Return to Tharbad, Part 3

 The finale of the Return to Tharbad...

With Karnov killing the last of the Beastmen, Lenore and knights join him and are ready to attack the western side of the Research Facility!

Lenore: *looks to Karnov* Maybe you should give the men some encouraging words?

Karnov: Remember men... Whatever doesnt kill you... really hurts bad... and makes you sick. Makes you want to do nothing. And makes you remember for a long time that it sucked.

Lenore: Are you sure those are encouraging words?

The Night Hag Esmerelda thought she could hide behind the Shoggoth and cast spells safely. When suddenly Balthazar uses his big "once per game" spell Void Rift! A swirling vortex of darkness rips thru the fabric of space time and sucks a Beastmen into the Void... and the Night Hag as well! It also damages the Shoggoth. So now the Shoggoth is down to a measly 11 wounds left.  :(

Balthazar: That Shoggoth is one tough SOB!

Shoggoth strangles and suffocates some knights and Malekith!

Malekith: Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads..."

Balthazar: Thats effin John Denver! You gotta be kidding.

Malekith: Oh no, I never kid about John Denver. I think I will sit the rest of this one out... *faints*

Balthazar: Just rest easy there buddy. Let the rest of us handle this.

King Gourd approaches the Shoggoth! We knew this had to happen didnt we? Dwarf king versus the giant Mythos beastie. And we wouldnt have it any other way. Its eternal glory or tragic death!

King Gourd: Things happen bad sometimes.

Balthazar: Words to live by. Good luck, your highness...

On the eastern side, some dwarves are able to kill the Avatar of Dagon. One of the dwarves searches an item stash and finds... the Powder of Ibn-Ghazi!

Avatar of Dagon: Foiled again!

With all the items needed to craft a Mythos Bomb-Omb, Balthazar looks at his book of spells to talk Karnov through the process.

"Balthazar the Blue: *giving directions to the barbarian* Stick the Silver Key into the Servitor Flute then sprinkle the Powder of Ibn-Ghazi over it and voila!
 
Karnov the Barbarian: I dont like holding this thing its fleshy and it pulsates.

Balthazar the Blue: Ok now... it says you must blow into it...

Karnov the Barbarian: Youre lying! It doesnt say that, give me the parchment!

Balthazar the Blue: Get a grip, the Shoggoth is getting closer...

Lenore the Valkyrie: Just do it! Close your eyes and think happy thoughts! This is no time for pride.

Balthazar the Blue: Dude, the skin flute must be blown!

Everyone: Blow the flute! Blow the flute! Blow the flute! *Karnov blows* Yay we did it! We peer pressured a barbarian prince!"

The shoggoth takes 6 wounds! But it still lives. Still.

Lenore speeds towards the building and begins to smack at the foundations. Orcs are on the way to stop the vandals. Karnov and a knight meet the Orcs in combat.

The Snake Lady cleans up behind the Shoggoth and eliminates more vandals.

Balthazar mindmelds with the Shoggoth using his Control Mind spell. The Shoggoth loses a turn.

Balthazar: I couldn't help but notice your pain!

Shoggoth : My pain?

Balthazar: It runs deep, share it with me... and gain strength from the sharing.

Karnov and the remaining knight arrive to help Lenore destroy the building. And they bring it down! The building collapses and turns into a smaller pile of ruins. All thats left to do to complete the mission is to slay the Shoggoth!

The last Beastmen and the Snake Lady scramble to defend the Shoggoth who is down to 2 wounds. King Gourd is at death's door himself with one wound left!

The Beastmen leaps on Balthazar and nearly kills him with only 1 wound left. Everyone seems to be on the verge of death now. And the game is on the last turn!

A dwarf warrior joins his king in a last ditch attempt to slay the Shoggoth! A human gunner also joins the effort!

The dwarf warrior and the gunner find themselves unable to help, as the Shoggoth's Suffocate ability renders them unable to attack it. Its up to the dwarf king. King Gourd has 3 attacks and with his Rune sword negating enemy saves all he has to do is hit the Shoggoth twice by rolling 5+. He only rolls one...

As the sun sets and the moon casts its light on the Shoggoth, it heals all its wounds. The heroes and their remaining allies retreat.  But they did destroy the Tharbad Research Facility even if they failed to slay the Shoggoth. So its still a minor victory for the heroes!

When the survival roll was made for Malekith the Anti-Paladin, he did not survive! All hail the glorious dead!

~~~

Another one for the books, I say. Another battle that hung on the edge of a knife. Thanks again to buddies Steve and Joe for playing it out.

Im sad that Malekith died, but it was a glorious death. For a while I thought the dwarf king would be another glorious death, but he survived, barely. In some ways, Im also glad Shoggoth survived too. He isnt really evil, he just needs cuddles and someone to tell him he is a good boy.

So whats next? Battle-wise I think we have to go see the Far Easterlings for a change. Maybe throw in Goldberry and her Rogues to help out. A battle in the swamps...  Battle of the Cabin in the Wetwangs. A bit of a mouthful, but thats what I got for now.

Oh, and painting-wise, I have a kennel of Kobolds (dog faced tribe) that I want to paint up. For this blog campaign but also for an upcoming Knights and Magick campaign. Im thinking Gnolls and Wargs will round out the army. Maybe a 3 headed Cerberus too. So its an all canine army looking to wage war for kibbles and bits! I might have to make a small blog post about my gaming filled Thanksgiving too. Good times. Until next post, whatever it might be...

Cheers,

Mar