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PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN JOURNAL 21 - Welcome to Triboar
Day 57 - The Approach
Day 57 - The Approach
The Owlbear League and their extended entourage of chitine, militia from Triboar and a farmer named big Al take a long walk from Butterskull Ranch to the Caves of Chaos, and discuss their options. They spend hours laying out their options and it seems although they have several choices... a frontal assault, trying to sneak and take out one cave at a time, trying to secure the high ground above the caves, or trying to sneak in and kill Lucern first. The group unanimously believes the high ground to be the best place to start, and feels that killing Lucern may be their best bet for creating chaos in their favor.
The team spends hours of daylight widely traveling around the caves and scrambling up the back side of the canyon, approaching from the rear. As they reach the summit, they spot movement in the trees ahead, and see the canyon top is no longer undefended. Bugbears now patrol the top of the canyon, and it is not clear how many there are, so they come up with a plan, holding the majority of their force back, remaining unseen, and the core of The League sneaks into the woods atop the caves of chaos.
They hide up in the trees in a tight clearing and Orryn cast an illusion on Nowhere, making her look like another of the hobgoblins. Nowhere calls out in fluent goblinoid to one of the real bugbears and lures him over, and the trap works. Nowhere bashes the creature with her flail, in a surprise attack, Orryn tries to finish it off, but misses, and before the creature can get off a deep breath and holler for help, Atlas knocks the hobgoblin out and ends its life in a flurry of blows.
They repeat the trap, but this time after Dain leaps down from the trees with a javelin, impaling the creature, but surprisingly, it falls but is not dead. Krock jumps out and smacks him with a quarterstaff, then Immeral hits it with a chill touch cantrip, killing the creature.
The next spies Orryn in the trees right before they spring the trap. As the bugbear breathes in to cry for help, Nowhere whips out her flair and smashes the creature, ending her illusion of disguise. The hobgoblin is stunned, but not out, but Orryn ends it's life his a clean arrow shot from his short bow.
They repeat the illusion, but this time, two hobgoblins stand together, and Nowhere calls them both over, but her tone is wrong, and they seem suspicious. As she tries to convince them, a hobgoblin lieutenant grows near, questioning what is going on. Atlas leaps down and strikes several blows with his gauntlets of ogre power. Seraphina cases hold person and paralyses one of the creatures. One of the hobgoblins tries to make a break for it, and Immeral strikes with magic missiles from his cloak of stars. Orryn puts his bow to affect, hitting one of the hobgoblins, Seraphina uses sacred flame to kill another, and Urgula, one of the militia uses her javelin to kill the third. Their presence on the rim of the canyon seems to have gone undetected, at least at first. They peer from the shade of the trees down into the floor of the canyon, where fires are starting and they notice the hobgoblin captain looking around at they valley rim. Their hunker down to stay hidden, but send for their reinforcements - the militia and chitine they left back a ways.
They watch as the bugbear captain head to the platform just below them, and he stops and calls upwards. "Lucern, there is something wrong!"
"Approach, Denray" they hear from Lucern, and they spy the hobgoblin captain walking to his master.
Suddenly, they notice Clinker approaching the dropoff. "Clinker!" they whisper, but to no avail. He turns and whispers back in his diminutive drawl. "Don't worry, I've got this." He stops short of the rim, and taking out his magic bag of holding, he reaches in, and pulls out a large vase, topped with lead. Something that looks familiar, just on the edge of their memory, but League barely has time to process before he carefully places the urn on the ledge and kicks it off the side. Then it registers to some of the League where they saw a similar vase, down in the depths of Cahervaniel, and when opened, the jar released a wraith.
The party stands in shock as Clinker scampers back from the ledge and they hear the ceramic container crash into pieces, then, just a moment later, a bloodcurling scream that could only be Lucern. "Yeeeaaaaahhhhhhh!" They cheer with delight as the bugbear Denray races back into the canyon, yelling to all in his gutteral goblin language "Intruders, up on the bluff!" The goblins of the canyon and their larger hobgoblin companions quickly gather their weapons and start scrambling up the western canyon wall, yards from the position of the Owlbear League and companions.
Urgula, a militia veteran yells out - "Concentrate your attacks on the hobgoblins! Fire!" Her squad is ready and launches javelins at the hobgoblins, killing one. The chitine, lacking understanding of Urgula's common language launches their web-made javelins and kill a pair of goblins. The other chitine squads, led by Vald and Uelwyn, who understand common, launch their javelins at the hobgoblins, and take two more down. Suddenly, the goblins stop their advance, and a few chat quickly in goblinoid, too far to be heard. Another squad of militia takes down another hobgoblin, leaving only one left. The goblins take this as a sign and scramble back down the cliffs, yelling to their females and children. The diminutive creatures hurriedly gather their belongings and run for the canyon exit. A squad of orcs across the way yell to the goblins, but they are gone, and the orcs run into the caves, likely for reinforcements as the League fires their ranged attacks at the remaining hobgoblins and take them down.
There is a breather for a moment, even a few cheers, and Dain looks over the edge, just as the League hears cluttering and scrambling from below. Out of the passage piles twenty zombies and skeletons, turning to rush up the canyon wall to reach the League and companions. Dain fires his sling, the chitine throw their javelins, and a few of the undead fall, but not many.
As the horrors reach the cliff edge, K'ronk unleashes a blast of electricity from his maw, the benefit of his draconic ancestry as a dragonborn, blasting some of the undead. Urgula and her forces launch javelins into the creatures. Immeral takes one down with a chill touch spell, Ulthovir casts Fire Bolt and kills another. Vald's squad takes down three of the skeletons with javelins, but they are closing the distance. Before they can get far, Seraphina uses a powerful scroll she has been saving - wall of fire. Abruptly, a circular torrent of flame drops upon the zombies and skeletons, obliterating many, but some still get through, the undead burning, smoking, trying with their magical stamina to kill the living. Dain swings, and fumbles, falling into the edge of the fire, but recovering quickly as his companions attack the remaining monstrosities. In the last of the attack, the skeletons kill a chitine and one of the militia falls, but they defeat the last of the horde.
The heroes look around, smiles being exchanged, but then a ferocious roar. From the caves of on the north side, a couple dozen orcs scramble up the far side of the canyon. They are lead by the tremedous orc chieftan they had faced days ago, and they appear fully enraged. With moments to spare before the arrival of the orc squadrons, Nowhere calls the squad to her side. "Get in close! Triboar militia, come here, quick!" She pours a pouch of dust into her hand, magical dust of disappearance, and flings it above her companions, including the militia. A moment later, as the dust settles on them, they disappear from view. The chitine glance around worridly, but Nowhere calms them. "We are right here, we just cannot be seen. We'll attack first. Just don't throw javelins until you can see us!" Uelwyn understands and shouts the order.
The orcs race out of the woods, charging the chitine position, and they never see the first attack coming. Nowhere, wielding Icerazor, targets the orc chief and hits with two vicious attacks, becoming visible after the first and anointing the giant orc with two doses of icy spiders which quickly start crawling over the beast. Orryn surprises the chieftan with a crossbow attack as he spins wildly, and Seraphina swings her mace Lightbringer, smashing the monster orc in the knees.
Vald and the chitine attacks the startled orcs and drop three of them with the remainder of their javelins. Atlas, clad in his gauntlets of ogre power unleashes a flurry of blows against an orc, Immeral unleashes magic missiles from his robe of stars, hitting more. K'ronk consumers a a potion of fire breath, and like the lighting, breathes fire on the unsuspecting orcs, ending two of their lives. The battle becomes close quarter combat as the chitine kill three orcs with their swords, but another of their number falls. Orthovir casts a lightning-like spell and blasts two more of the orcs.
The orc war chief would have a chance to attack, but icy spiders start covering the beast and his confusion and the presence of spellcasters gets the best of him, he scrambles to brush them off while the league attacks again. Nowhere hits, Big Al hits, Orryn misses, but Seraphina strikes again and connects, killing the leader of the orc horde.
Meanwhile Lady D. chomps the head off an orc, Atlas gets hit by one, and then something else happens. A slobbering, gutteral, deep-chested roar comes from the passage of Lucern. The heroes can't see what has emerged, so Immeral sends Sylvan, his hawk companion flying over the canyon to see what is there, and in moments he learns that a massive bull-faced horned minotaur is racing up the slope of the canyon. Immeral yells to the party "Minotaur, inbound!" as he casts Ray of Frost at a cluster of remaining orcs.
K'ronk does another fire breath, sending several orcs to a flaming death as Nowhere yells to Dain. "Dain' drink this!" and Dain races over, grabbing the vial and imbibing it immediately. Within moments Dain and all his clothing, armor, weapons and belongings double in size just as the Minotaur crests the ridge.
The battle continues as chitine, militia, Clinker, Big Al and the others continue to fell orcs, but it is not without cost. Two more chitine fall, as does one of the militia. Then the minotaur runs in, and in its random rage, it barrels into K'ronk, skewering him with its massive horns, goring his side, and he goes down, unconscious.
Nowhere kills another orc with Icerazor as Seraphina casts Sacred Flame and sets the minotaur on fire. Immeral uses the magic of dissonant whispers and chill touch on the minotaur, but the minotaur is unphased by the magic of fear and only seems to feel the effect of the chill touch spell. Double-size Dain lifts his massive shield and bashes the minotaur with the razor edge of it, gouging the beast, drawing and spashing dark blood across the landscape. Lady D hits the minotaur with two claw attacks, drawing blood from the huffing beast, and then the minotaur turns and hits Dain, goring him and sending him reeling, nearly losing consciousness.
Little Seraphina stands before the great beast and shoots it with her crossbow, right between the eyes. The monster falls before her, joining the other denizens of the cave in death. Immeral then heals the unconscious K'ronk while Nowhere races casts a cure wounds spell on Dain.
They turn around and look for their next enemy, but there are none, the field is clear, but they still know there is one enemy left. Nowhere calls out. "We need Lucern. We need to the leader! Lady D, stay here!" They gather around her and she races down the cliffside into the cave of Lucern.
It is dark in the cave, but the League and the Chitine have powerful Darkvision and they drive ahead into the darkness which they can peer through. They proceed slowly, but hear a hissing sound. Suddenly before them, from a ramp ascending to the temple and Lucerns chambers, a woman appears. She is clothed in white and suddenly green light shoots from her eyes. "Medusa!" Dain yells out, covering his eyes. The others move to block their vision, but it is too late, the sickening green light strikes out, hitting Immeral and K'ronk. Both begin hardening, their muscles solidifying, and they scream out.
K'ronk seems to have success fighting the petrifying gaze, trying to shake and stomp and remain moving. Unfortunately Immeral does not have the same fortitude, and within moments is turned to stone! The medusa runs up the ramp and while the league is figuring out what to do, Vald steps up. "Let us handle the medusa. We can easily cover our eyes with our extra hands." Nowhere nods, and Vald tells them. "Stay focused, find Lucern." and the chitine race off into the darkness.
The team re-centers and continues on in the darkness, the human militia of Triboar in the rear, bearing torches, moving quietly. Suddenly from around a corner springs Lucern screaming in furious anger. He is a horrific sight, his face torn and bleeding - veined in black from the necromantic energy of the wight he must have defeated. He swings his mace in a maddened attack and actually trips over himself, weak from the prior battle. As he falls, he casts a final desperate spell - sacred flame which hits the militiaman Orthovir, burning him slightly, but not to death. Dain swings his axe at the scrambling dark priest and misses, Kronk swings his staff, but misses too. Seraphina gives him a dose of sacred flame and he howls as he and his remaining torn robes set ablaze. Atlas silences him with a punch to the face that nearly knocks him out, and Orryn uses the stunned moment to cut him down with a rapier. Smoldering, blackened, gurgling in near unconsciousness on the floor, Nowhere smashes the once mighty priest and ends his life.
The group walks back to their petrified friend. "What do we do with Immeral?" K'ronk asks.
Nowhere responds, "Seraphina, any ideas?".
"He needs a greater restoration cast upon him. It is a spell of great healing, it can only be performed by a high priest or greater." she replies.
"What happens if we chip off a piece of him?" asks Dain?
"We're not going to chip him." Orryn states firmly. "Do we know anyone with that power?"
Then Urgula the militiawoman speaks. "The high priest of Tymorra in Yartar may be able to help."
"Yes, but what happens to him if we break a piece off?" Dain interjects, running his fingers over his stone companion.
K'ronk states emphatically "we are not chipping Immeral."
"Even just a little piece?" Dain asks - strangely fascinated.
Nowhere asks, "Clinker, can you put him in the bag of holding until we can get some help?"
"Will do!" and he carefully drapes the bag over his friend, stuffing him in its magical space.
"What about this?" Clinker asks, and reaching in, pulls out the statue of Mizar.
Atlas reaches out. "I will take that. Seraphina, can you help me consecrate the temple to Mizar."
"Yes," Seraphina states. "But we will need Vald and the chitine."
"I am here." he states, walking out of the darkness with the other chitine, including Uelwyn, their leader.
Nowhere asks, "Is the medusa taken care of?"
"Yes", and he points a couple of his arms towards chitine taking the body out of the cave.
"Uelwyn, Vald, chitine, please come with me." Seraphina asks.
Seraphina marches them into the temple of elemental evil that Lucern presided over. Before the sickening power of the evil can affect them, Seraphina guides them into prayers to Mizar, the celestial unicorn they have encountered. She does this more through guidance than praying herself, as Seraphina worships the Raven Queen, a mysterious force she admittedly knows less about than she desires.
Before long, with Atlas and Uelwyn acting as priests, the elemental temple is desecrated and re-consecrated to Mizar. Suddenly, a misty glowing image of Mizar appears within the dark temple, and her new followers bow in worship. "Thank you Atlas for bringing me into contact with the good souls of the chitine. If they will give me their prayers, I will give them my guidance and protection. I must go and rest, my journey has been long and exhausting, but we will meet again my children." With that, Mizar fades away. "I guess she can't help Immeral." K'ronk states, worried about his friend.
Then, without warning, the group hears drums from outside. Concerned, they all rush to to canyon.
The sky is now dark, but the canyon is lit with many torches. The chitine and the militia are finishing preparing a meal that the denizens of the caves had started. Wild boar roasted on a spit, with forest roots and vegetables. Some have explored the caves of the orcs and found drums to beat on, and the four-armed chitine are having fun making music. Vald emerges from the temple cave with a small cask that has been uncorked. "It was in Lucern's chambers. It is wine, and if i remember what good wine is, it is good wine."
Dain quickly pours out his waterskin and accepts a pour from Vald, as does Clinker, and the others quickly line up as well. "To Mizar" Atlas toasts. "To the Owlbear League." Vald returns, toasting them with his own waterskin of wine. They end the night with wine and song and food and find places in warm caves to sleep for the night. They are nearly satisfied, but they know in the morning they must save Immeral.
NEXT - CAMPAIGN JOURNAL 23 - JOURNEY TO THE LOST PEAKS
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