User blog:PeteGoz/The Dredges Episode 7

The captive Belinda Buck is escorted back to the office at crossbow point, convinced the party are mercenaries from Paradise and offering a mix of threats and bribes for her freedom. As DeFago and Clyde await Pectinus finishing his traditional prayers for the dead, prior to some interrogation, they are unaware that Dorvid has wandered off alone. Heading still deeper into the complex alone, Dorvid is surprised by Maurice Hagen and pushed into the embrace of a hideous squid like creature, which engulfs his head and begins to squeeze the life from him.

Both Clyde’s keen hearing and Pectinus’ keen Dorvid sense detect the distant scuffle. Shouting a warning to DeFago, they race off to help. A long-suffering DeFago coshes Belinda unconscious and follows. As they race towards the sounds of combat a radiant sphere of energy divulges a Tabaxi ahead of them, who amazingly, is an acquaintance of Pectinus, who exhorts her to go to Dorvid’s aid. As the hideous darkmantle crushes the life from Dorvid and turns on Minnie, Clyde takes careful aim and finishes it, only for Hagen to use Dorvid as a bargaining chip for his freedom.

As Minnie, DeFago and Clyde all wait for him to drop his guard, Pectinus brings Dorvid back to consciousness and Dorvid immediately strikes Maurice Hagen dead. Clyde swears long and hard at Dorvid and some recriminations follow as Minnie tries to get her head around what has actually happened. Back in the office, Clyde having lugged the darkmantle corpse behind him, the two rogues make short work of the desk and dresser (to be fair, the keys help), uncovering a large number of items, cash and paperwork. Grabbing these, Clyde prepares to flee and is surprised to find that some other members of the group are still busy haggling….