Chapter VII : The Abandoned Village - The Adventure

The scenario is here.

The estate was abandoned by the time the three adventurers arrived; a chilling death scream greeted them, as a huge and malevolent spider squeezed its way onto the roof.  Turanian cavalrymen galloped out to meet the intruders.

Brude and Chimène both managed, however, to reach to the fear and loyalty in the Turanians' hearts, and have them join the Sultan's side.  Whilst Zoraya looted a wagon and scattered baggage in the search for clues, protected by a new ally, Brude fended off a rain of javelins with his shield.

Chimène headed around the back, where her Turanian ally and her had to face the Giant Spider.

Brude and Zoraya fought a running battle against the Hyrkanian bandits, their javelins bringing down the Turanian soldier.  Zoraya decided to counter-attack, cutting a swathe through them and leaving four dead.

Meanwhile Brude pulled back to the gate, dragging the Turanian's inert body with him, and intending to rifle through some crates and go over the bodies of a handful of dead servants to find out more about the brothers' intentions.

Whilst Chimène sent her Turanian soldier to help at the gate, and slid under the hairy legs of her enemy, through the house door, Zoraya slipped through the fighting, to throw her spear into the swollen body of the Giant Spider.  It did considerable damage, but did not kill the beast.

Chimène reached the fourth brother just in time to hear his dying gasp, his last breath carrying precious information.  The company could have escaped, had not the Giant Spider then cast a sticky web over Zoraya. It was its last deed, as Chimène emerged vengeful from the building, and cut it down.

The time needed by Zoraya to cut herself free from the web, gave the Hyperborean Witchman the means to summon a Giant Snake and thrust it into action.  It slithered over to Chimène, wounding her although her lithe dodging saved her from much greater harm.

The last remaining Turanian was more watching this, with wide eyes, than fighting; Brude managed to convince him to change sides.  This changed the ebb and flow at the gate, allowing Brude to sprint over to help Chimène.  His blow hurt the snake, enough for it to let Chimène free from its coils.  The two of them slipped away in the chaos.

Zoraya cut down the two remaining Hyrkanians, and managed to get away !

Victory for the heroes, who leave the board at the end of their 6th turn.

Both Zoraya and Chimène bear a wound, coming out of the village.

Zoraya had to leave her spear in the carcass of the Giant Spider, as Chimène had no time to pull it out.  Brude, who had given her his shield during the fighting, now took it back in exchange for the Zingaran Breastplate he had found.

For having defeated the Overlord, and discovered all five clues, all three adventurers acquire +2 XP.  Chimène, for having slain the Giant Spider, gains an additional +1 XP. 

The group convinced three Turanian soldiers to change sides.  Although one of them was put of out action defending Brude, it turned out he was only stunned, and Zoraya managed to drag him away.

This was a straightforward scenario, but surprisingly tense.  The Overlord has quite a lot of control over the length of the River, and if he plays it well, can keep the Heroes under a lot of pressure, especially if he can get the Giant Snake on board.  The choice of quickly converting Turanian soldiers, despite it being more difficult, was a wise one, since their "Sacrifice" ability is a useful shield against the numerous shooting attacks.