======Sixth session - 15 November 2002 - The Wrath of the Rain King======

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All six players in attendance:

| Chris | [[Roderick]] | Cleric/3 |
| Dave  | [[Aramil]]   | Ranger/3 |
| Jim   | [[Roget]]    | Fighter/3 |
| Ken   | [[Vincent]]  | Rogue/2, Ranger/1 |
| Kurt  | [[Dhersion]] | Bard/3 |
| Val   | [[Kesi]]     | Monk/3 |

Shortly after 10 AM on March 10, 1108, the young girl named Aprili
rushes in to Gilda's field to warn the party that the Rain King has
arrived!  She reports that an army was marching on Adoette just minutes
ago.  Unfortunately, she fled the village before she could learn much
about the approaching troops, other than there were "dozens" of men.

After a brief debate, [[Roget]] instructs [[Kesi]] and [[Vincent]] to independently
scout Adoette so that they can learn the size of the force.  [[Aramil]]
heads into the woods toward the village to act as a forward sentry.  The
others ready their equipment and prepare to flee.  [[Dhersion]] (who is
carrying the Rain King's staff) hides himself outside the clearing, in
anticipation of arriving soldiers.

[[Vincent]] arrives at Adoette first and spots three pairs of soldiers on
guard.  He keeps hidden and circles around the village, observing (as
best he can) how many soldiers are visible.  Unfortunately, as they have
established a fairly sizeable perimeter, he learns little of what is
happening inside.

On the way to Adoette, [[Kesi]] encounters a group of six soldiers heading
in the general direction of the clearing.  She avoids them and continues
on to the village, where she finds a suitable tree to climb and is able
to observe past the sentries into the center.

Back at the clearing, [[Aramil]] spots the arriving soldiers and hides
himself while they pass.  [[Roderick]] and [[Roget]] greet them as they enter
the clearing.  The leader orders them to lower their weapons, though a
confusion with the language complicates the dialog.  After an awkward
standoff, two of the soldiers reluctantly advance, at which point [[Roget]]
signals the hidden archers ([[Aramil]] and [[Dhersion]]) to fire warning shots.
The arrows spook the six soldiers, and they flee back toward Adoette.

When [[Vincent]] and [[Kesi]] return to the clearing, they compare notes and
determine that the army consists of 60-80 men.  There are perhaps a
dozen experienced soldiers, several archers, a female magician, and
three robed persons (bureaucrats? clerics?).  The bulk of the people
appear to be reluctant conscripts or squires and other non-combatants.

Since the size of the army is beyond the party's comfort level, they
decide to flee.  [[Dhersion]] and [[Kesi]] return to the woods to scout the
expected soldiers, while the others head off trail to the NW.

Soon, a clumsy, fast-moving army arrives at the clearing.  They consist
of the leader, nine veterans, an archer, the magician, one "bureaucrat",
and about 30 conscripts.  They encircle the clearing and approach from
several directions at once - all the while being carefully observed by
[[Dhersion]].

With no enemy in the clearing, they group together to discuss their next
plans.  The magician apparently then scans the area for magic, focusing
most of her attention on the dying fire from which Gilda was sent home.

When the army begins to follow the trail left by the main party,
[[Dhersion]] opens fire from his covered location and succeeds in disrupting
the conscripted soldiers.  It takes the leaders several minutes to
regroup their forces - at which point [[Dhersion]] is nowhere to be found.
After a couple such incidents, the army realizes it is far out of its
element and returns toward Adoette.

[[Kesi]], after scouting some more, heads NW away from Adoette, and
eventually catches up with the fleeing main party.  Shortly thereafter,
[[Dhersion]] also heads NW, but sets up camp a mile or two outside the
village - just far enough off the road to avoid being seen.

The main group, having left around noon, and confined to the woods for
the first two miles, covers only eight miles before they decide to set
up camp for the night.

On the morning of March 11, [[Roderick]] wishes to perform a divination
spell, but is rebuffed by the party - who insist that they head out onto
the road as soon as possible.

Back outside Adoette, [[Dhersion]] spots the army as they march NW away from
the village.  He once again uses his skills to hide and fire to disrupt
the soldiers.  This time, he targets one of the horses pulling the
army's supply cart.  After several minutes of confusion, the army splits
in two groups - the leader, three veterans, four archers, the magician,
and 10 conscripts continue NW, while the remainder (including all three
"bureaucrats" return toward Adoette).

Farther north, at the mid-day break, [[Roderick]] insists that the party
allow him to cast his Augury spell.  They agree and he asks Imhotep
whether the party should return toward Adoette to find [[Dhersion]] and face
the army.  Instead of the usual answer, [[Roderick]] is instead sent another
vision.  This time, the same young woman he saw in the dead village of
Gressa.  She says simply, "[[Dhersion]] is helping me."

As this is a clear sign to [[Roderick]] that the party should turn back, a
heated debate ensues.  Eventually (after much yelling) they agree to
continue NW.  However, after only two miles, they encounter another
village.  [[Vincent]] is sent in alone to negotiate, and he soon returns
with an agreement from the village chief that they will assist the party
defend the village against the Rain King's army (which is assumed to be
on its way).

Behind them on the road, the smaller, leaner army is indeed approaching,
and [[Dhersion]] is right behind...

XP awarded: 500 each, Running Total: 6,000.  Everybody gets to fourth level.