Session 131 - Hunger at the Cemetery
General Summary
1st to 3rd Peonu (Second month of Spring) 723TR
The story so far
Acheron has undertaken a quest to recover the Shield of Saint Andrada, likely in possession of Clan Sherwyn in the distant Kingdom of Orbaal.
While staying over in the City of Tashal, he is given an assignment.
The continuation of Session 130 - Treasures of the Wilds.
Location - City of Tashal in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 - The Cemetery
There have been disturbing reports from Ibarnis Cemetery near Lobarn Manor. The caretaker of this little-used Peoni cemetery tells tales of graves being dug up and bodies missing. He felt a strange tremor in the earth, and the local Ghost of Cyrie Harabor has become agitated. The clerics would like this investigated. The cemetery is located at an isolated spot, out of the sight of the village, and there have been no other unusual occurrences in the area.
During the conversation, Avon makes the pretense of being engaged and helpful, continuing on his so far successful effort to impress the High Priest of the Temple of Larani. This man has many contacts among the rich and powerful in the Kingdom. Deputy Pelnala Janor Torelin of the Church of Peoni seems to find this mildly amusing. He is a much better judge of a character, seeing through Avon's facade, but says nothing.
Location - Loban Manor in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 2 - Giant Ugly Blind Moles
The next day Heroes arrive at the small Ibarnis Cemetery; simple gravestones are scattered about with two small Mausoleums, one with its doors wrenched open. Many of the graves have been disturbed, and some are empty. On closer examination, very old bones have been ignored while more fresh bodies are missing, although there are a few scattered body parts. There is evidence of bite and chew makes on these remains. The soil under the graves is not densely packed, and the Heroes speculated that something has been burrowing through the earth underneath the graves.
Intrigued, Sabretooth sends his companion Ringo to investigate. He glides into the earth under one of the graves and senses vibrations. He quickly retreats to the surface as something takes a bite at him. Bursting from the ground, three huge mole-shaped monstrosities savage the Heroes. They have a very tough hide, a vicious bite, and short feet equipped with iron-hard claws. Avon's two legionary deserters he "recruited" a week earlier are disemboweled then pulled underground to be eaten at the creature's leisure; however, Acheron manages to kill one with his enchanted silver sword.
Having driven off the monsters, the Heroes explore Clan Harabor's Mausoleum, the one with the damaged doors. The inside is wreaked, the monsters have broken into many of the vaults, and rubble covers the floor. Three more of the strange scavengers are waiting inside and immediately attack the Heroes, and worse, they are joined by the two previously injured monsters. Nevertheless, the Heroes are more than up to the task and slay the creatures, albeit using most of their strength and resources. Then they feel Hunger.
Part 3 - The Hunger
Then a ghostly form materializes. The woman initially not hostile but repeats the words "I am so hungry!". Each time she repeats this phrase, the Heroes feel their need for food to grow. Several characters lose control, approach the ghost, irrationally intending to kill and eat it. Snarling, she transforms into true horror, an emaciated apparition, and anyone standing nearby feels their muscles start to weaken and body fat liquifying.
The Heroes believing they are ill-equipped to battle with the supernatural horror, attempt to withdraw; however, some of the characters are still compelled to attack her and cannot retreat. Calling on the power of his goddess Larani, Acheron presents his holy sword and drives the Ghost away, for the moment at least. After the Ghost disappears from view, its hold on the character evaporates, allowing the Heroes to escape the cemetery.
Part 4 - Pacifying the Ghost
The Heroes return to Tashal and speak with the senior Priests again. Although offering advice, it is not particularly helpful as they do not know what set the Ghost of Cyrie Harabor to madness. Pelnala Janor Torelin does recount the personal history of the death of Cyrie Harabor.
Cyrie, a devout worshiper of Peoni, suffered from ill health caused by famine. In 656TR the crops failed, followed by a long hard winter. She never recovered and died a tragic, slow death, eventually being interned in her family's Mausoleum.
The next day after resting, the Heroes return to Ibarnis Cemetery. The Ghost Cyrie Harabor appears, and again she turns into an emaciated horror. However, this time Heroes are fortified by magic and fully prepared to confront the ghost. They vanquish her.
Acheron and the Heroes know this is a temporary measure and quickly sets about investigating the cause for her irrational action. They quickly locate her sarcophagus, next to where she materialized, and find a broken plaque. It is a prayer to the goddess Peoni "wishing abundant crops and plentiful food for the poor and hard-working," authored by Cyrie herself when she was ill and dying. Parts of the prayer are missing, but its pieces are soon found among the rubble. Acheron speculates that if this last work of Cyrie Harabor were restored, the Ghost may again be at peace.
The Church of Peoni send in a work crew that cleans and repairs the Mausoleum. The Ghost does not harass them, and a few days later, Acheron returns to the Cemetery, catches glimpses of the Ghostly Cyrie, and she only looks at him before disappearing. Meanwhile, Avon arranges for the remains of the monsters, identified as Túmii or Blind Stone Hogs, to be sent to a tanner and leatherworker. He sees the potential to make a tidy profit out of the creature's leather.
To be continued...
NPC Interactions
Serolan Deni Trochi
Deputy Pelnala Janor Torelin
Challenges Overcome
Killed 6 Túmii - Blind Stone Hogs.
Pacified a Hungry Ghost.
Rewards
Each PC receives 2 Greater Healing Potions from the Church of Peoni.
A considerable quantity of Túmii Leather for armor.
Created Content
Related Reports
Temple of Larani - Basilica of King Aidrik IV.
Player Character Status
Acheron - Human - L6 Paladin and L4 Warlock Disciple of Mendiz.
Sabretooth - Unique Ivashu - L6 Ivashu Lord Barbarian, L3 Monk, and L1 Druid.
Avon - Half-Elf - L10 Thief.
Avon
Acheron
Sabretooth
NPC Companions
Moneypenny
Avon's able assistant
Ringo
Sabretooth's Ivashu Companion.
Túmii - Blind Stone Hog
Túmii or more commonly known as the Blind Stone Hog, are semi-intelligent burrowers and scavengers. The Túmii eat only carrion although they occasionally hunt, but do not immediately eat their prey. They bury the dead underground until it has suitably decomposed before feasting.
The monsters are fearsome beast, weighing at nearly a ton, protected by a hard resilient hide and equipped with stone hard claws and teeth.
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