The Hunt for the Lost Scrolls - by Aeshma
PCs
(Daphne) Lady Aeridnis of House Vorzin, lvl 2 Atlantean Noble of Quodeth (h-f) Wizard-1 > Wizard-1/Fighter-1
(Matt) Finnris, Dhari Outcast of the Narthan Highlanders (h-m), lvl 2 Barbarian 1 > Barbarian-2
(Oisin) Bron of the Silver String, lvl 2 Dhari Outcast of the Bolotanga Windrunners (h-m), Bard 1 > Bard-2
(Judith) Aeshma, lvl 2 Kalayan Golden Sea Corsair (h-f), Rogue-1 > Rogue-1/Fighter-1
(Rheitesh) Alethrion the Kalyan (h-m) Wizard-1
In Quodeth, the Lady Aeridnis, Wizard of the Dark Tower, is approached by her cousin Tianna, asking her to undertake a search for the Lost Scrolls of Moz as word had recently been received that there was news of their possible location from the jungle trader Jodom in Ghanport.
Aeridnis agrees and gathers a small group of allies: Bron, the Dhari Bard and Finnris, the outcast Warrior to accompany her. Tianna arranges a ship to Ghanport as well as two more additions to the group: the Kalayan Wizard Alethrion and one of the crew of the “Stern Maiden”, Aeshma, as a guide.
On the way to Ghanport, the ship is attacked by a sea serpent that snatches on of the crew before disappearing below the water with its prize. Both Captain Abal Bak and the Lady Aeridnis feel that Quodeth should do more to rid the seas of such creatures. The ship moors that evening at Jarathorn before reaching Ghanport the next day without further incident.
It is quickly discovered that Jodom is dead and that his body is in the keeping of the priests of Set. His widow, Valaya, believes he was tricked by their ambitious leader, Madur Keb and says that a group of Set priests have gone into the jungle to search for the ruins Jodom had found: part of the Lost City of Kal-Ni-Moz. The story is that within the ruins is a mummy who weeps golden tears.
As the group discuss options, Aeshma recalls having heard that the local Dhari tribes were being forced out of the area by an incursion of Beastmen. We decide to go into the jungle to try to find this Lost City, avenge Jodom’s death and prevent the priests of Set from getting either the Scrolls of Moz or the Golden Tears.
Between them Bron and Aeshma convince Captain Bak to lease us the ship’s launch to take us up river as it may be quicker than trying to hack our way through dense jungle. Several hours upstream we find an abandoned jetty, pull the boat out of the water and overnight in a hut. In the light of the next dawn we can make out distant ruins, all but hidden by the jungle.
We head towards the closest but soon hear the sound of an approaching Beastmen warband several dozen strong and decide to try to outrun them. In the heat of the jungle several of us cannot maintain the pace and we try to shelter in a ruined building. However the Beastmen have got there before us.
Six of them ambush us, attacking with bolas and crude stone weapons. In the end they are defeated but several of the party are badly injured. Unwilling to rest where we may be discovered by more Beastmen, we head a little way into the jungle to catch our breath and bandage our wounds.
We think we are nearing the structure we saw from the riverside when Aeridnis spots another jungle-shrounded building about 6-7 miles away on the top of another ridge. When we reach the first building we find a small vine-covered temple with not-quite-human statues outside it, presumably depicting the Moz, that the wizards decide may be in fact be Janni.
Inside the floor surrounding a central altar is littered with human bones, and seconds after we enter the bones draw together to form skeletons and attack us. We crush the skeletons and Aeshma finds a hidden compartment in the back of the altar in which is a pouch of 8 malachite stones and a periapt. Aeridnis recognises a Periapt of Health that protects its wearer from disease and we decide Finnris should have it as he is usually at the forefront of any battle.
Continuing on from this temple we follow an ancient road that eventually sinks into a swamp. As we carefully make our way forward we spot a sabretooth cat even as it is preparing to ambush us. Aeshma and Finnris engage it in melee while Bron distracts it, blunting the accuracy of its attacks, and the wizards blast it with fire magic. Badly injured, the cat tries to flee but is hunted down by Bron riding Aeridnis’ giant lizard pet.
Soon afterwards we reach the second temple and prepare to enter the dark tunnels beneath…
Postscript Cutscene
A horde of beastmen appear and chase the party - Lady Aeridnis hides in the ruins of Kal-Ne-Moz and avoid detections, while the beastman horde chases Finnris & the wizard Alethrion back towards the coast & Ghanport. They (& Aeshma eventually) meet Captain Bak there & catch the boat back to Quodeth (and the first Tuesday game). Bronn's fate is unclear.
Once the coast is clear, the 'survivor' Aeridnis has a chance to inspect the scene, and the mysterious cavern by a waterfall - but unbeknownst to her, other adventurers are also approaching the lost city - and the some of the beastmen are returning...
Sounds like an awesome session, sorry I missed it. Will be there with the gang for next episode for definite. Joe
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