Author: WickedWayz !

the shrine of the flesh god

Session 158

3:28 pm

21st mesrilden

After The Islanders Lead us to what they call the Shrine of the flesh God.

we asked them some questions about the place.

it seems in reality They are all clones, Dating back to before the elders Can

remember.

up until recently babies would come from the shrine. and the islanders would take

them and raise them.

but now it seems the Shrine spits out full grown humanoids with no faces, and it

then finds a victim to kill and take on its persona

So we parked the barge a couple hundred yards from the shrine/cloning facility.

and had the Monkeys fix the damage From the crash.

During the Nights Watch Ronin , Heard and saw a Boar run across the open

ground into the Jungle.

Ronin being restless. he decided to go take a look.

30 yards from the barge he crested a hill and came face to face with 3 Very Large

Boars.

all Ronin could think of was Bacon!

so he took 2 shots with his Bow. and Hit with one.

just Pissing off the Boars.

So They charged Doing 26 damage leaving Ronin with 3hp

so he used his shield and Retreated.

getting back to the Barge where the rest of the party dispatched the Boars.

and we had a Great Breakfast.

Ronin got a few heals and the clerics rested another 4 hours.

Then we headed to the Shrine

Ronin , Thorfus, Bellisente and Lambertus

thorfus also took along the 5 Monkeys.

Reaching the Shrine/cloning facility we saw a very old Twisted Tree that seemed to

be its own forest that all grew together

Thorfus sent one monkey 60 feet up in the tree

the door in front of us seemed to have been torn open.and inside we see a 10×10

room with a bed and a lock box.

what was weird was the bed and box were bolted to the wall,

then it became obvious. this facility was on its side.

When Thorfus sent in the first Monkey. it moved in 5 feet, and stopped.

Thorfus lost vision, then the monkey turned its head,

and bolted for the inside door and Down from what we could make out, over the edge to

some kind of drop off.

immediately Ronin tied a rope to the bed and threw it over the edge, Thorfus quickly descended.

Ronin Follow quickly after. looking down what seems to be a hallway on its end,

doors on both sides staggered all the way down

We see the monkey waiting at one of the lower doors.

We descend after it. lowering the rope we come to an open door , like a platform.

Again we need 40 more feet of rope. Thorfus and Ronin attach the rope.

Thorfus starts to descend, and the water below begins to churn,

Thorfus quickly climbs back up out of reach, then he decides to go for it

tentacles lash out at Thorfus Making him loose his grip from the paralyzing Stings.

Ronin thinks good thing he has that ring.

after a few moments, thorfus doesn’t surface, Ronin decides to go in after him/

sliding half way down the rope then Jumps. aiming his sword Down towards whatever is in the water.

Ronin hits the water Hard, he feels his sword hit the monster, but it seemed to be too hard and scrapes down the side of it.

Holding his breath Ronin trys to get his bearings,

Ronin sees thorfus, and the net.

THE NET he thinks,

just as Ronin moves towards Thorfus. he sees his eyes open.

somethings not right, and then…………

Thorfus attacks using his battery powered sword. Ronin is in shock at what is

happening as Thorfus Cuts Ronin into Peices………………

as Ronin dies his thoughts turn to the Last year, and All the Great adventures he has had……………………………………..

Session 153

27th masrilden

Landing in Midmark. we scanned the waters below. looking for the ware shark. with no lights in sight.

we found out way to the port. and were sent to the island port for repairs.

as we came into port at Midmark, we saw the roof of the cathedral was collapsed

dock worker Terric shows up and mentions the dragon attack, and how half the town went mad

two grey cloaks show up Saerus and Bardol with clipboard in hand. to see where we came from and to inform us of

the city lock down.

Thorfus produces the Keepers of the counsel letter. and they changed their tune. letting us know,

we can come and go as we please. but to be careful about going out at night.

we also talked to Saerus and Bardol about getting the barge fixed, and they assured us we had the Midmark navy’s

engineers at our disposal.

then Thorfus asks them about the possible use of a forge for the night. they think about and decide to take Thorfus and

invisible Edan to the forge on the island owned by Khalida.

once there, Khalida agrees to let Thorfus use the forge for the next 12 hours. Thorfus pays her in gems.

While the grey cloaks and the dock workers were off getting favors done, Chuq and Ronin, slip off the side of the ship

into the lovely tar-water. they make their way across the bay, noticing that there is no buzzing to be heard. a little

strange considering we usualy cant get a mile from Midmark without the devil fish contacting us.

as Chuq and Ronin make their way up the canal to the Mill Ronin rented, they stop and notice, the main doors to the mill are boarded up.

Ronin panics and swims through the cave into the basement of the mill. as they surface his fear is realized, the Sub is Gone!.

Chuq and Ronin climb out of the water to investigate. slipped under the side door is a note. Chuq reads it, it says.

“To the Keepers of the Council: Our master has decreed it time to leave Midmark, but he wanted you to know that the

High Priestess Dracul the Merenderite has your missing property (taken before the holiday week unpleasantness). He wishes you luck in its recovery and – speaking of recent events – asks that you pass along his greetings to his

elderly relation. Safe travels until the world cracks and cities flood,

Owayne “

Ronin instantly thinks of the Nosy Neighbor. and head over to his house to question him.

Ronin checks the door but its locked. so he Knocks. after a few times they hear movement on the other side.

the neighbor on the other side of the door says i have nothing of value go away.

Ronin says please open the door its your neighbor. finally coaxing him to open the door. Ronin questions him about

having seen anything happen next door. he tells Chuq and Ronin about the mill owner going mad and his wife having to kill him.

but he hasn’t seen any other strange things next door. Ronin takes his word for it and they leave. Chuq says do you really believe him. and Ronin says well do you want to go rough him up. Chuq and Ronin decide to wait until later to

quest the neighbor again.

Thorfus Locks the door to the forge and lets out the one Monkey, dumps the Parts on the floor and tells the monkey to

Rebuild one Monkey. over the course of the night a total of 4 monkeys are complete with the forging needed for the last monkey.

Khalida knocks on the door at sunrise and asks if they are done and thorfus says a few more hours.

While Thorfus and the monkeys worked. Edan Transcribed parts of the Blueprints in case they need to trade the information. Edan copied the Schematics for the flying ship.

Chuq and Ronin make their way to the gambling house to talk to Garthrum.

Rolph at the bar Greets Ronin, and Ronin has Chuq stay with Rolph,

as Ronin meets with Garthrum, he tells him of his problem and asks fr any info he might have

Garthrum has none. so Ronin proposes a deal information on the trade embargo st on Vargen.

in turn Garthrum will find out what warehouses the temple might own.

Ronin heads downstairs to grab Chuq and be on there way, when Chuq mentions a drink he invented called.

{i forget what it was called}

Ronin takes a quick shot, and the two head out.

Making their way to the Mansion.

The mansion looks good grass mowed vines and bushes cut back.

So Chuq and Ronin head over to Thortons mansion,

and notice it is heavily guarded, so they decide to head back to the barge,

after they arrive Thorus and Edan show up. with 4 monkeys.

The Group Finds the Skiff they were offered and take it across the bay. during that time Chuq and Ronin

Tell them what they found out.

the group lands the skiff at a small Dock on the western side of Midmark. have some small talk with some fishermen they previously met.

Then head over to the armorer. to check on the diving suits that Ronin left with them.

the suits are finished and the conversation leads to all the deaths in the neighborhood.

the Clothes maker and the clock Maker and his wife to name a few. the group hails a carriage and heads over to

Thortons fathers house. to talk about what he knows of the plague.

He didn’t know much. but he did inform us about the map maker and Em.

so we make our way to the map makers house.

Young Lanlith opens the door. and tells us about his father. and that Em had gotten the sickness.

and she was taken to the Keepers Castle.

we give our condolences and let him know, he can go back yo work when he feels better.

So we all jump back into a carriage and head to Thortons Estate.

Stopped by the Grey cloaks. we show our papers and are let right through. and escorted to the front door.

We are called up to Thortons Office.

Where Thorton hastily cleared his desk, He greets us,

Jarden then accuses us of the Plague.witch we quickly turn around .

assuring him we had nothing to do with it.

We make a deal with Jarden for his blood we will trade him Blue prints for the flying ship.

he has to think on this and has us wait at the Old Grell estate, that we have yet to Rename….

Session 152,15th Masrilden

Facing consequences

The party Gathered food supplies and gear for the journey.

it was decided that our best course of action was to go retrive the last of the dragon

Blood ,from Jarden, i hope he helps us out.

As we set off we head out of Jaggers compound following the illusionists path. out of

the South Gate and cresting the mountains peak. Thorfus, scans the horizon with the

spy glass ahead of us. and it looks all clear. it has not yet rained today but dud last

night.

so early morning we head south along the Path to the docks.

the day went without incidence. Although we did notice boot tracks heading off the

path into the jungle, we decide not to follow. a nother hour down the trail we came

upon a bloody scene.

We approach with caution. Chuq taking the lead. as we approach we see a spider

gorilla with its throat cut, and a human bloodied and naked. but he is still breathing.

chuq and Ronin get close to check it out. to be safe Ronin hands Chuq the Elven

rope and Chuq loops one end around the humans feet. Ronin take the other end.

Then Chuq wakes the human man. as the man wakes he seems confused.

asking where he is and what happened. After some questions the man reveals

his name is Harb Bomin, a local hunter that is from a village near the lizard people.

he tells us he came up river to hunt some Game. the last thing he remembers was docking his canoe. at a burned out village down river about an hour. then he was woken by us here.

Ronin and Edan don’t trust this. but Chuq continues his conversation. gives Harb his Extra Clothes and a Dagger. the man being a hunter cant pass up poncing the beast of a gorilla. filling his pockets with the meat.

we decide to let him travel with us back down to the dock. and chuq Even hired the Guy.

Getting dark we decide to make camp. Thorfus deploys his Khel. and we sleep through the night. Just before dawn Chuq gets this uneasy feeling something is watching.

The sun rises and that feeling is washed away with singing birds and wind blowing through the trees.

We break Camp and keep heading south to the docks,but before we get there Harb notices more tracks heading east off the trail. a large cat and more Boot prints. we decide to just keep going. just a few more hours and we

are at Jaggers docks.

Harb notices there no boat and wonders how we will get back down river.

We proceed past the buildings and the docks and back into the jungle to where we hid the barge.

Harb checks for spiders and wonders how we will get the barge off the rocks and into the river.

Edan take the helm, and lifts the barge and Harb is surprised but at the same time thinks we are strange anyways.

we head down the river twards vargan, we make pur way to the burned out village Harb last remembers making camp at.

we find his canoe, and head into the village to check for his things. dead rotting

bodies of villagers lay about the village, mostly woman and children.

Ronin checks the hut Harb made camp in and notices claw marks and a huge hole in the back wall.

We head out. loading Harbs Canoe onto the barge and we head down river.

it take most of the day to get to the point where the two river combine. as its getting dark we decide to continue on. everyone with dark vision is on the look out.dodging rocks and logs. The dawn breaks and we see a dam of logs and

branches ahead on the west dide of the river. through the looking glass. Thorfus

notices a number of dead lizard men.

as we get closer we see stirring in the water. Chuq calls out Alligators!

so being board. Ronin and Chuq decide to take a few pot shots at the aligators. Both shooting wide. then out of nowhere the Barge hits something. but then we realize that something hit the Barge. We see a Huge Tail off the back of the boat a BAM.

were hit again.we can feel the barge start to come apart.

then we see it a giant alligator 30 feel long has attacked the Barge.

Chuq looks at Ronin and yells The Net!. Ronin pulling the magic water net out of his pack and dives overboard. chuq soon follows.

and in seconds we are face to face wit this monstrosity.

it goes after Chuq but missed. Ronin seeing his opportunity throws the Net.

the net seems to magically wrap itself around the alligators head.

Chuq swims behind it. as edan Lifts the barge out of the water to the west bank,

Then Ronin swims up and swings his battle Axe. and misses.

the Alligator tries to grapple Ronin but Ronin is too quick. Then Chuq from behind. slams his long sword into the back of the creature. heavily damaging it.

Ronin notices some movement behind him, but decides we need to finish the big one off first, He swings and he misses……

Edan noticing the damage chuq did and Ronin Missing, he casts Magick missle on the huge creature. with a flick of the wrist. edan Kills the creature. exclaiming. takes a wizard to do a fighters job…..

Ronin releases the net and is then attacked from behind by a Smaller alligator. but it misses. as it swims past Ronin throws the ned entangling the beast. Ronin then take the east kill and dispatches the Smaller alligator.

Thorfus Takes out and commands the Monkey to Start repairing the Barge. the Monkey

assesses the situation and is eager to get to work but there is nothing to fix it with.

Edan lands the barge in a swampy area, and the hirelings get to work gathering

wood. Ronin decides that huge alligator has to be worth more than just XP. he dives to the bottom of the river attaches the elvin rope to it. and swims up .

Thorfus throws him a line and pulls him in.the rest of the crew helps pull the huge beast ashore. Harb Goes to work skinning it and cutting up the meat.

We have some aligator steaks for dinnerthe party manages to fix the Barge as best they can.

Amillia decides to stay with the group and go to Midmark, where Canis was last seen.

We making to the mouth of the bay. and edan Lifts the barge up as high as it can go and Punches forward Toward Midmark.

We make it to Midmark at nightfall.

The Party see fires and torches lighting up the harbor. and then notices the roof of the

Arch Cathedral has collapsed.

the Barge is pulled into a dock and the ship master does his thing askes the

questions and then questions Thorfus of where we came from.

some place Ronin never heard of.

Silver is exchanges and papers signed. and we are directed to the island dock in the middle of the bay for repairs.

Ronin gets off the Barge. finds two trees Hangs his hammock. and sleeps until

morning…..

session 142

Session 142 – 29th of Tanrilden

00,000.04.16

Reaching the Top of Jagger’s Valley, the party discusses. their options. when they notice a group of riders appear from the Gate of the Tower Below.

Approx 15 men on horseback.

Axel using the spyglass sees they are both colonials and islanders,and the leader carries a spear with a white cloth on the end,a universal sign of truce.

As the riders make their approach up the winding trail through the jungle.

the keepers debate action. do we fight or do we parlay? Thorfus suggests we see what they want, and Ronan, suggests taking a defensive stance.

Thorfus steps forward with Ronan and Axel. with the spear men backing them up. the archers make a flanking stance to either side of the rough rocky trail.

Chuq and Edan move up into a stealth position,ready to strike or read the minds of the riders.

The riders approach stopping 50 feet from the party. the Leader a well defined Muscular man Calls out.

May i approach?

Thorfus agrees and the Lead rider moves forward.

with a commanding voice states their intentions.

“The Master of this Domain, Jagger the Hero of Zardan, has spied your trespass on his lands. He recognizes from your armaments and bearing that you are worthy adventurers and believes your mistake can be forgiven – indeed, that a beneficial arrangement can be reached. There is a terrible creature preying on his servants, a hydra of some sort; track this creature, destroy it, and recover its poison bladder. In exchange, Jagger offers freedom of movement through his lands and a boon either magical or scientific of your choice. Know that Jagger is Master of more than land, but also Magic and the ancient art of BioForging. He can reward you with items of power or even re-knit your very sinews to impart greater strength, stamina, or dexterity. If you are not swayed by this offer, our master asks that you depart his lands at once; if the offer pleases you, the path to his tower will open when you have the hydra’s bladder.”

Thorfus Responds with “and if we don’t agree”?

the Lead rider says i hope that will not be the case.either way then you will return the way you came and there will be no hostilities.

As they are speaking Chuq uses the nightcap to read into the leaders intent, and finds he is not looking for conflict.

Ronan asks What is your name sir.?

the lead rider reply’s my name is Ericus.

Thorfus and Ericus, talk for a bit about other ways around Jagger’s lands and Ericus assures him there is no easy path.

Knowing the creature Ericus talks about. Thorfus, Ronan and Axel, try to determine another way through. but cant seem to find another choice

the two parties discuss terms.of what exactly Jagger can do for them.

and decide since the choice isn’t and easy one they agree if they do kill the Hydra, they will return with the bladder. and if they don’t return Ericus understands.

At this point he states the party must go back the way they came.

on that note Ericus turns and the horsemen rid back down the rocky trail that leads to Jagger’s tower.

Ronan suggests that either way the chances are high that the party will come across the hydra. the party agrees, and sets of to find the beast.sending thier long lost friend Socrates to scout ahead. Edan casts invisibility on Socrates, this makes the Owl very happy.

The Party make their way back down the winding trail, to the location they spent the night in kels tower.

it is close to sunset when they arrive, and thorfus sets up the tower. while the others discuss a plan to trap and surprise the hydra.

The plan consists of creating a pungy trap with two sides that will snap shut like 2 wooden jaws, in hopes the hydra will be within. Edan produces a rumba(a bouncing betty of sorts) and sets it up near the pungy trap. Axel suggests they move all this

about 100 feet from the front of kels tower. Ronan thinking he knows something about trapping,and he doesn’t. suggests urinating around the trap to draw in the hydra. the party laughs and says if you gotta go you gotta go. the final step is hanging a lantern near the trap.

The rain hasn’t stopped since they party arrived in this jungle. so the party all enter the tower wet and uncomfortable. all archers and casters take the top tier.to get opportunity shots off if the trap works.

Night creeps in as most of the party trys to sleep. Thorfus takes first watch.it doesn’t

take long for him to hear the crashing and heavy foot falls of what must be the hydra.

Then a Blood curdling Roar that penetrates the souls of all within the tower, everyone is now awake.shaking with Adrenalin and anticipation of whats to come.

Everyone with infravsion atop the tower watches as the 8 headed beast stalks around the tower.with a low growl the hydra makes its way around as each head sniffs the ground and watches the tower. then the lantern catches the hydras attention. it moves slow and cautiously toward the trap.

the hydra stretches out one of its heads to inspect, what Ronan thinks must be the scent of the urine,and SNAP! the pungy trap goes off, barley catching the hydras head, it rears back and then Boom! the Bouncing Betty is set off. with a cloud of smoke it shoots up 6 feet in to the air, and a whizzing noise begins to pierce the ears of the onlookers as the pellets are sent flying right into the hydras Body.

Ronan Yells Fire!

a volley of arrows cascade down onto the hydra, some hitting their mark.

Edan steps up and his eyes Glow Bright as an arcane glow surrounds his hands as he mumbles something under his breath, and an impressive electrical Bolt Surges out of his hands and right into the body of the Beast, a Major lightning strike cracks down on the nearby mountain at the same time.

The Hydra Rears in pain and with a roar turns to face the tower.

Everyone inside starts to scramble, knowing for sure they are all dead.

it seems the tower is out of range. The hydra turns and Takes off Running at a speed none thought possible with the way it lumbered around before the attack.

30,80.200.400 yards, its going to escape Ronan yells. Chuq Creams Hang on. and Shadow steps with Thorfus edan and Ronan. out to the only shadow available the lantern that is now laying broken and burning the ground. They take off running.

Mean While Axel Grunts missing his ride,he leaps from the battlements. thinking bad idea, but as he goes over the wall his suit of armor seems to stretch him his feet touch the ground and then his head seems to swish to met his body as his stretched out form springs back to form. Axel Lands shakes off the effect and heads off down the trail after the rest of the group.

closing their distance. Edan Fumbling to try and get his want out of his

pouch.succeeds almost dropping it while in full sprint. he stops takes aim just in front of the beast that’s 200 feet away and casts Wall of ice. that appears right in front of the hydra, that is running at full speed. SMASH the Hydra Crashes through the ice wall stumbles and slides another 20 feet,Shards of ice and water scatter. the Hydra Lays still on the trail. Thorfus ,Chuq and Ronan Stop and look at Edan. Give a nod at each other in disbelief. Take off to the hydra laying motionless on the trail.Without hesitation Thorfus Goes to work Slashing and cutting at the heads and necks of the beast. Ronan and Chuq follow suit. severing all the heads from the hydras Body.

The group hears clanking and heavy breathing as they turn to see Axel Bring up the rear. Axel Stops sighs and with almost a pout, turns and heads back to the tower.

Upon examining the hydra corpse. the Party decides to wait until morning to finish the dissecting. Thorfus retrieves the tower and the rest of the group and makes his way back to Ronan and Chuq.

Thorfus Reanimates the Tower, Chuq Takes out the starchie Badge and hangs it over the tower wall.

Though the night. some Wild dogs or something to the like stalk around the tower and Hydra corpse hoping to get an easy meal. archers from the tower take pot shots to keep them at bay. On Axels watch he kills one of the dogs.

Morning comes and with the new day the Party begins to dissect the hydra looking for the bladder, the source of its acid.

Chuq sends Socrates. to scout out the path the hydra made hoping to find its layer.

Hours pass, the bladder is recovered, a section of the hydras neck is severs and

cleaned making a sturdy casing for the bladder.

Socrates returns With News of his findings and that he located finkelwurms tunnel where the hydra seemed to make its layer.

the Party debates a bit on what action to take. do they spend a day tracking down the hydras layer in hopes of some treasure. or do they head to Jagger’s tower. and complete the deal.

The finnal decision is made to Track down the Layer of the hydra and so they se off.the Party makes their way down the trail to where they previously came across the broken kart and the body in the tree. and they follow the trail the hydra made through the jungle.

hours trekking through the dense jungle, someone notices a hissing sound. and before they know it Spiders come from all directions. these spiders are about a foot in diameter. and very aggressive. we must have walked right through their nest.the spiders attack biting several of the party members, killing the head Sailor.(embrek??)

The Party Kills off the Spiders one by one,the hirelings doing most of the work.

gathering around their fallen leaders body. it is decided to take him with them to fins a suitable resting place.

The Party makes their way to the Tunnel. That Funklewurm had made and the hydra used as its Layer.

Poking around through the refuse of the hydra the party finds 3,150 gp, 6,015cp

gold chain ,the copper pieces are left behind.

Smelling like Crap….. The party heads out in the direction of where the trap was set.making it about halfway they make camp setting up the tower and taking shelter.

All is quiet for most of the night. but during Axels watch he is surprised to see the dogs had made it to the tower unnoticed. Axel Shoots at the dogs hitting one as they scatter.

Morning comes the tower is packed away and the party makes their way back to

the trap site.

deciding this is a good spot to bury thier comrad……