Session 096 The last charge of the heavy brigade
Session Details
| Session Date: | 17 June 2023 |
|---|---|
| Game Date: | Afternoon Wealson 4, CY 621 |
Session Overview
Synopsis
A tense encounter with wounded elven patrolmen and strategic council with unusual allies leads into a brutal clash against Red Company heavy cavalry.
Narrative
The elven patrol holds their movement briefly before a lone rider slowly trots forward. Lanalor eyes the group warily but holds his fire. The group reports they were fighting a group of Rippers escorting a convoy of silver along the road NW of Grenvik when both sides were assaulted by two glistening leathery black creatures with wings - perhaps some infernal beings unknown to the elves - killing multiple hobgoblins, one of the elves, and gravely wounding the rest in a wild flurry of attacks. They fled south to find the adventurers. The leader's name is Ale'ein Thistledoor. Ale'ein is surprised by the PCs' kindness and, though suspicious, decides to continue leading his patrol to the south.
Horin heals the rangers and sends them back to Wanborne for more intensive care.
The party debates with Rimweck Tinkersmith about how to best get to Grenvik without being spotted. He eagerly suggests taking a route via the mines instead of the road. They decide overland, as the mines lead to the Underdark. He mentions the Baron has a stockpile of goods confiscated from merchants who couldn't pay trade taxes in a warehouse inside the keep. Rimweck mentions he has an aunt in Grenvik, though he isn't worried about her because his uncle had an interesting collection of items stored in his workshop before he disappeared. They discuss Rimweck's missing uncle - he reportedly had a flying machine in his workshop outside Grenvik that may be able to carry the party into Oleg Keep. His aunt Eleanor has a place in Grenvik and likes cucumber sandwiches. He's worried about arriving unannounced and upsetting her.
The party then meets with Stirkirk, who says a frontal assault is the better option since his spies report the walls have a hole in them they could charge through. Stirkirk intends to march his company into Oleg Keep and take it before the undead turn the defenders into more undead. Stirkirk is eager for the fight and wired himself to explode if captured, as have all his command staff. He'll not be taken alive nor in any form that can be resurrected and turned into an undead servant of the hells. Rimweck nearly detonates Stirkirk's device (suicide vest) when he pulls on it trying to determine if he can replicate it. Rimweck thinks his uncle was an alchemist as he has a box of vials and flasks with similar looking liquids in his shop. He says he'll wait a day before assaulting the keep and to meet him there for drinks from the Baron's reported Cardum and Oleg whisky stash.
The party rides north along the road to Grenvik, avoiding the bog to the east where the undead have reportedly taken up residence. About a mile south of Grenvik, the party encounters a Red Company heavy cavalry detachment patrolling the road. They quickly fan out from column formation to line abreast, leaving the party staring down 20 heavily armored knights in plate mail moving toward them in a threatening manner. Gallandinn quickly summons an elemental and has it hidden under the surface just in front of the party. Horin casts spiritual hammer, sending it forward toward the cavalry, which draws their ire. The patrol was previously undecided about the PCs' intentions, but interprets Horin's actions as an imminent attack and launches into a full charge.
Setting weapons to repel the charge, Gallandinn has the elemental erupt from the ground in front of the charging cavalry, killing one instantly (critical hit) and nearly knocking another off his horse. The cavalry level their lances and charge through the party at a full gallop, delivering a series of critical hits to each party member and leaving the party mostly incapacitated:
- Ragnum is stunned for three rounds, weapon nearly broken from the impact and thrown a full 30' away. He suffers disadvantage for the remainder of the encounter.
- Horin is knocked prone and into the brush along the road.
- Gallandinn is knocked prone and loses concentration, freeing the elemental to take actions on its own.
- Lanalor is hit on the head and blinded for two rounds from blood in his eyes.
The Red Company cavalry complete their charge, and now a full 60' behind the party, begin to wheel their mounts about for a second pass. Gallandinn, free from his focus on the elemental and thoroughly enraged, unleashes a fireball on the group of four knights that charged him. The fireball disintegrates one knight and kills all four mounts—instantly filling the air with the stench of burnt horseflesh as the three critically wounded knights consider their options. Horin calls down a flame strike upon a knight and his mount; the fire consumes both the horse and grievously burns two nearby knights.
The two groups of heavily blooded and thoroughly enraged combatants turn to face each other, regrouping in preparation for the next assault.
Session Results
Experience
Treasure
Tasks or Quests
Rumors or Intelligence Gained
NPCs of Note
Ale'ein Thistledoor, Horin, Rimweck Tinkersmith, Eleanor, Stirkirk, Gallandinn, Ragnum, Lanalor