Session 4: Welcome to the Jungle. 5th Day of Dusk, 255 TTE

General Summary

The party spends the night on the beach, using fires and a careful watch to ensure they are not set upon by nocturnal predators. The next morning, make their way towards the ruins. Word has gone around that another adventuring group had recently explored the ruins, slaying whatever beast had made it its home. The party hopes that the ruins have not yet been occupied by a new creature and can explore it unhindered. 
Once they arrive at the ruins, it is clear that something is amiss. The bones of a large creature lie just outside its walls and it sounds as if something large is moving about within. Upon further exploration, they realize that the sounds were produced by cleverly stacked rocks, using the wind to mimic the breathing a scuttling of a large creature. With no sign of an inhabitants, they proceed deeper into the ruins.
After some exploration and minor archeological finds, the sound of a large beast approaching can be heard. A giant six-legged lizard tumbles into the chamber and combat begins. The best is large and powerful, severally injuring several members of the group before finally being forced to retreat due to numerous compounding injuries and displays of magic. One of the group members succumbs to their injuries while the other is stabilized. 
Before much more exploration can take place, Jax comes across a section of the wall that looks like it's recently been rebuilt. After removing several of the stones of this wall, she narrowly avoids several spears being thrust through the holes and is struck in the head by a small stone shot through the gaps. It soon becomes apparent that not only are their beings capable of using weapons on the other side of the wall, but surrounding them as well. Though sticking to the shadows and upper levels of the structure, the sounds of numerous beings moving about echo off the walls. The deep, guttural hisses that occasionally reverberate throughout the ruins suggests that this is a previously undiscovered people. With this new information, the party decides to leave. Thankfully, the beings are not aggressive, occasionally making ranged attacks to hurry the party in leaving the ruins. During their escape, the member previously stabilized is hit and restabilized.
Only a short distance into the jungle, the party encounters the giant lizard they previously faced, now deceased with its lower half caught in an exceptionally large Chokevine and its front half being torn apart by a pack of Skullhounds. Between facing the Skullhounds, having to navigate steep terrain, or using the riverbed that they believe to be home to some sort of burrowing creature, they choose to take the river in order to escape with their wounded and dead.
About halfway down the riverbed, a Shredder lunges from the sand, narrowly missing Jax. A brief fight breaks out with the creature trying to catch a quick meal, but rapidly realizing it is outmatched. With Jax and Kalas distracting the Shredder, the rest of the party sneaks past as several of the Skullhounds from before arrive to see what the commotion is about. Jax and Kalas are able to flee just as the Skullhounds attack the weakened Shredder.
Finally arriving at the beach, the party loads as many as they can onto the rowboat, but will need to make two trips. Jax, Kalas, Merys, and Rowan stay behind, trying to draw as little attention as possible. However, the screeches of the Shredder and howls of the Skullhounds ring throughout the jungle, gaining the attention of any and all nearby predators and scavengers. One, a Snapper, notices the party and moves in. Persistent attacks and use a magic repel it long enough for the rowboat to return and for the rest of them to make their escape. They left just in time, too, as the blood draw from the Snapper leaked into the water, attracting littoral and aquatic predators to the region. Once the party is all aboard the ship, they quickly depart the area as the whole region has been riled into a frenzy.

Report Date

14 Jan 2023