Session 25: Why Did It Have To Be Snakes?

General Summary

The party continued their descent into the Shifter's Catacombs, finding themselves in the dream-like forest full of barely-moving birds. As they crossed the chamber towards the base of the cliff face near the waterfall, Tamugar, Alden, and Eirame fell asleep. Even though they were quickly woken up, the trio felt sluggish and dreamy. Reaching the base of the cliff near the waterfall cascading into a pool, the party could find no way to continue upwards. Spotting two trees growing close together, Tamugar and Doug led the group in that direction. As they approached, they noticed the smaller tree was a large number of snakes writhing together to form the trunk and branches. Doug tapped on the other tree, verifying that it was real, but he leaned in close enough for the snake tree to swipe at him.   Entering combat, individual snakes were dying to the party's blows. Doug cast Cloud of Daggers on the branches, severing one, causing two snakes to go after him. As the party destroyed the tree, the magic binding the snakes dissipated, with only a few large ones continuing to fight the party. Several people skinned the snakes, with Rome getting a perfect pelt, Doug getting a rougher pelt and a half, and Doug and Shadow both got handfuls of loose scales.   Tamugar investigated the other tree, nudging a tree root which opened a door into the tree, revealing a path leading quickly down. Descending into the hollow trunk of the tree, the path quickly climbed upwards, emerging above the waterfall. Continuing along the side of the stream that fed the waterfall, the party found the path spiraling down into nothingness, wood handrails keeping them on the path. They then passed through several smaller chambers with burial mounds around the outside, ending up in a large chamber with a tree in the center, with roots extending out to touch bodies preserved with magical energy. A pink fire was burning to one side of the tree. Shadow spotted a boue cylinder of energy towards the back of the room, suggesting someone had just teleported away. A human with the lower body of a massive snake was lashed to the trunk with pink magical bindings, which dissipated as the party approached. Shadow tried to talk, but got an eldritch blast in response.   Although several party members got stuck in a sphere of dark energy, filled with phantom tentacles, the party quickly slew the yuan-ti. Viridian cast Dispel Magic on the fire, reverting it to a natural fire, and a pair of gorgons charged from the back of the room, one on each side of the tree. Viridian took on a gorgon in bear form, nearly dying before shifting into bear form again. On the opposite side of the room, Shadow and Eirame got caught in a gorgon's breath, with Shadow turning to stone, unable to resist. Eirame, Alden, and Tamugar took that gorgon down, and then joined the other group. Doug got turned to stone by the other gorgon, but the party defeated it as well.

Notes

Takes place on YA 2269, The Panther, day 25