The Madness of Bedla-Ra Continued

SESSION 8 PART II

PCS

Talos Redwand, 4th level Conjurer

Kieren, 5th level Druid

Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

Lutien, 4th level Fighter (Myrmidon)

Brendel, 4th level Half-Elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)

A Tale Told by Lady Carmella

At last brother, they had gained access to my mind. There in the first chamber, they confronted my own insecurities about how I was viewed by those closest to me. You were there and so was Zelligar. Four times over you two stood in various conversations about me. Two of you thought I was a useless lay-about and were plotting to kill me. Two more saw me as some brazen strumpet and were making plans to steal my virtue together. Others argued over who loved me more. When the travelers entered, one of the Zelligar's confronted them and asked them their opinion of me. One of the travelers began to reply - even though they were warned not to interact with anyone unless absolutely necessary. Their interference drove the Zelligars and Malgens into a fit of rage and the eight assaulted as one. Not wanting to be bogged down by useless combat, the travelers made quick their escape, up a flight of stairs where they were confronted by two doors. Behind one they heard the painful cries of a solitary woman. Behind the other was a chorus of terrified screams. They chose to enter the door with only one scream.

Thus they entered the birthing chamber, where all my pain at the hands of the orcs who captured me was manifested. I lay in a pool of my own juices, bloated beyond comprehension and swelled with the progeny of my captors. Around me stood four orc attendants. As the moments passed I gave birth to half-orcs, scores at a time. Fully grown they emerged from my swollen womb, mad with thoughts of slaughter. Horrified, the travelers defended themselves, cutting down the orcs as the emerged. Several of the cursed brood surrounded one of the shades of lunacy and savaged it. Worried that they death of the shades would dispel the power which cloaked them, the companions ordered the shades to the rear of the line for protection.

As the bodies of my children began to mount and still more issued forth from me, the companions realized the only way to stop the deluge of half-orc flesh was to slay the source. Lutein the mercenary barreled through a pack of half-orcs and mounted my prostrate form. Using his mighty ax he slew me and put an end to the torrent of bastards. A little shocked and horrified, the companions moved on. The passed through another door, where they were about to face their own greatest fears.

In the grand ballroom, they were confronted by four portraits; one of each of them. As they moved closer, the pain began to run down the pictures, transforming them into those closest to them. Kieren the druid was confronted with his mentor Goran Shae. The wizard Talos was confronted with his own father. Shaw the Ranger was confronted by his commander who had been slain years ago. Brendel the half-elf was confronted by his friend, who had caught the wrong end of a lightning bolt which he himself had avoided. And Lutein was confronted by his childhood friend, the son of the Duke. Each stepped out of their frame and advanced upon the party.

Goran Shae the Treant

A desperate melee ensued wherein the companions were sorely tested and nearly bested. Brendel was the first to slay his demon, the two fencing high above on a chandelier. He managed to land the killing blow, which sent his friend tumbling to the floor sixty feet below, wherein he exploded in a writing mass of black tentacles. Kieren saw his master Goran Shae transform himself into a giant Treant and begin pummelling him with huge fist of solid wood. Thankfully, Kieren was able to summon the power of lightning to him and in the end blasted his mentor into a shower of splintered wood. Talos tried hiding from his father by turning invisible, but the crafty old man dispelled the illusion. Old Valthun Redwand then hammered his son with a fist of stone. Talos dug deep within himself and managed to immolate his father with a clever combination of a spell of grease and burning hands. Shaw was beset by his old commander and two dire wolves. The wolves flanked him and savaged him several times with their vicious fangs, but in the end Shaw managed to break away from them and slay his commander. Lutein was assaulted physically and emotionally, as the Duke's son hurled insults upon him about indiscretions with his late wife. Lutein traded several vicious blows with the cocky noble, but in the end decided to back off and disbelieve the apparition. Without a willing foe, the Duke's son simply melted from existence.

Weary and battered from their ordeal, the companions made their way up the winding staircase toward my innermost mind. Thinking the worst behind them, they opened the door into the inner sanctum, where the most tortured part of my mind dwelt. I was there where they would make their last desperate attempt to free me from my curse...

Continued...