Session 323 - Giant Fall Crossing
General Summary
5th to 20th of Navek (Winter) 726TR
The Story So Far
Cassius, the rugged bounty hunter, Salvador, a wandering priest of Ilvir, and Kara, a half snow-elf escaped prisoner, are guests in the underground City of Kondasgel in the distant dwarven Kingdom of Kuzjera.
They are accompanied by Tharac, their translator and guide.
This is the continuation of Session 315 - Dwarven Bounty.
Location - City of Kondasgel in the Kingdom of Kuzjera.
Part 1 – The Fungi Farms
Cassius, Salvador, and their new companion, Kara, acquire a new assignment. Fignok Stondrek, a dwarven leatherworker's extended family, has a problem. Their undergrounding mushroom farms have "Gone bad." Cassius and his friends are asked to investigate. The farm is located deep underground, and Tharac, their guide (and minder), escorts them through the dark and dangerous passageways. They survive attacks by flying mantra rays like Cloakers, chasing a trio of terrified Ogres, and a giant floating balloon-like fungal horror (a Drakauthix) that drifts in and attempts to dissolve the characters while camping.
Eventually, the fungi farm is located, and the source of the problem is investigated. The fungi show signs of scorch or burn marks. Exploring further, the heroes note that some of the surviving fungi patches are not what they seem. The half-a-dozen walking semi-humanoid Melfesh move with surprising swiftness on stubby three or four legs and expelling clouds of spores that cloud the mind and roast any exposed flesh. The party eradicates these fiendish fungi and is well rewarded for their efforts.
Part 2 - The Orb of Midgard
Suddenly, Berda's conversation with Princess Estryd generates much excitement. Berda explains to the humans that she has just learned that the royal clan once possessed an ancient artifact, an Orb of Midgard. This black stone orb was created in the ancient dwarven ancestral homeland of Midgaard and, as legend says, traveled with the dwarves when they arrived on this world many millennia ago. Legends also record it was used to speak with kin in that long-lost world, but it has since gone quiet. Back in the Kingdom of Adamere, Berda has seen an identical Orb. Centuries ago, it was used to communicate with the Dwarves of the Kingdom of Kiraz before that nation was destroyed by Lothrim the Foulspawner. Berda is keen to see if she can use the artifact to talk with the holder of the Orb back home. Unfortunately, Kuzjera's Orb has gone missing. It was stolen.
King Inknar explains that his former steward, Gryrik Dolman, took it for polishing sixty years ago and disappeared. On investigation, the steward was found to be corrupt, stealing from the royal family and dealing black market weapons and jewelry to the nearby human kingdoms. His disgraced family were exiled to the Warrens. The King tells the humans that they can name their price if they can find the missing Orb after so long.
Part 3 – The Warrens
The Warrens are a series of exhausted mine shafts, long abandoned dwellings, and caves deep under the City of Kondasgel inhabited by a community of outcasts and criminals from "proper" dwarven society. Sometimes, they are referred to as Dark Dwarves. Apart from smugglers, no one knows how big this community is, as the populations of the Kingdom of Kuzjera and the Warrens seldom interact.
The party enters the Warrens, seeking out Gryrik Dolma's lost family members, and makes their way through various abandoned mines. A swarm of Laval Cave Worms blocks their way, but all the disgusting creatures are quickly exterminated. Eventually, they encounter a band of unfriendly locals, half a dozen dwarves covered in tattoos, somewhat dirty and pale. After a long session of convoluted haggling, they avoid hostilities, and after some time and long-distance echoey communication in the caverns (i.e., shouting), one of Gryrik Dolman's sons arrives to talk.
Thalnir Dolman bears no fondness for his father and explains that he does not know what happened to him. All he remembers he had planned to meet with some humans at Giant Fall Crossing but never returned.
Part 4 – A Trip South
The party rests in Kondasgel for a few days and then heads across the winter hills towards Giant Fall Crossing. It is winter, and predators are hungry; one giant centipede-like Cromulloch attempts an ambush, but the huge Ivashu is destroyed. While searching through the snow, the party finds a bloody trail leading to a cave filled with Yeti's and an abattoir of their victims, some human. They are skilfully drawn out of the cave entrance into an ambush and dispatched.
Part 5 – Giant Fall Crossing
The next day, the characters discover an intimidating scene at the crossing, an ice-filled crevasse crossed by a flimsy-looking wooden bridge. Trapped in the ice are half a dozen giant skeletons.
Carefully, after being harassed by dozens of hungering crows, the characters investigate and find a dwarven corpse entombed under the ice, and it looks like he may have fallen from the rickety wooden bridge. Before they can dig it out, a transparent ice-like ooze monster attacks. The Carnivorous Crystal lets out a hum that stuns the characters, and they must fight hard to destroy it as it has to be smashed into tiny shards. It is eventually shattered.
To be continued.NPC Interactions
Fignok Stondrek.
King Inknar and Princess Estryd.
Outcast dwarves and Thalnir Dolmanson.
Challenges Overcome
2 x Cloakers and 3 x Orges.
1 x Drakauthixz.
6 x Melfesh.
1 x Laval Cave Worm Swarm.
1 x Cromulloch.
Yeti family.
2 x Murder of Crows.
1 x Carnivorous Crystals.
Rewards
Nothing this week.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Nothing this week.
Player Characters
Cassius - Human - L7 Ranger - Background Bounty Hunter - Archetype Fighter.
Kara - Half-snow elf - L7 Fighter (Change) - Background Prisoner - Archetype Magus.
Salvador - Human - L7 Cloistered Cleric of Ilvir (Change) - Background Artist - Archetype Eldritch Researcher.
NPC Character Status
Tharac - Dwarf - L7 Kineticist (Earth) - Background Magical Misfit - Archetype Wizard.
Next Session
Kara
Cassius
Salvador
NPC Companions
Tharac
The characters guide and translator in the dwarven kingdom. Tharc is a skilled Geomancer.
Berda
The inquisitive and idealistic daughter of the King of Azadmere.
Comments