Session 15: Treasures of the Grasswind Herd

General Summary

A few days after they began traveling west again our heroes spotted a large bird circling high overhead. Unlike the circling carrion birds days before, this eagle was on the offensive, swooping and diving just out of sight behind a ridge. Stalking through the high grass to investigate, Shadow topped the ridge to see a centaur surrounded by a pack of vicious gnolls. The centaur was wounded badly, circling as well as it could to defend itself while its eagle dove with talons extended to harry the hyena headed attackers.   Recognizing the centaur as Gungaak, a member of the herd that had rescued her and Omori months ago, Shadow signaled to her companions and quickly moved to protect the centaur.   The Shore’s Light moved swift as the wind in the battle that followed. With sword, harpoon, and more than a few bolts and blasts of lightning, they felled the marauders.   In the aftermath Shadow bolted to the centaur. It had fallen during the battle and its breath was getting shallower by the moment. Placing her hands upon their large equine frame, Shadow muttered a prayer to Lun Weia, magically healing many of their wounds.   As the centaur regained consciousness its eyes alit in surprise. “Shadow?”   “I am here Gungaak. You’re safe. Easy now.” The tabaxi struggled to calm the centaur as it rose unsteadily on its legs. Gungaak’s gaze moved warily from each of Shadow’s companions before settling upon the still form of the eagle, splayed upon the ground.   “Aiieee!” the centaur cried, limping toward the eagle and gently picking up its still body. He wept softly into its feathers as its massive wingspan draped over the centaur’s arms. Looking painfully at the strangers around him he placed a hand on his breast. “Gungaak.” After each of the Shore’s Light had introduced themselves, Gungaak placed his hand on the eagle. “Takaii.”   Gungaak explained to Shadow and Omori that members of his herd had recently been ambushed by gnolls, who killed the herd’s leader Ubalaack and took a number of the herd’s treasures, including a magical bow. Although he was ordered not to range off in pursuit, his need for revenge had overtaken him, and placed him in the dire situation which our heroes had found him.   While some of the Shore’s Light attended to his wounds, Aaura and Faelyn turned their attention to the gnolls’ corpses. One of them, a shaman of some sort, bore a strange icon on his hide armor. Smeared in blood, it depicted a gnoll hung upon a crucifix, a flail clutched in its teeth. Aaura recalled one of her lessons on the Cloistered Isle, and recognized this as a symbol of Yeenoghu, a Demon Prince of the Abyss and patron of slaughter.   While Aaura was inspecting the armor, Faelyn had become intrigued with one of the gnolls’ weapons, a large sickle. Discovering underneath a patina of grime that the item was magical, he called to Aaura for help identifying it. Drawing a magic circle on the ground around her, she clutched the sickle in her hands and appealed to her angelic guide for assistance. In Bob’s sanctum the item was revealed to be a magical weapon dedicated to the defense of Silph-Mallene, the Goddess of Crops and Fertility.   With Gungaak’s leg in a splint, the group slowly made their way to the north, eventually coming upon a number of large yurts. Great eagles circled overheard while a small herd of centaurs went about their business. As they approached, another centaur, dark of skin with white hindquarters stopped them. After a brief exchange with Gungaak he noticed Shadow and Omori and greeted them and their companions heartily. In broken common speech he introduced himself as Hokken, and welcomed them to the camp.   Escorting them deeper within, Hokken explained that the herd’s chieftess was close to giving birth. This was a special time for the herd, and required all members to remain close by during the foaling. As they entered the largest yurt their senses came alive with thick, medicinal smelling smoke and the jangling of bells.   A number of centaur midwives moved about the interior attending a female at the far side. Her hide was dappled white on red chestnut, a beautifully chaotic pattern that extended to her more humanoid features. Sitting atop a pile of animal skin hides, she wore a ceremonial headdress of antelope horn, strung with a string of bells and wispy white lights. As Shadow and Omori presented themselves, the chieftess welcomed them and introduced herself to the others as Anayya.   Anayya was pleased to see Shadow once again, and even more so when Shadow revealed she was returning to her people with the sacred flame. As the conversation continued, Shadow offered to retrieve the bow and treasures the gnolls had stolen and Anayya accepted. Her labor was a difficult and important moment, and required the herd’s full attention.   Shadow also brought forth a necklace she had purchased in Lasthome, a gift for the Anayya. Smiling broadly through her discomfort, Anayya praised Shadow to the other centaurs.   “She has brought a gift! She knows our ways!” Fastening the necklace to the antelope horn headdress, Anaaya motioned to one of the midwives who quickly brought over a small hide pouch. “One gift for another” she said, handing it to Shadow. Inside were a number of large, golden red berries. “Each has restorative powers, and can nourish you for a day.”   “Your offer to help is most welcome” Anayya said. “Please take a moment to rest yourselves, and make yourself comfortable within our camp.”   As the heroes rested most every centaur in the camp stopped to pay respects to Omori. His kind treatment of the horses had helped earn their trust months ago, and they talked with him like an old friend. Hokken did his best to relay his respects to the other, non-sylvan speaking members of the party, but some of his gratitude was lost in translation.   Hokken explained where they might be able to find the gnolls; a couple days swift travel to the southeast, within a knobby hill that stands alone on the Steppes.   In the morning the heroes set off, making swift progress and at last finding themselves in sight of the lone hill that Hokken had described. A feeling of dread began to overtake them as they scouted the perimeter. They discovered more of the strange ridges in the earth that had accompanied the dismembered gnoll corpses days before. Scattered amongst the grasses they also found bloodstains and an arm, still clutching a spear but torn away from its body.   They moved cautiously into the cave mouth, finding more blood streaks and signs of havoc. Some of the timbers that supported the walls and ceiling bore stress fractures and cracks, while one large beam had entirely collapsed across the corridor. Moving within they soon found themselves in an open chamber whose contents had been ravaged; furniture had been toppled or broken, and streaks of blood and gore painted the floor and walls. Across the room a large, mummified gnoll was suspended crucifixion style above a small pile of “treasures.” Within this assortment of slaughterous totems was the centaurs’ bow, as well as a satchel of antelope hide and woven grass that bore their mark. Gazing towards the bow on the far side of the room a number of the worrisome ridges could also be seen, crisscrossing the floor and often aligning with some display of carnage. Not wanting to set foot on the floor, Aaura unfurled her magical wings and flew to the far side, deftly picking up the bow and satchel and swooping back towards the entrance.   As she began her return, bits of dirt and clay began to rain from the ceiling and Shadow felt a tremor in the earth that made her tabaxi hairs stand on alert. No sooner had Aaura brought the prizes back from the room’s edge than a section of the cavern wall exploded outward. From the breach in the wall a huge beast emerged. With dust and earth choking the air it was difficult to see but what could be discerned was fearsome indeed. On four thick set feet and almost 10 feet from end to end, it was plated like an armadillo and covered in barnacle like protrusions. Unearthing itself with frightening speed, its thick bullet shaped head opened into great toothsome maw, fixed on Faelyn.