Session 3
As dawn's light filters through the dense canopy of the forest, the party stirs to the cacophony of Njál's morning routine, a symphony of bodily functions that would put any bard to shame. Pharox, however, remains absent, lost in the depths of the wilderness on his mushroom-hunting expedition. He had warned the group not to wait up for him if hadn't returned so the party continues with their own morning routines.
Gathered around the makeshift breakfast fire, tensions simmer as Njál, Gale, and Kaldor help themselves to larger portions, prompting a silent protest from Nightshade, who resolves to scavenge her own food later and not share with the three gluttons.
With breakfast coming to an awkard conclusion, they all begin to pack their supplies and don their gear, a sense of tense anticipation hangs in the air, mingling with the scent of pine and wood smoke. Still with no sign of Pharox, the rest of the party begins their ascent into the rugged mountains. The trail winds its way through ancient forests and rocky outcrops, the landscape unfolding before them in a breathtaking panorama of natural beauty.
However, no sooner had they ventured an hour into the rocky expanse when a sudden shift occurs in the atmosphere around them. The sky darkened, and a bitter wind picked up. Thick snowflakes that obscured their vision began to fall, whipping around them with ferocious intensity, threatening to swallow them whole in a swirling abyss of white. The party was trapped in a blizzard.
Despite Njáll heroically pulling out a rope for the party to tether themselves togther, navigating through the blizzard proved to be a daunting task, with Amalfi, Kaldor, and Maylin initially struggling to find their bearings amidst the swirling whiteout. It was Gale's soothing melody of "Let It Go", played upon his trusty lute, that served as a guiding beacon, helping the party maintain their sense of direction amid the blinding storm.
With Gale's music leading the way, Alana's acrobatic prowess came to the fore as she deftly scouted ahead, discovering a sheltered slot canyon that offered some respite from the relentless tempest. Nightshade's expert tracking skills ensured the party's continued progress through the treacherous terrain, while Kaldor's infectious optimism spurred them onward with tales of a downhill descent, which soon proved to be true as they descended to lower altitudes.
Emboldened by the divine guidance of Amalfi's deity, the party pressed forward, their determination unwavering even in the face of adversity. At last, they arrived at the ruined lighthouse, only to be met with the ominous sight of a lurking Sahuagin archer.
Gale's attempt to slip away unnoticed was foiled, setting off a chain of events that culminated in a frantic battle against the sahuagin invaders. A careless step caused Gale to snap a twig and alert the archer. Maylin first broke the archer's aim saving Gale from a certain volley of arrows by lighting a magical bonfire under the archer's feet. Amalfi englufed the upper stories of the ancient lighthouse in a fog cloud further preventing the archer from getting any shots off.
However, the archer was still able to blow conchshell horn to alert its comrades about the intruders. Nightshade climbed a tree to gain a better vantage point. Alana was able to climb the tower and, using her stealth, was able to dispatch the archer the next time he leaned out the window to loose an arrow. The archers body plummeted out the window landing on the ground infront of the crumbling lighthouse's front door.
Dodging the falling body, Kaldor and Gale entered the lighthouse. Seeing three Sahuagin inside the building, Gale casted a sleep spell on two of them and successfully caused one to fall asleep. Feeling a surge of confidence, Gale ran to the second story where he discovered barrels of water. Before he had a chance to investigate, two more Sahuagin burst out of the barrels and attacked Gale in a fury of bites and claw attacks nearly leavaing Gale in shreds. Kaldor followed the other two Sahuagin up the stairs to help relieve the pressure on Gale. Amalfi stood guard over the sleeping Sahuagin hoping to keep him for questioning.
Eventually the rest of the party, except for Nightshade and Maylin, joined the fray with Gale and Kaldor. Nightshade, who was in overwatch outside in a tree, was able to shoot a few arrows in through the small window on the second floor at one of Gale's attackers. Nightshade's keen eyes also spotted a distant landmark—a statue of a warrior bearing a sword, a few miles away to the north. Meanwhile, Maylin's investigation of the ancient stone pillars outside of the lighthouse revealed their significance as boundary markers for
bersök, Bohst honor duels. These pillars, called bloodstones, ignited a primal fury within her that transformed her into a raging bear.
Maylin, in her bear form and driven by a primal rage to attack the closest enemy, climbed in through the second window of the tower. However, before she was able to reach an enemy on the second floor, Gale caused one Sahuagin to trip over another out a window falling to its death, Kaldor used his hellish rebuke to put an end to another Sahuagin that had bit him, and Alana was able to put her dagger through the neck of the final concious Sahuagin. Maylin, still feeling a primal rage in her bear form, was driven to maul the sleeping Sahuagin, who awoke and begin to try to flee in terror. Gale, using the creature's own corral dagger, mercy killed the poor beast by throwing the dagger across the room.
After the skirmish, the majority of the party made their way into the basement. In the dimly lit basement of the ruined lighthouse, the party fans out to explore their surroundings. Kaldor's keen eyes spot a collection of maps and papers adorned with intricate Bohst writing. Maylin's careful search uncovers a remarkable treasure: an enchanted spyglass, its lenses imbued with magic to grant vision as clear as daylight even in the darkest of dungeons. Nearby, Alana stumbles upon a grim discovery - boxes of raw meats and a blood-soaked blanket. Yet amidst the macabre scene, a glimmer of hope awaits as she uncovers a chest filled to the brim with glittering valuables. Amalfi's discovered a drain, its depths leading into the unknown depths of a cave below. With a flicker of magic, Amalfi illuminates the darkness, revealing a passage that descends thirty feet into the earth, beckoning the adventurers to uncover the secrets that lie hidden within.
Session 3.5
Amalfi's keen eyes cut through the darkness of the cave as he led the party deeper into its winding passages. Despite the absence of light, his vision pierced the gloom with clarity, guiding them along the unseen path. The faint trickle of a stream echoed softly in the narrow passageway, its presence a comforting reminder of life in this subterranean realm. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the cavern's labyrinthine depths, Pharox and his newfound fungal friend, Fun-Gus, huddled in the shadows, alert to the approaching footsteps.
Peering out from his hiding spot, Pharox caught sight of Amalfi's silhouette, his figure defined by the subtle shifts in the shadows. With mischievous intent, Pharox leaped forward, startling Amalfi with a playful jest. Laughter echoed through the cavern as Pharox introduced Fun-Gus to the party, recounting the curious events of his evening foraging in the forest:
Pharox, after enjoying a joint of dreamleaf, had ventured forth on a quest for rare mushrooms, drawn by whispers of their mystical glow. As he wandered deeper into the verdant wilderness, his senses alert for any hint of danger, his gaze fell upon the ethereal radiance of glowy mushrooms, casting their soft luminescence upon the forest floor.
Curiosity piqued, Pharox approached the glowing fungi, his footsteps cautious upon the moss-covered earth. Yet, as his fingers reached out to pluck one from its celestial perch, a sudden presence materialized before him – a strange, alien creature, its form reminiscent of a mushroom, yet possessed of an otherworldly aura. In the tongue of the forest, the creature scolded Pharox, its myconic words echoing through the ancient trees.
Undeterred by this unexpected encounter, Pharox spoke words of friendship and goodwill, assuring the creature of his benign intent. To his relief, their discourse ended in peace, and the creature introduced itself as Fun-Gus, guardian of the enchanted mushroom farms now besieged by savage wolves.
With empathy and resolve burning in his heart, Pharox pledged his aid to Fun-Gus, determined to repel the lupine invaders and safeguard the sanctity of the mushroom groves. Crafting a cunning plan, Pharox utilized fermented shark meat to lure the wolves into the heart of the forest, where the glowy mushrooms held sway.
Hidden amidst the foliage, Pharox waited patiently, his breath held in anticipation as the wolves fell into his trap. With swift precision, he unleashed his icy magic upon the unsuspecting predators, felling one with a single stroke of his ice knife. The second proved a more formidable foe, but through skill and determination, Pharox emerged victorious, the echoes of battle fading into the forest's depths.
In gratitude for his valor, Fun-Gus bestowed upon Pharox a glowshroom torch, a beacon of light amidst the darkness, and a bounty of morel mushrooms, treasures of the forest's bounty. Inspired by their shared triumph, Fun-Gus expressed a desire to join Pharox on his journey, and together, they embarked upon a secret underground tunnel path towards the fabled Mother Spore where they ran into the party.
Session 4
As the united party ventured deeper into the winding tunnels, their footsteps echoing softly against the earthen walls, they encountered an unexpected obstacle: a gaping crevice yawning before them like the maw of some ancient beast. Nightshade, ever bold and agile, leaped forward with unwavering confidence, only to find herself ensnared in the clutches of a Maw Blossom plant, its tendrils reaching out hungrily to ensnare her in its leafy embrace.
Caught midair, suspended in a moment of peril, Nightshade's companions sprang into action, their hearts pounding with urgency. Maylin, ever resourceful, summoned forth a flickering bonfire, its flames dancing in the dim confines of the tunnel, casting shadows that seemed to writhe and twist in the darkness. With swift and coordinated effort, the party rallied to Nightshade's aid, their hands reaching out to pull her from the clutches of the voracious plant, her skin tingling with the lingering touch of its digestive enzymes.
Breathing a collective sigh of relief, the party pressed onward, their resolve undiminished by the trials they had faced. Beyond the crevice, they discovered an underground grotto, a hidden realm of natural wonder and mystery.
As the party stepped into the grotto, they were enveloped by a blanket of warmth and humidity that hung heavy in the air, like a comforting embrace from the earth itself. Lush foliage adorned the chamber, thick sturdy leaves cascading down from the walls in a riot of vibrant greens and earthy browns. Each leaf seemed to pulse with life, reaching out with delicate tendrils to embrace the cavern's occupants in a verdant embrace.
At the center of the chamber, a tranquil body of water shimmered in the dappled light, its surface adorned with lily pads and moss-covered rocks that seemed to dance upon the gentle ripples. Amidst the tranquil waters, the head of a large, helmeted statue emerged, its weathered features bearing silent witness to the passage of time.
But it was at the far end of the chamber that their eyes were drawn, to a sight both awe-inspiring and wondrous: the Mother Shroom, a colossal fungus that towered over them like a sentinel of the depths. Bathed in a soft, ethereal glow, its luminous cap cast an otherworldly light that suffused the chamber with an iridescent glow, illuminating every corner with a warm, inviting radiance.
As the party ventured deeper into the grotto, they found themselves ensnared by briar bindings, pliant vine plants that reached out like eager fingers, seeking to entangle and ensnare intruders within their leafy grasp. However, with nimble agility and keen instincts, the party deftly evaded the grasping tendrils, their movements fluid and precise as they navigated the verdant labyrinth with skillful grace.
Yet, their respite was short-lived, for as Njál, in a moment of careless curiosity, disturbed the tranquil waters of the grotto's pond, a sense of unease settled over the party—a premonition of the danger that lurked beneath the surface.
Their fears were soon realized as the water began to bubble and churn, a malevolent force stirring in the depths below. A monstrous figure emerged from the murky depths, its form encrusted with coral and barnacles, a sinister aura radiating from its cold, dead eyes. It was a Sea Spawn, accompanied by its ruthless Sahuagin henchmen, their savage grins belying their cruel intentions.
The Sea Spawn, adorned with a wooden serpentine amulet that glinted menacingly in the dim light, wasted no time in asserting its dominance. With a swift, merciless strike, it seized the compass from Njál's grasp, its clawlike fingers digging into his flesh with brutal force. The ferocity of the attack left Njál unconscious, his prone form lying defenseless at the mercy of their aquatic assailants.
Amidst the chaos of battle, the underground grotto echoed with the clash of steel and the desperate cries of the party. Alana found herself ensnared by the thorny tendrils of a vine whip plant, struggling against its grasp as she fought to free herself. Meanwhile, Maylin's aim faltered, and her missed shot left her vulnerable to the ruthless thrust of a spear, piercing her side with a searing pain.
Pharox, determined to turn the tide, charged forward to confront the Sea Spawn, only to be ensnared by a briar binding plant, entangled in its clutches as the creature closed in with its trident. Despite the peril, Pharox summoned his healing magic, words of restoration echoing through the chamber, reviving Maylin from the brink of unconsciousness.
As the battle raged on, Amalfi's decisive shot felled a Sahuagin henchman, drawing the attention of the Sea Spawn itself. Engaging the monstrous foe, he stood firm, his resolve unwavering amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, Kaldor faced a relentless assault, pierced by a Sahuagin's blade. Yet, with fiery vengeance, he unleashed a hellish rebuke, the searing flames consuming his assailant in a blaze of agony before delivering a final, devastating blast.
In the midst of the fray, Nightshade, ever vigilant, marked her target, her arrows finding their mark despite the treacherous terrain. With each shot, she sought to tip the scales of battle in her companions' favor.
Even amidst the danger, Maylin's quick thinking and mastery over fire proved invaluable, as she conjured a blazing inferno to thwart their enemies' advance, turning the tide of battle with searing intensity.
In the heart of the skirmish, Gale's agility and precision proved unmatched, his rapier striking true as he danced through the melee. With a swift, calculated strike, he severed the Sea Spawn's foot, a decisive blow that sent the creature reeling, its demise imminent in a pool of its own blood.
Amidst the dim glow of phosphorescent fungi and the lingering scent of battle, the party regrouped in the cavern's depths. Fun-Gus, the affable myconid, lent his expertise to Pharox, assisting in the delicate task of harvesting spores from the luminous Mother Spore.
With the chaos of combat subsided, Amalfi seized the moment to claim the coveted compass from the lifeless grip of the sea spawn, its gleaming surface a testament to their hard-won victory. Yet, Njál's request for its return was met with a stern no from the party. Njal, with a hurt look, admited it would probably be for the best.
Meanwhile, Gale, his fingers weary from the dance of battle, sought solace amidst the towering foliage of the grotto. With a haunting melody, he attempted to weave a song of respite, a soothing refrain to mend the wounds of his companions. Yet, his efforts were thwarted by an injured hand, the notes faltering amidst the melody, a discordant echo of their trials.
Pharox, drawn by curiosity and the lure of treasure, reached out for the serpent pendant adorning the fallen sea spawn. But as his fingers brushed against the cold wood, a chilling whisper pierced the air, a sinister voice beckoning him to servitude. With a swift intervention, Njál cast aside the pendant, revealing its ominous significance—the harbinger of Jörmgan, the serpent destined to bring about the world's end.
With caution and trepidation, Kaldor wrapped the pendant in humble cloth, securing it within his bag, a silent vow to safeguard the world from the impending doom it foretold.
As the party prepared to depart, guided by the dim glow of Fun-Gus's spores and the eerie luminescence of the cavern walls, they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels that wound beneath the mountains. With the discovery of this undermountain short cut the party was able to set up camp in the same spot as the previous night.
