Well, here is the next update!  If you are a LightRaider that has not
played (or are now playing) the Rescue of the Sacred Scrolls please don't
read past the SPOILER (unless you are under the
'Don't Play by the Rules' sin enchantment).  :-)

This update contains a few Raid sessions in it, but is not all that long.
I hope that you enjoy, and if you wish to make any comments or
observations, please feel free to email them to me.

God bless in the Name of the OverLord!

SPOILER!

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Well, we left off our dynamic LR team as they read the Breakaway TeamRune
that placed the band of outlaws that were escorting them to sleep, and with
the LR's quickly picking up their things and  rushing ahead!

Well, the next session began good with the group taking time to recap what
they learned from the previous session.  It went well, and we had a couple
visitors at this session.  I am having a standing policy on new players
now, that they have to sit in on at least one session to see if they wish
to join.  One of the 'sit ins' joined the group the next week, and the
other one asked to join after the last session last week.  So now our group
will be up to 9.

Well, as the group kept moving along through Thuella's Refuge nothing much
happened until they came upon a little clearing with a campfire ahead.  The
group snuck forward cautiously and spotted three Trolls sitting around a
fire.  The group listened, but couldn't make out too much of what they were
talking about.  Since there was no other way around the path other than
coming out into the open, the team drew their weapons and stepped forward.
They got a free attack on the Trolls, but since the path was rather narrow,
some used that turn to move out into the clearing.

The Trolls were pretty furious!  One, obviously the Leader began to shout
commands and the other Trolls got up and charged forward for battle.  Some
of the group got locked into battle before the rest could make it into the
clearing, so while they were behind those fighting they used Battle Prayer.

Trolls are pretty tough, and the battle was beginning to look as if it were
strongly in favour of the Trolls.  The Leader began to come forward to join
the attack, and the group held fast attempting to manuever to let as many
LR's into the fray as possible.  At that moment they heard over the sound
of battle a thunderous voice, for a moment all action stopped.  What they
saw was a HUGE brown bear coming down the side of one of the low grade
slopes toward one of the attacking Trolls yelling, "Greetings in the Name
of the OverLord!!!  Leave this one for me, he's MINE!!!".

The Troll in the bear's aim backed away from the LR in Terror as the huge
bear tackled him and began an intense battle!  Well, the Troll Leader
backed up too and began yelling more orders (apparently he was terrified of
bears).  The remaining Troll rushed the remaining LR's.  Some more were
able to break out into the clearing and began to shoot arrows at the Leader
who then had a change of heart about staying in the background and began to
rush forward!

The battle was very intense, and a couple of the LR's were very badly
injured.  They all did a good job at handling the battle though.  As the
battle between the bear and Troll came to an end (the bear fared some
damage but not much) the other Troll was eliminated too.  The Leader had
some life left in him, but a sure stroke with a sword by one of the girls
(Dana) ended his evil!  As he fell he dropped his large battle axe.

One of the players yelled for Dana to pick up the battle axe.  As she did,
one of them realized that she may have done a bad move!  After some
discussion they realized that she was under the 'Owning Things' sin
enchantment.

As they began to address her need, as well as tend to those who were badly
injured, the OverLord worked through their counsel and Dana was rescued.
The bear then told the group that he had to go to take care of another job
for the OLMN, and took off.

They then noticed a path leading from the clearing into the hills, and
decided to follow it.  Because a couple of their team couldn't move, and
they didn't think it wise to leave them behind, even with a light guard.

After saying a TeamRune, they carried the injured up the path until they
came to the Troll cave entrance.  They SE and one of the group said the
NightLight WR, and they proceeded cautiously into the cave.  As they made
it to the back they realized that the caves were empty of Trolls although
they could sure smell them!!  They noticed the two locked wooden chests.
As they tried to figure out how to open them, one suggested that they use
one of their weapons.  They agreed and Aileen borrowed Justin's
quarterstaff to try to pry apart the rusty locks.  She easily opened the
one chest where they saw Erland's dagger and the scrolls from Thuella and
Erland's Father.

Then Aileen worked at the next chest's lock for a bit but finally opened
it, at the expense of breaking Justin's quarterstaff.  Needless to say
Justin wasn't too thrilled, but he managed to maintain himself because
Aileen seemed very sorry.  Inside the chest they saw a bunch of gold and
debated whether to take it or not when they saw the message from the OLMN
on the wall basically oking them to take the gold.  They also found a key
which they took too.

As they were leaving some were thinking that Erland was the LR that they
were sent to rescue, and that their mission was about to be
over....he,he,he....  Well, just as they were about to leave the cave they
heard something, and noticed a small alcove off in the shadows of the cave
wall.  As they listened carefully one of them realized that it was somebody
praying to the OverLord!  They were pretty quick in figuring out it was
Erland.  They entered the alcove and confirmed that it was.  They freed
Erland.  He did have to ask about his dagger (which he told the LR's to
keep until they returned to the LL), and the also had to discuss giving
Erland some of the gold to take back to the LL.  They thought that perhaps
he'd end up taking it and being tempted to use it for himself, but after
discussing it further, they realized that giving him some was the wise
thing to do.

The all left the smelly Troll caves and went down into the clearing.  They
decided not to camp there for the night because it was too close to the
Trolls, and moved down the trail a little until they found a safe spot.
They all ate and rested.  Horasis again let the group sleep and kept guard
over them while they slept.  In the morning Erland took his leave of them,
and mentioned where he lived in the LL so they could return the dagger to
him when they got back.

The group then gathered their things and departed.  They saw something off
the side of the trail after quite awhile of travel, and eventually, after a
few attempts to approach the being, were approached by a brilliant Unicorn.
The Unicorn presented the group with some questions about the OLMN, who He
was, and what He had done, choosing players randomly.  As they answered
correctly he gave them a scroll, a part of the Great Rescue.  He encouraged
the group to remember to memorize and know all of the Great Rescue for they
would need it shortly.

I stepped out of character for a moment to re-emphasise the importance of
WR's and the major importance of knowing the Great Rescue and what it means
not only in the game but in real life.

After he had blessed them he turned and left, and they continued on towards
Thuella's Castle.   They realized from the Unicorn's warning that they were
very close to the castle.  They began to hear a rumbling which they
believed was the dragon, but upon closer examination and focus realized it
was the surf of the sea!  They slowly approached the castle under the cover
of the trees and finally saw Thuella's castle, with something on the roof
which one of the group realized was the dragon herself!!!  The group
watched as the dragon, finishing sunning herself, rose and flexed her wings
slowly.  I don't think they knew what to think, but soon she lifted off the
roof and flew over the tops of the trees they were hiding under!!!  (love
those dramatic effects)

They stayed under cover a bit, observing that the castle looked strangely
empty and unguarded, but they realized that this was more than likely not
true.  They moved back a bit into the forest.  Then Horasis told them that
he must leave them until after they were done in the castle, but that he
had some gifts to aid them.  He gave them some sleeping powder, a healing
potion, two WR's and (I added this) a map of the castle.    With this said,
he bid them farewell and left.  They then realized that they had until dawn
until Thuella would get back, and it was already late in the afternoon!
They had to move fast.  They moved cautiously again to the edge of the
forest, looked down at the castle.  It still looked quiet and unguarded.
They SE and sensed STRONG evil....it wasn't empty, that was for sure!

Well, the next session will be entering the castle!  I am eager to see what
happens.  Because of some vacations we will probably only have 5 players
this session.  The two most vocal and assertive players will be gone so it
will be interesting to see how things go.  I believe that the OLMN will
really bless this time!

We too are having a group get-together this Saturday.  I think that it will
be a nice time.  We will probably have some pizza and play some games and
get to know each other a little better.  I want to allow the youth to get
to know each other outside the DR group.  All but one are involved in the
drama group, so with some outside functions for DR and drama, I think that
there are prime opportunities for great relationships to build.  Also, I
believe that using a lot of Dick's techniques will help the small group
environment prosper in more ways than just DR.

Until next update, God bless!

In Christ,
David Staley