Road to Kiev, Chapter Eight

Success and More Ghouls
Tuesday, October 4, 987 AD

Reynaldo and Gunther have an epiphany about the codes and figure them out (translations available elsewhere in this account) right before resting. The party has little time to reflect on their meanings, however, as they are attacked by more ghouls. They are also dispatched quickly and the party rests.

Much Needed Rest
Wednesday, October 5, 987 AD

The party rested all day. We played the very enjoyable game of "What would I be doing if I had stayed home?" Much fun was had by all.

Surprise Attack and Eastern Building
Thursday, October 6, 987 AD

The party attempts to check the decrepit building with the small piece of code for more code, but Thalia is hit by a lightning bolt. The building falls in on itself and Gunther narrowly avoids a Blindness spell. We begin looking for the attackers. Anna casts Detect Magic to help in the search (which turns out to be no help at all as a cursory glance at Reynaldo and Catarina reveals that neither of their books show up as magical), and Gunther and Thorvald believe the attack came from the large arch. On our way there, we encounter Irethazan. We tell her about the attack and tell her to stay in her building until we find the attackers. She agrees and we go to the arch, but Thalia can find no fresh tracks. We search through every building methodically for our prime suspects, another band of tailed people, but we find neither hide nor hair of them. Catarina and Reynaldo go up the large tree near the center of the ruins and Reynaldo spies courtyards in the large building to the east, one of which contains a glowing tree. Since that is the only building we had yet to explore, we decide to go there and look for our attackers.
We explore many of the rooms, finding a hidden passageway and make our way to the courtyard with the glowing tree. In the courtyard before the one with the glowing tree, however, a tree monster attacks us. It attacks with tentacles, grabbing Edward and lowering him into its large maw where it partially digests him in its acid bath. Gunther dives in heroically and saves Edward. Wong also gets grabbed by a tentacle, but Nicolae grabs hold and does not let go. Wong is saved, but Nicolae falls in. Gunther saves him too. The tree is defeated by the many-pronged attack, and Reynaldo insists on chopping it down, to make absolutely sure of its death. We leave the building and make camp outside of town near the treeline.

Reveal, part II
Friday, October 7, 987 AD

In the morning we are awoken by an attack from Irethazan. She begins by summoning an earth elemental, charming Thorvald, and casting Mirror Image, an Invulnerability Cone, and a few Magic Missiles. We are caught completely unawares. Catarina is blinded, and Gunther, Thalia, and Anna run to attack her only half-dressed and some without armor. Reynaldo casts a few magic missiles to get rid of some of her mirror images and then jumps on Thorvald's back, promising to help him if he takes her to Irethazan, but before his master plan can be started, Irethazan lightning bolts him off of Thorvald's back, nearly killing him. Wong does battle with the earth elemental, and gets Edward and Nicolae to help her, but not before being smashed by a large fist. Irethazan tells Thorvald to wait for her in her building and Thorvald obeys. Catarina, all but useless because of her blindness, casts a Rope Trick and climbs up it. Nicolae and Edward grab the nearly comatose Wong and Reynaldo and take them up as well. Irethazan summons a steel-plated bull and Thalia, Gunther, and Anna run for their lives. Irethazan follows Thorvald to the building. Thalia, Gunther, and Anna double back to the city to save Thorvald from certain death. Thalia figures out that the steel-plated bull is actually only a shadow manifestation and she and Anna easily destroy it. Anna rushes into Irethazan's abode and Thalia and Gunther take on the earth elemental, which had also followed them. Anna sees Irethazan kissing Thorvald, stealing wisdom with each kiss, and attacks her. Irethazan brandishes a large knife and fights back. Thalia decides she would be better suited to help Anna against Irethazan and leaves Gunther alone with the earth elemental.
Meanwhile, in another plane of existence, Edward decides that he and Nicolae should go save Thorvald, unawares that the other three have had the same idea. Reynaldo insists on going as well, and he hops on the blind Catarina's back, becoming her eyes. They leave Wong in the Rope Trick and make their way to Irethazan's home.
Back in the aforementioned home, Anna falls under Irethazan's blade, but Thalia bursts in to pick up where her compatriot left off. Gunther struggles against the earth elemental, and then finds help from Nicolae, who enters the battle arena with Edward and the Reynaldo-Catarina team. Edward steps into Irethazan's den just as Thalia falls. He picks up the Flail from Anna's hand and begins to hit her. Catarina and Reynaldo also enter the building as well and listen to Irethazan begin to beg for mercy in Greek. Reynaldo translates it as insults to Edward's mother. Outside, Nicolae kills the earth elemental, robbing Gunther of his well-deserved kill. Inside, Edward mashes Irethazan's head in. We then all collapse outside and rest for the night, even though Reynaldo very much wants to find Irethazan's book.

New Magic Book
Saturday, October 8, 987 AD

We rest for most of the morning, and then look for Irethazan's spell book. We find it in a booby trapped box that is easily taken care of. Unfortunately, the book itself is also booby-trapped so a page is ripped out, rendering the ESP spell unreadable for the time being. Reynaldo does many a happy dance when he learns Blindness, Lightning Bolt, Blink, and a few other spells. The party rests for the rest of the day.

End Chapter Eight