Sundered Lands 48

The Sundered Lands of Palladium

Session 48
March 27-April 21, 2017

Kraken's Cove

Tuesday, October 31

Beach Party

The Guardians all come back together in their little alcove on the sandy beach of Kraken’s Cove. Valinya sits down and asks the rest to stay close for at least 5 minutes while she uses her magic to cure Seeker of this savage fever that is trying to destroy his mind and cause a black, spikey mange on his skin. The ships continue burning but nothing else bothers the crew for the 5 minutes it takes the Elf to sing her song of healing. Seeker smiles and stretches, feeling much better.

“There, Seeker.  Now if we could all avoid getting this foul disease moving forward it would be most appreciated. Not, of course, that that is at all part of the plan.  Speaking of which … we have two choices of paths. I’m not the military strategist, but I think I’d prefer going to the cavern with the huge lizard beasts. For some reason they scare me more than diseased pirates. Plus the narrow entrance that they can’t exit through provides a distinct advantage.  Perhaps we could station ourselves there and call them to us. Then we could attack them from range and … well, or … hit them from close up near the entrance so we control their movement. Regardless, I feel they are the greater danger and honestly I’d rather not go the other route and have them crash our party from the side.” Lying down she continues. “I’m going to rest some more but I can listen to your discussion while I meditate.”

Seeker shudders as he feels the corruption forced out of his body by Valinya’s magics. “Thanks, sis. That’s some nasty stuff.” He ponders her suggestion about a tactical next step and nods. He hears Arn speak up and knows that they are all on the same page.

Arn nods in agreement with Valinya.“Aye lass, ye have the right idea. And we need to get moving on it, as all of these extra encounters have done nothing but slow us up. So let’s try take out any resistance and such as quickly as possible and get moving before we lose our trail and element of surprise.If we end up out here again, then we will take too locations of cover and concealment and allow ourselves a chance to unleash hell on them.”  

The group huddles in the corner of the warm and damp underground beach and rests for about 10 minutes, but that is as long as Arn will let them rest. Shouts and yells and screams can be heard echoing out of the entrance the the pirates hideout some 10 yards away. The occasional deep rumbling roar also pierces the air. No one knows for sure what will be found inside the pirate caves but the hope is that at least some information can be learned here before moving on.

Rising up … well, floating slowly from the horizontal to the vertical position in something of a freaky looking movement, Valinya rises and rubs her hands together saying, “Well, I think that will have to do for now. This place seems too active to sit and wait for more roamers to come looking for a meal. Let’s head out. That is the way,” she says, pointing toward the far entrance over the bridge. “I should warn you, though, that the bridge or walkway didn’t look all that safe for someone who couldn’t fly.”

Moving Out

Valinya leads the way down the beach, past the first opening all the way to the far end. Everyone is careful to step over and around the debris and mangled bodies that dot the beach until they arrive at the rickety ladder leading over a sloshing tidepool connected to the main lagoon. Past it a small beach lies with a narrow crevice leading into the rock wall.

Arn motions to Valinya to let him up near her. Knowing that in her airy-form, she is pretty much impossible to harm and difficult to see, Arn wants to make sure he is up front as he is perhaps the healthiest of the warriors of the group at this point. Still keeping his grip on his enchanted mace, Olum Kanat Sican, he also has his new enchanted Axe, “Thunder cutter” by his side to throw if a suitable target makes its presence known. The eager dwarf trudges on, his companions not far behind him.

Leading the way, Valinya keeps a sharp eye out in the tide pool.  Her curiosity is stirred, wondering if the bridge over the pool is just to keep one dry or if there is a more ominous reason for its existence.  She also keeps an eye out for any obvious broken boards, pointing them out to Arn as they slowly make the crossing. “Best keep ten or so feet between yourselves to avoid overloading this poor excuse for a bridge too much … and in case it starts to collapse.”

While rickety looking, Valinya thinks that the cargo netting there is designed to hold the thing together. Moonscar should be able to cross with no problems. Arn might stretch its limits and Seeker and Gorg would definitely give it a run for it’s money. She knew she would have no problem crossing. And Silver could also just fly across.

Moonscar steps up, kneels at the edge of the tidepool and watches the water sloshing around, back and forth. He follows the flow of the water for a moment, studying it. “There, over there, right where this area meets the larger lagoon, there should be an underwater seaway connecting it with some other areas further in. You can tell by the way the waves interact.” He nods and turns to examine the wood and rope bridge.

Silver looks at the sorry excuse for a bridge with obvious doubt.  “If you want, I could always fly over and have some lunatic bad guys chase me back over this.  If it’s gonna break, it would at least be them getting dumped in the water. Either way, I’m thinking we should figure out what happened here quickly.” Silver flies to the other side, and looks at the passage beyond, trying to determine if she should land and walk, or if she might be able to fly down the passage.

Valinya hovers mid-bridge to urge everyone along.  “Come on, careful but steady. You can do it.”

Not at all happy with the sturdiness of the bridge, Arn secures his shield over his back and his weapons back in their harnesses. If this thing breaks, he figures he can at least hold his breath long enough for his friends to retrieve him.   

Thinking about that, Arn produces a coil of improved rope. He ties a bowline knot and hooks it around his shoulder. He leaves the coil of rope out to Gorg and Seeker. “Take this guys, if I fall, pull me out. If I make it across, I will anchor my point and you then tie it around yerself. This way if ye fall in, I can pull you out as well.”

With that, Arn lets out a quiet prayer to Belimar, father of the Dwarves, and makes his way across the bridge.

Getting Over

Immediately, Arn feels that his weight, or more likely the weight of him plus all of his gear, may be too much for the rickety ladder and net combination. He moves out onto the span and feels the whole thing bend under his weight. He does not hear any cracks though, so that might be good. He takes another step and he sees a support board pop out of place, splashing to the water below. The entire bridge then drops another few feet, bending at an angle right where Arn is, dropping him to his hands and knees. Realizing that it will be too difficult to turn around and backing up the ladder will be next to impossible, the sturdy Dwarf scrambles forward up the now broken bridge and onto the damp, sandy ledge near the very skinny entrance Valinya has led them to. The bridge has not been destroyed or tumbled into the water, but it is clear that there is no way that Seeker or Gorg could make it across. Moonscar looks at it and shrugs, knowing that he could still quite easily cross the span, though he is unsure how Sings would fare. The gap here between the two sandy parts of the beach is only about 10 or 11 feet wide, though the landing space isn’t very big at all.

“Well, this is where I wish I had one of Fortis’ spells of creation. I could make something for you to walk on to cross. What if we used a rope and Arn could quickly pull you “big boys” across one at a time. And if Brother could skip across the bridge first he could help with the towing. Hopefully you can tread water enough to not drown in the process. And if there is some hungry something lurking in the water you may get across fast enough to avoid becoming a snack. Perhaps Sings could be coaxed to dance along the bridge after you, Brother.  Unless someone as a better idea? Oh, I could make you into air to float across but I’d rather use the time to rest if I can. Just let me know.” Having said her piece Valinya reclines softly on the sand to meditate and recover her energy, trusting that if she is needed the yells and screams will alert her.

Frustrated, the dwarf calls out, “This is stupid. We are doing this all wrong.” Arn looks back into the cove at the ships in the water and the ones that had burned out. “I think we would be better off if we could secure a couple of longer boards or beams from one of the ships still wreck in the harbor. We could use the long beams to make a bridge to span across the gap.

More work, more time, drier, Valinya thinks to herself. But she does lift a hand and wiggle her fingers in a “make is so” gesture. They’ll figure something out, she thinks as she refocus on meditating and renewing herself.

Gorg takes Arn's suggestion and walk back towards the burnt/burning ships, searching for any wood sturdy enough to help them get across.

Seeker follows after Gorg. I could probably jump that, but I doubt Arn and Gorg can. Best to make an arrangement for the whole team.He starts looking around for material to construct a sturdier bridge.

Lending his sharp eyes to the cause, Arn helps the others look for pieces of timber and such that will suffice to make a bridge long enough to cover the gap from his current perch on the other side of the water.

A dulcet voice floats along in the cavernous cavern … “OK boys, let’s move this along.  Don’t spin your wheels trying to figure out the best combination of things to build the best bridge.  We’re just crossing, not moving in.” Even though her eyes have remained closed Valinya knew the guys … and snickered.  

Silver looks at the larger members of the group going the other direction from the inner cave.  “Uh, isn’t that the wrong way? If you like I can see what’s under the water here. Can’t you guys just jump?  Or maybe swing, if I can find a spot above us to tie a rope to...” Silver looks up, and searches for something she might tie a rope to up above.

The reposing elf breathily snickers even louder.

Silver looks around up above for a good spot to tie a rope to and finds several spots, but upon further investigation, realizes that none of them will be strong enough to support her heavy Wolfen or Ogre companion.

After just a few minutes, during which occasional screams, roars and sounds of battle echo out of the narrow passage, Seeker and Gorg drag back several pieces of unburnt lumber that look like they will make the crossing a little safer for their large bulk. Silver watches over the area from a narrow rocky perch above the little strip of land Arn is currently occupying alone.

After a few moments of careful planning, the longest span of wood is dropped across, just barely long enough. It is definitely not strong enough to support anyone’s weight alone, but with a few other boards wedged into the previous bridge, the thought is that one could put their weight on it and hold on to it like a rail before crossing. The cacophony of sounds coming from the tunnel near Arn suddenly go eerily quiet. The only sounds to be heard are the sloshing water below and the occasional crackle of the dwindling fire out on the water.

Seeker eyes the ramshackle construction. It will probably hold one of us. But mayyybe not another. With a deep breath, he takes a few steps backwards, then gives Gorg a shrug and launches himself at the gap. At the last second, powerful legs bunch under him and he pushes off, flying through the air.

He lands and rolls, coming up next to Arn with an exhilarated grin. “C’mon, guys, let’s keep moving!”

Gorg breathes a sigh of relief when Seeker manages the leap.  Still eyeing the distance warily, Gorg whispers to himself, “If he can do it, so can I…” and throws himself across…

The massive Ogre flies through the air and slams into the sand and rocks at the far side, easily pulling himself up and dusting himself off. Gorg realizes that this jump was right at the maximum distance he could have leaped and if it had been much farther, he would have ended up in the water, or at best, smashed into the rocky side before falling into the water!

After watching Seeker and then Gorg rush about, carefully drop planks on the bridge, and then just jump over, she almost forgets to flap her wings for a moment as she hovers above the spectacle.  “Really? After all that, you just… jump over? What’s the bridge for? Oh whatever, let’s go see why it got quiet!”

Seeker points to Moonscar and Sings to Moon. “Probably too far for Sings to jump, and I didn’t want to risk destroying the bridge for her.” He shrugs, then grins. “Probably should have let her go first, then, huh?”

Valinya bestirs herself from her restorative meditations and smiles.  “All in all it was really quite entertaining. Although I could have easily floated Sings across.  Let’s wrap this up and move along. The sudden cessation of noise in ...disturbing.”

Going In

Arn comments in agreement with Valinya. “Yes, let’s get moving, we wasted too much time already. Any more delays and we may have just ruined our opportunity.” With that, Arn takes up his shield and starts off down the next passageway.

Valinya nods in agreement as she floats along behind at a safe distance, head swiveling as she keeps a sharp Elven eye out for danger.

Moonscar manages to coax his wolf companion across the rickety bridge safely and now all the members of the guardians are on the small spot of land before the narrow crack in the wall that Valinya says leads directly to a chamber with two large, mutated reptilian beasts. Arn has already begun squeezing himself through the narrow passage. Watching the Dwarf lead, it is obvious that the passage is very dark and a source of light will be needed.

Seeker looks around, then shrugs and turns into the passageway. Got your back, Arn. The light of the beach does not penetrate very far. “Val, since you can float above, can you be our light source? It gets dark quick in here.”

As Arn and Seeker make their way into the passage and the others decide on who is going next and how to light the way, a loud screeching roar pierces the air and echoes loudly through the passageway.

“Certainly,” Valinya says as she sings light into being, centring it on the tip top of Seeker’s head with a bit of a snicker.  “There, you have a holy nimbus, Mighty Seeker.” Doing her ‘flying bird’ imitation she floats horizontally along the ceiling line behind Arn.  She would float above Seeker were the Wolfen not so tall.

Arn steps through the tight opening and reaches to get a handle on Karrzark Cuttram, (Dwarven for Thunder Cutter), his enchanted throwing axe.   Arn has wanted to test this new toy out and figured that the armored hide of the lizards would prove a good test to see how the cutting enchantments on his new weapon will work out. Stepping through, axe drawn, shield up, the burly dwarf looks to the source of the roaring cry he hears, ready to engage into battle.

Unable to wait any longer, Silver follows Seeker cramming herself through the narrow passage.  Seeker hears some distinct grumbling from behind him that he recognizes as Draconic swearing.

Gorg takes a firm grip of Tempest and squeezes himself into the passage behind Silver.

Moonscar shoos Sings to Moon in after Gorg and then follows, keeping a careful eye to the back as well as watching up above them in the narrow crack of a tunnel.

The passage proves to be a tight fit for nearly everyone in different places and traversing the tunnel takes considerably longer than it did the first time Valinya floated through the area. The light from Seeker’s head manages to give everyone enough light to see by, though that does not help them from getting stuck from time to time. Several times while the group is making their way through the passage they hear a roar or loud growl from up ahead, sometimes accompanied by loud, wet breathing. The occasional scream and sound of things being broken can also be heard, but from a much more distant origin.

Finally, Arn calls back that he is almost to the end of the passage. He sees that the narrow crevice opens up into a larger room, but the entrance is covered by some sort of curtain or fabric. Everyone else continues to make their way forward through the passage. Loud, strained, heavy breathing can be heard on the other side of the drapery, but the Dwarf cannot see past it. He also realizes that he is mostly sideways, with his axe hand forward and shield hand behind. There is not enough room to bring his shield to bear in front of him and he assumes he will have difficulty throwing the axe from this compromised position.

“I think perhaps it is best if I take a peek to get the lay of the land, as it were, beyond yon curtain.”  Floating forward Valinya approaches the curtain carefully to peek into the cavern beyond.

“Gah!, i like this not!” grumbles the burly dwarf as he tries to fit himself through the tight passage. “Val, try to distract whatever is in there and give me a second or two to get through here and ready for a fight.” And, remembering his manners, winks at her,
“If ye don’t mind, lass”

Valinya nods slowly but still peeks through first, unwilling to become a vaporous snack.

Valinya floats up and above the flimsy curtain and into the room, wary of the two monstrous beasts she encountered there previously. Several of the lines holding the silken fabric that had been strung across the middle of the room has fallen now and lies trampled on the floor though the curtains ringing the room are still mostly intact. At first she does not see either of the two large creatures, only the deep gouges and scratches in the floor to show that they were previously there, but then a loud, wet snort catches her attention to the right, around an outcropping very near to where she entered the room. She floats forward and peers around the rock spying one of the beasts. It is laying on the sandy floor in a rather uncomfortable looking position, with its short arms splayed out beneath it and its strong back legs stretched out behind. The beast appears to be sleeping, though the mass of slimy black tentacles on it’s back writhe and pulsate constantly. The giant lizard shudders and shakes as it breathes irregularly, frequently snorting and sending tendrils of green ooze from its nose and mouth. Even floating there silently, Valinya feels that the creature can somehow sense her and if she makes even the slightest movement, it will leap up and assault her again! As she considers her next move, one of the monsters eyes flutters as if it is going to open.

Floating slowly backwards, Valinya retraces her route to rejoin her comrades.  In a hushed voice she describes what she saw. “Don’t forget,” she whispers, “they seem to hunt by scent.  Now that I think about it, I could create a cloud of stench around the head for temporary confusion. But the eyes work too so … that probably won’t help.  Remember there are two, though, so if we can keep the noise down and not shout or grunt too loud that might help keep the other lizard thing unaware long enough for us to dispatch this one first.”

Arn nods as Valinya quietly explains what she sees.   The dwarf figures he will be the first to make his way through and hopes to get a solid shot off with his axe.   Not knowing entirely what lays beyond he contemplates a strategy and tells Gorg and Seeker, “Let’s take out their legs, and topple them over.   Be easier to finish them off that way I think”. Arn grits his teeth, and prepares himself for battle once more.

Cast of Characters: 

+Arne Jamtgaard plays Seeker, a teenage Wolfen Warlord

+Stephen Kolmetz plays Valinya, an Elven Wildsong Mage

+Mike Biancone plays Arn, a surly Dwarven Warrior

+Amergin O'Kai plays Moonscar, the esoteric Kankoran Druid

+Daniel White plays Silver, a young and curious Dragon
+Mike Williams plays Gorgukk Torgnaz, an Ogre sailor and mauler
and +Jason GURPS as the GM