| Game Master: System: Date: | Ken Dungeons & Dragons 5e Homebrew Campaign 25th May 2023 |
| Characters: | Fayd – Half Orc Barbarian (Deceased) Gunnar Orcsson – Half Orc Barbarian Jaraziah Grimm – Human Cleric (On Hiatus) Iivan – Drow Rogue/Fighter Balasar Aurumingis – Dragonborn Sorcerer (On Hiatus) Luther Merton – Half Elf Bard Navarro Trovatero de Vimaa – Half Elf Paladin Hamlet Wolffort- Half Elf Warlock Dorian Hammerbeard – Dwarven Cleric Sylas (nee “Tourist”/”Nick”) – Human Fighter Gregg the Guide – Human Druid Tad Hemlock – Halfling Bard (Retired) Tianzi – Half Elf Sorlock (Retired) Yorhorn – Half Elf Paladin (Retired) |
The party were gathered in the main room of Dr Kleinberg’s house, still trying to process the horrors they’d found in his secret laboratory and trying to ignore the fact the Doctor’s still living, but changed son Rupert was still trapped in the rooms above. Planning their next move Dorian explained to the others the notes he’d found suggested that the Doctor had gone to the castle, leaving his son and his experiments to fend for themselves. He also told them of the magical scroll he’d discovered which might help slow or stop the Blight. During the discussion Iivan and Gunnar lost interest and were keeping a watch on the steeet outside when they spotted a thin and lithe dwarf darting from cover to cover. Calling Luther over they gestured to the small figure “Can you message him? It may be the Dwarf Gumba Father Ted mentioned”.
Luther opened the door of the building a crack and silently reached out to the dwarf with his mind, the darting figure’s progress stopped immediately and he span round searching for the source of this strange voice. Seeing Luther waving and beckoning to him he cautiously approached
“Get inside before you’re seen” hissed the bard ushering the scrawny figure inside and bolting the door behind him.
“You’ll be unlocking that door if you want me to stay – I don’t know any of you people even if you do know my name” said Gumba and Luther slide the bolt free of it’s catch to appease him.
The leather clad dwarf stood before them was indeed Gumba, and as he explained he’d been out foraging for supplies for some survivors he’d hidden nearby, or as Iivan viewed his news – there was a stash of loot safetly awaiting their attention.
Over the hours that followed the party were able to rest, sharing more of their rations with the survivors and managed to enlist Gumba’s help as a guide through the city to the Castle. The Dwarf seemed to have Iivan’s loose moral compass when it came to valuable items, with his interest focusing in on Dorian’s magical compass and the Promise. Despite warnings from Gunnar and Iivan to leave well alone, Dorian’s protestations that the compass was entirely unmagical and Luther palming the Promise off to other members of the party to keep Gumba from knowing it’s location the Dwarf’s interest was clearly piqued.
They followed Gumba through the maze of mist shrouded back alleys and forgotten cut throughs as he led them towards the hospital. Once more they relied on Gregg’s druidic powers to help mask their progress from any hidden eyes that might be lurking in the city as they passed. As they neared the castle though the small dwarf dashed across a road and disappeared from sight, Iivan and Navarro who were following close behind lost track of the elusive survivor and decided to wait for the others to catch up before proceeding in the hope their erstwhile guide might return.
“Which way Scout?” asked Navarro looking to Iivan
“We can try and get through these next few blocks and then we’ll need to take a left and find a way through to the hospital that keeps us out of sight of the Keep” explained the Drow before gesturing the others to follow him and slipping off through the still lingering mist. As the others moved to follow, Gregg hesitated a fresh wave of nausea hitting him.
“Wait, wait – something’s blocking my spell” he hissed to the others, the sound echoing off the walls in a way that his magic had been preventing previously
“Pah, magic is just a crutch for the weak, follow me men” declared Navarro before moving to follow Iivan as quietly as he could in his metal armour
The others shrugged and did their best to follow, but without the Druid’s spell they were forced to move more slowly and carefully lest they attract unwanted attention, Iivan and Navarro led the way and they slunk through the alleys and hidden courtyards. At one point in their travels Dorian was slammed into a wall by a small and darting figure…no doubt their erstwhile guide Gumba trying to relieve the Cleric of their compass. Thankfully a quick check confirmed that the thieving survivour had not been able to make off with any of their valuables and both Dorian and Luther took pains to hide their possessions more securely just in case he returned for another try.
They continued to make their way across the city until they emerged on a larger street which seemed to lead towards the castle’s main gate. Eyeing the buildings opposite carefully Iivan spotted hints of movement
“Careful” he whispered to Navarro, reaching out to prevent the knight striding out into the open “There’s something up ahead” and he tried to direct the Half Elf’s gaze to the movement he had spotted.
“We need a distraction” muttered Navarro
“Got it” replied the Drow, drawing on his race’s innate magical powers to cast a spell further down the street that coated everything in a faint shimmering light. They waiting for a moment then saw a rabble of mutants pour forth from several nearby buildings, drawn by the shifting patterns Iivan had created. Navarro slapped him on the shoulder and began moving as quietly as he could across the street while the rogue slipped along behind him. Behind them Gregg watched the mutants head towards the strange lights and his companions scurry across the street, not wanting to risk loosing sight of them he sprinted after them. In his haste he made no effort to hide his progress and his footsteps echoed aroud the street. Dorian, Gunnar and Luther froze as more mutants, alerted by the druid’s hurried passage emerged from the buildings to either side of them. Putting their faith in the ever present mists and their immobility they watched as one of the groups followed the others toward’s Iivan’s spell. The other, closer group lurched off in pursuit of Gregg’s hurried footsteps, all that is bar two of the ones at the rear who began to move towards the three immobile Renegades.
Easing his sword from it’s scabbard Gunnar looked over to Dorian and Luther “If they keep coming we kill them” he whispered
“Quietly!” hissed back Luther eyeing the approaching figures with distaste
“Yes, very” agreed Dorian sotto voiced as they slowly reached down to grasp the shaft of their trusty mace
Willing the creatures to turn away and join the others did not yield the results Gunnar had hoped for so with a resigned sigh he stepped forward and cut down the closest of the two shambling creatures, the second creature opened it’s maw but before it could call to it’s fellows Gunnar’s sword surged with power and the barbarian leapt across the gap between them and with a flash of steel silenced it forever. Dorian and Luther looked shocked at the speed with which he’d been able to move, he grinned and held up the sword proudly
“Best sword ever” he whispered, partly in answer to their unspoken question, partly to himself and partly to the blade….you could never be too careful after all
With the immediate threat gone the three of them were able to use the thick mist to sneak between the two large groups of mutants and reach the other side of the street. A few minutes of whispered calls and creeping eventually led them deeper into what seemed to be a run down warehouse and reunite with Iivan, Navarro and a slightly flushed looking Gregg.