The Fallen Knight

 The BETA crew are at the entrance to one of the mines at DragonKeep town. The Marshall Drogarr has set himself up quite luxuriously outside the entrance about 50 feet back prompting and calling out to the heroes to come join him in a parley.

[DM: Welcome to a new hero - Valoran. an elf - quite rare since the Deliverance - refugee ranger/archaeologist whom has joined the town guard and is assisting with archery, scouting, hunting and training]

The Mines of DragonKeep

The Marshall's setup

Higher view

Original entrance party went in, now blocked and filling with smoke.

Majority of the party move up to sit and negotiate while Pyra and Valoran hang back in shadows crossbow and bow ready.

The Marshall appears to be of two minds sometimes pleasant and other times sneering and filled with near rage.

Skrit quietly advises the party that perhaps a ceremony and other spells may free what they think is some type of possession.

The strategy was to delay if possible so the Dragonkeep's allies could come to assist [Poet and kobolds, the stone giant brothers, the monks of the 3 Crescent Moon monastery]. Wine is poured for those at the table.

The party note at times his scales have ruby, copper and blue tinge. At other times it is straight black. [DM: Cursed goddess had 3 heads - blue, copper and ruby] - seem to coincide to his possession by what they think is the Cursed Goddess. 

For a moment, the scales change to black, and his demeanor changes and he implores the party to assist him, "I cannot hold Her off!"

Vencer calls over Skrit over to bless his drink and at that point with sweat pouring off him - a unique sight for a scaley creature - the Marshall stands and he digs his claws INTO the hard oak table and it seems there is an external battle in the draconian.

The trog witchdocktor watching closely the interaction sees that Skrit is casting a spell, reacts by casting a prepared spell - Command at the kobold: "Jump!" - with Skrit being near the edge of a ravine - 50' drop. The priest of Istus is able to fight off the urge and casts Protection from evil on the Marshall, hoping this would help the draconian fight the possession. Meantime, the trogs attack the heroes! A screech of pain and anger emanates from the Marshall - the voice of the Cursed Goddess. The black scales seem to become more prevalent. The kobold scuttles under the table, as Vencer yells, "Protect Skrit!" The giant trog picks up the large barrel of wine and hurls at the seated Vencer and Faust. It hits Vencer knocking him back, glancing off Faust for minor damage. The witchdocktor summons a stinking cloud in the area of the party, most affected by the noxious vapours.

The heroes move out of the cloud and engage the trogs. Valoran fires and arrow from his longbow and hits the giant trog doing massive damage to the large monster. Pyra fires from the shadows and cover and hits the same trog expertly. The wizard Vencer moves out of the stinking cloud and summons his shadowblade and attacks the witchdocktor.

As the battle continues Skrit continues to keep the protection from evil on the Marshall as reinforcements. Pyra does an extreme hit on the witchdocktor and this breaks the trog's concentration on the stinking cloud, clearing the area for the party.

Irakul the goliath Echo knight summons his echo and shoves the witchdocktor off the edge of the ravine, falling over the trog holds on with claw. Then the goliath swings the giant's handax at the giant trog. 

At one point in the battle, the Marshall succumbs to the possession of the Cursed Goddess and the draconian lashes out expertly doing extensive damage. Raging back and forth, Skrit casts protection on the Marshall again which allows the draconian to fight it again! Every time the party attacks the Marshall it seems to push the draconian towards the possession, so the party decide to hold off attacking even though the Marshall is deadly with the blade.

Defeating all the trogs, the party is victorious - for now as they see a large group of trogs coming up the roadway from the town. 

The Marshall wounded by the party's attacks, Skrit summoning the party of his goddess to force the power from the draconian as he falls to the ground face-first. Skrit starts a ceremony to start the removal of the possession.

Thinking quickly, tells the party to retreat into the mine entrance with Marshall Drogarr. Vencer casts disguise self and impersonates the Marshall talking to the trogs. Impersonating the Marshall, Vencer angrily tells the trogs to return to the main town, that an agreement was reached with the adventurers.

[DM: dice rolls..] The trogs bow deeply and retreat to the town. It seems they now have time to continue and remove the full possession of the Marshall.

Success by Skrit, Vencer and Faust work together to perform the rites to do this. 

After time passes, Skrit can confirm fully that the draconian is no longer possessed by the Cursed Goddess. The Marshall.. "I am no longer Marshall Drogarr!", He laughs out loud, grinning toothily. his scales a full gleaming deep black, I am Sir Raknell - Paladin of St. Cuthbert!"

The knight, or it seems after some discussion the fallen knight - currently not a paladin - until he performs acts of contrition to his god - St. Cuthbert.

Discussion further they realize the trogs cannot stay, they have evil intent mainly, including slavery. The trogs are from caverns South of the monastery of the Three Crescent Moons. The knight suggests not to kill them, but strike a deal showing power rather than fighting them.

Vencer agrees to use his magic to disguise himself and that a new truce is struck with the town folks and the trogs return to their lands in the underdark. There is a chest - payment to the trogs for the work to assist the Marshall.

Vencer again performs well and orders the trogs to leave, which they do carrying the chest - which takes 4 of the strong trogs. There was a dire moment when the lead trog spoke to Vencer/Dragon Marshall in a language the wizard does not know. Thinking quickly, Faust casts Tongues through the invisible Mephisto the imp hovering nearby. By doing this, Vencer is able to understand and recover and speaks to the trogs in the language they understand. "When all three moons are blue, we will be in contact." The trogs bow down and worship the Marshall.

"When two moons become red, march upon the city of Rastor. And door is not painted red, burn to the ground!" [Vencer has to remember to tell all innocents in Rastor - if any - in the town when 2 of the 3 moons turn red]

As the last trog finally leaves, the townsfolk released.. a calm comes over the town and then cheers and shouts and laughter, crying and much joy and emotion form all the people. 

The town of Dragonkeep is now once again safe!

[DM: Updates on the BETA crew will come later as they recover.] We turn the camera to the RedWater Fellowship..