A Noise in the Night

General Summary

Aerial Surprise

Another day dawned in Beyonder's Blades People awoke and went about their daily chores; the weather looked promising and a hint of adventure was in the air. Suddenly, 10 rasters with riders on their backs swooped down and landed just outside the settlement! Everyone was startled; they were used to merchants passing through but nobody was expecting the rasters. Ephyra volunteered to approach the group and inquire their purpose.

Several adventurous souls including Tidran, Cassandra, Farren, and Sirkel stealthily followed Ephyra in order to eavesdrop on her conversation. Sih'Teel, who was on his way back to the settlement also decided to creep in close to investigate. Ephyra approached the group of magnificent flying creatures and greeted the riders.

Bryn, the leader of the raster group, greeted Ephyra. After introductions, Ephyra posed the question burning on everyone's mind: why had a group of people wealthy enough to fly rasters taken such an interest in Beyonder's Blades? Bryn explained she was head of a group of archaeologists who had heard about the Yudterim and were interested in visiting it. Ephyra then welcomed Bryn to the settlement and, leaving Bryn to attend her rasters, headed back to the town inn.

Plans and Introductions

Everyone who had overheard the conversation followed Ephyra back and joined up back at the inn. Once there, they ran into Mo and Breaker who had stayed behind. Ephyra then announced to all present that the archaeologists were interested in visiting the yudterim. Tidran suggested that such an expedition would fare better if accompanied by someone familiar to the Syzygy Ghouls. Tidran then announced his intention to offer his services as a guide. Sensing a chance for profit, Sih'Teel joined Tidran.

On their way out the door, Breaker greeted Tidran and (having not yet met Sih'Teel) asked for introductions. Sih'Teel (of course!) suavely claimed to have met Breaker briefly at an inn when Breaker was in pursuit of a bounty. Breaker was a bit taken aback by Sih'Teels claim but acknowledged that he had perhaps met Sih'Teel at some point before. Tidran and Sih'Teel were finally about to set out when suddenly Chelvin, the Aeon Priest came hurrying up to the inn.

Spelunking Expedition

Chelvin announced that he had made a profound discovery at at nearby cave but needed help getting access to the cave itself. He was very excited about his find and implored all present for assistance. Deciding that an unknown cave sounded more interesting that chauffeuring a group of archaeologists around, Breaker, Cassandra, Farren, Mo, Sih'Teel, Sirkel, and Tidran all decided to accompany Chelvin to his cave.

Chelvin led the group to a cave in the Beyond within a few hours walk from the settlement. Upon arrival, the group was greeted by the sight of a very old looking hatch of some type apparently leading into the ground. Sih'Teel briefly tried to open it and then suggested the group blow it up when he was unable to move it. While Sirkel applauded the idea of high explosives, Farren instead examined the hatch and was able to decipher its workings. Farren fiddled with the hatch and after a few minutes it suddenly groaned and began to slide open!

Psychedelic Mushrooms

The group saw a ladder disappearing down into the gloom of an underground cave. Breaker went down first and then called the rest of the group down. When Sih'Teel arrived at the bottom, he pulled out a fungal garden cypher and sprinkled the multi-colored dust on the ground. Soon, the spores from the cypher had an effect and mushrooms began to sprout all around!

Mo was very excited at the sight of the mushrooms but then remembered who planted them and tried to keep a straight face. She knelt down and plucked a mushroom intending to keep it for her collection. As her hand closed around the mushroom, Mo began to hear voices babbling and see psychedelic colors swirling before her eyes. The mushroom she had grasped caused visual and auditory hallucinations! Chelvin had also touched a mushroom and was affected in a similar way. Upon seeing Mo's and Chelvin's reactions, the rest of the group carefully stepped around the mushrooms and continued on into the cave.

A Series of Doors

Further down the corridor, the party found a huge door with 8 levers on it. Sih'Teel once again brashly moved forward and pulled a lever. Fortunately for him, nothing happened. He once again suggested blowing up the door but once again Farren studied the situation and determined the door would probably open if all the levers were pulled at once. The group broke out ropes and after a few missteps managed to pull all the levers together and opened the door!

Proceeding cautiously, the group soon came to another massive door which barred their way. Sih'Teel didn't even try this time but immediately suggested explosives. Several of the other party members pointed out that they were underground in close proximity to the door and did not want to be blown up on such a nice day. Farren tried to study the door for clues, but this door was harder to decipher than the previous two had been. Farren asked for assistance and after some discussion with the rest of the group she tentatively suggested wiring a power source to two slots in the door.

Farren pulled wire from her pack, and Tidran loaned her his energy shield as a power source. With deft motions Farren wired the slots in the door to Tidran's shield and turned the shield on. The shield snapped and hissed and for a moment nothing else happened; finally a hum of power was heard and the massive door creaked open. Chelvin, despite his hallucinations, rushed in and yelled excitedly!

A Prize Found and a Member Lost

The rest of the party scrambled after Chelvin and found him excitedly gesticulating at a large ship or craft of some sort. This was what the Aeon Priest's research had led him to! Chelvin explained that this was some sort of space craft. It was currently in a state of disrepair due to its extreme age. However, Chelvin was confident he could restore the craft to working order. Farren examined the craft and agreed it could be made to function again, but reminded Chelvin that tinkering with ancient numenera was dangerous whilst drugged by mushrooms. Chelvin reluctantly agreed to postpone his work for a day and the group began to head back out of the cave.

Tidran suddenly noticed that Sih'Teel was no where to be found! The group quickly looked around and even inside the space craft, but even Breaker's tracking abilities came up short. The party decided that since there was only one way out, they would continue and exit the cave while keeping an eye out for Sih'Teel. When the group reached the entrance, they found the mushrooms had continued to grow and the air was now clouded with spores. There was no way out but through the mind-altering haze!

Ambush, more Mushrooms, and Separation

The spores effected each adventurer differently, some were deliriously happy, some experience a deep sorrow, and some also saw the psychedelic colors. As they stumbled their way to the ladder, two figures suddenly appeared above them! One reached down and the hatch began to slide shut! The group rushed for the ladder; Breaker, Tidran, and Farren managed to swarm up the ladder before the hatch shut but Mo, Cassandra, Sirkel, and Chelvin were not fast enough. The hatch clanged shut splitting the party and leaving Breaker, Tidran, and Farren to face the two mysterious figures!

Ensuing Melee

The figures, a man and a woman were assassins after Breaker. An epic fight ensued between the assassins and the adventurers! Breaker over-swung and lost his sword; he contented himself with using his slug-thrower. Beneath his helmet he smiled as his heavy slugs tore through the assassins armor. Tidran had been practicing with his shield and he used that practice to great effect. He was able to repeatedly stun one of the assassins with heavy shield blows. Farren had a bit of difficulty with the assassin's speed but her companion bit viciously into her attacker's legs. Both Breaker and Farren were injured by the assassin's quick dagger thrusts but the steadfast adventurers finally prevailed and rendered the assassins unconscious on the ground!

Conclusion

As the combat drew to a close, Sih'Teel came running up with his sword drawn. He explained he had heard something in the tunnel behind the group and went off on his own to investigate. He had found the assassin's tracks and was trying to trail them when he heard the clash of swords. He had come running but arrived too late to be of any help.

Tidran re-opened the hatch and let his trapped companions out. Breaker bound the assassins securely. Sih'Teel went through the pockets and found poison, their daggers, and shins. He kept the poison vial, split the shins with the group, and gave Tidran the daggers. The party then took the assassins back to Beyonder's Blades where they received 60 more shins from Toby

Rewards Granted

• Sih'Teel found a vial of poison
• Tidran gained a set of daggers
• Each player received 16 shins

Character(s) interacted with

• Bryn
• Chelvin

Report Date

07 Mar 2020

Primary Location

Beyonder's Blades