The Dungeon of Graves: Session 32
General Summary
“You Forgot Your Equipment.”
Report Date
16 May 2021
There was a large Vrokívan storm brewing somewhere south of the Gylidd. The Shrike’s aethrin resources watched as the sky south of them darkened. They had just returned from the Dungeon of Graves for the second time that day and had fallen back to their coastal cave for the night. Snaggletooth had been freed and some of them were chatting with the faerie dragon. The small kobold agent of the Strike had returned but Mogg was still out scouting the dungeon below. As Kachuun returned to the group another group of the Shrike’s minions were approaching. The Wights were escorting a tall goliath wearing splint mail with a hammer sticking out of his bag. Once again, they made eye contact with the group and left when they were satisfied that they understood that their delivery belonged with them.
When the last companions joined the adventurers were cordial, however, both the group and Orilo leaped to judgement. Was it the stress of losing another companion or was the dungeon taking its toll on the group causing the disdain. Whatever the reason, a disjointed group does not work well together. Once the jabs were thrown and settled, the group turned their attention to what they were going to do the next day. The weather had some of them worried that if they returned to the dungeon they would be stuck in the dungeon overnight. The rogue voiced her opinion that they shouldn’t keep returning to the surface to sleep and that although she hates the dungeon as much as they do, they need to keep their actions secret. Some wish to return to New Czira believing that the Shrike must have magic enough to protect his town from the storm. After their day in the dungeon, they understand that they need to gather some diamonds.
The morning of the 14th of Asha was dark though the storm was still just south of Gylidd. As they prepare for the day, they once again discuss where they should go and Halxion suggests that they head to Zelkor’s Ferry. He had heard there was a gem cutter there and on their last trip back to New Czira the undead town had no gem cutter. With Kaertas’ map, they figured that they would head northwest hoping to find that Zelkor’s Ferry indeed has a ferry. During their travels nothing assaults them and as the day progresses the sky darkens with the nearing storm. As they finally step into the forest they find a spot for a night’s rest. Noting their direction and where it correlated with the dungeon, they believe they are over the underground road, The Gut of Rappan Athuk. Just before rest, Lothar approached Kaertas, ready to cleanse the wizard of his curse. Once again the fur that was starting to build underneath his skin quickly grows and is expelled from him. For those who hadn’t witnessed it before, it was quite a shock.
They continue their journey to Zelkor’s Ferry through the forest. The trees were thick and they quickly lost the Canyon River as the land rose before it dropped, meeting the riverbank. Through the dense tree cover they could see that the sky was getting darker as the storm had finally made landfall on Gylidd. Showers blanket the area but they quickly end causing just enough to dampen the travelers. Halxion could see Snaggletooth duck through the trees, invisible to the others. The cleric could also hear something that gave them trepidation. Hearing the same movement through the trees behind them, Vai’len moves and hides behind a tree. As they had been traveling they hadn’t thought to cover their tracks and earlier the movements through the trees sounded more natural but over the last few hours it was clear that someone was following them.
Noticing the rogue slink off, Kachuun peeled off and moved to hide. As the group had stopped the creatures following the group had gotten closer. Hearing the voices, Halxion casts Tongues ready to have a conversation. He announces to the others “it seems like we are being followed.” As they look back through the area they had just traveled, they notice the boughs of the trees being broken and moved as four large creatures come into view. Four large trolls had followed their tracks. One of them had their hand on their footprints sensing how close their prey could be. Lothar moves first, bringing out his spectral wings and intimidatingly stating “State your business!” Ori, rather upset about Lothar’s hostile actions attempted to sway the trolls to talk and ignore the cleric but they seemed rather focused on the man with spectral wings shrouded in darkness.
The trolls do pause for a moment and from the ground, where they had just placed their hand on the footprints, “we are here for you stuff” while the others nod in agreement. They further explain that they want anything they grabbed from the dungeon as they approached the fallen tree separating the groups. Halxion could hear another creature near the bottom of the tree. If it wasn’t already clear how Ori thought of the group his attempt at persuading the trolls would have confirmed his disdain. Ori explained that he hadn’t even been in the dungeon and that it wasn’t the group’s style to take anything expensive. Meanwhile Halxion, who had tried to have a conversation with the trolls, asked about their other companion and the troll's denial sealed their fate as the cleric brought out his aura of twilight. This incensed the trolls and as they leapt over the log to engage the adventurers the rogue takes her shot and the hidden wizard quickens two of their trolls.
With each attack the trolls regenerate and move into Halxion’s aura, ignoring the pain and they swing their meaty hands and bare their teeth. Two claws make contact with the new companion, luckily one of the trolls acts too fast and accidentally bites the other troll instead of the goliath. The rogue gets hit and she falls back, taking a spot behind the necromancer. Kachuun incapacitates the two trolls who had attacked Ori with a Hypnotic Pattern. With them lost in the pattern the bard yells out to move that aura off of them. The trolls’ magic user moves closer to where Kachuun is hidden, they swallow a potion and simply states “damnable things, never reliable” and throws a burning red bead at the group. A Fireball hits most of the group, wounding them and causing Halxion to drop his concentration. Kaertas, in a very Kaertas move, drops his own Fireball on the mage and a troll. Then the rogue takes aim at the magic user causing them to continue their levitation summersault through the air. Kachuun nails the mage with some eldritch blast. Finally able to fall back behind a tree, the mage screams “Forget it, you’re on your own” and they Dimension Door away.
They had managed to slay one troll, two others were still locked in the pattern and with the departure of the mage, the last coherent troll decided to run as well. As they leapt over the log, they tried to get the dead troll to follow as well as the incapacitated ones. Kachuun had looked to move to follow the fleeing trolls but fell back with the group as it was clear they were letting them flee. Lothar calls out “you forgot your equipment” as the trolls leave their sight. Once it was safe, Snaggletooth returned to the group and they investigated the troll. It seemed that their clothing was made from old bedrolls, rather sad if they were working for the mage. There is a small discussion on how allowing them to flee the trolls now know more about the group’s abilities which could create more problems for the group later one. Vai’len agrees with Kachuun but she voices that a united group is better than following her instincts.
They continue their travel to Zelkor’s Ferry and upon nightfall they near the river. After finding two areas, as they had decided to drag the troll’s body with them through the forest, they make camp farther away from the path they carved through the woods and the body they would never fit in Halxion’s dome. As they take their night’s rest, the rain starts to fall. It doesn’t let up when the dome falls and rain falls on those still sleeping. Before continuing onto Zelkor’s Ferry, they talk with the dead troll. They learn that the mage’s name was Turane and they work for money. The troll lived in the dragon swamp in Troll Fen. Lothar continues his interview asking if they were to expect Turane to retaliate and it seemed that they hunt for what they can south of the river. The cleric asks if there is something they could do with his remains and he asks to be returned to the swamp to be buried with his family. The best they could do was shrinking the troll and having Halxion through the body into the Canyon river and hopefully the current would return the troll home. However, off in the distance they could see a winged creature take flight off of a hut sitting on a hill and fly off towards the body as it traveled east.
With the constant rain the Canyon river had swelled and they could hear the river before they could see it. As they crossed the last five miles they crossed over soggy land but the air was fresh and clean. Across the way they could see the small town and meager wall that protected the town from the forest to it’s west. The northern half of the town was elevated forty feet above the river and sloped down as it headed south. Between them and the town was a tributary river and jutting into the water was a small dock with a bell. As they discuss how to cross the river, the rogue just walks up and rings the bell. Across the river, the ferryman was unloading the barge and waved in acknowledgment. They ferryman crosses the river and they board and greet Gutmark Ferryman, a wizened old masculine human.
As they travel, they are instantly greeted and questioned. Not many people come through the town other than Wrenjers and not anyone from the area they came from. Dodging some of the questions they make their way to Zelkor’s Ferry. They learn that the Wrenjers have a fort nearby and that Odo Bristleback was the de facto mayor who also financed the entire town and ran the inn. They also learn that there was a necromancer and Kaertas instantly seems interested in greeting the wizard. As they make their way to the Pye Hole, the guard captain just stares at them from the barracks. Meregan Pye greets them and after some purchases they move onto the gem cutter. They purchase the canary diamonds and request two of them to be ground into dust which upsets Kalgor Bjahd, but the gem cutter does as requested.
Standing outside in the rain, Kaertas was itching to get to the necromancer and once Halxion and Kachuun exit the gem cutter they make their way to the Dark’s Tower. The stone building was crafted from the same craftspeople but it was clear that Ulman Dark had the funds to provide more expensive material. The only window on the tower was a large grand stained glass window. As they knock on the door, a young beautiful woman greets them. Instantly Kaertas melts and stutters. They somehow are invited in and enter the tower. The first twenty feet of the building looked like a shop of some sorts while the back half looked to be a workstation. Ulman is brought down and Lothar bluntly asks how old they are and Ulman responds simply “older than a dragon’s whisker.” Kaertas asks about spells and with some help from the bard, they were able two work out a deal in which Kaertas stays and works with Ulman Dark for the night and the necromancer will receive the items he requested.
Leaving their wizard alone with the Darks seemed like a terrible idea but they did so. Knowing they need to find some rooms for the night they approach Bristleback’s Inn. Standing outside the inn was the town captain and a half-orc clad in Wrenjer regalia. They are asked where they came from and between Lothar and Vai’len they inform them that they came from the sea, east of Zelkor’s Ferry and here seeking money and adventure. After some small talk, Halxion offers to give Tlombi’s blessings upon Akrad’s troops.
