The Danger Gang Auxiliary Find A Holy Avenger
Dawn approaches, and the Danger Gang Auxiliary, tired of minding their P's and Q's, are excited to leave the castle. The ring the gong, as per their instructions, and the Baroness Kosmena swings by to see them off. She offers a letter of introduction to the Mummy Queen of Arthropodia, and the gang once again offer their heartfelt thanks. As they pack up their gear, Olybrius intentionally leaves behind a knit cap, as a convenient excuse to return at any given time.
They return to the nearby nameless town where they soon are accosted by Costicu. He tells them that he'll give them the location of the Holy Avenger if they give him a shit ton of money, which they, unfortunately, don't have on them at the time. After some haggling, Arben offers up his crown in exchange for the lead. Costicu explains that they can find the sword with the corpse of a wolf, and it's being guarded by a Zmu. The Zmu wants the sword, but can't take it because he's evil. Irony.
Costicu leads the way to the copse of trees where they see the sword. It is stuck in the ground, next to a wolf covered in spider webs. There are a lot of spiders about. Arben tries to use Telekinesis to get it out of there, but some sort of force works against him. It is then that a lumbering giant with a jewel in his forehead comes lumbering out of the trees.
Arben begins negotiations. He offers the Zmu his crown in exchange for the sword, since they are both equally pretty, but the Zmu can't touch the sword, so everyone is happy (except Costicu who is mumbling to himself from the shadows). The negotiations go poorly, so Arben casts Hypnotic Pattern on both of them. The Zmu and Costicu ensorcelled, Olybrius begins rolling up the spiders surrounding the sword in a flaming sphere.
But those were just the babies. A Phase Spider warps in from wherever they warp in from and bites poor Olybrius, poisoning him. Wirshin is able to Slow the Poison and the spider is soon dispatched. They grab the holy sword and make a beeline for the trees, carrying Costicu with them. Once Arben is no longer in range for the Hypnotic Pattern, the Zmu comes to and starts looking around for them. They're hidden amongst the trees, but they might not be able to exit safely. Costicu offers to break away as a distraction for the Zmu, while the others double back. This plan doesn't work. They fight the Zmu, who has changed into a black dragon. The Zmu soon realizes that the fight is going to end poorly for him, so he reverts to giant form, tosses up his hands, and wanders off, dejectedly.
And with that, the boys have a Holy Avenger, and all it cost them was getting one of their friends terribly poisoned. They head to the nearest town so the Wirshin can memorize Neutralize Poison. They hold up in a barn for a while; after a few hours, Patricius casts another Slow Poison, just to be safe (you never know when your rest cycle will get interrupted). Indeed, their rest is soon interrupted indeed. A flock of Stirges bursts in through the barn wall. It's fighting time! Another Hypnotic Pattern quickly dazes the majority of them, and they soon polish of the stirge scourge. Back to bed.
