Played Friday, December 9th.

It was the ancient courtyard of the Castle that became the field of battle for the party and the Agrikian’s. Xavier and the Dwarf, Ordieth charged across the courtyard with 6 of the men-at-arms only to see these men had stopped short and spread out blocking both from escape while the Agrikian’s also came down from the walls to their front to seal them between the ruined stables and the old blacksmith's workroom.

The rest of the party had become separated while moving thru the ruins around the left of the massive ruined shell of the castle itself. This second group of characters included, Erich the Mage, Borian the Elf, Erixorthien the Ranger, Aedon the Cleric, Thorvald the Viking and a Squire Npc. Votta the dwarf had remained outside to wait for a suspected doublecross...

Both groups moved thru the ruins til they got within 50ft of each other in the ancient courtyard, visible to each other they now had to contend with their own separate situations.

The second group headed by Aedon had with them also 4 men-at-arms, part of those that Xavier had hired earlier that month. Realising what was happening, the guys turned around to see the 4 men had now also blocked their line of escape. The party lunged at these men and the melee began. Erixorthien the Ranger was crippled early in the weapon arm; bruising and lacerations reduced his ability to fight for the rest of the melee. After a desperate fight these 4 men-at-arms were despatched after about 5 mins of combat. Borian, the Elf Ranger using his bow to deadly effect killed his foe rapidly to then help the others.

Meanwhile Xavier and Ordieth now in a perilous situation decided to try to break thru to the other group by shield charging the men to the left before Thurl's Agrikian's could get there. Xavier charged only to be halted by 4 men who slashed at him with Broadswords and Long swords. Poor Ordieth followed only to be hit with a devastating critical hit to the back that paralysed him. Crashing to the ground Ordieth was then hit by two men while laying there on the ground helpless. These men then satisfied the dwarf was no more continued on to join in the attack on Xavier. Ordieth was to remain here close to death for the rest of the fight.

Xavier now surrounded and being hit from all sides knew he had to do something fast or die here. Unable to help Ordeth he focused on the man to his front. Calling a "Great Blow" Xavier slammed his axe into the man downing him in one huge hit. Now having a way to his front clear he decided to flee towards the rest of the party to his front only 50ft away. The other 3 men slashed at him as he ran.

Borian the Elf seeing the other Agrikian’s coming quickly drew on his magical powers unleashing a spell of "Frost" that he targeted in front of these onrushing men. The spell hit the area creating a circle of Ice and Snow in a wide arc that began to spread out in all directions, its effects even climbing the ruined walls of the stables forming icicles on the remains of the roof.

Ordeth was inside this coating of Ice and quickly disappeared beneath its effects...All this as Xavier fled to the rest of the party who had just finished killing the last of the 4 men-at-arms facing them.

The Men-at-arms that had attacked Xavier and Ordeth did not follow but instead formed a line with shields raised and awaited the rest of the Agrikian’s to arrive...Thurl now realising his plan to trap the party had failed rushed his men as fast he could across the icy surface slipping and sliding. To increase the line of men formed up at the edge of the ice near the ruined stables.

The party now all together decided not to counter attack but await them while the Archers of the party, Borian and Erixorthien began to fire on the line of men now climbing too about a dozen or more. Eric fired with his crippled arm but pulled out as his deep wound made it impossible to fire effectively. Borian however was deadly accurate and made the men close ranks and form a shield wall to protect themselves while the Agrikian’s formed up now with them.

While this was happening Votta still outside the castle decided to grapple up the outer wall and onto the ruins of the old battlements about 60ft up. Once up there he proceeded along it to the North Tower looming dark ahead of him. Crossbow in hand, Votta was suddenly confronted by a shape in the doorway that lunged out to fire a bolt from his own crossbow. Votta not being surprised actually got off his own shot first but missed! This shadowy figure firing a split second later also missed! Votta then charged the doorway only to see the figure disappear inside. Votta then spent the rest of the turn searching high and low in the tower for the crossbowman but without any luck.

Meanwhile....The Party in a line with a gap of around 50ft confronted the line of Men-at-arms numbering by now around 15. The idea was brought up to throw a flask of oil at the line. After a couple of poor attempts, (one of which almost resulted in Aedon the Cleric hitting Xavier and Thorvald with one of these flasks!) the guys were able to get one on course which flew thru the air only to be caught in flight by someone within the rank of these men ! The party astounded by this soon gave that idea up...

Then something happened that soon rose the stakes on this skirmish...the fight seemed to be going to a Mexican stand off where neither side wished to provoke the other. Erich the Mage decided to retreat back around the huge castle shell in order to hopefully get around the left flank of the Agrikian’s. This was going to take some time to run so he used a haste herb that allowed him to run at double speed and off he went.

While this was happening, the party then saw a dull red glow appear in the rear of the enemy line, this glow became brighter and brighter then suddenly flashed out to reveal a huge summoned being at least 8ft tall radiating in a violet ethereal like light. This ethereal being advanced thru the men-at-arms directly and at the party who now began to panic. As it got closer they could see this being was adorned in what appeared to be heavy plate armour and wielding a 6ft long sword also of violet colour. The party started to roll Ferocity checks that caused Thorvald the Viking to panic and flee! The Squire Npc also panicked but was so frightened he stood in place in an almost catatonic state.

Borian surviving the Ferocity check thought quickly and cast a FOG spell from his magical ring, targeting the area directly in front of the men-at-arms then himself darting back away from this oncoming being and around the corner to go inside the ruined castle shell. Borian was hatching a bold plan of is own....

Now as the being advanced into melee range of the remainder of the party only Xavier the Knight and Aedon the Cleric remained to face it! Things indeed looked gloomy for the party at this point. Xavier began to defend against this powerful ethereal Knight to give the rest of the party time to unfold their part in the plan. The creature slammed his gigantic sword at Xavier who was able to block most of the damage as his own armour and shield was itself very magical but the power of each attack was evident!

While this was happening Aedon began to kneel further back and pray for "Summon Lawful Aid" this prayer would take time so Xavier had to fight alone, when suddenly Thorvald charged back into the melee after successfully rolling a further FER check. He began to swing his own weapons at the Knight to some effect.

With Divine Intervention rolls I had the roll in a cup that hid whatever was rolled until the prayer was finished, then I allow the cup removed to reveal the dice, this always causes nervousness in the players and excitement at what will happen. I have the Cleric roll against his Bardic Voice CR-8 then -5 then -2 etc each blow... until he is successful. Once he is then this indicates his prayer is finished and the Divine Intervention roll is shown

So while the prayer was going on the fight continued, each time Xavier tried to shield parry he failed and the ethereal Knight's weapon did more damage but never enough (7+) to do any real critical hit. Xavier was continually bashed backwards but each time remained on his feet to the astonishment of all!

Suddenly Thorvald the Viking had another idea, he bypassed the Knight and advanced at the Agrikian’s line still standing quietly while the fog faded off. He challenged them at about 30ft and 4 men advanced at him, surrounding him as he himself charged them! To the rest of the party including myself I thought this was going to be his death...he parried and slashed against these men being hit several times in the process...

Meanwhile....Erich the Mage had run around the castle to the other side and could make out the Agrikian’s ahead in the torch light as the fog faded away. He advanced to 30ft to entice some of these men to attack him! Sure enough 3 men did and Erich still being hasted pulled them after him keeping at all times 30ft between them and him. This effectively broke up the Agrikian’s line further leaving only about 6-8 men still in the original line....the plan was working!

At this point Votta the Dwarf has decided to move along the shadows to the left f the Agrikian’s behind the stables to try to get unseen behind them on the opposite side to Erich the Mage. At a point only 25ft to the right of the Agrikian’s, Votta had to move silently across the open flank in order to get into and climb up a Tower. He rolled and was successful! He slipped into the tower unseen and proceeded to climb up the stairs...

Meanwhile back at the fight with the Ethereal Knight, Xavier was beginning to drop in Body Points. He had lost by now over 20+ BP now and the Cleric had not yet finished his prayer...

Borian the Elf at this time had slipped into the dark shell of the castle, quietly and gracefully running thru the ruins over crumbled and fallen walls he was near the other side running down the end of a dark passage when suddenly! A dark figure jumped out from the open left wall and swung a massive Infantry Flail directly at Borian's head! Borian rolled his surprise and succeeded allowing him to duck the oncoming blow to see it slam into the masonry above his head!

On the next blow Borian being faster in this exchange fired a Magical +9 arrow that hit the shadowy figure for a massive critical in the head. This man stumbling back could not respond and Borian fired his second +9 which flew into this poor man's neck killing him! The players all cried out in cheer for Jonathan (Player of Borian) for witnessing an act so rare in a game that it was worthy of much praise. It really was something to see and Jonathan showed us his hand was still shaking after the action....

But the best was yet to come...

Back at the fight with the Ethereal Knight, Aedon had finally finished his prayer! All the players now stopped what they were doing and watched Chris (player of Aedon) lift the cup...he needed a 35 or less but alas...a 41 was revealed. Everyone sighed ...Aedon not disheartened by this had another idea...

He advanced on the Ethereal Knight alongside Xavier and hurled the contents of his vials at the being, it was Holy Water. The being lurched backwards in revolution from the obvious damage it suffered from the liquid but did not flee! Instead it lurched forward again now at poor Aedon and slammed him into the ground with a mighty blow of his ethereal sword.

Xavier unable to intervene watched helplessly as Aedon fell suffering an obvious critical wound to his chest. Xavier launched himself at the being and struck it heavily but it did not flinch. It hit poor Aedon again causing him to lose unconsciousness. (Aedon by now as a result of the second hit dropped to -7 blood loss). Xavier had no choice now but to continue the fight.

The party now became very worried that if Xavier went down all would be lost. They literally prayed for a miracle ...and one actually happened from nowhere.

Votta had managed to climb up to the second floor of the tower but could not get a clear view of the Agrikian’s, so he continued to the next. Up here he could clearly see the fight with the Ethereal Knight and Erixorthien running into the darkness followed by 3 men to the left. To the right ahead he could see Thorvald surrounded by 4 men about to die it seemed to him.

The situation looked doomed at this point but now he could also see directly below him about 50ft out, the remaining line of Agrikian’s and Thurl! Crouching behind them! He quietly aimed his crossbow thru the slit window in the wall and fired! The bolt slammed into Thurl's lower leg doing 2D6 damage! this was not all...he had coated it in P/10 poison before hand and so While Thurl rolled around on the ground screaming Votta calmly reloaded another bolt and fired a couple of blows later, this was the killing blow and Thurl died...

Xavier about to be hit again and in serious trouble saw the Ethereal Knight suddenly with a screeching and wailing sound, dissipate sky wood leaving nothing! It had vanished the moment Thurl was killed to the relief of Xavier and all. The remainder of the Agrikian’s rolled morale and failed. They began to fall back to the old breach in the North Wall.

Thorvald, whom had thought he was going to die, watched as his foes fell back from him with raised shields to defend themselves...

It was at this point that I stopped the game after asking the time, it was 3am Saturday morning and we had started 9pm so our fight had gone on for close to 6 hours and everyone was exhausted. The rest of the fight is to be played next Friday night to mop up the remainder of the Agrikian’s and heal the wounded...

I have I know left probably many things out of the fight and will be reminded as such by the players during this week but this fight for the players was again one hard fought touch and go contest. They were glad to have it nearly over and to survive.

To be continued…