The Unbearable Attack

After destroying the catapults, the team regrouped and gathered around a healing spirit to regain health. As their wounds closed, they looked over the grand battle below. The ground rumbled ominously…

As they watched, 3 gapping holes opened up in the ground, more rats started pouring out – they almost seemed to be running from something. Then, a massive, 15ft tall bear mutant burst forth of the nearest hole, grabbing a rat and flinging it across the battlefield – other monstrous experiments burst out of the other pits.

The team threw together a quick plan:

• Echo would cast lesser restoration on the bear
• Bean would load up a potion of resistance into the injector pack and get it to Odds, then would clean up stray rats
• Odds would draw attention and inject the giant bear
• Jay would fling weasle-fire pebbles and clean up stray rats

Bean sprung to work filling the injector. Echo and Odds sprinted towards the beast. Jay sent his familiar with weaslefire pebbles into the closest hole.

Odds managed to administer the jab, and Echo leapt up on top of the beast and cast lesser restoration and tried to persuade her to calm down. Odds put his hand on the bear’s arm and tried to bind wounds.

The bear seemed to be coming out of her berserker rage. She started trying to claw off the metal blades built into her arm, then at a contraption embedded into her chest. Bean, Odds, and Echo stayed close, trying to heal her and to patch up the damage she was causing to herself.

The beast partly healed, fell onto the muddy ground and almost refused to get up or move. They learned her name – Rezza. They convinced her to come with them back to base.

In the distance, the other large beasts were felled by other warriors. In the sky, Father Tucker called daylight and cast healing spells.

The battle was won, rats retreating and small skirmishes dying out.

The team started making their way back, picking up and flagging survivors as they went.

Rezza plodded to the edge of the camp then collapsed. Bean went to work, throwing the rest of his healing spells, then turning to surgery. Jay and Odds molded earth to shelter the surgery and to shield the bear from prying eyes.

Echo left to inform Verone and Bonny of their survival. Meanwhile, Jay and Odds finished up. Jay created a barrel of whisky for sterilization, then wandered out onto the battlefield to loot. Odds left to retrieve bedding and a book.

Aftermath

Echo spent time comparing battle notes with Verone. She found the main gathering area had been turned into an infirmary. It was overflowing with injured. Bonny was running around with bandages and herbs, helping out where she could.

Echo snagged Bonny’s attention and let her know that Odds had survived. They invited Bonny to join the team on the way back to the bastion and to find a new home there.

Odds, meanwhile, sought out Dalmoth and found the badger alive. Dalmouth was burying one of his dogs. Odds stayed to help bury the pup, gave his friend a hug, then went to check on Bean.

When Odds got back, he sat down next to the unconcious bear, tucked her in the best he could, and started reading aloud. Bean staggered to his feet and went to try to help in the infirmary.

Echo encountered the calico cat they had spent the previous night with. They waved at her and said, “Hey, still alive.”

“The name’s Pepper,” the cat said.

“Oh, okay,” Echo replied, then walked away.

Jay got back and joined up with Echo to help in the kitchen.

Bean returned to the earth shelter and collapsed into slumber.

The meeting

Barukus’s voice echoed out over camp.

“In one hour, I will meet with heroes who will make a step towards ending these abominations.”

Only a few shouts of support rang out.

Echo went to fetch Odds. Jay returned to the earth shelter to take over watch over Bean and Rezza.

Only a handfull of individuals showed up at the meeting: Odds, Echo, Bessa (an ox fighter), Ember Sandproud (a turtle ranger), and Barukus. It appeared the strike force would be small.

They discussed tactics to reach the tannery and find out who was behind the toxin, and were interrupted by another higher up in the Church of the Flame, Syndra, a weasel magic user. She scoffed at Barakus’s desire to destroy the tannery, but offered to help provide cover.

Echo took the opportunity to borrow Barukus’s maps of Rivervale.

Everyone agreed to meet at dawn.

Wrapping up the day

On the way back to the shelter, they intercepted Father Tucker and requested that he accompany them back to Bean. Father Tucker agreed, and Odds strategically lead them past Verone (to provide the minstrel with more fuel against the sherif).

They reached the shelter and learned that Jay had moved all of their things to the earth shelter, and had spent the evening turning it into a small adobe palace.

They woke Bean up and offered to pray with him. Father Tucker and Bean went outside, found a last sliver of sun, and prayed. Father Tucker ended up staying the night in the shelter.

Meanwhile, Jay borrowed Petalfoot’s ring in order to enchant it.

As evening hit, Odds found some mint in the stash of supplies salvaged on their way here. He found Bonny asleep, sitting at a table. Odds found a stray blanket and set it over her shoulders. He made tea and placed it in front of her, then slipped the mint under her paw.

Bonny woke up, thanked Odds, then snuggled up to him while saying she was cold. They talked about honey and tea into the night.

When Odds returned, Jay gave him Petalfoot’s ring back, along with a necklace. The ring was now enchanted to help Odd’s find petalfoot should she go missing. Odds would say “Now where is my…” and the necklace will glow in the direction.

Morning

In the morning, Jay woke up Odds and Echo by making their beds disappear from under them. Bean made a breakfast of champions. Rezza was able to awake and partake of the meal. Odds asked Rezza to head if she might want to go with Tucker back to Nottinghill.

Odds ducked out before the rest of the group for a chance to say goodby to Bonny without Echo overhearing.

Once the strike team assembled, then were introduced to Barukus’s 3 rat spies: Scaberetta, Faith, and Scartail.

Syndra cast the illusion of rats on everyone and the strike team began their walk to the gates of Rivervale. Echo cast comprehend language on themselves, and took “point” on communication along with Odds.

Rivervale

No sooner were they through the gates, then Bessa took off to check her family’s home near the tannery. Barakus was angry, but Odds and Echo convinced him the mission was more important than fighting.

The remaining strike team stepped into the tannery. They found rats busy at work. Jay got intel from spiders and Echo started leading the group downstairs.

The found a laboratory, and were greeted by a curious rat nearly encased in armor.

“Welcome to my lab. I don’t think you’re from around here. I’m Dr. Tendon, I believe you’re here to see the results of my experiments.

Echo introduced themselves ad Grizzbone and asked for a tour. However, the illusion didn’t disguise Echo’s scent. The rats attacked. Dr. Tendon attacked with poison and chemical weapons, but Echo summoned up a wind – thwarting most attacks.

Dr. Tendon retreated to the next chamber of the basement, the strike team pushed forward. They found chained citizens, and saw Dr Tendo start injecting the innocent people driving them mad with rage.

A fox woman and a crow turned berzerk from injections and started to attack the team. The strike force fended them off, and Dr Tendon retreated again, with Echo, Bean, and Barakus following behind.

Odds and Jay stayed behind with Windy. Odds knocked out and tied up the 2 berserk citizens. Jay freed a chained mouse.

Bessa showed up and told everyone that the ranger had fallen and the rats were swarming in from above. She helped block off the tunnel behind them as Odds and Jay got the citizens through to the next tunnel. Bessa dove in after them, and Jay started blocking up the path behind them with rubble and dirt.

Meanwhile, Echo, Barakus, and Bean were taking a beating. After following Dr Tendon in, the rat injected themselves with a new poison and hulked out.

Bean was nearly dead, after once again diving into the middle of combat. Echo and Barakus, meanwhile, were low health with no healer available.

They managed to bring Bean back to his feet and get him to safety out of the tunnel.

Echo and Barakus killed Dr. Tendon, Odds helped clean up the rest of the rats in the area.

The moment Dr Tendon died Barakus pulled out a massive bomb – “Fizzboom’s Greatest Invention.” Echo helped him set it up, then Jay and Odds started getting everyone else into an open sewer pipe to escape. They had no idea where it led but there were too many rats pouring in from above to go back the way they entered. The 2 unconscious berserk citizens were tied to Windy’s back.

The timer was ticking. The countdown till explosion was on. 50 seconds til the factory would be gone forever.

Notes:

The team’s name is Storm Breakers

Jay grabbed one of the strange mushrooms

THE TEAM STILL NEEDS TO CLAIM THEIR PAY FOR THE BATTLE