The Dungeon of Graves: Session 40
General Summary
“Opportunistic Thieves” Indeed
Report Date
18 Jul 2021
As the dust settled from an army of undead being teleported with the Shrike, the Damned collected their thoughts on what they had just witnessed. The grass was still green but everything that had been living around them had been slaughtered then raised by their employer. When the army had left, none of the Damned had spotted Lilyandra. Either she was in the belly of one of the undead alligators or she had managed to escape. Most believed that she had to have escaped with help from the Waytt’s family pet. However, they determined not to follow even if the rogue wanted vengeance. Lord Thevius had managed to escape their pursuing reptilian when the Shrike had killed it and turned it and they were in need of a stiff drink. He had entered the cabin and found some homemade moonshine. With a bone cup that had been fashioned from a leg bone, the warlock sat and drank some of the sorrows of the day's events away. Meanwhile, the others discussed where they should head next. Some wanted to deliver what they had already gathered to Zhanna while others explained that they should gather as much of the bounties before returning. During her reading of Lilyandra’s diary, Kachuun had found some iridescent ‘leaves’ and a map with a location of pixies marked. It was in the same general direction of their next bounty but it was determined that if they didn’t need anything from the pixies the Damned didn’t want to risk making another friend. Their last attempt of being cordial toward the locals ended up with the Shrike gaining more to their army.
After doing some measurements with a knotted rope, Kachuun approached Emil and asked the paladin for muscle strength in hefting the rowboat on the wagon. The paladin needed a day and then they would be able to summon their mount to help pull the wagon. With this knowledge the others decided to head out informing Emil that they should follow when they are able to, indicating that they were heading to the Clerics of Tsathung. With some of their hearts still heavy from their actions, the Damned head south around noon on the fourth of Souma. As they leave the area there are no living creatures within the first 500 feet of the farm and as they travel outside the disaster zone, the animals are scarce as if they had run away. As they traveled nothing assaulted them and they found no evidence of anyone coming to investigate what had happened. They find a safe gully to make camp and rest for the night.
About two hours until dawn they are startled awake. Those that were on watch informed the others that they could hear many horses galloping from the south heading north on the Coast Road. It sounded like it could be as many as 20 horses and from their camping place, about a mile off the road if they wanted to investigate they would need to decide quickly. It looked like two groups, one in darker clothing with hoods up and their cloaks flapping behind them. While the second group looked to be in bright armor and carrying torches. Kaertas, Sinestra, and Lothar could tell that the second group were knights of Lord Feydric Huron as they had met Sheriff Ostland many months ago. It looked like the Sheriff was trying to force some semblance of law out here. Lord Thevius wanted to let them pass and a couple of the others agreed with him but Lothar and the rest wanted to investigate.
While the Damned discussed what they should do, the first group of riders were surrounded by a pack of wolves. The wild creatures only attacked the horses. About half of the bandits were capsized while the others had turned to help the fallen; they were waved on by the fallen bandits, shooing them. These bandits were not acting as opportunistic as one would think they would behave. The knights were mere moments away from catching up to the fallen bandits when all but Amo and Kaertas head out to investigate. Amo had summoned and prepared his undead companion to accompany and listen to Vai’len but the rogue didn’t want to alert the knights and asked the undead to remain with Amo but to catch up if their investigation turned into yet another battle. By the time the Damned made it to the group, the bandits were all subdued and being tied up. The wolves had left, leaving not one horse alive but had never touched one of the bandits.
The knights were in full armor, with only a small slit for their eyes. Lothar greeted the knights simply stating they were hunting bandits as well and they might share a purpose. He then asked if any of them recognized him as he had greeted and dealt with Sheriff Ostland in the past. Once Lothar told Sir Thatch his name the knight recognized him. Some small talk occurred and Lothar asked about the interesting help they had received from the wolves and the knight skirted the comment by agreeing with Lothar. The cleric continued their conversation while the others with him judged the knight’s words. Lothar indicated that they were looking to acquire some horses of their own and it was suggested that they go to Sheriff Ostland’s camp and they would be able to purchase some. Vai’len smoothly got Ace’s attention and the bard made a telepathic link for the rogue to talk. She wanted Ace to let the others know that the armor, weapons and gear of the bandits seemed more ranger-like and less rogue-like. While the telepathic conversation was being passed by Ace, Vai’len brought up the wolves again but it was clear that the knight wasn’t going to share their secret.
Kachuun, very skillfully, called out to the knight as it was clear their conversation was nearing its end. Lord Thevius had just offered the knight a job after indicating that they were also a merchant lord and with him and Lothar keeping Sir Thatch talking Ace was able to tell that the bandits were too far away for him to telepathically link too. Kachuun “I would like to look upon them and see if they had stolen from us.” She explained that they had been stolen from and the knight thought it was wise for them to inspect each of them. The knights brought them one by one and Ace tried to connect with them as Kachuun and Vai’len made the show of thoroughly investigating the bandits. After their third bandit, Ace was able to connect to an elf. From the gear they had taken off of them it looked like they were most likely a tinkerer of some type. The words that Redalo responded with were mechanical in nature as if they were being spoken from another person. With Ace informing her what they had learned, Kachuun indicated that the elf had stolen about 200 gold from her. Sir Thatch had another knight look for a pouch and after the kobold took out 200 gold they returned the pouch to the knight.
Meanwhile back at camp, Kaertas and Amo bonded. The wizard asked about the Shrike and they talked about creating undead and serving the Shrike. When the others arrived Vai’len joked about if Amo and Kaertas had matching tattoos now that they bonded. Lord Thevius thought it was a great coincidence that the same thief that had stolen from Kachuun had been apprehended while they were nearby but it was clear that they did not understand why the bard had lied. They discussed what they had learned, it seemed that Redalo had been under a Dominate spell. Bringing out the map, they thought about the wolves, the Sherrif’s campsite and why a group of fully armored knights be out near dawn chasing a group of people down; they came to the conclusion that Vampire Simrath must have found some new play things. “Opportunistic thieves” indeed.
Luckily the group of knights must have thought that their bandits would be enough food or it was too close to dawn, as the Damned woke up without being attacked. The breezy day was clear of clouds and pleasant enough as they continued their way southwest to the place Zhanna had indicated. They stop for a four hour rest halfway to their location for Amo and Lord Thevius to buff and protect the others. With their line of protection completed they continued into the swamp. As they approached they found a path that was a good indication that something was there. They decided to skirt the path and follow along as stealthily as they could. With the help of Sinestra’s magic they were able to move quietly even though it was a tough trip and some of them needed help to move through the muck. As they approached they could tell that they would be arriving on the western side of the compound.
There were two buildings and some ruins in the middle. The northern building looked like a chapel and each of the buildings were moss covered and overgrown. Kaertas could tell that these buildings and the ruins between them had been here for a rather long time. As the afternoon was setting into evening, there were torches around the two buildings. The archeologist wizard could tell that they didn’t match the architecture of Tsar, were from a different culture entirely and older than the Dungeon of Graves. As a group they understood that an inaethri would be created by the faith of the aethri and that when another inaethri would rise they would often go and take the land of other inaethri. Then others would come and go through the same process. The inaethri were constantly warring with each other. The ruins could be from an inaethri take over but the faith wasn’t fully destroyed. Tsathung would, most likely, be of the patron level of power.
It was late afternoon and the chapel building had two green robbed individuals near the open double doors. The Damned could see into the chapel as they skirted the building. They could see the large green stone giant demonic toad statue wearing robes standing on its hindlegs. However, they continued to skirt the chapel approaching the back door of the building. The surrounding stone piles protected stairs that led into the earth. On each of the piles they noted the vines and grapes that were growing. As they approached the trees and bushes they were using as cover started to dwindle. Warm light poured from the small opaque windows near the top of the stone structure and a stone wall surrounded the building.
Sinestra sent their pterodactyl familiar over the stone wall to investigate. From their perch they could see the small pond and the frog statue huddled over the pond with its mouth open pouring water into it. Only a couple of doors were on the wall, no windows and near the far side of the building there was a small gap where the wall didn’t meet up with the building. From the building they could hear a deep voice but couldn’t make out the words. They all moved up to the small wooden gate, it was not trapped and unlocked. Before Sinestra opened the door, Kachuun made an illusion door that if anyone were to walk by they would see the gate still closed. No one was in the courtyard and as they all made their way to find cover, they could hear the words. The voice was holding a congregation and were talking about the blessings of Tsathung and the swamp. Sinestra had their familiar fly down the corridor between the wall and the building. They landed a bit too loud but the sermon continued. The corridor revealed doors on either side and a turn that dipped out of view. As Sinestra had their familiar continue Vai’len activated the wand and detected magic on the statue and many evocation spells on the chapel itself. While the voice continued, they figured that the evocation must be hallowed spells.
Ace was near the pond and could tell that there were many tiny frogs looking up at him. Meanwhile the pterodactyl had continued down the corridor and landed with a thump on the curtain. This drew the voice to stop and welcome the tiny familiar. As they flew past the giant toad they were caught but not in an aggressive way but in a welcoming way. Vai’len and Amo decided to open the back door and Amo moved in. They knew that they had to draw their attention as it was highly unlikely that any of the clerics would volunteer to accompany them to Zhanna. Kachuun warned the others what was happening, while Kaertas followed Amo into the small dining room. The wizard moved up to the far curtain, guessed that the chapel was behind it and opened it up while stating that their god had condemned them. He then released a Fireball hitting every toad, familiar and green robed figure in the room. A complete shit ton of frogs perished in the flames and as the spell grazed the altar Kaertas could feel the presence of the inaethri looking upon them. When the pterodactyl, Kaertas and Vai’len stepped into the room they instantly felt sick but Amo felt nothing. The warlock had first thought he wouldn’t be allowed in as they were fey but it seemed not to affect them at all. Vai’len felt the sickness but decided to fall back and let them come to her or let Amo down the wall. The Lord moved into the room, feeling the sickness but pushing past it. Thevius threw open the bottom curtain and dropped a Shatter on the closer group, killing more frogs and smashing two of the greed cloaked figures. Amo released his spell on the wall behind the cleric and the building shook but it withstood the spell. His undead companion targeted the cleric but under the green robes the spell bounced off of full plate armor. With their presence announced, Amo moved into the staircase and they all waited for the clerics to approach.
