SESSION 232: Running Around the Tomb of a Brine Lord
Side missions are completed as they put off getting more than just their feet wet.
Day 159 Continued Pt. 2 (12.20/0605): Down the rope and back into the folding boat. They rowed their way back to the beach upon which the final mortal remains of Luvous the First Mate rest. The trip was uneventful. On the beach the clerics approached the half buried slime and barnacle covered skeleton. Bunny used this time to investigate the sandy beach. It was a graveyard to alluring, colorful shells. The clerics began smashing barnacles as they dug out the bones. Luvous thought this would be another brilliant time to pop up and say ‘Helloooo”. This scared the crap out of Carla and she required tackling before he ran into the brine. After some mucking about the bones were collected and Bunny triumphantly shared find of three Glory of the Sea shells that obviously held a significant amount of value.
They made their way back to Luvous’s quarters to put him to final rest so they could loot him without consequences. In preparation Sasha pulled out a pit from her robe of useful things and placed it the entry way of the chamber. Carla and Bimbles placed Luvous’s remains in his sarcophagus. This once more triggered the ghost to show up and say “Helloooo”, causing Bimbles to lose his marbles and conveniently run into the pit. A little roughed up and slightly older but contained until the fear was removed. Carla had a short discussion with the restless spirit before sending his spirit from the mortal realm.
“Aye, take my pipe.” Luvous points towards the clenched fist. “My girlfriend, gods was she beautiful......, she told me with her honey voice that this pipe would protect me from jellyfish, and I believed her. Use it as you will, it helps with breathing in the depths and should be useful, but if you ever return to Vermilion, please return it to her, if she still lives. Tell her, I still dream of her, I love her, and wait for her. Her name is Evaliss...Evaliss Swandance.”, were his last words before dissipating.
The looting was finally about to begin when a driftwood golem, likely attracted to Bimbles girlish screams, lumbered up and began swinging. Once the golem became a pile of kindling they got to the rummaging. The sarcophagus held a secret panel containing a locked, ornate gilded box embedded with tiny gems. Bunny erred in unlocking it and was poisoned. She dropped to the ground and began the excruciating process of death by poison. Carla quickly called done the divine grace of TMB to neutralize the poison and get Bunny back to work. She opened the box on the second try and found a creepy medallion inside - The golden medallion depicts a scene with a woman with tied hands behind her back being whipped by a demon. A broken cradle lies in the background. "No thanks", Bunny took the ornate box and tossed the medallion at Ding-We to stow away. Concurrently with this series of events other lumps checked out the stuff on the First Mate’s table. There were a bunch of valuable shells scattered across it along with a rolled up flag (valuable to a collector-- black, cracked histrix skull as Cassidy’s symbol), several old maps of the ‘Zontani Sea’ (mostly ruined), and a silvered drinking tankard.
Leaving the chamber the mob headed to the partially unexplored area in the SE of the tomb.
The starfish room - Stairs descend into a chamber that holds a pool and trickling stream. Part of the back wall has eroded, creating a pile of debris. Several miniature black crabs climb over white barnacles, mussels, and other sea shell life. The pool is completely clear and holds seven different coloured, fist-sized starfish arranged in a circle. "Hmm, we can't let these things go unmolested", came from Ding-We as he prodded Carla with his peg-leg. He hoped this would lead to touching starfish. It worked and then things happened. Hereafter is the account:
Carla was First (Green Starfish)– She screamed in pain as spines rip out of both their forearms. Bimbles quickly cast remove curse and the spines fell off.
Dolec was Second (Blue Starfish) - Toucher gains the power of ESP for one full day. However, the ESP brings thoughts of everyone within a 20’ radius unbidden, causing migraine headaches and making concentrating impossible (i.e. no spell- casting).
Bimbles was Third (Pink Starfish)- Toucher feels compelled to eat the starfish, immediately attempting (he actually succeeded with ease as the gang were dumbfounded by what they saw) to pop it in their mouth. He was immediately unnerved by the feeling of the starfish moving inside of his Bimble belly. He was also immediately hungry but his normally finicky gut and irritable bowel felt strangely fortified.
Mason was Fourth (Silver Starfish) - His hair turned silver and he felt more spry.
Charles was Fifth (Orange Starfish)- The toucher regenerates 1 hp per round for a full day. They also grow a third arm in their back that seems to have a mind of its own. Carla was called upon to remove that curse as Bimbles had lifted his armour and was poking his belly, “I wonder if this requires a doctor?”.
They didn’t have the guts to touch the last two starfish (Red & Gold). They left and then turned right ascended two flights of stairs to an intact door.
Beyond the door - A thick layer of feces covers the floor, the smell almost overpowering. A huge silver bird cage stands in the center of the room, almost touching the 15’ high ceiling. A stream of water flows from a seep in the wall, creates a pool of abundant sea life in/near the cage, then continues through a tunnel. A hideous half man, half green featheredparrot lets out a squawk of surprise. The harpy-looking creature stares in befuddlement then quickly enters a barrage of questions in a deep male voice...”Who are you? Why are you here? Do you have the key?! Gods, tell me you have the key!!! Please free me from my cage!”. Bunny tried to unlock it but wrecked her tools and declared the lock beyond anything imagined. Magicks were also implemented to no effect. The lock required either a wish or the proper key, the latter being the only possible solution. They promised to return once they found the key. They felt another visit to Ulenmahr the Skeletal Votary was a good place to start.
They were waylaid by a horde of those damn Cultists of Abyzou. There was no parlay as the nut-bags had an immediate hate on for our gang that came with a fireball. Good fortune, the inherent sogginess of the tomb produced an underwhelming output. The hobos charged with abandon and made fairly quick work of turning the cultists into mincemeat. Some nice loot and a spell book were recovered.
Back at the shipbuilding yard, Ding-We once more cavalierly interrupted Ulenmahr’s works. He was not too irritated as the retrieval of the ship’s bust really gave a phat reaction bonus. “Hey there skin covered buddies. I am a little busy trying to finish up with the bust.. if only I had some real nice shells to inlay around it.. but I should afford you guys a few moments as you have been very helpful. What is up?” Ding-We explained that they were looking for a key. “Hmmm, perhaps this old thing is more than I remember”, pulling out a golden pendant of a lions face from around his neck bones. “I think this was a gift from Cassidy not really sure I want to give it up..”. Ding-We gave Bunny a poke with his peg-leg. “Oh come on! Hop along..”. Bunny grudgingly pulled out her three beautiful Glory of the Sea shells and presented then to the old robe of bones. “Ohh ahhh, those are perfect. Nothing better in the sea than these. The pendant is yours and I once more did you adieu. I have work to do”. Bunny tossed the sorcerer the medallion and then lead the progression out, “jerk”. “That’s because he has a table leg, he also wobbles – Ha hahaaha”, Saffron cackled. They made their way back to the bird cage as Ding-We smirked to himself, “Ha, I totally got it in one”.
Back at the birdcage they tried the pendant it worked and as the gross man-harpy stepped forth he/it transformed into a naked grizzled sea captain type of a man, “ahhhhh.. It has been 50 years you guys have gotta have some food just anything other than gods forsaken seafood”. He was provided ratios and gobbled them back as he told his story. He as Captain Alamend Strender and he was a pirate hunter who was the sworn enemy of the Brine Lords. After telling of the final destruction of Cassidy the Captain was momentarily forlorn, “I would have liked doing that… but a job done is a job done. May he and his ilk burn forever. I guess all I can do is offer you my services. Give me a longsword and maybe some pants to cover my short sword and I shall repay you for my freedom”. The offer was accepted and they decided to make their way back to the painting room to rest.
The cycle passed entertainingly as The Captain sung many the pirate killing jig.
Day 160 (12.20/0605): With the new day they headed out once more to explore the unknown SW section of the tomb beyond the chamber of statues. They came to a chamber with a beautiful wall fountain of a long forgotten sea goddess embedded in the back wall. Fountain water streamed out from the sides ofher face, giving the illusion of flowing hair. The pool was littered with embedded gems in the sea life carvings that decorate its 2’ tall base. Dolec approached and triggered a pit trap. He fell onto the luckily headless and sharp pointy crownless giant skeleton. Without the fun impalement part he bounced off and fell into the water and sank like a brick. The ever ready, for a trap, Bunny quickly threw down the rope of climbing and recruited Charles to pull her and Dolec up after she recovered and tied the rope to him. At the very same time across the corridor a secret wall opened and a trio of driftwood golems lurched into action – it was a multifaceted trap. There was fighting and recovering. Unfortunately for the golems driftwood isa totally subpar medium to work with especially when faced with battle scarred hobos.
Reminder: Italicized sections straight-up plagiarized from the adventure (words by Malrex).
ROLECALL
Carla the Green High Priestess of TMB (C10) 313941 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d12/III
Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm
Bimbles the High Priest of GSS (C9) 276643 xp +5% <300001> CRT 1d12/III
Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 289416 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V
Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)
Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 210405 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV
Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)
Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)
Missing thirteen teeth
Raul the Voyager (MD9) 254664 xp +10% <360000> CRT 1d12/III
Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4,
Removed one of his own nostrils.
Ding-We the Peg-Legged Sorcerer (W9) 463664 xp +10% <470001> CRT 1d10/I
Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)
Bunny the Thief! (T9) 257448 xp <280001> +10% CRT 1d20/II
Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand
The Henchmen
Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Ribbits (FY7) 176755 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III
Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen
Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts
Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 60920 <100001> CRT 1d10/III
Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 59051 <64000> +10% CRT 1d16/IV
Franz the Grave Return (Lawful; XXXX) Sword
Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON)
Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)
Dolec Da the Hero (F5) 43871 xp +10% <64000> CRT 1d20/IV
Missing five teeth
Captain Alamend Strender the Swashbuckler (F5) 25020 <32000> +5% CRTXXX
RESERVES
BoB is the lone lawn ornament for the Basilisk Knights.
Chung Li needs 12 weeks (74 days) and a stack of coin to rewrite his lost spell book.
Elapsed: 29 days (from day 600)
Elapsed Campaign Time
600 (624) days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation)
Join us for session Two-Hundred-and-Thirty-Three when we ask the questions:
Even when friendly ghosts is spooky, how many times will we be reminded of this?
How much longer can they put off descending into the depths?
Is that star(fish) spinning inside of Bimble’s gulliver?
Tale of the Tape
Exploration Below the Blighted Sub-Hex
Location hex: 12.20
Goobahs Aged by Luvous (1 yr.): Carla, Bunny, Bimbles
Bimbles ate the Pink Starfish (+2 to poison and internal body things; Double eat gotta feed my baybay)
Mason touched the Sliver Starfish (+1 DEX, Silver hair)
NEW RECRUIT:
Captain Alamend Strender, Level 5 Fighter: AC 8; hp 33; Att 1 x longsword (1d8); THAC0 17; MV 120’ (40’); SVD10 W11 P12 B13 S14; AL L; STR 14, INT 11, WIS 9, DEX 16, CON 10, CHR 14.
KILLS
Driftwood golems (4)
Cultist Horde of Abyzou
LOOT
1775 gp
Silver bracelet with mermaid hair 125 gp
Old maps of ‘Zotani’ Sea
Silvered Drinking Tankard 50 gp
Ornate gilded box w/tiny gems 400 gp
Golden Necklace with Lion Head 200 gp
Longsword +1, +3 vs. Spellcasters
Real Nice Chainmail (+3) of Slightly Easier Movement (+10’mv)
Elven Longbow +2
Ring of Archery (+1 ATT/DMG)
Sapphire Ring 300 gp
Spellbook: MM, Shield, Web, Knock and Fireball
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