(TFT) [A] Up the Creek (part 3)

[Chris Nicole <chris@loran.karoo.co.uk>]

TFT Adventure continued,

The party have travelled deeper into the Great Marsh searching for The 
Enemy; "..the Serpent Queen! She is risen... gasp!.. again.. choke..
Arrghk!!!". 

Last week.
Lissar Hiss (the Lizardman) was injured from his attempt at crocodile
wrestling and now his tail is in a sling. Obsidious (the Gargoyle)
has found a human settlement and some mysterious ruins on an island in
the marsh. He made a low level recconaisance flight which upset some of
the locals, and attempted to land on a ruined tower (he has an affinity
for architecture) but was warned off by a premonition of doom! i.e. I
hadn't prepared that bit yet. :o) He returned to where the party rested
on a mud bank and was able to describe what he had seen and draw a map. 

This week.
The party led by Striker (The Mighty Bolt Lobber) decided to return to
the island after dark. Obsidious's aerial survey had shown the island to
be surrounded by thick reed beds with just a few narrow channels to take
the boat through. After some discussion they decided to try the channel
nearest the tower. 

With their boat cunningly disguised as a thatched cottage, they were
able to paddle back to the island without incident. After a bit of
searching they found a likely channel through the reeds. This led to a
scum covered pool where their boat grounded on a submerged wreck.
Obsidious as the heaviest and least vulnerable went over the side to
push them free. As he worked the boat loose, his foot slipped and stove
in the lid of a chest in the wreck. As Obsidious climbed back aboard,
Lissar spotted shineys! Reckless to danger he dived into the pool and
started rummaging through the chest. He had just pulled out a tarnished
gilt mirror when the killer frogs struck!

Lissar managed to get out with just a nasty nip and a major sulk. This
wasn't helped by the total lack of sympathy from the other party
members. They were able to beach the boat on a mud bank at the far side
of the pool where they found an over grown path leading towards the
shore. Hogun (the NPC crocodile hunter) elected to stay with his boat
and if they weren't back before dawn he would return the following
evening. 

Obsidious led the way towards the tower he had spotted the day before.
This appeared in the darkness as a strangely familiar ruin fifty feet
square and about the same height with arrow slits on the upper floors
and a single doorway on the south side. There was a large 'X' burned in
the door which hung off it's hinges. Striker had cast his wizard's sight
spell and became worried that the path to the tower from the settlement
was overgrown and didn't appear to be much used. Then they heard the
haunting sound of a womans voice singing somewhere in the darkness.

Due to his great experience of magical creatures (or possibly because
his player had noticed the picture of a harpy on the page I was refering
to,) Striker suggested they block their ears and try to resist a spell.
So with Obsidious chanting prayers and the others stuffing moss in their
ears they entered the tower. The ground floor was a mass of fallen
timbers and masonry with about half the floor above remaining, also
there was a spiral staircase in the thickness of the wall. The singing
became more distinct as Obsidious, Striker and Torak climbed the stairs. 
They felt a wave of weakness wash over them as they neared the top but
all three were able to resist it.

Then Obsidious was assaulted by a screeching fury. Surprise, a harpy!
Caught on the spiral staircase he was just able to block her attack with
his shield. He lashed out at her and managed to force her back into the
room. She was flying at head height and struck at him again but his
stoney skin saved him. Falling back she tried to lure him to where the
floor was weaker, hoping he would fall through. Realising this he
dropped his weapon, spread his own wings and leapt into the air. The two
flew together in a flurry of blows, Obsidious hammering fists and the
harpy striking with her claws. Both creatures crashed to the floor
shaking the tower as the harpys venom took hold freezing Obsidious. But
she was hurt too, the gargoyle's fists had crippled a wing and stunned
her for a round. 

Striker and Torac closed in cautiously to finish her off. The harpy
staggered to her feet and threw herself at the wizard spitting feathers
and screeching her hatred. Striker hurled a lightning bolt, rolled a 16
and scorched a hole in the back wall. Desperately he managed to fend her
off with his staff. Again she leapt at him, her talons ripping through
his robe and scoring him with venom. Striker fell. Torac flailed out at
her only to see his sword broken against the tower wall. Leaving the
wizard she came after Torac as he tried to ready a weapon. Her first
attack raked Torac's shield and she felt the bite of his dagger. Badly
hurt now and desperate she struck out bringing Torac slumping to the
floor with the others.

What would she do? Intruders in her home! Vicious nasty brutes! She
hurts and her wing is broken. Three are down, but for how long? There
are voices on the stair and others below. What would she do? What would
she do?!

To be continued :o)

-- 
Chris Nicole	
The Whiskey & Brandy Page: 			http://www.karoo.net/loran/	
Home to Whiskey Pig & Brandy Brindle: 		Little Furry Masters
SLAMMER - Fast Action SF Skirmish Rules:
http://www.karoo.net/loran/slammer.htm

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