Session 249 - Clearing out an Infested Mine
General Summary
26th to 27th of Nolus (First month of Summer) 725TR
The story so far
The party is tracking a Company of Dead Men deserter, who is believed to be hiding out Imrium, a hilly region known for its Salt Mines, and, as the party later learns, Dragons.
This is the continuation of Session 248 - Fur and Fangs.
Location - Imrium Castle in the Thardic Republic.
Part 1 - The Metal Smith
The heroes arrive in Imrium and immediately start their search for the Company of Dead Men deserter. They learn there are two metal smiths in the settlement and decide to investigate Redele Movale first. She has a reputation for producing intricate tools for miners, so she might be willing to construct some good-quality lockpicks for Acheron.
Close observation reveals that the quantity of food delivered to the shop does not match the number of known occupants. They are hiding someone. The party sneaks in at night and scrutinizes further. Unfortunately, Acheron makes a racket and alerts everyone in the establishment. The man they are looking for emerges and is armed. Regardless, the party soon de-escalates the situation. He knows of Avon and Acheron and that they had previously spied on the Dead Men. They are the most wanted former members, and he is more than happy to talk.
Rubi Movale's Story...
Rubi joined the Dead Men, seeking riches and adventure. Plus, the possibility of earning enternal life was very appealing.
He performed caravan duties, guarding the Royal Castle in the City of Golotha, and served in the Rethem Civil War. However, despite rising in the ranks, he grew disenchanted with the mercenaries' brutality, and this promise of immortality seems unattainable.
But when he learned what the Dead Men were planning, his conscience got the better, and he deserted.
On Molok Island, west of the City of Golotha, the Church of Morgath runs a charity, a leper colony. He learned this is a front for unspeakable experiments in diseases. The Dead Men have been hired to deliver these sicknesses to the City of Coranan and will attempt to create a plague. With the resulting chaos, they expect the Senate to support a dictator's election to restore order. This will be someone of their choosing, Marshal Kronas Elernin.
Rubi believes the leadership of the Dead Men may have a cure; most of the Company's ranking members have been given a potion of some sort.
This operation will take place in Autumn before the Senate sits in Winter. Rudi outlines everything he knows about the Dead Men, its mysterious leader, and Molok Island.
The players advise Rubi to flee as far away as possible. They consider their options.
Part 2 - The Senator has a Problem
The next day, the heroes learn that many senators from the City of Coranan are spending summer in Imrium, enjoying the more mild climate. One is Senator Rodin Aquil, who the party uncovered a plot to frame him for the murder of a rival (refer to Session 126 - Chaos in the Streets). He is looking for mercenaries to clean out one of his salt mines, which allegedly giant spider creatures have infested.
Avon knows the Senator well, as he is responsible for his security in Coranan, but decides to remain incognito. In his guise as Rikon, Acheron approaches the Senator and offers to help. The good Senator takes him up on his offer, warning that the spider's creatures appear to have magical abilities.
Part 3 - Strange Spiders
The salt mine is indeed occupied. Strange ball-like aberrations that use tentacles for locomotion have the power of duplication. Avon and Acheron, assisted by Moneypenny, are seasoned adventurers and quickly deal with the Ulnorya. Unfortunately, the enormous spider-like creatures they encounter shortly after are more of a challenge.
These three Chelicerae, highly intelligent arachnids, possess potent spell-casting abilities. They bombard the trio with burning hands, phantasmal killers, and can turn invisible as well as possess formidable poisonous, magic-draining bites. Avon uses his magical potions to good effect, avoiding them (potion of superior blink), and Acheron conceals itself in a dome of darkness. Unfortunately, this does not prevent him from being blasted by repeated lightning bolts. Eventually, the heroes destroy the creatures but are completely exhausted.
With all the hazards in the mine dealt with, Senator Rodin pays the heroes and attempts to persuade Acheron to join him in the next holy service at the newly consecrated church of Larani, of which the Senator is a benefactor. Using the Ricon persona, Acheron appears to be an immoral mercenary and replies that he would likely burst into flames stepping onto the holy ground.
Part 4 - Hunting Plans
Avon and Acheron also have an interest in Dragons, having interacted with the infamous Blackfang of the Setha Hearth, survived an attack from the Veximath in the mountain passes of Orbaal, and viewed the Zuthwyrm in the Dwarven Kingdom of Azadmere. They note that Imrium seems to be obsessed with dragons. Dragon artwork adorns many businesses, and dragon statues are prominently displayed in the castle. They discover that the commander of the Imrium Cohort, Parlyn Musbern, has a bounty on a local Dragon, the legendary Khalkhikus. However, they feel the bounty of only 2,000sp is suspiciously low. Rather than battle an actual Dragon, which is likely far too dangerous, the great heroes decide to go Wyvern hunting and fraudulently plan to claim the bounty.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Redele Movale - Metal smith.
Rudi Movale - Company of Dead Men deserter.
Senator Rodin Aquil.Challenges Overcome
3 x Ulnorya.
3 x Chelicerae.
Rewards
The Characters earn 1,500sp for saving the Senator's life.
Created Content
Nothing this Week.
Related Reports
Player Character Status
Acheron - Human - Level 6 Devotion Paladin, Level 4 Hexblade, and Level 6 Divine Soul.
Avon- Half-Elf - Level 16 Thief.
Avon
Acheron
NPC Companion
Moneypenny
Avon's able assistant
The Company of Dead Men
An evil mercenary company, closely associated with the god of Undead, Morgath.
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