Session 19: Escape and Evasion Report

General Summary

The session begins as the team completes their short rest, performing some small health improvements before continuing their escape from the pursuing yuan-ti team hunting them; the sound of pursuit prompting them to quickly resume their escape. The darkness begins to subside as the subtle hints of dawn light are seen through the canopy of the jungle.   They continue fleeing from their pursuers and cross a stream, where Angelo stops briefly and casts plant growth to cause this section of the forest to quickly become overgrown with the local roots and flora; an obstacle to slow those on their tails. Several stumble through the crossing, but otherwise uneventfully continue to pull further in front of those who wish to capture them.   The party comes upon a large statue of a snakelike humanoid, ancient and overgrown with moss and plant life. A cave entry is also found and upon investigation appears to be filled by the sounds of a multitude of snakes; too many to risk entry. The party surveils the area to find a hidden entryway in the base of the massive statue, but is unable to find any hidden catches, controls or other methods to gain entry. Some mechanism from behind the stonework holds the party from entry.   After investigating the area, Gorm in his lycan form and Ilyana shifting into a Jaguar form detect the scent of old dried blood beneath the moss at the base of the statue in front of the hidden portal. On further investigation this appears to be very old sources, and a multitude of small samples provided. Sharing this detail with the team, Willys cuts himself and provides a sacrifice of blood into the same spot; the doorway mechanism responds and the large stone door slowly scrapes open, then just as fast begins to close. The party rushes in to find a large cavern in front of them and a passage way that descends slowly downward.   Stationing themselves opposite the doorway, they begin to prepare themselves in the event their pursuers follow them in, while Ilyana in her jaguar form descends the passageway downward to investigate options for the team. She follows the passageway downward is the tunnel veers left and right, curving and descending continually downward; the sound of a waterfall in the distance becoming a loud roar as she finds the other end of the cavernous tunnel.   Ilyana uses her feline senses to detect anything that might have used this tunnel, finding evidence of some carnivorous creature that periodically uses this cavern as a migratory shelter; clearly not using over at least the last month or two. She also investigates the opening behind the massive waterfall, finding a very slippery moss covered and moist skinny pathway on the side of the rock face. Choosing to continue her investigation across the precarious rocky ledge, Ilyana in jaguar form looses her footing and fails to catch herself before falling 60 feet to the rock strewn base of the waterfall below, injuring herself as she hits the base below.   The party, unaware of Ilyana’s investigation and resulting fall behind the waterfall further down the tunnel, continues to wait and hears the sounds of snakelike hissing and voices approach on the other side of the stone portal. Through cracks and holes that have worn through the rock face over time, they hear the angry voices of the frustrated pursuers as they investigate and eventually the sounds of the pursuers seem to move on. After 30 minutes of listening through the rock face, waiting in case they need to defend themselves, they decide to take the party to investigate the missing party member. Walking down to the opening behind the waterfall, Gorm tracks Ilyana’s jaguar scent to the rocky ledge.   The party describes to carefully follow Ilyana’s path, using ropes to tie off to each other as safety between the members along the precarious pathway. Intending the halflings to go first, Ricfried lead off; after just a few steps he loses his footing and fails to catch himself as he falls over the edge and is pulled downward by the force of the waterfall. Tied off to Fara next in line, she is yanked forcefully from her feet but manages to catch the edge of the cliff face; the weight of Ricfried hanging heavy against her as he is waterboarded - ingesting and inhaling what feels like gallons of water. Helped up by the team, Ricfried is able to report that at least 50 feet below he still cannot make out the bottom of this precarious ledge.   During the excitement, Shade who is furthest back in the team fails to recognize the presence of 3 yuan-ti soldiers who emerge from the darkness behind them and catch her by surprise; attacking her before she can react. Initiative starts as Shade takes damage before she can respond, but the party quickly changes gears and responds to this new threat. The yuan-ti must have realized the party was inside the cavern and decided to act as if they were leaving to catch the party unaware and sneak in behind them without their knowledge.   Angelo casts spike growth behind the party; causing a very painful challenging barrier in the cavern behind them - the three yuan-ti suffering from the unavoidable and dangerous obstacle in these tight confines. The party quickly pummels the three adversaries with moonbeam, magic missile, crossbows, and other melee attacks; felling 2 and causing the third to retreat before succumbing to the damage of the thorny overgrowth in the cavern. Reinforcing yuan-ti behind are frustrated by the thorny barrier and unable to advance to continue the attack.   Over this period Ilyana who took such a heavy fall has recovered and found her way back to the mouth of the cave. After hearing the sounds of battle emerging through the waterfall, she risks a second fall by taking a running leap into the opening, gracefully landing inside and preparing to support. Angelo casts Water Walk on the party members, allowing them easy passage across the slippery ledge and an escape from their pursuers. He also cast Pass Without a Trace to make following them much harder as they spend the next few hours placing distance between themselves and those hunting them. Fara and Ricfried both succumb to a second level of exhaustion, now drastically affecting the speed by which they hold the team back in their escape. Marigold’s Saint Bernard acts as a mount to carry Fara, while Brom’s wyrmling acts as a mount for Ricfried to assist keeping a strong pace to distance themselves from their adversaries.   The party attempts to conduct a long rest to recover from their past day and a half of nearly uninterrupted pursuit as daylight fades into nighttime and the session comes to a close.