Graveyard of Empires

Session 82 

After having finished speaking with Lupa, the Starchy Boys (TM) decided to investigate the sounds reverberating through the halls and hopefully deal with the mechanical monkeys. 

Without much difficulty the team began to follow the sounds towards the west – towards the ancient dwarven workshops. Belroar confirms that tracks are leading that way. 

Edan volunteers to scout ahead wearing a recuperated Elven Cloak and his cat Boris. Following the sound, Edan eventually comes to an intersection where the sounds seem to be equal – Boris and Edan split up to investigate. However Boris quickly locates a mechanical monkey dragging a rather large piece of metal – making it rather easy for the team to follow. 

Following the mechanical monkey leads the team to a damaged corridor with a large hole in the floor, from which the hammering noise is coming from. There the mechanical monkey is joined by 2 others and together they seem to argue about where to place the piece of metal. The undamaged parts of the corridor are filled with piles of various metal parts and pieces organized into neat piles. 

While the team debated their next move, Edan continues to scout down the hole in the floor.

The hole is nearly perfectly round, and not of dwarven construction – Axel and Thorfus confirm that the tunnel is not ancient, likely only a decade or two old. The tunnel headed north-south underneath the Lower City’s main level.

While Edan scouts further into the tunnel, the monkeys notice the rest of the party as they approach and attack. The party makes short work of them and one trying to escape get cut down by Edan in the tunnel. 

The party follows the tunnel for a good long while until its end where the tunnel opens into another dwarven corridor, but this time the way is somewhat blocked by a vertical shaft directly below the opening and guarded by 3 mechanical monkeys. 2 of which attack Edan, while the 3d ran off.

After dispatching the monkeys, the team moves into a corridor – a dwarven corridor much like those they left below on the other side of the cricular tunnel.

Edan continued to scout ahead, eventually finding a partially collapsed tunnel leading to what looks like a mine – complete with cart tracks, but within well carved dwarven corridors.

When moving to the end of the corridor to take a peak, Edan is surprised by 2 mechanical monkeys and badly injured. The rest of the team comes to the rescue but Chuq triggers the trap Edan did not find or trigger while scouting – becoming partially buried.

After the battle the team regroups, heals and plans their next move. 

SESSION 83 – 17 Nov 2015

We press on into the ruins and encountered more monkeys, this time, two pushing a mine cart. We slew one and the other got away.

We checked out the other side of a door and found the first of three forge rooms, each with 5 monkeys and a gorilla bolted in place. The gorillas had huge hammers for arms. They were making and refurbishing, gears, springs, and metal plates.

Some monkeys fled. Of the ones we “killed” we stuffed in large sacks, and are up to 19 monkeys in 4 large sacks.

The monkeys ran away into the 2.5′ x 2.5 ‘ tunnels they have elsewhere in the city.

The tracks periodically have trap doors, that are more like hatches on a ship that drop down 5 feet into  more 2.5 x 2.5 tunnels.

Of the three rooms we cleared of monkeys, we plugged up the bolt holes and jammed the doors of two rooms.

We now have two mine carts and have pulled back to rest and let the spellcasters recover their spells, and heal up.

The carts are off the tracks with some metal plates to give us cover from the hallway to the north.

This is grim business, but at least it doesn’t seem to be full of damnable undead. 

How long until we find an overseer and can put a stop to these monkeys wreaking havoc?

Perhaps we can find a way to re-charge our batteries here?

We also think that the passages to the south might lead to the Hall of Pillars.

I hope mother is satisfied with my letter.

Session 81 11/03/15 

6:00 pm 16th of Galrilden

The Boyz have wrapped up the loot auction with Marchmain and have cautiously listened to his private dissertation with unspoken suspicion. They are dismissed along with Idony after the level training details are settled. 

Once outside, Idony obviously has something she wants to discuss. Chuq notices their pause and slinks close enough to hear the conversation over the light rain. After inviting Edan to return the next day for training, Thorfus prompts her and she opens up. She explains that her former Master, the Wizard/Illusionist (??) Jagger (aka Mick to the Boyz) has sent a letter inviting her to return to his employ. For more privacy, we all agree to retire to her “Tower” before discussing anything further.

Within the Tower, she explains that Jagger is a Gnomish Imperial expatriate who holds domain to the north. She left his tutelage because his human experiments revolted her. Jagger is trying to recreate the ancient Dwarven bioforge efforts but his work has yet to succeed. As the deaths from his failures continued, she fled from the madness to Xen Khel where she sold her skills to the adventurers that used to reside here. Since the adventurers have left, Marchmain has retained her services and it appears notified Jagger of her current situation. By her account and the letter from Jagger, we learn that not only do Jagger and Marchmain correspond but Silver Throne supplies his lab rats (read people or Grell’s Lambs) from the throngs of laborers that they move through his domain to the Glavnone mines. The same mines that Suttung the Fire Giant resides. Jagger’s letter also mentions ST has asked him to research the same unique metal unearthed from the Lonely Isle (Crystal Tower dig) that Suttung also works with. Disinterested, it seems he hasn’t researched the metal at all. 

Jagger thinks that since the new subjects are willing, or at least pliable, she would be more comfortable returning. Sounds like the new ST subjects might be modern undying horde? Jagger’s letter also mentions he dealt with the Bagemen’s Guild at the time when Idony separated. After much deliberation, we suggest Idony politely decline Jagger’s offer and continue in Marchmain’s service. 

The next fortnight is very eventful. Between training with Idony during the first week, Edan consults with Finkelmur and learns many new skills. The most exciting of which is finding his first familiar, Boris, a playful Russian (whatever that is…) blue cat! Belroar completes all of his ongoing projects. Axel and Thorfus become fixtures in the Sleeping Colossus, quickly becoming local celebrates due to the countless rounds on the house put on Thorfus’ tab.

Rumor mill tells of strange metal creatures west of Vargen driving away the local people into the port city. We hear of the former Xen Khel adventurers employed by Peter Thorell in a series of fortification improvements for Vargen, no doubt funded by the Dragon hoard he seized from Rotho Waterman. It seems the Brother’s of the World Forge and ecclesiastes of Murender in Newton are being overwhelmed by undead and their days are numbered. There is more news of Devil Fish harassing shipping in the bay of Midmark causing the overland route between Vargen and Midmark to thrive. The Mercer’s coffers are growing. Alain Grell’s has become 2nd most wanted by the Midmark Navy. Ogres and Goblins have devastated Seahill village. Hill Giants have extorted the Town of Scale, but no one has heard from Scale since!

In popular culture, eager fans are anxious to learn if valiant Militia Captain Talon can rescue his damsel Lady Em from the clutches of the Dragon Emperor! 

Chuq spends his time alone, trying his best to learn the techniques of a Master of the Order of the Celestial Dragon. That is until the evening of the 22nd, when the venerable Master Dain walks through the door of the Sleeping Colossus. After quick introductions and drinks are served he gets right to it. 

Caton Elerio was found by the MidMark navy adrift right outside the harbor of Midmark. Her ship, the Bawdy Bachelor, was apparently beset by Devil Fish with her as the only survivor. The rub is that signs of armed conflict were noticed by the rescuers as well as an abandoned launch from the Bawdy Bachelor discovered south of MidMark city. When these happenings came to light, Lord Thorton commissioned Master Dain to investigate. Knowing the Bawdy Bachelor was hired by Peter Thorell of the Bargeman’s Guild of Vargen to transport Caton, he started in Vargen. Thorell claimed ignorance and sent Dain north to Xen Khel to consult with us. 

We explained Caton left Xen Khel with Immaculate Rostrom’s aged head, the letters of introductions from Marchmain to Thorell implicating Thorell’s connection with ST slavers and in the company of our former Mercer allies from Vargen. Considering the Mercers are currently openly allied with the Bargeman’s Guild, their treachery is obvious. Thinking her safe, we sent Caton away in the hands of death! He agrees to complete Chuq’s advancement to Master. 

Over the the next four days, Chuq’s tells him of our adventures here in Xen Khel and of our quest to interfere with ST’s plans to resurrect Xeno Tel. Learning of the Dark King’s Undying Hordes, the Imperial Gnome Jagger’s experiments, ST’s lonely isle Crystal Tower restoration then magically scrying with Thorfus’ mask, Master Dain sets off to report our findings directly to Lord Thorton. Finkelmur agrees to make him invisible before leaving (with 7,500 gp in precious gems from Chuq’s share of the loot auction and a year’s worth of rent for the Boys Townhouse from Thorfus’ purse), hopefully it will keep him safe. Before parting, Master Dain tells of the missing Grand Master Brum Langiston, last known to sail off to investigate a prospective new location for our Order’s Monastery. He commissions Chuq to return any news of the GM to our leadership in MidMark City. 

By the last day of Galrilden, Axel is once again a Mymidon, Chuq is a Master, Edan is a Conjurer and Thorfus is a Champion. We have had a second interview with Marchmain to better understand his expectations of us now that we are aware of the SilverThrone’s struggle with Imperial agents in Curasor. Our gear, provisions and adventuring tools have been replenished. Belroar has bagged three jaguars, a mated pair and their soon to be orphan. Since the cub was too feral, it’s orphanage is mercifully short…

On the 1st of Faurilden, our party marches through the Dwarven held districts on the mountain top until they meet a band of SilverThrone badged warriors loitering on the far end of the bridge nearest the Sister’s Temple. Lionet and Finnin briefly speak with Thorfus while Belroar pricks their ire. Irritated at his insolence, they walk off as Belroar taunts them further. After a quick exchange with the Temple guard, we descend the spiral ramp to the Hall of Pillars.

Curses! Our boots and cloaks of elvenkind have lost their enchantment while on the surface! Belroar’s inspection tells us that no others have entered under city since our last foray. Past the Hall of Pillars we can hear a rhythmic banging of metal on metal. Belroar notices recent monkey autonatom tracks. Temporarily ignoring this, we head to Lupa’s lair to report on our time above. Axel dons his power armor while we speak with her about Marchmain and other happenings during the last two weeks. She continues to encourage us to secure the under city to keep the evil within. Understanding we feel threatened by the machinations of the Monkeys, she agrees we should address them before we return to the Ancient Dwarven research bases. 

Before heading west to Hunt the Monkey, Hey Hey Hey!, we lean our load by leaving a stockpile with Lupa.