Death of the Gnoll Queen (Date 2/1/24)

A small group of gnolls in the slave pen explained that they had been placed there as punishment for their worship of Strom. Upon release, they promised to go forth and carry the word of their liberation to all sympathetic gnoll ears, and then to lead those gnolls down to attack the high priestess. Fearing that such help would arrive too late to save Mjelde, the party pressed on, bypassing the lower levels and flying straight to the queen’s tunnels.

Fighting their way through twisting tunnels, the party burst into a larger chamber, occupied by an immense gnoll wearing enchanted armor. Prince Euwyn struck fast and ensnared the entire room in magic webs. The gnoll chieftain roared in rage and ripped through the magic filaments to get at the offending wizard. He was a mighty gnoll, but no match for the party without his team to support him. As he died, he cursed Strom for abandoning him.

In the temple, Mjelde was strapped to the altar, her mind all but stolen by the foul concoction she’d been made to drink. Bellanna stood over her with a cruel looking knife in her hands. Not wasting time on parley, Euwyn enchanted the group with speed, and together, they rushed the dais. Even hasted the party couldn’t arrive fast enough to stay the priestess’s falling hand. Mjelde’s death looked imminent, until one of the gnolls taking part in the ritual cried out for Strom and grappled the priestess, pulling the knife aside. The sub-chief rushed in to assist from a nearby chamber, but was turned back by a wall of fire. He fled the tunnels rather than face the flames.

The fight was theirs! The day, and the tunnels belonged to Malwan. A sizable band gnolls rushed down to see their fallen Queen - her demon servitor already dispatched – and cheered the heroes in Strom’s name.