Session 2
General Summary
The group set out into the eastern lands once more, unsure of what they would find. Tor was
unwell and so remained behind with the elves until he was better. They skirted the southern edge
of the great lake, fed from the towering Shikoku mountains whose tops could just be seen in the
distance. After a day the mountains seemed no closer but they had reached the edge of the Brown
Grounds, a massive stretch of peat bog that led right up to the mountain edges. The next day they
headed into the bog as the lake shores curled away northwards out of sight. Around lunchtime
they spotted some hungry looking wolves and tried to avoid them but the wolves had their scent.
A hail of deadly missile fire all but finished off the canines before they had even reached our
heroes. By end of day they estimated they were about 1 third of the way through the bog - it was
slow going in this mire. About lunchtime the next day they spotted two Orc sentries. Excellent
work by Kai and Traubon, with backup fire from Flek meant that the two orcs were dispatched
before being able to make a sound, and the orcs in the dell nearby were quietly dispatched. The
orcs had captured a couple of horses from the red army and the party let them loose. They headed
onwards and a day later reached the edge of the bog and the foot hills of the eastern mountains.
They had seen nothing of the tomb. They decided to follow the mountain edge south eastwards,
using the higher ground as vantage to see over the Brown Grounds.
That night they were camped when Traubon, alert as ever, hear a sound nearby. He went out to
investigate and stumbled into a line of orcs with bows drawn. He shouted a warning to the camp
as they let fly. He was struck by a few and found the very strength was sapped from his bones.
Poison! he called a feeble shout to the camp and tried to retreat. Fortunately he had given enough
of a warning and the party were into action. 6 orcs are no match for our heroes and they drop 5
within seconds. The 6th flees into the darkness.
On these orcs they found a note ordering them to hunt for food. It was signed by one called
Yventhu. The Dwarf was very poorly from the effects of the poison. Fortuna examined him and
declared it would take close on a fortnight for him to recover. So she valiantly lifted the Dwarf up
and sat him on Blade's back with her. Blade was strong and proud and did not appear in the
slightest concerned by the extra weight. The party headed on south east. The next day they came
across a quarry cut into the mountains. Approaching they saw the place to be guarded by large
humanoid creatures, cross breeds between orcs and ogres - ogrillons. Kai went and spoke to them
as the group realized these people would probably know where the tomb was located. The took
him up to the fortress of Yventhu - a cave cut high into the quarry wall. Yventhu demanded
payment for the death of his orcs and Kai did a deal with him. He said he would take the leader or
his champion on in a weaponless duel. The if Kai won the debt would be paid. If he lost, it would
be doubled. After some consideration, Yventhu agreed. He went inside his cave and returned with
his champion: a viper. Kai recognized the viper as a deadly poisonous one and had to consider if
he wanted to risk his life for a mere 11 pieces of gold. He decided he did as it was a test of his
skill. Kai stepped up launched a powerful axe kick with a big kiai and stunned the snake. From
there two more quick kicks and the snake was battered into unconsciousness. Kai had won easily
due to his great skill. Yventhu was impressed and agreed to cancel the debt. He then proceeded to
sell the party an iron key that he said opened the tomb, and a guide, a half Orc called Wuhlap. It
turned out that Wuhlap had been a prisoner of the ogrillons' leader but he did know his way to the
tomb.
The party travelled on through the peat bog until they reached a small range of hills that Wuhlap
called the Knuckles. Here they experienced many strange sights and sounds that Wuhlap
explained were the hauntings of the dead lorai - the barbarians who once roamed this land. He did
lead them straight to the barrow though - a huge edifice some 70' high and about 300' across. It
was surrounded by a circle of 60 standing stones, carved from solid granite. Search the site they
found what must have once been a lintel but now was full of earth. They started to dig. In fact they
spent the rest of that day digging.
That night they encountered and slew two ogres, attracted by the camp fire. The next day they
continued to dig and eventually uncovered a huge stone door. They searched for a key hole or
opening mechanism but could find none. With the help of the magnificent Blade they managed to
push the old door open. The corridor beyond was stale and damp, smelling musty. They entered in
and begun to search the barrow. They found a collection of tunnels and rooms and encountered
many strange creatures and traps - a collapsing ceiling that nearly buried them alive; 4 small earth
elemental creatures; a statue which when pushed over smashed to reveal a very strange creature
with many eyes and mouths that confused and blinded the group and started to suck the life blood
out of Traubon before Flek killed it with 3 well placed arrows; 4 shadows that seemed to haunt the
same room and an array of 12 severed hands that grasped and clawed and tried to strangle our
heroes. At this stage, Blade telepathically called to Fortuna to say a horse was approaching so they
hurried outside to find Tor arriving. He had been ill and delayed at Eldaran but had just arrived.
Report Date
10 Apr 2024
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