SoA Session 23- The Worm in the Dark

General Summary

Wineday 19th Firemoot 619PR
Last time we met our heroes they where in the village of Briarglen. Having uncovered evidence that the demon of Gluttony was again at work. With the two rescued elves, Lilly and Dorian in tow the group took their leave of the village for the night. On the journey out of the village, Mordai noticed a suspicious figure casing the small dwelling that they had just left.
Doubling back, the group spread out and managed to apprehend the stranger. Azo grabbed the cloaked figure, and Mordai managed to bind and gag her. They returned to the campsite with their new prisoner. Upon interrogating her, they learned of her fanatical devotion to an entity known as Gulthias . She claimed that Gulthias would devour them all. Aleandre smoothed their combative prisoner, Samantha, who then proved more pliable.
Aleandre was able to learn that the owner of the Golden Grain Inn, Bertram Beswill , had been transformed by the entity. The cultists kidnapped villagers and travellers, deliberately infecting them with Gulthias's fiendish worms. Those who resisted are fed to Bertram, those that didn't, became members of the cult. Thus far the cust had recruited a small number of people, but much of the village remained uninfected. Samantha revealed the location of Bertram's chamber, informing the heroes that later that night the cultist was planning on 'inducting' more villagers.
Realising that they needed to act immediately, the heroes decided to raid the Golden Grain. Following Samantha's instructions, they headed down into the cellar and found a hidden door. As Mordai opened the door, a loud sound rang out, informing those within of the intruders. The door led to a series of stairs heading deeper into the earth. Following the stairs, the group entered a large chamber, the floor littered with bones and the remains of the previous victims. At one end of the room was the hulking shape of Bertram. His body distorted by the dark magic of Gulthias; his form swollen, the fingers elongated and twisted into black claws dripping with viscera. However, the most striking feature was the massive maw on his stomach.

by Andy Hart

Seeing the hulking form, Brice loosed a series of arrows as the creature bore down on him. The cultists jumped from their hiding place and charged at the heroes. The battle was deadly, both Brice and Mordai lay on the group unconscious, as Azo slammed her great axe repeatedly into the swollen form of Bertram. A combination of Azo's axe blows and Aleandre's crackling eldritch bolts downed the monstrosity. The remaining cultists screamed in agony and tried to flee as Azo and Aleandre rushed to stabilize their dying friends.

Rewards Granted

Inspiration

• Aleandre (For her successful interrogation of Samantha)

Campaign

Shadows over Alonia

Protagonists

Azo-groh Morrkul

Brice the Twain

Report Date

20 May 2020

Primary Location

Briarglen