Scenario E - The Herb Store

A week ago, one of your fellow rangers stumbled into camp, escorting a Lorenthian survivor she had rescued from a troop of Hu-Mans in the Jungle Deep. During their debriefing, they mentioned seeing the ruins of the Convent of St. Emilia, once a great house of healing in Lorenthia. It is said that the nuns never turned away anyone that came to them in sickness, and that they were aided in their mission through the possession of a powerful magic artefact, the Decanter of St. Emilia, also known as the Decanter of Burning Light. 

Water poured from this silver decanter onto a wound would wash it free of any infection, poison, or other corruption. The ranger didn’t approach the convent but, from what she could tell, the place appeared abandoned. The walls were cracked, and several of the towers had collapsed. Soon afterwards, you were summoned by your captains. They explained the situation and tasked you to venture into the Jungle Deep, make your way to the ruins, and, if possible, find the Decanter of St. Emilia. Such healing powers could save many lives and prove a huge advantage in the ongoing war. Gathering your companions, and what gear you need, you set off. You took the path known as the shattered stairs and descended into the Deep, slowly making your way through the boggy terrain that stretched out before you. Following a map provided by your captains, you carried on until the land finally dried into a barren, rocky, jungle-covered expanse. You spent your nights sleeping in ditches and shallow caves, and your days dodging patrols of Hu-Mans and other foul creatures, eating meals of dried rations and whatever babelushga could be caught.

Thankfully, the map noted a couple of freshwater pools where you could replenish. After nearly eight days of travel, you caught your first glimpse of the convent. Its ruins stood at the top of a rocky escarpment, visible from miles around, even in the perpetual gloom. Conscious that anyone in the convent had a great vantage point to see you coming, you took your time approaching, flitting from rock to rock, always staying in the shadows. Finally, you reached the walls…

Scenario E - The Herb Store

As you push through the broken door into the gloom of the tower, you are nearly overwhelmed by the strength and variety of scents from within: basil, thyme, rosemary, farlight, and even a few herbs you can’t identify. There is something else though, a sweet, sickly scent that runs underneath them all.

Inside the dim tower, you can just make out numerous drying racks and cupboards along the walls, and a huge apothecary’s table in the centre, all sitting on an unpaved dirt floor. Then, in the darkness of the far corner, you spy something else, a monstrous plant, covered in oozing, sticky sap, its tentacle-like vines waving in the air. Just then, a root or vine bursts out of the ground and wraps around the leg of one of your companions.

The sickly decay had also attracted four vampire bats [Giant Flies], although a few well placed crossbow bolts from the Twins soon dealt with these.  Bohwihsh ran over to the Apothecary's table, his faithful Battle Ram at his side, when suddenly blood-seeking vines erupted all around them.  The ram fought bravely so that his master could get away, but he was almost smothered under the weight of the plants when Keila and Katniss finally reached him.

The shattered windows were suddenly blown open and a cloud of reeking, choking, ash filled the room.  Despite the horror the new level of darkness, the heroes shrugged it off. 

The table was so covered in broken vines and stinking sap that, in the gloom, neither Keila nor Akriss were able to find anything of use.  They both went their separate ways, leaving Katniss to keep searching.

St. Doneera had floated over to one of the cupboards, which she easily forced open, but was of course unable to pick up the bounty inside.  As the Lorenthian saying of course goes "take a skeleton out of a closet, but don't send a ghost into a cupboard".  

Over the other side of the room, Bohwihsh had reached one of the other cupboards, but only narrowly avoided a deadly trap.

More vines now writhed out; only the timely assistance of St. Doneera allowed Akriss to throw off the one trying to strangle him.  Bohwihsh managed to dive underneath the one threatening him; the spine-clothed green tentacle lost sight (or smell ?) of him, and pushed its roots out towards Keila instead, who was running up to help her friend. 

 

The two rangers decided to steer clear of the Darkroot Body in the corner, which would have to be fought another day.  Howling had broken out in the courtyard, time was obviously short, and there were still two cupboards to be searched.

It was precisely at this moment that a great wolf came crashing through one of the stained glassed windows, landing softly on its padded feet within a spring of Bohwihsh...The squirrel was quicker though, and rummaging through the cupboard, came up with some good bounty.

Katniss finally managed to get the apothecary's table cleared, and found some interesting items in the drawers, just in time to rush to help Keila, the Battle Ram and Bohwihsh fight off the Giant Wolf and a Vine, a tough battle in which Bohwihsh was badly wounded.  St Doneera watched Akriss' back, struggling to keep a Darkroot Vine away from him.  Aloof in the midst of the action, Akriss slithered over to the last cupboard.  A pile of bones tumbled from it as he pulled it open...and from the engravings on them, it was clear they were relics of St. Emilia herself, a find of great consequence !  Only seconds later, Bohwihsh had a sudden vision of the Healing Saint, which flooded him with her healing power.  The Heroes are clearly not alone in their quest, which brings them great hope in this dark hour.

Par for the course, Akriss' magical cobra was dropped, and this time it is clear the magical link with Akriss has been weakened [Damaged Tail, -1 Move].

The mission "Burning Light" has its own special rules for recovering health (and we presume that a figure reduced to 0 Health also follows them).  After a quick rest, helped by some healing poems gently sung by Akriss in his peculiar, hypnotic hiss, most of the company were back to, or close to, full strength.  The spirit of St Doneera cannot, however, be healed and is looking particularly wispy in places (6 Health left).

We use our house rules for XP acquisition for Rangers and PPs for Companions.

Plenty of Darkroot Vines (8, in fact) were hacked to pieces, but they bring no XP.  The Twins and their companions slew 4 Vampire Bats and a Giant Wolf. Bohwihsh found some interesting items in the two cupboards he explored, which we had decided to count as individual gains, and the same went for his sudden vision.  All this brings (21 x 2) = 42 XP.  The 5XP gained by St Doneera are shared.  The Twins are now at 925 XP.

Akriss and his companions took out just a lone bat !  Katniss did however find the treasure on the apothecary's table.  All this means a tiny total of (5 x 2) = 10 XP, and 5 shared XP .  With exactly 700 XP, Akriss is still a way off Level 7.

All Companions gain 2 PP, except for the Cobra (1 PP).  The only companion to gain additional PPs is Bohwihsh (+2 PP).

This brings Bohwihsh to Level 4; the vision of St Emilia has plainly changed him as a squirrel (up to +3 Will).

All Heroic Abilities and Spells used are regained.

The treasure found by Katniss is gold and jewels, which brings Pattashin up to Level 3 (gaining +4 in Survival [we change +4 to one skill, to +4 in up to two skills].

Bohwihsh found some Haikwheat, which he keeps.  Akriss found some Nightnock, but didn't have enough pockets to carry it away, unfortunately.

Akriss has a spellbook, in which he writes his unused Slow spell.

This is the end of a scenario, so there is no reorganisation.