The Dungeon of Graves: Session 10

General Summary

“We don’t care, it’s fun!”

After the adventurers finish collecting the wasp paper they continue on their journey south, back to the Landing now named New Czira. The morning of the 13th brought an intense wind storm just shy of being a hurricane. The hurling wind off the sea bringing the cold as the evening brought a snow storm, dropping about a foot of snow. Camping by the Droellog River they all have this feeling that the Brume isn’t too far away. The next day they continue south, trudging through the snow. By the evening the small fort finally came into view. When they had left a few days ago it was nothing but a small campsite. It seemed that the Shrike’s forces could work without rest while maintaining excellent craftsmanship. All around the fort, various undead were working on furniture, weaving blankets, baskets, tables and even planting plants that had been transported on the boat.

The exhausted adventures waited at the fortress gates awaiting for the black leather clad undead to allow them entrance. Meanwhile the two new recruits were wandering about the fort waiting for their team that Inako had insisted would be arriving. Inako was chatting with a bone white skeletal figure clad in white while the group moved into the fort’s courtyard. They met the Shrike’s quartermaster, Bago Jadde. Xantrix, with assistance of Keartas were able to negotiate the selling of their supplies and purchase new items for the group. As the group’s items were being sold, one of the new adventurers started making faces at the wraith guards, the creature reached out to touch the dwarf and they ducked out of the way. Tumeti, feeling a bit reckless stepped in and let the creature touch her, taking a drain on her lifeforce.
With their items sold and new ones acquired, they settle for the night inside the walls. Inako asks about Fox Tail. Lothar explains they became Harpy food, the Prime thrall tries to ask where they had buried his body but Tumeti, still feeling foolish, sassed her on how much her body would fetch. Before they head off for the night, Sinestra asks about how much it would cost to be transported to the wasp cave teleportation circle and Inako informs them that it would cost them just the gold price. The next day, the bitter cold greeted them but no new snow. Inako invites them into her home with a handful of the Wights to accompany them. Out the window, some of them could see Jadde talking with a raised Sir Conneghal, a new commander for the Shrike’s minions.
In the wasp cave, they notice that the environs haven’t changed much except that one of the larvae had been dragged out and consumed by a wolf. Lothar offers that they travel the hilltops instead of covering the same path they have tread before; however, Sinestra counters that they should not tempt nature and they travel the same path as they had before. White snow covers everything and as a small group they stand out and they expect that anything that would come upon them should also be easily spotted. As the 15th of Zhira progresses the day gets warmer and wetter. Overnight, it goes from cold and dry to warm and wet and by the morning it started to pour.
The next day passes uneventful but with a deluge of rain. The Wild Edge River has flooded and the bridge was now barely above the rushing water. Mogg finds a great spot for a night's rest upon a hilltop. They could see that the flooded river reseeds and shrinks away from the deadwood and the Vampire Simrath’s mausoleum. They decide that they would take the path up near the fluffy bees before heading to the dungeon. It was their goal to acquire some of the magical honey and to check on their new ‘friends.’ About 30 minutes outside the cave, they run into Sheriff Ostland who informs them that the bees have retreated because of the rain. After acquiring some honey, they continue the three hours north.
The familiar hilltop and general unease settled in as the two new commoners got their first glimpse of the mausoleums. Mogg explains what they have encountered before making sure they understand about the gargoyles. They stealth in, trying to figure out what they were going to do, they settle on the dwarven statue once again. Taeva determines that this could be a representation of anyone of the dwarves that accompanied the Army of Light or all of them. It was a mocking tribute that they would be forever known and also forgotten. Opening the hidden compartment they find a key that the gargoyles react too. Their stone faces all move to the new dwarf then follow the key as it gets passed from Taeva to Keartas then to Mogg. Lothar and Sinestra both come to a realization that the gargoyles are guarding the door to any interlopers and if they want to get past they should start acting like the others who reside here and use the key.
As they approach the door, holding the key, eight of the front gargoyles pair off and start to play boulder, parchment, shears until only four remain. Those four now jump down and start attacking the group while the other gargoyles, disappointed, return to their poses. Lothar turns to Sinestra who had been walking near the front “Alright, Sinestra, now you can know what it’s really like to fight.” There is something chaotic about this place and even while they had performed the action correctly they still caused the gargoyles to react. A battle ensues with Xantrix taking point as their traditional front line of defense had been bogged down with their own fight just a bit away. The artificer falls instantly but ultimately accomplishes what he had wanted. Tumeti quickly raises her fallen friend and readys herself to take some hits. Lothar has a brilliant round with both his and Lupus landing major damage. Taeva hits her target and moves safely away.
Sinestra, knowing her strengths, advances safely backward out of the front. Xantrix stands while Lothar falls to the gargoyles. Tumeti heals the cleric. Lothar yells “We have the key assholes!” and in response the gargoyles yell back in abyssal “We don’t care, it’s fun!” Lothar and Xantrix fall. Sighing, Tumeti raises Lothar so he could heal Xantrix. The first gargoyle falls to one of the newest of the Shrike’s team, Taeva. Jalter moves safely away then attacks while Mogg is barely standing. The bugbear looks at the stone face of the gargoyle hovering over him “Fucking finish me off” but as his held Fog Cloud spell releases the stone creatures take to the air to land safely on the mausoleum, but not before telling them “You all are going to die here.”

Report Date

13 Dec 2020