Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"If I recall, the path up to the fortress was steep and slippery. We could check for signs of the snakes, but I'd like to check the hut as well."

"Where first Akhileus?"

[subaltari]

Playing catch up...

Magda

Overcome with relief as she was upon Sik's heroic rescue of Xenos, his kinswoman cried out an exclamation in Ixian, and even briefly touched the blue-lacquered star of Aurorus around her neck. She was almost equally relieved to still find her lantern at hand, along with her sturdy staff, tipped with an egg of pock-marked polished ironwood, which she retrieved from the soaked skiff.

Next, she accompanies the party with little comment until the three charred spots are sighted along the beach. "Whether by way of burning oil or sorcery, this looks like violence may have been done. I have the feeling something has been dogging our steps since we climbed up from that cavern far below."

Kainaxarthos "If I recall, the path up to the fortress was steep and slippery. We could check for signs of the snakes, but I'd like to check the hut as well."

"Agreed. The Matron may be gone, but I confess I fear for her little ones..."
Being already thirty feet or so from the edge of the hut, Magda shines her light peering to see if anything looks different about it, or about the Matron's weird garden and the toady denizens that surround it.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"I see going directly to the hut as our best option. We wanted to rest anyway and we can set a watch while doing it.

No need for me to say it, but keep your eyes peeled "

[The_Wanderer]

Akhilleus

"No need for me to say it, but keep your eyes peeled "

Cyril smiles, "I've always thought that a strange, rather brutal turn of phrase for something so simple. Please just pay attention everyone."

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Trouble At The Mushroom Hut
No Idea On Time Or Day

Sik thinks back to their battle with the dwarfs across the river, finding the smell of these burnt patches to match exactly the scent of the oil they used. He cant see the cave from this distance through the darkness, but the desert Barbarian wonders if those aggressive bastards had something to do with this mystery.

As the party moves closer to the mushroom hut they liberated from the Toad Matron earlier, none in the group sees anything out of place or dangerous. Magda takes a special interest in searching the area, her frog form prison home for uncounted years. Without warning, the Witch suddenly falls to her knees before dropping face first into the gravel at your feet. She lays there shaking and moaning, as if she were just badly injured in some way. Can I get a save vs. Death, please?

Actions?

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP

[silifi]

"We killed all of the little men, did we not? This smells like their lamp oil," Sik says, running his hand over his blistered face.

When Magda falls in the hut, Sik quickly comes to her side, splashing some water from his wineskin on her face. He thinks back to her rat, and recalls that sorcerer's form strange connections with their animal companions, and wonders if the familiar has come to some harm.

"I fear for our brother Drest..."

[subaltari]

If it's what we think, this is bad news for the familar formerly known as Skavi but might be a lucky break for Magda...

Magda

Saving Throw vs. DEATH [1d20] = 17 (16+ succeeds, 11- triggers Trauma Survival check)

She is turning to retort to Cyril's quip about peeled eyes, but the words are choked off when she falls to her knees. After a moment Magda gasps and then groans out something in an ominous tone that sounds like "Skavigorgo..."

When Magda falls in the hut, Sik quickly comes to her side, splashing some water from his wineskin on her face. He thinks back to her rat, and recalls that sorcerer's form strange connections with their animal companions, and wonders if the familiar has come to some harm.

"I fear for our brother Drest..."

Refreshed by the water, Magda looks up at the big barbarian with thankful but pained eyes, and simply shakes her head.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

He, too, steps forward to aid Magda. He quickly scans the area and covers his mouth. "Was the scent of the oil covering a fouler thing? Come, let's pull away from here for a moment."

Kain asks Sik to help him pull Magda a bit away from the hut, in case something in the vicinity is the cause.

[silifi]

Sik helps move Magda out of the hut.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus also starts and turns to face in the direction of the witch. However, instead of running toward her to check if she’s alright, he stays put and scans their surroundings, not wanting to be caught off guard in case any potential danger appears.

"Dammit. Something’s happened to Skavi. We knew it was alive, since Magda didn’t suffer any harm. If we’d touched the gem, we’d all be together now. Drest is probably in danger too."

[subaltari]

Magda

When she can speak again, the Ixian girl beckons to Kain and Sik and begins muttering a soft and unsteady voice. "I had one last connection with my familiar and he showed me... a creature. Nay, I did not see Drest. This was like a man, but with filthy hair and pale, crazed eyes... like one of those primitives you described up above? or perhaps a ghoul of some kind. I saw it... devour Skavi..."

Magda trails off into quiet weeping.

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I am sorry Magda. Although something my magic will not let me experience, I understand your connection to your familiar was profound."

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril says, "Nobody should be forced to see that. You and especially Skavi have my sympathy." His comforting gestures come off as unnatural but sincere.

"But no Drest. I must say this does not make me want to follow Drest to search for him...but I will follow if that is where the group wishes to go."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"I'd say we stick to the plan. Let's rest in the hut. We still have to keep an eye out for those dwarfs, in case there's more.

After that we can decide what we do. In a big army the general would give the orders and the soldiers obey, but we can vote for it, since we're a small group and we all have a say in it." He points at the burnt stains on the ground.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Ah. My sympathies, Magda. Skavi was a boon ally." He offers an arm to hold and a shoulder to lean on. "Let's get to the hut and try to rest. If you are able, we could talk more of Skavi."

Kain motions for the others to lead the way and open the hut while he and Sik help Magda along.

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Resting At The Mushroom Hut
No Idea On Time Or Day

After some consoling for Magda, the Witch is eventually able to move on her own again, so the group makes their way into the Matrons shack to rest.

Things inside look just as they did before, with no more of the burnt patches to be found on the interior of the unique structure.

The frogs and toads that hop about the place still seem very lackadaisical, as if their sadness at the loss of their mother remained strong, despite their animal intelligence.

Placing the deeply saddened Witch on the bed after clearing off any pesky amphibians, the others go about setting up their own places to rest around the interior of the shack.

Before they fall asleep, Magda describes the creature she saw in her final vision of her precious Skavi......

ravenous.jpg (114.69 KiB) Viewed 380 times

Then describes what she saw in the background of the room to the best of her recollections.

crypt room - Copy.jpeg (232.9 KiB) Viewed 380 times

Actions?

If there is nothing else people want to do during your resting stage, I will make a few rolls and push the action ahead to wherever fate decides.

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP

[subaltari]

Madga

Her grief is not so overwheming that Magda loses her usual sense of caution. She notes that the amphibians are still healthy, if subdued. She looks about the hut carefully and is relieved to see no further signs of fire. She also makes sure that as a departed sister witch, the Toad Matron's cauldron is still in place (OM, not sure if I asked you about that before). And lastly she is grateful enough to share with her companions, the final visions she got from Skavi . "Does that... creature's visage remind you of any of those you encountered on the surface? What of the wall of stone carvings I saw? they seem to be wrapped like mummies, but each has the head of a different animal or aberration."

Also the symbols carved on the wall. Are they similar to what we saw in the dome, or does Magda recognize them as something else?

Does she remember enough detail that a decipher script spell might be worth trying?

After discussing these matters quietly, Magda reminds her friends that her lantern is now almost empty, and she only has one refill of oil. She douses it before lying down for a few restless and weepy hours.

[OGRE MAGE]

If you look carefully at the different "stone carvings", you might be able to better understand that they are not actually carvings at all.

There appear to be clear covers containing these odd creatures inside what looks like vertically stacked coffins.

The markings on one of them appear similar to the sigils Magda couldn't comprehend etched across the upper dome on the island you just left.

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril does what he can to make a comfortable resting spot and then turns to Akhileus.

"Now my friend, let me soothe those aching muscles and joints..."

Cyril mutters a spell, closes his eyes and opens his mouth. Black smoke streams out toward the fighter, surrounding the man and then dissipates.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Thank you, Cyril. I feel much better now.

Let’s take turns keeping watch. I can start.

If anyone hears something strange, wake everyone up. No going off to investigate alone."