Session 331 - The Crystal Mines
General Summary
20th of Nuzyael (Spring) 727TR
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 dwarven translator and guide.
This is the continuation of Session 328 - The Curse of Darkheart.
Location - City of Kondasgel in the Kingdom of Kuzjera.
Part 1 – The Deceptive Client
Kara, Salvador, and Cassius assisted the Tharac, their minder, and interpreter, in a meeting with the crystal miner, Shoklok Kragredis. The slightly evasive dwarf has a problem. The crystals in his crystal mine have "gone bad" and violently attacked his staff. He hires the team to fix the problem.
The heroes think he is holding something back and drill deeper. He confesses that the party is not the first team he has sent to fix the problem. He hired Kindric Alefury, who has not returned from the mine, and that was a week ago. Kindric, Tharac's mentor and trainer in controlling the earth's magic. Tharac is concerned and presses further. Under more pressure, the panicked Shoklok confesses that he made a pack with a Dao, an earth genie, and it has gone wrong. The Genie has not been helpful and seized control of the mine, animating crystalline creatures and causing chaos.
Part 2 – The Crystal Mines
The party enters the mines, finding a workplace clearly vacated in haste. Tools are scattered about haphazardly, and broken equipment is evident. Suddenly, two patches of crystals shamble forward to attack. In all the party encounters, two more groups of these crystalline creatures must be shattered and pulverized into dust.
Part 3 – Death of a Mentor
In a large central chamber, Tharac spots a corpse. Is this the remains of his old mentor, Kindric? As the party carefully investigates, a curse activates. A large patch of crystals lets out a horrifying hum and begins to bleed. Salvador attempts to silence the curse by prayers and chants but fails. This patch is very dangerous, and as the heroes approach to smash it, blood-red crystalline shards appear on the floor, ripping into the character's feet and legs. Eventually, the cursed patch of crystals is destroyed.
Sadly, the corpse is indeed that of Kindric, Tharac’s mentor, and the angry dwarf wants justice. Wherever his Dao is, it must be destroyed.
Part 4 – A Not So Restful Night’s Sleep
Another patch of animated crystal attacks the heroes as they explore further; this time, an enormous crystalline monstrosity tears itself through the mine walls and attacks. Fortunately, it is soon destroyed, but the heroes are tired and decide to rest in a room that has been cleared of threats.
Late at night, Salvador’s Alarm spell is set off; the party is struck while they sleep. The Dao, a tall, angry-looking humanoid creature made of stone and dirt armed with a huge stone falchion and two walking balls of rock, walks through the walls. The Dao attempts to shove the characters into the wall, but fortunately, they evade. But is this a demanding fight, given that the heroes have depleted most of their magical resources and are exhausted? However, they eventually prevail, destroying the elemental invaders. But is the mine truly safe? The next day, the party investigated further.
Part 5 – Rock Worms
The Dao, although dispatched, has left one more surprise for the heroes: two cave worms lurk in tunnels under the mine, waiting to ambush whoever passes by. Fortunately, Cassius finds the tunnels and the worms. The huge monstrosities move with surprising speed, and eventually, one grabs Cassius in its humongous mouth and swallows him. Cassius is trapped and can’t break free, and the worm squeezes tight, crushing the ranger.
Fortunately, the heroes have more luck with the other worm. Kara’s Slow spell strike makes it move lethargically and is easily dispatched. The rest of the party focuses all its effort on the last caveworm, eventually killing it and freeing Cassius before he passes out.
Part 5 – Honouring the Dead
With the mine free of the malicious genie and its ilk, the party returns to Shoklok Kragredis and extracts their payment. The heroes and Tharac insist that a memorial be placed to commemorate his dead mentor.
To be continued.NPC Interactions
Shoklok Kragredis.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Nothing this week.
Player Characters
Cassius - Human - L9 Ranger - Background Bounty Hunter - Archetype Fighter/Beastmaster.
Kara - Half-snow elf - L9 Magus - Background Prisoner - Archetype Fighter.
Salvador - Human - L9 Cloistered Cleric of Ilvir (Change) - Background Artist - Archetype Eldritch Researcher/Druid/Bard.
NPC Character Status
Tharac - Dwarf - L9 Kineticist (Earth/Metal) - Background Magical Misfit - Archetype Wizard.
Next Session
Kara
Cassius
Salvador
NPC Companion
Tharac
The characters guide and translator in the dwarven kingdom. Tharac is a skilled Geomancer.
Comments