The Dungeon of Graves: Session 19

General Summary

Cha Cha Real Smooth

At the edge of the stream that ran through the large cavern where at least one purple worm resided, the group of the Shrike’s chosen helped their two soaking wet companions out of the river. They had just come from exploring the bit of stream under the cave wall, Mogg had returned rather hastily while Levin had a little trouble. As they continued to swim they felt the same dread, the same fear and malice that the well gave off on the surface. It was new to Levin but Mogg understood it. They talk quietly, near the cave wall, about how to explore the stream but they decide to send Sinestra’s new familiar to explore the rest of the cavern.
The pterodactyl discovered that there were many rat tunnels that led out of the area but only one actual tunnel large enough for the party to traverse. On the other side of the cavern, Sinestra could see, through her familiar’s eyes, the loose dirt where the purple worm Mogg had spotted had burrowed into. As she called her familiar back to her, Mr. Nibblers returned in a rat tunnel near them. They seemed expectant of the food that had been promised; however, Sinestra was able to reassure the rat that food would come, they just needed time.
Crossing the stream, they did so without drawing the attention of the giant worms as they were creatures that could sense tremors. They moved as stealthy as they could to the tunnel which ended in a door. Vai’len and Mogg move up and find the door unlocked and not trapped. The rogue could hear shuffling behind the door somewhere. Nam and Lothar moved up to open the door first. In a rather funny bit, Lothar and Nam change places because Nam is unable to see in the dark. The goliath had placed his illuminated mace in a sack to help keep them stealthy. This could have been the reason why, as the door opened, the combatants already knew they were there.
As the door was thrown open by the Cleric of Vrokíva, they could hear echoing throughout the cavern “KILL THEM.” A battle commences, with Vai’len starting the group off with a miss and promptly moving out of the area. Kaertas calls out that he can make someone large if they wish and they move up to a better position. Both Lothar and Nam could hear a spellcaster off to the side but unable to determine the spell until Lothar moved into the room and threw open the door. Behind, a cleric of the Master had been waiting and unlike the other three who seemed to be but acolytes, this person seemed to be fully infested in the service of the Master. An aura of darkness, hate and malice emanates from the cleric. Meanwhile, in the hallway to the room, it was a rather tight squeeze with most of the party stuck until others moved out of the way. The larger companion, Nam, moves out of the hallway bringing out his mace as Kaertas’ spell releases and a large Nam engages the skeletons.
The ranged companions are having a bit of a harder time trying to hit through all of the front line companions. Lothar manages to Command the cleric to surrender and who knows if they were just so surprised but the cleric dropped his aura and his weapon instantly. The acolytes moved out of the area as the skeletons were finally falling and some of them were hurt. As the cleric comes back to their senses, they command their followers “this one” and they move back up and all target Lothar, magically holding him and giving their leader the opportunity to slay Vrokíva’s cleric. Lothar thought of his upbringing and the lies he was told as the light faded from his eyes and he fell unconscious. His companions moved in to attack. Levin heals Lothar who falls again to the cleric. It is Sinestra who raises Lothar again to continue the fight.
Nam was able to kill one of the acolytes; however, as they were fighting clerics the other enemies were able to heal their ally. As the battlefield seemed to go a bit better for the adventurers, the Cleric of the Master releases a stronger aura of hate. Many of them were caught in the area of effect. Mogg, Vai’len, and Keartas clear the area after taking damage, nearly dying to the hate and darkness. The cleric follows those who fled into the hallway making them take more damage and running in different directions. Back in the main room, Nam has been engaging the acolytes and Levin finished off the skeletons.
Vai’len had fled into the main room trying to get the cleric to follow her instead of the other three in the hallway. As she made her way back into the room, the cleric did follow which finished off the rogue. She fell clutching the tattered green cloth she wore tucked into her armor. Levin had stayed in the area of darkness, engaging the cleric trying to get them to drop the spell. One of their hits felt like the Inaethri was behind it and downs the cleric. This allowed Kaertas to get a Goodberry to Vai’len who stands weakly. However, the acolytes were still alive and with their last spell one of them raises their leader. The cleric stands but it’s clearly hard for them. One of acolytes looks out across the group trying to intimidate them as they had just downed Nam and was going to finish him off but as they reach their arm up Kaertas shrinks Nam’s form out of the way. Kaertas falls but they are the last to fall as the group is able to finally kill the cleric and two of the acolytes flee. Not wanting to pursue, the group gathers their allies, examines the room and leaves the area for a safe night rest with either them returning to New Czira or the dungeon in the morning.

Report Date

14 Feb 2021