Play report: First delve

Thassus of Hexor

Party

Magisto Leumund (Magic-User 1), henchman Isaptis

Culael Cruearg (Ranger 1), henchman Tael

Kosti Modatius (Paladin 1), henchman Thassus

Summary

While travelling south in the borderlands road leading to the city-state of Hexor, the party met Mari who was desperate to find her child Timmy and friend Bael who she heard went on a dare to a cave. Knowing this the party decided to help the mother.

The party entered the cave and descended to an area, lit by sunlight, where they spotted about a dozen small eight legged mammals who seemed to run away when approached. Culael searches for tracks and isn't able to discern which belong to the children as there seems to be many overlapping.

The area has different exits and the party decided to move through the south tunnel. It was dark and smelling of vomit and a few meters in they were able to spot a dead corpse. After investigating the corpse Leumund retrieved what seems to be a ruby clutched in one of the hands. Due to the awful acidic smell and hearing some noises behind them, the party decided to backtrack to the initial room.

The party then decided to head west and there was a large non-natural passage (the ground was flat) but it was covered by a mist. This mist restricted the range of the torch they were carrying so the party once again decided not to head in that direction.

After, they decided to go to one of the north tunnels where they found a handful of naturally mummified bodies. Most of them were from adult humans but others seemed to be the size of children. By the bodies there was a bag,as big as a person, that after dusting off was in great condition. The bag didn't seem to be as old as the mummified bodies. From this section of the tunnel they could go north where it was possible to hear the sound of a waterfall or east through different tunnels.

Reaching the north room, with the light coming from the torch the party finds a small lake and waterfall but water is flowing in reverse; from the margins to the water"fall" heading up to the ceiling. When the party approached the lake a giant amphibian jumped out of the water and expelled some gas that paralyzed the whole party with the exception of Culael, Kosti and Thassus. The amphibian uses its tongue to grab Kosti who is able to get free after stabbing the creature. As the wound runs deep the amphibian runs back to the water. On the ground Kosti commands Thassus who jumps to the creature and stabs it once more killing it. Quickly the party throws a rope at Thassus who ties it to one of the creature's legs to see what would happen as the body floated in the direction of the water"fall". The creature is sucked up and the rope is under some tension. The party decides to release the creature's body to retrieve the rope.

"Me like me paladins raw!"

The party then decides to look east where they hear some child-sized creatures giggling. As both parties notice each other (due to the torch lights) the "chilren" invite the party for tea. Culael tries to flank them through another tunnel but ends up stuck and asking for the party to help them. While stuck the "children" approach and Culael is able to see that these are not children as they have rugged faces and they have hairy feet. The party calls them halflings who in return calls the party doublings. By suggestion of the wizarding apprentice Leumund, the party follows the halflings. As they enter a big room full of huge mushrooms they are hit from both slides from pebbles thrown (as they find out later) from slings. One stone hits the surprised Thassus' head who is instantly killed. Magisto Lcomund recalls his teachings back from the Forum of Vermilion Fog and commands them all to sleep. 10 halflings and a "quarterling" (one creature half the size of the halflings) fall asleep. The mushrooms transform back to stalactites and stalagmites. The party ties them all and wakes one Leonis who tells them that they didn't mean no harm and only wanted their gold. Asked about the quarterling", Lconis says that his name is Hamly. The party kills Leonis and Hamly, as they suspect Hamly knows some magic. While they are asleep the party finds their quarters and goes through their personal belongings, The party also finds a different trunk who they assume is Hamly's. While carelessly attempting to open this last trunk, Culael the Ranger is hit by a poison needle but fortunately survives with only some itching. Besides a lot of loot the party finds a spellbook and a sword. The party decides to take the tied up halflings back to the surface and call it a day.

As the party left the cave they found the mother murdered.

Loot

Cash and jewelry worth 2100xp

In Memoriam

Thassus, the "frog"-killer