Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 166
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syd Grundy | Human | Ranger level 1 | Tall, middle aged and scruffy looking man of the wilderness. |
| Jacob Vin | Human | Assassin level 1 | Slick black hair, inconspicuous dress, youthful for his age, and of keen instincts. |
| Thorinda Bung | Human | Monk level 1 | She has blonde hair done up in a tight pony tail and wears light, loose suit. |
| Ambros | Human | Cleric level 6 | Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time. |
| Ignaeus | Elf | Fighter level 4 / magic-user level 5 | A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge. |
| Minako Konishi | Human | Monk level 3 | Pretty Karakan with grace of a panther and shrewdness of a fox. Silk sash holds here loose trousers in place, while loose jacket rounds up her exotic look. |
Goodgroove 6th, Airday
Ignaeus and Ambros assembled a party of six, intent on plundering the depths of Castle Yukanthur. Syd had recovered and was ready to adventure once more. Jacob, Thorinda, and Minako were all new recruits; adventurers whom had recently arrived to the backwater Ironburg.
Heinrik shared all he knew about the castle. Adventurers copied his map to the location, and then they set off in the early morning. Although Goodgroove is the first month of fall, it still felt quite like summer. Not a cloud in sight, and scalding hot.
Ruined fortress lies just four leagues northeast from Ironburg, so adventurers reached it in little bit over one watch. Then they spent half an hour to scout the surroundings before finally mustering enough courage to descend into the dungeon.
Ambros and Ignaeus, two most senior and best armoured adventurers in the party, took the lead. Spiral staircase eventually came to a landing leading straight down. A chipped and weathered stone statue faced the bottom of stairs. Upon approach large mouth formed above the statue, booming:
“WHO DARE ENTER THE CASTLE OF YUKANTHUR?!”
Party ignored it and followed the corridor leading left. Dried rivulets of blood gave credence to previous delve, albeit by other adventurers, as did the broken arrows at the far end. Moving on, they reached an illusory dead end. Ignaeus walked straight through the wall.
Adjoining chamber reeked of death. Dried gore was close to the archway leading out. Beyond it was a T-shaped junction splitting west and south. Barging through the west door led the party to giant rats feasting on kobold remains. Heroic Ignaeus darted forth and hacked all four giant rats to death. Others tried to help, but were rather ineffective.
The chamber had three exits in total. One doors to the east, through which the party came from. Two doors on the west side, one in each corner. Adventurers choose the left doors. Then spent half an hour forcing them open. Their reward was a corridor leading them to a T-shaped junction splitting towards doors and another corridor.
Another half an hour later and they forced yet another doors open. A small circular chamber, perhaps some ten feet in radius, was before them. A robed, scythe-wielding statue stood on a four inch tall plinth in the center of the chamber. Next to it was a headless skeleton dressed in rotted leather armour. On the other side of the chamber was skull. A tattered sack with silver coins was right by it.
Following another thirty minutes of discussion Ambros suggested it is not worth risking life for such a pittance. Party backed off and followed the corridor west. They turned right, then right again at new junction. This led them to yet another junction, which they theorised would go to the other side of scythe chamber. Corridor continued to another doors, which were the northwest doors of the chamber with kobold and giant rat corpses.
There were another doors further north, as of yet unexplored. Beyond them was a large chamber, easily fifty by fifty feet. Doomed ceiling rose way above the torchlight. Straight across the chamber were doors that were slightly ajar. The room itself was bereft sans for one little detail—a dead elf in the center. He was dressed in chainmail. Broadsword was next to it, as well as longbow. He didn't have any other noticeable possessions.
Adventurers carefully approached the corpse.
“Watch out!”
Syd yelled at Jacob. The assassin instinctively jump to the side, barely avoiding wombat-sized giant tick dropping from above. Initial attacks all bounced off of its thick carapace. Then Syd roared and cracked it open with few mighty swings of his battle axe. Ignaeus used the opportunity to bash through the hole, driving his broadsword straight through the insect's body. It let out a sound and collapsed.
“Agh!”
Before they even had time to wipe their weapons, another giant tick dropped down. This one hit Thorinda, nearly breaking her back. It bit her hard and begun sucking her dry. Everyone but Jacob missed, for they tried hard not to accidentally hit the monk.
Thorinda went pale and limp as tick sucked the life out of her. With her out of the way, adventurers went wild and beat down on the insect with savage glee. Ambros delivered the killing blow, smashing its peanut-sized brain with his heavy mace. They rolled the carcass off the Thorinda. She was alive but in a rather poor state.
Inspecting elven corpse confirmed two things. First, he was most definitely the victim of giant ticks—or something else that sucks blood. Second, he was liberated of his possessions. His belt was cut, and his coin purse and backpack were nowhere to be found.
Adventurers moved north, past the open doors. They followed a long corridor until they reach a junction splitting east and south. East led forward fifty feet before turning right. South led hundred feet before reaching doors and turning right. The latter looped back to the small entry chamber behind the illusory wall.
“Listen!”
Minako heard rapidly incoming squishy sounds—like wet flesh slapping against cold flagstones. Adventurers braced themselves and faced north.
A disgusting monstrosity with glistening, elongated tubular body with three dozen tentacle-like appendages charged them. It slapped Syd and Jacob many times. The two hadn't felt any pain. Soon they couldn't feel anything at all. Their muscles contracted and they were completely unable to move.
Ignaeus slashed wildly at the monster. He made a deep gash along its right flank. The monster oozed foul smelling ichor. Minako cartwheeled toward the monster. She formed her palm like holding a single drop of water. Moment before striking the monster between its frontal eyes, she tensed the side of her palm.
Hit landed with a thud. She back flipped as the monster burst open, covering Ignaeus, Syd, and Jacob with foul smelling ichor. Cleric and elf picked up the paralysed duo. Party fled the dungeon, barely avoiding several stirges that were attracted to foul excrement.
They found a safe nook some twenty minutes south of Castle Yukanthur and made a cold camp there until ranger and assassin were able to move again. Given it was night already, the party decided to wait for sunlight before traveling to Ironburg.
On his night watch, Ignaeus spotted a band of five dwarves singing and working by the entrance of Castle Yukanthur. From afar it seemed like they were clearing up the rubble and taking some of it with them.
Adventurers returned to Ironburg on noon of Goodgroove 7th.
Empty handed.
For how long can Ambros keep this gang fed, watered and dressed before being sucked dry himself?
Discuss at Dragonsfoot forum.
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