Session 2: Beneath the Ruins of Firestone Keep Report

General Summary

Session 2 – Wednesday July the 13th 2022 – Beneath the Ruins of Firestone Keep.

4.5 Hour session 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Party of 6 (The Stone Bearers):

It is the 21st day of the month of Elient (The Fading) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Mid-September just before the fall equinox.)

Abrash – Wood (Dessert) Elf L1 Druid – Jacob Munson
Ajani– High Elf L1 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
Gazlowe – Goblin L1 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
Thomas – Human L1 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
Gurthen – Dwarf L1 Paladin – Spencer Armstrong
Isabella – Forest Gnome L1 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong

Goals:

Save A Nobel’s son (Willet) from being sacrificed by some Kobolds (for 200gp.)

Marble Tomb

They continued down the catacomb halls and came to an intersection. They saw a large room to the south and chose to go in there next. It was a large tomb, and the air was colder than the other passageways. It was also much cleaner, strangely clean. Several vault doors lined the walls, and there was a large tapestry hanging from the east wall, showing a fierce armored woman battling goblins. In the center of the room was an enormous sarcophagus carved from pale marble and gilt with gold and silver. The chamber was eerily silent. Gazlowe wanted to take the huge tapestry, but they realized it would encumber them and decided to come back for it. Without disturbing anything they left the room and followed a passageway south.

Zombie Rats

As they proceeded south A foul odor assaults their nostrils, and the roughhewn walls seem to only reflect and reinforce the stench. A moment later, two large packs of rats came scurrying into view. As they got closer, they saw that torn flesh hung from their bodies in strips, exposing internal organs made dark and putrid with rot. Their eyes glared at the party with diseased mania, and they snapped with jaws full of broken teeth. They party struggled to quickly kill the rats as they were hard to hit with traditional weapons. Gazlowe used his firebolt, Abrash used his poison spray and Ajani used his ray of frost all very effectively. Gurthen was swarmed by the rats, and they badly wounded him. The others continued with their traditional weapons. Gazlowe finished off one swarm with his firebolt and Ajani finished off the 2nd with help from Abrash and Thomas. Gazlowe picked up a few and put them in his bag. Abrash gave Gurthen a few berries and then Gurthen healed himself some more by laying hands on himself.

Bloody Trap

The party continued south. The rough walls of the passage were interrupted by panels of smooth, cut stone that formed a short tunnel roughly ten feet long. Fresh blood was spattered around the top, bottom, and lower sides of this strange construction. Abrash put his staff in and leaned on it. The pressure triggered the trap and the ceiling smashed down on Abrash’s staff and snapped it. Abrash started casting druid craft in an attempt to repair it. Thomas carefully collected a small amount of blood and examined it. He determined that it was humanoid but not kobold.

Gurthen easily jumped over the trap and looked down the hall. The walls in that hallway had been covered in a veneer of copper-colored bricks. Five vaults were set into the walls there, though the stone doors that once sealed the chambers were wrenched open long ago. Gazlowe figured that, whatever was caught in this trap headed back into the catacombs and not where Gurthen was. Gurthen was able to jump back to the other side.

An Oily corpse

The party continued looking in the catacombs and began going east. The tombs had been looted long ago. A few ancient bones were strewn in the hall. Gazlowe spotted a one tomb that looked relatively undisturbed. The skeleton looked like it was covered with a shiny oil. He went to scope some oil up and the gray ooze smacked Gazlowe so hard he went unconscious. Thomas was unable to stabilize Gazlowe. Ajani was able to stabilize him. Abrash retrieved Gazlowe’s healing potion and gave it to Gurthen who poured it down. Gazlowe’s throat. The party was cautious with the gray ooze and the gray ooze stayed on the body. However, Gazlowe, now conscious, arose and shot a firebolt at the ooze. Ajani shot a ray of frost at it a couple times. Gurthen and Isabella threw their javelins at it and Gurthen’s 2nd javelin finished it off.

Gazlowe found a large ancient platinum coin from an era long forgotten. To the right collector this coin could be worth perhaps 50gp. He also collected a sample of the ooze remnants in a vial.

The Broken Man

The party walked east through the catacombs and saw a creature crawling out of an alcove. The lower half of his body was a crushed mass of bloody gore. The party assumed the person was Rowan Quickford. Abrash and Thomas stabilized him, but he was still in severe pain. Abrash cast good berry and gave Rowan 2 of them. Rowan explained that he consulted an oracle before coming here and the oracle told him “That which you seek is near water. The party didn’t heal him anymore and left Rowan to crawl back home. They did tell him that they’ll be back after they rescue Willet. Rowan was grateful for that promise.

Pyromania

The party back tracked past the zombie rat nest and back into the large marble vault. Gazlowe again wanted to open the sarcophagus and get the tapestry but the other wanted to move one. They came to a large pen of giant weasels. Gazlowe noticed the pen was filled with straw and the fencing was sturdy. Gazlowe asked “Anyone ever have cooked weasels?” Hearing no “strong” objections, Gazlowe shot a firebolt into the pen catching the straw on fire. The party stepped back with their mouths agape as the weasels screamed in pain and slowly burned to death. Gazlowe looked on very pleased with himself. Thomas and Isabella mercy killed a few. The party scolded Gazlowe a bit and Gurthen stated, “In the future lets us all agree not to kill things inhumanely, especially with burns.” Abrash asked, “Why can’t we kill things with birds?”

Alchemist’s fire trap

The party tried to cover their tracks hastily as they continued to move towards the sound of the water. They came to a door that opened into an old stone tiled hallway. Looking through the door they saw an intersection of passages. One wall of the small chamber formed by the crisscrossing hallways was decorated with a bas relief carving—it depicted a hooded figure with its arms lifted in victory, as flames curl and rise in the background. They heard water coming from the eastern hallways.

Abrash lead the party forward. After they stepped out a few feet Abrash began glancing around for traps and spotted a trip wire just as his foot hit it. He yelled out, “That’s not good” as glass jars filled with alchemist’s fire fell from the ceiling. With the warning from Abrash everyone was able to safely avoid the falling bottles and resulting flames except Gazlowe. Gazlowe caught on fire and Ajani and Isabella threw their bed rolls on him and Gurthen started patting him down to put out the fire. Some in the party smiled at the irony of the situation. Thomas took out some bandages, but Gazlowe was very hurt.

Storage Larder

Glancing down the southern hall, they saw a door with a sign on it written in Draconic. They continued east towards the sound of water. They came to another intersection with a door to the north, a door to the south and storage room to the east. The storage room had hanging meat and shelves of assorted nonperishable food items. The scents were strong but nothing rancid. Gazlowe asked for some more Goodberrys from Abrash. Abrash asked “What did you learn?” Gazlowe answered, “Men without legs, don’t get very far.” Abrash gave Gazlowe 5 berries.

Aqueduct

The sound of water was strongest at the southern door. Gurthen broke down the door, Abrash looked for traps, the hall turned to the east and there was another door at the end of the hall. Gurthen went to break it down, but Isabella simply walked up and opened it. Inside they found a larger room with an aqueduct running through it. Water entered from an opening in the east wall, flowed through an “L” shaped channel, and exited through an opening in the north wall. A walkway along the channel allowed easy access. A foul smell filled the air. Searching the room, they found no signs of Willet. The waterway entrance and exits were impassable, and the water was very foul. Gurthen tasted the water, and it was sewage. They found no secret passages. Isabella remembered what they had heard, “What you seek is NEAR the water.” Ajani took a piece of parchment, wrote “The Stone Bearers” on it, folded it into a paper boat and let it sail down the waterway.

Someone’s Quarters.

The left the aqueduct and went into the northern door next to the storage room. This room was clean and tidy. In one corner was a bed with a straw mattress and furs, in front of which sat a banded chest. The opposing corner held a round table and two chairs. Along the wall by the bed stretched a well-equipped weapon rack holding a longsword, a spear, a greatsword, a battleaxe, a flail, and a Morningstar all in superb condition. The party divided up the weapons.

Thomas poked the chest, and nothing happened. Gazlowe picked the lock to the chest and found 57gp, 12sp, 30cp and a potion of healing. Looking at the size of the bed they knew this was not a room for kobolds but a larger creature. They recognized that room is lived in and Gurthen noticed that there are a couple weapon slots that are empty and noted: “Whoever lives in this room is armed.” The party took a shot rest.

Being Watched

As the party was resting Abrash was in the storage room putting together some lunch. Ajani was standing guard in the hallway. The two of them caught a glimpse of a creature looking at them. The creature quickly disappeared before they could get a good look at it and then they heard a door slamming shut. They followed the sound and saw that the door to the catacombs that they came through was no closed. They went and gathered the rest of the party.

Gazlowe and Gurthen found a bearskin. Gazlowe hopped on Gurthen’s shoulders, and they draped the bearskin over them to appear to a casual glance like a bear. They party started to follow the creature but decided to follow another hall that went east first. The hallway meandered quite a long way east and then south and then west. It turned back north and ended at a door.

The Acid Pit

Gazlowe and Gurthen opened the door and saw a large acid pit 20’ wide, 10 feet across and at least 12’ deep. There was a very small ledge that headed west but would be difficult to navigate. Thomas was able to carefully walk across the ledge. They heard something running into the hall to the west and then the sound of a large stone door slamming shut.

Thomas was in a hallway that Gurthen had been in before. He went and told the party that there are 5 vaults and one of them is closed. Gazlowe climbed out onto the ledge and secured a piton into the wall, but in so doing, he lost his balance. Thomas and Isabella were able to reach out and save him before he fell. They secured a rope to the piton and were able to cross. Once safely in the hallway, Gurthen told the party he was in this hall once before and all the doors were open last time.

Someone’s hiding

They opened the closed door and saw a large sarcophagus filling a small vault that seemed undisturbed, though its stone was chipped and discolored. An effigy carved into the lid portrayed a lean, full-bearded man, his hands drawn to his chest and clasping the hilt of a large sword that laid upon his body. The stone eyes flicked open, and the effigy roared, "Who dares impede the slumber of Lord Greyborn? Come further and you will partake of my rest, willing or no!" The stone creature sat up, staring at the party with dead eyes and readied its sword. Abrash pushed Gurthen forward a little.

Gurthen stood his ground and said “It is I…” As he explained his purpose, he was able to perceive that the stone creature was simply an illusion. Once he realized this, he told the party and went to open the sarcophagus. Gazlowe yelled out, “We’re opening this up!” as he readied his sword to attack anything inside. Gurthen opened the lid and they saw a Lizard folk with a little dribble of egg yolk on his cheek. The Lizard folk pretended to be unconscious until Gurthen threatened him. At that point the Lizard introduced himself as Flicktongue and began telling them anything they asked.

Flicktongue explained he and his family lived here for many years until the kobold’s arrived a few years ago. Flicktongue remained even though his family left because he loves to eat their eggs. He told them that he knew of the sacrifice and where they would keep it. Gazlowe spotted a few of Flicktongue’s personal items in the sarcophagus and Flicktongue was willing to trade one of his 20gp gems for 2 kobold eggs.

Finding Willet

Flicktongue was willing to lead them to the secret room where the kobolds would keep their sacrifice. He told them that there are dozens of kobolds and Giant weasels plus at least 1 orc. They were able to disable the crushing trap and Flicktongue lead them back towards the storage room. Flicktongue refused to go into the hallway. He pointed to the storage room and told them about the secret door. Abrash found it.

The secret door opened to a dark room that smelled of stale air. Rows of empty shelves lined the walls, and several smashed chests occupied one corner. Near the center of the space, a brown-haired boy laid bound and naked on the stone floor. Aside from minor scrapes and bruises, he appeared unharmed. Abrash was able to remove his bindings and Isabella gave him her spare set of clothes that were just slightly too small. The party confirmed he was Willet and seeing he was dehydrated they gave him some water.

Willet asked about Aunt Zoreene and his bodyguards, and the party said, they just want to get him home safely. Thomas prepared his crossbow and Isabella brandished her axe as they told the party, let’s get him out safely. Gazlowe complained that they promised to examine that huge marble sarcophagus to see what’s inside. Some protested the idea and offered to come back after he’s safely home.

Run away!

Ajani protected the boy as the party began to leave. They walked carefully back along the known paths. They heard a door open in the north, a small voice yelled out in Draconic, and a horn was blown. They party began running. They went through the door, and Gurthen jammed a javelin into the door to slow down the kobolds. They continued to run through the catacombs and as they passed through another intersection, an Orc holding a Greataxe yelled as he ran towards them. Gazlowe yelled out, “They have an ORC!”

As the party ran through the intersection, they Gazlowe and Isabella slowed down just enough to throw a javelin and a hand axe respectively. They each hit and the Orc fell over dead. Behind the orc was a kobold with a hornet’s nest on a stick riding a Giant Weasel. They party ran! Abrash, seeing the giant weasel, remembering the carnage, and focused on running away somehow transformed himself into a Giant Weasel as he ran. Gazlowe begged to stop in the tomb room and grab at least the tapestry, but the others head the door in the East that they had jammed with the javelin burst open and a cacophony of angry kobold noises flood the hall behind them.

But you promised!

Even though they were being pursued by the entire hoard of kobolds, Gazlowe convinced Gurthen to run into the marble sarcophagus room. Gurthen ran up to the huge marble sarcophagus and with a burst of strength pushed open the lid. Inside they saw a skeletal human female wearing an ancient suit of mithril Ring mail and wearing a fine gold circlet (worth 80gp) on her brow. In her arms was a beautiful glaive. When the sarcophagus was opened, other doors in the crypt swung open and 3 skeletons looked at them menacingly. Gurthen grabbed the whole body from the sarcophagus as Gazlowe laid down some cover fire and they ran from the room.

Willet runs towards Aunt Zoreene.

The other four (plus Willet) emerged from the catacombs first. The late afternoon sun shone down upon them as they came up the stairs into the ruins of Firestone keep. Zoreene stepped from behind a nearby crumbled wall. After a moment, a tight smile broke through her usual grimace. “Well done,” she said. “I never thought you would succeed. I have your gold here—hand over the child and you can be on your way.” Ajani walked forward to take the gold. Willet moved forward to embrace his aunt as he called out, “Aunt Zoreene.” Thomas said, “It’s fortuitous that you should meet us here, we could use some help as there are quite a few kobolds chasing us.

Gazlowe and Gurthen ran up the stairs yelling “RUN!” When they made it to the top. Gazlowe and Gurthen pushed some large boulders of rubble into the stairwell blocking it. Zoreene said, the Kobolds won’t pursue you during the day.

What’s that guard doing there?

As Gazlowe was pushing the rubble, he noticed a guard crouching down on the other side of a crumbled wall holding a loaded crossbow. As Willet ran towards Zoreene, the party watched suspiciously. Gazlowe asked, “Why are your guards about to ambush us?” Zoreene said, just to insure he’s returned safely. The party said, “Let’s all go back to Lord Blackmoor.” Zoreene said, “You will hand him over now” as three guards and a large, hired thug stood up pointing their crossbows at the group.

Run?

Abrash, the weasel grabbed Willet as best he could and dragged him away. Gurthen ran past Zoreene into the forest. Zoreene turned to shoot Abrash, but Thomas was able to curse her, and the shot missed. One of the Guards leveled his crossbow at Abrash and Willet and made a critical hit on Abrash both dropping him out of his weasel form and bringing down to ½ hp! Zoreene looked at the guard and Abrash saw her say, “You missed!” Gazlowe ran up and grabbed the bag of gold from Zoreene and ran back for cover. Thomas swapped the Crossbow for the shield. The other two bandit turned to the remaining party members and began firing but missed. Ajani, cast silent image of Willet and then loudly turned to the image and said “Run!”

Fight!

Isabella charged at Zoreene in a rage with her great axe and took a chunk of flesh out of her. The remaining thug believing the illusion to be real shot it. The arrow passed through the illusion of Willet and the others realized it wasn’t the real Willet. Abrash ran as fast as he could with Willet, protecting him with his body. Gurthen held up his great axe and told Zoreene to stand down. She started to turn on Gurthen with her sword and Gurthen’s axe came down on her. Zoreene ignored the intense pain and wildly attacked Gurthen. The other guard shot and hit Abrash again. Like Boromir, with arrows protruding from his body, Abrash continued to protect Willet.

Gazlowe cast catapult on a piece of rubble, and it flew at Zoreene, but Zoreene ducked. Thomas quoted a verse from Ezekiel and shot a crossbow bolt directly into Zoreene. She fell and Thomas stabilized her. The 2nd guard Ran after seeing the leader go down. Ajani cast Chromatic orb at the guard who was shooting at Abrash and Willet. The orb left a whole in the guard about the size of a cannon ball and the guard fell over dead. Isabella ran after Abrash and Willet. The remaining guard and Thug, started to run away. Gurthen threw his spear at the guard and hit him but the guard and the Thug both escaped.

Gazlowe was disappointed when he opened the bag and found it only contained 100gp. However, he looked at Zoreene’s fancy crossbow made of Rosewood and guessed it was worth about 100gp. Zoreene also had a well-made Elven short sword. As the party rifled through the pockets of the dead guard (finding another 5 gp) Abrash saw that the battle was over and headed back to join his friends.

Campaign

The Forest

Protagonists

Thomas Elliot

Abrash Asim

Chaotic Good Moon Wood Elf (Folk Hero)
Druid 1

9 / 9 HP

STR
7

DEX
10

CON
13

INT
8

WIS
19

CHA
14

Report Date

18 Jul 2022