You all should keep whatever magic items we find, part of your compensation for the work you’re doing. I don’t think a short rest would put us too much at risk... we’ve cleared this room, we could go back a bit into the cavern and rest if we like as well. According to the map, the stairs should be just ahead. Whatever you decide is fine by me.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ackam goes back into the throne room while the others decide on whether to continue or take a short rest. He goes and take a seat on the throne and keeps an eye out for any intruders who might come from either entrance. He leans on his battle axe while keeping an eye and whispers to himself:
A salty old sea-dog named Trevor, sailed to Olber with Cook on ‘Endeavour’. There a dark funny drew danced a jig for the crew ‘Well, I never,’ said Trevor ‘that’s clever.’
Two hallways lead out the southern side of the throne room, the one you came in through and the one Ackam scouted a bit leading to the east. There is a door in the wall mirroring the one to the armory you went into in the western corridor.
After a short rest the party ventured down another hallway with uneven flagstones making up the floor. They reached a small chamber with a staircase leading down.
The stairs led down and down, flight upon flight, until they finally led into another small chamber with a large ironwood door reinforced with steel. Bastion removed the bar and the party steppped out into a huge underground cavern. As their eyes adjusted to the gloom they saw faint glowing patches on the ground and walls made by bioluminescent lichen. A crashing and rumbling of water led the party to believe there was a waterfall somewhere near by.
Those of the party with dark vision saw a rope bridge leading off to the west.
As they crossed the rope bridge the party saw huge stalagmites reaching up towards the top of the cavern lost in darkness above.
To the north the party beheld the huge waterfall they’d been hearing, it crashed down from above forming a swift moving underground river running across the plateau before surging off the edge in another waterfall. Next to the first waterfall is a large cavern. A large group of bats exploded out of the cavern and flew up and then dived around the group, circling and catching at their hair and clothing.After a moment the bats flew back up into the air and moved to the west closer to the river. They began to form a tighter and tighter group, blurring into each other and then finally coalescing into the form of a tall man with pale skin and long black hair. Clean shaven and striking, a smile played across his bloodless lips as he regarded you. His hair and fine clothes billowed around him as he floated the last few feet to the floor.
“Rogase?” Mikkael said, somewhat stunned.
“Ah, yes, Elgar Rogase, noble layabout, heir to his uncles posistion at the head of The Arts and Antiquities Guild.”
He smiled a sanguin smile.
“An easy skin to wear among the moronic nobles of your fair city. And the perfect way to keep my hand in the managing of said morons. You may address me by my true name, Aleksandi Lorgosse.”
He looked at each member of the party in turn.
“Earthhand the Druid Ackam Abatta, barbarian pirate. Agency, tiefling monk. Bastion, ancient guardian. Varris Augustus, favored of Mishkala. Aedra, sorceress and shameless flirt. and finally Mikkael, cleric of Rialle.
“You insects think to foul my designs? I remember when the first people stumbled onto this city laying claim to the work of their betters. I never thought I’d come back here, but such is life.” He smiled at his joke. “I was once a cleric of Rialle as well, you know, quite renowned. I’m my first life I spread her word far and wide. Now, alas, the dawn is lost to me, but rebirth?”
His fangs clicked out.
“Rebirth is my specialty. While bringing my progeny into the world pleases me, I seek a greater rebirth, one to make the heavens quake. I will wake the slumbering old ones, and bring about a new age of darkness and strife. Why? Because it is my nature to do so.
At his words dozens of pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the mouth of the cavern by the waterfall. And a large group of vampires resembling the ones you fought in alley emerged.
“Which of you shall I keep? I must recoup my loss of the rash Leandra and her boys. Oh, Kealara! Your sister! Such beauty shouldn’t fade, once my progeny dispatch with you I think I shall turn her and keep her as a concubine for the next millennia or so.”
Mikkael’s knuckles went white on his mace. He looked from Lorgosse to the spawn emerging from the cavern. His shoulders slumped as he sighed. He dropped his mace turned and kissed Agency quickly before she slapped him and then kissed him back.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to die without doing that. I mean, I’m not crazy, right? We had something going on, didn’t we?” Mikkael asked
“Enough! Take them!” Lorgosse hissed
Mikkael ripped his holy symbol from his neck and held it above his head, blinding light shot from between his fingers like 1000 dawns, Lorgosse was staggered and some of the spawn dropped to the floor as he intoned a holy word.
“Tell Darna I died well. NOW RUN!” Mikkael shouted.
He turned with a roar, his huge frame moving blindingly fast. At the last moment he launched himself through the air at the recovering Lorgosse and the two of them tumbled into the swift moving water. They bobbed above the surface once locked in a dire struggle where Aedra attempted to use lighting lure to recover Mikkael, but he wouldn’t release his grip on the struggling vampire and the lure slipped off him. They passed over the edge and down into the unfathomable darkness. As the holy light faded the dozens of vampire spawn begin to stir.
Agency and Ackam heeded Mikkael’s last request and headed for the bridge, Thorok used his wand of web to slow the vampires progress, with Aedra and Varris popping of spells in a controlled retreat. Bastion held the vampires at the bridge while his companions crossed where Earthhand entangled them allowing Bastion to dash across, Agency set the bridge aflame but it was taking too long to burn through, so Bastion severed it the rest of the way with a swipe of his new halberd.
The companions ventured back up into the ruins and the events truly sank in. They resolved to head back to the city and relay the sad news to Darna. They made for the Griffon’s Roost where they spoke with Radleff and Nimbus about what they learned and sent for Darna. The party told her that Mikkael had sacrificed himself so they could escape. She was distraught, crushed, but she resolved to grieve later and helped the party to realize that Lorgosse had been posing as different members of the Rogase family for generations and been the head of the Arts and Antiquities Guild for that time as well. And that the Lorgosse name predated the cataclysm.
The party resolved to head out to the Rogase estate and see what they could learn. They set out with Darna and two of her men-at-arms. They were waylaid by bandits on the way. The bandits killed the men at arms and were in turn wiped out by the companions.
Earthhand pants heavily, a bandit chest under his boot. "That'll show 'em, messin' wit' moy flock!" He looks around triumphantly. "Donna! How much farther ter teh estate? Aen Oi'm curious wha' e'eryone's thoughts are at this point aboot this Lorgosse. Oi fer one haen't heard too much aboot dark unnaturalness, but Oi've a mind ter dispose o' such perversions o' nature." He thinks back to the hoard the party recently fled from. "All those gummers, robbed o' their free will..." he shudders.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Ackamlooks around satisfied at the trail of dead bandits left in the wake of his rage. He wipes the blood and chunks of flesh off his great battle axe on the closest dead bandit near him. He then whistles for his donkey, Fanculo, who trots over to Ackam and gives the halfling a little nuzzle. "Aye, you done well me friend," Ackam says to Fanculo and then mounts the beast. He gives it a slight kick and Fanculo trots over to Darna. "Are you okay, Lady Darna?" Ackam asks. "Do you know who these basterds were who ambushed us? Hired hands of Rogase maybe?"
What did they say the name of their band was? The Silver somethings? I wouldn’t imagine Lorgosse would have hired such an inept group... unless it was all he could drum up on such short notice. Will one of you help me secure Wil and Nem to their horses? I know we can’t stop now, but I also can’t leave them here. They were good, loyal men. Wil has served my family since my grandfather was head of the house. I’ve known him my whole life. And poor Gadda, Nem’s wife, I’ll have her family moved into our house. Lorgosse has much to answer for.
Earthhand helps secure the men to the horses, tucking twigs of yew into the belts of Wil and Nem, before looking around at the rest of the party. "Aye they have much ter pay fer, aen we're no' gettin' any closer ter our goal muckin' aboot like pegs in teh mud. Onward!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
So you continue on to the Rogase estate, you pass another two hours along the road and you begin to feel a shift in the air. Even though it’s day mists cling to the ground, there’s a chill in the air, and a general sense of foreboding.
You come around a bend and the estate comes into view before you. The front of the building is lined with columns, balconies dot the face, and towers bookend the crenelated roof.
You are 100 yards from the gate house, you see no activity from within.
Does anyone else smell a sense of foreboding? Because I sure do...Aedra looks around through squinted eyes smelling intensely. Her sense of smell isn't as awesome as she thinks it is, but she really feels like she's onto something.
Thorok paces about, antsy to move on.
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
You all should keep whatever magic items we find, part of your compensation for the work you’re doing. I don’t think a short rest would put us too much at risk... we’ve cleared this room, we could go back a bit into the cavern and rest if we like as well. According to the map, the stairs should be just ahead. Whatever you decide is fine by me.
Mikkael folds the map and hands it to Earthhand
Ackam goes back into the throne room while the others decide on whether to continue or take a short rest. He goes and take a seat on the throne and keeps an eye out for any intruders who might come from either entrance. He leans on his battle axe while keeping an eye and whispers to himself:
A salty old sea-dog named Trevor,
sailed to Olber with Cook on ‘Endeavour’.
There a dark funny drew
danced a jig for the crew
‘Well, I never,’ said Trevor ‘that’s clever.’
And continues to keep watch.
Perception: 13
Short rest it is. Mikkael can take the second wat h if Ackam would like a little respite as well. Errybody go ahead note the short rest!
A short rest it is! Last call on the wand?
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
While resting, Earthhand will peruse the map and meditate to regain some of his arcane powers.
"Ahead, friends?"
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Two hallways lead out the southern side of the throne room, the one you came in through and the one Ackam scouted a bit leading to the east. There is a door in the wall mirroring the one to the armory you went into in the western corridor.
Earthhand pants heavily, a bandit chest under his boot. "That'll show 'em, messin' wit' moy flock!" He looks around triumphantly. "Donna! How much farther ter teh estate? Aen Oi'm curious wha' e'eryone's thoughts are at this point aboot this Lorgosse. Oi fer one haen't heard too much aboot dark unnaturalness, but Oi've a mind ter dispose o' such perversions o' nature." He thinks back to the hoard the party recently fled from. "All those gummers, robbed o' their free will..." he shudders.
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
Ackam looks around satisfied at the trail of dead bandits left in the wake of his rage. He wipes the blood and chunks of flesh off his great battle axe on the closest dead bandit near him. He then whistles for his donkey, Fanculo, who trots over to Ackam and gives the halfling a little nuzzle. "Aye, you done well me friend," Ackam says to Fanculo and then mounts the beast. He gives it a slight kick and Fanculo trots over to Darna. "Are you okay, Lady Darna?" Ackam asks. "Do you know who these basterds were who ambushed us? Hired hands of Rogase maybe?"
What did they say the name of their band was? The Silver somethings? I wouldn’t imagine Lorgosse would have hired such an inept group... unless it was all he could drum up on such short notice. Will one of you help me secure Wil and Nem to their horses? I know we can’t stop now, but I also can’t leave them here. They were good, loyal men. Wil has served my family since my grandfather was head of the house. I’ve known him my whole life. And poor Gadda, Nem’s wife, I’ll have her family moved into our house. Lorgosse has much to answer for.
The dead bandits are beginning to smell.
Aedra uses prestidigitation and disperses a fresh, clean scent to cover the stench of the bodies as she helps Darna secure the men to the horses.
Earthhand helps secure the men to the horses, tucking twigs of yew into the belts of Wil and Nem, before looking around at the rest of the party. "Aye they have much ter pay fer, aen we're no' gettin' any closer ter our goal muckin' aboot like pegs in teh mud. Onward!"
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
So you continue on to the Rogase estate, you pass another two hours along the road and you begin to feel a shift in the air. Even though it’s day mists cling to the ground, there’s a chill in the air, and a general sense of foreboding.
You come around a bend and the estate comes into view before you. The front of the building is lined with columns, balconies dot the face, and towers bookend the crenelated roof.
You are 100 yards from the gate house, you see no activity from within.
How do you wish to proceed?
BASTION has been quietly brooding over Mikkael.
"We are bound to find a way to end this Aleksandi. Let us proceed cautiously, but with the strength of our lost companions convictions behind us."
Does anyone else smell a sense of foreboding? Because I sure do... Aedra looks around through squinted eyes smelling intensely. Her sense of smell isn't as awesome as she thinks it is, but she really feels like she's onto something.
Earthhand clears his throat awkwardly. "Ahem, sorry Aedra."
Incantis, half-elf warlock (great old one) 4/bard 1 ● Thorok Earthhand, hill dwarf mountain druid 6/grave cleric 2
Cragmyre Ironseed, earth genasi ancestral barbarian 3 ● Cyrus Natriallae, aquatic half-elf warlock of the deep 3
A raven caws in a tree nearby.
That was one perfectly timed crow. Foreboding AF. Aedra looks at Thorok with one raised eyebrow. How about now?