by Khal of the Restless Hand
Score: 328 | 11/22/14 |
Cerin staying behind with Cardo, the three are assigned to Ragnar's team consisting of the namesake, Arnora (female healer), Otrygg, Grish, and Naylia (child of Arnora). Their job is to defend Cavern South and Cavern 43. Ragnar details a two team defense. The party learns of Ator's Shaft -- the central position in the cave complex that must be defended at all costs. The forward group was initially Ale, Khal, Mouse and Arnora, but when she refused to leave her child behind, Khal requested that Grish replace her. On their way to the forward cave they see 4 strange water beasts called Perrawyn that can be ridden. Grish lumbered down to join the crew, a rather unkept, fat, sort who appeared to lust after Arnora despite the fact that she's married to another Mercati named Gledrip (a name somehow familiar to Khal but could not quite place him at the time...).
Khal set up positions near one passage entrance and then observed the other from a good vantage point. There was a secret trap at that entrance and the forward unit was primed to inflict additional pain to any attackers from that direction. While they waited, Alejandro had Grish create a false map that he held to add confusion if captured.
Before long, two men in Mercati cloaks approached the trap asking that we release the switch on our side and let them through. Not thinking there was any others behind them, Ale did so, baiting them into our cavern. The plan went awry when their Trojan horse opened and the rest of them charged towards our position. Unable to reactivate the trap, the forward team was doomed. Despite inflicting some severe wounds to the enemy, Khal was in danger of losing his life and reluctantly retreated leaving his good friend who had already surrendered. Not knowing Ale's fate, Khal snuck limply back to the safety of cavern South where Mouse and Grish had fled in haste. He was left wondering what would become of Alejandro and, equally important, how their position was compromised by the enemies' knowledge of the trap...