The Dungeon of Graves: Session 33

General Summary

Divulgence And Fire

It had been raining for two full days already and it didn’t seem like the storm would relent anytime soon. The small town of Zelkor’s Ferry was muddy and the surrounding rivers were rising with the torrential rain. Standing in the mud, outside the single Inn, were a handful of the Shrike’s agents, the Captain of the guard and Zetwuzadi a Spear Wrenjer. After sharing with the guards Tlombi’s blessing Halxion had gone into Bristleback’s Inn with a couple of his companions. They purchased all the rooms and were warming up with some beverages as the others were still chatting outside. The rogue had thought that the others would have followed because the rain was cold and unrelenting. However, they did not follow them into the warmth.
Thevius, Mogg and Sinestra were covering the group's tracks after the trolls had followed them easily through the Forest of Hope yesterday. They were not with the others as they ferried across the water earlier; however, even through the rain Ferryman was able to hear the bell and notice them waiting across the river. As they rejoined the others, Lothar inquired if they were successful with their task. Thevius explained that Mogg was rather adept at covering tracks though they were unable to discover where the mage had fallen back to. Feeling slighted, Sinestra asks her companion what she was doing while Mogg was doing all the work but the Lord did not rise to the bait.
Noticing the extremely tall goliath, Sinestra muses that have gained another servant of the Shrike. As they were still standing outside the Inn with mixed company, some of her companions were shocked but not so much as the guard captain, Akrad. Slack jawed, the captain asks if he just heard the druid correctly. Quickly the others tried to cover their companions' divulgence, unsuccessfully as it was clear that Akrad and Zetwuzadi understood who the Shrike of Czira was. Luckily none of them admitted where they were, other than on the eastern side of the island. Lothar offered that they are unwilling servants. It is fairly obvious that Akrad cares about the Wrenjer’s opinion as if Zelkor’s Ferry have a working relationship with the Wrenjers. The captain looks overwhelmed with the group’s admissions and searching for guidance they turn to find Zetwuzadi guarded. Needing to question the group, the captain asks if they would go willingly into the Inn for a lengthier discussion. Sinestra tries to explain their situation but all of them enter the warm and dry Inn.
Mogg had been keeping his distance when he had heard Sinestra’s words. He had noticed that some of his companions were not outside with the others and as they were ushered in, he quietly and deftly rang his silent alarm. Akrad had noticed the bugbear and waited patiently as the entire group filed into the inn. Meanwhile, those who were already enjoying drinks watched as the others entered followed by the Wrenjer, the captain and a few more of the guards they had noticed during the Twilight ceremony. Kaertas was still working with Ulman Dark and when Mogg sounded the alarm, the necromancer jumped and shocked the wizened old man into defecating his trousers. Needing a break, Kaertas is sent away for a bit, allowing him to join the clothes in the Inn. With everyone assembled in the Inn, the captain closes the door keeping two guards outside flanking it.
Sensing possible trouble, Odo Bristleback shifted into a hulking wereboar; however, still calm and collected. The Shrike’s servants introduce themselves, some more reluctantly than others. Akrad still had no idea how many of those assembled were working for the notorious villain until Orilo offered them all up. Already angry with someone leaking the information, the rogue wished she had ordered a stronger drink and she hid in her mug, the tips of her ears becoming purple. Before Halxion had left his room, after hearing Mogg’s call, he had casted a spell that heightened his vision. Scanning the group, Halxion noted the small censor focused on the new companion, Orilo. The cleric of Tlombi stepped forward and explained that if they wish to save lives they would end their conversation as they are being watched. This de-escalated the situation. Simply, Akrad asked the group what their plans were next and learned that they would head back east upon the morning.
While the guards left, Mogg approached Zetwuzadi and made small talk as they were both Xhogumal. The rogue rushed out of the common room and brooded in her room as the others were around the bar making small talk with Odo. Two different conversations were happening in the Inn. One verbally and rather mundane, and one using Gylidder Sign language. Odo explained that he understood that they were in a bad spot but noted that they didn’t want anything to happen to his family or town. Thevius explained that they don’t wish harm on anyone here. Before they rest for the evening, Odo offers that they could use his Inn to communicate with the Wrenjers if they wish.
The deluge of rain was still pounding Gylidd when they left the Inn the next morning. As they left, Halxion offered for Akrad’s guards to join in the morning Twilight blessing but it was clear that they were not trusted and they declined. Not wanting to make the situation worse, they depart quickly. As they boarded the wooden barge, it seemed that the news of their employer hadn’t reached everyone in the small town. The rain was so heavy that the ferry was at the same height as Zelkor’s Ferry and as they were leaving, Akrad was trying to prepare the town for potential flooding.
They travel throughout the day, the rain drenching them as they traveled without any incident. Some of them had wanted to try to fulfil some of Zhanna’s bounty they had noticed posted in Bristleback but in the end they headed back to the dungeon. After another full day of travel, they found themselves outside the familiar rat tunnels on the 18th of Asha. The tunnels were muddy but they managed to squeeze their way through. They had decided to investigate the star-shaped room and found that it was cleared. As they traveled throughout the area, they noted the low hanging mist in some of the corners that had arrived shortly after they killed Saracek. Some of them want to clear each floor as it is nice to see notable differences but they all understand that they are not prepared for the Upper Temple of the Master.
They once again push through the rat tunnels and the fear of the fourth level of the dungeon. It was their plan that they would travel through the area and head back down to explore the webbed area near Me’nak’s tomb. As they traveled, Lothar scooped up some trash for Max and quickly dropped it off with the Otyugh. Max was glad to see them but wished they had stayed longer, vowing that he will get Thevius on his side one of these days. Nothing stopped them as they traveled through the larger cavern down into the tunnel.
As they traveled through the area, their footsteps and stumbles echoed off the caverns. Hearing their movements, Mogg slipped into the middle of the group and magically made their footsteps quiet. Vai’len moved forward, taking the lead as they scouted the web areas. However it was short lived as they rounded the corner the rogue noticed the giant spiders resting in their webs. Passing the information down the line, Halxion quietly steps into the side tunnel and notes the community of spiders in their larger cavern. The area was covered with thick webs and about forty feet above the giant spiders rested while there were thousands of tiny spiders moving about the area. They communicated their plan through Gylidder Sign. They were going to drop some major damage on the spiders and draw them into the larger side cavern, forcing them to squeeze through the tunnels.
The last time they had a plan that involved waiting for the enemy to come to them, it didn’t go exactly as planned. Noting that the ogres were smarter and that this time they had planned on Kaertas dropping a Fireball early. When everyone was ready, the range stayed in the cavern while Kaertas and Thevius moved to the main entrance to drop Fireball and Shatter on the spiders. Vai’len had set herself up in a side tunnel to try to eliminate one of the spiders. The rogue started the battle with a perfectly placed bolt causing the spider to curl up on itself. The wizard targeted the group of spiders in the northwest corner of the cavern. As the small bead of fire exploded, the web caught fire dealing a lot of damage to the spiders and causing a ripple through the web. Spiders, large and small, start to flee the fire. Many rats also move through the area to escape the fire. With part one of their plan in motion, Thevius stepped up and Shattered a group of spiders closer to the front of the cavern.
Somewhere deep within the cavern, the Shrike’s agents could hear the screaming of a woman in pain. The spiders immediately change their path of escape and become hyper focused on the group. Halxion could hear mechanical limbs moving deep within the cavern, moving towards the group. Orilo announces “I don’t think that was part of the plan.” The battle continues with Halxion setting up a defense in the tunnel as Kaertas and Thevius hadn’t been able to fall fully back to the open cavern. The fleeing rats started to move through the area, trying to escape as much as possible. With the surprise round complete, they prepare for the spiders to reach them. However, the first creatures to advance on the adventurers were the hidden wererats in the small swarms. They turn their attention to the group.
The spiders move through the small tunnels with ease as creatures who had adapted to the area. They press forward, unable to touch the cleric of Tlombi as Halxion releases his twilight aura upon them. Unfortunately the spiders kept coming, they could hear skittering from the southern tunnel as they were about to spill from the northern tunnel. Again the female voice rang throughout the area, “Kill them all, drink their blood, bring me their bones!” Thevius gets bit by a wererat just before Vai’len slays that same wererat who had cursed her friend. This allowed the lord to step back and free the rogue from the wererat in front of her.
Lothar was surrounded by wererats and he could see the spiders coming down the northern tunnel. He brings out the new shield and releases the light within. "NO! HE WIELDS THE ACCURSED SHIELD OF AURELON!" The wererats, some of which are now blind, fall back to flee. Mogg, who had always been an excellent shot, turned his attention to the northern tunnel. Taking a step forward he creates spikes down the tunnel. The spiders don’t notice them until they are shredded. He then falls back and blends in with the shadows. The voice continues to scream, “Kill them, kill them.” Orilo, finally free of the small tunnels, readies himself to hold the entrance as he doubles in size and that is saying a lot as the goliath was already nearly eight feet tall. Kaerats doubles the already large man, with a quick hand wave and arcane word.
Halxion had been in the main tunnel, holding the front. He had taken to the air making sure the spiders couldn't avoid the twilight. As the large spider queen entered the cavern he could see the massive metal legs moving through the area. It was the plan that everyone would fall back to the cavern, he fell back deftly dodging the many spider limbs who had tried to halt his progress. Earlier the spiders had tried to web Halxion but they were unable to hit the blessed cleric of Tlombi. The group were quickly eliminating the combatants but more spiders would be arriving soon. Unfortunately with Halxion’s announcement that there is a giant metal spider approaching they prepare for the fight for their lives as the woman’s wailing had stopped abruptly and the metal stopped moving.

Report Date

23 May 2021