The Bloodstone Hunters Meet The Mongrel Men
The party rises early to head into the dreaded Taramul Kalalalt, lead by their trustworthy guide, Mihy. The mists roll over the rough terrain, and those that remember it long for Marty's Ring of Weather Control. As they trek through a thin valley, a hideous freak leaps out from behind a bush. It has the head of a giant bat, the torso of a monkey, and lion legs. Mihy identifies it as a Mongrelman as he scuttles up a tree. Four more come running up behind them, each made from their own unique amalgamation of animals. They take down a few then the others scatter. They bind the wounds of the injured and ask them what they're on about; they speak a broken German. They can only mumble something about taking them to a doctor of some sort. They give them a little food and water, then leave them bound.
They don't get too far when they're jumped in a similar fashion by a crew of thirty plus Mongrelmen and a pair of Owlbears. Can dispatches with the Owlbears with a pair of Color Sprays; their known weakness. Ido sets up a circular Wall Of Fire to limit the number of these guys they have to deal with at once. Arben Summons some Monsters. Surprisingly, Cyril starts shooting flames out of his hands; no one thought he could do that. Unfortunately, brave Can is knocked unconscious by the little brutes, losing all the spells he had memorized. Still, with their combined efforts, they're able to scare off this larger group of Mongrelmen. Ido offers up the Owlbear corpses to Pura Wanaka. They try to scare one of the simple Mongrelmen, telling him they will release him, but he should tell his friends they don't wish to be bothered. They ask him if he knows of any nearby shelters, but he only knows the doctor's house. Mihy knows a place nearby they can crash, though.
They trudge over to an old abandoned farm house. Inside they find a crew of three guys; Harlam, Doru and Costicu. Harlam is covered in bandages, Doru wears chain and a sword and Costicu seems unarmed. Doru seems pleasant enough, but the other too seem a little more grim. They claim to be adventurers for hire and they pass Arben's half-assed monsterm tests. They do mention that they're in the territory of the reviled Dr. Stupiferous, the man responsible for the Mongrelmen. They don't approve of his activities, and so they seem like they might be alright. They decide to risk camping out with these jerks in the house.
