We continued our adventure deep in the Komor Forest as the players contended with a massive tentacle creature in and around the ancient cabin identified on the map where the artifact hid.
The Cast
Johann Shwartz a Honored Hunter (cleric) - Rob
Finkas Snotrags a Halfling merchant - Ken
Brimstone a hedge mage (magic-user) - Chris
Henchmen
Hans a crossbowman - Johann
Fritz a crossbowman - Johann
Craig a fighter - Johann
Toral a fighter - Johann
Irna a fighter - Finkas
Rock a charmed bugbear - Brimstone
Sharp a charmed bugbear - Brimstone
The party decided to check the parameter around the tentacled beast, to keep 200' away. They came down the hill into the marsh finding the footing difficult. Finkas up to his mid-chest, dressed in plate mail found the situation uncomfortable. Brimstone took to the air with his Potion of Levitation.
The Hissing Skeletons
Midway around the cabin Johann felt a bony hand grab his leg and attempt to pull him under. Soon after Craig, Irna, and Sharp were being attacked beneath the water. Johann was drug and held under. Vicious hands raked at his armor. He was pulled to the surface by his henchmen. A short skeleton whose bones were thicker and denser than normal hissed at him. Its fetid breath entering his mouth as it dug out one of Johann's eyes.
The skeletons clawed and tried to drag them under the water. Johann hit them with the power of the Theophant weakening their necromanic energies. The four hissing skeletons were brought to the surface and destroyed, but not after nearly killing Sharp. The bones quietly sank into the watery marsh.
Proboscis Pits
After a short discussion, afraid to move more through the marsh, the party walked toward the cabin when Johann and Sharp fell into proboscis pits beneath the murky waters. The pit's walls were populated with spiny proboscis. As they pulled Johann and Sharp from the pits the proboscis penetrated his armor. The proboscis broke off from the walls and pumped a black viscous liquid beneath Johann's skin.
Johann found one inch lumps beneath his skin where the proboscis had wounded him. He removed the lump from the first area. He found a sphere made of a gelatinous outer skin with several hundred black eggs within. When he attempted to remove the second lump, he punctured the sac and the small eggs entered his blood stream. He lost his composure and tore out the remaining egg sacs causing critical wounds to himself. With Sharp already on the verge of death the party decided to leave the lumps alone.
Entering the Well House
The tentacle creature now seemed the least dangerous choice. Brimstone, was still under the affect of a Potion of Levitation, did a few creative mid-air maneuvers to enter the well house without touch the tentacles. Inside he found an ancient stone well. Using a magic light he estimated the depth to be around 60' to 70'. However when he used a light source the tentacles reacted to the light.
Finkas entered the house through a hole in the wall. He managed to get to the well without touching any of the tentacles. The two of them descended into the natural cavern that lay below. There was a few inches of water on the floor, scattered within the water were several hard silver coins. They continued east into another cavern, the water depth increased. Inside, were a few dozen translucent fish. They remained stationary. Finkas identified them as cuddlefish.
They continued through a couple more water filled caverns before finding dry land. Upon the shore were rocks with fish skins and spines. Resting against the walls were fishing spears. The went north up a winding set of stairs and found a dent helm of Northman make. At the top of the stairs the room looked to have taken damage. In the center is a broad pillar with a battle scene. At the base demons tunneled through the earth. At the center, men battled the abominations. And above them all are a mass of crows. They searched the pillar but found no evidence of secret compartments.
They traveled north and greeted by an emaciated man, long gray beard, hunched, and speaking in a language they didn't understand. He pointed east, into a room with a dozen niches with 1' tall stone statues of crows. As they entered, the emaciated man spoke and one of the crows transformed into real crow and landed on his arm. He then pointed south where fire light flickered.
Within this room another pillar, similar as the other stood at the center. Three other emaciated men sat eating cuddlefish from bowls. They did not lift their heads to acknowledge their visitors. Brimstone and Finkas took to investigating this pillar. As before the battle waged between demon and men with what looked like the crows assisting in the battle. At the center of the battle was a woman wearing a symbol of what the artifact they were looking for. They manipulated the pillar where the woman stood and two half man, half scorpion demons morphed from the pillar.
The battle began....
Meanwhile Outside with Johann
Johann stood guard outside with all the henchmen. He still suffered from wounds he received from the hissing skeleton and the infusion of eggs. A group of three men crested the hill. A small exchange of words, Johann warned them not to enter the marsh.
They did not heed his warning.
As the three men entered the swamp one of them was drug beneath the water. The other two held. Johann used his divine powers and damaged the three hissing skeletons within the water. One of the skeletons surfaced and was destroyed. Two of the party escaped and ran to ground by Johann. The third of their party never surfaced.
At the same time Brimstone and Finkas touched the pillar, the tentacle creature reacted. Taking its giant tentacle and sweeping across the entire party. From above, a cacophony erupts.
End of Session
Loose Ends
The battle with the demons and tentacle guardian conclusion
stone crows and the emaciated men
demons
tentacle creature