The Traitor's Reward

“The Traitor's Reward”
Purple Dragon episode
Episode no.	Episode 10
Date	2008-01-03
Game Master	Panzerman
Characters	Dorian Wolfe Florian Iordan Chaff Jorstag Carmog
Experience	4,000
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "The Black Knight" "Barbarians on the Border"
Purple Dragon episode list

In which the knights and their companions defeat the renegade Count Julius Lombard III.

Synopsis

Sir Markvart Caldera decided to stay at the tower and coordinate with the army. The other knights and their companions continued towards the Lombard estate in a gully which allowed them to stay mostly out of sight. Along the way, they encountered a pair of starving poachers who told them about a hidden sally port, but that the castle was surrounded by a palisade guarded by the undead.

The next day, the knights arrived at the castle and observed it from a near-by hill. Crude barbarian flags bearing a red, leering demon face flew from the towers, and only a token force manned the ramparts. Most of the castle was indeed surrounded by a rather flimsy palisade, inside which scores of undead shambled about. After some debate, it was decided to go in under the cover of invisibility, dismantle the fence and proceed through the enclosure to the hidden sally port. Iordan hoped that the mindless undead would ignore the inevitable noises from the knights and their steeds as long as they were invisible. This proved to be true, and the heroes were able to locate the sally post and force it open.

They left their trusty steeds in the tower, and proceeded across the courtyard. They discovered some barbarians loading books and other items on a cart, but both they and the posted guards did not dare attack the knights. The entered the keep and encountered the renegade Count Julius Lombard III, who seemed little more than a selfish, spoiled brat. Also present were the barbarian Frotmar, the necromancers Abbath and Demonaz of the Cult of the Dragon, as well as Juan Diego del Alvarado y Montalban, an Amnite Hidalgo and fencing master.

The spoiled Count was chastised by the Knights, and the matter soon escalated to a battle between Jorstag and the Count on one hand, and Dorian and the barbarian on the other. They proved to be strong if dishonorable opponents, and the knight were soon grievously wounded. Finally, the battle was ended by a timely fireball from Iordan. While less than honorable, this may have saved the two knights from defeat. A general mêlée ensued in which the two mages, and lurking ghoul archer and a ogre zombie were soon defeated. The fencing master choose to remain neutral in the battle, and later introduced himself as the late Count's former teacher.

In the end, the knights were able to free Lady Esmeralda and her daughter Juno from their imprisonment at the hands of their son, and soon the purple dragon banner flew from the spires of the castle.

Trivia

Abbath and Demonaz were named after members of the Norwegian black metal band Immortal.

Loot

Dorian

• Amulet of Natural Armor +2
• Boots of Striding and Springing
• Arrows +3 x6
• Ring of Protection +1

Florian

• Cloak of Arachnida
• Gloves of Dexterity +6
• Rapier +3 Keen
• Leather Armour +2 Greater Shadow
• Potion of Invisibility
• Arrows +3 x34

Iordan

• Ring of Free Action
• Wand of Magic Missiles (3rd lvl)
• Ring of Wizardry I
• Potion of Cure Light Wounds x2
• Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
• Arrows +3 x10

Jorstag

• Amulet of Natural armor +1
• Cloak of Protection (Deflection bonus to AC) +3

Treasury

• Buckler +1
• Studded leather armor +2
• Greataxe +2
• Claw bracers +2
• Wand of magic missiles (lvl 3)
• Composite shortbow +2 (Str 14)
• Cuirass (as chain shirt) +2 of light fortification