Session 32

The Party arrived back at the Dark Garden Spire with the wolfsbane for Mizar Stanfield to create an antidote for the lycanthropy affecting the town. Mizar told Typhon and the others that it would take several hours to brew the concoction, so Typhon decided to go hunting for a short time. Bloodbane, Vigwalin, Sylrieth, and Qimys all remained behind in the tower, exhausted from the day's adventure. Sir Didymus accompanied Typhon on the foray.   Outside, Typhon and Sir Didymus searched the immediate area for small prey, but failed to find anything. He eventually elected to send out his familiar, Hootie, to scout out farther ahead. Farther ahead, Hootie spotted movement. Typhon moved in for a better look, leaving Sir Didymus about 100 feet behind him. In the distance, Typhon could make out the large pale creature. It was a bulette; a fearsome beast that had nearly bested the entire Party several days earlier. Typhon laid out his bear trap that he acquired in Bellhollow and cast prestidigitation to lure the creature over to him.   The bulette took the bait. It came charging at the bear trap, triggering it instantly. It shook the trap off, nearly knocking Typhon down, who was hiding in a nearby bush. As Sir Didymus approached the area from the south, the bulette sensed the movement in the ground. It began to charge. Just then, it knocked Typhon over and shifted its focus. Its massive maw snapped on Typhon's leg sending shockwaves of pain through the elf's body. Typhon attempted to flee, by casting misty step to remove himself from the immediate danger, but the bulette followed with a leap, dealing additional damage to the wizard. Just then, Sir Didymus arrived and launched an arrow that hit the creature between its armored plates.. The monster turned its rage to the halfling ranger, dealing tremendous damage again and again with its crushing jaws.   Typhon took the air and launched a firebolt at it, dealing little damage. He set himself down, and hoped to cast dimensional door to ex-filtrate himself and the ranger in a last ditch attempt at survival. He failed and the beast landed upon them just as Sir Didymus got there. Typhon began to get desperate and cast wall of ice from his staff which dealt tremendous damage. A few more shots from both Party members and the creature was defeated.   The bruised but victorious duo returned to the tower and rested for the evening. Mizar worked tirelessly through the night on the lycanthropy antidote. By the morning, he presented the slightly yellow concoctions to the Party in a neat little box. He told them to pour it into the city's water supply and be done with it. As the group left, they took one bottle and poured it into Mizar's personal well, just in case it turned out to be poisonous.   The Party arrived at the top of the karst-style steps about 20 minutes later. They walked past the Church of Eldath, carefully keeping an eye out for any church workers, and then made their directly to the fountain. They poured the remaining potions directly into the fountain, hopeful that they would work.   The group then headed to Steel Wings, the local blacksmith shop run by Geathag Dayfinder Valu-Niago. While there, Sir Didymus placed an order for 20 silvered arrows which would be ready for him later that same day. The group then decided to confront Theric and headed toward the church.   Along the way, they ran into Parker Adams. He told the Party that they'd followed up on their information regarding Ovrul Rend's camp, but that it had been abandoned. Typhon brought Parker up to speed on everything that had gone on before, and Parker offered his help along with that of his men. The wizard requested that Parker go into the church to get a sense of Theric, while the rest of them headed to the tavern for a few moments. Parker sent his men - Agents Gaston, Hektor, and Vardon - to accompany the Party.   The group entered the dingy tavern known as The Spicy Sun Tavern where they thanked Gormudark for his hospitality the other day. They informed him that things should be getting better very soon. With that, the group returned to the church where they saw Parker exiting.   Parker confirmed their suspicions about Theric being... off. He was clearly hiding something, so the group decided to confront him. Typhon would play good cop, while Parker would play bad cop.   The group entered an otherwise empty church. Theric stood there at the back, and three other lower priests were fumbling around within earshot. Very soon, the group began levying accusations against Theric, claiming he was behind the curse that had infected so many. Parker was visibly getting under his skin, and Typhon's keen eyes noticed it. He could see the elven priest's clothes get tighter, a vein in his neck began to throb, and a small nearly imperceptable growl could be heard coming from the back of his throat...