Episode 17: Little Lockford

The Adventure

The party make their way back to Atalasta. And head towards the hirelings guild to look into hiring some Hirelings.Juan casts detect good and evil to see which of the hirelings are evil. Juan identifies that none are especially evil, however he does identify that there is one dressed in shining white armor, who appears to be Aesimar.

Juan approaches a man dressed in green and enquires about his services. He learns that he does not care for war, violence or peace, rather he cares for the natural world and those that threaten it.

Not really feeling the vibe of this naturalist, Juan moves on to a small man dressed in black. This man is Meriotok Filbur a halfling Thief who Juan instantly takes to. Juan agrees to pay his daily price of 2 GP, and hires him. Meriotok Filbur agrees, and shakes his hand in a very strange way. Mal observing recognises this as some form of secret guild handshake and nothing nefarious.

Juan introduces the party starting with Mal who greets him in Thieves Cant. Meriotok Filbur responds in common "Greetings Mal a'Deigh, the pleasure of meeting you is mine. The walls in this city are firm." which indicates that there will be treasure to be found on this journey.

Drūdlin then greets a small man with a hood covering his head surrounded by a rough group of men. And on talking to him it turns out to be Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III who they hire for 2GP a day, and in gratitude the Captain sings a song.

Heading to Little Lockford

Juan summons a magic camel, much to the surprise of Mal and the party head off towards Little Lockford. They head towards the cave following signs towards Little Lockford as they get close they encounter a group of creatures milling around. Juan and Aginiars recognize them as Deep Gnomes [Svirfneblin]. One of them approaches and greets them in a language they don't understand. Drūdlin takes the role of spokesman. The Deep Gnome turns out to be the Mayor of Little lockford Braithe Broadfoot. Who provides them with a map of the city, and guidance on where they can find things, such as some items under the desk of the town hall.

The party plan the attack and head in to town.

The attack on Little Lockford

The party are led to the reinforced entrance to the town by Sergeant Yombad Cragknuckle. Drūdlin talks to their escort who looking at the map sees that Braithe Broadfoot mixed up the locations of the Jail and the Infirmary.

The party prepare to venture into Little Lockford, take a short rest so Aginiars could attune to the Stone of Luck that they obtained from Braithe Broadfoot.

Drūdlin then summons a creature from her bag of tricks, which turns out to be a Giant Elk. Drūdlin instructs the Elk to stay back until they need assistance. While Sergeant Yombad Cragknuckle lets them through the gate, advising that if they want out to knock seven times.

Mal and Meriotook head towards the Town Hall stealthily. Meriotok spots a clockwork observer, and points it out to Mal while attempting to shoot it out of the air with his short bow. He misses, but Mal follows up with his own arrow piercing the observer and destroying it.

Mal signals the rest of the party and they enter the town hall retrieving 4 Potions of healing, 2 Flasks of Alchemist Fire, and some Dust of Disappearance.

Mal and Meriotook lead the way across the first bridge towards the Abbey. Juan not being stealthy in the least wanders into the path of a clockwork observer. Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III charges forward his sword flying forward and dancing in the air slashing the observer into the dust before it could react.

The Abbey

The party arrive at the abbey and enter it, they see hiding in the shadows a couple of prisoners, a Goblin and a Bugbear, and also found the Abbot hiding in his office. The abbot requested to be escorted out of little lockford. Meanwhile Drūdlin talks to the prisoners, finds out that the Goblins name is Swonk and that he has been killing automatons, but won't make a problem for them if they don't make a problem for him.

The party decide to deliver the Abbot to the main gate, and open the abbey doors only to be attacked by a couple of Clockwork Defenders.

The first Clockwork Defenders

The first Clockwork defender charges at Mal but misses, while the second attacks Meriotok and misses as well.

Drūdlin Attacks one of the automatons with her sword and then follows up with a flurry of blows, ripping out springs and cogs. Meriotok follows up with his shortbow piercing the construct. The automatons attempt to attack Drūdlin and Mal but miss. Aginiars casts eldritch blast sending a beam of eldritch energy towards each of the automatons. He misses the damaged automaton but hits the second one. Mal draws the sword of varnal and his rapier and attacks the damaged automaton with the sword of varnal removing the automaton from existence. He then slashes the second automaton with his rapier cutting off a leg which is replaced by a new leg from inside the automaton. Juan throws a couple of Javelins at the automaton hitting it with the first one and missing the second. He proclaims that battle is not the way, Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III disagrees, and proceeds to flourish his Scimitar against the automaton. It tries to attack back, but Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III deflects it opening the way for Drūdlin to attack with her sword of destiny killing the automaton.

Against Juans wishes, Mal escorts the Abbot out of town, and receives A Potion of Hill Giant Strength, and a Magic Scroll of Magic Weapon Level 2. Returning to the abbey Mal gives the scroll to Juan.

The Power Station

The party head across the next bridge to the power station without event. They enter the power station and see an automaton lodged in a turbine. Mal shoots it with an arrow, while Aginiars blasts it with an eldritch blast and it falls dead from the turbine allowing the power station to resume operations. Meanwhile Mal is beset by a psychic attack from the Sword of Varnal, who overwhelms Mal and compels him to obtain blood from the nearest creature which turned out being Meriotok. Mal drew the sword and swung it two handed at Meriotok bathing the sword in blood.. This does not kill Meriotok but it does cause him to leave. Juan gives him 10GP as apology. After discussing what happened, the party decide on a plan for controlling the bridges with Juan staying behind, while the rest journey to the workshop get invisible and sneak in.

The Shield Guardian

The party head down towards the workshop, and Aginiars casts Invisibility on Mal who heads to the workshop to scout the way, and despite being invisible the shield guardian turns to look at him and tells him to stop. It does not attack as Mal backs off and tells the others. He then investigates around the back and confirms the shield guardian does not react when back there, but there are no windows to get in. Discussions with the party, the plan unfolds to use Zanelins rock and the "Save Me Obi-Wan" hologram to try and lure the Shield Guardian away from the door.

They use the Dust of Disappearance to turn themselves invisible sneak around the back of the workshop, and Drūdlin activates the rock around the corner. The hologram appears and starts speaking, drawing the Shield Guardians attention. It approaches and tries to attack it while the party heads around the building and into the building.

The Workshop

On entering the workshop they see a ladder leading to the second floor, a geometric spell design on the floor surrounding a pedestal with a keyhold, and a couple of animated suits of armor who activate and make to attack the party seeing through the invisibility.

Drūdlin launches at the closest suit, and her sword bounces off the armor dealing no damage, once more she attacks with sword bouncing off the armor. Flurry of blows to follow also bouncing off the armor. Mal follows suit, and attacks with his rapier which bounces off the armor and flies off into the spell pattern. He follows up with his dagger, successfully cutting off an arm.

The armor then responds by attempting to attack but misses both times. The second suit of armor follows up missing with the first attack but making contact with Mal on the second. Aginiars casts hex on the closest suit of armor, following up with eldritch blasts the first suit into pieces. The second suit receives another blast, blowing multiple pieces off the armor.

Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III dashes over into the geometric pattern, and a crown of iron thorns sprouts out of his head and madness comes into his eyes. He then takes a step towards the automaton with the madness fading briefly enough to attack the automaton. Drūdlin then runs towards the armor attacking it with her sword once more, killing it.

Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III then attacks Mal with madness in his eyes. Before overcoming the control and the crown disappears.

Mal proceeds up the ladder, investigates the table there, before attempting to crack the safe in the corner. He successfully cracks the safe combination with skillful dexterity. Opens the safe and obtains its contents.

Safe Contents

Item	Quantity	Value
Onyx Studded Jewelery Box	1	250GP
Zircon Ring	1	60GP
Amethyst	3	100GP
Security Key	1

Fighting Tixie

Suddenly a doorway portal appears out of nowhere and a small gnome who has replaced most of her body parts with clockwork appears. It is Tixie Tockworth and attacks Mal, asking him to return the key. Mal refuses, and in retaliation she blasts the room with Fire, which Mal and Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III are able to avoid the majority of but still take damage.

Drūdlin hearing the commotion dashes up the ladder, and attacks twice with her sword, but when she hits, a shield of energy flares up and she seems to take less damage than she should. Mal then drinks a potion of healing, then points at Tixie Tockworth casting Finger of Death. He then feels a surge from the sword, and is fully consumed by the Spirit of Varnal. Who immediately takes control of his body and begins to walk towards the ladder, taking an opportunity attack from Tixie Tockworth which causes him to fall unconscious.

Aginiars comes up the ladder and casts Eldritch blast hitting Tixie Tockworth with one beam. Captain Perciville McGinty Esquire III then tries to attack, hitting once.

Tixie Tockworth then recharges her shield, summons the portal door and retreats through.

Possessed Mal

Drūdlin administers two potions to Mal who gets up without a word, dusts himself off, then in a voice that doesn't sound like his says "We have wasted enough time on these pathetic quests, we shall kill Uncaller now!" He then heads down stairs while Drūdlin chases after him as he heads out the door. There is a big bang and Possessed Mal re enters the workshop stating "Get me out of here now!"

Drūdlin advises that is what they are trying to do, but they need the key, which Mal retrieved from the safe. Possessed Mal tosses her the key, and starts to Pace impatiently. Aginiars takes the key with Mage Hand, and then reaches over and uses the key in the pedestal. He turns it clockwise, which deactivates the spell.

Possessed Mal walks outside and disappears, while Drūdlin hears a loud bang from outside, she looks out the door and sees that the Shield Guardian still outside, and Clockwork observers still roaming around. She tells Aginiars to try something else, he turns the key anticlockwise and the automatons shut down. But the shield guardian stays operational.

Meanwhile Possessed Mal turns up at the Power Station demanding that Juan lower the bridges. Before heading to the console and flipping all the switches to lower all bridges. Juan pushes him away from the console, while Possessed Mal sees Juan flipping the switches back, he draws the Sword of Varnal and makes to attack.