Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 146
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalkanarion | Human | Fighter level 5 | A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself. |
| Heran Marod | Human | Cleric level 2 | Bearded, aging man with shaved head. Follower of Umannah, the Sun God, The Radiant Death. |
| Tobias Lindflags | Hobbit | Thief level 2 | A sixth-born son standing to gain nothing from inheritance, so he set out to make his own fortune in the world. |
| Somniel | Elf | fighter level 1 / Magic-User level 1 | An elf of ambivalent age suffering from mild amnesia. |
| Ludd Nuck | Human | Fighter level 1 | A lad from the farm, still wet behind the ears and smelling of dung whom became an adventurer to impress a village lass who jilted him. |
| Tikatu | Human | Druid level 2 | A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism. |
| Kho Rimbo | Human | Magic-User level 1 | A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic. |
Meadowlark 4th–9th
While most adventurers were resting and planning their next move, Ignaeus was busy study the scrolls they have recovered for the fugitive wizard's bed chambers. In total he identified eleven scrolls. One was cursed, one was a simple protection scroll, three were of clerical nature, and the remaining six were for magic-users. There were some potent spells written on them, like Dispel Evil and Wall of Iron.
Ambros sought divine guidance from Forseti. He retreated to his tent and prepared a ritual to commune with the god. He prepared three questions. By the time Ambros said the right words and did the right moves, he found himself transported to a grand gilded hall. Pillars of gold held the ceiling covered in solid silver. Forseti sat on a glimmering throne. He hears you out before speaking.
Ambros asked his first question “Lord Forseti, I have cleansed you temple and re-ordered its business, it is now time I continued my personal journey and I would know who I should pass the Gavel of Justice to?”
And to that Forseti answered calmly “You have not cleansed the temple, nor brought its business in order. Corruption runs amok, and there is little justice in Hara. You should pass the Gavel of Justice to someone who will care for it more than you.”
Ambros asked his second question “Your followers under Marlon have done fine work and a number have died in your service. I would like to suggest Marnon as my replacement at the Temple.”
And to that Forseti answered calmly “Marlon val Brookwood and his men did well. But Marlon is not a priest. Fate has different plans for him. He is not a fit replacement for you.”
Ambros asked his third question “I would seek your blessing to continue to spread the justice of Forseti in other lands.”
And to that Forseti answered calmly “You have my blessing to bring Justice to your world. I advise you begin immediately, for you have done great injustice to young Lord whom had put his trust in you.
Ambros, you have shown yourself to be a poor champion of Justice. But I am not a cruel, nor vindictive god. Perhaps the pain you endured twisted your mind and soul. Perhaps all the betrayal you suffered made you cynical.
Bring Justice to your world, Ambros. To die doing so would make for a life worth living. Should you wish to abandon that path all you have to do is smash the gavel against a ball of lead.”
With that Forseti waved Ambros away. The cleric was back in his tent once more. He felt great, completely invigorated. All his injuries were completely gone—no more burn marks, his hair had regrown, and his body just felt younger.
Cleric decided to meditate on Forseti's words. Dalkanarion on the other hand decided to lead a part of adventurers back to the dungeon. This was driven by the latest intelligence provided by daring Kho Rimbo. Insane edgy wizard snuck into the dungeon on his own, snuck past the ghoul pool, went down a level, and found the treasure chamber.
A party of seven were to ride there, get the treasure, and get out.
Meadowlark 10th, Spiritday
Adventurers reached the plateau an hour or so before the evening. Ludd Nuck volunteered for horse duty. Party of six descended into the underground complex, following Kho Rimbo's instructions.
They moved swiftly, without delay. Down into the antechamber, south into the former brigand barracks, then west past the black obelisk, and then north through the secret doors. They paused in the X-shaped room with two statues so Kho Rimbo could cast Read Magic.
With scroll in hand he went down and face the pool chamber. Dalkanarion and Somniel took the front, ready for undead horrors. Tikatu threw a coin with continual light. Kho Rimbo cast Wall of Iron from the scroll. Metal shavings materialised out of thin air, first slowly, then rapidly expanding into iron rods, scrapping against each other violently. The pool chamber had been completely cut off from the octagonal chamber, allowing free passage.
Party hurried down the long corridor with grates, and then south down the steep stairs. There they collect three thousand coins Kho Rimbo has spilled on the floor. Heran Marod put it all in one large sack, which eh then gingerly placed in the corridor. They planned to pick it on their way out.
Down the spiral staircase they went, one by one. It was a deep, lengthy descent. Adventurers eventually faced what Kho Rimbo had described—a twenty feet wide corridor with most vile frescoes on the wall. There were arched buttresses every ten feet.
“Beware. This is a place of pure evil!” paladins imbued in the Oathkeeper warned Dalkanarion.
“Stick to the south wall! Don't look at frescoes! Second turn to the right!” Kho Rimbo instructed. Everyone followed his words down to a T. Dalkanarion led the way, Oathkeeper at the ready. Moving south they quickly reached heavily dented iron doors that Kho Rimbo struggled for hours with. Dalkanarion pushed them open on his first try.
Adventurers poured into a long chamber adorned with tapestries on all sides. Six tapestries along the south wall were of different individuals, each engaged in some cruel endeavor. Two tapestries on the east wall had different motifs. The central one was of a wicked tower, surely out of proportion since it dwarfed the mountains surrounding it. Adventurers recognised the vista—those were the mountains to the west of the plateau above them. Tapestry right next to it was a mass of creatures paying tribute to the tower.
Tapestries on the east wall were perhaps most diverse. Westernmost tapestry depicted a crying man pierced by hundreds of daggers, knives, and needles. Central tapestry was of an inverted image of the one across, on the east wall, a massive inverted tower hanging from the cavern ceiling. Northernmost western tapestry was completely black, akin to framed darkness.
Five tapestries on the north wall were all of the same robed man with wicked expression. Two were of particular interest. First was of the robed man with a winged figure behind it. Second was of the same robed man locked in a wizard duel with a man dressed in a Chromatic robe. The latter was depicted as in great pain. Any magic.user would recognised the insignia and symbols of the latter—Chromatic Wizards are the most powerful spellcasters in all of Wilderlands.
“Destroy this den of evil at once!” Oathkeeper paladins demanded of Dalkanarion.
“I shall return here at a later time. Now we must recover the treasure and leave.” young swashbuckler replied.
“RETURN?!” paladins boomed “Return? You were set on abandoning your post mere days ago and now you tell us you will return!”
Dalkanarion quickly placated the Oathkeeper by giving an oath he will return to this place and purge it of all evil.
“There, through the black tapestry. Definitely not behind the one with crying man!” Kho Rimbo instructed. Once again everyone followed the instructions.
Kho Rimbo nearly cried tears of joy after he passed the black tapestry and was able to see inside the chamber! The coins with Continual Light cast of them were still providing light, albeit greatly diminished. Heran Marod cast Light spell but it did nothing.
Hidden treasure chamber contained six large wooden chests, two small iron strongboxes, and two wooden mannequins. One mannequin was dressed in plate mail, with sword and shield one the wall behind it. Other mannequin was knocked on the ground, dressed in chain mail. Seven bolts laid next to it, as well as a heavy crossbow.
Detect Magic confirmed that armours, sword, and whatever was in the strongboxes, was magical. Adventures organised themselves. Some took heavy chests—weighing over hundred pounds each—while others packed armours, weapons, and lighter objects.
“Wait, how do we get out?” Tobias asked, alarmed. Indeed, there were no doors nor tapestries.
“You have to push the wall or something. I don't know, I got out in total darkness.” Kho Rimbo replied.
Once again Dalkanarion opened the doors with a single shove. Unlike Kho Rimbo, who spent countless hours to get out. Treasure laden adventurers hurried through the tapestry chamber, north, then west through the frescoed corridor, up the spiral stairs, picked up the sack with coins, and continued west, avoiding grates with foul water beneath them.
They reached the octagonal chamber just as Wall of Iron began screaming once more. Howling metal echoed throughout the complex. Dalkanarion put down the chest and ordered everyone to keep moving. Nothing came charging from the pool. Once everyone went by him, he picked up the chest and caught up with them. Just in time to force another doors open.
From this point on it was a free for all, everyone running as fast as they could while hauling a ton of treasure. Heran Marod fell behind others. He heard a child screaming in terror just as he passed the black obelisk. Chilling scream was soon followed by most sinister deep laugh. Heran did not even stop to think about it—he kept moving as if his life depended on it.
Ludd was delighted to see his friends return alive. They loaded the treasure on the horses and rode to the nearby river. There they camped, eager for first rays of sun.
Meadowlark 11th, Airday
Adventurers rode straight for Cedarwade Keep. En route they ran into the Altanian ranger twins. The duo informed them about a great number of beastmen some fifteen to twenty leagues west of Hara. They've seen them obliterate one of patrols.
“Nasty. But then again they put up a pathetic fight. City folk can't fight even when their life depends on it!”
Party reached Cedarwade Keep by evening of the same day. There they eagerly counted their spoils: five thousands eight hundred and forty two gold pieces, twenty seven thousand silver pieces, one gem, two potions, one pouch of dust, one chime, seven magical heavy bolts, one magical plate mail, one magical chain mail, and one magical broadsword.
Adventurers convened in Dalkanarion's tent to discuss their next move. Yesterday's plans were swept aside, and new, bolder course of action was discussed. But what will they do? What will they commit to? And what will come out of it?
Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.
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