Session Fourteen: The Lair of the Worm

Session Date: March 1, 2008

[The session began with the usual recounting of what happened in the prior session. There was also some discussion (more of a GM exhortation, really) of meta-game rules issues on the subjects of Artha and intra-party Duels of Wits.]

An Exchange Between Judyn and Maban
(Evening of 13 Azura, TR 720)

Judyn showed the threatening note (presumably left by Cranor) saying “If you do not not attack our enemies, but meet with them, then you are our enemy,” to Maban and asked her what happened between her and Cranor.

Maban told Judyn the trurth of the conversation. She insited that Cranor was crazy.

A Walk to the Arena
(Morning of 14 Azura, TR 720)

A few days after their meeting with Analia, the founders were almost prepared to go out on their mission to parlay with the Ivashu whom Duglan had seen near Taztos, a suspected spawn of the Elder Brood based on his description and Maban's knowledge.

On the morning of the 14th Judyn got a letter from Carig of Gundar, the Ulankh (an Agrikan priest without a specific hierarhical position within a temple) from the Shiran temple of the Octagonal Pit, saying that he had an excellent deal for a convict sentenced to death that she could buy. She then headed to the arena, accompanied by Jaroud, Kalrun, and Maban.

However, Jaroud— who had not been present at the meeting during which the group had agreed to purchase a prisoner, voiced objections to buying a convicted man ("probably some poor person, who was just trying to feed himself") rather than finding an already deceased corpse to feed to the Ivashu.

While walking, Jaroud argued that it was wrong and they shouldn't go to the arena at all, and Kalrun supported him. (This was handled as a Duel of Wits) Jaroud was convinced to go along and help purchase a prisoner, but her forced Judyn to agree that they would only take the convict if he was a murderer— and, that when the time came to sacrifice the convict to the Elder Brood, Judyn would have to do so with her own hand.

In the Pens of the Pamesani
(Morning of 14 Azura, TR 720)

At the arena, they were met by the priest Carig, who escorted them to the prisoner pens and cells. He showed them the "great deal" he had spoken of— a 12-year-old boy thrown roughly in a cell. Judyn asked why the boy was there— what his crime had been. Carig seemed puzzled as to why that should matter. Judyn and Jaroud insisted and Carig said that he didn't know, but he was sure that the boy was "properly convicted". Judyn asked the boy what he had done and Jaroud explained that boy's tongue had been cut out— a standard practice by the Octagonal Pit. Judyn pressed Carig, and the priest, a bit annoyed— went to consult temple records to find out. Judyn also asked about a more expensive option— a known killer, and Carig suggested a slave who had killed his master, but warned that he'd be much more expensive as he was sure to "give better sport".

While they were waiting for Carig to return, the group appeared to have the run of the pens and cell area. (There were guards there, but they did not appear too interested in obstructing their movements.)

Maban and Kalrun went to the beast pens, where they found an Ivashu that was being held in a pit. The creature appeared something like giant centipede some five feet long with multi-colored spines dripping probable poison. (Maban suspected that different spines contained different toxins.) It was kept in a pit that it evidently could not climb. Maban determined that it was actually a very young spawn (an Ivashu "baby") of a unique type. They considered putting down a ladder to free it, but instead decided to talk the keepers into letting it grow, arguing thatit would give a more spectacular show if it were larger.

Meanwhile, Judyn went up to the cell of the slave who had killed his master— a big hulk of a man who was apparently an agricultural laborer. She spoke openly to him, at first asking if he had family. It was clear that his tongue had also been cut out, but he understood her and shook his head and gave a grunt that clearly meant 'no'. Judyn told him that she had an offer for him— an offer that would still lead to his death, bu tthat it would give him a chance to be out of the pit for a while before dying. He nodded in agreement.

When Carig returned, he said he had no records on how the 12-year-old had been brought to them. She then offered to buy both the 12-year-old and the adult, and settled on a price with Carig to be paid on pick-up.

Maban and Kalrun spoke to Carig and relayed Maban's assessment that the Ivashu should not be fought now, as it would one day grow to be much bigger and more fiersome. Carig promised that he would relay this to the appropriate masters at the temple and to the officers of the Demon Pameshlu.

A Fight in the Arena
(15 Azura, TR 720)

The next day at the games, there was a fight at the arena between Dagnard, the Telen who was "Master of Beasts" in the Order of the Demon Pameshlu and another Telen named Viras, who was in charge of the gate guards. The duel, apparently, had stemmed from Maban's having accused Garryx (the gate guard whom she previously slept with) of having told her of Dagnard's impotence and missing testicle— and Dagnard beating Garryx within an inch of his life. Garryx's caatain, in turn, challenged Dagnard to the duel.

Maban went to the games with Carig, the Agrikan Ulankh and watched the fight, which was long and brutal. In the end, Dagnard won, slaying Viras by piercing his throat with a spear.

Final Preparations and the Journey
(16 Azura, TR 720)

Judyn was quite concerned at some mystical or physical leak of information after Cranor threatened her in a note— apparently knowing about their meeting with the Agrikans. She at first suspected Maban, but convinced by Maban's denial she wanted to secure her house more thoroughly. She asked Brother Olrau to consecrate the place, and he agreed to make a consecrated room in the basement. He did this in a ceremony with Judyn and Maban (and both went up in Faith as a result).

Olrau also insisted that he should stay in the city to watch after things while the others went after the Ivashu. Kara, meanwhile, was sent off to Shiran again— accompanied again by Judyn's servant Tesena, a widow of her clan.

The others then picked up the convicts. Judyn left the boy to stay with her mother in the Kuseme house, and they took the other convict with them.

They were well-equipped and provisioned and riding a set of horses provided by Judyn. Their trip was tiring and painful on the legs giving that they were inexperienced riders, but uneventful. They pushed to go quickly, especially since autumn was advancing. They arrived at Moleryn in one day, and pushed forward to Taztos, arriving just two days later.

En route from Moleryn to Taztos, they encountered two other groups of travels. The first was a group of soldiers from the Ramala legion, escorting a band of captured Gozyda tribesman back to the city, presumably to be sold as slaves. Judyn and Kalrun spoke with the soldiers briefly, asking about the road ahead. The soldiers told them that the road should be fairly safe, as they had had to go far into the woods to find the Gozyda. The second group consisted of a a strange band of soldiers, slaves and two guilded-looking fellows carrying a good deal of woodcutting and digging tools— possibly timberwrights or miner— or road builders. They too were heading towards Taztos. The missionaries did not speak with them,

Arrival at Taztos
(19 Azura, TR 720)

The missionaries arrived at the fort of Taztos on the evening of the 19th. It was a strategic military site on the salt road, maintained to guard the border and keep the trade route as safe as possible, given the presence of two major barbarian groups in the area: The Gozyda (alleged to be cannibals) in the Mimea Hills to the southwest and the fierce Tulwyn of the Athul Highlands to the northeast. There was a long history of battles in the vicinity, and was surrounded by burial mounds of various age, some apparently dating back thousands of years.

The group spent the night camped in the Caravan Common, outside of the fort, but protected by its moat. Except for Duglan, who appeared uncomfortable and did not want to associate with his former fellows-in-arms, they shared news from Coranan and they heard many rumors from the soldiers about Taztos. These included:

  • There was supposedly a ghost, popularly known as the "Old Soldier" on a nearby burial mound. He appeared dressed in ancient armor, made of bronze, and appeared to have a noble bearing. Soldiers stationed at the fort would toss coins on the mound when they went out and returned from patrols as an offering to his spirit. The "Old Soldier" however, was only one of many ghosts in the area.
  • There was a nearby hill, known as the Hill of the Dark Grove, that was covered with numerous barrows. The trees on the hill were all stunted and twisted— and had a starnge black-green hue to their leaves. If you broke off a branch, the trees would ooze blood rather than sap. The legend was that the trees were once men who raped a witch-woman of noble Jarin blood long ago; in vengeance, she turned them into twisted trees. Some soldiers apparently believed that a strange wight or other creature dwelt inside the hill.
  • Yet another hill, known as Lothrim's Smithy, was supposedly where the mage Lothrim forged (or summoned?) the Foulspawn (i.e. the Gargun— Hârn's orcs).
  • The area was known for strange and mysterous disappearances. People sometimes vanished suddenly, never to return. Once a group of merchants arranged to have their horses stabled in the fort itself. They led their horses into the stable in the eyes of four guards, but never came out again. When the guards looked in the stables, there was no trace of any of them— or their horses!
  • In 691, an army of Tulwyn attacked the fort. Shortly before the Tulwyn attack, a great cache of coin for the soldier's pay had been buried nearby. All those who knew where it had been buried died in the Tulwyn attack. The cache has never been recovered.

The soldiers also gave them some more recent news of note. Apparently a troupe of thespians had come out to Taztos a few weeks before, at the expense of General Kronos. The soldiers at Taztos were highly appreciative, especially since Kronos was no longer actually Marshall of the province. Also, apparently a group of 'grave-robbers' had come out to the fort a few days before, apparently holding forged documents from the provincial Magistrate, authorizing them to conduct excavations in the barrows nearby. The fort's commander refused to let them dig and drove them out— although apparently the leader of the 'grave-robbers', a Rethemi, vowed that he would come back.

The missionaries asked about possible dangers if they were to travel to the north, into the woods. The soldiers warned them that the Tulwyn were fierce warriors who did not brook outsiders intruding onto their lands— and that their deep patrols often encoutnered severe Tulwyn hostility. "But," the soldiers said, "if you want to get yourselves killed searching for the buried treasure," that's your business.

Kalrun, relying upon his military experience and reptuation, asked around to find out whether any of the soliders at the fort had ever seen any strange creatures in the woods— creatures who sounded like they might be Ivashu, or possibly even the Elder Brood. he did find one segeant named Rhongoe (through a Circles test), who had. Rhongoe told them that once on a deep patrol in the Ramala Gap (a relatively flat valley separating the Mimea Hills from the Athul Highlands), he had gotten separated from his patrol and found himself inexpicably drawn to "The Watchtowers", the soldiers' name for a row of foothills on the west of the Gap. He was drawn to one hill in particular, and when he got there, he saw a strange creature— seven feet tall, with black lumpy skin— looking out at him from a distance. (His description made the creature sound very much liike a Nolah— or a Hârnic troll.) He felt dizzy and woozy and he nearly blacked out. When his mind cleared, he saw the Nolah again— but it was no longer looking at him. Instead, it was kneeling before what looked like a cave or an open barrow at the base of the hill. It then rose and entered. Rhongoe felt it would be unwise to stay and quickly headed off to rejoin his unit.

There was much in this story that corresponded with Duglan's story of the Elder Brood— getting separated from his fellows on a deep patrol, finding himself at a cave or barrow entrance, finding his mind confused, etc. However, Duglan's story had no mention of any Nolah. Perhaps the Elder Brood had acquired a Nolah servant since Duglan met it! This could be dangerous, the group agreed, since Nolah's were known to be able to charm men's minds.

That night, while the rest of the group prepared to rest, Maban sought to use her bones to divined on the location of the lost treasure that the soldiers had told her about. However, the bones told her nothing of use— in fact, the pattern that the bones fell into was one of warning— telling her that she was asking a question that the gods did not wish her to ask.

Travel to the Watchtowers— and the Lair of the Elder Brood.
(20 Azura TR 720)

They set out from Taztos early on a foggy morning. Despite the fog, with Jaroud's help, Duglan found his way directly to the site of his patrol's battle with the Tulwyn, and then towards the cave where he had seen the Ivashu. They arrived shortly before sunset, and the fog began to thicken again.

As they came close to the hills known as the Watchtowers, however, strange feelings and thoughts seized all in the group, and many began acting strangely. [GM's note: This was the result of a mind control being exerted on them by the Elder Brood.] Even Jaroud's dogs began behaving strangely, so he tied the hounds to a tree. Jaroud himself rushed ahead, with Maban and Kalrun close behind. Judyn, Bowdyn, and Duglan hung back, keeping the slave/prisoner with them, but then Bowdyn suddenly sprinted off into the woods, without explaining himself.

As he rushed ahead towards one of the hills, Black Claw at his side, Jaroud was ambushed by a bowman hidden behind some bushes. The shot struck him in the chest, but it glanced off the armor that Kalrun had procured for him before the trip, quite possibly saving his life. [GM's note: This was the result of a 'retroactive' logistics roll by Kalrun to say that he had arranged, to secure a loan of simple leather armor for Jaroud.]. Black Claw ran ahead into the bushes and flushed out the shooter— a barbarian, apparently a Tulwyn— while Jaroud charged forward with his own bow ready. As soon as he got into optimal range, he carefully aimed his bow and fired at the Tulwyn, wounding him in the arm. He then closed to finish himand then closed to finish him, while Black Claw kept him pinned down..

Meanwhile, Maban and Kalrun had been rushing forward just behind Jaroud, but at th efirst sound of a bowshot, Maban disappeared into some underbrush. [GM's note: This was a case of Maban invoking her "Always sneak away when a fight starts" instinct.] Kalrun quickly realized that he had lost track of Maban and, rather than aiding Jaroud, stopped to search for her. He could not find her, however— and began searching for her everywhere, concerned that an ill fate had befallen her. (Little did he know that Maban was actually stealthily making her way back to where Judyn and Duglan were.) Kalrun also decided that his armor was encumbering him and making him too noisy, so he removed it and left it on the ground.

During this time, Judyn had become convinced that Duglan was leading them into a trap. She dropped to her knees in a silent prayer that the Elder Brood would come save them— taking Duglan as a sacrifice. She told Duglan though, that she prayed for the thick fog that still surrounded themto cover their escape. She also convinced him to tie a rope around himself and to connect it to her, lest they should get separated when the mists came.

Not long after, the fog did thicken— noticeably. And, without warning, a strange looking hand came out of the darkening mist and grabbed Duglan. Duglan cried out, drew his sword and swung it at his assailant, producing a dull thud sound— but the sword remained unbloodied and whoever— or whatever— was grabbing him did not let go. Then the rope holding him to Judyn snapped and he was pulled out into the fog by whatever grabbed him.

At the same time, the prisoner, whose arms were bound by a rope that Judyn was holding, ran, pulling the line tied to him from Judyn's hands. He too fanished in the fog.

At that moment, Maban arrived back at the scene and saw Judyn, holding a severed rope in one and, but without either Duglan or the prisoner. Judyn did not see Maban, however, as she was still moving stealthily. Judyn, whether from guilt, curiosity, or faith, ran after Duglan— but Maban believed that Judyn was up to no good and ran after her. She attempted to tackle her and bring her to the ground, but Judyn was just too fast for her. Judyn ran off into the fog, attempting to follow any signs she could spot of the creature who took Duglan, and Maban ran after her. Kalrun, saw Maban take off into the thickening fog and ran off after her, in turn, making for a three-way chase through the evening gloom. Kalrun— at this point— thought it best to cast his sword aside, as its wait awas slowing him down, and it might be seen as a threat by whomever they were chasing.

In time, however, Kalrun caught up with Maban— and then both caught up with Judyn. Though Maban remained deeply suspicious of Judyn (for reasons she couldn't quite figure out), she did a gree to work with Judyn in trying to find the creature that took Duglan. Kalrun assisted them in tracking it— which was a great chore in the fading light and increasing mist— but they were able to find a set of strange tracks such as might be made by a very tall man carrying a heavy load (like a body). They followed them.

In the Lair (Jaroud)
(Evening 20 Azura TR 720)

As he stood over his slain Tulwyn foe, Jaroud looked over at a nearby burial mound and saw a cave— leading into it. He also noticed that there was a small hut on top of it, quite possibly that of the barbarian. Though he was tempted to investigate the hut, the idea struck Jaroud— rather strongly— that he should take some sort of animal carcass or other meat to the front of the opening into the mound.

He looked down at the Tulwyn's body and decided that it was suitable, so he dragged it over to burial mound. As he neared, he saw that the opening was no cave, but the entrance to an ancient barrow. Primitive carvings of animals and other undechiperable symbols could be discrened on some of the entrance. A strange odor wafted from the barrow— a mixture of rotting meat and filth, combined with an animal smell that even Jarud could not identify.

As he neared the barrow's mouth, he felt a compulsion to actually drag the body inside, to the back of the barrow— so he did so. Black Claw, however, remained outside and would not enter. As Jaroud entered the barrow, he realized that there was a faint, flickering light coming from the back— like a torch, perhaps, but a bit more constant.

As we walked down the barrow, Jaroud saw piles of bones— both human and animal— lining various alcoves. There were also various stones that had apparently fallen out of place from the ceiling and walls. Once at the back of the barrow, he saw the creature that dwelt within: a strange beast that was both snake and man— and more. A strange, bloated head— vaguely human, but lumpier and ugly looking— with two eyes and a round mouth rested atop a long serpentine neck, covered in scales. The neck turned into a humanoid torso (less scaley than the neck) from which two skinny elongated arms protruded, each ending in a three fingered hand, with each finger ending in a pointed claw. As this torso moved downards, it became serpentine, covered with scales and with out further limbs. This lower half of the creature was some 8-10 feet long and 2-3' feet in diameter. The strange light that Jaroud had seen seemed to come from some point behind the creature— or from within its coils.

The creature eyed Jaroud expectantly, weaving its head back and forth on its ophidian neck, as if waiting for something. Jaroud again felt an overwhelming compulsion and laid the body before the Worm. As he did, the creature reached out and, with surprising ease, lifted the Tulwyn's body with one arm. With the other hand, the creature thrust two of its clawed fingers into the corpse's eye sockets, forcing a vile jelly to ooze out. With its fingers still in place, it then brought the body up to its own mouth and made a loud breathing sound, as if it was violently sucking air or fluids out of the corpse. Though horrified, Jaroud felt it important to make a sign of reference to the creature. He knelt down and offered a quick prayer to Ilvir and then quickly— but carefully— backed out from the barrow.

As Jaroud was leaving the barrow, he saw another creature entering. It was a vaguely humanoid creature, seven-feet tall with black, lumpy skin— a Nolah! The Nolah was carrying something in its arms, which,as it close, Jaroud recognized as the body of Duglan. The Nolah muttered something to Jaroud in its incomprehensible language and then walked passed him, apparently intent on some task that did not involve the huntsman. Jaroud hastened out of the barrow.

In the Lair (All)
(Evening 20 Azura TR 720)

Meanwhile, Kalrun, Maban, and Kudyn had followed the Nolah's tracks back to the same burial mound. As they got there, they could just barely see the large figure of the Nolah, carrying Duglan's body, int the barrow. They began to discuss what to do— but were then stunned when, just a few heartbeats later, Jaroud emerged rom the barrow.

The group briefly discussed what Jaroud had seen inside and then they all entered, some holding lit torches. Maban, believing that the place was holy went in front, crawling on her hands and knees. Kalrun followed her, with Judyn behind. Bowdyn was still nowhere to be seen, but the group felt, somehow, that he was safe wherever he was.

The group proceeded to the back, with Maban in the lead. There, they saw Duglan's body, lying on the floor before the great snake-man. He had a dark bruise on his neck, but seemed to be breathing. The creature was gnawing on the body of the dead Tulwn, eating choice juicy bits from the chest and arms.

Maban, still on her hands and knees, greeted the creature, whom they presumed to be be the Elder Brood for which they had been searching in Ivashi. It looked at her cryptically, darted its head side to side in a serpetine manner, and then spoke.

"You!" it said in apparent surprise! "I harvested your soul long ago! But where is the other whose soul is attached to yours?" Maban was puzzled by these strange words and asked for clarification. She gathered that the creature believed it had 'harvested her soul' many thousands of years before, in some former life. She also believed that 'the other' it referred to may have been Ro'agg, but it was not entirely clear, and she did not inquire further. By the way the creature spoke, it seemed clear that it was ancient and wise being with a knowledge of souls and spirits that transcended normal mortal ken and went back thousands of years. ("How little you know of souls!" it told her at one point, when she sought to dispute a theological claim it had made.")

As Maban and the creature spoke, the others felt their minds clear of the strange thoughts and feelings they had had before. They began now to suspect that the creature may have been the cause of those ideas.

Further conversation between Maban and the creature revealed that it's name was H'flokgh'ka, and it was indeed an Elder Brood of Ilvir. It claimed to be so old that it walked the shores of Hârn even before the coming of the Elves, 10,000 years ago. It apparently it collected the souls of creatures to take back to Ilvir. It prefered humans (or, when available) Elves to animal souls, but it would take any it could find. The process by which it gathered and transported souls was not entirely clearly, but it Maban suspected that Jaroud had seen part of the gathering process earlier when the creature was violating the Tulwyn's corpse.. Apparently, it still had many more souls to gather before it was prepared to return to Araka-Kalai.

Interestingly, H'flokgh'ka seemed not to be interested in harvesting the souls of the missionaries, as they were also followers of Ilvir. ("Your souls will go back to Araka-Kalai on their own." Apparently it preferred to harvest the souls of non-Ilvirans, so that "their souls would not leave this earth, but would be bound to it, for use in spawning the lesser brood."

Through her conversations, Maban also gathered that the creature had been injured and some point in the past— quite possibly by Elves— and might be wholly or partly lame.

Maban told the creature that they were followers of Ilvir as well and that they were building a temple in the city. She asked if it would come with them. It seemed intrigued by the thought of a city with thousands of people. ("Many souls to harvest there...."

It was wary, however, and appeared hesitant as to how, given its limited mobility, it could get to Coranan. Maban and it suggested the use of a cart to "carry its magnificience.

(End of Session)