Session 08: The Zola at the River's Source
General Summary
The session started with the group taking a short rest to recover from the battle with the bandits at the bridge over the river. The group cautiously and stealthily continued along the trail upstream. After a short time, the group heard a voice in the distance up ahead. Thistle wild-shaped into a squirrel, climbed a tree and scouted ahead in the treetops to do some reconnaissance.
Climbing ahead through the treetops, he came across pond created a makeshift dam. In the center of the pond was an island with an altar. On the alter was an unconscious Human, and standing over the Human was a Zola whose ritualistic chanting were the source of the voice being heard by the group. The alter was covered in dried blood, and a ceremonial dagger laid on the alter next to the human. Water flowed from underneath the alter, indicating the source of the river. Thistle also noticed two bandit guards standing near the dam.
The group spent a few moments forming a plan. They tied "Not Important" to a tree, and then they initiated their plan. Sunny entered the river and swamp upstream under the surface. When he was close enough, he threw a bomb at the dam, blowing it up and injuring the two sentry bandits standing by it. Thistle wildshaped into his bear form and he and the rest of the party joined the fray (with Tanager riding on Thistle's back), attacking the Zola Shaman and the bandits from the shore. The zola responded by spitting fire at the party, casting an incantation that turned the pond water opaque brown, and summoning a giant enemy crab that he used as a mount, and magically creating two columns of swirling water that served as cover for him. Unbeknownst to the group, the zola also summoned three crocodiles that manifested in the murky water.
While the giant crab attacked and grabbed Feng into its claws, the crocodiles attacked Ora and Sunny. Sunny was dragged into the water and the crocodile attempted a death roll on him, but he was able to roll with it and suffered minimal injury. Tanager killed one of the bandits with cloud of daggers. The zola then was able to paralyze Ora by casting hold person on her. The zola then casted entangle on Thistle and Thave, wrapping them up in seaweed. Bear-form Thistle was able to break through the magical vegetation, but Thave was restrained by it.
Feng was able to escape the giant crab's grip by Sheikah-teleporting to the ground nearby. The crab then turned its attention to Ora, grabbing her in its claws. The crab then grabbed bear-Thistle by the paw, while the zola continued to pop its head out of the water and spit fire at the party. Ora was able to shake off the hold person spell as Sunny chopped off both claws off the giant crab, killing it, turning the tide of battle. The zola tried to regain the upper hand by magically making the water around Sunny boil. The party killed off the rest of the zola's minions. The zola tried escaping to the river by making its way to the busted dam, but Thave was able to shoot him with an arrow, killing the zola before he was able to make his getaway.
Upon the zolas death, the water columns dispersed and the water cleared from its magical murkiness. Sunny searched the body of the zola shaman and found the rod it was holding. It was adorned with shells and coral. Sunny also found two letters; one sealed, one opened. Each letter had different handwriting. The letters were written using the Zola alphabet, but could not be read by Sunny, save a few words. While searching the bodies, they also noticed one of the bandits had a stump index finger.
Bear-Thistle freed the unconscious human on the alter and carried him back to shore. They brought him back to consciousness and learned he was a holy man from Small Creek who was sent to investigate why the water stopped flowing a week ago. He was captured but kept alive for sacrifice. Sunny told him and the group about the letters, believing them to be correspondence that discussed "temples, search, praying to gods, water."
The group then noticed a cart in the nearby wood full of the belongings of the citizens of Small Creek. They collected Not Important, and Thistle wild-shaped into a draft horse in order to pull the cart. They made their way along a rough trail that lead in a different direction that they came from. The path eventually led to the road that lead into Small Creek from Hyrule Castletown, confirming the group's suspicions about the shady merchants. The group followed the road back to Small Creek. They told Ol' Finnley everything that happened. Sunny asked if Ol' Finnley could read the letters, but he could not. He suggested maybe finding a translator in Hyrule Castletown.
As the group rested for the evening, Sunny approached Not Important and began having a heart-to-heart with him. Sunny learned Not Important's real name is Nick Mitchell. Sunny told Nick of his past and how he moved on from a life of questionable ethics to a more positive one. Sunny told Nick if he wants, he can go to his shop in Lon Lon City for honest work.
Thistle and Feng then went back to the bandit trapped in the barrel, letting him know the zola shaman was dead and the bandit's fate would be up to the villagers. The bandit was still defiant. The group consulted with Ol' Finnley, who requested they take the bandit back to Hyrule Castletown and turn him over the authorities there. They then turned in for the night.
The next morning, the group prepared to set out. Ol' Finnley presented the group with some rupees as a reward for their help, and let them take possession of his ring. He revealed his ring is magic and can make one a more able swimmer, and also allows one to command swimming beasts.
The group traveled back to Hyrule Castletown. There, they turned the bandit in the barrel over to the Hyrule Royal Guard.
Memorable Quotes
Feng: Listen! Do you smell something?Thistle: Do you think you can climb the trees and make your way, quietly? You're the most dexterous amongst us.
Sunny: I can try is there a--
[Ora and Feng, puzzled looks]
Thistle: Oh wait! She can--
Sunny: I'm not the most dexterous...
Tanager: Those two are ninjas!
Thistle: Yeah, good point. One of you give him--
Feng: Forget it. I'm not doing it now.
Thistle: Here's a thought. What if the fish man is the one that has to kill the guy with the ceremonial dagger. What if we kill the guy?
Sunny: I think that'd be a good thing. *beat* Oh. W-wait! No! Not the--! The unconscious guy?!?
Thistle: Yes. Hear me out...
Ora: Are these two going rogue?
Tanager: It's ...uh... an interesting conversation.
Ora: I tuned them out. We should probably be listening. You guys are known for--
Tanager: Oh, there's hostage killings involved and--
Thistle: Well, that got nixed.
Sunny: My worry with throwing the bomb on the island is killing the guy by accident.
Ora: I thought you were going to try to hit the damn?
Sunny: That was the first plan.
Thistle: Would it be cannibalism for you to eat zola?
Sunny: I mean, I don't thin it would be cannibalism. But i also don't really want to do it.
Thistle: So it would be like me eating a salad?
Thistle: So our instincts were right. I feel no guilt about our decisions whatsoever.
Tanager: No. Screw those guys.
Thistle: ...And it further emboldens me to make the same rash decisions!
Ora: Great. You learned so much from this.
Thistle: They can have it all and fresh water back. Tanager: Yes. Thistle: We don't look so bad now, do we? Ol' Finnley:The water is fresh again? Tanager: The water is fresh again Thistle: The next couple of days there might be bandit parts floating down, so never mind that. Ora: You may want to give it a day or two. Maybe boil it.
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