Session 154 - Something Stinks
General Summary
5th to 6th of Larane (Second Month of Summer) 722TRThe story so far
Jolanta and her trusty bodyguard Blaine are agents of the mysterious Order of the White Hand, hunting down unscrupulous mages and covering up magical mishaps.
But first Jolanta's research has located the possible whereabouts of a magic sword lost decades ago in the mysterious Lake Valona. This would be perfect weapon for Blaine.
Continuation of the Session 150 - The Clumsy Conjurer.
Location - Ascur Abbey near Lake Valona in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 - It's Raining Rocks
The heroes travel safely through Kaldor and enter the heavily wooded and hilly Fyaslor Forest. Their pleasant journey is interrupted when a huge rock flies through the air and slams into Blaine. A second rock quickly follows; however, Jolanta spots the direction it came from and casts a disintegration blast in that general area. To Blaine's great relief, the rock bombardment stops. Investigating the heroes find no evidence of who attacked them.
Further along the trail, the travelers find a dead stag in the tree. It has claw marks but strangely no evidence of anything feeding on it.
Part 2 - The Abbey of Ascur
The heroes are met by Gillete Boukle, one of the royal foresters, and questioned. They learn that the village is threatened by some creature, a giant black and white fured beast described as a cross between a wolverine and a skunk. It is highly aggressive and was first spotted in the lake by one of the villagers while eeling. He was killed and partially eaten. The monster was driven off, and it fled into the woods. However, a royal forester's partial remains were found nearby. The beast likes to hunt but appears only to eat humans. Also, the heroes learn that several houses were damaged by huge rocks, similar to those that hit Blaine. This can't be a coincidence. Forester Gillete asks the party to report to the Abbot at the Temple on the hill.
Occasionally monsters emerge from Bromela, an ancient Elven Holy Groves located in Lake Valona. Many of these creatures drown, and some are dangerous, this one more so than most. It is the most troublesome entity to emerge in a decade.
When Jolanta shows him her Letter of Recommendation from Sir Jerin Feldsaar, he sees an opportunity. Abbot Watkin is aware that Sir Jerin Feldsaar has a good reputation and judgment. Could such a powerful wizard as Jolanta deal with this creature? He asks for Jolanta's help. To aid her, he offers the assistance of Gillete, his best archer, and will ask the local alchemist Till Cowper to supply some potions.
The alchemist Till is more than happy to help and furnishes the adventures with various potions. More importantly, she supplies a magical oil which will temporarily sharpen the edge of Blaine's sword. Next to the alchemist laboratory is the extraordinary workshop of Serrell Wood, the local hide worker. Bones, chitin plates, hide, and fur of various strange creatures decorate its walls and ceiling. There are skulls of ivashu, creatures with bizarre horns and hides of crocodiles, giant snakes, and many other wondrous creatures who have emerged from Bromela, and died for some reason or another.
Part 3 - The Suspicious Giant
Gillete leads the party west to where the strange beast was last seen. Jolanta and Gillete set up a camp and hide in the trees while Blaine, acting as bait, cooks some fragrant eels to attract the monster. It attracts something, but what they expect. A huge humanoid creature approaches the camp, a small giant or Orge. The Orge grunts something and points his large oversized fingers at Gillete and Jolanta. So much for their ability to hide.
The Orge appears an unpleasant character speaking a few words of Harnic but does not attack. Instead, it haltingly tells the party that the creature they hunt is in a cave nearby, and he will show them. Jolanta and Gillete are distrustful, something doesn't ring true, and the cruel smile of this brute is highly suspicious. Nonetheless, they agree to follow him, expecting a trap.
Part 4 - Cave of the Skunk
The trio cautiously follows the Ogre into the nearby cave, and as a precaution, Blaine rubs some of the magic oil onto his sword. As they pass through the twisting passages, the creature moves ahead of them and disappears. Soon, the sound of falling rocks reverberates through the caverns, and the cave entrance has collapsed. They enter a new chamber and find two partially eaten corpses.
Suddenly the Ogre appears from behind, smashing Blaine with his oversize fists; he is hurt but fights back. Gillete shoots it with arrows, and Jolanta blasts the monster, injuring it but nowhere near enough to take it down.
Changing tactics, Jolanta considers shrinking the Orge to man-size, but in a moment of brilliance, she decides instead to make it larger. The creature Enlarged is huge and has difficulty fitting in the chamber. Severely squeezed, it struggles to dodge and launch attacks. It is an easy game for heroes. Blaine's next strike looks as if it would finish it when its flesh ripples, and it grows long black and white fur, and body distorting transforming into a dangerous quadruped. A nightmarish muscled combination of a giant skunk and wolverine.
Now being of a much better shape to fit in the cave, the creature strikes back hard. It turns around and discharges a blast of the vilest stench onto the heroes. This poisonous spray covers Jolanta and Blain, causing them to vomit helplessly for a moment. It then furiously tears into Blaine. Badly cut, he falls to the ground, bleeding to death, and Jolanta is forced to retreat, striking the monster with her disintegration blasts as she goes. She moves into a very narrow section of the caves hoping it will slow the creature. It does, it is infuriated by her magical attacks. Meanwhile, Gillete shoots it from behind. Jolanta repeats her tactic, blasting and retreating, and eventually, the dangerous creature is slain. Rushing back, she saves Blaine from bleeding out.
Part 5 - A Grateful Abbot
Abbot Watkin is an appreciative and relieved man. He allows them to keep any potions they have not used in combat and will pay any reasonable living expends of the heroes for the next month.
From him they learn much of the local lore, including the location of Bromyl Manor, lost underwater when the lake expanded. Hopefully, it still contains the long-lost magical sword.
Also, they learn of Bromela, a mysterious Barasi Point, or Holy Grove. This is also underwater and acts as a gateway to other locations and worlds. It was used by the elves thousands of years ago, and their ruins can still be seen. The site occasionally glows with light.
Abbot Watkin warns the characters that a large lizard creature is in the area. This is an Ilme, and it is not dangerous. "Please do not attack it." However, dangerous aquatic creatures do patrol the depths of the lake. One is a snake-like Ivashu, the Baethyr or Mind Lasher. It causes massive headaches with some form of mental bolt; however, luckily, it seem to avoid sunlight and stay clear of the surface.
The heroes sell the carcass of the Wolverine-Skunk monster to hide-worker and alchemists who harvest body parts for their respective trades. Then they make plans to search the ruins of the manor for a magical sword and investigate Bromela. But first, Jolanta works with the local Innkeeper and eel breeder Gilpen Danyell. They invent the Blainet Picking Process, which pickles Eels using alcohol and brine. She will get a royalty from this new product and generously gives Gillete a share for saving her life.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Forest Ranger - Gillete Boukle.
Abbot (Serolan) Watkin Ware
Hideworker - Serrell Wood.
Alchemist - Till Cowper.
Eel Breeder- Gilpen Danyell.
Challenges Overcome
Killed the Aniwye terrorizing the village
Rewards
Various Potions and free room and food for a month.
Created Content
Related Reports
Barasi Points - Holy Groves - Updated.
Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow.
Player Character Status
Jolanta - Human - Level 6 Evoker.
NPC Companions
Blaine
Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.
Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow
Ascur Abbey
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