'Neath a Crimson Throne, Session X

 January 25th, 2022/Worms 9th, 749

Heroes present:

•Beowulf, level 2 fighter, played by J

•Deckard, level 1 specialist, played by M

•Joan, level 2 cleric, played by A

•Pendor, level 2 fighter, played by R


Their entourage:

•Six shieldmaidens, level 0 fighters

The adventurers then spoke to Hervor and her shieldmaidens. They convinced six of the warriors to join them in assaulting Castle Fen.

At Pendor's suggestion, the shieldmaidens formed a tight phalanx, covering the adventurers as they crossed the long bridge to the castle. As the group advanced, orcs rained arrows on them from the castle towers. Two of the shieldmaidens went down, but the formation held regardless.

The castle gates were open, so the party was able to rush in to the courtyard. They circled around the side of the central keep, where they found cover from the orcish arrows. An inner gate and a heavy portcullist barred the way. Working together, all the party's fighters were able to push the portcullist up so that Deckard and Joan could rush through. However, when the fighters tried to pass under, the portcullist slammed shut. Beowulf, Pendor, and two shieldmaidens got through. The other two shieldmaidens were stuck on the other side.

The portcullis was stuck and would no longer budge, so the party had to leave the pair behind. They explored the backside of the castle grounds. They found a cottage full of dead bodies, and another cottage where seven orcs were sleeping. They slew each of these with ease. Then, they searched the back of the keep for an entrance. As they did, they stumbled on to an invisible orc napping. They killed her, too, and took her spellbook.

They found the keep's backdoor, which led into an office. Not much of interest there, except for some copper coins in a desk drawer. They went upstairs and found a room with two wardrobes. They opened these up and found that a girl-child named Laura was hiding in them. The orcs had cut off her nose and one ear before she escaped their grasp and hid in the wardrobe. Pendor asked her where to find the throne room, reasoning that was the most likely place to meet Mucous Membrane.

She told them of a secret passage leading to near the throne room, and they went to find it. They left one of the shieldmaidens behind to guard the child. Now only one last shieldmaiden, named Hildaburga, remained with them.

The party passed through the secret passage, which took them to a hallway. An orc was patrolling the hallway, but they shot him dead with an arrow to the back. They followed it and came to Castle Fenn's central tower. Bigmouth's massive heart was hanging from the ceiling at the very top, slowly dripping blood, and they decided to leave that alone.

As they searched for the throne room, they fought a few more orcs, including a powerful magican-orc who summoned a demon snake to her aid. All these enemies were defeated, although this last one went down only with some difficulty.

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