Black Magic Woman

Employer - Baroness Longford of Longford on Barratry

Summary - The Baroness' daughter-in-law has taken up with foul pagans following the untimely death of her son in the Drow Invasion. She is clearly leading her people into dark demon worship. Fortunately she has a second son able to properly govern the lands of Benetor on Barratry. She wants some mercenaries to oust the demon worshiper and her supporters so that lawful rule may result.

Level: Low.

Party Members

Ignis A 7 foot tall Human Air Mage played by Fabio

Mungo Third Son Barbarian Human Warrior Skin Changer played by Michael M: War Leader & Herald

Boris the Orc Warrior/ Necro/ Loudmouth played by m haycock

Horton Mind Mage Human Skin-Changer played by Errol Cavit

Quentin Ulysses Ash Orc Templar Warrior Namerish played by Sean English: Leader

Poppy Human Fighter with Bob the Dog played by Karen D.

Dear readers, please be advised while reading these scribe notes that "most" of the details are
accurate, the descriptions of the party members are not, especially of myself.
The scribe, even though doing a tremendous job, has placed his own slant on my character which is
based on what he believes to be true. 
So please read on with the modicum of belief.

Quentin Ulysses Ash.

1 Frost We meet the Baronesses' retainer John who confirms that the daughter in law, is indeed wicked practicing foul habits including magic and dancing naked through the hills... we agree immediately to take the job on hearing the latter heinous crime, in fact forget to even inquire what the pay will be... Its all politics and the plan is to replace the dancing daughter in law with the Baronesses' second son, her first son having perished nobly & alone without significant retainers while facing down 200 orc's about to bust through a castle breach. There is no open hostility between the two women, but if my knowledge of womenfolk is any good inside they are glaring at each other like two cats in the same yard. The daughter in law is apparently an ex "adventuress", which to her mother-in-law no doubt has only one possible meaning..... Quentin - not only an orc but also a milk drinking woman fearing Holy Roller to boot, is against my advice elected party leader - last adventure Lady Nicola, lovely lass but a damned pre-Raphaelite held this role & it caused all manner of problems in conducting legalised banditry for some other noble lady. Our destination is the town of Goodbridge where 20 or so retainers reside in a castle guarding a bridge. I will be the War Chief (Military Scientist) & scribe.

After obtaining heavily discounted greater enchantments from the guild, not that I need one of course - it was more by way of reassurance for the others, Boris the Orc & I head out for a departure feast - to toast our gods but mostly to feast on large chunks of roasted meat, tell lies about our daring and meet the local lasses who are suitably enamoured after they see the colour of our silver. Quentin, Horton and the easily impressed Ignis a new adventurer and already picking up bad habits, are off to get an early nights sleep, drink a cup of warm milk & kneel in their slippers & dressing gowns to say their prayers. Sadly the ale turns out to be foul I've been cruelly cursed it dawns on me. A check at the guild's Namer's college reveals that some dodgy black myrrh has been used by the Ensorcerers Guild & that anyone who received a greater enchantment will have two curses. Mine are that the first cup of ale in a day will taste like crap & I will suffer from hives under the moonlight… Well there is good news amongst the bad - only one cup will taste bad. Boris & I head back to the tavern…

2 Frost Boris & I awake in the stable at cocks crow with the Hammer of Thor pounding our temples - Quentin's plan is to ride to our destination so we slept in the stable to ensure they didn't leave without us - it will only take a month each way. John the retainer is not present. he too has been partying - same as everyone in the guild aside from Quentin, Ignis & Horton - & has to be first located and then dragged from the temple of "The One Horned God" where he has signed up for eternal debasement. Turns out everyone is tainted by the dodgy "Greater" - as follows:

Boris- nightmares & spells will cause black spooky tendrils to arise form the earth.

Quentin - a stone will be permanently lodges in his shoe & will always make a bad first impression to others - although as he is a disapproving orc this is no real shock.

Horton - allergic to potatoes & will moult during shape changing - ever wanted to see a shaved cat?

Ignis - will fart while casting magic & contact with the opposite sex will make him change colour.

On reflection we elect to fly & are equipped with 20 hour flying spells. Food will be scarce so we all provision appropriately. I study maps & set way points.

Three hours into the flight we spy way below us 5 giant winged creatures herding people into a cave. We swoop down and engage in bloody combat with 5 griffons who fight to the death - its a near thing as they are damned tough. Everyone of our party stands their ground not giving an inch - you can forgive moral foibles such as an aversion to alcohol & women of easy virtue - in fellows who will back you in a fight!! The prisoners all flee the cave - after seeing our orcs probably & assuming we intend to eat them - but not before making an offering to us of their meagre possessions and running off into the hills . Luckily Quentin is overruled from returning the loot. A search of the cave by Boris' undead helpers uncovers various treasures.

Off we head, flying to our destination. Aquila & Aladar pass quickly beneath us. Boris & Quentin see an orcish fort. We see hordes of lizard creatures on the prowl below. We land 10 miles outside of Konigsberg after 18 hours flight and stay the night hidden in a copse. On awakening John the reatainer leads us as we head mostly by road toward Goodbridge taking about a week. On 7 Frost we note a large queerly rigged ship wrecked on a hill, about 90 feet long ( we are about 200 miles inland). A skeleton crew is noted on deck, and 4 angry minds inside…. There is elvish script on the side - which none of us can read. There is a large breach in the side with the lower deck exposed.

Session 2

Boris the Orc using his foul (but useful) skills at necromancy animates the 8 skeleton crew who walk creakily from the ship where he enchants them again with more foul magic to make them talk to us. They were an airship of Drow elves shot down by (good) elves during the recent battle. Aboard are 4 mages - a mind mage, a celestial and a necromancer & a number of relics & magical items. He tells 7 to bury themselves and keeps one as a servant.

We advance toward the ship feeling an evil chill that make us stiffer, robbing us of agility. There is a dark shadow all over the ship. Moving inside the wreck we come across a large room stinking of malevolence that has evil magical circles inscribed on the floor - one containing a five pointed star & the other a triangle... "Great circles of summoning!!" various of the magically inclined amongst us mutter. A spooky cowled figure emerges garbed in a white robe, a lion-skin belt, carrying a silver sword.. "Garbed in the robes of a Greater Summoner!" Boris exclaims - I'll take him at is word on that one although the colour scheme seems all wrong - I'd have assumed black with bloodstains & embroidered skulls - but no they apparently like white?!

One thing is not in doubt - that he desperately is in need of re-killing - he is of the undead (a lich or a demon at least I am sure.)

Poppy hurls beakers of holy water that set it aflame! Horton tries to seize its mind with his spells! Ignis attempts a lightning Bolt spell! I charge & smite & smite again - but each blow sends cold pain down my my body & I am drained of strength & life force until I fall to my knees... It seems my saga will be one of those shorter ones where the hero dies in the bloom of his youth which wasn't in the plan .....!! In desperation I call on the mighty Odin to let me stand on my feet & fight my foe .... strength fills me enabling me to rise and dispatch the fiend's soul back to the fiery pit it belongs.

Its body is dragged into the sunshine where it melts. Boris says it was a Night Gaunt which I assume is one of the most serious undead types. Boris' skeleton slave searches the ship revealing various bits of loot.

We retire a safe distance (3 miles away) and recuperate & debate how to fight the undead. Quentin the Orc reveals he is apparently more of an aspirational knight templar than a current practitioner & has no magical symbol or holy sword or holy words that will make the the undead retreat in a cowering fashion - he has not even chosen a god yet but simply hopes one of the holy orders will take him in.

"Well its not too late" I tell him encouragingly, "you could chose a decent god like Odin or his son Thor who will want you to drink, feast, ogle the shield maidens & encourage you to fight" (rather than moping around like some guilty teetotal shopkeeper with a bad case of the piles who has been caught by his mother, whom he still lives with, peeking into the women's bathhouse). But he is determined & will not budge. He should be more like Boris who knows that being an orc means - that whatever virtues he might possess & decent drinking companion that he is turning out to be - at heart he is an evil f$%$er & has gone into the race appropriate career of necromancy.

The next day 9 Frost we venture back to the ship & search. Magical Stone ballistae bolts as well as the usual sheets, halyards, spair sails etc are uncovered.

The cabin at the stern lower deck is a charnel house of dead corpses - probably slaves whose blood the crew used as fuel to run their ship...Boris turns 8 into zombies who remove the dead bodies.. little of value is found...

Climbing up to the top deck we enter what must be the crews quarters revealing a variety of treasures - well in excess of what a normal crew would receive - Drow pay well apparently. Its a wonder the guild sided with the good elves during the recent war - knowing the avarice of most of its members.

That only leaves the back cabin... it is sprung open to reveal 4 undead figures swathed in rich garments seated at a table playing at cards - the game of 'Bridge" according to the more courtly of our party. Apparently, Boris & Horton reveal later, they are furious at having to play Bridge for eternity. A deadly battle ensues where a combo of Poppy's holy water, Quentin's not yet holy sword, Ignis's lightning bolt, Boris' axe, Horton's mind spells; and most significantly my twin swords "Hope Crusher" the evil fiends are seen off...

Buffs: Rank 20 greater enchantment - all areas.

Treasure: Griffon Cave: magical mace, gold bracelet (500 sp), magic dagger, magic breastplate & pauldrons size 6, magic candlestick.

Airship: Greater Summoners gear all magic: robe, hat, belt: nature is power, broad-sword (adds WP to strike chance), five black magic candles, a locked trapped chest, curvy dagger. Valuable loot from the crews quarters. Stone Ballistae bolts enchanted with geomancy. Loot from 4 x undead spell casters.