The Mouth of Doom: Session 2
General Summary
Upon the River
The morning of the third of Zhira is wet and chilly, yet the group rested from their previous day’s battle and their trek through the Forest of Hope. As the group prepared for more travel through the dangerous and beautiful forest, Arddan, their Wrenjer guide to Zelkor’s Ferry, started to act unusually odd. The Crown brought out a cloth wrapped, handled, long pointed piece of solid obsidian and layed in on the ground. The bladelike obsidian looked to be a naturally occurring shape and Arddan just watched. Some of the assembled adventures seemed to be interested in the oddity that their guide produced, while some were still shaking off the morning slumber.
A dark mist, unlike the Brume, started to pour out of the weapon, enveloping a small area and taking a humanoid form. Arddan reassured his companions that the mist was just a unique friend trying to recoalest. The process seemed to last longer than what some of the party members would expect certain spells would last and without the smells of what the black mist would indicate. Instead of the smell of fire or wood burning the mist smelled more of volcanic activity, much like earth burning and rock and stones. Eventually, a rather beautiful red headed Aasimar with amber eyes in antiquated but ornate leather armor formed from the mist.
Arddan’s friend seemed to take some time adjusting to their surroundings before asking him “How long has it been?” instead of “Where am I?” as if this process has happened many times. Ansible had been in the weapon a very long time. They were a ready Wrenjer of old and had been gone for nearly 150 years. Sipping on some tea, Ansible was able to gain some composure as they were clearly “Brume-lagged.” Arddan explained that Ansible’s gift was handed to him by Vykdramir because of their skills with the Ley lines of Myzelis and with navigating the Underdark both location and with the politics. Vykdramir had thought that their transition back to Myzelis might be better out in the world and the mission that group was on would be a great way to distract the warlock. The mission was a clandestine one with a sensitive matter and if it is just a rumor they are to let the rumor die but research further if it happens to be something else.
About mid morning the group was ready to leave their campsite along the Canyon River. Clambering into the single boat with Rain, their Firbolg Ranger, taking point on the river travel, the party find their seats. Zetwuzadi assists the trained sailor in rowing the two massive oars. The river travel is a relatively pleasant one, even with the downpour, as the boat was filled with song. Water from the excess rain starts to fill the boat but the group works together to slowly empty the small wooden vessel. The rain breaks midday; however, the fog still lingers. As they travel through the Forest of Hope along the Canyon River, the group notices how nature has been unchallenged here and that nature is full and fearless. The river is full of fish and Uzadi offers to fish for the group; sparking a small fishing minigame. Rain manages to catch the largest fish using her natural skills while various other sizes of fish were caught. Just past midday the group returns to shore so they can prepare the fish they caught and to also take a break.
They find a nice calm area to pull the boat into and further up onto the shore. Rain starts to roast some of the fish over a small campfire. Next to their resting spot is a roughly trodden path with a small rope bridge over a creek. The party rests in various states, watching the location or eating the delicious fish. Off the side, Rain notices a small murder of crows. Coaxing them to her with some of the fish, many of the crows come over and land on her. It’s bizarre, the crows are a little brazen and not scared of the group at all. Even Arddan, the well traveled Wrenjer, marveled at how the crows were acting. Ambrose turns into a black feathered Kenku and a crow lands on them.
Ferric, the group's warforged druid, noticed a creature across the trodden path up against a tree. The massive insect had barkline coloration and was blending into a tree waiting for a prey to passby. The insect was not a perfectly natural beast, but something created that had adapted well to the environment. Jalen downs the insect fairly easily. “It’s a shame it had to die” “Everything has it’s chance to live” various party members state their concerns with some of their companions' decisions to attack the unmoving beast. The bard does find a small gold coin with a hole in it on the beast. They decide to investigate where the insect has come from and decide to move as a group across the rope bridge.
The bridge looks like it has been in the weather for a very long time with little upkeep but supports the party as they traverse across it and back when they find the cave the insect could possibly have come from. They had decided to find the burrow of the beast because they knew that fighting more of those creatures on the river would be a terrible idea. All of them climb down a rope to the cave located in the cliffside above the creek. Arddan’s swords give off enough light in the dark and damp cave to allow the group to travel through the twisting cave without much trouble. They stealthy trek their way through the cave and stumble upon a wide open cavern where the Stirges were resting upon the ceiling. The cave itself looks like an old campsite with a number of desiccated corpses scattered across the area. The fallen must have succumbed to the creatures. Using the cave to their advantage, the group readies themselves for the battle ahead.
Report Date
17 Oct 2020
Primary Location
