Dark Paths 23

Dark Paths of Riddleport
Session 23
January 20, 2013

Clean Up, Aisle Riddleport

Map Tool Chat Log

Session Summary

The Dark Elf lays at your feet, no longer bleeding thanks to Snargash's magic, but she is still unconscious. The magical ring of daylight still shines brightly in the middle of the room, illuminating the rising edge of the Cyphergate as it cuts through the side wall of the room. In the far eastern corner, several shovels, some picks and a wheelbarrow sit, the wall around the Cyphergate shows signs of recent excavation.

Aragon asks impatiently, "So, can we go now?"

Guy responds, "Sounds good to me."

Tired of waiting for the others, Aragon heads off back through the tunnels toward the Gold Goblin. The Drow's equipment was gathered up, along with her unconscious body while several folks climbed the ladder to see where it goes. The ladder leads up and goes through a trapdoor in the floor of an abandoned fishing shack sitting right up next to the western leg of the Cyphergate. Apparently their travels underground led them down and under the mouth of the Velashu River and Riddleport harbor. That would explain all the water in the tunnels. 

The rest of the group gathers up anything that looks valuable or important and puts them into the wheelbarrow with the wounded Drow and her legs and begins the long trek back through the cavern's to the Gold Goblin. It is much slower going pushing the wheelbarrow. It only takes Aragon about an hour to get back and he immediately seeks out Kwava and tells him that they captured the 'renegade Elf' he had been tracking and that it was a Drow. Kwava does not at first believe it and is just as surprised as everyone else was that the Drow even existed. After another hour, the rest of the group arrives with the Drow in tow.

Upon seeing the Drow, Kwava states that he must contact his superiors back in Mierani Forest to let them know what has been discovered. Just then, a commotion is heard coming from outside. After the Drow is firmly tied, several folk go out to investigate while some others watch from nearby windows. People have gathered in the streets, pointing at the sky. Apparently the strange 'Blot' has disappeared finally. 

Just then, in the slightly darkening early evening sky, a bright flash lights up nearly the entire sky and a dull boom fills the air. The air seems to be electric, everyone's hair is frizzy and their skin feels tingly. A man calls out, "Look, there, in the sky! Coming from the north! What is it?" A lengthening streak of bright light can be seen stretching across the northern sky. It looks to be a falling star, but it seems to be heading directly for Riddleport!

The Sky is Falling!

Shouts and screams begin to go up nearby and people, in a panic, begin running. Cries of the end of the world and impending fiery doom fill the streets.

Instead of burning out, like most shooting stars do, this one grows brighter and larger, arcing across the northern sky, hurtling directly toward the City of Cyphers.

Panic rises in the nearby streets as the falling star looms closer and closer, then at seemingly the last moment, it shoots out past the city, trailing behind it a smoky scar across the sky. The sound of thunder fills the sky as it passes.

All heads in Riddleport turn and watch it fly past, out over the ocean to the south, its reflection lighting up the sky above and the waves below.

It flies to the south, dropping past the horizon for a moment before the sky lights up again, this time with what must be a huge explosion, somewhere out to sea.

The early evening sky lights up like it was midday with a strange light. 

Many of the folk from the crowded streets have migrated toward the docks to the south, following the shooting star. Shouts and cheers of salvation begin to go up around Riddleport.

Several moments later, a tremendous explosion rolls through Riddleport as a powerful earth tremor strikes.

The tremor continues for several minutes, though not as intense as it was when it first struck, then an angry orange ball of fire rises into the sky on the horizon over the sea, spreading in an ominous mushroom-shaped cloud.

By this time, much of Riddleport has gathered at the wharves and southern points of town for a better view of the distant holocaust.

A few minutes later, the water of Riddleport Bay suddenly retreats into a bizarre and sudden low tide, revealing several sunken wrecks and flopping fish and more than a few stranded sharks and even a large Bunyip can be seen way out at the edge of the harbor.

From your vantage point at the front of the Goblin, you can see sevearl handfuls of not so bright souls jumping down off the docks and slogging through the much at the bottom of the harbor, going after all manner of salvage.

Loud cheers and laughs are now coming from the docks as a group of sailors go after a beached jigsaw shark.

Snargash grabs his first aid kit and then starts yelling at the top of his lungs "

GET BACK! RUN TO HIGH GROUND! INCOMING TIDAL WAVE RUN TO HIGH GROUND!" While Aragon and Hulger the cook start closing up the windows of the Goblin.

Snargash's voice booms through the area, nearly as loud as the passing falling star! Nearly everyone at the docks stops and turns to look. Many of the folk in the harbor stop and turn back toward the docks.

Snargash screams "RRRRUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!"

Unfortunately, it is not enough warning for some as suddenly, a 7 foot wall of water appears

and is rushing toward the mouth of the harbor!

Screams and cries for help now fill the air again as those still in the harbor try fruitlessly to escape the approaching water. Everyone on the docks scatters like mice in front of the rushing wave.

Water starts splashing high into the air as the leading edge of the wave hits the outer edges of the protected harbor, then with the force of a flight of dragons, the water slams into the docks, sending bodies, planks and even some of the smaller water craft flying into the air.

The screams are quickly drown out, literally.

The wall of water pushes up the streets of Riddleport, carrying all with it. The water reaches nearly 70 feet into the city before slowly receding back into the bay.

Continuing Story Doc

Continuing Story Summary

After the earthquake and tidal wave hitting the city, it was clear that trouble was at hand. Several members of the Crew took to the streets to see about helping out those in need. The tidal wave caused considerable damage, knocking over dock side buildings, pulling countless people out into the harbor, throwing ships and boats up onto the docks and streets, and even depositing several dangerous creatures on the wet cobblestone streets. 

Snargash hurries off to help the wounded and finds some folk trapped in a partially collapsed building. Bodi and Aragon encounter one of the dangerous animals, a Bunyip, that had been washed up on shore. The Bunyip was nearly done ripping an unfortunate soul in two when

Aragon and Bodi arrived. They quickly engaged the beast and it nearly proved more than they bargained for. Aragon moved in confidently but slips on some mud and muck on the street and fells the Bunyip's large and powerful mouth close around his arm. The creature nearly rips Aragon's arm off before Bodi distracts it enough so the two can finish it off. 

Fortunately, Snargash was able to help those in the collapsed building and then make it over to help Aragon and use his magic before the wound got the best of him.

Cast of Characters: 

Aethelarian "Aethel" Flitterseed - Noble Elf wizard played by +Daniel White 
Aragon Whisperwind - Elven Bladedancer played by +Arne Jamtgaard 
Bodil "Bodi" Jantzen - suave and smooth swordsman played by +Mike Biancone 
Guy Greystone - Gnome telekinetic played by +Gren Drake 
Snargash Windblown - Half-Orc monk played by +Amergin O'Kai 
and +Jason Woollard as the DM