Swyvers: The Coil, Ep 4

The Swyverinos found themselves in a desperate battle in a library atop the necromantic tower known as the Coil, joined by a shy burglar named Rags who had been secretly following them. The fight began just after the party witnessed the cold-blooded murder of Nabi’s mother by the lich, Lord Barthalus. Wasting no time, Clementine hurled an alchemical flame that consumed one of their foes, Peter Sr., in a gout of greasy fire. As the battle raged, Rags used the chaos to steal a gilded book, hoping it was valuable.

The fallen man’s son, a ghoul named Peter III, launched himself at Clementine, sinking his teeth into him and inflicting a bizarre, slimy skin disease. The combat was a flurry of activity: Suki, disguised as a child, nimbly scaled bookshelves for tactical advantage, while Vincent relentlessly swung his sword at the well-armored lich. Despite their efforts, Lord Barthalus completed a powerful spell, seizing control of Nabi’s body and turning him into a puppet.

Forced to fight their own companion, the party was thrown into disarray. Clementine tried to even the odds with a potion of terror, but it only managed to make himself flee. As Nabi, under the lich’s command, grappled with Clementine, the others focused their fire on the true enemy. Clementine recovered and retaliated with a splash of corrosive bile that blinded Barthalus. This created the opening Vincent needed. He lunged forward, running the lich through with his longsword and finally breaking the spell over Nabi.

With his master slain, Peter III was quickly dispatched by Suki, who skewers him with Nabi’s own halberd. In the quiet aftermath, the party looted the bodies and discussed their next move. Deciding it was too risky to press on, they resolved to leave the Coil, deliver the evidence they had gathered, sell their loot to grow stronger, and return within the week to destroy Barthalus’s phylactery before he could resurrect.

OUTLINE:

A New Combatant in the Shadows

A new character, a shy burglar named Rags, was introduced, having secretly followed the party into the Coil.
The party found themselves in a battle against Lord Barthalus and his two henchmen immediately after the lich murdered Nabi’s mother.
Rags remained hidden, using the ensuing chaos to steal a valuable-looking book from a shelf.

An Alchemical Assault

Clementine threw a greasy whisk flame vial, instantly killing one of the enemies, Peter Sr.
Peter Sr.’s ghoul son, Peter III, became enraged and charged Clementine.
Peter III bit Clementine, dealing minimal damage but infecting him with a permanent, disfiguring disease called Frog’s Pocket.

The Lich’s Puppet

Lord Barthalus successfully cast a spell on Nabi, gaining complete control over his actions.
Barthalus forced Nabi to attack the party, starting with an attempt to grapple Clementine.
Clementine managed to resist the grapple and knocked the enthralled Nabi to the ground.
Clementine attempted to use a fear potion, but missed his target and caused himself to flee in terror for a round.

A Hard-Fought Victory

Clementine recovered and threw a jar of raw bile, blinding Lord Barthalus.
Peter III attacked Suki, but his sword shattered against her borrowed halberd, leaving him unarmed.
Vincent took advantage of the blinded lich, moving behind him and stabbing him through the chest for a fatal blow.
With Barthalus dead, Nabi was freed from his control.
Suki finished the fight by killing the unarmed Peter III with a halberd thrust to the head.

Loot and Strategic Retreat

The party looted the bodies, acquiring valuable armor, spell scrolls, and a spellbook.
They learned that Barthalus would be resurrected in seven days due to his phylactery, which Nabi still possessed.
The Swyverinos decided to leave the Coil to sell their loot, level up, and deliver evidence to their contacts.
They planned to return with greater strength to destroy the phylactery before the lich could return.

NPCs:

Lord Barthalus: A powerful lich and leader of the necromantic cult in the Coil. Dressed in an ancient tuxedo and sandals, he is a formidable spellcaster who puppeted Nabi and nearly defeated the party before being slain by Vincent. His phylactery remains, meaning he will return.
Nabi’s Mother: Held hostage by Lord Barthalus in an attempt to reclaim a stolen gem. When Nabi refused the trade, Barthalus killed her in front of the party.
Peter III: The ghoul son of Peter Sr. After witnessing his father’s death, he flew into a rage, attacking the party with savage bites that could transmit diseases. He was killed by Suki at the end of the battle.
Peter Linzor (Sr.): A necromancer and father of Peter III. He was assisting Lord Barthalus in the library battle but was quickly dispatched by one of Clementine’s alchemical vials at the start of the fight.
Prudence Garland: A bride in hiding who apprenticed herself to a witch to escape an arranged marriage. She is the party’s new fence for occult items, using her acquired wealth to maintain the luxuries to which she is accustomed.
Sister Elizabeth Fosbury: A practical nun who runs St. Evanage’s Hospital. She is a new fence for the party, realizing it’s cheaper to buy stolen goods than to acquire them through legitimate channels, especially medical supplies.

ITEMS:

Call of Primal Terror: An alchemical potion that, when shattered, releases vapors that cause intense fear in those who witness the effect.
Lord Barthalus’s Phylactery: A gem that holds the soul of the lich Lord Barthalus, allowing him to resurrect after death. Nabi is currently in possession of it.
Mint Mail Hauberk: A high-quality suit of chainmail armor taken from the body of Lord Barthalus. It provides excellent protection.
Raw Bile: An incredibly corrosive substance stored in a jar. When thrown, it can melt through materials and cause severe acid damage, as well as blindness.
Spellbook: A book containing several necromantic spells, recovered from the body of Peter Sr.
Swank Halberd: Nabi’s personal weapon, a finely crafted and high-quality halberd. Suki briefly used it to great effect in the battle.

LOCATIONS:

The Coil: An invisible tower that serves as the headquarters for a powerful necromantic cult. The party has infiltrated its upper levels.
The Library: A large library at the top of the Coil, filled with tall bookshelves. It was the site of the party’s climactic battle against Lord Barthalus and his minions.

FACTIONS:

Necromantic Cult of the Coil: A secretive and powerful cult of necromancers operating out of an invisible tower called the Coil. They are led by the lich Lord Barthalus and seem to be involved in a grand conspiracy.

QUESTS:

Destroy the Lich: Find a way to permanently destroy Lord Barthalus by destroying his phylactery, which the party has already acquired.
Unravel the Coil: Infiltrate the headquarters of the necromantic cult, gather evidence of their crimes, and disrupt their operations.

PLAYER CHARACTERS

Clementine: A dirty and nasty individual recently released from prison, Clementine is the party’s pragmatic mage. Though illiterate, he wields magic by throwing enchanted glasses and is a proficient alchemist, using a variety of volatile concoctions in battle. He carries a lucky rabbit’s foot and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Nabi: A self-proclaimed noble gnome, Nabi calls himself the Baron of Rockery. He presents an air of wealth and superiority, refusing to perform any labor he deems beneath him. However, his past is stained with morally questionable acts, leading to severe night terrors.
Rags: A painfully shy burglar who has been trailing the party in the hopes of earning enough money to win back his ex-girlfriend. He is initially hesitant to engage but proves his worth with a sling from the shadows. His primary motivation is wealth, believing it to be the key to mending his broken heart.
Suki Barlisi: Suki is a resourceful rat man who conceals her identity beneath the disguise of a small child in a sailor suit, complete with a large bear head. Her hands are afflicted with a disease, making her touch a thing to be avoided. She is agile and capable, proving her mettle by climbing bookshelves and wielding weapons larger than herself.
Vincent Van Poe: Vincent is a morbid gravedigger and plague survivor with a peculiar fondness for eating peaches after dealing with death. His body is marked by incredible resilience and a set of scars on his back that resemble angel wings, a remnant of a grievous injury. He is a steadfast fighter, wielding a longsword in the face of grim horrors.