When In Doubt, Go Straight To the Top

Our merry band re-met (finally) and set forth to carry out the plan of assaulting the lighthouse ("Have fun stormin' the castle"). In typical fashion for us, we decided that a direct frontal assault (with the dozen visible guards likely being only an appetizer) was probably not in our best interest. Luckily, everyone in the party can either a) fly or b) walk on walls. So we found a boat (really? in a port city? Go figure...), slipped out to the lighthouse by water, and then went straight to the top, bypassing all the undoubted nastiness in the intervening levels.

We peeked under the construction tarp to see a local Sealord nobleman in deep conversation with an important-looking Lizard Man (Lizards? Again?) This took us greatly by surprise, because we had never known the local nobility to be anything other than upstanding and honorable (when they weren't trying to kill us, that is). While this confab was taking place, several lizardmen guards watched while an assortment of bedraggled slaves worked on the last finishing touches of whatever demon-summoning device this thing really was (I mean, why would cultist lizardmen want a lighthouse.

Predictably, we set our minds to freeing the slaves and wiping out the lizards. First, to soften up the battlefield, Brian stuck his hand in, yelled "Hey! Look here!", then cast Flash followed by Concussion. This not only took many lizards (and slaves) out of commission; it completely shattered the glass dome all of this was taking place under, to interesting effect. If nothing else, it was dramatic.

Having suitably prepared the battlefield, the rest of us charged in. Everything went swimmingly for a while - Craig did his best ginsu impression, Bill hit three eye shots in a row, and Jeff got to go toe-to-toe with a big nasty lizard who wasn't nearly as big and nasty as Jeff. Assorted spells flew, and we were all having a great 'n wonderful time.

Then, just as we thought everything would be hunky-dory, the Big Rock Thing came ambling up the stairs. It was sort of a cross between the rock-monster in "Galaxy Quest" and a Balrog; we tried "Balrette" and even "Balarina" as possible names. In any case, it was made of stone, emitted flames (which Brian, to his credit and with his last fatigue points, found a way to put out), and stood about 12 feet tall. Jeff started dutifully using his pick (a pick! on a rock creature!), taking off small chips. Bruce's centaur weighed in, only to lose a leg (no, wait - instant replay shows it actually took out the Bless ring instead!) followed by some other body part. Lightning was tossed, arrows (yes, arrows - Craig had a small supply of enchanted armor-piercing ones for just such occasions) were fired and eventually we wore the thing down, but not until several rounds of fear for the front-line folks (Jeff & Bruce), who realized that this thing could turn them into tomato sauce in a hurry.

The battle won and the slaves freed (ok, with a few glass cuts - we can heal those up), we officially declared an end to the whole Freeport thing. Up next: Brian and his intriguing request for wish lists for each of our characters. Hmmmm...