Pleased with the results of our foray into the Dungeon of Unga-Unga, our intrepid party confidently ascended the sloping ramp that led out of the dungeon…relieved in the realization that we did not fall victim to this trap. As we neared the portcullis at the main entrance, we heard numerous voices of an obviously threatening nature. A large force of El Guapo’s bandits was deploying to attack—clearly tipped off to our presence by some person or persons unknown. Our suspicions were confirmed by the timely appearance of Eleanor, a fighter-rogue who had defected from El Guapo’s band (clearly choosing life over ignominious death). Eleanor told us that the wizard Jonny James—one of El Guapo’s principal lieutenants—was leading a force aagainst us. Tooblecane, convinced that the source of the conspiracy was hidden back in the dungeon, slipped away unnoticed for the duration of the battle to pursue his shadowy personal demons.
Don Pacheco, our battle tactician for the night, quickly sized up the situation and noted the strategic significance of the portcullis on the impending battle. Hoping to succeed where bugbears had failed, Don Pacheco, Fingar, Hrolf and Eleanor deployed to the secret hallways on either side of the kill chamber. Hugo and Chloroxina covered the secret door that was the only other exit. Don Pacheco stood ready to drop the portcullis on the unsuspecting attackers. Quietly we waited…the tension mounting… would they fall for the trap? Soon, the initial group of eight thugs, urged on by a particularly nasty looking character who seemed to go by “Mongo”, edged their way into the hall. Fully armed to the teeth, they confidently believed they would make short work of us. Before they could react, Don Pacheco dropped the massive portcullis closed behind them, sealing their fate…then…. A small, almost pea sized red ball seemed to float out in their midst….and WHOOOMPPPPPP… Fingar blasted the tightly grouped force with a super sulfur laced fireball…30 points of damage!!!! An eyebrow-less Mongo looked around in a daze…where were his men…not realizing that the small piles of ashes on the floor were all that remained of his brutal band…beyond the portcullis, the excited voices of the rest of the bandit forces could be heard. Mongo, coming to his senses, charged down the hall…clearly aware pf the secret door at the end…though clearly unaware that a buffed Hugo and an invisible Chloroxina awaited him. He burst through the door, enraged, ready to deal mighty blows…only to be “Calmed” by the soothing sermon of the preacher Hugo…under Hugo’s influence, he slipped into a near stupor. The invisible Chloroxina took the opportunity to conduct a swift reconnaissance of the remaining bandit force…swinging out into the kill chamber, she noted the enemy deployed in a battle V formation…thugs, pistoleros, cross bowmen, shield guards, and the apparent leader—Johnny James. Meanwhile, Eleanor, sensing the shifting of the battle to the outer area, joined Hugo and Chloroxina by the secret door. Rogue that she was, she was unable to resist a sneak attack when Mongo attempted to flee…Critical Hit…Sneak Attack…19 points of damage…then she attacked again…two swings…14 points of damage!!!! To unnerve the remaining bandits, she shoved his falling body out into the kill chamber. This display was made all the more distrubing by the invisible Chloroxina’s hysterical laughter…
Don Pacheco then partially raised the portcullis so that we could move to engage the bandit force as Hugo—feeling particularly religious that night—blessed us all. Eleanor first moved into the kill chamber, firing arrows at the enemy beyond the portcullis. They returned fire, their arrows glancing harmlessly off the statue; Johnny James then blasted her with magic missiles. And then all hell broke loose…more thugs charged in…Hugo, Hrolf and Eleanor moved to melee. Clearly this was what Johnny James had wanted to happen, for he took that opportunity to blast his own fireball into the hall…hitting Hugo, Hrolf and Eleanor (it should be noted however, that this fireball was pitiful compared to Fingar’s deadly super sulfur blasts). While the melee battle raged, Fingar and Don Pacheco continued to fire from the arrow slits—collaborating to dispatch a pistolero with a scorching ray and arrow in the back respectively. Hrolf, in wolf form, disemboweled thug after thug…cause many of the party to wince instinctively at the thought. As the melee battle raged, the bandit force outside continued to use ranged attacks against us… Hugo debated the wisdom of exposing himself to the slings and arrows, only to be urged on by Chloroxina …”Do it, Do it…Live for today…That’s how we like to play!!!”…and so he charged…swung…26 points of damage…cleave…more ridiculous numbers. Chloroxina attempted to cast fear on Johnny James but he laughed off the assault and returned fire with a well aim lightening bolt—hitting Eleanor, Chloroxina and Fingar. Our party pressed forward into the open to engage the remaining enemy, nicely splitting to the left and right flanks so Fingar could launch a lightening bolt down the open lane to hit Johnny James and his shield guard. Seeing his few remaining bandits falling under our swords, Johnny James used a Wand of Lightening on Eleanor and Hugo—flush with blood lust, they barely noticed the pain. Hugo pressed on to attack Johnny James—cleaving through his shield guard and Johnny himself! Fanatic to the end, Johnny gloated as he died…”Your town is already burning under El Guapo’s hand!”…
And then there was one…a sole survivor…throwing down his arms he sought mercy…”Promise me you will spare me and I will tell you everything”… Fingar, smirking chaotically, replied “I promise I will spare you”…the thug, apparently no idiot, had the presence of mind to ask…”ok…but what about the others?”…”ok, ok, you got us…we all promise to let you go”. The thug revealed that El Guapo and his brother El Gordo were indeed planning to attack the town—but that the attack would come in a day or so. El Guapo had apparently been successful in sending the militia off on a wild goose chase—leaving the town undefended. With the help of his traitor in town—who we learned was “Ned”, a flamboyant green robed guy (pressed as we did, he would not name Bob as part of the conspiracy…though some were ready to accept this answer, Fingar believed mind control prevented the thug for properly revealing the extent of Bob’s involvement). At the heart of this conspiracy of course was Bifodeous…
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