Session Fifty-Six (Graveyard of Empires Summary): Difference between revisions

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Having killed the rampaging bull elephant and negotiated the selling of it’s body parts, the Starchy Boys decide to spend the next day with the Rickus’ caravan so they can rest and resupply at the landing. We buy a large amount of arrows and bolts to ensure our crossbowmen and archers don’t run dry.
Session 56 – May 13, 2015 (partially uncomplete, you’ll know when…)


Belroar takes the time to investigate the elephant’s carcass to try and determine the cause of it’s rampage, believing it too possibly be a mating season. Chuq inspects the body of his dead compatriot, but doesn’t find anything of note. He enacts a small burial ceremony, returning the body to the ocean and retaining the skull for internment in the catacombs of the tower.
21st of Anureldin, after midnight.


After a breakfast of Surprise Stew, the party mostly mills around the camp, reading, resting up injuries and talking. Chuq initially planned on doing some fishing, but decides to accompany Belroar in following the elephants tracks to see where it came from.
Droart the merchant and Thorfus spend some time getting to know each other. Hoping to work out a deal for the curious mask of sky vision, Thorfus invites Droart to spend the night in our camp. Droart is eager for a hot meal and some company. The conversation first moves into a possible supply for security limited partnership. Droart is eager to move on from Xen’Khel. Thorfus’ entreaties are politely refused. Unfortunately Droart’s counter offers are not in line with the Boys immediate plans.  


It appears to have made a direct beeline for the campsite, cutting straight through the jungle to get there, trampling things in it path. They manage to find blood splatter part way down the trail, at a point where the elephant’s path changes direction. Belroar tastes it to confirm, and they deduce that it may be the blood of some other creature, as neither of them remember seeing any prior wounds before we fought the elephant.
The talk then shifts to Droart’s time at Xen’Khel. Good thing Dwarves like talking about themselves like people do. He shared a lot about the last 7 years he spent here.  


They continue down the path, looking for more blood. They find several more splashes as they go along. Just over a hundred yards down the path, they find a larger area of destruction, evidently caused by a fracas of some kind. Lots of blood, broken branches and crushed underbrush, likely caused by two large creatures battling. They find the elephant’s entrance to the clearing, much less destroyed from a calmer pace, and it’s easy to deduce that this is where the elephant’s rampage began.
We learned of several reputable business owners on the mountain, the veritable pillars of the community if you will: Flipa Grell is the local weapons smith. Ancelm Wardale handles alchemical supplies. Gian is an armorer. The local inn, the Sleeping Colossus is kept by Cvenild Piereson. The Sleeping Colossus is known as the largest in on the mountain. Droart describes what could only be a dormant autonotom in the common room of the Sleeping Colossus.  


Checking for prints, Belroar notices the signs of a large gorilla, easily a match in size for even the elephant. Perhaps even multiple gorillas. Mystery solved, they decide to return to the camp. On the walk, Chuq fills in Belroar on the story of Virgil’s Golden Jaguar, since jaguar’s seem to be a creature of importance to the ranger in proving himself to his tribe.
With little prompting, Droart then tells of some local gossip. Old Stimmens, a local brewer, recently witness a winged dragon in the sky just the other week. In addition to the elders, Grell Wardale, Gian and Cvelnid, the Sisters help keep things orderly here abouts. The sisters are three mind reading Nagas that occupy the temple on the highest slope of the mountain. The temple is the only know entrance to the caverns of Xen’Khel. Entrance into the caverns is only granted to those that are successfully judged by the Sisters.


On the walk, they hear a crack of a branch to the north, and quickly take cover. Sometime later, another sound is heard to the south, so they head towards it. Unfortunately, they run into a huge, orange-furred, four-armed gorilla. Belroar instantly tries to look non-threatening to keep it calm, and it watches him. He tries to keep it supplicated by offering food from his pack, along with some of his mushrooms and narcotics to hopefully drug it. As it sniffs the food, the gorilla calls out, and receives several answering calls, before dropping out of the tree. Belroar backs away as it approaches aggressively, but it stops at the meat and eventually concentrates on the food.
Weary of being judged, Thorfus asks if there is another way into the caverns. Droart explains the Rafters are known to have an alternative route. It is also known that those that use the Rafters’s way don’t necessarily fair better than those that pass judgment. Droart suspects the Rafters roll their customers after leading them into an ambush in nearby caves. The Rafter’s are lead by Tamás Ebor, a man that Droart doesn’t trust or approve of.


Belroar begins doing what he can to indenture himself with the gorilla, and potentially befriend it, but it ignores him. So he backs away a little more, and whispers to get Chuq to sneak away and return to the party for help. More gorillas arrive, and they quickly finish off the meat, and watch Belroar very closely. He offers more food, which they eat, watching him.
Next, Droart mentions the tale of Lady Em, fair damsel enthralled by the Dark King and her liberator Talon, head of the MidMark Militia. Thorfus quickly switches to old Dwarvish (Tolkien or Dwarven??) and warns Droart should stop right there. Talon is notoriously self-aggrandizing. Thorfus valiantly saves Droart from a late night of grandiose gestures and peacock strutting about the camp fire.


Chuq quickly runs back to the party and approaches Axel and Thorfus to explain the situation, so we decide to mount a rescue, most of the party and hirelings heading out. Chuq takes the lead, and suggests we merely investigate the situation rather than rush in.
To set the record somewhat straight, Thorfus stresses that Talon is Starchie Boy sell sword, not the commander of the Midmark Militia. He also explains Em is as common as they come and lucky for her, she never was enthralled to the Dark King, whoever that might be… Droart questions Thorfus version of things. Perhaps Thorfus would not be so confused about the details after reading a copy of the story circulating. There should be a copy in the Sleeping Colossus inn.


When we get to the area, Axel leads off the hirelings to the south to prepare some long-ranged fire, whilst the others prepare to potentially charge in.
When asked about the surrounding environs, we learned there are apes that desire men for their own pleasure. These scourges can be found somewhere to the northeast of Xen’Khel. Droart refuses to beleive the Starchie Boys found Balric’s Gem.


We wait whilst Belroar continues to prostrate himself to the gorillas, but it eventually becomes clear that they aren’t interested in the man, and go to attack. Though huge and clearly dangerous, they prove to be clumsy combatants, and the party dispatches them with only a few scratches and a broken shield, although one manages to escape heavily injured.
It seems the 3 Nagas have held the Temple since the fall of the ancient Dwarven empire. It’s been there habit to open the temple doors every morning to allow supplicants to be judged. The Dwarven archeologists feel indignant their heritage is coopted by the Nagas. They prefer the Nagas be expelled and Xen’Khel a Dwarven demesne only.  


As with the elephant, we decide we can make some money from the carcasses, and drag them back to the camp. Once back, Belroar once more barters with the caravan for the corpses, retaining several parts.
As the conversation fizzles, we organize a watch for the night. Not to waste an opportunity, Belroar spends his watch getting to


After that, we spend the rest of the day skinning the animals, fishing and generally resting, with Brice taking the time to further heal some of our injured. The night is uneventful, but for another merchant caravan passing through from Xen’Khel, and they join the camp. They barter for use of one of our barges to get back to Vargan, but eventually takes Rickus’.
After breakfast the next morning, we leave talon and the mercs guarding our camp, he wants to come with don’t need him to talk to much.


The next day, after further healing, we head up the road towards Xen’Khel. It’s drizzling and misty, be we wind our along the old dwarven road, Rickus’ caravan not far behind us. Nothing much happens but the distant sounds of more elephants in the jungle. By afternoon, we break out above the mists, cross a bridge over the river, and enter the more narrow mountain roads. At the bridge, we can look up and see not only a waterfall, but also huge bridges being held up by dwarven statues, hundreds of feet above between the peaks. Our first sight of Xen’Khel.
Owen, his group and Droart escort PCs and Fink to Ghermin Guards in front of gate (Metteck) surprised we finally arrived, ushered in, three more guards dicing/gaming. Asks about delay, find anything in fort? about to leave, glad to have us hear. looking for treasure? thorfus has a clue, Desric loans 800 for 1200 back so we can buy the mask. Droart loiters for protection.


By nightfall, we’ve finally made it all the way there and cross the bridge into the ruins around the entrance to Xen’Khel. The ruins have been fixed up over time, and are occupied, evidently a small city is in place around Xen’Khel, homing many adventurer types.
No idea how to charge thorfus battery


Several tipsy men-at-arms approach us almost immediatly, looking for work. Owen, Lorent, Alec De la Porte, and Xelena, three men and a woman. They sound pretty desperate, having been there several months, and only been down into the ruins once. We decide at best to offer them payment and food in exchange for what information they can provide. It seems there is some segregation between the dwarves and human adventurers in the area, especially those dwarves from a Xenilum’Khel archaeological group. We also learn about the temples down below, and the sisters, three naga that guard the entrance to prevent evil from gaining access. Supposedly there are other routes in though, as their are bandits sometimes prowling the deeps.
We are invited to move in the mansion.  


Rather than pay the cost for an inn, which are quite over-priced, we decide to hole up in one of the abandoned buildings, risking being prey to clockwork monkeys prowling the area. We set watch for the night.
Small group of men approach as we are moving camp to the mansion. “Hey you there, looking for treasure”


During Thorfus’ watch, an old dwarf passes by with a cart full of wares he is trying to sell. Unfortunately, most the stuff is merely broken artifacts or components of larger things. He has a limp, an old adventuring wound. Thorfus asks to see his best piece, to which he his handed a mask carved like a dwarf, which he believes is an old battlemask.
Try to sell a map, not impressed with axel’s. Belroar offers to hire owen’s group for 1 gp/week.


The old dwarf tries it on, and falls over suddenly. He suddenly realises it’s magical, and offers Thorfus to try, saying he saw the mountain from above. Thorfus also tries it on, and his vision is thrown up into the clouds, looking down on Xen’Khel from a bird’s eye view. When he focuses, he seems to zoom through the clouds until he is hovering above his own head. Trying to focus on Xen’Tellar’s temple within the mountain however only shows the sister’s temple at the top of the peak. He takes the time to learn the layout of the city.
Thorfus tries the mask – fly about words – “WEAK LINK” in the sky. “Next available Xen Telar Continue ?” Yes in ancient dwarven. everything goes black, focus above an island not large with dormant volcanoe, settlement near the coast with a fortress to the west. about 200 miles to the south east. fortress is in good shape with a silver thorn flag above. looking for slaves by the excavations – none. Now looking for Alain Grell. within the fortress yards are stockpiles of supplies and dwarves everywhere. Dusty Gnome is scried in the harbor. Trying to move NW from the island – see Next Available Xen Kel Continue, yes in ancient dwarven back to where we are. Looking about Xen Kel for another entrance, scanning advance camp wall and adjoining slopes of the mountain – nothing. Little activity, nothing on the first plateu, across a dangerous bridge, few buildings before the next wall. Open doors beyond the gate, nothing about the naga temple – larger mansion than ours there are dwarves, the archeologist. Looks like an adventuring party rallying about the mansion, then march towards the naga temple.


Thorfus likes the idea of the mask, but the old dwarf is asking at least 4000 gold for it. Thorfus starts bartering, even offering the elephant tusks in exchange, though that only drops the cost to 2800 gold. In the end, I think we decided it was simply out of our reach to pay for, though the old dwarf is obviously feeling richer with the discovery.
Checking for more nodes above Xen Kel, only Xen Telar to the E & S
 
Checking for more nodes above Xen Kel to the S – Zurnost’Khel
 
Zurnost’Khel to the south Zurilum’Khel
 
Zurnost’Khel to the west – Weak Link, Xen Telar
 
Fulbert Charmouth hired by Belroar as a mercenary.
 
Brice doesn’t want to expose the key to the Nagas
 
Chuq doesn’t want the Naga’s reading our minds and wants to find a private route.
 
Thorfus doesn’t trust thieves or any ambush and wants to take the straightest route to keep our combat effectiveness.
 
Its 8 am, we collect everyone and organize the cart with our gear. Leave the wagon at the mansion and begin the march to the naga temple.
 
Pass the first wall, we see the first bridge Its’ made of two almost flat stone spans that meet midway across. 2 wagons wide comfortably or three abreast. Pass through the 2nd wall, buildings beyond are less dense and avenues are wider
 
third wall, men are lingering about the gate of the 3rd wall. six armed men in leather mostly armed with swords. One greets us asking if we want to talk to the nagas.
 
Tomas is willing to help out if we can’t get through the gates (nagas). Now across the longer 2nd bridge.
 
The Temple – pillared and tiered into the mountain peak. Open large double doors. 70 x 40 room raised dais in the center column large chair or throne on the dais ne & se corners 30′ foot statues of dwarven warriors, the far end is definitely in the rock of the mountain.
 
we are tested, judging our intentions. they can not judge thorfus, brice and chuq. since we did not fail they let us pass with a warning about ancient evils of thorus’ ancestors. beyond them is a 20′ wide slope leading down.
 
passage widens to 40′ across as we descend and slightly turns to the right. 200′ and no branches and spiraling down, the radius of the spiral seems to increase as we descend another 500′ spiraling down, 200′ straight then we find the column hall. The hall is 300′ below the temple axel. There is a point of light at the other end of the hall.
 
Socrates reconnoiters and spies a group of 12 dwarves at the opposite end of the chamber reading ruins on the wall. They are near an exit from the hall that leads to the NE. We entered from the NW.

Latest revision as of 19:20, 1 June 2020

Session 56 – May 13, 2015 (partially uncomplete, you’ll know when…)

21st of Anureldin, after midnight.

Droart the merchant and Thorfus spend some time getting to know each other. Hoping to work out a deal for the curious mask of sky vision, Thorfus invites Droart to spend the night in our camp. Droart is eager for a hot meal and some company. The conversation first moves into a possible supply for security limited partnership. Droart is eager to move on from Xen’Khel. Thorfus’ entreaties are politely refused. Unfortunately Droart’s counter offers are not in line with the Boys immediate plans.

The talk then shifts to Droart’s time at Xen’Khel. Good thing Dwarves like talking about themselves like people do. He shared a lot about the last 7 years he spent here.

We learned of several reputable business owners on the mountain, the veritable pillars of the community if you will: Flipa Grell is the local weapons smith. Ancelm Wardale handles alchemical supplies. Gian is an armorer. The local inn, the Sleeping Colossus is kept by Cvenild Piereson. The Sleeping Colossus is known as the largest in on the mountain. Droart describes what could only be a dormant autonotom in the common room of the Sleeping Colossus.

With little prompting, Droart then tells of some local gossip. Old Stimmens, a local brewer, recently witness a winged dragon in the sky just the other week. In addition to the elders, Grell Wardale, Gian and Cvelnid, the Sisters help keep things orderly here abouts. The sisters are three mind reading Nagas that occupy the temple on the highest slope of the mountain. The temple is the only know entrance to the caverns of Xen’Khel. Entrance into the caverns is only granted to those that are successfully judged by the Sisters.

Weary of being judged, Thorfus asks if there is another way into the caverns. Droart explains the Rafters are known to have an alternative route. It is also known that those that use the Rafters’s way don’t necessarily fair better than those that pass judgment. Droart suspects the Rafters roll their customers after leading them into an ambush in nearby caves. The Rafter’s are lead by Tamás Ebor, a man that Droart doesn’t trust or approve of.

Next, Droart mentions the tale of Lady Em, fair damsel enthralled by the Dark King and her liberator Talon, head of the MidMark Militia. Thorfus quickly switches to old Dwarvish (Tolkien or Dwarven??) and warns Droart should stop right there. Talon is notoriously self-aggrandizing. Thorfus valiantly saves Droart from a late night of grandiose gestures and peacock strutting about the camp fire.

To set the record somewhat straight, Thorfus stresses that Talon is Starchie Boy sell sword, not the commander of the Midmark Militia. He also explains Em is as common as they come and lucky for her, she never was enthralled to the Dark King, whoever that might be… Droart questions Thorfus version of things. Perhaps Thorfus would not be so confused about the details after reading a copy of the story circulating. There should be a copy in the Sleeping Colossus inn.

When asked about the surrounding environs, we learned there are apes that desire men for their own pleasure. These scourges can be found somewhere to the northeast of Xen’Khel. Droart refuses to beleive the Starchie Boys found Balric’s Gem.

It seems the 3 Nagas have held the Temple since the fall of the ancient Dwarven empire. It’s been there habit to open the temple doors every morning to allow supplicants to be judged. The Dwarven archeologists feel indignant their heritage is coopted by the Nagas. They prefer the Nagas be expelled and Xen’Khel a Dwarven demesne only.

As the conversation fizzles, we organize a watch for the night. Not to waste an opportunity, Belroar spends his watch getting to

After breakfast the next morning, we leave talon and the mercs guarding our camp, he wants to come with don’t need him to talk to much.

Owen, his group and Droart escort PCs and Fink to Ghermin Guards in front of gate (Metteck) surprised we finally arrived, ushered in, three more guards dicing/gaming. Asks about delay, find anything in fort? about to leave, glad to have us hear. looking for treasure? thorfus has a clue, Desric loans 800 for 1200 back so we can buy the mask. Droart loiters for protection.

No idea how to charge thorfus battery

We are invited to move in the mansion.

Small group of men approach as we are moving camp to the mansion. “Hey you there, looking for treasure”

Try to sell a map, not impressed with axel’s. Belroar offers to hire owen’s group for 1 gp/week.

Thorfus tries the mask – fly about words – “WEAK LINK” in the sky. “Next available Xen Telar Continue ?” Yes in ancient dwarven. everything goes black, focus above an island not large with dormant volcanoe, settlement near the coast with a fortress to the west. about 200 miles to the south east. fortress is in good shape with a silver thorn flag above. looking for slaves by the excavations – none. Now looking for Alain Grell. within the fortress yards are stockpiles of supplies and dwarves everywhere. Dusty Gnome is scried in the harbor. Trying to move NW from the island – see Next Available Xen Kel Continue, yes in ancient dwarven back to where we are. Looking about Xen Kel for another entrance, scanning advance camp wall and adjoining slopes of the mountain – nothing. Little activity, nothing on the first plateu, across a dangerous bridge, few buildings before the next wall. Open doors beyond the gate, nothing about the naga temple – larger mansion than ours there are dwarves, the archeologist. Looks like an adventuring party rallying about the mansion, then march towards the naga temple.

Checking for more nodes above Xen Kel, only Xen Telar to the E & S

Checking for more nodes above Xen Kel to the S – Zurnost’Khel

Zurnost’Khel to the south Zurilum’Khel

Zurnost’Khel to the west – Weak Link, Xen Telar

Fulbert Charmouth hired by Belroar as a mercenary.

Brice doesn’t want to expose the key to the Nagas

Chuq doesn’t want the Naga’s reading our minds and wants to find a private route.

Thorfus doesn’t trust thieves or any ambush and wants to take the straightest route to keep our combat effectiveness.

Its 8 am, we collect everyone and organize the cart with our gear. Leave the wagon at the mansion and begin the march to the naga temple.

Pass the first wall, we see the first bridge Its’ made of two almost flat stone spans that meet midway across. 2 wagons wide comfortably or three abreast. Pass through the 2nd wall, buildings beyond are less dense and avenues are wider

third wall, men are lingering about the gate of the 3rd wall. six armed men in leather mostly armed with swords. One greets us asking if we want to talk to the nagas.

Tomas is willing to help out if we can’t get through the gates (nagas). Now across the longer 2nd bridge.

The Temple – pillared and tiered into the mountain peak. Open large double doors. 70 x 40 room raised dais in the center column large chair or throne on the dais ne & se corners 30′ foot statues of dwarven warriors, the far end is definitely in the rock of the mountain.

we are tested, judging our intentions. they can not judge thorfus, brice and chuq. since we did not fail they let us pass with a warning about ancient evils of thorus’ ancestors. beyond them is a 20′ wide slope leading down.

passage widens to 40′ across as we descend and slightly turns to the right. 200′ and no branches and spiraling down, the radius of the spiral seems to increase as we descend another 500′ spiraling down, 200′ straight then we find the column hall. The hall is 300′ below the temple axel. There is a point of light at the other end of the hall.

Socrates reconnoiters and spies a group of 12 dwarves at the opposite end of the chamber reading ruins on the wall. They are near an exit from the hall that leads to the NE. We entered from the NW.

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