Escape from the Lost City

 12th of Reaping, High Summer

Location: The Lost City of Herodia

The heroes of the RedWater Fellowship still breathe heavily recovering from the battle with the followers of Orcus. Graxxuzazz still lays in a coma, Tibaltuous talks to his newly acquired sentient sword. Deciding to look for treasure in the surrounding caves and rooms, the adventurers see a cavern to the Northeast that is filled with webs. 

Discussion on resting and Thogra mentioned calling on his god - SET - but that would take some type of payment - not monetary. The party - with that in mind - explore to find a safe place to rest. There is a cavern to the Northeast but it is filled with think webs. Various pieces of discarded gear, old boots, broken sword can be noted as Doc explores, torch held high. Glittering eyes.. many of them.. look down from the webs. Large spiders scuttle about on the webs that fill the cavern to ceiling height 30'-40' up. The party makes ready weapons and then with a blast of Doc's musket engage the spiders.

Burning webs and launching missile weapons, the Fellowship attack. 

Doc calls the power of the Raven Queen to bless the party, which helps all with their attacks and dodging the webs being slung down by the giant spiders.

Gothi fires her bow hitting multiple spiders and taking one out. 

Tibaltuous - with Sir Lawrence in hand - steps forward with Doc. As a spider spins a web down and engages. Tibaltuous swings high putting the blade deep in the bloated body of the hairy spider.

Doc flaming sword in one hand and pistol in the other, fires and swings.

The spiders scuttling about the webs put up a valiant fight but the conclusion is foregone. All the spiders dead and looting taking place. 

Various bodies bundled up in webs, mostly near husks, their fluids drained by the spiders. Gnolls, lizardfolk and human remains found so far. Golden goblet, a baby's cradle [fine wood], various coinage, silver edged longsword and scroll, as well as a finely crafted staff. Later on Graxxuzazz is able to identify it. Cugel's Staff of Spellstoring.

The cavern ends and waves of evil still emanate from the statue of ORCUS, not far away. The party decide to head back to the room they shared with the lizardfolk. As they head towards the long stairs, the drumming starts again, coming from passageways to the South.

The party, try to ignore the continual drumming and with torch held high, head up the stairs.

Kantif the rogue/monk in front carefully moving forward, Tibaltuous carrying the portly - but athletic - Graxxuzazz, then Doc and Thogra carrying the portable ballista [used by the gnolls in the last battle] and Gothi with Morsel [her cavebear] bringing up the rear. The ranger keeps a keen eye behind them to ensure no ones comes upon them unnoticed.

Kantif peers around the corner and hears and then sees two gnolls chatting and yipping softly [laughter it seems]. The rogue/monk watches for a while and then one gnoll moves off and there now is only one gnoll. The party prepares, 1st step will be to cast Silence 15. radius and then attack in the quiet. The gnolls are cut down after they lobbed flaming bottles of oil at the party.

It does not appear any more enemies are nearby. Gothi and Kantif explore the previous area the party rested in [DM #5], and it appears the area has not been entered into. Fortunately for the party, Graxxuzazz is able to recover from his coma and wakes up [DM: rolling % he rolls a 6 and it was 6 minutes later comes out of his coma]. The party inform the lizardfolk sorcerer of the past events.

Graxxuzazz feels it is like Deja-vu. 

Everyone is asleep, no one appears to be on guard. The sorcerer then remembers.. where he has been..

Graxxuzazz had dreamed deeply..

He is in a vast court, pillars of skulls hold up a giant rib-caged ceiling, blood drips from the giant ribs, a

presence fills the far end in darkness, then the glimmering light of Elyssius god of the lizardfolk.. but.. something is wrong. What appears lying before a large fat goat headed demon.. Orcus, the god looks to his prophet calling out, "Why did you fail me, my Prophet!" and gasps one last time as a giant blade swings down at his neck with a spray of blood..

Gothi dreams of the foretelling of Pyra..

A figure stalks her prey through the forest. The environment changes as the two are now in the vast colossus F.ERA. Gothi looks around and feels again at home, family and content. The figure stalking the foreclaimer reaches down and raises a crossbow, the bolt dripping blood. She cries out in anguish as she fires the bolt catching Gothi in the neck, blood sprays as Gothi turns to see Pyra there, crossbow in hand on knees unbelieving and crying..

Doc dreams.. 

Waking up to see the vast entrance to the lands of the dead, a wide river

on one side a road of skulls on the other, Doc in a small boat nears the vast gates.. He sees the masked porcelain face of the Raven Queen. His heart swells in pride devotion and more for his goddess. She reaches out to Her Paladin and then.. pauses and turns away, disappearing into the gate as the giant doors close with a thundering clang.  Doc cries out, falling to his knees, nearly tipping the boat over seeing his visage in the river, a bloody skull, armour and weapons all dripping rivulets of blood. He was an undead Anti-Paladin.

Tibaltuous dreams..

On stage about to do to be lifetime performance for the CUBE, all the crowd prostrate and worshipping the CUBE, they turn to hear the bard's speech  and all aghast and afraid as he gurgles and coughs and gags. Tibaltuous cannot speak, he has no jaw, only a bloody tongue hanging dripping blood..

Kantif dreams..

Is on a mission against elvish allies of the BlackRunes. With deft skill and speed he follows his target - an elf -  through the streets of the town of FAX,  finally the figure goes down an alley

and Kantif knows this is the last chance to strike. He pounces his blade driving deep in the back and through heart and out of chest. The assassin's grin of satisfaction turns as gasping in sudden pain he looks down to see the blade protruding from his own chest, a chuckle behind and he sees his father's elvish face with a leer and grin, then Kantif choking on blood..

Everyone wakes up at the same time gasping and calling out covering in sweat. [DM: all have one level of exhaustion] The brazier of blood sits there, the blood in the device swirling slightly. The trail of blood entering and exiting the room from previously as the bard had been carrying on his back. The party hear a faint laughter as the dreams fade..

The party decide it must be destroyed and discuss ways to do this. Graxxuzazz recalls it was near artifact level so it will be very difficult to destroy. Coming upon a final option, the party decide to toss the artifact into the crevice to the South.

Looking about, Kantif hears the chittering and squeaks of the bats in the area.

He takes it there, blood sloshing around and looks into the dark. The rogue/monk as he hurls the artifact into the gloom. With a clatter, banging and more, it falls from sight the echoing clangs of the brazier banging into walls continuing for some time.. until.. silence.

The drumming echoes up from below and from the light across to the southwest. A number of bats flutter around at the disturbance.

IUZ's Brazier of Blood is thrown away. The party feel better.. seems the artifact had definite effects on the party. All are still exhausted though. The party decide to take a short rest.

Kantif and Tibaltuous stand watch as the party rests after Kantif reactivates the pit trap by the door.

The Fellowship are able to finish a short rest, only the slowly dwindling sounds of the bats in the Southern hall and room could be heard. The drumming throb had not started back up again, which was.. troubling.

Gathering their gear and the small ballista, the party exited the room and headed South carefully and quietly so as not to disturb the bats. A few fluttered around, but not many.

The party come up the stairs out of the dark and into a strange view. There is a red haze to the North all along the horizon from the sun. Then the party smells smoke. The party realize they started two fires previously and these have become a raging forest fire, smoke clouding the sky as far as the eyes can see.

Gothi, ranger, thinks the fireball that hit the gnoll camp potentially started a raging forest fire to the North with the amount of time that has passed.

The adventurers decide to move North towards the forest fires, to rejoin up with their wagon and Lars.

Moving as quickly as their exhausted bodies could move, they travelled the old ruined road North.

The Fellowship struggled under the weight of the small ballista, but persevered and moved on, knowing they left Lars and the CUBE possibly in a dangerous situation now with the forest fires.

Early evening, and the party are sweating under the gear and load of loot taken from the Lost city. Coughing every once in a while as billows of smoke drift past, they trek up the old ruined road. Passing the gnoll outpost, all the trees in the area are burned and black. Then Gothi hears it, even as Morsel's ears raise and the bear growls. gnollish yips and barks, then a whump of what the party knows is a fireball going off. The adventurers, drop their loot and equipment and race ahead. Coming over a bluff they look down into a burning battle.

At a crossroads, the Fellowship's wagon is stopped at a tree fell over the road. Lars - the vampire boy - is crouched holding on to the reigns of the rearing horses attached. One horse is already dead, multiple arrows protruding from the body. The other three are neighing and trying to break free from harness. At various vantage points gnolls with great bows can be seen, shooting at Lars now. A burning tree and screaming gnoll falling from it show where Lars assumedly cast a fireball to detonate.

The whole area is covered in drifting smoke from the forest fire. A dead bugbear lies at one side of the wagon, a casualty of the vampire boy's defense no doubt.

The party make ready and leap into the fray!

Graxxuzazz goes first, [DM: a rare thing]. Casting scorching ray and pumping hos natural sorcerer ability into it to increase the rays and range. The smoke makes it difficult, but the rays of fire cut into the gnolls. 

A massive 20' long red and black centipede bursts out of the ground and moves forward towards the horses. A number of gnollish archers duck out of sight at the surprise
attacks by the sorcerer. Lars is hit by an arrow and it looks to hurt the boy. Kantif leaps forward off the bluff, using his monkish abilities to parkour down and race forward. Yelling up how to assist, Lars, calls back "kill that giant monster centipede!" The monk/rogue fires his hand crossbow but the bolt. But with the smoke the bolt hits a tree near the giant inset. Doc teleports down and races forward to also support Lars and the wagon. Firing his pistol but the bullet bounces off the exoskeleton of the scuttling insect. Firing again, this time the crack of the shot echoes around the area and the bullet hits.

Tibaltuous peers into he smoke and dawns his mantle of inspiration - to give some of the party a reactive move and temporary hit points.

Using the extra move, the bard casts heat metal on one of the gnolls and it starts to screech in pain as the metal smokes.

Gothi draws her bow and looses an arrow after marking the centipede. Slipping slightly she drops the bow and then is able to retrieve it.

With a curse, Gothi sends Morsel forward. The cavebear grows and roars in glee leaping into battle.

The battle continues, with gnolls going down and the centipede killing a horse. One gnoll throws a flaming oil flask at the wagon and catches that and some of the party on fire.

A lizardfolk leader appeasing to be a spellcaster of some type invokes

and billowing yellow cloud of caustic smoke on Lars, Tibaltuous and Kantif. All three are affected by the acidic vapours and cough and gag.

The centipede goes down and the gnolls are vanquished. The lizard humanoid seeing his companions dead or dying, decides to retreat into the smoke.

The party more tired and injured release the dead horse and with two horses now, discuss quickly the best route. Lars advises going back north to the main road, is nigh impossible. 

The wagon fortunately being made mostly of metal the Fellowship is able to get the fire put out quickly. Gothi ponders a way to come up with a magical spell to create water seeing all the forest on fire around.

With some of the party on the wagon and some walking, the Fellowship decide to head south skirting the Lost city of Herodia and are on their way towards their next goal, to reclaim their flying tower!

Map of area:

The RedWater Fellowship & BETA crew

 Update on the heroes of the Fellowship and BETA crew.

The Redwater Fellowship

Gothi [Foreclaimer - Ranger/Monster Hunter | Hermit]

Pets: 

JawBone [Landshark]

Morsel [CaveBear]

Chuckroll [Griffon]

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Doctor Sigmund Holliday [Half-orc - Gunslinger/Fighter/Paladin | Doctor]

Familiar: raven of the Raven Queen

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Graxxuzazz [Lizardfolk - Sorcerer/Divine Soul | Ringleader/Prophet(?)]

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Kantif Kaleer [Half elf - ShadowMonk/Rogue | Charlatan]

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Tibaltuous [Half elf - Glamor Bard/Fighter/Rogue/swashbuckler | Bounty hunter]

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Allies:

Thogra [Half orc - Priest/rogue of SET]

Undead follower: Fluffy [skeletal hydra]

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Lars [Human/Vampire spawn - mage/rogue | undead]

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BETA Crew:

Vencer Asterio [Human - Wizard/Portal Mage | Court wizard]

Familiar: Owl

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Pyra [Tiefling - Rogue/Assassin | Merchant]

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Irakul [Goliath - Echo Knight/Fighter | Haunted One]

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Valoran [Wood Elf - Ranger/Fighter | Archaeologist]

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Faust [War-forged - Fallen Warlock | Sage]

Familiar: Mephisto - Imp

NPCs @ Dragonkeep:

Former players

Skrit [Kobold priest of Istus]

Obaz [Firbolg druid]

Cedric [Human paladin]

Dragonkeep Status update

1. Gate and keep rebuilt - 100%

2. New tower built - 100%

3. Recovering farmlands for food - 2 fields ploughed and planted. 3rd will be ready for next Spring

4. Roundtower [with 2 cannons] - at 75% [fixing mechanism to rotate tower is still an issue]

5. Walls at 90% [all walls along main road and grasslands: complete, walls along river nearing completion]

6. 3 mine entrances are now open - two being explored by Pyra and her crew. Small amount of silver being mined and refined.

7. Fighters stronghold - 90%

8. The mist is cleared from the large crater. Irakul and then Cedric has worked to turn the crater into an arena for use by the town, with stands, seats and more. Also for training the militia. [60%]

Sending spells cast to contact Skrit at the town of Dragonkeep for the large update:

• Valloran and the monks from the 3 Crescent moon monastery are scouting - expected to return in a few days
• Two BlackRune deserters. interrogated - from one is an elf with musketeer regiment, other is a human sailor from a BR corsair ship sunk at Wayberry.
• Pyra is excavating and exploring the mines. Her crew now is 20 kobolds working in the mines.
• Irakul - and his lawyer - and the Shadow Lantern are still missing.
• Faust is no longer in withdrawals from the Shadow lantern researching some books that Pyra found - building library. At former inn - now BETA crew's resident.
• Vencer is completing researching new spell and building a lab for research. [80% on spell | 30% on lab]
• Cedric the paladin continues training the recruits - organizing militia.
• Obaz completed crops and a aqua system from river. Spending more time in wilderness to West
• Skrit continues to oversee rebuilding of town and fighter's guild primarily.
• Sir Raknell - fallen Paladin of St. Cuthbert - [former Marshall Drogarr] still has not returned as of yet from his quest to regain paladinhood

Townsfolk:

Total refugees -> townsfolk:

Variety of professions and skills but notable below. [most have taken up various residences/buildings in town]

Shopkeepers [38]

innkeeper [and family - 10]

general store [and family - 6]

undertaker

fortune teller

leatherworker [and family - 4]

Tailor / Washerwoman [and family - 3]

Librarian

Brewer (ale and mead) [Family 6]

2 blacksmiths

4 merchants [3 with ties to Wayberry and 1 to Rastor]

Farmers [60]

Farmers [18 families number: 73 total. 60 are working age, the rest are children]

Injured/unknown or have not advised of an profession, skill or capability: 27

[Living in tent town area]

 

Militia [56]

Green: [23] no assigned skills yet

Standard: [6] no assigned skills yet

Pikemen [standard - 8]

Archers [standard - 17]

Sergeant (VET): 2

 

 Rumours:

ol'Greeta [https://sleet-dnd2.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-wagon-trundles-down-path-north.html] shows up at the town selling seeds [these are expensive] herbs, spices & the strange fruit ["Tulsanri" - addictive to kobolds]. Trading her wares for a donkey, she tells of two sightings she had in mountains to West:

1. strange glowing multi-coloured lights around an old mine entrance [supposedly long cleared out] 2 days ride to the West

2. A caravan of grey skinned dwarves - with full beards - was seen going up a zig-zag trail in the Lortmill mountains South of Dragonkeep. Probably 3 days ride.

Separately:

• A rumour that Rastor - city North of mountains has tried to rebel against IUZ, but the demonic forces and mercenaries are crushing the rebels.
• Rumour of a group of refugees taken over one of the wayfarer lodges to mountain pass -> Enstad in Lortmill mountains. not sure if they are making this a permanent stay..

Inventory of supplies: Between weapons acquired by the Fellowship, BETA crew and various found and acquired, there are currently enough weapons and armour to arm all troops with majority in leather and studded leather. All are able to have weapons for their unit type. Quality is standard to poor. A variety of kobold weapons are available but these as all subpar

Food forecast: Between crops and various herds of sheep, cattle and such, food will be just enough for current population through to winter as long as crop growth continues as well as it has so far. Obaz has used his extensive skills in the is area with the 18 families of farmers to good effect.

Current nearby neighbors and allies:

• Stone giants [Good]
• Poet and kobolds at southern mine [excellent]
• Monks @ 3 crescent moon monastery [Good]
• Rastor [No contact - at this time, there is a merchant who seems to have contact[s] there] Wayberry [Good - Overlord Romack's forces]
• Other mines that may still have kobolds holed up in them [no contact]

Cultists in a Fallen Temple

 

11th of Reaping High Summer - In the Lost City of Herodia

Our heroes with Graxxuzazz as interpreter learn more of this underground temple and city. While the party rests, Meanwhile, Gothi leaves Lars [vampire boy[?] rogue/caster to watch over the party's wagon and CUBE, and is able to follow the party's trail easily due to the blood trail from the Brazier strapped to Tibaltuous' back. Following up on the pyre in the Northern section of the ruins, the ranger finds the recently killed two gnolls. Then continue to follow the blood trail down into the temple.

Easily able to avoid disturbing the many bats, she moves forward into the pillared hall. Looking into the chasm to the left, Gothi sees a glimmer of light in the distance and then hears voices ahead.

The ranger moves up to the door to the room and is able to jump back as the pit trap opens up. As Gothi jumps back the party opens the door ready for battle and once again together again.

The party discuss and decide to move forward avoiding patrols of gnolls if at all possible.

The Lizardfolk - led by Temiss - now believers that Graxxuzazz is the prophet of his god [new title for Graxx] invite the party to their area in the swamps to the South West. Terssa gives an amulet to Graxxuzazz, it holds some herbs and spices from the swamp in the small leather pouch.

The Sorcerer after discussion with the lizardfolk learns more that a group of lizard folk have joined with the gnolls, but he is not sure if the majority were renegades or Temiss' group are the renegades, too hard to read and Temiss was not offering more information in this area.

It was about 6pm in the evening and the party were all very tired. They had not really rested since the sanctuary [DM: BlogPost]. The decision was made to rest in this - what appeared to be a safe area. Watches were set and folks bedded down. Some of the party are still dealing with cursed damage - from the 'present' from IUZ and the BlackRunes healing slowly. Thumping drums can be heard or felt on occasion coming from somewhere far off.

A Sending is cast to contact Skrit at the town of Dragonkeep. No issues at this point. The fighters guild/keep is nearing completion, the two stone giant brothers are working hard on the walls and other defenses. Valloran and the monks from the 3 Crescent moon monastery are scouting and capture two BlackRune deserters. no doubt be interrogated. Pyra is excavating and exploring the mines. Ten new kobolds have joined the town and working in the mines. Irakul - and his lawyer - and the Shadow Lantern are still missing. Faust is no longer in withdrawals from the Shadow lantern researching some books that Pyra found. Vencer is researching new spell. Cedric the paladin is training the recruits. Obaz is working on the crops, and healing the lands form the destruction raped by the previous Dragon Marshall forces. Skrit continues to do wondrous engineering in the town. There is still no word from Lukann last heard from in the flying tower and was under attack..

On the morn of the 12th day of Reaping, High Summer, the party gear up, prepare weapons and to move out. The lizardfolk advise the group they will be leaving the complex but welcome the Fellowship to visit if they wish out in the swamps. Graxxuzazz is provided a detailed map on how to arrive at the lizardfolk village.

The party discuss the blood trail Tibaltuous is leaving as the Fellowship move forward. Some of the party want to get rid of, but the bard is stalwart and wants to keep it. Discussions then turn to how many enemies make up the ranks of the gnolls, dog people, and lizardfolk. 

As the party say goodbye to Temiss and his friends, Gothi feels a slight breeze from the back of the room. After some investigation, it appears there is an opening into a hallway. After further investigation,
the party are able to see out into the hall. At the South end is a gnoll standing at a doorway. Finally, creating a larger hole through, they realize - too late it is the back of a secret door that was plastered over.

Waiting, the party see the gnoll guard disappear, and the party scuttle out into the hallway and head north and then around the corner to see a steep staircase going down into darkness. Gripping weapons and using Tibaltuous' flaming sword for light, they head into the depths. The stairs go down for sometime, Gothi notes glimmering moss on the dank walls, a fetid smell at times.

The stair comes down into a large cavern illuminated in patches by the glimmering moss. To the East is worked stone pillars and a rampart with a set of stairs going up about 15 feet. and then darkness beyond. A  stream 5'-10' wide a foot or two deep flowing slowly from North to South.

Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz step forward boldly while the rest of the party move cautiously.

Suddenly a spear flies over the sorcerer's head and a 2nd one over the bard's shoulder. Looking slightly smug a 3rd one catches him in the chest and nearly knocks the half-elf over. Sounds of yipping - laughter and a roar of challenge can be heard form behind the pillars.

It appears the intruders were noticed and ambushed. Battle ensues.

Multiple gnolls and lizardfolk led by a larger gnoll with a white furred spider - 5' across - attack the party from range. A witchdoctor Lizardfolk stands nearby and starts to cast. Tibaltuous bravely [?] leaps forward and engages not one, not two, but four enemies and starts to think this may have been a bad idea. But the party all engage from range and melee and battle forward cutting down the enemies. Doc's guns echo around the cavern as his expert shot cut down the gnolls and lizardfolk. Kantif uses his rogue and monkish skills to great effect in the shadows, sneak attacking. Gothi's bowstring strums as she fires off arrows and her large cavebear - Morsel - grapples and chews on the gnolls and the spider. Graxxuzazz is able to move up and his spells drastically reduce the enemies to burning corpses. The bard, a look of fierce delight as he engages in battle with sword and word to inspire his friends to feats of bravery. Thogra uses his stealth attacks as well as calls upon his god SET to bless the Fellowship engaged in battle.

The leader seeing the battle going against his forces calls upon his god - ORCUS [DM: this is a wakeup for the party as a former party member - Robin - worships the same demonlord] retreats with his witchdoctor whom had been dueling spells with Graxxuzazz. 

The two disappear down a worked stone wide passage calling on reinforcements. The battles continue with the party being in the end, victorious against the followers of Orcus. The party are able to gather some treasure as well but still hear the ominous drums in the background.

A book is found, appearing to be some abyssal tome on Orcus. The large gnoll also carried a massive enchanted glaive. A magical ring, stave and darts are found on the lizardfolk witchdoctor.

Gothi explores further into the large worked stone room. A massive statue on a raised platform is found, and Thogra with a spit advises the party it is of the demon lord Orcus.

[DM: From the 1st Edition Player's handbook, slightly different but.. 😊]

A massive white marble stone block is in front of the statue, and it appears there is a sword stuck into the block up to the hilt. Waves of evil can be felt by all emanating from the statue. Large - amber[?] - eyes glow and look down upon the party. Gothi moves up the stairs onto the platform 10 feet higher looking up at the dreadful statue. It is twenty feet in height and appears to be carved from black obsidian.

The rest of the party gather and also feel the evil statue looking down upon them.

The rest of the party move up the stairs and watch from there as Graxxuzazz moves forward and then Tibaltuous after him. Doc casts protection from evil on Graxxuzazz. 

Graxxuzazz steps forward. Waves of evil wash over the two. 

Graxxuzazz casts identify and reaches out to touch the sword.. and falls over into a coma.

Tibaltuous then steps forward bowing down, checking on Graxxuzazz and tosses the unconscious body of the lizardfolk off the side! He sails over the edge and crashes into the ground. Doc dives next and heals him. The sorcerer is still non-responsive.

The bard turns back and takes hold of the hilt of the sword. 

"Hello. How are you?" The sword asks Tibaltuous. 

The pleasantly surprised bard starts a conversation with the sword.

"My name is: Sir Lawrence Sigurd Zlatennce, Third of Seventeen." 

"Can you get me out of this stone?" Back and forth the conversation goes and at first the party only hears the one side. Asking if he is worthy and if Graxxuzazz was unworthy, Sir Lawrence replies "Of course he was unworthy to wield me!"

[DM: new title for the sorcerer: Graxxuzazz the Unworthy!]

With a rasping znnnnggg! of metal on stone, the bard holds the blade high. That started as a shortsword and after asking the half-elf what type of sword he likes changes into a rapier. Once the sword is out of the stone, all can hear the blade's voice.

Tibaltuous flips the bird at the statue and walks away.

The sword advises the bard cannot use any blade other than it. Keeping the flametongue sword as a firestarter.

Doc does a medical check on Graxxuzazz but unable to awaken the lizardfolk. Thograa as well does not have anything to assist - possibly Restoration but the 1/2 orc does not have the spell currently.

[DM: experience is handed out and party go up an LEVEL!]