At the end of last session, we found our heroes in search of a pyramid. The heroes in question:
- Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
- Rick: Bjorr, 1/2 orc Paladin
- Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
- Dave: Darkmist, elf Thief
- Andrea: Gabor, goblin Priest
- Bob: Opchel, human Thief
The party, led by a captive serpent-folk, headed west. Obstacles and hazards were managed. Snakes killed, a salt pan crossed, Kiara getting snared by, then escaping from, vampire bushes.
The party spotted the pyramid, and wisely scouted. An entrance was spotted approximately halfway up the north side, marked by debris and a trail.
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The party watched for patrols, and agreed to wait the night, and assault in the morning. My dice failed me, and the night was quiet.
Spotting sentries at the entrance, the party was able to climb the pyramid from a blind side, with the sneaky bastard-types creeping ahead to attempt to eliminate the guards. A couple of good rolls, and the guards were sniped before they could warn their colleagues...
The party assembled at the entrance, firing up a light spell. Nat 20 got them bonus time.
Into the dark, when rock slabs came from a side shaft. Party members dodged and scooted. More serpentfolk chattering up above, as another slab was launched down the sloping shaft, but got hung up on debris near the bottom. The party fired up the shaft, eventually neutralizing the rock-throwers. Their chamber was found to be a tomb, and the slabs sarcophagus lids. The place had been desecrated and looted, with minor treasure left in the corners...
Onward. Another side chamber, with a curious dry font containing a small boat. Darkmist collected it.
Another room. The party burst the wizard locked door. To be confronted by a couple of summoned horrors. A desperate fight, and they were sent back to whatever plane they originated from. Another dry font or well. Clearly a theme of this place...
Down the stairs, to be meet the current tenants of the place. The "wise ones" guarded by the "strong ones" as warned by the serpentfolk. Spellcasters, with big serpentfolk guards, clearly they had been eating their Wheaties. Signs of summoning, and protections that debilitated the good guys... And it was on. The serpentfolk did their best to neutralize threats with spells. The guards mixed up brute strength and spitting venom (sometime in here the light went out, of course, allowing a couple of free hits by the baddies). Party members took damage and fought through the slugfest. Fortunately, the blinding venom didn't hit its mark. Curses were thrown. The party took down both spellcasters, and one guard, with the second fleeing. Not so fast, bub. They were chased down and eliminated.
Breath caught. Pockets searched. Loot recovered. And more stairs. Ever downward.
Into chambers of a subterranean temple, containing a statue to St. Gyles of Ord, now defaced, with the chamber used as an encampment for the patrols. No one was home.
A second chamber contained a sibling to the boat found up above. This one was full-sized, reassembled in the depths of the temple, and far from water, for some reason.
More poking about to find the Inevitable Secret Door(tm). A place not found by the serpentfolk, but not for lack of searching. The room contained some panels and a mithril urn. Darkmist entered to collect it. The urn was filled with ashes, with a curious crystal placed on top. Darkmist removed it. Which awoke the spirit within.
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Gyles, of course. The spirit sensed the desecration of his tomb, and the passage of time. He questioned the PCs regarding the world outside, and was disappointed to hear that what was once grassland was now sand.
He helped the PCs find a few beneficial vials in the funerary boat, missed by the serpentfolk. Some more touring about brought the party and their host back to the original "boat" chamber. Gyles asked after the boat, which Darkmist provided. The font filled with water, and the party assisted in arranging a pair of hidden mirrors to bring light into the chamber. Gyles provided auguries, and recalled the river leading to the Lost City. Darkmist and Bjorr, as fellow followers of Ord, were granted +1 to their prime attributes.
Oh, the crystal? A clear crystal in which floated a bubble of trapped water. A curiosity, and with the right amplifying magics, may be powered to call water from the rock. The city you seek was a center of elemental researches. Perhaps you'll find something there. Keep the crystal.
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The party rested the night under the protection of the spirit. Refreshed, they departed in the morning to continue their explorations. Behind them, they heard grinding noises as the pyramid was resealed from within...
DM Notes:
Didn't write this up promptly with my con prep deadline, so probably missed some details. And Roger (Drom) wasn't there to appreciate a ziggurat...
And some more world building - some was planned, some improvised. So I have more material to work with/create as the party nears their goal. I have ideas...
Mike (Erudite DM) was kind enough to talk with me about my con games and experience. Although the conversation turned into a typical wandering conversation of two old guys :)
(My external mic wasn't talking to my computer, so my sound is a bit muted)
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