GM: Chaosius Stevius
Decanus Lucius Flaccus (Mike Byrd)
Crixus Dotorus (Evil Mike)
Varicus Benus (Ben)
Tantus Oxium Dracuss (Owen)
Saverrio (Alex)
Session 6
Five days have passed since the battle at the old church. Although they have been following the Strigio’s trail, it hasn’t been all work and no play. At every village they have come upon they have spent time carousing and asking for the blessings of the gods. Basically spending their spoils with wild abandon.
On the fifth day they come to another village, but something unusual happens here. Almost immediately a boy grabs the hand Varicus and leads him through the village to a small house. Inside Varicus meets a women who bears the scars from being badly burnt at some time in her past. She tells him the boy is her son. Then she offers him a gift. A small wooden box. Varicus opens it and feels the sting of a needle prick his skin. The woman tells him he’s been poisoned.
At this point there is a long discussion concerning whether anyone really cares that Varicus has been poisoned.
The heroes discover that the Strigio threatened to kill the woman’s son unless she gave someone in the party the box. The Strigio also told her where the antidote is located—it’s at some old ruins about a day’s ride from the village.
At this point the heroes realize this is a trap. The point is brought up again about who really cares that Varicus has been poisoned. Some, Crixus, even wonders if Varicus has been poisoned at all since he has no ill effects.
In the end, the thought of driving back home after playing 20 minutes of the game wins them over and they head to the ruins.
It’s a trap!
The ruins turn out to be an ancient coliseum. The Strigio, Vaalko, is there surrounded by barbarians. He gets caught monologing and Crixus shots him with his bow. Vaalko leaves. But not before a giant demon worm erupts from ground attacking the heroes. Varicus antagonizes the watching barbarians by shooting an arrow at them. They attack. Varicus realizes his counterattack skill is useless with a bow. Swarms of vicious worms also gush from the ground. All of the non-wild card characters go down. (Later one will be revived as walking wounded, but is strangely missing from the next game.)
In the end, after a harrowing battle with the demon worm and the barbarians, the heroes grab the flowers needed for the antidote and hurry away from the ruins.
Another five days of travelling goes by and the heroes are fast approaching their goal. They should easily make it to the standing stones in time to stop the blood ritual planned there. Then they hear the sounds of battle. The cohorts of the Roman legion have caught up to Hasdrubal. Part of Hannibal’s army is there as well for they can see his gigantic beasts called elephants.
The only problem is that this battle is between them and their destination!
Session 7 – The Last Session!
The heroes form a plan. They will to race through the battlefield using stealth and guile. Once to the front of the battle where the elephants are, they will hijack one and use it to make their way to the standing stones.
Remarkably all the heroes make their Stealth rolls with most actually getting raises. This is amazing because many of the heroes have Stealth skills of d4. Once through the main battle they spy one of Hannibal’s elephants and head towards it. Killing a few Carthaginians along the way.
Crixus fires an arrow at the Carthaginian that’s controlling the elephant and kills him. Now we have an out-of-control elephant. Varicus breaks out his hook and rope and rushes to the elephant. All of the archers riding in the elephant’s platform fire at Varicus. He’s hit! Even wounded his throw is amazing and he nearly kills one of the soldiers on the platform with the hook. As it is, the hook is set and the rest of the heroes, with the exception of Tantus, head toward the elephant to climb up to the platform. Tantus has no Climb skill and cautiously kills Carthaginians until the elephant is under Roman control.
The battle atop the elephant is fierce, but in the end our heroes triumph. Tantus is hauled up to the platform by a rope tied around him.
On to the standing stones!
At the standing stones, the heroes find an Altar of Evil! (See: ALTAR OF EVIL 28mm Fantasy Scenery & Terrain.) Surrounding it are piles of bones, broken weapons and armor. Behind it, standing amongst some ruins, are the Strigio Vaalko, the Priestess Vaginus, and a couple barbarian guards. Crixus drives the elephant directly into the altar, destroying it. The battle begins in earnest.
The priestess summons up Furies from the piles of war debris. These harass the heroes throughout the entire battle. Most of the heroes gang up on Vaalko. Crixus uses his bow to get effect inflicting wounds wherever he aims. Saverrio goes head-to-head with the priestess. Several times she uses her magic to try to harm the noble hero. Each time failing. It is Saverrio’s sword that sends her to hell.
Meanwhile Decanus Lucius, Varicus, and Tantus all battle Vaalko, while feeling the wounds from the whirling Furies attacks. Crixus goes down under a fury’s unyielding assaults. He’ll live to fight another day though.
Vaalko is finally taken down by the cautious Tantus, whose killing blow brings the battle to an end.
Months after the battle they stand before Caesar himself and receive citations and honors. Will we hear from these noble heroes again? Will their swords once more be drawn against evil?
Probably not.
Roll credits.
Chaos Steve
Pictures from Games
