Ep 35 - To catch a traitor.

We left the Adventurers, exiting the Hag's hut having learned that Dael, the traitorous Green Cloak captain was hours ahead of them, moving north-east with the Heart Sphere still in his possession. Continuing on this session, the Party decided to high-tail it after Dael, hoping to catch up to him as soon as possible. To be able to follow the trail, Catsi had to roll a Nature check, with her first roll of the night being a Crit Roll (+0 Nature left it at 20). Easily picking up Dael's trail she led the party steadily through the northern side of the swamp and beyond to the rolling plainlands between the swamp and Larton that lie to the North. As they travelled, the Party questioned why some of them wanted to go to Larton, but being caught up in the chase, they could not remember and left the thought idle. Continuing to roll high Nature checks, Catsi's keen senses led them swiftly over the plainlands following the tracks north-east until they joined with the main road that ran between Larton and her neighbouring town, Hirane. She was able to see that Dael turned along the main road, heading for Hirane. Lilliannes used a charge from her magical staff to call to a nearby bird and ask it to scout ahead for them to see if it could ascertain where Dael was. As it flew off, the Adventurers talked about how they were going to follow after Dael, whether they would continue at a steady pace or force march to try and catch up. It was at this time that they remembered why they wanted to go to Larton - so they could retrieve their horses and Lilliannes her companion, Charlemaines, the polar bear. Deciding to split the party, Jett and Calico began to travel the three hours back to Larton to get their mounts, while the rest of the party continued toward Dael before exhaustion set in. As each party rolled PERC rolls to make sure they were not set upon by anything they continued safely along their paths (each meeting my DC15 limit) until they got to their destinations. Having returned to Larton, Jett and Calico made their way to the Lord's manor where their horses and Charlemaines were stabled. Hearing that they had returned, Grawin Bluetip, Lord of Larton, met with them asking how they fared in following Dael and if they had any news he could forward to the Emperor. Jett informed they were hot on Dael's tail and once they had more information, they would let him know. With fresh mounts now under them, the two headed back to the others, finding them camped along the roadside six hours later. The Party settled down for the night, getting some much needed rest. However, that was quickly ended by Catsi, who woke at the eighth hour and immediately set to waking the rest of the party - at 4a.m. Giving in to her persistence to continue moving after Dael, they broke camp and began to ride after Dael. As the dawn began to break over the world and Lilliannes could hear the early birdsong of the day, she expended a charge of her staff to call another bird requesting it to fly ahead and scout for the traitor. The bird returned an hour of travel later, informing that it did see a human in green leaving the roadway to enter the forest about a mile-and-a-half ahead of them. Hearing the news, the Party urged their mounts onward hoping to catch up to Dael before they lost him in the woods. The 1.5mile mark later, they stopped where Catsi attempted to try and find where Dael turned off. However, in her enthusiasm she had overlooked the area (rolling a Nature 3), although Lilliannes located a small trail leading off the road where the bird had said (Nature 22 - not a crit) informing the others. Quickly setting off, they followed the trail until they could see the green cloak of Dael's through the gaps in the trees ahead. Immediately, Catsi used her Amulet of Silence to cover them all in a dome of silence so Dael would not hear them encroaching on him. Leaving their mounts behind, they continued on foot, grouping together so they all remained in the dome until they were closer to the Green Cloak captain. Using hand signals as best they could, they separated with Jett stealing off into the undergrowth on one side of the trail (Stealth 16), while Catsi, Gomer, Bardryn, and Lilliannes travelled together in silence on the other side of the trail. Having the advantage of not being known to Dael, Tados and Calico decided a more bold approach could work in their favour. As he played his lute, they walked casually along the trail getting closer to Dael. Hearing the music, Dael stopped and looked back in confusion as they approached him. Not wanting to draw too much attention to himself, the captain warmly greeted them and began an easy conversation about what they were doing on the trail as it was not generally a well-known trail. Feigning innocence, Tados replied that he and Calico were merely travellers who had come across the trail and decided to explore it, being surprised to find someone else also on the trail. Being the ever-friendly person he is, Tados welcomed Dael to join them; however, Dael replied he preferred to travel alone. This conversation allowed Calico to prepare and cast a Hold Person spell, which Dael's wisdom failed to perceive and he was instantly paralyzed as the spell took hold. Calling out to the others that his spell was working, Jett materialised from the bushes near the captain and placed a sleeping pill into his mouth, forcing down his throat so it would begin to have an affect once Dael swallowed it when the spell wore off. Catsi took the opportunity to bind the man in rope that she carried, while Calico covered his mouth and eyes with material he carried. Once he was securely bound, they placed Dael on the back of Bardryn's clydesdale horse and were about to return down the path when a skeletal lich appeared before them, warning them to return what they had stolen. Instantly recognising the Lich as the one who slew her family, Lilliannes immediately became enraged and threw a flame of fire at the Lich. Unfortunately, the Lich merely shook it off and laughed at her saying "Ah, yes, I remember you." It answered her attack with a Magic Missile bolt that hit her for 2HP. INITIATIVE: Lich, Bardryn (crit on initiative roll, then -1 for 19), Gomer, Lylliannes, Jett, Tados, Catsi, Calico With the Lich having its turn, Bardryn began her first turn using her Action Surge to close the large distance between her and the Lich and still have an attack action. Lashing out with her new +3 Greataxe that they took from Dael, she found her mark, slashing the Lich for 8HP. Gomer followed suit, using his Action Surge, finding his mark with his Mace; however, the Lich seemed unaffected by its bludgeoning damage. He yelled this to the rest of the group so they knew. Lylliannes followed up by upcasting a Moonbeam spell and placing it over the Lich, yeling for it to die for what it did to her family. While it saved the CON DC, it still took half damage. Not wanting to leave the prone form of Dael, Jett tore a star off his Robe of Stars sending a 5th level Magic Missile at the Lich for 17HP. This was followed by Tados casting a Fire Bolt that also hit the Lich for a further 12HP. Entering a rage, Catsi used her full movement to quickly close the gap and swung her ball and chain hitting the Lich with both attacks for 25HP. Calico ended the turn by trying his luck with Hold Person once more; however, the Lich shook it off with a laugh. TURN 2: Seeing as he was surrounded, the Lich used his Dimension Door spell to transport himself closer to his goal of retrieving Dael, appearing behind Jett. Using a Legendary Action, it used Disrupt Life on Jett, taking 21HP from the Elf as he failed the CON save. While Bardryn and Gomer could only use their dash action to run back in the direction they had started in to get closer to the Lich again, Lylliannes moved the Moonbeam to once more attack the Lich which it saved the CON DC taking half damage of 7HP.  Having the Lich so near to him, and taking a good deal of his health in doing so, Jett used his action to quickly lead the clydesdale and Dael away from it a safer distance, where he used another Star from his robe to hit the Lich with 28HP from the Magic Missile. Seeing his friend had taken some damage, Tados used his turn to cure his wounds, while Catsi used her action to close the distance on the Lich, having only her frenzy attack remaining which hit for 16HP. Using his bonus action to call forth his Spiritual Weapon, Cal used it to hit the Lich with 12HP of necrotic damage seeing that the Lich did not take that full damage as he expected it to. He used his action to cast Toll the Dead; however the Lich merely shook it off. TURN 3: Having been hit twice now by the annoying cat creature, the Lich reached out with its bony hand attempting to paralyse her with its Paralyzing Touch. Being too much in a rage and focussed on destroying the Lich, Catsi managed to shrug the spell off. With its remaining action it cast Create Undead calling forth a skeleton to aide it. Failing the CON save for the Moonbeam spell, it took another 8HP damage. Finally closing the distance again, Bardryn sliced through its skeletal form with her Greataxe for a further 14HP, while Gomer raced up to Catsi calling for a magic weapon he could use to do some damage against it. Turning her pack to him, she told him to take the Dragon Slayer Sword she carried, which he then used to launch a successful attack on the Lich for 16HP. Having a free action this turn, Lylliannes used Conjure Animal to call forth a brown bear which she placed near the skeleton the Lich had summoned. Though it missed its bite attack, it was successful with its claws dealing 10HP of the skeleton's 13HP total. Jett tore another Star from his Robe, hitting the Lich for another 26HP, which Tados followed with a Fire Bolt that went slightly astray. The round ended with Calico destroying the Lich with a timely attack from his Spiritual Weapon, then following up with a Sacred Flame attack to destroy the skeleton. Seeing the Lich crumple before her, Catsi jumped on the now empty robes wanting the Lich to come back so she could fight it some more before calming down from her rage. Once calm she rummaged through the robes finding a silver and gold sceptre and a pouch of bone dust and dried skin. The session ended with the Party gathering around as they took stock of defeating a Lich and having a paralyzed traitor in their finally in their hands.