01-22-963: The Demise of Granny Preant

Tension hung in the air as Luci grabbed hold of Granny Preant's broomstick.  With a muttered oath in a long-lost language, the hag began to plan the party's demise.  In a flash of light Dendra empowers her angelic form, sprouting glowing wings from her back and rushing into the air toward Granny Preant.  Fighting off kicks from Luci, Granny Preant produced a clay pot with rats painted on its side, and threw a handful of mice toward Sinata. Although they miss the masked monk, the mice transform on impact, reavealing a mass of goblin and kobold limbs flailing in a pile on the ground. Atop them, one goblin in a necklace of severed scaly feet shouts in defiance and is recognized as the Booyahg from the party's first meeting.

With a wink and a cackle, Preant disappeared, commanding her broom to take Luci away from the fight.  The remaining party members searched in vain for the invisible hag, but she soon reappeared, tossing a large brown rat this time. Beside Nexus and Chedvah, a massive Ogre appeared from the corpse of the rat. Despite a desparate plea in giant from Nexus, the ogre proceeded to deal a massive blow to Chedvah, forcing her to retreat around the witch's hut to engage Granny Preant herself. The ogre, having been nearly missed by a witch bolt from Yuk-Yuk, nearly turned the charming goblin into a fine red mist. However, sympathy from Nexus changed the Booyahg's fate at the last moment, allowing the diminutive green rascal to disappear into the bushes and sling more spells. Meanwhile, Luci gained control of the broom and was harrying Granny Preant and the Ogre. In a coordinated effort to take out the troublesome broom-thief, Preant was able to paralyze Luci in front of the Ogre, which then clobbered him, causing a hex placed on him earlier in the fight to activate and cause further harm.

As Dendra fought, she noticed the ring that was given to her by St. Mattathias had disappeared from her finger, confirming that she was on the path her patrons intended. She wielded Rasen and her other sword against Granny Preant, while the talking sword thirsted and screamed for the chance to destroy evil in her mind. Despite this, Dendra was unable to land a hit with Rasen, driving the sword to a frenzy.  She did, however, manage to decapitate the massive ogre with a flourish, signalling to Granny Preant that the tides may be turning against her.  

In a bit of desparation, Granny Preant called in her favor with Sinata, ordering him to pour a mysterious vial labelled "Eldmother Iggwilv's Mystic Mover" into the cauldron in her hut before disappearing again. In an effort to stop whatever the hag was planning, Nexus began casting a spell to stop Sinata where he stood, but Granny Preant reappeared by the door to her hut and dissipated the magics Nexus was bringing to bear against his friend. Sinata ran into the hut and hesitated over the cauldron, noticing the wizened form of Grandmother Gaerta sitting calmly at the table. She offered him a deal, promising to take on the task of protecting the villagers of Constag if Sinata saw to Preant's end. 

With renewed resolve, Sinata turned on the hag whom he had dealt with and let loose a series of solid hits, even using the powers he had learned to inflict greater harm. With Chedvah blocking her escape and Sinata harrying from behind, Granny Preant tried to wrest the vial from Sinata but failed, leaving her exposed. Taking advantage of the opening, Luci flew in through the open window on the broom and finished the hag off with a quick series of strikes.  

Although their enemies lay defeated, the party was not out of the woods. Still bellowing for the chance to destroy evil, Rasen and Dendra fought for control in the aftermath of the fight. While she had control, Dendra was able to explain what was happening to Nexus, who bargained one of Yuk-Yuk's kobold slaves from him before they ran off.  Presenting the old, confused kobold to Dendra and Rasen, the sword took a swing at the kobold, grievously wounding it.  Having sated its thirst, Rasen fell silent, allowing Dendra to drop it to the ground.  Chedvah was able to restore the kobold to health, and explained that it had earned its freedom, bidding it run and find a new place to live.

Inside the hut, as the shriveled body of Granny Preant blackened and burned, producing a thick oily smoke, Luci recovered the missing Page and a strange circular black cloth.  As he exited, Sinata turned to find Grandmother Gaerta returned and sipping on a cup of tea.  She thanked Sinata for his services, and confirmed that both he and his fellow villagers remained under her protection. Gaerta asked Sinata for the vial he held, but he asked for the answer to a question first, inquiring where the curse on his village came from.  With a wry smile, Gaerta explained that the ancient city of Aerdi had been cursed by a circle of Archmages, and the ruin that had been discovered by his village was the ruined palace of the city's ruling magi.  It appears that over the years, a weakened form of the curse persisted and now afflicted the people of Constag.  Satisfied that he had a new lead, Sinata handed over the vial to Gaerta, who disappeared as the fabric of reality seemed to fold over her. 

Meanwhile, Nexus spent time with the strange cloth Luci found, determining it to be a portable hole, and worked on deciphering the recovered page. It appeared to be a continuation of the account of the battle against Tharizdun, and a prophecy about the son of Pelor. During the battle, the right hand and son of Pelor was imprisoned by Tharizdun. Though unable to free him at the time, a time will come when he must be freed to avert a coming disaster.  Inside the hole, the party found a hoard of gold and rare ingredients, along with a few dried severed heads and a painting giving off a magical aura. Luci also captured a white rat from Granny Preant's pot, and found a cage to keep it in.

Having emerged victorious from the battle, the party rested and considered their next steps.  With their new fortune, it seems a shopping trip is on the horizon. Once the page is returned to the Archive and ticket from Nicodiemas, the Beggar Prince is given to someone of means, it appears our hero's time in the City of the Gods will come to its end.  What comes next?  Perhaps the answers they seek lie within the hallowed halls of Gantrick's most prestigious arcane institute: The Gold Tower.