Session Thirty-Two (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

(Totally hadn’t forgotten about this. Nope, not me)

Having successfully made the river crossing, Starchy’s Boyz set about rescuing thier stranded comrades. Chuq led Thorfus and three of Adelard’s guardsmen through the forest and onto the game trail where he’d left them. Initially missing the spot, hidden as they were in the underbrush, the party stumbles across Faldspar’s Phantasmal Scarecrow.

Unsure of its purpose, they wait, discussing a plan to get around it, with Chuq volunteering to lead it away, until it raises an arm and point’s to its master. It doesn’t react to Chuq’s distraction, and so they realise they it is probably a conjuring of Faldspar’s, especially considering its silent nature.

Seeing Ashton laid out unconcious, Thorfus breaks out a health potion, but is forced to use both the ones he possessed in order to return Ashton wakefulness. The Half-Orc remains weakened by his wound though.

Regrouping with the main force, the party loots and hides the bodies of the Kobolds they slew during the crossing. Axel had been arranging scouting parties, but upon hearing the information the forward group had gathered, they decide to move in force along the game trails and head east.

Leaving the wounded guardsmen under watch with the animals in cart off of the road, they advance through the jungle. Ashton and Chuq once more take up scouting positions, with the dwarves in front and the guardsmen bringing up the rear.

Passing through various intersections, the party tries to keep an easterly heading, as well as uphill. We then head south east at another intersection, Ashton working out the route with logic and amateur tracking skills. It bears fruit, with the path swinging around to the north after a little while, the trees thinning as the ground becomes more rocky. We happen upon a little stream crossing the path, where the trail seems to end.

The river flows out of a cave a little ways up, and despite the lack of obvious inhabitance, we decide to check it out, hoping for a back entrance to the Kobold’s warren. Leaving the main force at the stream, Chuq, Ashton, Thorfus and Finklemur head into the cave, wading through the stream by the light of Thorfus’ sword.

The stream slowly deepens, until the tunnel opens out into a wider room. Ashton and Thorfus spot a heat-signature across the room, moving slowly across a block of land as if sneaking. Unwilling to let it escape, they charge it, Ashton skewering it upon his sword.

Listening carefully, Chuq hears the sound of a conversation through a cave to the east. Thorfus is brought up to translate, and they learn that the Kobolds are aware of our presence, that we’d attacked the ford. Chuq heads back to bring in the main force whilst the Kobolds discuss sending a report to Faldin Mixis and setting a watch at the cave mouth. Ashton and Thorfus dispatch a Kobold heading thier direction.

Hearing the main party entering the cave, Thorfus decides to roll the Kobold’s head into the room where they heard talking, causing a commotion. Charging in, they find another large room, manually expanded with multiple exits, filled with refuse and straw mattresses. Around 26 Kobolds are rushing around inside, gathering weapons, with more running down side passages.

Ashton and Finklemur begin to cast, Thorfus beheading the nearest one. Finklemur’s darkness blankets the north-east corner, catching most of the Kobolds, and Ashton’s light blinds what looks like the leader of the group.

At this point, the main group catches up, and Axel and Chuq charge the blinded Kobold, who manages to avoid injury until Hengest, a guardsman, spears him. Thorfus approaches the darkness, killing three at the edge of it, Kottar and Finklemur accounting for more. Several Kobolds charge out, one knocking down Chuq.

With the sounds of panicked Kobolds quieting, the survivors run, escaping through the darkness into the northern tunnel. Noise from the western passage prompts Axel to check it out, where he is met by snickering Kobolds who sent a giant weasel forward. Getting bitten, Axel hits back hard, whilst Ashton flanks it and Starchie finally takes it down.

Yet again using Kobold heads with ingenuity, we use the blinded Kobold’s head to dispel the darkness and confirm the now empty cavern. Ashton checks the south-east door, finding it locked, and Thorfus breaks it down. A hallway with heavy barred doors is beyond, and Ashton checks it out.

A number of rooms hold human prisoners, man and woman alike, some who appear to have been imprisoned for a while. After clearing the confusion of the sight of an orc opening thier cells, Ashton sends them out to the main party. We arm those who wish to be with Kobold weapons, just in case. At the end of the tunnel, Ashton finds a bedroom. He slays the Kobold within, and takes the time to search the chests at the end of each bed, finding a mix of money, weapons and armour.

Gongs sound from the north, so they party gather around the two northern entrances, ready for an attack. Large numbers of Kobolds charge in at us. Axel and Baewin, cover the left most entrance, Thorfus and Wordric the right, backed up by archers and more guardsmen. We slay the frontline quickly, and dig in for a protracted fight.