Dark Rituals

Our ASOBH game continues as the adventurers come upon the Necromancer Varro Desecrae conducting an dark ritual at the Shrine of the Sky Stone.

In addition to his Hell Knight bodyguard, the vile mage hired a goblin shaman and a mob of goblin scuttlers (backed by a Toad Demon) to insure the ritual is goes off uninterrupted.

The forces of evil dominated the first portion of the game with the goblins swiftly advancing on the attack and Varro Desecrae banking 6 successful actions to summon a skeletal giant.

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The battlefield
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Goblin mob with extra demon power!
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Minions of the Necromancer
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Desecrae invoking the power of the gibbering dark.

Our heroes responded sluggishly. (poor dice rolls, esp by the Elf Druid and Werebear) While the Dragonkin cleric squared off against the Toad demon, the two Ork trackers were overwhelmed by the goblins.

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Fierce combat see-sawed back and forth. The Dragonkin couldn’t catch his breath to summon his dracolisk.
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It was like fighting a mob of 6-year olds. Death by a thousand cuts: a brave attempt but the Orks eventually succumbed to the incessant slice and jab.

THE TIDE TURNS

Perhaps it was the Orks’ death. Maybe it was sheer bloody tenacity, but there was a distinct sea change midway through the game. The slow and steady Dwarf advance paid dividends as they felled the Hell Knight, then advanced on the Shrine itself, interrupting the Necromancer at his fell purpose.

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Down goes the Hell Knight!
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Down goes the Skeleton Giant.

Bodyguards dead, Dwarf warrior approaching, Desecrae flees the field and leaves the ritual unfinished and a mysterious icon on the shrine dais.

Squealing in triumph, the goblin scuttlers attack the Druid and Werebear, only to be bloodied by spear and broad axe. The survivors scatter.

On the other flank, the Cleric finally lands a solid blow with his mace, crushing the demon’s head.

With heavy casualties and their leader gone, the forces of darkness flee. A near thing but the adventurers claim victory.

The severely wounded Orks will recover but have to do battle next week with penalties to either their Q or C. (their choice)

Hard fought, hard won. Game over.

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However this campaign turns out, the consensus is the Dwarf Warrior’s victory over the Giant Skeleton will be remembered in song and saga for generations to come.

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