Session 15: Into the Hissing Wood Report

General Summary

October 30th, 1916 P.M.E, The Hissing Wood, Runeweald

The party finds themselves stand at the eastern tunnel entrance to Girt Fut. Before them is a dark forest, flanked on either-side by impassibly tall mountains. After getting their bearings the party ventures in to the dark forest. An hour or so passes until they hear movement up ahead. Ezekiel sneaks forward and searches for the source of noise. It is a goblin. He informs the party and they go parlay. The Goblin seems friendly enough and introduces himself as Meek. Meek offers to guide the party eastward to a lake in exchange for money (and food). The party agrees. Meek proceeds to full sprint into the dense forest. The party gives chase, eventually hearing a loud snapping branch and cries for help. The party finds Meek at the base of a broken tree, his head barely cresting out of a mud pit. He is sinking quickly. Polis ties a rope around his waist, attaches it to a nearby tree, and dives into the mud to save Meek. He finds himself sinking into the heavy substance. His fingers break through the mud and grab a rocky ledge. He pulls himself out of the mud to find himself standing above a clear pond surrounded by dense, black trees. In the centre of the pond is a humanoid figure standing with its head tilted upwards as if it was taking a breath. Only its masked face is above the waterline. The mask is featureless, with no holes for its eyes, mouth, or nose. The humanoid creature's body is smooth, lacking a bellybutton, fingernails, and any other appendages or unique features. Ezekiel pulls on the rope that was tied to Polis, only to find that it is no longer tied to his waist. He begins shouting his name. Polis hears Ezekiels shouts faintly behind him. Polis follows the sound and finds the party. When the party reunites, Polis shows them the strange creature he encountered. He drags it out of the water and it begins pointing roughly eastward. Polis tries to take the mask off of the creatures face but his efforts are futile. Khagmadog notes that the mask is mithril, and that the Okri Dwarves would place mithril masks crafted in their likeness on their most venerated dead as a burial ritual. Polis ties the creature that he has now named "Rose" to his draft horse and follows the direction that the creature points in. After a half-hour of travel they stumble upon a short humanoid whittling a stick at a campfire. The creature introduces himself as Sir Oran Okean and begins to interview the expedition members about their prowess in battle. Oran deems that the party is suitable enough for following him into battle against a 'false dragon'. During the conversation, Rose manages to untie itself and walked behind Polis. It is still pointing eastward. After a brief pause, it begins walking east along an entirely obstacle-less path. The party follows. Eventually, the party finds themselves at the base of a hill. Just on top are the ruins of an old wizard's tower. Rose pauses at the base of the hill pointing to the bottom right corner of the tower. It continues walking toward the tower, entering from a collapsed section of wall on the southern side. It then climbs through a broken window in the inner wall of the tower and points towards a wooden door. Polis opens the door and the party finds a collection of crossbow bolts and a fancy looking spear, as well as some coins. While dividing the treasure Polis hears a gurgling sound, he peers around the corner back at Rose and sees the creature convulsing as worms pop out of its skin. It's body melts into a pile of larva, which dissipates and reforms into a hooded and masked creature whose body is composed of a mass of squirming worms. Combat ensues. Spells are flying and every time the worm boy is hit, he splits in two. Llobh is knocked unconscious by an acid arrow. After a hard fought battle, the party emerges victorious. Ezekiel stabilizes Llobh and Orimnok cast cure light wounds to bring him back to consciousness.