The count asks for help – part 5

You should read part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 if you haven’t done so.

Previously, our Kai adventurers staked out the rooftops of Toran, fought a pair of ugly ninjas, and finally witnessed the arrival of Mathilda Gerrich and Occula. Before we continue, my friend who played Archer, after reading the previous episode, complained that he didn’t get enough screen time. He did a lot to obtain valuable information from seducing the barmaid, but had his monumental contribution reduced to a couple of sentences. He was, to say the least, a tad unhappy with me.

So here’s the director’s cut of what happened back at the White Lion’s Inn…

A barmaid’s seduction (director’s cut)

While the rest of the group went to stake out at the rooftops of Toran, Archer stayed behind at the White Lion’s Inn. A barmaid caught his eye, and after some flirtatious exchanges, the barmaid gave Archer a signal and went to a side door of the bar. Archer followed her (quite eagerly), and grabbing her (quite roughly) by the waist, led her (quite forcefully) into her room.

blah blah Kai robes flew off blah blah lips met blah blah dress torn apart blah blah blah her hands on his chiselled pectoralis major blah blah soft milky white skin blah blah blah flesh on flesh blah blah rippling biceps blah blah heaving bosom blah blah blah dug her nails into blah blah like smooth snowy buns blah blah blah like a hot spear piercing blah blah blah rhythmic synchronicity blah blah a cry blah blah a moan blah blah eyes opened wide blah blah intense closeness blah blah blah a sigh.

For the purpose of public consumption, I’ve written only about 10% of the whole incident, which is what could be published without getting into trouble. For the rest, you’ll have to get the director’s director’s cut straight from Archer’s mouth.

Then, as Seiran the Insatiable emerged from the barmaid’s bed chambers, he met up with Chaosbreaker and Beastmaster. Seiran is the “real” name of Archer. It spells the Japanese kanji of “sei” and “ran”:

The first kanji means “sex”, the second kanji means “unrestrained” or “indiscriminate” (as close to the English equivalent as I could get. I’m not that fluent in Japanese.).

So, after you’ve recovered from your shock (or laughter, depending), we’ll fast forward to where we left off, where Mathilda and Occula just arrived at the White Lion’s Inn…

The reluctant servant

Archer asked if his arrows were replenished, since they returned to the Kai Monastery before this adventure started. I ruled that Stormsong was still furious with their actions from the previous adventure, and so ordered everyone at the Monastery to not help them. One and half adventures since I started hosting this Lone Wolf game, I could sense a major rebellion brewing amongst my friends against this master of theirs…

Beastmaster wanted to get the room right next to Mathilda’s, but her room was at the end of the corridor, and Occula occupied the room just beside hers. Torturer wanted to sprinkle talcum powder just outside of Mathilda’s and Occula’s rooms to see if they could be tracked (via powdered footprints). Beastmaster did something more direct. He conferred with his fellow Kai, and they hatched up a plan.

Beastmaster went up to Occula’s room, flanked by Archer and Chaosbreaker (because both had Sixth Sense and Mindblast), and knocked on the door. Occula opened the door, and peered at Beastmaster. “Yes?” asked the bald man.

“We were sent by Count Gerrich to track his sister’s comings and goings.” announced Beastmaster.
“I, I don’t believe you.” said Occula, eyeing Beastmaster’s brown friar robes.

Beastmaster took off his brown robes to reveal his green Kai robes.

“We’re Kai, and we want to help you. Is Her Lady involved in blood rituals and mud idols?” asked Beastmaster. Archer and Chaosbreaker tensed up, ready for surprises. Occula stared for a moment, then motioned them to go into his room. “Come in, quickly!”

Occula told them that he heavily suspected Mathilda of participating in some kind of ritual. He had accompanied her to some unknown places, and he’s always left standing outside while she entered the place. When she returned after some time, she looked different, more beautiful and slimmer. And there was a growing sense of what he could only describe as evil. He dare not question Mathilda due to his loyalty to the count, but more importantly, because he was afraid of the answer. He kept close to Mathilda on their outings, but there was only so much he could do.

As our Kai adventurers pondered on their next move, night fell.

Torturer was glad he didn’t slip the laxative into Mathilda’s and Occula’s tea. They needed whatever was about to happen, to happen.

Stopping the ritual

Around midnight, Mathilda left her room and knocked on Occula’s door. When he opened it, she turned without a word and proceeded towards the stairs. He followed her quickly, stamping his foot a little harder than was needed with each step, hoping to give some sort of unspoken signal to the Kai. Our hidden Kai adventurers were already lying in wait, and followed noiselessly along.

Leaving the inn, Mathilda wrapped her black robes around her tightly, with Occula trailing behind. They moved silently, deeper and deeper into the southern parts of Toran. Then they stopped at the abandoned house where the boy scavenger was kidnapped. The abandoned house with the unfinished ritual.

Mathilda turned towards Occula and said something to him. Then she entered the house while Occula stood helplessly outside. Our Kai made themselves known to Occula, and he shook his hands out in front of him, motioning them to stay away. They checked the house out, noting 2 windows, 1 in front beside the door, and 1 at the side of the house. Chaosbreaker went to the side window for a closer look and then purple light streamed out.

The ritual had started.

They gathered at the front of the house.

“Save…” started Occula.
“I’m charging in first.” announced Beastmaster, at the same time as…
“I take out my bow and notch an arrow and ready my Mindblast to blast anybody.” said Archer.

“Eh, let the DM finish what he wants to say.” said Torturer.

“Save Mathilda.” begged Occula.

Beastmaster lifted his foot and kicked the door in. The door flew open with a mighty crash. Flanking him were Chaosbreaker and Archer. In the room, six figures cloaked in black robes encircled Mathilda. She was completely naked, and held the boy close to her. Her face was flawlessly smooth, yet her eyes bespoke a flickering madness. Her lips were rosy red, yet her smile hinted at an inhuman viciousness. She held a dagger in her right hand, its tip tinged with red. There was a gash on the boy’s arm, blood oozing out slowly, dripping, dripping…

Archer fired an arrow as a surprise shot, but missed Mathilda. She quickly retreated to the back of the room, still holding the boy tight against her. Two of the figures broke away from the circle to shield her. The other four turned to face Beastmaster, Archer and Chaosbreaker. All were the same cloaked men with ugly faces that Torturer and Blender fought before.

Due to the door and tight space constraints, Torturer and Blender were still outside the room, and so couldn’t join the fight yet. What followed was a bloody battle. It was 4 ugly ninjas versus 3 Kai for the first round. Then Torturer and Blender joined in to take down the ninjas.

The moment Chaosbreaker broke off (haha, pun!) his engagement with his foe (he defeated the ninja), he took out his bow and let fly an arrow towards Mathilda. He was aiming at the dagger she held against the boy’s neck. I ruled a difficulty 7. He failed. But it would’ve been so awesome if he succeeded!

On hindsight, I could’ve allowed him to succeed in dislodging the dagger, but created some deadly consequence to happen to Chaosbreaker. Ah hindsight 20 20…

Then Torturer said, “Get Mathilda! Shoot through the boy! We’ve got healing! We can heal him back!”. Let’s hope people from the child services aren’t reading this…

Only 1 of the first wave of the 4 ninjas were left, engaged in combat with Blender and Torturer, but our Kai were having a tough time. Beastmaster was badly injured. Chaosbreaker already went after one of Mathilda’s shielding ninjas (who were of higher combat skills). With the last of his strength, Beastmaster took up his spear and threw it at Chaosbreaker’s opponent. Archer charged in to continue with a furious assault, and that shielding ninja dropped to the floor.

Mathilda shrieked, and let go of the boy. With astonishing agility, she sprinted towards the side window and broke through. A shatter of glass and she disappeared into the night.

Torturer and Beastmaster rushed to the boy’s side, calling upon their healing powers to flow into the boy. The bleeding on the arm stopped. Meanwhile, Blender and Archer finished off the rest of the ninjas. Chaosbreaker exited the house and tracked Mathilda. He lost her at the southern gates of Toran, a faint lingering trace that led further south, possibly fleeing back to the count’s estate.

“She fled the town naked all the way?” asked Chaosbreaker. I shrugged. It’s her business if she’s not wearing any clothes, right?

With that, we concluded the game session. I wasn’t sure if we could finish the plots I had planned in time, and it was a good spot to stop anyway. What’s going to happen next? What will happen to the boy? Who were the ugly ninjas? What was the ritual about? What will Occula do now? And will anyone see a beautiful naked woman running away?

Till next time…