Session 12 - Something rots under Lance Rock
Day 14 of Olmis (continued)
Inbar and Marliza (Amberdune jackleweres) recognize the warrior in the ambush as the one who lead a group of adventures and slew Nidalia (the good Lamia, the one for whom the group seeks the “Silver Diamond”.
Lance Rock (a local landmark) is visible for miles away it’s a gray (granite) obelisk-shaped stone sitting atop a low hill. The stone sits at a 60 degree angle and rises roughly 25 feet. Scouting the perimeter of the hill the party finds a trail that leads to a cave mouth at the base of the hill.
There is a sign that warns people to turn away or suffer a disfiguring disease. Inbar and Marliza both reel back from the smell of decay.
A rotting body is spotted 60+ feet inside the cave passage, as Lane steps over it, it attacks him. Lane turns it and it flees deeper into the cave system.
Thanatos spots a “wispy creature” and a four-armed zombie/skeleton. Battle ensues wherein the wispy creature uses maddening whispers and a howling babble to damage our warriors and even entice them to attack allies!
Two PCs are bloodied (or nearly so), and at one point a vicious attack by the four-armed zombie-thing drops the mighty Dragonborn. Eventually Taraxacam uses Misty Step to land behind the 4-armed zombie-thing and drops it with a sneaky back-stab. He also manages to drop the wispy-thing “saving the party”.
In the room they find a passage to the NW and to the S. The party recovers a bit with laying of hands, curative spells, and mass consumption of healing potions. A crude, flat rock in the room exhibits blood stains and Lane spies obscured markings of Vecna! Olivine uses the helm of Comprehend Languages to learn the symbols speak of death and re-animation.
Exploring the NW tunnel, Taraxacam follows the worst of the stench and finds a room piled with bodies of soldiers. Seven animate and mindlessly attack. At one point in the scrum, Taraxacam perches on the bloody altar hoping for an advantageous firing position. Dark visions momentarily fill Lane's mind… a potential victim is on the altar! He attempts to push Taraxacam off the alter but he resists. Thanatos attempts the same and is unable to unperch the angry Eladrin! Finally, the great might of the tank-wizard Thurgood unseats our determined and dour Taraxacam!
The party dispatches the 7 animated skeletons with a cascade of spells and blows. Frustrated, Taraxacam slips down the S passage and sets his bear trap.
The party regroups and they press on deeper into the cave.
The tunnel opens into a larger room. A dinning table is set with plates, goblets, silverware, etc. sprawled supine on the table is some furry form. Suspended above the table and furry thing is a cage with a lifeless moldering soldier in it - spikes protrude downward from the bottom of the contraption.
A rotting corpse wearing formal attire complete with a top-hat holds an axe - poised to chop the rope suspending the cage.
Another corpse, wearing a grungy maid's outfit, holds a metal serving try full of metal tankards and glass stemware.
A third corpse, outfitted in jester's clothes, sits at the table with a dagger in each hand as if awaiting a meal.
The disrespected and righteously angry Taraxacam, adopts a shoot-first attitude and strikes the jester-corpse with an arrow.
Lance Rock
Comments