Session One Hundred and Forty-Two (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

session 142

Session 142 – 29th of Tanrilden

00,000.04.16

Reaching the Top of Jagger’s Valley, the party discusses. their options. when they notice a group of riders appear from the Gate of the Tower Below.

Approx 15 men on horseback.

Axel using the spyglass sees they are both colonials and islanders,and the leader carries a spear with a white cloth on the end,a universal sign of truce.

As the riders make their approach up the winding trail through the jungle.

the keepers debate action. do we fight or do we parlay? Thorfus suggests we see what they want, and Ronan, suggests taking a defensive stance.

Thorfus steps forward with Ronan and Axel. with the spear men backing them up. the archers make a flanking stance to either side of the rough rocky trail.

Chuq and Edan move up into a stealth position,ready to strike or read the minds of the riders.

The riders approach stopping 50 feet from the party. the Leader a well defined Muscular man Calls out.

May i approach?

Thorfus agrees and the Lead rider moves forward.

with a commanding voice states their intentions.

“The Master of this Domain, Jagger the Hero of Zardan, has spied your trespass on his lands. He recognizes from your armaments and bearing that you are worthy adventurers and believes your mistake can be forgiven – indeed, that a beneficial arrangement can be reached. There is a terrible creature preying on his servants, a hydra of some sort; track this creature, destroy it, and recover its poison bladder. In exchange, Jagger offers freedom of movement through his lands and a boon either magical or scientific of your choice. Know that Jagger is Master of more than land, but also Magic and the ancient art of BioForging. He can reward you with items of power or even re-knit your very sinews to impart greater strength, stamina, or dexterity. If you are not swayed by this offer, our master asks that you depart his lands at once; if the offer pleases you, the path to his tower will open when you have the hydra’s bladder.”

Thorfus Responds with “and if we don’t agree”?

the Lead rider says i hope that will not be the case.either way then you will return the way you came and there will be no hostilities.

As they are speaking Chuq uses the nightcap to read into the leaders intent, and finds he is not looking for conflict.

Ronan asks What is your name sir.?

the lead rider reply’s my name is Ericus.

Thorfus and Ericus, talk for a bit about other ways around Jagger’s lands and Ericus assures him there is no easy path.

Knowing the creature Ericus talks about. Thorfus, Ronan and Axel, try to determine another way through. but cant seem to find another choice

the two parties discuss terms.of what exactly Jagger can do for them.

and decide since the choice isn’t and easy one they agree if they do kill the Hydra, they will return with the bladder. and if they don’t return Ericus understands.

At this point he states the party must go back the way they came.

on that note Ericus turns and the horsemen rid back down the rocky trail that leads to Jagger’s tower.

Ronan suggests that either way the chances are high that the party will come across the hydra. the party agrees, and sets of to find the beast.sending thier long lost friend Socrates to scout ahead. Edan casts invisibility on Socrates, this makes the Owl very happy.

The Party make their way back down the winding trail, to the location they spent the night in kels tower.

it is close to sunset when they arrive, and thorfus sets up the tower. while the others discuss a plan to trap and surprise the hydra.

The plan consists of creating a pungy trap with two sides that will snap shut like 2 wooden jaws, in hopes the hydra will be within. Edan produces a rumba(a bouncing betty of sorts) and sets it up near the pungy trap. Axel suggests they move all this

about 100 feet from the front of kels tower. Ronan thinking he knows something about trapping,and he doesn’t. suggests urinating around the trap to draw in the hydra. the party laughs and says if you gotta go you gotta go. the final step is hanging a lantern near the trap.

The rain hasn’t stopped since they party arrived in this jungle. so the party all enter the tower wet and uncomfortable. all archers and casters take the top tier.to get opportunity shots off if the trap works.

Night creeps in as most of the party trys to sleep. Thorfus takes first watch.it doesn’t

take long for him to hear the crashing and heavy foot falls of what must be the hydra.

Then a Blood curdling Roar that penetrates the souls of all within the tower, everyone is now awake.shaking with Adrenalin and anticipation of whats to come.

Everyone with infravsion atop the tower watches as the 8 headed beast stalks around the tower.with a low growl the hydra makes its way around as each head sniffs the ground and watches the tower. then the lantern catches the hydras attention. it moves slow and cautiously toward the trap.

the hydra stretches out one of its heads to inspect, what Ronan thinks must be the scent of the urine,and SNAP! the pungy trap goes off, barley catching the hydras head, it rears back and then Boom! the Bouncing Betty is set off. with a cloud of smoke it shoots up 6 feet in to the air, and a whizzing noise begins to pierce the ears of the onlookers as the pellets are sent flying right into the hydras Body.

Ronan Yells Fire!

a volley of arrows cascade down onto the hydra, some hitting their mark.

Edan steps up and his eyes Glow Bright as an arcane glow surrounds his hands as he mumbles something under his breath, and an impressive electrical Bolt Surges out of his hands and right into the body of the Beast, a Major lightning strike cracks down on the nearby mountain at the same time.

The Hydra Rears in pain and with a roar turns to face the tower.

Everyone inside starts to scramble, knowing for sure they are all dead.

it seems the tower is out of range. The hydra turns and Takes off Running at a speed none thought possible with the way it lumbered around before the attack.

30,80.200.400 yards, its going to escape Ronan yells. Chuq Creams Hang on. and Shadow steps with Thorfus edan and Ronan. out to the only shadow available the lantern that is now laying broken and burning the ground. They take off running.

Mean While Axel Grunts missing his ride,he leaps from the battlements. thinking bad idea, but as he goes over the wall his suit of armor seems to stretch him his feet touch the ground and then his head seems to swish to met his body as his stretched out form springs back to form. Axel Lands shakes off the effect and heads off down the trail after the rest of the group.

closing their distance. Edan Fumbling to try and get his want out of his

pouch.succeeds almost dropping it while in full sprint. he stops takes aim just in front of the beast that’s 200 feet away and casts Wall of ice. that appears right in front of the hydra, that is running at full speed. SMASH the Hydra Crashes through the ice wall stumbles and slides another 20 feet,Shards of ice and water scatter. the Hydra Lays still on the trail. Thorfus ,Chuq and Ronan Stop and look at Edan. Give a nod at each other in disbelief. Take off to the hydra laying motionless on the trail.Without hesitation Thorfus Goes to work Slashing and cutting at the heads and necks of the beast. Ronan and Chuq follow suit. severing all the heads from the hydras Body.

The group hears clanking and heavy breathing as they turn to see Axel Bring up the rear. Axel Stops sighs and with almost a pout, turns and heads back to the tower.

Upon examining the hydra corpse. the Party decides to wait until morning to finish the dissecting. Thorfus retrieves the tower and the rest of the group and makes his way back to Ronan and Chuq.

Thorfus Reanimates the Tower, Chuq Takes out the starchie Badge and hangs it over the tower wall.

Though the night. some Wild dogs or something to the like stalk around the tower and Hydra corpse hoping to get an easy meal. archers from the tower take pot shots to keep them at bay. On Axels watch he kills one of the dogs.

Morning comes and with the new day the Party begins to dissect the hydra looking for the bladder, the source of its acid.

Chuq sends Socrates. to scout out the path the hydra made hoping to find its layer.

Hours pass, the bladder is recovered, a section of the hydras neck is severs and

cleaned making a sturdy casing for the bladder.

Socrates returns With News of his findings and that he located finkelwurms tunnel where the hydra seemed to make its layer.

the Party debates a bit on what action to take. do they spend a day tracking down the hydras layer in hopes of some treasure. or do they head to Jagger’s tower. and complete the deal.

The finnal decision is made to Track down the Layer of the hydra and so they se off.the Party makes their way down the trail to where they previously came across the broken kart and the body in the tree. and they follow the trail the hydra made through the jungle.

hours trekking through the dense jungle, someone notices a hissing sound. and before they know it Spiders come from all directions. these spiders are about a foot in diameter. and very aggressive. we must have walked right through their nest.the spiders attack biting several of the party members, killing the head Sailor.(embrek??)

The Party Kills off the Spiders one by one,the hirelings doing most of the work.

gathering around their fallen leaders body. it is decided to take him with them to fins a suitable resting place.

The Party makes their way to the Tunnel. That Funklewurm had made and the hydra used as its Layer.

Poking around through the refuse of the hydra the party finds 3,150 gp, 6,015cp

gold chain ,the copper pieces are left behind.

Smelling like Crap….. The party heads out in the direction of where the trap was set.making it about halfway they make camp setting up the tower and taking shelter.

All is quiet for most of the night. but during Axels watch he is surprised to see the dogs had made it to the tower unnoticed. Axel Shoots at the dogs hitting one as they scatter.

Morning comes the tower is packed away and the party makes their way back to

the trap site.

deciding this is a good spot to bury thier comrad……