Oshuamp - Episode 3: A Sisterhood of Service and Sacrifice

Recap
The conversation with Sister Madeleine continues and the group questions if she has marked the crew with magic or through some other method to cause her bloodstone to glow when touching her. She is noticeably confused by their remarks and confirms that she has no magical abilities, nor do the other Sisters in her service.

When the group prepares to leave, she fearfully holds them back, warning them that the First of Elsyth is an exceptionally bloody and treacherous day in Slums North, as the poorfolk displaced here through robbery and other means awaken in a hungover rage and commit terrible crimes. The Orphanage itself has been broken into and robbed because it is known throughout North Slums that they receive gifts from shopkeepers and other citizens throughout Oshuamp as a way of growing their reputation in the City. A little girl tugs on Ritora’s cloak and asks her to protect her and not let her be taken like her good friend, Abigail, was the year prior.

Reluctantly, everyone agrees to assist board up the Orphanage. Sister Lauren takes them on a tour of the Orphanage, showing them where the younger and older children sleep, the Kitchen, the Chapel, Sister Madeleine’s office, the Storage Room, and the Sister’s Quarters. They board up the Elder Girls’ Dormitory, and return downstairs, laughing as Little Orphan Grimdar is playing hide-and-seek with his friends and pulls a blanket over his head, sitting in the corner by the Chapel. He says that he wants to hide in the Chapel, and Ritora investigates the padlock that seemingly kept it shut. To her dismay, the lock was picked and placed back to appear locked, but was not.

The stained-glass window within is shattered as the crew opens the doors. A group of leather clad, fur cloaked bandits began climbing in through the frame, preparing to plunder whatever possible. The party valiantly defends the Chapel against the invaders as Ritora discovers Little Orphan Bran hiding inside the bottom drawer of the Pulpit in front of the Statue of Ostador at the back of the Chapel. Gravely injured, the crew flees and barricades the door as the remaining bandits thrust their bodies against it.

Ritora and Ethir hurry upstairs, finding Sister Freya leading the children, confused and enraged. They advise her to barricade themselves within the Nursery. Ritora checks on Sister Madeleine in her office, and sees her immobile on the floor. She ignores her and hurries to the large bell near her windows, and notices that they are slightly open and two grappling hooks are caught into the window frame and taut rope descends to the snow.

In a panic, she returns to the door, continuing to ignore Sister Madeleine, and notices wet boot prints leaving the room, trailing snow towards the Storage Room. She hurries back downstairs after Ethir, as the bandits break through the Chapel door. Felix and Nesgrim are overwhelmed, but fight back, killing two of the remaining four bandits. As Nesgrim pulls his longsword from the chest of the halberd warrior, the two living bandits drive their daggers at his side – one rings truly and critically strikes him in the side, plunging deeply. He begins bleeding heavily and falls to the ground, dying.