Session Sixty-Six (Graveyard of Empires Summary)
Session 66 – July 22, 2015
Hoping to entice the undead Dwarves back into firing range, one of our last chicken lures is tethered then lowered to the floor below. Taking the bate, we pepper him with missiles until he slumps over the dead and mauled chicken. The invisible Socrates lends a beak and a talon so that we might lasso the body, then hoist it to our floor above. Keeping watch, Axel hears one of the other four undead dwarves mutter “Fool”.
The carcasses stench is unbearable, forcing all but Uthruk to retire to the pedestal gallery. Left to himself, Uthruk discovers a platinum necklace with a jade stone pendant, another black card with the Silverthrone constellation design, and another multi tool. He heaves the body back through the elevator hole and joins us in the pedestal gallery.
Meanwhile, Thourfus uses his gold key to activate a pedestal. We notice the room lights flicker and hear a chime from the dais pedestal near the gallery window. The message about power is replaced by an image of a winged dragon. Thorfus reads out loud the ancient dwarven text “Ancient Red Dragon”. He then mutters a bunch of statistics which no doubt apply to the Red Dragon.
Moving his hand over the word “Vartiations”, the image above the pedestal changes to that of a wingless dragon. The ancient dwarven names sounds like Pan Lung, vitals mention a 55′ long water dragon. This information sparks a little heated discussion among the Starchie Boys until a loud bang is heard from beyond the gallery window.
Rushing to the dais pedestal, Thorfus finds an ancient dwarven message that the occupant of cell C is trying to open the cell door demanding too much power. Scanning the options, he touches “Cells” then “Occupancy” then skims through the three options. Cell A has 5 small lizards described as pack hunters that are slated for additional study. Cell B is empty. Cell C has two large reptiles approximately 50′ long and are also slated for additional study. He quickly returns to “Cells”, then touches “Synchronization”. A new message : Error, synchronization power compromised, system rebooting.
Glancing through the window, we notice the blue glow is no longer below the partially raised doors to the East. To our surprise, 6 medium sized reptiles running on hind legs emerge from behind the raised eastern. They are barking to each other. 2 of the first six soon dash southward to what looks like a large doorway leading outside to a green lush jungle beyond. Those 2 are quickly followed by 2 other lizards emerging from the partially raised door to the east. The remaining lizards investigate the closed door to the west after another loud bang is heard.
Thorfus touches the command to open Cell door C. 5 more reptiles scurry into the center room. As two humongous reptiles emerge from the now raised western doors, some of the smaller lizards flee to the south. Those that stay, begin to stalk one of the larger reptiles. The reptile closest to the south runs into the jungle beyond after felling one of the lizards. His companion slays another lizard forcing the survivors to scurry northward into a space below the gallery.
The monstrous reptile notices us gawking and lunges at the gallery window. Thorfus uses the Electrical Deterrent. A blue spark coruscants about it’s body, wracking it in pain, before all the room lights extinguish. The gallery window yields to the blow but holds together.
We ready ourselves. Most of the Mercer Mercs ready themselves all the way back to the main portal room. Fitz lays an oil trap before the window. The beast’s second lunge bursts through the window but the strange metal mesh within it saves us from being showered by flying glass. Ftiz’s fire trap hurts the beasts massive head as Thorfus charges aggressively, pressing his multi attack button. He and a score of his doubles, sever the beasts head. It’s body slumps dead as we are sprayed with blood,
The lizards below have called the elevator platform! Chuq, Talon and Belroar hurry to cover the opening. Four of the curs are riding the platform up. Three leap a charge at Chuq, Beroar and Thorfus. Talon and Chuq strike with set spears as only Chuq is bit. Fritz tosses in a molotov, killing the reptile Talon stuck. Belroar’s Yeager and Chuq’s daggers fell another.
Two arrive on the elevator platform. Axel moves up as Chuq moves back. The Boys slays another quickly. The lone survivor flees over the reptiles carcass, down to the floor below and then south into the jungle. We heave the monster reptile body off the gallery. It’s landing thud spurs a lone medium sized lizard to dart out the southern exit. Then we examine the damage done to the dais pedestal. It’s severed near the base. Returning it to it’s proper position doesn’t help any.
Shortly after, the lights turn on again and the intact pedestals reactivate. Examining the last three pedestals, Thorfus reads a report on the King of the Lizards. Also about a Dangerous monstrous predator, that has no bioforge options. Lastly he reads about the medium sized lizards : pack hunting predator, further study necessary for use as anti-rebel weapon, no bio forge options.
While Thorfus is at the library, Axel, Belroar, Chuq and Fitz take the elevator down to another locker room. The door hear is propped open by a Ancient Dwarven Multi-Tool. Looting the lockers, we find a 10′ Monk Stick, another leather armor apron and a pouch containing a silver biconvex key and two stones. The propped open door’s panel is glowing red. Bringing the new silver biconvex key close to the panel, it flashes green the returns to red.
Fitz limbos under the propped up door and has a better look to the south. He sees a path flanked by cairns topped by human sculls. He can’t decide if the wall beyond the raised double doors is either a portal to a jungle or a whole in the wall leading to a jungle. As the sun sets and stars are seen, Belroar sees that the constellations are the same as Midmark’s.
Chuq and Axel have collected the loot strewn about the lizard statue with the humanoid body chained to it. The haul is impressive with many platinum and ancient dwarven electrum coins. Fitz detects magic on the key, 10′ monk stick (I thought there was a third, anyone?)
As the time is approaching 9:00 pm our thoughts are on how we are going to rest tonight…