Session 455 - Sinister Plots

17^th of Agrazhar (Summer) 729TR

The story so far

A group of heroes battles the evils haunting the beleaguered Kingdom of Kanday.

Sir Odin, a former Erkan of the Order of the Checkered Shield, has been raised to knighthood.

Remy, a former master thief and gambler, has won and lost fortunes.

Abaddon has traveled the wilderness, wielding a weapon of the gods, perfecting his impressive martial skills.

Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the god of Knowledge Save K’Nor, joins them on their adventures.

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This is the continuation of Session 454 – The Belt of the Storm God.

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The heroes have returned to Anfla Island to defeat the mighty Crab-Titan Obsidapor, who has risen from the dead and is causing chaos. Obsidapor has triggered earthquakes and tsunamis, destroying the coastal villages of the local Adaenum tribesmen, killing hundreds.

To add to the heroes’ troubles, a year earlier, they destroyed a coven of witches who were spreading misery and conflict. One of the Hags escaped and swore revenge (refer to Session 416 – Sanctimonious Preachers). The evil witch will do anything she can to interfere with the heroes’ plans.

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Location: The Kandian Colony of Fort Xuaka on Anfla Island.

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Part 1 – The Wreck

The heroes learn from the Adaenum tribesman that the Nivac, the Earl of Sarkum’s supply ship, has been wrecked on a nearby reef. Suspecting foul play, they take one of the local fishing boats and set out to investigate.

The heroes arrive at the wreck, where they find that the Nivac is wedged between two large rocks, causing its hull to split open. There are no survivors. The weather suddenly worsens, and the heroes are caught in a heavy downpour. Odin’s sharp senses detect a distortion 20 feet above the ground, magical Scrying. The Hag is spying on the party. Two strange forms emerge from the water, vaguely resembling large, fat sharks with four long tentacles. These unnatural creatures, minions of the Hag, control the weather and possess potent magical abilities. Lightning Bolts strike at the heroes; some are dodged, while others are not. Remy is annoyed, taking more than his fair share of hits, and responds by skewering one of the horrors with a continuous series of conjured metal spikes. Abaddon and Odin then close in and hack the second to pieces. The fiends are destroyed.

After flinging taunts at the watching Hag, the party recovers the remains of what crew members they can find and heads back to Fort Xuaka.

Part 2 – More Nightmares

At Fort Xuaka, the keep’s guards have noticed more suspicious activity. They discover that Sir Yotan Endon, the deputy commander of the fort, has been experiencing nightmares and has gone missing. They know that the Hag can send nightmares to someone before they are cursed to perform an evil deed.

He vanished overnight, and an inspection of his quarters reveals some blood stains on his bed. It appears Sir Yotan was bleeding from a small wound on his side. There is a trail leading inland that the party follows. The footprints are unusual, beginning as those of a normal man, but as they continue, the shoe size increases, and eventually, his boots split open and are discarded. Eventually, the feet become more bestial and inhuman.

The trial leads to a small camp near a gully, where animals have attacked the body of a local tribesman. It looks like whatever Sir Yotan has become has killed the hunter, but as the heroes examine the body, four giant Monitor Lizards crawl out of the gully. These savage beasts are quickly dealt with. Their tracks indicate that they took part in the frenzied attack on the tribesmen.

Part 3 – More Lizard than Man

Not far away, the party spotted a small cave with the carcass of a dead, mangled bear nearby and a great deal of splattered blood. Something is moving inside the cave. The heroes prepare for a fight.

Emerging from the opening, a massive reptilian humanoid appears, flanked by two enormous monitor lizards. Sir Yotan has partially transformed into a lizard, with his skin covered in thick, nearly indestructible scales. His muscles have grown, and he features formidable claws and a wide maw filled with jagged teeth. His clothing is tattered, except for a baldric partially covering a bloody patch on his side.

The lizards attack, and to Abaddon’s and Odin’s disappointment, their best weapon causes minimal damage. Sir Yotan’s thick, scaly hide seems as hard as iron. He retaliates fiercely while his lizard companions grow frustrated. One bites at Remy, grabs him, and with a gulp swallows the trickster whole. However, the ever-adaptable Remy transforms himself into a fire elemental. The giant lizard quickly coughs him up.

Meanwhile, Odin, frustrated, asks Edelina for her expertise. He inquires if she can identify any weakness in the man lizard. After some concentration and magical guidance from her god, she confirms that he is close to being impervious to most damage, except for mental and spiritual attacks, but suggests that the wound on his side might be a vulnerability. Odin grabs the monster’s baldric and rips it off, revealing a nasty, festering wound that looks like a long lizard tooth embedded in it. However, his attempts to grab it are easily evaded.

Abaddon finishes off the remaining giant lizards while Remy, still aflame, tumbles to the lizard man’s side. Using his years of experience as a master thief, Remy easily pulls out the tooth and incinerates it with his flaming hands. The lizard man screams in pain as his flesh softens and his muscular bulk diminishes. He becomes more human. Weakened and dazed, he is swiftly knocked unconscious by the heroes.

Part 4 – Tree of the Black Moon

Edelina uses her most powerful divine magic to remove the curse and heal Sir Yotan, allowing him to regain his human form, though he is somewhat worse for wear. To ensure the curse is forever lifted, the Hag must be eliminated. The semi-delirious Sir Yotan has little memory of recent events but vividly recalls his recent nightmares. What stands out is a horrifying yet beautiful woman standing in front of a large black tree in a marsh. Local tribesmen are aware of a tree situated in the marshes surrounding nearby Lake Umadi. In the past, the inland Adaenum tribeswoman used to visit this sinister natural feature, called the Tree of the Black Moon, to lay curses on their enemies.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Kuroc - Adaenum Shaman and Chief.

Sir Yotan - Deputy Commander of Fort Xauka.

Related Content

Fort Xuaka.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Player Characters

Odin - Human - L19 Ranger

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetype - Shadowdancer, Investigator, and Fighter.

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Abaddon - Elf - L19 Monk

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetypes - Druid and Familiar Master.

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Remy - Human - L19 Aerokineticist (with Metal second gate)

Background - Acrobat.

Archetypes - Wizard, Acrobat, and Thief.

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NPC Companion

Edelina - Human - L19 Holy Sage Sorcerer

Background - Astrologer.

Archetypes - Psychic and Time Mage.

Next Session

Session 457 – Tree of the Black Moon.