle ensues. Orvasa is the first to strike, advancing towards the line of clerics and blasting them with a radiant light. Lucian summons a giant from the pool of blood, using the power of the Sons of Alvar against them and gorging a cleric in one blow. Despite their injuries the Company jumps into action: Pluto strikes down cleric with his noble pitchfork, Roknar flies across the blood and thrashes Lord R with his bare fists, and Aldan deftly dispatches a cleric as he tries to attack. Fiddlecheek wakes up from his nap in the corner and shoots finger guns at Lord R. Ellri has been attempting to attack this entire time. It is believed he did successfully attack an enemy but this has yet to be verified. In an unusual display of barbarism, Tuzi summons a swarm of rabbits that kill a cleric and savagely injures another.
But the Sons of Alvar put up a formidable attack. Orvasa feels her blood run cold when her shadow is ripped from her body. She falls to the ground, on deaths door as another cleric lands a blow. Pluto, gravely injured, is revived and in an amazing display skewers two clerics, releasing Orvasa from the cleric’s spell and returning her shadow to her. Lord R begins to pull a black gem from his robe. Sensing an attack, Aldan acts swiftly, chopping Lord R’s arm off in one foul sweep. Lord R reels back in agony. He mutters a spell under his breath and disappears. Elara recognises that the spell has transported Lord R somewhere nearby and begins pursuit, leaving Orvasa at the feet of the enemy.
While Orvasa, the only healer in the Company, lies dying on the floor with a cleric looming on top of her ready to land the death blow, Aldan grapples a cleric, grabs his feet and swings him around so Roknar can run in and kick the flailing cleric in the head. Buffman coaches the buff men from the sidelines. As Orvasa stares into the eyes of her attacker, Fiddlecheek (whose return on investment has absolutely skyrocketed) shoots the last cleric, single-handedly saving the in-house diplomat. This will not be forgotten when performance reviews occur.
As the Company regroups from the battle, Fiddlecheek picks up the black gem (50 gold coins). Aldan the Knee Breaker (and now potentially Arm Lopper) picks up Lord R’s arm as a trophy. The Company is yet to decide on a title for Buffman who most certainly carried the team. In the aftermath of battle the Clansmen seal off the chamber to study the strange black orb and trackers are sent to find Lord R. The Company celebrates with the clansmen though there were many losses.
They are not allowed to bask in their victory, however, and the Company must travel south to the
Rosewall after being summoned by Lady Alina (more like Lady L for LOSER). They do not travel alone, however, as many Northmen have joined their cause, tallying the total members of the Company to 80. As they travel south, they realise their fame has spread.
When they reach the Rose Wall, they see the destruction left behind by Clan Fury whose ranks have swelled with refugees. Lady L greets them sombrely. Smoke from funeral pyres mares the air. Lady L makes it clear that the
Conclave of the Fifth will not let this stand.
The Twin's Chosen greets the Company in the burning remains of the gate, self-satisfied. The Twins Fury congratulates the Company on their victory over the Sons of Alvar. Elara represents the entire Company when she snidely remarks that the Twins Fury did absolutely nothing to help. She hands back the mistletoe the Twins Fury had left on the throne during their first encounter but the Twins Fury simply remarks “You return something but not to its owner.” Lady L’s face turns grey as she receives a message that the Emporer has been murdered. She retreats and begins casting a spell on the ground. The Twins Fury addresses the Company. “Forget the Empire, their days are numbered. Join our cause against the darkness, fight for the survival of this world or die. The Northmen will be the first to die, they will cling to tradition. Whereas we move south, away from the Darkness.” The Twins Chosen gives the Company the choice to join her. Surprise, surprise, nobody is persuaded by her cause #whereisyourdiplomatatbitch. “Beware that monsters do not eat you from within.” She warns. Orvasa speculates that the Twins Chosen has not had a good childhood and should go to therapy. The Twins Chosen concedes that her two mother’s were not the best (Religion Check that).
The Company agrees to represent Clan Fury to the Conclave of the Fifth and joins Lady L in the circle to Diagon Alley is to
Dol Gadmen. They are led to the Aviary, the centre of the Conclave's power in Dol Gadman, where they are greeted by
Ser Archimedazaen III, leader of the Conclave. A kind old man with a dragon on his shoulder, he shares that
Federation warships have been sighted off the coast and
Helias, City of Silks has fallen. He instructs Lady L to head for
Sage's Rest and then travel to Helias to assist the
Weavers & Spinners Union to rebuff the invaders and take back their city. Lady L suspects that the Twins Chosen is working with the Federation but has no evidence to support this.
Ser Archimedazaean III observes the Company members before him. Staring into their eyes it is as if he can see all their secrets. He then announces that the Company will be rewarded for their efforts, Fleur will continue her investigations into the Darkness, mages will be sent to assess the black orb and diplomats will be sent to treatise with Clan Fury. He asks that the Broken Banner accompany Lady L to meet with Clara Wayland,
The Knight of Flowers. “If you decide to help the Empire, look for the symbol of the dragon.”
The Company learns that the Emperor was poisoned. All signs point towards
the Orodáni Federation. They learn more about their common enemy as Archimedazaean III shares that the Undying King is the patron deity of the Federation and
undead are their primary weapon. When asked about his knowledge of
Soul Crystals, Archimedazaean III only knows that these crystals hold the power of a soul and there are multiple types. He also references
Lúin, the fabled spear that Pluto’s father went to find before he was killed by a dragon. Fiddlecheek asks for a receives one of Archimedazaean III’s tomes on the undead.
As the Company leave the Aviary, Archimedazaean III remarks to Elara that her parents would be proud.
The Company must now choose where they should travel next. The fate of the world hangs on their decision. The Company was awarded:
- 60 gold pieces each
- The Singing Sword - Ellri
- Spyglass of the Astronomer - Elara
- Spell case - Fiddlecheek
- Small enchanted buckler (I can’t remember who grabbed this in the end).
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