Session Two: Beneath The Well Report

General Summary

After defeating the ghouls that had emerged from the "birthing pond," the party decided to make camp for the evening. The next day they made their way to the Karno Compound, where they met Kass Tor, an Avian farmer. Kass Tor was able to provide some information about the well, most notably that it was one of very few primary water sources for the farmstead. When the party asked if there was someone who might know more about the well, he introduced them to Granny Zell. Granny Zell was able to tell the party about the early days of the Karno Compound, including the tales of creatures that would come from the well and eat their livestock. She described these creatures as dark scaled creatures, with sharp teeth, a crocodilian-like snout and red eyes. They were wearing clothes, which suggested some level of civilized nature, however the carnage she witnessed was far from civilized. She also told of the strange wizard, Wam, who came about twenty years ago (back when she was just Mama Zell, not Granny). Wam came dressed in ostentatious robes of gold and orange and wore a round hat off to the side of his head. He claimed he was going stop whatever was in the well from harming the people of the Karno Compound. Granny Zell promised the adventurers food and good night's rest in their barn once they returned from the well. The well appeared to be a natural underground spring of some kind. When they descended the party discovered a tunnel that led them to two doors. The group decided to enter the door on the right first. There, they found three corpses that resembled the creatures that Granny Zell had described earlier. After doing some investigation, Daretti Da Vinky realized that they also matched the descriptions of Kobolds, a mortal race of draconic origin from Nimblewick. Erastus Chloros explored the room further and discovered a secret passage to the next room over. The doors to this passage used some strange technology that appeared mismatched against the rest of the architecture of the dungeon's design. In the other room, there was a wooden sign that read:

Congratulations! Most people choose the door to the right.

After a short moment of being befuddled by the sign, a horrible orange-brown ooze (Ochre Jelly) fell onto Elaria Vizard's neck. After being attacked by the ooze, Elaria fell unconscious, but only briefly thanks to Daretti's skill with a wrench. The group made quick work of the creature, though it did shake them up. Daretti knocked over the sign, perturbed. Armitage pressed his face to the stone floor and began sniffing the ink that was used to write the bad joke onto the sign and was able to determine that it was likely written by the wizard, Wam. The group proceeded forward to find nine animated skeletons playing various sports and games using their appendages including curling and dice. They appeared to be using their finger bones as form of currency for betting on these contests. The party slowly closed their door and made their way back to the chamber on the right. They found themselves locked in a room with a table full of the most mouthwatering foods they had ever tasted in their past. All except Malth Nurn , that is. Nostalgic memories flooded the adventurers mind as they pondered whether or not to consume the mysterious food. Eventually, it was Erastus that decided to eat the meal designated for him: a platter of Spiced Goat reserved for Pride ceremonies. As Erastus ate the meal, the spiced goat slowly lost it's taste and Erastus slowly lost every memory he had of consuming it. When Erastus finished consuming his cursed meal a magic door to the north opened, revealing the final corridor. There, the party found a locked chest and a spellbook. After some time, Daretti was able to open the chest to reveal a gorgeous belt. Armitage dove straight for the spellbook, a horrid bright orange and gold tome with a "W" printed on the cover. The eager mage opened it it's last opened page and undead claws started reaching out towards him. These claws were quelled and out from the pages a man appeared. This man, dressed in the same golden rod cloth that bound his spellbook, was the wizard Wam in the flesh. The adventurers learned that he wrote the sign and taught the skeletons to play games in the previous chamber. They also learned that he was sent on the quest to recover Ozma's Belt of Teleportation by Queen Ozma herself. The group informed Wam that Ozma and Dorothy were both dead, Ozma only a few years after he had begun his quest and Dorothy just a year ago. Annoyed that the royal family didn't send anyone looking for him he decided he was going into retirement for a few years, transformed into a zoot suit, and disappeared in a puff shimmering gold mist. He left his spellbook, which Armitage later learned was a powerful artifact called The Primal Tome of Arcane Light. The group made their way back to the Karno Compound where a delicious feast was waiting for them. Erastus threatened Kass Tor and Daretti did his very best to support the town with their water supply issue. They learned that the Karno Compound was in a bad position for a farmstead as large as it is when it comes to watercourses. Daretti was able to draw up the plans for a handpump system to make gaining water from the wells easier, but the project would cost 3,000 gold, money the compound didn't have. Erastus suggested putting up a donation box, and offered 15gp as it's very first donation. On their way back to Notero, Daretti suggested that the five adventurers continue travelling together and possibly return Ozma's belt back to the royal family in New Viridia. The conversation was interrupted by Piltox, the eavesdropping goblin from Notero and three other goblins who demanded that they hand over the belt.