Session 6 into session 7Welcome back everyone! – we began our last session deep within the Aranoch desert, inside a small, rocky arena, where a makeshift campsite was set up, the party having just defeated a giant worm-like creature, the locals named the great Sand Beast, and were winding down for a few hours of rest.
During their time staying there, Rhyker pulls zrin off to one side for yet another private chat with him, only things didn’t go as well as Rhyker had hoped they would.
Feeling like he was getting nowhere, Rhyker used his Paladin aura near Zrin, to force some sort of reaction from him, but Zrin’s mind was a fortress at that moment, and he managed to resist all attempts made by Rhyker, to sway him.
With Rhyker seeing no way to reach his goal now, he used a Zone of Truth, and Zrin managed to resist this also, which as we know, allows him to avoid giving any honest answers that he doesn’t want to give up freely… Had he failed to resist the spell though, things would have gone a little more differently.
In the meantime, Scarlett saw the conversation happening, when stood near her tent, and saw that Zrin was looking very awkward, so Scarlett opted to fire a “Warning Shot” from her bow, using an exploding arrow to interrupt the proceedings.
With the placed arrow shot doing it’s job, the conversation ceased to continue, and the rest of the party began to awaken from their rest… All except for Morie, who remained fast asleep inside of her tent.
The party all decided to leave her a note, which Ophi was all too happy to write up for her, and then they all moved over to the arena exit, where on the way – Zrin and Scarlett strayed too close to the poisonous fumes still leaving the cracks in the sand, and only Zrin managed to resist breathing in the poisonous gas – However, Scarlett soon neutralised the poison in her body, with a quick swig of an antidote potion.
Once ready, the party as a group took off towards the road, and followed it easily into the Dry Hills area, where upon reaching said area, they were set upon by a group of Saber Cats, which, Zrin started combat by casting his newly learned Ice Storm spell at them all.
The battle is a fairly easy one, with Scarlett calling upon her powers of nature, to warp the ground in front of her, making sharp vines break through the sand, to deal damage to those brave enough to walk through the now thorn covered area.
Ophi tried to cast her magic, but the cruel hand of fate caused her to fail, and oddly enough, she ended up with her potions all swapping colours and properties… How weird is that? – That’s wild magic for you!
Towards the middle of the battle, a group of sand dwelling Cave Leapers, also joined the fight. They were able to reinforce the enemy side, but it wasn’t enough to stop the party in their progress… and soon all enemies lay slain on the sand.
After the battle was concluded, the party made a quick search of the area, which revealed to them that an Alchemist had once traveled the area, and they had left behind their potion making kit, along with a potion of thawing… The party snagged both of these items, and carried on down the road.
They didn’t have to travel far until they found a set of steps cut into the side of the mountain they walked near to, and climbing the steps up, they found their destination, the Halls of the Dead… along with a handy way-point, situated just outside of the entrance to the halls.
Wasting no time, Rhyker activated the magic circle, and Krell and Rhyker both used it to get back to Lut Gholein.
Once there, Rhyker literally dumped anything he could at the feet of Deckard Cain, and requested it to be identified…. To which Cain agreed, as per his agreement with the party for saving his hide back in Khanduras.
Krell, decided to get his equipment repaired with Fara, to get the best possible usage out of them once more.
Once done in the city, they both returned to the awaiting rest of the party, and decided to venture into the Halls stairway, which lead them down to a very cold and dark tomb, packed with Mummies and Bats, along with other things yet unseen.
The party noticed that the Bats start to twitch with their bodies, as they hanged from the ceiling, somewhat disturbed by the party entering the Halls of the Dead.
The Mummies there remained idle, except for slightly tilting their heads to lay their gaze onto the party…. the rest of their body remained deathly still though.
Deciding its best NOT to engage right then, they sneaked back up the sand covered stairway, and quietly as possible headed back up to the surface, and exited back into the Dry Hills.
Back outside, Ophi’s Bodyguards all gathered around the way-point, but, Krell and Rhyker sensing there was treasure to be found, headed off the beaten path… There, Rhyker did actually stumble across a lone chest…. it’s like he can sniff them out, like a blood hound on the hunt for its prey.
They both spent some time trying to break open the chest, Krel land Rhyker, but in the end it was Krell who delivered the forceful blow that set off the Ice Arrow trap, which he took with ease… So well in fact, that in a split second, he actually caught the arrow mid flight as it hurtled towards him, and then threw it at Rhyker instead…. Inside the chest were a few items of use, which Krell collected up.
Happy with the findings, the pair headed back to the rest of the party, where one by one they all took the way-point back to Lut Gholein.
Once back inside of the city walls, the party all broke off and did their own thing.
Krell gave his new dagger to Cain, and requested he too would identify the weapon for him, he then went to speak with Fara, and is now working at being a trainee Blacksmith – with her mentoring.
Zrin headed to Drognan’s Library rather eagerly, in search of knowledge of anything Storm related, or documented strong weather patterns – he seems very determined to improve himself.
Ophi headed to Lysander, and spoke at length with him about potion brewing techniques, and the various herbs and spices that can be found in the desert region.
Rhyker decided to continue with his weapon training, and headed to the mercenary Barracks, where he could train on the practice dummies kept within their courtyard.
Scarlett headed to Fara to get her equipment repaired, and would later join Ophi at the Tavern.
And so… it’s here where we are picking up today’s session… let’s see what chaos we can cook up this time, shall we?