The Dungeon of Graves: Session 43
General Summary
The Wagon of Clerics
Report Date
08 Aug 2021
With the upper level of the chapel of Tsathung unhallowed, the Damned discussed what they should do next. Some of them were rather insistent on following the Abbot down into the catacombs, while others were ready to fall back to deliver the captured clerics to Zhanna. During this discussion, Emil had made sure the clerics were unable to cast spells with either verbal or somatic components. Kachuun had asked for the tongues that were removed and Emil shared that he wasn’t one for keeping bodily adornments. Whatever the kobold had planned for the items the others did not know and some probably didn’t want to know; however, during the short rest they came to the decision to attempt to unhallow the lower chapel before returning to Zhanna with the three bounties they have collected. Bithan, one of the victims of the Abbot, had been fathering the others the Damned had ‘helped’ free while Xor, his brother and barbarian who had broken himself out of the prison, had been watching and listening to the Damned. Near the end of the rest, Bithan asked if the others could arm themselves as Xor had done and the Damned allowed it but warned them not to run off with the clerics or with any of their items. It seemed that the Damned were tired of being stabbed in the back by those they quickly trusted.
The plan was simple: Ace would stay up with the wagon of clerics while the others would assist Lord Thevius and Amo with destroying the statue of Tsathung. Both warlocks felt the wave of tadpoles hit their stomach but only Thevius was affected. Not long before this, Thevius had been cursed into a frogling form and now he was retching them up in waves. They both push through the sickly feeling and their spells shatter one of the limbs off the large statue. Seeing that the Lord was not doing well, Emil had approached and cleansed the warlock. Another round of spells go off and they shatter the rest of the statue which tumbled forward and crashed into the cauldron of terrible liquid. Even with the disgusting gunk filling the area the Damned had successfully unhallowed the level. Now that the statue was gone and the damage dealt by the shatters, the secret door was rather easy to spot. Although it pained one of their members to leave a secret door unexplored they returned to the surface and left the swamp. They would return to wipe out the entirety of clerics of Tsathung once they dropped off their bounties.
Leaving the temple and falling back through the swamp, they found a relatively pleasant spot to camp for the night. Strong winds greeted them while Sinestra and Lothar scouted ahead to make sure their route would be clear of any problems. Before finding their rest, they discussed which route to take to Zhanna and determined that the best course of action would be to draw the least attention. This meant they would travel back through the swamps of the Froghemoth and retrace their steps. During the night the howling returned but the winds died down and the sixth of Souma brought chilly weather. While they traveled, guided by Vai’len who had contacted her fallen companion the night before to gain insight into traveling across difficult land, Kaertas inspected the Hand of the Revenant. He marveled at its magical properties and the skill needed to create and preserve something like this. As they trudged across the land, Emil activated his medallion and tried to glean the surface thoughts of the freed captives of Tsathung.
Most were reliving some part of what happened in the Abbot’s care. Rhona was reliving being tortured while Bithan was dwelling on his guilt. Bithan had fallen for what the Abbot was selling and not only got himself captured but his brother Xor as well. Freydaric was focused on his fallen sister who he had been dragging on a stretcher when they were both captured. The three that Sinestra and Ace had freed from the torture room were in desperate need of thearpy. While the others were focused on things that had happened in the past, Xor was watching Vai’len and wondering what the rogue had on her. He was opportunistic but practical as he was clearly not going to try to steal from the rogue and the party.
Nothing assaulted them on their journey and they were able to find another ruin to camp for the night. Right as the night crew were settling in for their rest, the howls had returned. It was louder this time and felt like it was closer. Just out of their vision, hundreds of wolves called into the night. The night was cold with a layer of frost coating the ground around their two magical huts. Ice was forming on the water they were camping near. Kachuun had been on the wagon keeping an eye on the clerics and had jumped down into Ace’s bubble to wake anyone who had been still asleep but the howling was loud enough that even the soundest sleeper was awake. Lord Thevius had Draggo, his pseudodragon scout into the darkness and return any visuals they could see. The very faint line of the waxing crescent moon illuminated the fog bank that was rolling into the area. A feminine humanoid emerged from the mist covered in thick furs of grays, browns, and blacks. Atop her head was a latticework of animal horns, similar to a helm. With everything that she was wearing it would seem that she could be a necromancer but specialized in animals and not humanoids. Dark eyes peered out above her warm wrap across her pale face. Following the femme were dozens of wolves with more in the mist behind them. She watched those in the magical bubbles before she dispelled them, with the flick of her wrist it seemed like the bubbles had their magic unwoven. As the Damned assembeled near the water the femme humanoid walked on the water and approached.
As the aethrin approached more wolves slunk out of the mist. Kachuun elegantly asked why the other was gracing them with their presence. The figure lowered her hood and answered that they were curious about who lingered near their forest. Ace quickly remarked that they were heading to the nearby town. At the mention of Zelkor’s Ferry it seemed that the figure did not like settlements in their forest. It was obvious, as the women stared at whatever she liked for however long she liked that they were not accustomed nor did she care for social cues. Some of the Damned could tell that they were talking to one of the grey faith, one of the vuckheid. The figure was genuine that they were making sure that those that were lingering near her forest weren’t doing anything stupid and the Damned assured her that they were not and were working on dealing with the ‘mauosleum’ and had just worked on dismantling the clerics of Tsathung. The figure assured them that as long as they were performing this service then they would not need to fear the Brume. At one point Emil had taken out the bloody book of the Master they had collected and thrown it at the figure’s feet as proof of the Damned’s words. After a moment the figure picked up the book and tossed it to her wolves who destroyed it.
Drusilla finally introduced herself in case they had the means and need of contacting her in the future. Everyone but Emil shared their name with her and as she returned to her wolves they swarmed her as they returned to the mist. The rest of the night went uneventfully and they continued their journey to Zhanna’s. They travel quickly the rest of the way and arrive at the familiar hut on the hill. Without any delay, Amo rang the bell and Zhanna approached. He explained that they are ‘seeking fortune.’ Zhanna gestured to the skulls which all rotated on their spikes to observe the group. Xor was with the Damned while the others were lingering near the edge. Zhanna thought it was rather wonderful that they had trussed the clerics up, like a turkey, and in a singsong voice called for her harpy to bring the captives to the hut. She asked about the new faces with them and wondered if they were bandits and although they weren’t, Emil offered that Xor could be one of them. This made the barbarian angry and the others nervous and even though Emil might have wanted to dispose of Xor, they explained to Zhanna that none of them were indeed bandits.
Kachuun was the only one who asked what the clerics were destined for, it seemed that the others either didn’t care or had their own ideas. However, Zhanna explained that she was a broker and these clerics would be heading off to Gylidd Syn Aethri to go through rehabilitation, a rather lucrative business. Zhanna warned them that they should not head to Zelkor’s Ferry as there have been people inquiring about their whereabouts ever since the Damned had a misunderstanding with a small group of Wrenjers. It was at this point that Bithan and the other captives had slunk off closer to the shore. Vai’len had tried to approach, she wanted to explain their side but in her usual manner it came off a bit more aggressive. The rogue just pointed to the dock where they could call the ferryman. Zhanna continued to explain that the Wrenjers are frequenting the forest and working closely with a small group that is delving into the earth, clearly looking for something. The Damned inquired about if Zhanna will sell them out and it is clear that for the right price she might. As they depart, Xor offers to come but it is clear that most of the others do not wish for him to accompany them. Each of them have their own reasons but they explain to the barbarian that coming with them is a death sentence. After some arguing Xor offered that maybe they would meet again.
They travel back around the Dragonmarsh heading to the clerics once again, this time to finish what they had started. It was clear that they shouldn’t travel back to the Zhanna’s for a while if the Wrenjers are looking for them. Snaggletooth was summoned to them before they left the hut and it turned out that the tiny fey dragon had seen them approaching Zhanna’s and had crossed the river to them. Vai’len wanted to know about the posting about them in the Zelkor’s Ferry and at least the Wrenjers wanted them alive for questioning about a confrontation. Moving as fast as they could through the swamp they made excellent time arriving just outside the cleric’s swamp on the night of the eighth. During their uneventful rest, Snaggletooth was told about the pixies and they excitedly offered their help in contacting them. They quickly pushed through the night and returned in the morning. Winded and excited they explained that the pixies have an entire kingdom. Snaggletooth seemed enamored with the splendor of the pixie kingdom. King Elmander and Queen Kaja requested their help with something related to another entrance into the Dungeon of Graves. As presents for the fethine, Emil brought out the doll they had found and Amo offered their eerie token. Snaggletooth was sent back to relay that once they were done with the clerics they would head over to help.
Before one of the battles, Emil had offered Kaertas to use his longsword for one of the necromancer’s skeletons but the paladin requested it back. The paladin had been very guarded and hadn’t shared anything personal. But the others could see that he possibly was sentimental. Emil still kept the shield that bore a painted sea-bird on dark metal. Some could tell that it was a vassal to house Dulstrom, one of the merchant lords. However, the colors were inverted indicating that Emil was not in good standing. While Snaggletooth returned to the pixies, the Damned began their new ritual of buffing their party.
As they moved through the temple, everything was how they left it. The contents of the cauldron were still spilled across the floor and nothing had walked through the area. They use a crowbar to quietly open the secret door. Behind the room laid a room of coffins and even though they tried, the Damned moved a bit loudly through the area. Kachuun and Vai’len moved slightly ahead of the group, scouting. Past the coffins were a couple more rooms but Emil could sense that they were not near their target. He had begun concentrating on finding the sickle Abbot Grosso had been wielding, hoping that the cleric didn’t drop it. Moving quietly yet quickly they moved through the area. A statue, which looked like a cleric of Tsathung wearing a small diadem across the forehead, indicated that this area was for the graves of the lower priesthood. The room had a path heading north but as Emil could feel like they were still too far above the sickle, they chose to move down the stairs.
The stairs brought them deeper than they needed to be but before they left they quickly scouted the area. Another statue indicated that this area held the graves of the upper priesthood. Not wanting to waste any time in exploring the area, knowing that there was a green slime ready to drop on any poor unobservant adventurer, they move back up the stairs and take the path that they could see footsteps through. After heading through another area with coffins, they find that the footsteps stop at an open pit trap that dropped into a pool of water. Not knowing exactly what would be at the bottom of the hole, the Damned return to the surface to potentially find another way down to the Abbot.
