11. Physandos and Friends

We take a portal to the Sheltered Wood, and are following the path to the outskirts of the Torrian village where we first spoke to Physandos. Reggie and Hadrai spot a strange bird with a forked tail flying high above. When we round the corner, we see Gruthow.

"Adventurers! You have no business here! Turn and go!"

Lycia thinks that Gruthow is not possessed, he's just being an asshole who thinks we're a threat. He's exhibiting body language that makes Magnus think he's afraid of us. Magnus tells him we're going to the cave to rescue our friends, but Gruthow says it's too dangerous for his people. Lycia moves in to talk to them and try to convince them that they shouldn't live as slaves. He isn't having any of it, and asserts that Physandos killed all the Torrians under the age of 15 when the last adventuring party failed.

He asks that we demonstrate our powers to him to let us through, and Lycia realizes that this is Physandos asking. Magnus walks up and hits him.

Hadrai fires swarming spirits at Gruthow for 19 hp and blinding him. Rrrgrr recognizes the younger middle-ages Torrians as thugs, easily led around and didn't seem to mind Physandos. He rushes in between Gruthow and another Torrian and attacks with five storms, hitting Gruthow for 15 hp, then uses his flurry of blows to do 8 hp to Gruthow and 2 thugs, moving them aside. Reggie makes the nearest Torrian his quarry, fires a bitingg volley at him and Gruthow, hitting them both for 21 hp. The Torrians move in to attack Magnus and Rrrgrr, and then a possessed Torgen comes out and attacks Reggie, Lycia and Hadrai for 13 hp. Lycia swings a Righteous Brand at Torgen, and he steps out of the way. Gruthow, blinded, swings and misses, and shifts backward. Magnus swings at all of the Torrians, hitting two of them for 22 hp and marking all of them.

Hadrai fey steps away, fires grappling spirits at Gruthow, bloodying him and slowing him. When he is bloodied, demonic spirits affect Magnus and Rrrgrr, stunning them, then Hadrian spends an action point and fires another grappling spirits at him. Rrrgrr is stunned. Reggie shifts back, quarries Torgen and fires at him with a pinning shot. The Torrians roar and poison Rrrgrr, but Magnus resists. Torgen pronounces a blasphemous word, regains hit points and slides between Lycia and Reggie, hitting Reggie for 18 hp. Lycia hits Torgen with inspiring strike, healing Reggie and dealing 35 hp. Gruthow steps back and blasts Rrrgrr for 18 hp, dazing and bloodying him. Magnus uses thicket of blades on the Torrians for 39 hp, bloodying and slowing two of them.

Hadrai fires savage archery at Gruthow and one of the other Torrians, hitting the Torrian but missing Gruthow. Rrrgrr takes poison damage, uses purifying meditation to overcome daze, then uses Five Storms to shift next to Gruthow and then uses Crane Dance on Gruthow and the Torrians, moving among them and attacking them, hitting *all* of them and knocking them prone. He uses flurry of blows on the nearest Torrian and kills him, and throws a dagger at Gruthow, and then saves against poison. Reggie puts away his bow, draws his sword and swings a twin strike at Torgen for 9 hp. One of the Torrians stands and roar at Magnus and Rrrgrr, missing them. The other one stands and attacks Magnus for 7 hp and remains slowed. Torgen yells out a curse that heals him again, then swings the axe at Lycia and Reggie, hitting Lycia for 13 hp. Lycia uses healing word on Rrrgrr, unbloodying him, then hits Torgen for 17 hp. Gruthow stands and moves behind a tent for partial cover, then fires at Rrrgrr and misses. Magnus draws attacks of opportunity from the Torrians as he charges Gruthow and misses.

Hadrai moves out and misses Gruthow. Rrrgrr uses Five Storms to move between the two Torrians and attack them, knocking one of them out. Reggie hits Torgen with Shadow Wasp Strike for 23 hp, bloodying him, then uses an action point to miss with twin strike. The other Torrian moves away from Rrrgrr and claws at him, missing. Torgen swings and misses Lycia, but crits Reggie for 32 hp. Lycia swings healing strike at Torgen and misses, uses healing word on Reggie. Gruthow swings his implement at Magnus for 8 hp, dazing him, then moves away from Magnus. Magnus shifts and attacks the Torrian.

Hadrai fires and misses Gruthow, then runs up next to him and draws his sword. Rrrgrrr uses Dancing Cobra to move up on Gruthow and attacks him with step between worlds, knocking him out, and he pleads with Rrrgrr to not let them kill any more Torrians. Reggie uses Careful Attack on Torgen for 12 hp. Torrian claws Magnus for 12 hp. Torgen crits Reggie for 35 hp, bloodying him again. Lycia hits Torgen for 22 hp with recovery strike, uses inspiring word on Reggie, unbloodying him. Magnus hits the last Torrian and knocks him out.

Hadrai fires a Flickerring Arrow into Torgen, nearly killing him but Lycia stabilizes him. Magnus senses that Physando's power inside Torgen is much weakened, but not absent. Lycia recalls that Gruthow did not seem to be possessed, but that he was using all kinds of attack powers that Torrians don't usually have, because he had a demonic rod. Magnus smashes the rod, and Torgen is freed from Physandos's influence.

We move between the tents, using cover to hide from the bird. Rrrgrr suggests going through the mercantile area. Hadrai climbs to the top of a 30' building to get a better view, but blows his stealth check. We hear rustles of movement throughout the area, although we don't see anything yet. Hadrai spots a Torrian hidden in some rubble, and he seems to have applied some paint or dye to his face and body.

Hadrai moves up and fires at the Torrian, killing him. He then spots four more Torrians hiding among the rubble. The Torrians move in, one attacks Magnus. Reggie steps out of the shadows and knocks out the Torrian next to him. Magnus uses crushing surge and knocks out a Torrian. Rrrgrr moves past a Torrrian, taking 7 damage, and then attacks with dancing cobra, knocking him out. Lycia moves to follow Magnus and Rrrgrr.

Xiu reveals herself as the Torrian sneaking around the corner to attack Reggie for 15 hp. Hadrai moves over, fires grappling spirits for 24 hp at Xiu. One Torrian rushes to attack Reggie for 7 hp, two others attack Rrrgrr for 14 hp. Reggie stows his bow, quarries Xiu and quick draws his sword to twin strike, missing her and the Torrian behind him. Magnus moves back and sees 2 Torrians attacking Reggie, moves in to attack the actual Torrian and knocks it out. Rrrgrr uses five storms, knocking out both Torrians next to him, and then he runs over to another one. Lycia runs down the alley to come out behind one of the Torrians.

Xiu vanishes when she uses a ruby ring. Hadrai gains blindsight, misses a Torrian, runs to the edge of the roof and spots Xiu. Torrians attack Lycia and Rrrgrr, and miss. Reggie moves to the end of the alley and attacks the Torrian attacking Lycia, knocking him out. Magnus moves toward where he hears Xiu is. Rrrgrr takes out the last two Torrians and uses dancing cobra to move nearer to Xiu. Lycia moves up next to Xiu, uses her action point to wrap Xiu in burning silver flame, then attacks Xiu for 17 hp.

Xiu attacks Lycia with bait and switch, missing her. Hadrai fey steps to the next building and hits Xiu with a flickering arrow, bloodying her. Reggie moves toward the fight and sheathes his swords. Magnus moves up and bull charges Xiu, hits her and knocks her prone. Rrrgrr steps between worlds to flank Xiu, uses tormented spirit to hit Xiu and knock her out. Magnus smashes the ring, and Lycia dispels Physandos from Xiu's body.

After a brief rest (and milestone), we continue on our way to Physandos's cave. We enter another marketplace area. Magnus sees Alain standing in the center of the town addressing the Torrians and Zargosz Duhr. There are Mezzodemons surrounding the crowd as well. Rrrgrr and Lycia see shadow demons perched on a few buildings. From above, there's a horrible scream/caw and the bird has spotted us. Alain is giving a speech convincing the Torrians that they are doing well under the control of Physandos, and how the alliance with the "Friends" has been very beneficial and the town will thrive now that they're out from under the thumb of the silver-cloaked champions.

Lycia notices that Zargosz has been influenced by Xoriat. Alain shouts "attack" and all the Torrians pounce in unison, and three of them attack Magnus for 21 hp. Lycia climbs the building and then jumps down on the other side. Shadow demons launch from their perches and fly into alleyways, one makes a diving attack on Lycia but misses her. Reggie climbs up the building and fires a biting volley at Alain for 30 hp. Rrrgrr holds for Hadrai. Mezzodemon moves up and uses poison breath on Lycia and misses. Hadrai fires swarming bats, knocking out half of the Torrians. Rrrgrr moves amongst the remaining Torrians and takes out three of them, leaving two in the cloud of bats, then uses his action point to use five storms and take out the last two Torrians. Zargosz summons a tremor that hits Rrrgrr and Magnus with tentacles, then uses an action point to crit Magnus for 24 psychic damage, causing him to attack Rrrgrr for 18 hp. Mezzodemon attacks Lycia. Alain fires a blast at Lycia, giving her a -3 to attack rolls. Magnus takes damage and shakes off the slowed effect, bloodying him, and uses blood iron to gain resist damage until the end of the encounter, takes his second wind, spends an action point to bull charge Alain, but he misses.

Lycia moves and uses solar wrath to hit the Mezzodemons for 17 hp, stunning them all. Shadow demons crit Magnus for 16 hp (with his resistance), other one hits Lycia. Reggie quarries a Mezzodemon, fires splintering shot at Alain and misses thanks to his shield, doing half damage and giving him a -1 to attacks. Mezzodemons are stunned. Hadrai leaps over, fires and misses a Shadow Demon. Rrrgrr steps between worlds next to Alain, attacks with tormented spirit for 21 hp and weakens him, uses centered flurry of blows to do more damage to him, then throws dagger at Zargosz, then uses action point to hit him for 19 hp and saves against slowed, doing 5 more damage to Alain. Zargosz aims a tentacle at Rrrgrr and crits him for 22 hp, who resists 15 with iron dragon defense, but is now grabbed. Zargosz uses his action point and misses Rrrgrr. Alain regains hit points, draws strength from Zargosz's aura and is no longer bloodied, then uses repulsion strike on Magnus for 9 hp (which he resists). Magnus uses appalling crunch on Alain for 35 hp, bloodying him again, then uses a minor action to regain bull charge with his power jewel, then spends an action point to use come and get it, hitting Alain, Zargosz and a Mezzodemon, knocking Alain out. Hadrai spots the "bird" coming down fast, which is the adamantine dragon.

Lycia moves to attack Zargosz with avenging flame for 25 hp, giving him ongoing 5 fire, then spends an action point to use strengthen the faithful on Zargosz and she misses. Shadow demons fly into the dark cloud over Alain and start flying up. Reggie fires at Zargosz and Mezzodemon and misses. Mezzodemon beast lord vanishes into an alley. Hadrai hits Zargosz with savage archery. Rrrgrr uses strike the avalanche on Zargosz, bloodying him.

The dragon absorbs the shadow cloud and shadow demons, and they fly away. The demons flee, and when we destroy Zargosz's staff he is returned to us. Then we take an extended rest.