Episode L017: The Battle for Gimblestone Pt. 1

General Summary

Hasdraek and the githzerai monk named Duurth escape the temple into a fierce winter storm. They barely make it to the nearest building within the temple grounds before they are attacked by two monks. The monks are easily dispatched but the two escapees’ preoccupation with the monks has causes them to be surprised by the arrival of four quaggoths.
Hasdraek and Duurth barely survive this second assault but they finally take refuge in a nearby abandoned building. They rest there before heading out again in the direction of the Whetstone Inn. As they make their way through the blizzard, they notice a light on in a nearby building. Investigating, they discover it to be a smithy.
Hasdraek and Duurth take several weapons. Then they notice noises emanating from a barrel in the middle of the room. They open the barrel and find Drogo Whitherspoon trapped in a barrel filled almost to the brim with water. Drogo is barely conscious. He is shivering uncontrollably. He attempts to strike Hasdraek in anger at being left behind, but he is too exhausted, and he crumples to the ground.
Just then, a form detaches itself from the shadows and rushes at Hasdraek, but the blood hunter is not caught off guard. He deftly redirects the assailant’s momentum and throws him to the ground, striking at it with his newly acquired spear.
Hasdraek is about to deal the killing blow, when a small voice is heard, “don’t kill my pa.” Hasdraek turns to see a thin gaunt girl standing beside the door. She is the same little girl who stole food from the inn on the day after his arrival. Hasdraek looks at her and says, “I’m sorry girl, but he’s been turned, and the illithid can see through his eyes.” And before the little girl can respond, Hasdraek drives the point of the spear through the heart of the little girl’s father. The little girl casts Hasdraek an emotionless gaze before disappearing out the door.
Hasdraek and Duurth reach the Whetstone Inn by the back way, but as soon as they enter and dispatch the owner and his assistant, guards appear at both the front and back doors.
Hasdraek mobilizes the halflings to barricade the doors and the battle for Gimblestone begins. Hasdraek, Duurth and Drogo, kill the guards at the back of the inn, while Theodard barricades the front. Courtney, Marigold’s handmaid appears confused.
In the fray, Estival appears and delivers the vial to Hasdraek before polymorphing into a cave bear.
Hasdraek drinks the vial and becomes infected with werebear blood. He transforms into a werebear as an illithid begins its psionic attack on his friends. The werebear form grants Hasdraek immunity from psionic attack and he bursts out of the Whetstone Inn to engage the illithid, Duurth, Estival and Drogo hot on his heals.
Together, the four fighters kill the remaining guards and the illithid.

Report Date

26 Sep 2019