Session 7: The Cave of Ghastbark Report

General Summary

The Loss of Jethro

Our journey took a grim turn today. As Jethro peeked around a corner, he was mercilessly slain by Cracked Iron. The shock of his death weighed heavily on us, but amidst our grief, we discovered a goblin named Sunny Granach, who had been imprisoned by the kobolds. With Sunny now aiding us, we pressed on through the cave, determined to honor Jethro's sacrifice.  

A Strange Encounter

As we crept through the labyrinthine cave, we stumbled upon a kobold acting strangely, performing an excited yet worried "dance." His behavior was soon explained when a colossal praying mantis, the size of a house, emerged and attacked us. We fought fiercely, our teamwork tested to its limits, and managed to slay the monstrous creature. Throughout the battle, Cracked Iron Cackling Fire taunted us relentlessly from across the cavern, his voice a constant reminder of the danger we faced.  

Confronting Cracked Iron

Finally, we faced Cracked Iron and his lieutenants, Cleego (Master of Dirt) and Scoople (Master of Mud). The battle was fierce, each of us pushing ourselves to the brink. Warby, with his incredible strength and determination, landed the final blow on Cracked Iron, sending him back to his goddess Vixara. The sense of victory was palpable, yet we remained cautious.  

A Hidden Presence

As we caught our breath, we discovered that Chungle, Master of Hiding, had been present the whole time, so perfectly still that none of us had noticed him. We only realized his presence when we attempted to taste some of his tomato soup. After some negotiation, Chungle agreed to aid us, provided we paid him five fresh tomatoes weekly. It was an odd arrangement, but one that would bolster our ranks.  

The Journey Continues

With the Astral Map in our possession, we began our journey back toward Draggel. Our next objective was to find the son of the keeper of the ritual, the key to defeating the dragon Svaar'Nultek. The path ahead remains fraught with danger, but with our new allies and the memory of Jethro driving us forward, we are more determined than ever to succeed.   The challenges we face are great, but so is our resolve. Each step we take brings us closer to our goal, and with each victory, we honor the memory of those we've lost.   Sera