Session 9 Recap - The Mournlands

No Shadows Without Light

Our heroes landed on a remote area of the moon Valtorum and hiked their way to the mouth of a cave in the shape of a massive skull. While scouting, they found a group of metal creatures performing some type of ritual on one of their own. Our heroes watched as a strange green orb lifted out of a clay jar and into an unmoving metal body that lay upon an altar. As the orb connected, the metal creature sprang to life thus completing the ritual. The metal creatures retreated back into the mountain and our heroes quietly followed them inside. There they found a massive cave system with buildings carved into the walls.

Moving through the cave system they quickly found more of the metal creatures they first encountered at the mouth of the skull. Up close these creatures were terrifyingly fast despite looking like they wore full plate armor and massive great axes. The creatures spoke in a language our heroes did not understand but had heard in the streets of Bral many times...they were speaking orcish.

The Library of Wonders

After encountering several of these metal creatures Luna could hear screams coming from one of the stone buildings prompting them to investigate. Inside they found one of the metal creatures torturing another which our heroes quickly put to a stop. They found out this creature could speak common and called himself "Anvil". Anvil said he was looking for an artifact called the "Eye of Gond" but admitted that he was far outside his abilities to search for it on his own. Our heroes asked him if he knew where an artifact called "The Heart of Valtorum" may be, but Anvil did not recognize the name. They decided to strike up a deal that the heroes would look for the Eye of Gond while he researched any information on the "The Heart" back at his temple called "The Library of Wonders".

Didn't We Just Pass This Rock?

After departing ways with Anvil, our heroes found a secret cave system that ran underneath the stone buildings they were previously exploring. Deciding to follow it further, they eventually came to a break in the cave ceiling prompting them to peak above. There they found an entrance to a large river that appeared to slowly flow to the south. Our heroes decided to climb back down into the secret cave and continue following it north before finding a large opening.

Communication Breakdown

As the cave system opened up into a larger room Luna spotted movement to the left prompting them to investigate. As Chk-Chk stealthed closer he found another metal creature darting back and forth between an area with multiple makeshift tents. The Thri-kreen decided to try and connect telepathically with the creature which was successful...for a short time. They found out the creatures called themselves Orkenforge and he was named Uraak-Kraig. This creature pressed Chk-Chk further on why our heroes were "trespassing" but they were not forthcoming with a good reason prompting Uraak-Kraig to cast some sort of spell. After seeing the arcane runes be cast Luna reacted and a fight ensued ending in Uraak-Kraig's death.
Will our heroes be able to locate the Heart of Valtorum to stop the Modron? What kind of horrors are waiting for them below the moon's surface? Find out next time on...