Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 123
Adventurers
| Character | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Balarus | Fighter level 4 | An ex-woodsman, quite a crackshot with his bow. |
| Tarkus the Promising | Cleric level 4 | Follower of Bachontoi, God of Red Wisdom. |
| Beorg the Gravedigger | Fighter level 3 | Inspired to adventure after burying several adventurers. |
| Ambros | Cleric level 6 | Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time. |
| Ignaeus | Elf level 4 | A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge. |
| Guin Pin | Magic-User level 3 | A young, short man with buzz-cut, black hair, dressed in a tuxedo black and white robe. He walks with a limp, which makes him wobble. |
Redleaves 7th to 12th
“Our city has been blessed by the Gods!”
Town criers of Hara worked overtime to break the news.
“Ambros Ap Mortain is our new High Priest of Forseti!”
Crowds cheered with delight, with the exception of few sour faces that squirm at doing things fairly.
“Ambros Ap Mortain is our new Justice Supreme of Hara!”
But Ambros had little reason to cheer.
Every night the same nightmare.
At the bottom of a deep well.
Blinded by the sun above.
Unable to move.
Whilst water slowly fills the well.
Every night.
Every single night.
Ambros had little time before the wrath of Poseidon befalls him.
And anyone with him.
Redleaves 15th, Spiritday
“Are you threatening us, ugly grandpa?!”
Largest of five drunk Altanians chucked stool aside, jumping up with his whole bulk.
Balarus poised himself, ready to swing the obsidian blade at the first person who dares raise hand against Ambros. Tarkus and Beorg were ready at the table.
Few days ago Ambros hired an experienced crew of marines to take them to Ketche. They were intercepted by pirates en route, but Tarkus the Witty managed to resolve that without any violence whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Ambros failed to negotiate a tracker with Beklomda Mor, the chieftain. She asked Ambros to remain in the village, which he refused due to his obligations in the “civilisation,” which Beklomda had no interest in.
So he and party set out to get everyone drunk at the Goat's Beard inn, hoping to find learn anything they can about gnoll assassin Greylock. Ambros had to slay him in order to complete the geas he had accepted in return for Mavis, High Priestess of Poseidon, raising Hagar from the dead.
Locals found his plea very amusing. Until Ambros raised his voice.
“I am the Law!”
Seeing that fist fight is imminent, Ignaeus raised his scimitar and yelled “Freeze!”
Big Altanian froze in place. Everyone else suddenly begun paying more attention.
“Listen! Only One-Eyed Tulen would be dumb enough to help you! You can find his hut three hundred yards south of here.”
“Thank you.” Ambros and his retinue left, seeking the man recommended to them.
Ketche is a small coastal village secluded in the Eyestones jungle, surrounded by danger in all directions. Nonetheless, finding Tulen's hovel hadn't proven to be an issue. Speaking with the man without retching, on the other hand, had proven to be much bigger issue.
True to his name, One-Eyed Tulen lacked left eye. He was badly crooked, his arms bent and deformed, his legs bowing outward, half of teeth missing, and those present yellowed with rot. He reeked of offal.
“I will help you find Greylock if you give me the pleasure of driving a dagger into his evil heart!” Tulen mumbled slowly.
“I am the Law. It is customary that I enact and execute justice. But in this case I will make an exception. I will allow you to deliver the killing blow.” Ambros declared.
At that Tulen fell down on his knees, weeping tears of anger and joy. From his right eye that is. A mix of pus and tear seeped out of his left eye socket.
“Let's not make him cry again.” Tarkus whispered.
“So, how do we hunt down this gnoll?”
“We will follow the coastline until we reach the southern most point. Then we will make our way deeper into the jungle. Greylock has a pack of hyenas and a large lioness. If we encounter either of those, we can track them back to his lair.”
“Let's set out then.”
“Master Ambros, night is about to fall. I suggest leaving after sun rises again! You can sleep here with me.”
“No, thank you. We will meet you here in the morning.”
The party booked all of Goat's Beard inn for the night. Everyone slept well. Everyone but Ambros. Water reached his waist.
Maggotfeast 5th, Spiritday
“Aaaghhh! Here! Here!”
Tulen cried in anger pointing at an ominously looking tree.
“What? What is it?” adventurers surrounded him, alarmed. They've spent last ten days following his lead. Out of those, three had been spent searching in deep jungle.
“This is where he crucified me! This is where he broke my bones! This is where they feasted on me!”
It took Ambros significant effort to calm Tulen down. Following brief discussion, the party had decided to hunt down some game, pile the corpses, and then wait in ambush hoping that hyenas or Greylock take the bait.
Maggotfeast 6th, Airday
“Aaaaaa!”
Guin Pin fled wobbling as giant shrew chased him. Beorg also broke down, fleeing for his life. After all, dead will not bury themselves!
Balarus, Ambros, Tarkus, and Ignaeus squared off against seven fierce giant shrews. Balarus got bitten thrice, but that was nothing for the mighty warrior. Shrews fought until the bitter end, but ultimately they were no match for the heavily armed and armoured adventurers.
Oversized rodents were collected and dumped into one pile. A campfire was lit next to them. Adventurers spread out in 120 feet radius, bows and slings at the ready.
The wait was on.
Maggotfeast 7th, Waterday
Ambros stretched as much as he could. No matter how hard he tried, he could not lift feet off the ground. The water was all the way up to jaw. He tilted his head all the way back, so he could breathe.
Branch cracking under hyena's paw snapped him back. He dozed off during the ambush they have prepared. No one took a shot yet. Everyone waited.
The hyena carefully approached the shrew pile. Seeing there is no danger, it took a bite of one, and then jumped back. Confirming that there is indeed no danger, five hyenas stepped into the light, and begun munching on the dead rodents.
Adventurers acted in unison, releasing arrows and slinging stones. All five hyenas were killed in less than thirty seconds.
The party waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Guin Pin did not hear he.
But he surely felt her.
Massive lioness dropped on him from above, ripping him to shreds.
Beorg charged the lioness with his polearm, missing terribly. Ambros, Balarus, and Ignaeus joined the fray as well. Tarkus circled the melee, and pulled Guin Pin from underneath the large cat.
“Oh nooo, I was julienned!” the magic-user cried as Tarkus brought him back to life.
Lioness dished out pain in generous servings. She clawed left and right, pouncing and pounding. But it was here bite that severed Balarus in half, leaving him dead on the spot. Ambros was severely injured too. Others were not unscathed either. Magic-User decided glory is better than death, and he threw himself at the beast armed with nothing but dagger and large cojones.
The battle was brutal, bloody, and desperate. Adventurers missed more often than not. And even when their blows connected, they rarely did significant damage. But through sheer persistence and attrition, they managed to whittle the beast down.
When giant lioness turned to flee Beorg seized the opportunity. He hooked her with his halberd, and jerked her back. As Ignaeus slit her throat with his scimitar, Beorg jammed the halberd straight into the gaping wound, skewering the monster.
It was over.
They were victorious.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Clerics healed as many wounds as they could.
Then they resumed their positions.
What they came for still hasn't appeared.
Thus, they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Until the sun rose.
But Greylock hadn't come.
Exhausted and battered, they dragged Balarus's corpse with them, and camped at the safest spot they could find. Perhaps gods smiled on them. Perhaps, but Ambros knew better.
Maggotfeast 8th, Earthday
Balarus opened his eyes.
He laid on soft grass, branches poking his soft flesh.
Ambros was kneeling next to him, obviously exhausted.
“Wow...” the warrior muttered, whilst tapping himself in disbelief.
Although in horrible pain and terribly weak, he was truly alive.
“Oh, do we need to return him his items now?” one of the adventurers, best left unnamed, inquired.
Ambros pulled a miracle to bring his fellow adventurer back to life.
But will he be able to save his own life?
Or will next Waterday spell his doom?
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