Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 152
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heinrik | Human | Magic-User level 1 | Muscular mage with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. |
| Seren | Human | Ranger level 1 | Beardless and blinkless ranger. |
| Tobias Lindflags | Hobbit | Thief level 3 | 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. |
| Tikatu | Human | Druid level 3 | A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism. |
| Amari | Human | Ranger level 1 | Black hair that shines blue. Scarred like a gladiator. |
Warmshade 2nd, Waterday
Adventuring party of eight found themselves at the junction, both literal and metaphorical. After a brief discussion, they decided that Ignaeus and Mepheus of Hephaestus would escort badly wounded Somniel to Ahyf. The elf was in no shape to adventure.
Tobias used the time to chat with Decarili, the Queen's Captain of the Guard and their guide to Ghinarian Hills.
“How long have you been serving the Queen for?”
“I've served the Queen ever since she defeated the Mother of our tribe and led us into new era. That was thirteen years ago.”
“And whereabouts are you from?”
“Where from? Here. I was born on Ghinarian hills.”
“Do you know anything about this Bull God tribe?”
“Yes, I know my tribe well. That is why I am your guide.”
“Do you believe a peaceful resolution of the matter is possible?”
“Peace? Yes, peace at the end of the blade.”
“What is your take on why you were sent with us when the city received a direct threat from Racoba?”
“Why was I sent with you? Ask your High Priest, he asked for it.”
Frustrated but persistent, Tobias did his best to keep the conversation going. He was thirsting for something—anything—useful and insightful.
“Can you tell me more about the sacrifices and their significance? Are these part of the old ways?”
“We sacrifice men and women to bring the Bull God to life. He then takes us on a Great Hunt. That is what the crones say. They are full of shit.”
“Can you tell me more about the Bull God?”
“Bull God is the patron of our tribe. Every Altanian tribe has a patron. Bull God is a big, majestic bull.”
“As our guide, what do you think would be the path taken to our destination? One where we do not necessarily cross hunting grounds but we can still make good time?”
“Are you joking little hobbit? Tell me what do you see around us? As far as the eyes see? Do you want me to put you on my shoulders? Well, everything you see, and beyond, are Altanian hunting grounds. Altanis, they call it. You know, what is Barbarian Altanis to City-Folk is merely Altanis to us. Best path is usually the shortest path. Less steps. Probably better for you that way.”
Tobias smirked about the comments and after a brief pause retorted in a friendly manner. “I always fancied a nice sorrel stallion, but its not the time to break one in.”
He continued “However as the Altanians seem to be hunting for people, we actually might be better off not following the treaded path. If you want fish, you go to the river – this path here is like the river, and we don't want to be caught, do we?”
Decarili shrugged.
Adventurers decided against following the trail towards the desecrated temple. Instead, they asked Decarili to take them straight to the wyvern lair, which is supposedly atop the second highest peak. From there it should be possible to see where Altanians lair.
Maybe.
Warmshade 3rd, Earthday
Amari gazed at the sky, in the direction Decarili was pointing to. She could see two wyverns flying in her direction. Barrel-chested Altanian tapped her on the shoulder and whispered with a big grin “See, I am taking you in the right direction.”
Two predators failed to spot six tasty snacks and went on about minding their own business.
After two watches of hard trek in sweltering heat, the second peak of Ghinarian Hills was within reach. Adventurers spent the evening watch looking for a perfect spot to hole in and spend the night.
They found a horizontal crevice, positioned and bent so it is easy to observe the outsides from withing, while being nearly invisible to those outside.
There they planned and deliberated. The best plan they cooked rested firmly on Tobias's small shoulders. The hobbit would put on his ring of invisibility and then scale the peak, explore the wyvern lair if necessary, and identify where the Bull God tribe lairs.
Warmshade 4th, Fireday
Some time after midnight Seren and Tikatu, whom were on guard duty, spotted eight human-like figures running down-hill. Howla and Vannis illuminated their frames. They moved quickly and with grace. Ranger and druid remained silent. There was no light in their camp and figures were several hundred yards away. No need to draw any unwanted attention. Plus, Tobias was sleeping. The hobbit will need all the strength he can muster to complete his task.
Indeed, Tobias left the camp with the first rays of sun proper. He followed the goat trail pointed out by Decarili. He slowly moved up, despite being invisible, watching his steps carefully. Would be a pity to fall down and become an invisible corpse.
Overlooking south side of the hills was an oval opening, some twenty feet wide and thirty feet tall. Tobias took a brief peek. Broken bones of various humanoids and animals littered the cave floor as far as eyes could see. The thief steeled himself, turned around, and scanned the surroundings.
Minutes felt like hours. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Tobias was under so much stress he was unable to appreciate beautiful Altanian summer. There were no traces of clouds whatsoever. He could see sea to the east, great plains and woodlands to the south, and majestic mountain range to the west. But he could not appreciate them, for he knew there were wyverns just behind his back.
Then they appeared. The respite Tobias had been looking for.
A gang of dozen or so Altanians were running uphill, coming from south and going towards the peak Tobias was on. Then they suddenly went downwards and disappeared out of sight. At this moment the hobbit heard a deep grumbling sounds echoing from the cave behind him. He promptly climbed down, ran to the camp, and shared his observations with other adventurers.
“You see, Tobias, now you need to pull up your big boy pants and go check out where did those barbarians go. Don't forget to put on the ring!”
Encourage by great support of his colleagues, Tobias set out once more. It took him two hours to find where did the barbarians go. A narrow crevice, some forty feet tall, in the hillside. It looked like a wound upon the rock. Sixty or so stakes were planted into the ground around the crevice. Rotting corpses, broken skulls, and animal carcasses were impaled upon them.
Tobias dropped to the ground, belly down. He was several hundred yards away from the crevice, on an elevated position. He observed as his heart pounded.
There was no rhyme nor reason to Altanians coming and going from the crevice. Two would enter, seven would exit, loiter about, then four would enter, several more exit and go about... Tobias could see no disciplined guards or patrols. He did get to witness the men engage in cruel and sadistic pastime activities.
“There must be another way...” the hobbit thought. That's why he decided to search the surrounding thoroughly instead of merely lying on his belly and observing the crevice. He spent the whole noon slowly crawling about, investigating every nook and cranny that seemed even remotely interesting.
His effort paid off, for he did find another cave opening. This one was above the crevice he had found earlier, in addition to being further east. Proud of his discoveries, Tobias returned to the camp to share what had he learned.
Adventurers discussed their plans well into the night.
Warmshade 5th, Spiritday
“Listen, here is the plan.” Amari attempted to break the gridlock. Adventurers were unable to commit to a plan that did not feel like an outright death march. “Ambros, and Tikatu stay here. Seren, Heinrik, Tobias, and myself go. Tobias, you keep the ring on at all time. Don't engage. Let us die if it comes to it. You just follow us, take notes, and then live to tell others where to go!”
There was also fundamental disagreement about the nature of this expedition. Is it about recovering an Egg of Desire, a powerful artefact recovered from the Windowless Tower, or about rescuing Dalkanarion, Heran Marod, and Belegar Grimlisnev.
Seren and Heinrik accepted the plan. Tobias was hesitant but accepted in the end too.
“Decarili, will you join us?”
“My job was to guide your here and to ensure Ambros delivers the Queen's message. I stay with him.”
“Wow, was that ominous or what?”
Decarili gave his best attempt at giving a more enthusiastic shoulder shrug to encourage the Daring Four. “One word of advice. Avoid the gaze of any women you meet in the caves.” he offered as parting advice.
“Wait, what? Why?” the hobbit inquired.
“Altanian women as psionically gifted. Different tribes focus on different talents. Women of the Bull God can make your head explode. Why did you think the merchants fear meeting the Queen?”
“Wow, what is this, an anthropology lesson BEFORE we head into the den of cannibalistic barbarians?! Just now?! Anything else we should know?!”
“Don't get captured.”
The quartet left camp in the morning. Tobias led them to the second entrance he had found. Everybody hoped that this would lead them true. Heinrik filled his bullseye lantern. Then they entered.
Sprawling tunnel went on and on and on and on. They walked for hours, tense and on the edge. They walked for so long that lamp oil was nearly spent before they reached an opening leading into another tunnel.
Ahead of them were three bull skulls nailed to the cave wall. Looking right they could see the tunnel goes for some twenty feet before turning right again. Looking left they could see the tunnel goes for fifty feet before twisting.
They elected to follow the left hand path.
This led them into a confounding cave system with numerous natural tunnels cris-crossing each other. Whenever they stumbled upon a dead end they'd find horribly mutilated corpses there. One had three flayed humans. Another had a hobbit stuffed into an elf stuffed into a human.
“I hear something...”
Heinrik warned the party. They were standing at a junction, deciding where to go next. Magic-User heard heavy footsteps rapidly approaching from their right. Adventurers fell back and readied themselves.
A massive man, naked and of blood red complexion, charged them, swinging two handed great axe with ease. A bull's head was where one would expect to see a human one.
Seren was ready, having braced his spear. He cut into the charging beast, wounding it. The man-bull retaliated by slashing the ranger. Seren countered with another well targeted flurry of attacks.
Tobias followed instructions he agreed to before entering this vile place. He hugged the cave wall and watched the scene unfurl before his eyes.
Heinrik backed off just enough to cast Light at the bull headed man's eyes. The beast hollered, but kept swinging. Amari used its confusion to deliver several stabs of her own. Seren followed up with another round of thrusts and slashes. Medium dropped his staff, pulled out the dagger, and joined the fray.
Badly wounded, the beast tried to back off. It failed miserably, as Seren, Amari, and Heinrik repeatedly stabbed it. Man-bull fell down, bleeding from countless freshly punctured orifices. The beast groaned and exhaled. Adventurers stood victorious.
Amari pulled on the horns. The bull head was not a mask—it was flesh and sinew. Heinrik took the greataxe and used it to decapitate the monster. Then he strapped it to his backpack and secured it with rope.
Quartet moved on, exploring tunnels and getting nowhere.
Then they heard a loud, angry, protracted bellow. This time they were unable to ascertain wherefrom it was coming—the echo made it sound like they were completely surrounded.
Tobias squeezed his ring.
Meme by MLord.
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