The Return: Session #23
General Summary
The heroes considered their options on how to return to Barrowmista. They sought help for moving down the river, and a local barge worker volunteered to do what he could to help them. Kebe knew the river well and how to handle a raft.
Before they said their goodbyes, Bartuk sent a magical message to Sheriff Hemlock of Barrowmista to warn him of an invasion.
While the magical rains may have been stopped, the river was still flooded and flowing heavily. It helped to hasten their journey, but it required a lot of work from Kebe to keep the raft stable.
Later that day, the heroes passed a small village they had visited on their way to Uyo. It showed signs of being pillaged, and the heroes pulled over so Kebe could nap and the heroes could investigate.
The heroes found an odd scene. Odd footprints were seen among the footprints of the locals. No signs of bloodshed, but signs that the locals had been lined up in the middle of the village... and then it is as if they disappeared. Tiny Tymm looked for sources of magic, but none were present.
With no further clues, the heroes moved on and eventually camped for the night.
During his watch, Kurdan heard the sounds of children screaming and eventually the sounds of violence. Wary of what might be causing the noises, Kurdan stayed with the camp and didn't wake his companions.
It wasn't long into their continued journey in the morning when the mystery of night may have been solved. The heroes came upon a larger village in the middle of an assault. An elven floating island was hovering a few hundred feet above the village. Large airships in the shape of fish manned by squat monstrosities were abducting the locals. Two ships had just departed while a third was finishing loading the last of the people and some barrels.
The heroes sprang forth with Kurdan and Bartuk charging the monsters while Tiny Tymm unleashed his magic against the monstrosities. Kurdan was able to leap upon the ship as it began to fly away, but Bartuk fumbled with a grappling hook while sprinting towards the ship.
Tiny Tymm joined the run towards the airship and had Susyn grab the grappling hook and connect it to the ship. This helped Bartuk swing his way on to the airship and join the battle.
Kurdan dismembered one of the monstrosities, and was horrified to watch it fall into pieces of rotting meat and random teeth. All around them were frightened villagers stuck in cages. Sounds of more of the monstrosities came from above.
Tiny Tymm lept for the ship, but slipped and fell hard. Holding on to the rope, he quickly cast levitate on himself so he could be pulled into the airship by the others.
Before the rest of the crew could join the battle, Kurdan wrecked the shoddy ramps the creatures had in place to access the hold. Looking down from above only earned them a fiery blast from Tiny Tymm. Climbing up, the heroes found the inner deck of the ship was crawling with more of the monsters. The battle was over quick, the monstrosities could cause nasty wounds, but were not able to often hit the heroes.
Besides the prisoners, the only things on board were barrels of stolen food and a mysterious enchanted iron door.
Even with the crew dead, the ship continued to fly towards the floating island. It was shortly after dawn, but the sun darkened as the heroes moved closer to the island. Giant hearts floated in the air, their aortas climbing high in the sky and disappearing.
The island looked to once have been a place for repairing airships, but now was the home to these monstrosities. A giant lake of blood filled the center of the island, with a building crafted from fat in the middle. The other airships had landed, and people were being led by the monstrosities to a nearby warehouse. Occasionally, one would be pulled out and herded towards the central building.
Large mirrors displayed a handsome obese Onitshan that introduced himself as the Runelord Oppoloppo. He asked the prisoners to be calm, and that he was here to look after them as their new ruler.
The heroes retreated into the airship to plan. Bartuk used his emerald dragon dust, creating an unbreakable barrier over the hatch to the hold so the monstrosities could not climb up towards them.
Using magical chimes to unlock the door, the heroes found a giant heart connected to the rest of the ship. They had little time to investigate the heart, but figured it was what was flying the airship. Kurdan punched it twice, covering the heroes in gallons of blood and causing the airship to slam into the docks it was landing upon.
While the monstrosities dealt with the prisoners and attempted to deal with the magical barrier, the heroes sneaked off the ship and onto the island. It didn't take long for the monstrosities to begin searching for the heroes, and they hid while they planned their next steps.
They decided to sneak into the central building on the blood lake, and made their way into it when there was an opening among their pursuers. Insider, they found a large chamber that was part open kitchen and part slaughterhouse. A giant runewell glowed with a person kneeling inside. Individuals, skinned and hanging by their feet, were lining the room or were being cooked on large grills.
Across the room from them was a monstrously humanoid. Unlike his handsome visage, Oppoloppo was a monster of a man-- an incarnation of hunger unleashed upon the world. They watched him eat one of the hanging people whole, and then he taunted the heroes into battle. Joining the runelord were snake-like creatures formed from the regurgitated remains of his food.
Bartuk concentrated on the runewell, not sure if the person inside should be saved or slain, while Oppoloppo attempted to unleash magic upon the heroes. Tiny Tymm countered the spell while Kurdan moved forward to engage. Raging, the Axe of Justice and Revenge appeared to shine in Oppoloppo's eyes. Was it a look of recognition?
Attempting to contain the runelord, Tiny Tymm created a wall of fire between them. He was horrified when he saw the runelord grasp the wall of fire as if it were a silk curtain. Oppoloppo balled up the magic and swallowed it whole... and then belched the magic back at the heroes. The ability to manipulate powerful magics like this was beyond anything the heroes had ever seen... or even thought possible.
Kurdan's magical axe proved the only thing capable of harming the runelord, but the ancient wizard proved to be just as dangerous in melee as he was with magic. A toxic bite and incredible strong arms rained blows upon the barbarian.
Bartuk found the person in the runewell was in a trance, and pulled them from the runewell to break the ceremony just as the monstrosities that worked the airship began to enter the room.
Slowly being surrounded, Kurdan continued his battle with the runelord. After a devastating hit, Kurdan went to strike again when Oppoloppo caught his axe mid-swing. Kurdan had not faced anyone with such strength.
Oppoloppo exclaimed he was surprised the "old ladies" were involved, but he would destroy them just as he was about to kill Kurdan.
With that, he broke the Axe of Justice and Revenge and bashed Kurdan back across the room.
Oppoloppo walked away calling into the room recently created Shung stone giants.
Realizing they were in a lot of trouble, the heroes decided to retreat, but being on a floating island made that difficult. Bartuk led the injured Kurdan to the edge of the island, and then used his magical cloak to teleport them down to the river below.
Tiny Tymm was being chased by the monsters when he jumped off the edge and cast feather fall. He thought he was safe until one of the giants ripped off a piece of the building and threw it into the fragile wizard. Turning invisible, Tiny Tymm disappeared from sight and floated to rejoin his friends.
Bartuk healed the group while the heroes watched the runelord's island float away. It seems Oppoloppo did not consider the heroes worth pursuing.
With worried hearts and minds, the heroes returned to Barrowmista. They paid Kebe well for his help and gave him a place to rest before he left to return home. The heroes found Barrowmista preparing for an invasion, but one against normal sized foes. The news that they would soon face stone giants was met with disbelief and fear.
A meeting was planned, and the heroes went their separate ways until then.
Bartuk returned to their home to divine secret truths from the universe. The heavens only gave cryptic responses to his questions, but he learned that the invasion would start the dawn after the arrival of the ladybugs.
Kurdan visited with Ameiko (and Leon) and found her preparing emergency rations for the invasion, they spent time quietly commiserating.
Tiny Tymm confronted the hedge wizard Vulnademus. Having witnessed the doddering old man perform powerful magics, Tymm attempted to get him to admit to his capabilities ... and help with the coming invasions. Vulnademus became confused by Tiny Tymm's accusations and behavior. It left Tymm unsure if the wizard was faking it or something else was happening.
The meeting included the heroes, the mayor, sheriff, Ameiko, Theo, Sabyl, and Vulnademus.
The heroes recommended the town evacuate, but without knowing when the giants might invade-- that could lead the people in travel being undefended. They went back and forth about this until the mayor asked the heroes if they intended to stay and fight, because... if they were, then many wanted to stay and defend their homes. With that decided, they turned their attention to how to defend the town. They figured the attack would come from the east, and the walls and bridges would need the most protection. They asked Ameiko to take their magical lute into the cathedral during the attack. It would protect the building from harm while protecting those within.
Theo said he would be on The Bluff, where the rich lived, as the Stevadors were hired to ship out their possessions and loved ones.
Hearing about the stone giants, Vulnademus wandered off to send a message to Thalina and Grubbyfugs--- hoping they could return in time to help.
Sensing Tiny Tymm's frustrations, Bartuk also took an interest in Vulnademus. He found the old man sincere in his denial of being anything besides a simple hedge wizard.
With little head way there, the heroes visited the historian of the Shung, Brodert Quink. Ever since discovering his ancestors included the Shung, Tiny Tymm had been contemplating the ceremony that he and Brodert had attempted on the scholar so long ago. Would it work on Tiny Tymm?
Brodert was excited about the possibility, and Kurdan was supportive. Bartuk was deeply concerned about the consequences. Tiny Tymm decided to do it.
A simple ceremony that involved a special ink to paint a moving word onto his forehead was performed without pomp or great ritual, and the result was as quiet as the ceremony. No explosions, bright lights, or even a noise was made as Tiny Tymm was tied to the fabric of the universe and became one with the very concept of Knowledge. Only time could tell what that might mean.
The heroes had another peaceful night, but were surprised to wake the next morning and find Barrowmista infested with thousands upon thousands of ladybugs.
Before they said their goodbyes, Bartuk sent a magical message to Sheriff Hemlock of Barrowmista to warn him of an invasion.
While the magical rains may have been stopped, the river was still flooded and flowing heavily. It helped to hasten their journey, but it required a lot of work from Kebe to keep the raft stable.
Later that day, the heroes passed a small village they had visited on their way to Uyo. It showed signs of being pillaged, and the heroes pulled over so Kebe could nap and the heroes could investigate.
The heroes found an odd scene. Odd footprints were seen among the footprints of the locals. No signs of bloodshed, but signs that the locals had been lined up in the middle of the village... and then it is as if they disappeared. Tiny Tymm looked for sources of magic, but none were present.
With no further clues, the heroes moved on and eventually camped for the night.
During his watch, Kurdan heard the sounds of children screaming and eventually the sounds of violence. Wary of what might be causing the noises, Kurdan stayed with the camp and didn't wake his companions.
It wasn't long into their continued journey in the morning when the mystery of night may have been solved. The heroes came upon a larger village in the middle of an assault. An elven floating island was hovering a few hundred feet above the village. Large airships in the shape of fish manned by squat monstrosities were abducting the locals. Two ships had just departed while a third was finishing loading the last of the people and some barrels.
The heroes sprang forth with Kurdan and Bartuk charging the monsters while Tiny Tymm unleashed his magic against the monstrosities. Kurdan was able to leap upon the ship as it began to fly away, but Bartuk fumbled with a grappling hook while sprinting towards the ship.
Tiny Tymm joined the run towards the airship and had Susyn grab the grappling hook and connect it to the ship. This helped Bartuk swing his way on to the airship and join the battle.
Kurdan dismembered one of the monstrosities, and was horrified to watch it fall into pieces of rotting meat and random teeth. All around them were frightened villagers stuck in cages. Sounds of more of the monstrosities came from above.
Tiny Tymm lept for the ship, but slipped and fell hard. Holding on to the rope, he quickly cast levitate on himself so he could be pulled into the airship by the others.
Before the rest of the crew could join the battle, Kurdan wrecked the shoddy ramps the creatures had in place to access the hold. Looking down from above only earned them a fiery blast from Tiny Tymm. Climbing up, the heroes found the inner deck of the ship was crawling with more of the monsters. The battle was over quick, the monstrosities could cause nasty wounds, but were not able to often hit the heroes.
Besides the prisoners, the only things on board were barrels of stolen food and a mysterious enchanted iron door.
Even with the crew dead, the ship continued to fly towards the floating island. It was shortly after dawn, but the sun darkened as the heroes moved closer to the island. Giant hearts floated in the air, their aortas climbing high in the sky and disappearing.
The island looked to once have been a place for repairing airships, but now was the home to these monstrosities. A giant lake of blood filled the center of the island, with a building crafted from fat in the middle. The other airships had landed, and people were being led by the monstrosities to a nearby warehouse. Occasionally, one would be pulled out and herded towards the central building.
Large mirrors displayed a handsome obese Onitshan that introduced himself as the Runelord Oppoloppo. He asked the prisoners to be calm, and that he was here to look after them as their new ruler.
The heroes retreated into the airship to plan. Bartuk used his emerald dragon dust, creating an unbreakable barrier over the hatch to the hold so the monstrosities could not climb up towards them.
Using magical chimes to unlock the door, the heroes found a giant heart connected to the rest of the ship. They had little time to investigate the heart, but figured it was what was flying the airship. Kurdan punched it twice, covering the heroes in gallons of blood and causing the airship to slam into the docks it was landing upon.
While the monstrosities dealt with the prisoners and attempted to deal with the magical barrier, the heroes sneaked off the ship and onto the island. It didn't take long for the monstrosities to begin searching for the heroes, and they hid while they planned their next steps.
They decided to sneak into the central building on the blood lake, and made their way into it when there was an opening among their pursuers. Insider, they found a large chamber that was part open kitchen and part slaughterhouse. A giant runewell glowed with a person kneeling inside. Individuals, skinned and hanging by their feet, were lining the room or were being cooked on large grills.
Across the room from them was a monstrously humanoid. Unlike his handsome visage, Oppoloppo was a monster of a man-- an incarnation of hunger unleashed upon the world. They watched him eat one of the hanging people whole, and then he taunted the heroes into battle. Joining the runelord were snake-like creatures formed from the regurgitated remains of his food.
Bartuk concentrated on the runewell, not sure if the person inside should be saved or slain, while Oppoloppo attempted to unleash magic upon the heroes. Tiny Tymm countered the spell while Kurdan moved forward to engage. Raging, the Axe of Justice and Revenge appeared to shine in Oppoloppo's eyes. Was it a look of recognition?
Attempting to contain the runelord, Tiny Tymm created a wall of fire between them. He was horrified when he saw the runelord grasp the wall of fire as if it were a silk curtain. Oppoloppo balled up the magic and swallowed it whole... and then belched the magic back at the heroes. The ability to manipulate powerful magics like this was beyond anything the heroes had ever seen... or even thought possible.
Kurdan's magical axe proved the only thing capable of harming the runelord, but the ancient wizard proved to be just as dangerous in melee as he was with magic. A toxic bite and incredible strong arms rained blows upon the barbarian.
Bartuk found the person in the runewell was in a trance, and pulled them from the runewell to break the ceremony just as the monstrosities that worked the airship began to enter the room.
Slowly being surrounded, Kurdan continued his battle with the runelord. After a devastating hit, Kurdan went to strike again when Oppoloppo caught his axe mid-swing. Kurdan had not faced anyone with such strength.
Oppoloppo exclaimed he was surprised the "old ladies" were involved, but he would destroy them just as he was about to kill Kurdan.
With that, he broke the Axe of Justice and Revenge and bashed Kurdan back across the room.
Oppoloppo walked away calling into the room recently created Shung stone giants.
Realizing they were in a lot of trouble, the heroes decided to retreat, but being on a floating island made that difficult. Bartuk led the injured Kurdan to the edge of the island, and then used his magical cloak to teleport them down to the river below.
Tiny Tymm was being chased by the monsters when he jumped off the edge and cast feather fall. He thought he was safe until one of the giants ripped off a piece of the building and threw it into the fragile wizard. Turning invisible, Tiny Tymm disappeared from sight and floated to rejoin his friends.
Bartuk healed the group while the heroes watched the runelord's island float away. It seems Oppoloppo did not consider the heroes worth pursuing.
With worried hearts and minds, the heroes returned to Barrowmista. They paid Kebe well for his help and gave him a place to rest before he left to return home. The heroes found Barrowmista preparing for an invasion, but one against normal sized foes. The news that they would soon face stone giants was met with disbelief and fear.
A meeting was planned, and the heroes went their separate ways until then.
Bartuk returned to their home to divine secret truths from the universe. The heavens only gave cryptic responses to his questions, but he learned that the invasion would start the dawn after the arrival of the ladybugs.
Kurdan visited with Ameiko (and Leon) and found her preparing emergency rations for the invasion, they spent time quietly commiserating.
Tiny Tymm confronted the hedge wizard Vulnademus. Having witnessed the doddering old man perform powerful magics, Tymm attempted to get him to admit to his capabilities ... and help with the coming invasions. Vulnademus became confused by Tiny Tymm's accusations and behavior. It left Tymm unsure if the wizard was faking it or something else was happening.
The meeting included the heroes, the mayor, sheriff, Ameiko, Theo, Sabyl, and Vulnademus.
The heroes recommended the town evacuate, but without knowing when the giants might invade-- that could lead the people in travel being undefended. They went back and forth about this until the mayor asked the heroes if they intended to stay and fight, because... if they were, then many wanted to stay and defend their homes. With that decided, they turned their attention to how to defend the town. They figured the attack would come from the east, and the walls and bridges would need the most protection. They asked Ameiko to take their magical lute into the cathedral during the attack. It would protect the building from harm while protecting those within.
Theo said he would be on The Bluff, where the rich lived, as the Stevadors were hired to ship out their possessions and loved ones.
Hearing about the stone giants, Vulnademus wandered off to send a message to Thalina and Grubbyfugs--- hoping they could return in time to help.
Sensing Tiny Tymm's frustrations, Bartuk also took an interest in Vulnademus. He found the old man sincere in his denial of being anything besides a simple hedge wizard.
With little head way there, the heroes visited the historian of the Shung, Brodert Quink. Ever since discovering his ancestors included the Shung, Tiny Tymm had been contemplating the ceremony that he and Brodert had attempted on the scholar so long ago. Would it work on Tiny Tymm?
Brodert was excited about the possibility, and Kurdan was supportive. Bartuk was deeply concerned about the consequences. Tiny Tymm decided to do it.
A simple ceremony that involved a special ink to paint a moving word onto his forehead was performed without pomp or great ritual, and the result was as quiet as the ceremony. No explosions, bright lights, or even a noise was made as Tiny Tymm was tied to the fabric of the universe and became one with the very concept of Knowledge. Only time could tell what that might mean.
The heroes had another peaceful night, but were surprised to wake the next morning and find Barrowmista infested with thousands upon thousands of ladybugs.
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