Forest of Wyrd Session #37 - Into the Colossus

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 5)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 5) 

Thrax (Fighter 3)

Vergarious (Changeling 3)  

The rest of the night passed without further interruption, and at dawn the next day the party started plotting a plan to access the colossus. Hopefully without disturbing/attracting the attention of whatever laired in the head. In the end. Thrax made use of his potion of polymorph to transform into a hippogriff and carry the party one by one to the open chest cavity. Last up was the invisible Ranza, and at this point a giant eagle head appeared in the eye opening above. But it was content to just stare at the coming and goings, and shortly after ducked back from whence it came.

The party found themselves inside a rather cramped space, from which other passages led off in cardinal directions. Scattered on  the floor were broken and weather-worn pieces of glass, apparently from a window or lens that once filled the chest opening. There was also a scattering of strange brass mechanisms and gears on the ceiling and wall, and a tarnished round metal plate on the back wall. After close examination of all the bits and pieces, the party surmised this formed some sort of viewing or signaling device.  As a backup, there was a tarnished brass bugle hanging on the wall. Vergarious cast detect magic on the room but discovered nothing of importance. 

Turning now to explore further, quick glances down the three narrow passages revealed they shortly ended in rooms. Except one to the left, which ended in a solid wall of darkness. So the party headed there first. Gnarl sparked up his light spear, and pushed it into the room. Surprisingly, it barely pieced the darkness, lighting just a tiny sphere with faint light. Then suddenly from that darkness errupted a ghastly baying, making everyone recoil in fear and driving Thrax into flight through the western passage. Then from the darkness emerged two shadowy hounds, with glowing red eyes and jaws that took up most of their heads. These leapt at Gnarl and Ranza standing in the corridor. As the rest of the party prepared to wade in, the second hound howled and drove Vergarious and Hobbs into flight, leaving just the changeling and wood gnome in the fight. One hound tore viciously  into Ranza, causing massive damage and forcing her to back away. Her colour spray also had little effect. But she and Gnarl held the line, and the two hounds were soon slain. They then went in search of the missing three. Thrax was found climbing a set of stairs which led both up and down the height of the statue; he reported it was blocked at the bottom by the same rockslide they'd seen outside. A quick check above revealed a mess of sticks and stuff; likely the bottom of a nest belonging to whatever lurked above.  

Vergarious and Hobbs were found cowering in the comer of a small room, which itself presented a strange sight. The walls were covered in murals of Imperium legionnaires on the march, while seated about a small table  were four real legionnaires. They appeared true to life, and close examination suggested they were in fact real legionnaires trapped in some sort of stasis. The party tried several experiments  to 'animate' them, but with no success. 

Heading back out to the chest opening, Thrax decided to grab the bugle and blow. After several hoots, he attracted the attention of the creature in the head; a huge eagle flew down and into the chest, lashing out at Thrax with it's wickedly sharp beak. He backed away, and the rest of the party held their attacks, unsure if this were really fiend or friend. The bird then turned and flew out again, returning to the eye opening and disappearing from sight. 

Ignoring the eagle above for now, everyone returned to the legionary room. Ranza found a secret door on one wall; Hobbs opened it by twisting a torch sconce on the wall. It led to another small chamber, this with an altar in the centre. Lying on the altar was a sword and shield. Carved on front of altar was the sun and triple star symbol of the Church of the Three Virtues, and the following phrase: "One must not trust to know even what one sees. Be right". Ranza boldly stepped forward and grabbed the shield, at which point both sward and shield animated and attacked. Gnarl quickly cast entangle, filling the room (and most of the rest of the statue) with a mass of root and twig. This  held the sword and shield, and everyone else, locked in place. Gnarl and Hobbs however were able to move enough to hack the weapons' down, and than all waited for the spell duration to elapse so they could once more go about their business 

Danger now passed, the party turned back to the altar. Thrax grabbed it and pushed, revealing an open shaft below. Poking at the right side of the symbol on the front caused the alter to open up, reveling another shield and sword. These proved both real, safe and magical, and were claimed respectively by the two changelings Ranza and Vergarious. Everyone then turned to the shaft, and Hobbs was roped up and lowered down. The shaft extended about 70', then opened into another small chamber. At the bottom was a small brass box, covered in images of of Imperium legionnaires on the march. Rather than go after it, Hobbs dropped a grappling hook to grab it and pull it up. This triggered a trap at the entrance to the chamber; eight bolts shot out in a grid pattern across the opening. Thankfully  the hedgefey was not hurt by these. 

Once Hobbs and box were back up in the altar room, they proceeded to break open the lock (which they observed was trapped). Inside they found an entwined golden eagle and dragon, at once recognized as the standard of an imperium legion. One could only surmised it had been placed there for safekeeping ...

TOTAL XP

8560

GAINS

Eagle & Dragon standard of the XXI [Mor] Imperium Legion (3800sp)

Shield +1 

Shadescourge (Sword +1, +3 vs incorporeal creatures) 

KILLS/VICTORIES
2 Shade Hound

LOSSES

none

Forest of Wyrd Session #36 - Of Towers and Witches

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 5)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 5) 

Thrax (Fighter 3)

The party found a way across the valley and river, and arrived just as the sun was dipping below the line of the hills and more or less dry-shod, at the base of the southernmost tower. The tower itself was  non-descript. It stood about 60' tall and 20' in diameter; about two-thirds of the way up was a series of tall narrow windows and the top was ringed by crenellations. Curiously, it looked to be in excellent condition, as if it has been built just yesterday. Even the wooden door showed no sign of weathering and use. After knocking and hallooing elicited  no response, Thrax and Gnarl headed inside. The door opened easily on well oiled hinges, to revel a largely bare interior. That said, there were 6 comfortable beds tucked in under the buttresses, as well as a table in the center of the room with 6 chairs, and in the corner, a pile of hay.  A narrow stair circled up to a platform just below the windows, and thence to a hatch leading to the roof. There being no apparent danger, the rest of the party joined the duo. On the table Hobbs found a folded table cloth. When he spread it out, it suddenly sprouted a feast of food and drink of each persons favorite meal. After some trepidation, they sat down to eat and were wonderfully refreshed. Though still somewhat worried about just how perfect the tower was for them, they decided that at this point they had no choice but to settle in and rest while they could. 

The night passed without event (except Thrax and Gnarl once more slept poorly, plagued by even more terrifying and gruesome versions of their respective cursed nightmares). Taking stock, the wood gnome and the fighter convinced the others that a visit to the witch was really a necessity. They had no idea how long they could survive their curses, and wanted to seek the witches help in lifting them. Ranza, traumatized by her previous witch encounters and still quite battered and wounded, opted to remain in the tower while Thrax, Gnarl and Hobbs climbed up the hillside to where they'd observed the fire on their first night in the valley. Looping around, they climbed up above the spot to approach from the high ground. As they got close, Thrax and Gnarl noted something hanging from branches nearby. Close examination showed them to be human eyes which eerily seemed to watch them. This prompted Thrax to dig out the Quilt of Augury and ask if the witch could help them; no point in walking into a strange situation if they didn't have to. Receiving a positive answer, the trio decided to continue on, creepy eyes or no. 

They shortly came out  into a clearing overlooking the valley. The remnants of a bonfire stood next to a pile of wood ready for the next blaze; and at the other end of the clearing was a dark cave opening. Gnarl called out, and a few moments latter a woman emerged from the darkness. She appeared as a rather plain middle aged woman, dark of hair and pale of skin. But with pupil-less eyes of otherworldly black. The party opened up a friendly banter, and learned she was Ygrite, a servant of Samnuha the Watcher. Yes, she could help with the curse, and answer questions about the valley. For a price. And so the party dug deep for trinkets and coins. She grasped Gnarl by the sides of his head, pressing her thumbs hard into his eyes. She pressed harder as she chanted some unknown tongue, then released the wood gnome with a jolt and a push. When he got over the stars flashing in his eyes, the wood gnome felt the curse had lifted from him. Thrax, however, would have to return on the morrow as she could call on Samnuha to do such magic once per day. 

Feeling reassured by the non-creepy interaction, the party plied Ygrite with treasure and questions. They learned many foul things flew in the valley air, giant ravens and birds and other darker things. Asked about the skinchangers, she explained they did indeed draw their power from the Dark Mother. The Dark Mother, mistress of earth and darkness, complemented  the other great wood god, the Green Man, whose power lay in tree and sky. And around them were all the other spirits of the wood, Samnuha among them. Describing the strange wooden stature they'd found in Wickerwood Keep, she confirmed it too was a representation of the Dark Mother. Asked about Fortress Iacarta, she let slip that many factions inhabited the place, including among them the Raven Queen. Asked if any of these factions could help them, she laughed and said that depends entirely on what they wanted and how the party approached them. Asked now if there was anything she would ask of them, Ygrite indicated she longed greatly for the Book of Seven Souls. A magical tomb of some sort, she said it was now held by a fey lord who dwelt in the northernmost tower of the valley. Recover it, and she would call on Samnuha to answer any three questions they desired. 

Having run out of questions (and silver for now), they returned to the tower for the night. Once more taking advantage of the magical feast and comfortable beds, they still set watches just in case. Which was good, for on Hobbs second watch they had a visitor. Or an attempted visitor at least. Something large landed on the roof and tried clawing through the stone, and then the unsecured trap door. Hobbs roused the party and everyone rushed up the stairs to find a way to bar shut the trapdoor. But oddly enough, even though they could see and hear the attempts to pen the door, it did not budge. After some time, whatever it was gave up and took off. Rushing to the roof, the party observed an indistinct but large flying shape heading north, giving the colossus tower it passed along the way a wide berth.

The rest of the night passed without incident, and next day Thrax, Gnarl and Hobbs headed back to see the witch to have Thrax's curse lifted. They also took the opportunity to ask about the colossus tower  (for a price of course), learning that it was home to some large flying creature.  They then took their leave, and headed back to pick up Ranza before heading north towards the colossus. They stayed above the troll-infested valley and followed the edge of the hill, approaching the giant tower from the rear. The statue/tower was carved out of the living rock, in the form of an Imperium legionnaire nearly 200' tall. At the base was a massive rock fall, burying the statue up to mid-calf in large boulders. Which was too bad, as based on how the old road approached from the valley floor, the entrance to the tower/statue was somewhere below that tumbled rock. And a few hours digging soon proved the futility of trying to reach the entrance that way. There were some opportunities higher up however. The statues eyes were openings, and the chest had been burst open somehow, allowing entry via that route as well. Mindful of the witches warning, they waited through the day to see if any great flying beast emerged. When none did, Gnarl went looking for bats, charming and speaking to one, sending it into the openings to explore. It retuned swiftly, to report some large bird a prey thing (but not an owl) nested in the head, while the opening in the centre was empty. 

It now being too dark to proceed further, the party set up camp in a hollow in the rubble. Their rest was disturbed by three spectral creatures that approached them from the north. Gnarl, on watch, took the first blow. The chill touch drained his strength away. The wood gnome yelled everyone else awake though, and in short order the three incorporeal being were dispersed, but only buy use of their magic weapons. 

TOTAL XP

225

GAINS

none

KILLS/VICTORIES
3 Shadows

LOSSES

none

Forest of Wyrd Session #35 - Pit of the Skinchangers

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 4)

Jonesomon (Specialist 5)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 5)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Thrax (Fighter 3)

Vergarious (Changeling 3) 

Uncertain of where to go from here, the party was easily convinced by Hobbs to go in search of this pit or cave where men fought beasts to become skinchangers. Something in his noble badger heart had been moved by the thought of his forest kin being sacrificed for such a purpose. The broke camp and climbed back up the wooded slope, coming eventually to a deep dell. At the end of the dell a waterfall, tumbling off the hill above, seemed to disappear into the earth. Closer investigation by the stealthy Jonesomon and Hobbs confirmed this; they discovered a passage sloping into the base of the hill, down which the stream poured. And alongside the stream was a narrow ledge or path cut into the limestone. After building a hidden enclosure to hopefully keep the donkeys and Hoppy safe in their absence, the party first had Thrax consult the quilt of augury to ask if they would encounter skinchangers. It indicated "no", so they confidently lit a torch and started to descend. The path was muddy and steeply pitched, making travel slow and precarious. Noting signs of footprints, both man and beast, in the mud,  they searched along the way for any sign that the footprints turned off the trail to pass through a hidden  or secret door. But found nothing. As they descended a bit further, paintings were seen on the wall of the cave, showing man and beasts and hybrids of the two. 

Reaching the bottom, the path leveled out and opened into  a wider cavern. To the left the stream splashed into a large pool that extended onwards in the darkness. Underfoot was white sand that sparkled in their torchlight, while ahead and to the right were two passages. From the one in front a faint flickering light emerged, so after a quick check to the right (finding nothing but old campfires and damp walls) the party headed in that direction. Jonesomon and Thrax entered first, and were confronted by an old man standing in front of a small fire and brandishing a spear. Behind him on the other side of the fire lay what looked like a body, not clear if it was dead of alive.  The old man (Ufra) confronted the two (and the rest of the party as they streamed into the room), weary and warily telling them to not disturb his son; the one who lay on the other side of the fire. In the ensuring short confrontation, Gnarl tried knocking the man out with a blow with the shaft of his spear; this was unsuccessful and Ufra responded with a stab to the wood gnomes belly. Thrax calmed the situation and, after some back and forth with Ufra in coarse Common, drew out some details of the situation. The son was currently in a vision quest, completing his transformation into a skinchanger. Asked for more details of the process, the old said only the ones who would become skinchangers must fight and defeat an animal of the type they've chosen for their transformation. The rest of the details of how they then ended up in the vision quest the man could not say, he himself having never taken that path. Asked where these rituals occurred, the man vaguely indicated deeper in the cave. 

Bidding the old man farewell, the party moved deeper into the cavern complex, following a narrow winding path which would occasionally open into a larger cave. Then suddenly Jonesomon heard from ahead the faint sound of screams and howls, not in pain but with anger and rage.  Using his stealthy skills, the specialist slipped forward for a look. He found a small cave, lit by faint torchlight. Standing there was a huge bear of a man, arms folded over his chest, eye's closed and head downcast. As Jonesomon stood there, another bout of screaming emerged from a side passage, making the standing man flinch. He moved back to inform the party, and they decided to move up. Thrax stepped into the chamber and started to talk to the man, who like Ufra warned him off. The screaming sound was coming from an adjacent cave, where his his brother was in the final throws of his vision quest. Plying the exhausted and famished man with mugs of ale from his robe of refreshment, Thrax got him to relax and start talking more. It seemed that if disturbed during the vision quest, the person would die. After the transformation quest was over, the person would also be unable to control their animal instincts and would be turned loose into the wilderness to hunt and slay and offer blood to the Earth Mother until enough time had passed they they could exert their human side and regain control. Then they could rejoin their tribe in the mountain fastness. Asked more about the rituals, the man (Barska) told only of the hand to hand fight with their chosen spirit animal; beyond that he vaguely refereed to being brought before the Earth Mother. But no amount of ale would get more information from him. 

While Thrax kept Barska distracted, Joensomon once more slipped past to scout ahead. He found a cavern filled with supplies (food, firewood, etc). Heading back, he collected the rest of the party and they all moved on once Thrax had placated Barska. They passed through the storage room, coming to another intersection. To one side they found a torch lit room with a stag, chained to a wall, being cared for by a man. They decided not to disturb that scene, and moved down the other passage. Soon light and sound appeared ahead, so once more Jonesomon slipped forward. He saw what could only be the site of the combat trials. There he observed, lit by huge bonfires, a large sandy cavern which opened onto the pool or lake. In the middle was a crude fighting ring where a wolf and a young man, stripped to the waist and armed only with a knife, circled each other. They were watched by a small cluster of other men and a trio of what could only be the tribal chiefs or shamans. Meanwhile to one side was a small cluster of men around another small fire; one of them appeared to be getting ready for his fight and all were drinking and smoking as they sat. 

Jonesomon backed up and told the party what they had seen. Wary of confronting that crowd, they decided to retrace steps and try wading down the stream/lake instead.  This went well at first, but as the water started to get deeper and and the lake wider, Ranza at the back of the line was suddenly grabbed from below by a mass of hairy tentacles with deadly sharp suckers. She was slashed unconscious and dragged below  the water's surface. Gnarl, just in front of her, activated his shocking grasp spear and stabbed into the mass. With one blow he killed the hairy thing and rescued the changeling. The party retreated and hauled Ranza back to lay her safely on the sand. They also hauled the dead bulbous mass out of the water and slit it open, recovering a bit of coin and gem from its several stomachs. After a fruitless search for it's lair (and hopefully further treasure), the party decided it best to leave. They saw no gain in pushing forward at this time, and Ranza was in hard shape. Climbing back to daylight and recovering their animals, the party decided to cross the valley to the southernmost watchtower, hoping to find a place to rest and recover. There was also talk of searching out the witch, for Gnarl and Thrax were starting to worry about the long term effects of their pact with the white stone ...

TOTAL XP

614

GAINS

17sp

4gp

2 gems (100sp, 100sp)

KILLS/VICTORIES
1 Decapus

LOSSES

none