Tomb of Annihilation - Session 30
General Summary
Nera Blacktyde orders Asten Mitchar and his scouts to reconnoitre the Camp Forbearance perimeter, and sets Olena Krakova's squad to work on the beach removing the impaled bodies from their poles. Then she joins the adventurers in entering the camp through its shattered gates.
Three larger tents once stood in the centre of the camp, but two have collapsed into the mud, their canvas walls spattered with blood. Behind them are rows of smaller tents, while to the left is an animal pen containing eight dead goats. In the muck Chibuzo can make out three types of tracks: human footprints, serpent tracks similar to those they saw near Nanny Pu'pu's rune-covered tree, and a track that looks to have been made by an enormous snake.
Using the Sceptre of the Honored Voice, Dolan detects the presence of poison towards the rear of the camp. The group fans out to investigate. Suddenly a horn sounds from the jungle to the west, which Nera declares is an Azrinath battle horn. Then a sibilant voice roars out from the rear of the camp: "More blood for the Night Serpent!" A cobra-headed yuan-ti emerges from one of the tents, wearing blood-spattered leather armour and wielding a great two-handed sword. Accompanying it are two scaly, vaguely humanoid creatures, with elongated, clawed limbs and reptilian skulls, smelling of rotted flesh: yuan-ti broodguards. In each of the camp's two remaining watchtowers, a seemingly human archer appears.
The swordsman slashes Dolan twice, while one of the broodguard abominations claws him in the neck, then bites his arm. The sorcerer collapses under the flurry of poisonous attacks. Mokomoko tries but fails to stabilize him.
Summoning the wings of Nyemba's Might, Dunch flies to the top of the nearest watchtower and engages the archer, while Chibuzo and Nera battle the swordsman. Yollotl calls upon Bahamut's Fury and batters one of the broodguards with fists of flame. Ixtli grabs the unconscious Dolan, then uses the Cape of the Mountebank to teleport to the top of the other watchtower, biting the archer upon arrival. His cry of pain reveals a forked tongue. Dropping the bow, the yuan-ti draws a scimitar, slashing Ixtli before the Anasazi stuns him momentarily with a kick. The monk then uses his Hand of Healing on Dolan, restoring the sorcerer to consciousness.
After being struck by Dunch's maul, the other archer tries to escape by vaulting over the side of the watchtower, but the half-orc cuts him down as he flees. Scanning the surrounding area, he sees Olena's squad moving from the beach towards the location where the horn sounded. Flying back down, he attacks the uninjured broodguard, while Mokomoko spears its burned companion in the neck, killing it.
The collapsed tent next to Chibuzo suddenly erupts in a shower of gravel and mud. A giant serpentine figure of earth and stone emerges from underground and wraps itself around the ranger, but Chibuzo frees himself before he can be crushed in the earth elemental's grip.
Yollotl, Nera, and Dunch exchange blows with the broodguard and swordsman. Dunch strikes the broodguard with a killing blow, but hears something familiar in its death cry—it reminds him of Nobanzi, one of the porters kidnapped by Nanny Pu'pu.
Atop the watchtower, Ixtli spears the archer twice, then snaps his neck with a kick that sends the corpse over the side. Dolan heals himself, then fires a lightning bolt into the earth elemental and the swordsman below. Dunch is grazed by the bolt but Nyemba's Might protects him from most of the damage. While Nera joins Chibuzo in battling the elemental, a second stone snake bursts from the earth next to the watchtower, which totters and then collapses; Ixtli jumps clear and lands on his feet, but Dolan strikes the ground hard.
Using his Ring of Earth Elemental Command, Ixtli charms the second elemental, commanding it to attack the first. It vanishes back into the ground, then emerges next to the other and smashes into it.
The swordsman launches one blow after another at Yollotl, but each time the lizardman casually deflects the blade, occasionally punching the yuan-ti in the face for good measure. Mokomoko and Dunch join the attack with spear and maul, with Dunch adding from time to time a bolt of electricity from the stormy aura that surrounds his armour. The swordsman is faltering when a figure appears through the gap in the palisade wall to the north, with the head and upper body of a human woman and the lower body of a snake. Her eyes glow green as she casts a bolt of light on the swordsman, and he drops dead to the ground. Her cold gaze passes from one adventurer to the other, pausing at the sight of Dolan. "If you seek to slay Ras Nsi and his sycophant Rashaad," she pronounces, "you would do well to listen to what I have to say."
Meanwhile Dolan casts Haste on Ixtli, who joins Nera and Chibuzo in their battle against the first elemental. Chibuzo climbs on top of it, but then it melts into the earth and re-emerges behind Ixtli, who dodges its attack with his unnatural speed. Nera and Chibuzo continue to chip away at it, before Dunch uses the wings of Nyemba's Might to land on its back, bringing down the Maul of Disruption in two mighty blows. The elemental abruptly loses its form and dissolves into a mound of dirt and rubble. Ixtli then commands the second elemental to return whence it came, and it too disappears into the earth.
In the aftermath, Dunch flies off to the west to investigate the blowing horn, while the still-hasted Ixtli runs swiftly out of the camp gate and heads in the same direction. Meanwhile Nera moves to attack the yuan-ti woman, ignoring Chibuzo's attempts to dissuade her. "This monster killed my companions," she says. "She dies." When Chibuzo stands in the paladin's way, she shoves him to the ground and raises her sword, but somehow cannot bring down the blade. Dolan perceives that the woman is protected by a Sanctuary spell, and tells the others. Frustrated, Nera declares, "I'm going to check on my people. If she's still alive when I come back, we will make sure she dies." Then she storms off towards the camp gate.
The yuan-ti woman introduces herself as Sisava, a loyal servant of Speaker Fenthaza, who has come to enlist their strength to put an end to Ras Nsi. When Chibuzo asks why, Sisava replies that he is a usurper. In the past, Ras Nsi made many promises to their leader Talash. Talash believed him, and helped him become yuan-ti, but then Ras Nsi killed him. "I have a proposition to make," Sisava tells them, then looks at Dolan: "but not while you are here. Ras Nsi is watching you constantly." Chibuzo suggests they speak outside the camp, and she agrees: "you appear to be the ruler of this lot."
They move out of the shattered palisade and Sisava relates her proposal. Ras Nsi has ordered Rashaad to prevent them from reaching Omu, she says, but she has a secret way to get them into the city—provided that they protect themselves from Ras Nsi's scrying. A couple of days travel to the southeast along the coast are the ruins of Shilku, a city destroyed by lava. Past the ruins are the gardens of Nangalore, where stands a rune-covered tree similar to the one that stood near Mbala. She can use that to take them to Omu.
"If we defeat Ras Nsi, what will you do?" Chibuzo asks.
"Fenthaza has told the faithful that we will return to our original home, Hisari," Sisava answers. "I will wait for you at the tree for three days, and then return to Omu on my own if necessary." She turns and slithers into the jungle.
As he waits for Chibuzo's return, Dolan searches the yuan-ti corpses. The gear they carry is of high quality, and adorned with ornate snake motifs, but not magical in nature. However he detects magic from underneath the collapsed central tent. Investigating, he finds a trapdoor in the wooden floor of what appears to have been the command tent. A locked chest sits underneath; after dissolving the lock with a splash of acid, Dolan finds three long crystals, glowing with their own light, which he pockets.
Meanwhile, in a clearing in the jungle, Ixtli and Chibuzo find the templars from Masked Fortune accompanied by half a dozen others in templar garb, in the middle of a field of yuan-ti and templar corpses. Asten and Olena quickly assure their fellows that the hasted lizardman and the flying half-orc are allies. One of the new templars, Sister Cyas, explains that they are the only survivors from the snakemen attack on the camp a few days ago. On seeing the Masked Fortune, they wanted to warn the ship, but were attacked by yuan-ti still lurking in the jungle. After collecting their dead, the group returns to the camp, meeting Nera on the way.
When they make it back, Chibuzo tells Nera that the snake woman is gone. "Did you let her leave?" Nera demands. "I can't speak of it," Chibuzo replies, "Rashaad is always watching." The templar walks away in exasperation, while Chibuzo asks Dolan to attune to his Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location.
As they recover from the battle, the adventurers make it a point to examine the disturbing broodguard corpses: once-human bodies that have been transformed by horrifying magic. They conclude that one was indeed Nobanzi, but don't recognize the other. Chibuzo's mood darkens considerably.
Dolan finds a quiet spot to commune with Saja N'baza. After a time, he hears her: "What do you need, my Voice?" Dolan explains that he is being watched by Ras Nsi, and will need to shield himself from the sha'ir. "Do what needs to be done," the naga tells him, "but know that while you wear the amulet, I cannot speak to you."
Dolan relates their encounter with Sisava. "Do not trust the yuan-ti," Saja N'baza counsels. "They are treacherous." She tells him that Fenthaza killed her mate, Ukurlahmu; "they will kill you once your usefulness has ended." "Then we will kill her once her usefulness has ended," Dolan replies. "Very wise, my Voice," answers the Oracle. She gives Dolan a final piece of advice before their communion ends: "Remind Chibuzo not to be so trusting. He has a kind heart, but it gets him in trouble."
After Dolan has attuned to the amulet, the adventurers confer, and Chibuzo tells them of Sisava's offer. After much discussion, they conclude that Sisava is not trustworthy, and that it is too risky to involve themselves in yuan-ti politics. Better to travel to Omu under their own power and direction.
Nera approaches them afterwards: what is the plan? The situation has changed, Dunch tells her, and he intends to send the ship back to Port Nyanzaru. Does Nera want to go back, or stay here, or come with them to Omu?
Nera hesitates. She has learned from Cyas that they were expecting a ship from Asturia sometime in the next few weeks to take them home. For her part, she believes that a ship will indeed come—but when? She would defer to the judgment of the High Templar who led the camp, but he is dead, and now she is responsible for the soldiers' lives. The power of the yuan-ti is clear from their attack on the camp. If she sent her troops to accompany the adventurers to Omu, would they be of help? Or would she just be sending them to their deaths?
They could use help scouting the path to Omu, the adventurers respond, and any intelligence on the journey and the city that the soldiers brought back could help lay the groundwork for future expeditions by the Ministry. But given that Rashaad and his forces will be actively opposing their journey, Dunch suggests only sending volunteers—if any are willing.
Nera agrees to ask. "I think the Ministry can still help, but we need a more dedicated force to attack a problem like this." She promises to speak to High Templar Whitehill back in Port Nyanzaru, and see about sending messages back to Asturia. But she has no idea how long it might take for a larger force to arrive.
Before she goes to speak to her troops, Chibuzo stops her: "If I see that woman again, I will make good on your wish." After a moment's pause, Nera responds simply, "I believe you."
An hour passes before Nera returns. None of the templars have stepped forward; they believe in the cause, but don't see a good end from joining the expedition. For his part, Dunch is happy that there will be troops on the Masked Fortune for its return journey; the Stirge is still out there.
The adventurers ask Mokomoko what he wants to do. The warrior is genuinely torn. He wanted to be with them to the end, but the battles keep getting more intense, and as a fighter, he isn't of the same quality as someone like Nera. And—Rashaad knows him, and could use him to scry on the party. "I think I should go," he concludes.
"You've been a strong ally," Chibuzo tells him. "I'm happy to call you my friend." He gives Mokomoko Zaroum's bejewelled vest as a parting gift.
"A last game of anuli before I go?" Mokomoko asks.
"Agreed," Chibuzo answers.
Dunch gives his final instructions to first mate Yoral and the crew of the Masked Fortune: take everything they can from the Dragonfang, including a sail as proof that they captured the vessel. He also gives them Zaroum's sabre to take back, and tells them not to mess with Aremag but to throw half the loot in the water as the dragon turtle's tribute.
Over the remainder of the day, the belongings and supplies of the five travelling to Omu are brought ashore, the remaining cargo of the Dragonfang is moved to the Masked Fortune, and the empty pirate ship is beached on the shore. The templars perform the Sending ritual for their dead. Afterwards, Nera carves a new name for the camp on a piece of wood, and nails it to a post: Camp Vengeance.
As night falls, the scouts hunt fresh game, and the crew and templars gather around bonfires to eat. The sergeants and other templars who came to know the adventurers bid their farewells. Sister Cyas also stops by with some advice: when they make their way through the mountain pass to the lava fields, they should stay on the east side, and move as stealthily as possible. A mine in the pass is home to a young red dragon. She and her fellows drove it away once, at the cost of many men, but it has since come back, and they lacked the strength to drive it away again.
