The Attack

Day 10 - The Attack

The next day began as usual with a copy of GOLEMIC SCRIBES, which contained both items paid for by members of the party. Lassarail stormed in carrying a copy and calling Corrie all the names under the sun for the crass stupidity of her actions. His complaints were cut short by an explosion which blew half the side of the Inn to pieces, revealing a small army, led by Randsom! The battle which ensued was the fiercest seen by any member of the party, with notable events being: Crompton's Phantasmal Killer sent to attack Randsom being turned back on him; Johnson's death caught in the middle of a fireball, trying to hold back three thugs attacking him; Samson's heroic death trying to carry Johnson back to the inn for treatment; Lucy discovering the heads of her slave girl and the Innkeeper's wife and daughters arranged in a semi-circle at the top of the stairs to the upper floors of the Inn; Chartrise and Lassarail defending the rear of the Inn from a band of thugs who were trying to attack them from behind; Brithe taking to the air and attacking with magic; Corrie trying to outflank Randsom but being caught by another trio of thugs who beat her to the ground and almost killed her, only saved by Chartrise and her cube of force. Chartrise witnessed another hoard of thugs charging into attack, but instead of going for her, they attacked Randsom's people, driving them back.

Lassarail and Julienne guided the remnants of the party into the sewers, carrying Corrie's unconscious body. There they found themselves surrounded by Wererats and led away from the battle, leaving the Last Call Inn a burning ruin and two of their comrades dead on the field of battle.

The wererats took them quite a distance and into a clean set of rooms under the city. Corrie was brought back to consciousness, whereupon Lucy attacked her angrily, blaming her for the death of her slave whom she had been training to become a priestess of Umberlee, as well as for the deaths of the other party members. She sliced a deep cut into Corrie's cheek, a wound which would invariably leave a scar.

Corrie then explained that while she was unconscious, she had been visited by Elistraee who had refused her entry to her realm as she was unworthy. Her lust for revenge had blinded her to the consequences of her actions. She threw Corrie's judgement on other Fallow's Cross members - calling them "Loose Cannons" - back in her face, making sure Corrie understood that her actions had caused the deaths of two comrades and the imperilment of all the others.

The spent a few hours recuperating, the clerics in the party healing to the best of their ability. During that time, they were visited by the man who had effectively saved them, Pasha Angaril, whose wererats had guided them and whose men it was that Chartrise had seen joining in the attack against Randsom. Pasha Angaril explained that he had been waiting for an opportunity to do some harm to Parvel and the party's actions had helped him so he had returned the favour.

Lassarail was still with them and he asked if Angaril would help them get into Brandson's guildhouse, otherwise known as the Calim Grand Casino. In return, Lassarail promised to provide Angaril with some valuable information. Pasha Angaril retired to consider the proposal, providing them with a sumptuous meal before he left.

Later that night, he returned and agreed to the proposal, and brought two people who would help them, an Elven archer called Hardian and a woman called Reaver, who knew the sewers in that area. Hardian recognized Corrie as coming from Shilmista - it was his homeland too, and he knew her father and elder brother. Pasha Angaril explained that the best time to get into Brandson's place would tomorrow as the casino was in a state of chaos due to a structural fault which had closed it for several days. Lassarail tried to claim the credit for that, but few believed him.