Through the Looking Glass... Session Ten

Date: Friday, April 19th, 2002
Players Attending: Dave, Ike, Heather, Erin, and Jeff
Characters Introduced:none
NPCs Introduced: none
Notable Enemies:

• Glaatha, leader of the ratmen

• Sir Branwin
• Runic Aleskull

The session began with the party recovering from the realization that they were facing a sentient, living tree as the guardian to the ratmen's lair! They tried to formulate many plans to avoid and go around the tree, but to no avail. The magicks of the ratmen proved to be more than the party could handle, and soon they're tricked into captivity.

Local legend has it...

1. This session begins with Jaroo picking himself up off of the ground and hobbling back towards the rest of the party, who stands in awe of a tree that moves by itself.
2. Jaroo can no longer support himself and passes out in a thicket further back from the lair, trying his best to hide despite his exhaustion and pain.
3. The rest of the party debates among themselves what the best strategy would be to gain access to the nest without incurring the wrath of the tree.
4. Morgayne notices a near-invisible eye floating above the tree, and points it out the others who can make out some sort of shape but nothing as clear as what Morgayne can see. They also don't notice it moving towards them as Morgayne does, so she keeps them updated on it's position as they scramble to defend against whatever it might be bringing.
5. Runic and Sir Branwin attempt to fool the magical eye and hope that the tree won't notice them as they approach. Unfortunately, it does, and they are under attack!
6. The eye eventually returns to the tree, but not before Morgayne blasts it with her magic missile, upon which time it promptly disappears.
7. The party then notices another light and assumes that the eye has returned for vengeance, but instead a showering pattern of lights and sparks bursts from the tree, hypnotising all but Morgayne who cannot understand why her companions are that enraptured with it.
8. The ratmen press their advantage, emerging from their lair only to surround the companions, not attack them. Once they've got the party surrounded, the ratmen witches (including Glaatha) emerge and the soldiers draw their swords, breaking the enchantment upon the party.
9. A brief debate occurs among the party members, but they opt for the wiser choice and surrender. They are taken below the tree and brought into a clearing of the caves. Runic and Foranz and put to sleep by Glaatha's magicks, but Morgayne and Sir Branwin learn the benefit of their elven heritage and are unaffected. Unfortunately for them, Glaatha has them knocked out manually.
10. Jaroo awakens from the thicket and proceeds to investigate the disappearance of his party members. He assumes that they've already gone down into the ratmen's lair, and tries to bluff his way in.
11. Unfortunately, Jaroo is assaulted with the hypnotizing lights, and he is surrounded by soldiers who do not believe his story. Glaatha also has reason to doubt that this gnome just happened by the tree, and he attempts to knock out Jaroo with the same spell as his companions.
12. Luckily for Jaroo, he keeps his wits about him as this is happening, and goes along with it to make it appear as though he's fallen asleep when really he's been able to resist the affects of the spell.
13. Jaroo hears Runic snoring and makes his way over to him, waking him up somewhat noisily. Runic manages to slip free from his bonds, but not before Glaatha and his two witches hear them and attempt to ensnare them once again!
14. The battle begins, Jaroo free with his hidden dagger and Runic bursting from the roots that are entangling the area around the party. Jaroo cuts his bonds so that he may fight more freely.
15. All of the other companions awake with roots and branches reaching around them and wrapping them up tight. Sir Branwin also bursts free, with Foranz just managing to wiggle free. Unfortunately, Morgayne is not so fortunate, and struggles against the roots for some time.
16. The party manages to battle the ratmen witches back into the wider area, but they are soon beset by the soldiers as well. Sir Branwin is knocked unconscious, as is Runic, and the entire party falls under the effects of the entangling roots once again as the ratmen fall back and move around them to the entrance.

Thoughts from the party...