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Senseless Casualty (Session #10)
When Kerzog was informed of Cassandra's growing ire at the White Circle, he decided to go to Karl McKann to discuss changes that might be made. McKann explained that in his mind, a lot of what Cassandra is blaming on the White Circle in actuality has very little to do with the group. The party had made enemies of the Red Fang, and that is who all of their problems were with. However, he was sympathetic with her dilemma, since their grudge with the Red Fang would never had started if they hadn't come to Arkhan. McKann asked Kerzog if he thought the party would have a problem escorting an old priest, Thomas Fulcrum, to a small town about four days travel to the south. McKann explained that Thomas Fulcrum needed protection and the mission would also serve to give the group a little time away from the Red Fang. Hopefully while out of the city Cassandra will feel a bit better about the group.
Two days later, the group had made their final preparations and set off on the road to the south. The first two days came and went uneventfully, but on the third day the group was attacked.
Rushing from the woods, a pair of wild-eyed bears closed on the group. Kerzog and Grundel dismounted and charged to meet the feral beasts. Whistler summoned some celestial dogs to help in the battle, and Cassandra began singing a rousing battle song to inspire her comrades. Kerzog rushed the bear on the left and Grundel headed for the other. The summoned dogs were sent after the one that Grundel was fighting since Kerzog is the strongest fighter of the group.
Cassandra turned invisible so she could support the fighters with her spells and Whistler began emptying his spells into the battle, magic missiles, shocking grasp (delivered by his familiar), and he summoned several more celestial dogs to aid in the battle.
Kerzog was handling his adversary and, although the beast had injured him a couple of times, Cassandra was able to aid him with healing spells. Grundel was holding his own, with the aid of the summoned dogs, until the bear began to transform into a beast somewhere between bear and human. In this hybrid form the werebear flew into a flurry, mauling poor Grundel before his friends were able to come to his aid. Almost simultaneously, Kerzog killed the one he was fighting and with the help of the celestial dogs he was able to bring down the second one as well.
Cassandra and Whistler rushed to Grundel's side to see if they could heal his wounds. Unfortunately, the werebear had nearly removed Grundel's entire head with the killing blow. Thomas Fulcrum, although too frail to aid in the melee, was a priest and he stepped from the cart with a magical staff. He explained that it was a staff of life and he could bring their fallen friend back to life. The staff glowed with a holy white light when he touched it to Grundel's lifeless corpse and a green glow began to form around Grundel's injuries as they healed before their eyes.
The companions waited with baited breath for their companion to open his eyes, but his eyes never opened. Although his body was completely repaired, it seemed that his soul remained in the afterlife. The group, knowing that Grundel would want them to keep his magical items, took them and wrapped his body in a blanket to transport it back to the city to lay his body to rest.
Whistler took the cloak of etherealness, Cassandra took his gloves of dexterity, and Kerzog took the couple of potions that Grundel was carrying.
The companions then settled in for the night, without any of their usual camaraderie.