Too Much to Bear (Session 86)

 SESSION 86: What Happens when Adventure Comes a Knockin? (12NOV18)

            

Nothing like having another cold night interrupted by a passing band of giant bug like creatures that were on the hunt for something. The location of our alcove long since forgotten provided safe refuge. The squad of thingies sensed something but could not source out our location, eventually marching on in search or doing whatever they were up to. Eight hours later we were back on the trail making our way north. All was well until the swallows showed up and try to steal some rope. Things are different underground. Not long afterwards, after making our way past some obstacles we met a fairly well dressed bear with a laser pistol muttering to himself – Dr. Ephraim Thontorius. 

“My! No wonder my ancestors left the caves. So uncivilized.”  After noticing our gang and verifying our non-hostile intentions he lowered his pistol and went off on another string of complaints and broken thought:

 “This goes beyond departmental squabbles, of course —I fear Gormontine’s tenure was a dreadful mistake.” 

            “There’s something cold about that man—robotic, even. The nymph-bot coeds never turned his head in the spring. Ah, college—golden days!” 

            “I pray we are not too late—the future of life itself may be at stake.” 

We eventually reign him in and sort out some details. Ephraim is from 2000 years in the future, in search of his co-worker Professor Zabon Gormontine whom is looking for an artifact known as the Nul rod. This Nul rod, ordinary looking but very powerful, must be found and destroyed to prevent the Robot Apocalypse (in the aforementioned future). This crazy talk did raise the question that perhaps Carcosa is not a different place but a when on a shared timeline. We really needed Len’s super science mind to figure this one out. After not providing any solid leads nor offering to assist him, the doctor continued South and we pushed on to the North.

            Our path ramped up to a larger highway heading east-west and we were startled by a 30’ segmented giant coming out of the inky darkness. “Must commandeer magic blade for work purposes. Surrender one magic blade immediately. See Quartermaster in Zsansz for tax credit.” This thing was huge and as luck would have it we had a spare blade. It was accepted without fanfare and the thing began scratching flourishes into the cavern walls as it strolled away. We decided to go in the opposite direction. Finding a bridge over a dry river bed we were finally able to figure out our orientation on our map. Celebrations were cut short a war-party approached from the far side of the bridge. A host of men that had antennas instead of heads being directed by Urethria priestess of Nul and Yithbara inquisitor of Nul. They too were in search of the Nul rod. We didn’t care for the cut of these cultists jib so fighting ensued. The priestess made a hasty escape but we were able to capture Yithbara and only mostly killed him. 

    After this we grabbed our hostage and backtracked sorta looking for Dr. Ephraim. We did not find the Doctor and eventually we interrogated Yithbara. Not really learning anything other than cultist mumbo jumbo. We released him and pressed on down a very tight subpasssge. This lead to some brain bat things and a piece of treasure! Perhaps more interestingly, shortly thereafter we found another chamber and it had a ladder of unknown height that went up. 

            What do we do next? We began to debate our next move

 

ROLECALL

Carla the Green Lama of TMB (C7) 87825 xp +10% <100001> CRT 1d10/III

            Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm

Bimbles the Lama of GSS (C7) 85661 xp +5% <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Hobo Steve the Champion (F7) 83999 xp +5% <120,001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Raul the Ranger (MD6) 44992 xp <50000> CRT 1d10/III

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.

Boris the Dwarven Champion (D7) 90941 xp +10% <140001> CRT 1d16/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -3, carved up face

            Injury: lost 6 teeth                               

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Magician(W6) 68625 xp +10% <80001> CRT 1d8/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated

Bunny the Sharper (T7) 75423 xp <80001> +10% CRT 1d16/II

            Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand

            The Henchmen

Arnd Cobblestone the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 37162 xp +5% <70001> CRT 1d14/ III

Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY6) 88000 <130001> CRT 1d10/III

            Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen

Sloth the Clocker (L6) 44904 xp +10% <81300> CRT 1d16/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)

Sasha Plasha the Guide (R6) 37610 xp +10% <50000> CRT 1d10/III

 

RESERVES

Ramrod the Cloned Burglar (T5) 19543 xp +5% <20001> CRT 1d20/II

             Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)

            Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp

            Missing six teeth talks with a lisp

            Being cloned 45 days COMPLETED!?!

Rahgnar the Dwarven Myrmidon (D6) 54462 xp <70001> CRT 1d24/V

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound:

                        REMAINING RECUPERATION: 0 DAYS

 

Elapsed Campaign Time

201 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation) 

Join us for session Eighty-seven when we ask the questions:

What’s up with this Nul rod thing?

Will we ever see Dr. Ephraim Thontorius again?

Are we heroes or zeros?

Is the surface just a ladder away?

Tale of the Tape

Will live to fight another day.

KILLS

Mind bats (6)

Cave Swallows (6)

Nul-ites

            Urethria – escaped

            Yithbara – captured and released

            Decapitantes (12) destroyed

LOOT

Diadem charm and gold necklace 75 gp