Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 149
Note: this was an in-person session at the Cauldron convention, played by 17 players from 21:30 to 03:30.
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malulf Silvertongue | Human | Fighter level 4 | 6’0”, 205 lbs; black hair; light green eyes; yellow white skin tone. Honourable, curious, inquisitive. |
| Macatrude Trollbane | Human | Fighter level 4 | 5’10”, 165 lbs; yellow hair; gold eyes; light brown skin tone; two hearts. Artistic, obsequious, unhelpful. |
| Seruh the Hero | Human | Fighter level 4 | 5’11”, 245 lbs; dark brown hair; tan eyes; ochre skin tone; six-point star-shaped birthmark. Proper, thorough, cuddly. |
| Ingund Mistborn | Human | Cleric level 4 | 6’2”, 195 lbs; silver hair; light blue eyes; pale green skin tone; bird-shaped birthmark. Placid, curious. |
| Karelia Bredasdottir | Dwarf | Fighter level 4 | 4’9”, 150 lbs; dark brown hair; brown eyes; dark brown skin tone; 1’ scar. Educated, fretful, vain. |
| Theodora | Human | Cleric level 4 | 5’6”, 135 lbs; brown hair; violet eyes; dark brown skin tone; 1’ scar. Enigmatic, arrogant. |
| Anastasia Wagner | Human | Magic-User level 4 | 6’6”, 225 lbs; dark blonde hair; aqua eyes; grey-green skin tone; ¼” scar. Sensuous, grim, unlucky. |
| Ellnor Alcore Gildriga / Freshsheen | Elf | Fighter level 4 / Magic-User level 4 | 5’0”, 105 lbs; silver hair; violet eyes; pale green skin tone; triangle-shaped birthmark. |
| Yavwine Termaris / Brillianttear | Elf | Fighter level 4 / Magic-User level 4 | 4’10”, 95 lbs; blonde hair; yellow eyes; purple skin tone. Pessimistic, unlucky. |
| Alfred Tightfield | Hobbit | Fighter level 4 | 3’8”, 120 lbs; blonde hair; bronze eyes; medium tan skin tone. Loquacious, hotheaded. |
| Helmuth Mithaft | Human | Fighter level 1 | A bold mercenary with glorious red beard and pearly facial hair. |
| Heran Marod | Human | Cleric level 3 | Bearded, aging man with shaved head. Follower of Umannah, the Sun God, The Radiant Death. |
| Gomm | Human | Thief 6 | Swarthy, good looking, dark-skinned thief. Sweet opium-like aroma is his fragrance of choice. |
| Dalkanarion | Human | Fighter level 6 | A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself. |
| Bildad Oans | Hobbit | Fighter level 4 | 3’6”, 110 lbs; black hair; copper eyes; milky white skin tone. Sentimental, aristocratic. |
| Alellion Urdithhilemir / Greenhickory | Elf | Fighter level 4 / Magic-User level 4 | 5’1”, 100 lbs; horned hair; tan eyes; pale grey skin tone; pentagram-shaped birthmark. Bloodthirsty, impish, rakish. |
| Belegar Grimlisnev | Dwarf | Fighter level 4 | 4’6”, 150 lbs; white hair; bronze eyes; pale blue skin tone; very hairy. Observant, dependable. |
| Ailill the Crusader | Human | Cleric level 4 | 5’10”, 180 lbs; golden hair; light brown eyes; pale silver skin tone; 1 ½” scar. Sensuous, bloodthirsty. |
| Gottri Smallbaily | Dwarf | Fighter level 4 | 4’6”, 150 lbs; light blonde hair; purple eyes; dark tan skin tone; no belly button. Obedient, callous. |
| Lilidon Elwed | Hobbit | Fighter level 4 | 3’6”, 110 lbs; dark blonde hair; hazel eyes; striped milky white and light tan skin tone. Available, unconcerned. |
| Bent Boris | Human | Cleric level 4 | 5’11”, 185 lbs; black hair; grey eyes; pale grey skin tone. Clean, careful. |
| Hergo Cotton | Hobbit | Fighter level 4 | 3’6”, 105 lbs; light blonde hair; light green eyes; light tan skin tone; 7” scar. Arrogant, garrulous, bold. |
| Otto Fallfoot | Hobbit | Fighter level 4 | 3’6”, 110 lbs; orange hair; silver eyes; ochre skin tone; 1 ft long tail. Pious, late. |
| Hurgar Belegarsnev | Dwarf | Fighter level 4 | 4’7”, 155 lbs; orange hair; light blue eyes; milky white skin tone; 2” scar. Guilty, giving. |
Meadowlark
On Meadowlark 14th, the Queen summoned Ambros and his holy army to Hara.
On the evening Meadowlark 16th, Ambros marched into Hara.
On Meadowlark 16th, Hara burned as Ambros and his men evacuated as many people as they could.
On Meadowlark 17th, the Priestess of Poseidon quenched the roaring flames by flooding the city.
On Meadowlark 17th, Red Queen of Hara proclaimed the following to the roaring mass of her supporters:
“A kingdom forged in blood and fire.”
By end of the month Mavis, the High Priestess of Poseidon, has been appointed as The Chosen Daughter of Poseidon and Matron Protector of Kingdom of Hara.
By end of the month Ambros, the High Priest of Forseti, has been appointed as The Patriarch General and Justice Supreme of Kingdom of Hara.
“A kingdom forged in blood and fire.” the Queen instructed them.
Longrass 1st, Airday
Upon hearing the news, Dalkanarion and other adventurers that remained at the Cedarwade Keep had returned to Hara. There Dalkanarion, Heran Marod, and Helmuth Mithaft rendezvoused with Gomm. The sharper came in possession of valuable information. There is windowless tower on the south-east side of the Ghinarian Hills, filled to the brim with valuable crystals. These crystals are lightweight and easy to transport, while being valued the same as precious gems.
Given that Hara had just burned down to the ground, there was plenty of capable folk around looking for ways to line their pockets. Thus, soon eleven more adventurers were recruited: Malulf Silvertongue, Macatrude Trollbane, Seruh the Hero, Ingund Mistborn, Karelia Bredasdottir, Theodora, Anastasia Wagner, Ellnor Alcore Gildriga, Yavwine Termaris, Alfred Tightfield, and Alfred Tightfield.
Counting all their retainers and hired help, the company counted twenty three persons. They set out for Ahyf.
Longrass 5th, Spiritday
The company was so large they rented out all the beds, cots, floors, and lofts. Then they commissioned all the fishermen in the village to hunt and salt and smoke as much as they can, for they needed iron rations for their trek. That took a week, which adventurers wisely spent planning their route.
Longrass 14th, Fireday
The company travelled along the coast, circling Ghinarian Hills. Once they reached the south-east edge of the hills they split in two parties. Seven adventurers took all the horses and retainers, and established a base camp. Meanwhile, remaining eight adventurers split into two scouting parties, and began looking for this windowless tower.
Longrass 15th, Spiritday
Gomm's scouting party had found a gray concrete block, forty by forty feet and sixty feet tall, some hour and a half of walk from their camp. They briefly investigate the tower before deciding to return and inform others.
Longrass 17th, Waterday
Fifteen adventurers approached the windowless tower. Alas, no matter how much they searched, they were unable to find any entrance nor opening. Tower surface was gray and rough. It was one of the elves who picked on a subtle whalesong emanating from a deep fissure several hundred feet away from the tower. The crevice was difficult to find, for it was covered with bushes and overgrowth.
It was wide enough so that two adventurers could descend side by side. Gomm drank potion of Gaseous Form and investigated downwards. It was two hundred deep descent, opening up into a large cave system. Gomm returned and informed the party.
Counting their ropes adventurers were happy to have four hundred feet of rope—just enough to make two longer strings so they could descend in pairs. Iron spikes were used to create improvised anchors. Within an hour fourteen adventurers had rappelled down into the chamber.
Bildad Oans was left behind to guard the crevice and ropes, but failed his saving throw against intoxication, and simply laid down in the bushes.
Cave system sprawled from south-west towards north-east. More interesting was a roughly circular tunnel leading steeply downwards from which the whalesong-like sound emanated. Adventurers formed a marching order and descended slowly.
Sixty feet or so letter they reached a fork. South led into partly-calcified corpse of purple worm while east led further down. Several adventurers opted to explore the corpse, several stood guard, and few brave individuals scouted ahead.
Purple worm reeked of decay, but that did not prevent adventurers from rummaging through its intestinal tract. They were rewarded with a sapphire and a finely engraved plate mail. Those scouting ahead discovered that tunnel bends southwards and then continues for a hundred feet or more.
They also discovered a fissure on the east cave wall. Peeking through revealed another sizeable cave. The floor was criss-crossed with deep imprints, like something tubular or round rolled through the cave on a regular basis.
Party proceeded further south, reaching a junction. Checking both left and right revealed both paths lead to another, larger cave. To east were large double doors, closed shut. To the south were broken double doors, behind them a hewed room filled with rubble. To west was another tunnel, with hot and damp air.
Large bronze bell hung in the center of the chamber. It was some fifteen or so above the ground, hanging from thick chain. Bronze hammer hung lower, some six or seven feet off the ground. Termaris, Helmuth, and Alfred immediately zoned in on the bell as something dangerous. Therefore, they formed a human-elf-hobbit pyramid to reach the hammer and bell, with intent to disassemble them. Alas, being professional adventurers and not circus performers meant it took them some trial and error before they stabilised.
Rest of the adventurers spread out through the chamber, investigating it. Roughly half inspected the east side with stone double doors, while others explored south and western portions of the cave.
Forcing the stone doors open revealed a forty by forty chamber of plain concrete walls, much like those of the windowless tower above ground. There were single doors on the opposite side. As soon as an adventurer stepped in, magic mouth formed above the single doors and boomed:
“Grozny the mage bids you welcome, visitors, to the museum of forgotten science. Please wait here and you will be attended shortly.”
Helmuth held his breath as Termaris and Alfred balanced on his shoulders, reaching up for the bell. Suddenly the whole cave shook violently. He squeezed his muscles and barely prevented those above collapsing on him. Then a high purple worm burst through the cave wall, barreling forward at great speed.
The trio was toppled, falling all over. Adventurers were now split in half, with a hungry purple worm between them. Ellnor pulled out his Wand of Fireball and shoot it straight at the worm. Fireball exploded, its shock wave and explosion filling the volume. Ellnor was instantly killed. Perhaps for the better, so he did not have to live with the shame of also killing Malulf, Macatrude, Ingund, and Anastasia. Several others were singed, but survived the blast.
But it was not all for naught. Purple worm slumped, dead. Fireball burned a hole right through it, big enough to pass through. Out of its intestines emerged five adventures the worm had swallowed moments ago—Greenhickory, Belegar, Ailill, Boris, and Hergo.
Alfred jumped off the purple worm. He had mounted it with intent to... Who knows what? Ride it maybe? Stab it to death? Whatever it was did not mater, for the explosion also triggered the large bronze bell. Ground shook. Cave walls shook. Adventurers fled in all directions. Most ran into the concrete chamber which seemed solid and immovable. Seruh the Hero fled upwards, towards the exit. Karelia went for west tunnel, exploring it. Greenhickory elected to simply stand and drink his Potion of Invisibility.
Adventures watched in horror as not one, not two, not three, but four purple worms burst out of the cave floor, ravaging the chamber like mad. They jumped at the stone doors and shut the down. Greenhickory barely made it before they sealed him in with the worms. Others in fact were not even aware of him!
Seruh fled further up. Karelia had reached a massive chasm. No matter how far she had shone her light, there was no visible bottom. Air was warm and damp. Unfortunately, when purple worms emerged in chamber behind her, they caused a major tremor, which resulted with her tripping forwards into the chasm. She had soon discovered that chasm was bottomless, for her heart had given in before she had hit the bottom.
Adventurers that hid—or tactically retreated, if we were to ask them—in the concrete chamber quickly learned that outside vibrations are not felt within. They were stables, and besides the noise, could not feel any tremors. Opening the east doors led them to a thirty feet wide vaulted hall sprawling from south to north. Straight across were another doors, much like the ones they came through.
To the left the vaulted hall continued for hundreds of feet—exact length was difficult to determine without further exploration. Immediately to their right was a domed alcove that house a ferocious looking iron golem. The golem was in a crouched positions, knees to chest, arms bent and by the sides, looking forward at roughly forty five degree. Metal clamps held his triceps, attached to massive iron rings with chains. The golem crouched on a plinth, and in front of it was a copper disk inset into the plinth.
“That is a trap if I had seen any!”
Adventurers spilled into the hall. Listening at east doors revealed nothing. Several dared to approach the iron golem. As they did, metallic voice boomed:
“I am the iron golem of wishing. Step forward and make your wish!”
Theodora replied:
“I wish you would come help us and destroy the purple worms in the adjacent chamber!”
Metallic voice repeated:
“I am the iron golem of wishing. Step forward and make your wish!”
Theodora stepped on the copper disk and made her wish:
“I wish–”
“FOR DEATH!” metallic voice roared as the iron golem pounded the copper disk with maximum force. Theodora was reduce to nothing but mush.
After several minutes of shocked silence, metallic voice spoke:
“I am the iron golem of wishing. Step forward and make your wish!”
Adventurers moved north without further delay. No additional wishes were made. Vaulted hall eventually led to the cavernous grand hall. Floor was polished marble, ceiling too high to be seen, and four massive columns run the length of the hall. Greenhickory, still invisible, approached to columns covered with weird symbols and hieroglyphics. He cast Read Languages. Symbols made no sense. Thus, still invisible, he warned others not to waste their time on the columns.
Seruh the Hero explored the caves where they descended down the ropes. He decided to investigate cave system north-east from their entry point. Following the right cave wall led him to a most surprising discovery—a dilapidated balcony overlook the cave ahead. Walking onwards, he discovered a destroyed hewn chamber. Walls were in ruin, and most of the chamber was reduced to ruin. He scaled the remnants, and then jumped on the balcony.
Adventurers spread out all throughout the grand hall. They found doors in the south east and north east corners. There was also an archway in the north west corner, leading forward and then curving upstairs. Listening at south doors revealed nothing, while listening at north doors revealed a continuous low humming sounds.
Those scouring the west wall detect a secret doors using a magical sword. Doors were thirty feet off the ground, right in the middle of west wall. Termaris and Alfred forged a plan. The elf hammered in iron pitons. Then the hobbit climbed up. Failing to find any opening mechanism, the hobbit decided fell back to the good old brute force. What can only be described as epic display of both power and acrobatics, Alfred managed to jerk the secret doors open.
Discovery was perhaps a bit disappointing, for this was basically the bottom of a sliding chute trap. Climbing through it led to cave chamber they had seen through the fissure when they entered. Hobbit returned to the grand hall and informed the others.
Several adventurers broke into the south east room. There they discovered absolutely massive, ornate freestanding spiral staircase. It was carved from solid marble, and had bannisters set with jewels. It sprawled upwards way beyond any light source the party had. Greenhickory, still invisible, upon hearing mention of jewels, ran straight towards the staircase and touche the shiny gems.
He was stuck, like glued, to the staircase. The construction vibrated, like it was made of jelly. Then it elongated upwards, towering over the elf, splitting wide open at the top. Long, disgusting tongue fell out of the gaping wound, attempting to seize the elven snack. Adventurers shot at the construct, but their bolts and arrows simply bounced. Few individuals ran in, but their weapons stuck to the staircase.
The tongue wrapped around elf. Giant monster crushed him as it lifted the elf high above, into the darkness.
“Get out! Get out!” Termaris yelled as he aimed Wand of Fireball he had appropriated from Ellnor's immolated remains. Once everyone had stepped out, and he was fifty feet away from the chamber, Termaris shot a fireball or two inside.
Greenhickory saw the fireballs connecting to the base of the staircase. The flames reached upwards, just barely singing his robe. He was now very visible. The monster trembled and shivered as it liquefied. Elf was now in freefall from nearly hundred feet. Of quick wit and quick reflexes, he quickly cast Levitate. To describe his landing as dramatic would be an understatement. The elf landed like a Phoenix emerging from the fire, much to the applause of his allies. Some were confused too, for they weren't even aware of his presence.
Whilst this was happening, several adventurers explored the north west corridor. As they want up and up, the reached another corridor. To their surprise they saw Seruh just at the end!
Adventuring company reconvened in the grand hall. A decision was made that majority will retreat above ground, either to heal or for other reasons. Eight adventurers were to explore further and report by end of the day. Those were Dalkanarion, Heran Marod, Seruh, Belegar, Ailill, and Termaris. They were joined by fresh Otto Fallfoot and Hurgar Belegarsnev.
The glorious eight proceeded to the north east doors in the grand hall. This led them into most curious chamber which was roughly cross shaped. North, west, and south alcoves were dominated by weird contraptions. Eastern was obviously broken, and behind it was a large hole in the wall opening up into a cave tunnel.
North and south alcoves contained upright sarcophagi made of polished metal and glass. Their fronts were mostly of glass, revealing their content. A man dressed in grossly outdated attire was in the north box, while a woman dressed in black robe was in the south. Man had a chain shirt underneath his cloak, while the woman was holding a poorly concealed wand in her right hand, and had a leather belt with a pouch.
Adventurers used ESP to check if these two were sentient or dead. The man dreamt of riding a horse through the field; of making love to his wife; of spending time with his family. The woman dreamt of reaching for an ostrich sized opaque gemstone. It was always within reach, and yet somehow impossible to grasp.
Around this time Heran Marod, Seruh, and Otto excused themselves and retreated outside.
Ailill drank his potion of Giant Strength. He crouched by the north pod and jerked the opening mechanism. Steel-and-glass sarcophagus released cold gas. The man slumped to the bottom of it, and then fell forward. He was caught by the adventurers. Both Dalkanarion and Termaris focused their ESP on the man.
The man was confused. He jumped backwards, his warrior instincts kicking in. He tapped his sides, looking for sword or dagger, but was unable to find any. It took time and effort, but adventurers managed to calm him down. Man's name was Pryjax. He had visited this place on the invitation of his friend Grozny the Wizard. That is the last thing he was able to remember. He had no idea who is the woman in other chamber. Adventurers gave him a spear and a hand axe—he agreed to join them exploring this place.
Ailill repeated the same procedure with south sarcophagus. One of the adventurers seized the wand, while the other jerked the belt. The latter nearly resulted in adventurers stripping the woman naked. Therefore, aggression that followed her confusion is perfectly understandable. Alas, the woman was unable to fool the party with her lies, for she was constantly scanned by ESP.
Pryjax, standing next to Dalkanarion, began coughing violently. He coughed out yellow mucous. “Yellow mould!” The Grecian warrior beheaded the man without further delay. Hurgar dragged the corpse into the grand hall. Then he set it on fire.
“See, this is what happens if you lie to us.” Dalkanarion warned the woman. She revealed she came hear to steal the Egg of Desire, a powerful artefact. But she accidentally ended up in this contraption, trapping herself. Her thoughts were vile and deceptive. Termaris stabbed her right through the heart.
Exploring the tunnel on the east wall led the party of five to a chamber completely filled with yellow mould. But this was no ordinary mould—that much was obvious—for it was in shapes of puffballs, spires, corals, so on and so forth. As Hurgar stepped forth a pathway in yellow mould formed!
The dwarf made few more steps. The he heard a chorus of voices in his mind:
“We do not mean harm. Step forward friend.”
And so he stepped forward. This was some sort of abominable yellow mould that developed intelligence and telepathic capability. It considered a friend anyone who was willing to stop the whalesong, which the yellow mould colony found very disruptive. It explained that the source lies to the south east, in a tower within a tower.
“We will lead you as far as we can go. No further than that. Follow the path and destroy the source.”
The entity used many words and sentence to explain what in essence are doors. Since it had no concept of doors, it was unable to directly communicate that, but wise adventurers figured it out on their own.
The followed the path provided by the yellow mould. They noticed the path closing behind them. One wrong step, or change of “heart” of the colony, and their lungs would be chock full of the deadly mould.
But five survived their trek through the yellow death, and soon forced the doors open into a regular hewn corridor. They turned left at the junction and walked upstairs into a large square chamber. They were promptly greeted by a dozen or more magic mouths that began yelling, cursing, babbling loudly, belching, reciting, so on and so forth.
Unable to think or hear each other, the party had to rely on communicating with hand signals and eyes. Dalkanarion pointed to corridor on the north side, with stairs leading up. Quintet ran there and upstairs.
Up and up they went. Suddenly the stairs rotated, with them still attached as if they were glued. They turned upside down, and yet they were standing upright.
“Tower withing the tower! We must be here!”
Whalesong was getting slightly louder. It felt pleasant. Relaxing.
Adventurers pushed on, upwards. The dwarf estimated they went up at least eighty feet since they rotated. They entered an empty chamber, with nothing but single doors. On those doors was a single, fleshy eye, carefully looking at the adventurers.
Belegar moved forward and was hurled backwards. Hurgar tried the same and was thrown back. Dalkanarion took out his coin with Continual Light and pointed it at the eye. It squinted. Dalkanarion walked towards the eye, until he forced it shut due to light. Others followed behind him, and forced the doors open.
Another weird, almost bare chamber. There was a freestanding arch made of reddish stone in the centre of the room. It had six depressions for large gemstones. One was filled with a sapphire. There were single doors, opposite the ones they came through. They placed a ruby they recovered earlier into one of the holes. Nothing happened.
Onwards through the doors they went. Another spiral staircase! Here whalesong was even louder. Everyone felt a lull. Happiness. Relaxation. Warm light upon their skin. A gentle breeze. Hurgar sat down on stairs. Then he lied down and closed his eyes forever.
Last four pushed upwards, with every step taking great effort. Half-way up they reached another doors. Belegar, juiced up on the Potion of Giant Strength, broke them open. A spacious, well-furnished bedchamber and study prostrated before them. A man dressed in fine robes sat in an armchair near the large canopy bed. The man had taut skin. He was smiling.
“Blast him!”
“Wait, maybe he is dead already!”
Whalesong was loud here. The man had not shown any reactions whatsoever. They robbed him off his ruby amulet and a key with an eye-shaped handle. Then they left the chamber, Termaris blasted it with fireball, and then continued upwards.
The song was now so powerful every step, every move, every twitch of a muscle demanded complete and utter concentration. Adventurers stood at the bottom of a tower. Hundred and twenty feet above them was a platform, levitating mid air. A single narrow ladder led to it.
Belegar Grimlisnev volunteered to climb up. Rung by rung he went. Atop the platform was a large silk cushion on it a massive black jewel rocked back and forth, emitting the sweet whalesong. The dwarf summoned up all his willpower and seized the Egg of Desire.
Music stopped.
Dalkanarion, Ailill, and Termaris felt relieved.
Not for long though.
The tower began shaking violently. Belegar wrapped the Egg and packed it in his backpack. Then he shimmied down the ladders. The quartet ran down the spiral staircases as everything around them trembled and shook. They ran around the arch, through the eye chamber, and down the spiral stairs. They were rotated once more.
They fled through the chamber with chattering magical mouths. “Wait!” Termaris blasted the cave with yellow mould. Better safe than sorry, right? Alas, they got lost in the cave and went in the wrong direction. Series of minor and major tremors made the ground roar and shake, sounds only amplified by cave acoustics.
Dalkanarion, Belegar, Ailill, and Termaris ran through the tunnel and into the chamber with steel-and-glass sarcophagi. Purple worms were bursting through walls left and right, crushing and boring through everything in their way.
Grand hall was a sight of massacre, as hook horrors battled purple worms. Iron Golem echoed throughout the hall, eager to grant wishes. Adventurers fled across the hall, up the stairs and towards the dilapidated balcony. Everything around them was being reduced to rubble.
They slid down, turned left, and began climbing up the rope. Adventurers above them pulled them up just in time. A sudden earthquake shook Ghinarian Hills, closing the chasm they had just climbed out of.
The windowless tower shook and shivered. It sunk into the ground, groaning and roaring. Soil and rocks covered the whole, like it was never there.
Dalkanarion stood up, dusted himself of, cleared his throat, and pulled out a scroll.
“Gentlemen, by the powers vested in me by the Queen of Hara, I recruit you–”
“Oh no, no. You know where you can put that.” Termaris cut him off.
Belegar on the other hand was eager for new adventures and happily accepted the invitation.
Adventuring company slowly marched back to their camp, unaware of the true nature of the item they had came in the possession of.
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