Session 73: Dark Wings Bear Dark Tidings
General Summary
With Zitonai vanquished, the Wildcards took the opportunity to begin taking stock of their spoils. Zitonai had already begun amassing quite the hoard and as the group set about dividing up the loot, it soon became apparent that it would not be possible for them to safely remove all of the coins and various other riches the dragon had left behind.
Leaving the others to argue over how best to secure the hoard, Morthak limped quietly back into central chamber where Zitonai's body lay broken. She took a moment, before using ancient magic to speak with Zitonai's corpse. She gleaned answers to several questions about Pelenspayar and the return of the dragons, although the spell ended with Zitonai threatening to return to take her revenge on the Goliath woman and her companions.
With the loot safely divided, the group decided to take a well earned rest, sleeping through what they imagined might have been a night, although the passage of time was difficult to discern in this place. Somewhat recuperated the next morning, the group set about clearing the rest of the caverns. Exploring the narrow and torturous tunnels to the south they came across a horrifying sight - a number of cages set about in a larger cavern, the floor littered with filth, bones, and half-decayed corpses. Whatever unfortunate denizens had been here, and their captors, appeared to have disappeared in the night. An abandoned encampment for those undiscovered captors was also found.
Exploring further, the Wildcards discovered one of the shaft exits, set above a deep pit full of razor sharp crystal spikes.
Finally, returning to the main chamber, the Wildcards explored to the west, discovering what they surmised was Zitonai's sleeping chamber.
Confident little remained to be found deep beneath the desert, the Wildcards returned to the abandoned encampment and set up for another night, taking advantage of the chamber and the makeshift beds to gain a night's rest. Their rest was interrupted, however, as a draconic figure approached from the tunnels to the south...
Notable Quotes
Morthak casts Speak with Dead on Zitonai's Corpse:"Who rode out with you?"Sofia casts Contact Other Plane:Beware the motives of the mercurial men."Who is that?"One who sought freedom for her people... as did I."Where is she now?"I know not. She drove Irazes mad with pain... and then left."How did this spear get broken?"In battle. The one who sought this, from the Gold Queen. When she cast her spell on it, it was...insufficient."How does it feel, to have been defeated by insignificant insects?"I am the blood of nephilim. My form lie here, but my spirit lives on. I will return. And when I do there is no place in this world, or any other, where you can hide from me. I will find you... and I will have my revenge.
"Is there anything of significant value to us in this lair that we have not already seen?"Value... value... What is value? What do you need? What do you seek? No. No value. Nothing here. Nothing for you."Are there any other creatures here that pose a significant threat to us?"Danger... Threats... Predator... Who do you hunt? Who will you kill? You are safe here."Is there an accessible exit, other than the one we came through?"Deep below, deep down. Deep below the surface. Long climb. Dragon wings? Can you fly? Is she you? Are you her? You must climb."What was being done to those bodies we saw?"Amid the voices and whispers shouts and shrieks become apparent, and over them, a panicked voice. The voice of a mother. Where are you? Where did you go? She's, she's gone! She's gone! I don't know where... I don't know where she's gone.Then the growling voices return. Life. Servant. Slave. Serving the future. Serving a brighter future. She labour beneath here, in the throes of her birth.And just on the very edge of hearing, the sound of a baby crying."If we descend deeper, the heart of this place, what will we find?"Love. Heart. Soul. Seat of power. You are here. It beats around you. It beats around you. Can you not feel the life that will arise from this place? New life arises. New life approaches. From without. And from within. It comes. It nears.
Showcase
Character(s) interacted with
Zitonai, the Burnished Huntress
Session Commenced:
The 12th day of Cyt, 1622 TER
(Day 529 of the campaign) Session Concluded:
The 14th day of Cyt, 1622 TER
(Day 531 of the campaign)
62 days since Departing Phandalin.
The 12th day of Cyt, 1622 TER
(Day 529 of the campaign) Session Concluded:
The 14th day of Cyt, 1622 TER
(Day 531 of the campaign)
62 days since Departing Phandalin.
Report Date
26 Jan 2022
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Characters
