Episode 7 - "Missed Opportunities" - 7.17.22
Wasting no time after removing the raider threat from the millhouse property, Talik, Furret, and Riggie investigate entrances to the building and any potential raider traps. Furret finds an office building in the back of the property with a chest inside. Talik and Riggie can spot at least two Dragon-Dogs hiding inside the millhouse but are unable to see anything else. After conveying this information to the group, Rowan opens the large entrance doors for Talik, Furret, and Roel follow him inside as everyone else holds position further back. Talik notices movement from the loft area of the millhouse and flies for a closer look, only to find six additional cultists hiding in wait as a trap. A cultist attempts to psychically command Talik, but his spell is interrupted as Roel uses a rope to pull Talik off the loft banister below and away from immediate danger. One by one, the loft cultists jump to the ground to join the Dragon-Dogs in fighting against the defenders. Rowan, Talik, and Dorugul move to take melee position, enduring hits by lightning rods and acid spit, while Furret, Riggie, and Roel take range positions closer to the open door. Drift immediately casts Bless to give his companions the advantage against the onslaught, only to lose concentration by a radiant flame. Dorugul loses focus and retreats as a cultist temporarily takes control of his mind. Seeing Dorugul's involuntary retreat and Rowan being inflicted with magical wounds, Drift moves into melee combat with the might of his war pick while Roel uses his dragon companion to strengthen his attacks against the raiders. With only a few mage cultists remaining, Dorugul attempts to intimidate one into leaving the fight to spare his life and the lives of his fanatical companions. However, the cultist's hesitation to disengage was short-lived once witnessing his brethren continue to fight against the defenders. Riggie, not realizing Dorugul's attempt to end the resolution in peace, fires his bow at a cultist, misses and instead pierces the right butt-cheek of Rowan. Roel with the help of his dragon companion and Furret with the help of his crossbow quickly end the lives of two more cultists, providing tasty genital treats to the awaiting mouth of Bane. With only one remaining cultist, Talik focuses his martial attacks, attempting to rip the raider's heart from his chest. Dorugul turns his attention to the remaining cultist with a now open-chest cavity, knocking him unconscious to bring the fight to a non-lethal end. Dorugul expresses his rage over the final bloody moments of battle by smashing a barrel with his warhammer. An intense argument ensues as Dorugul is frustrated that the lives of the remaining cultists could have been spared and offered a second chance for redemption had the group followed his lead for peace. The others argue that peace at this point was not an option given the raiders' crimes and the desperation in which the adventurers' fought this last hour with dwindling health and energy. Unable to find a common ground, Dorugul heaves the unconcious cultist onto his shoulder and storms away out of the mill, to head back to the citadel. Along the way, he encounters a group of citadel guards tasked to stay the remainder of the night to guard the town's food supply from more raiders. He eventually makes his way back to the barn to look for the citizens that were originally left behind by the party; however, he is unable to persuade them to appear. He continues his sprint with the bleeding cultist, as high above, Talik soars about 120 ft. behind him, following his journey back to the citadel. Meanwhile, the remaining party members conduct a thorough search of the millhouse and nearby office. Riggie finds a pitchfork in the hayloft, as Furret, Rowan, and Roel locate a kama chain weapon, which is set aside for Talik, and a pair of magical shears, which is offered to Rowan. Once the citadel guards arrive at the mill, the tailing group travel back towards the citadel, but not before also stopping by the barn to check on the townsfolk potentially hiding still inside. Roel investigates the barn thoroughly as Furret calls out to the family, hoping to persuade them to appear. They notice multiple sets of footprints in the mud leading out the backdoor and into the nearby tree line. Assuming the family had escaped or fled for safety, the larger of the two parties, continue moving… |