Session 2: Unholy Sacrifice

General Summary

Aftermath

Belsday the 6th of Harvestide in the year 3024 Night

The battle with the gnolls was over, but not without consequence. Malcor had been dealt a grievous blow to his neck in the conflict and even though he had been stabilized by his companions, he fell into a deep sleep and would not wake. His companions placed him comfortably in a wagon to allow him to heal.

Tired and weary, Jerek Stonehand decided that the caravan should rest for the night and start out first thing in the morning. Before bedding down for the night, they decide to dispose of the dead gnolls. Creek and the caravan guards were assigned to the task of moving the bodies away from the campsite. It was a disgusting job as the creatures exuded a foul smell. While moving the bodies, Creek noticed that each of them had a hideous looking brand on their back. It looked as if it had been burned on, but he could not tell if it was done magically or naturally. Volu and Zodak Stormcaller had also never seen anything like the brand before and could not determine it's origin. Grakka, who was helping to move the bodies was very concerned. She told the heroes that she had been traveling the caravan road for many years and had never seen gnolls on the rampage let alone the strange markings on their backs.

As the last of the gnoll bodies were moved away from the caravan, Creek knelt down beside the creatures and prepared to commend them to the Great Spirit. At that moment he noticed that one of the gnolls had green, necrotic, puss bleeding from his brand. Volu came over to take a look at it and determined it was the same poison he had cut from Zodak's body. Suddenly the creature began to shudder to life. Creek was shocked as he had never seen a creature came back to life after their spirit had departed. He looked on in horror as Volu set fire to the creature putting it to final rest. Volu then convinced Jorek to set fire to all the bodies and soon a pyre was lit filling the night with flame.

The caravan set camp for the night. Creek wandered slowly over to the fire and unlike most nights, he did not tell any stories or speak with his friends. He simply knelt by the fire and began to mumble a silent prayer, the smoke wafting over him. After a time, Lyra Swiftfoot came looking for him and with a concerned look on her face she simply sat down beside him and stared into the fire. Kael Stonefist saw this and looking very angry he began to move toward them. He was intercepted by Zodak who told him that he should leave Creek and Lyra alone. At first it looked like the guard would ignore Zodak, but in the end he simply shrugged and walked away.

Soon after Creek reached over and pulled a charred log out of the fire. Looking up to the sky, he ran his fingers along the wood and soot soon covered his finger tips. Staring once again into the fire, he traced a symbol on his forehead with the soot. He turned and glanced appreciatively at Lyra and then went to sleep.

The Wrecked Caravan

Morsday the 7th of Harvestide in the year 3024 Day

As the caravanners rose, the day greeted them with an overcast sky and a steady rain. After the gnoll attack, no one was in a rush to get started except for Creek who was up with the sun to pray to the Great Spirit for guidance to find his sister. Zodak was also looking for inspiration and he prayed to Aurus Goddess of Storms for thunder, which he told everyone was a good omen. While praying, Zodak also cast a ritual spell and determined that his arm was weak due to a disease he contacted from the tainted hyena bite. Volu noticed that everyone's spirits were down and so he took out his flute and started to play a whimsical tune. The music worked wonders and everyone's breakfast was a bit more enjoyable.

After breakfast, Jorek called the heroes and the guards together to discuss their plans for the coming day. It was decided that before moving the entire caravan, that they should first scout ahead to see if there was any danger on the road due to the gnoll attacks. Creek, eager to find his sister, started out immediately. His friends soon followed after telling Jorek to proceed about an hour behind.

It was easy enough to follow the trail left by the gnolls. It was a ragged patch of trampled ground still visible even with the rain. After about an hour and a half, the ground started to rise a bit and two ridges flanking the road could be seen in the distance. The ruined caravan was there, but from this distance they they could only make out the ruined wagons and what appeared to be the carcasses of a few horses.

Creek decided to sneak forward, while Volu and Zodack stayed within earshot. When Creek reached the north ridge, he could clearly see the ruined wagons and dead animals, what he did not see was any bodies. It appeared that there was no sign of the caravanners anywhere. Creek motioned his friends to come up to the ridge as he climbed it to get a better look. From above he got a better look at the wreckage. There were indeed four bodies strewn amid the wreckage, but there should have been many more. A barred wagon clearly for prisoners was also visible, it's door swinging open in the wind. Just as Zodak and Volu reached the foot of the ridge the bodies in the wreckage rose up and started to shamble toward them.

Two of the zombies scrambled up the ridge to attack Creek as the other two moved to strike Volu and Zodak. Creek kicked the first zombie in the chest and it fell backwards landing in the road with a thud. Zodak fired his crossbow and a bolt thudded into a zombie as Volu fired an Eldritch Blast at another shambler. As the battle continued, Creek was wounded by the second zombie, but he was able to strike back with his shortsword and dagger killing it. Zodak threw his crossbow to the ground and pulled out his warhammer positioning himself between the zombies and Volu. The conduits hammer came down on the head of one of the zombies burying the head of the creature into it's torso.

Just as it looked like the heroes would get the upper hand, one of the horse carcasses rose up and charged Zodak, viscously biting him into unconsciousness. It was then that Volu and Creek realized that they could outmaneuver the remaining zombies and they used this advantage to slay the remaining creatures.

After stabilizing Zodak, the heroes decided to take a short rest to recover from battle and give them time to search the area while the caravan caught up to them. Creek looked closely at the zombies clothing and determined that they could not have been part of the caravan, their clothing was too new. Moving to the prisoner wagon, he looked for any sign of his sister, but could only find a few rags. There was also no trace of any survivors or victims of the attacked caravan.

Zodak and Creek began looking for tracks expanding their search to the edges of the wreckage. At last they were able to find the tracks of a heavily laden wagon heading away to the north. Someone had tried to cover the tracks, but they did not succeed. The Companions decided to follow the tracks, as Creek hoped to find his sister. Jorek could not spare any of his guards, but he told them they would travel a bit slower in the hopes that the heroes could catch up to them. The Companions decided to take Malcor along with them, securing him to Zodak's horse. As they prepared to leave, Zodak asked Lyra to join them. After giving it some thought she decided against it and the heroes left on their own.

The Desecrated Chapel

Morsday the 7th of Harvestide in the year 3024 Evening

The rain had finally stopped, but the sky remained overcast. They followed the wheel ruts for about three hours. The tracks were leading them toward a mist enshrouded forest that appeared to rise up out of nowhere from the plains. As they reached the edge of the forest, Zodak realized that someone was following them. Their initial reaction was to hide, but they soon realized that it was Lyra. She had decided to come and help them. As she approached the group, Creek simply nodded and they headed off into the forest.

As they ventured deeper into the trees, Creek and Lyra were in the lead, a bit ahead of the rest of the group. They sensed a terrible smell up ahead. They tried to sneak up to see what it was, but they must have made too much noise because a terrible looking creature burst out of the foliage, it's skin was mottled and covered with sores. It had wicked, filthy claws and viscous fangs. It leaped at Creek with a blood curdling hiss. Later Zodak would tell him that the creature was a ghoul, but right now they were fighting for their survival. Creek struck the ghoul first slashing it with his blades, but the creature slashed back gouging the hero with it's claws. Zodak then quickly finished it off with his crossbow and rushed over to heal his friend Creek.

They continued on deeper into the forest as thunder rolled in the distance. Rising above the trees, they could barely make out the belfry of an old stone chapel. The wagon tracks led directly toward it. Creek and Lyra crept forward with Volu and Zodak following at a safe distance.

Through the trees they saw the wagon. There were bodies piled in it. It was in front of the entrance to the chapel and two black robed men were carrying bodies one-by-one into the chapel. They decided to split up and try to take them by surprise. Creek crept up to the wagon near the entrance while Lyra positioned herself in the trees facing the door. As soon as one of the robed men came out of the chapel she killed him with an arrow to the head. At the same time, Creek looked into the wagon and saw the the bodies were still alive. Then they all heard a terrible scream from inside the chapel and a shaft of green light lit up the night sky, liming the building in an eerie glow. It was time to get inside and stop whatever was going on.

Rushing forward, the heroes burst into the ruined chapel. They saw a crude stone altar directly under the ruined belfry. It was wreathed in a greenish fire. A desiccated tree loomed up out of the darkness at the far end of the nave. A robed figure had just thrown a body onto the altar and the person screamed and writhed in agony. Next to the unholy altar was another man. He was clad in dark robes that were covered in runes. He was reciting the words of some sort of ritual.

Creek rushed into the chapel and kicked the first robed figure he saw hoping to push him into the green flame. The cultist was able to resist the attack and strike back at Creek. Volu cast an Eldritch Blast into one of the robed cultists from the doorway with Lyra shooting arrows right next to him. Zodak charged into the room wielding his warhammer just as the cultist with the rune embroidered robe yelled out," Kill the infidel defilers!" Then another person was thrown on the altar and with a hideous scream it was consumed in green flame.

Creek and Zodak were wounded by the cultists as the battle continued in the chapel. The leader of the cultists finally turned his attention to his attackers, casting a spiritual weapon that looked like a scythe. It swooped down to land a blow on Creek who had already been wounded, but before it could strike him Lyra leapt in front of the weapon and took the blow herself. Volu then killed a cultist with an Eldritch Blast as Zodak moved to heal Creek. Angered by Lyra's selfish act, the lead cultist attacked her with the scythe hoping to put her out of the fight. Creek, hoping to repay her bravery, put himself in harm's way saving Lyra from taking the blow. Volu shot an Eldritch Blast at the leader, but he conjured a shield made of green energy that blocked the blow.

There was only one cultist and the leader left now and they were getting desperate. After saving Lyra, Creek leapt to attack the leader and keep him busy. Volu tried to cast an Eldritch Blast at the other cultists, but he fumbled it and the blast instead hit Lyra square in the chest knocking her unconscious. Zodak dispatched the last cultist and then working with Volu and Creek they killed the lead cultist.

With the leader dead, the green magical fire over the altar dissipated. Creek carried Lyra out of the chapel and laid her gently in the grass. He then turned his attention to the bodies in the wagon. He noticed that all of them had the same brand on them that the gnolls had. Three of them were still alive, but just barely. Creek questioned them about his sister and learned from one of them that his sister had escaped from the prisoner wagon as the gnolls attacked. During the questioning, the three people in the wagon died.

Inside the temple, Zodak searched the lead cultist and found a ring. Volu detected that it was magical imbued with abjuration magic. Volu also investigated the cultists and found that each of them was wearing a medallion. Closer inspection of the medallion revealed that the pattern on it was the same as the brand that they found on the gnolls and the victims in the wagon. Volu took out a piece of cloth and wrapped one of the medallions in it.