Session 70: Dark Waters Beneath
General Summary
Session Commenced: The 12th day of Cyt, 1622 TER (Day 529 of the campaign)
Session Concluded: The 12th day of Cyt, 1622 TER (Day 529 of the campaign)
The Wildcards were ambushed by what we would later determine was some sort of fiendish hydra-like betentacled beast from beneath the churning dark pool. Its tentacled appendages were lined with powerful suckers that grappled with every strike, and in the center of each sucker was a razor-sharp spike. It sought refuge within the pool of dark, befouled, frigid water, using it's reach to attack those who strayed near it, as the Wildcards attempted t attack it from afar. Skulk and Sofia managed to free themselves from the initial onslaught, but Sofia was again grappled as one of the tentacles wrapped itself around her, the spikes sawing deep into her abdomen. Phaes leapt to her aid, using her psionic powers to drag her free of the grasp of the monster, before deftly leaping from stone to stone and lopping tentacles from the beast. The rest of the party joined the fight, but for every tentacle they lopped off, two more emerged from the squid-like body.
Gemris encouraged us to keep attacking, and Sofia, staggering and pallor-stricken from blood loss summoned some manner of abomination - a Starspawn - which kept the Hydra’s attention. Syr Galindann nocked two arrows and loosed both into the center of the monstrosity, tearing a tentacle apart. Morthak stepped up onto a rock and grasped one tentacle, ignoring the pain as it pierced her skin and sending a burst of necrotic energy into it. In the end Skulk finished it off and it slipped back under the dark blue waters, leaving a slick of inky blood in its wake. Syr Galindann rushed to Sofia’s wounds and began tending to the worst of them.
With the cavern at the top of the spire once more under the control of the party, they biefly debated their plan, before setting up to ambush Zitonai on her return. Unbeknownst to the adventurers who were christened the Wildcards by Skulk all the way back in Phandalin, and actually have been given the opportunity to buy a deck of Dragon cards to do something cool and stylish back in Sullisport, as Zitonai returned on the wing she had spied Gemris rushing for cover. The Dragon flew past the entrance and landed above it, out of view, and spoke to the Delver. The dragon was neither bold nor foolish enough to come in after us. She left, diving straight down towards the base of the spire and rapidly burrowed into the sand - we presume into another entrance into her lair.
Morthak polymporphed into a giant owl, and carried us down shaft to the south to alight us in pairs onto a ledge far below, avoiding the spray from the falling water wherever possible. On the third trip some sort of air elemental attacked but Morthak dived to evade them.
The tunnel diverged into three tunnels at this point leading down to below the surface of the desert. Following the water through a series of stalagmites and stalactites Morthak emerged into a large cavern over some sort of pool or lake of dark water. She moved on whisper quiet wings to drop the party in pairs, and during her third trip, the wildcards already taking refuge on the underground beach were discovered by a number of draconians and lizardfolk. Sofia attempted to trick them with a minor illusion in Draconian but they were not fooled and attacked.
The battle was short, the Draconians exploding into crystal and lightning left and right all around us. Syr Galindann deflected the worst of the lightning with his shield, and catching on the party started killing them wherever possible when they were not near, or knocking them away from the party to slay them.
Moving on we adventured to the right where the Draconians had come from. We came across a cracked dragon egg near a stone table, with shackles hanging off the pillars. Examining the various containers and residues left on the altar, Sofia believed some sort of alchemy had been at work.
While the others poked around, Skulk scouted the western edge of the ledge. He found a passage leading south to a large opened area with another massive hold in the roof. He doubled back to bring the others and they investigated. From this enormous space there were three passages leading off to the east, south, and west.
Eventually the group decided on the east passage and moved ahead. They were assailed with lightning traps, which initially Galindann deflected before Skulk began disabling them. Emerging into a long room with naturally raised platforms to the north and south, they discovered some sort of treasure room. Many piles of coins, bolts of sumptuous silks, art objects, and chests and boxes. Syr Galindann suggested we wait until after the battle, but Sofia had her companion, the entity, investigate a chest. In opening it, the creature was blinded by some sort of ward and it began to scream in its panic as it spun around. Sofia rapidly disapparated it as the party stood in silence for a moment, concerned that the damage had already been done.
As Syr Galindann lectured Sofia, Skulk investigated the hoard, discovering a beautiful spear or lance, made of polished yrnwood, gold and platinum, the coronel carved from some sort of metal into the snarling maw of a dragon. Broken into three pieces and several maller fragments, Skulk abandoned it, once more checking the entrance to the west they had come through. The party froze at the distant sound of movement...
Notable Quotes
"Broken rib... deep laceration... extensive bruising -"- Syr Galindann"I don't think that's helping!"- Phaes"Oh, right. Not a soldier. Not a soldier."- Syr Galindann
"I have giant blood."- Morthak"But you're not a giant."- Syr Galindann"I will be soon enough, honey."- Morthak
"It's darker than Lloth's taint down here."- Phaes
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