Session 35 Prep

Set Expectations

Set the expectations for the session and communicate any above table information FIRST before starting the session…

• Ranged attacks ruling:
  • Whenever you are within melee range of a creature; any ranged attack against any creature is at disadvantage. The logic being that you’re “threatened” by the creature being so close to you that you can’t aim as well.
• This session will have some fun stuff and setup nicely for the rest of the Drasiyl’s Path dungeon.

Recap & Re-Familiarize

Recap the previous session events with brevity, then reintroduce them to the world.

Skim from the Skeleton

And that’s where we’ll pick up from… with The Fated Eight arriving to the exterior of the Terralpi’s refuge; and supposedly the location of Drasiyl’s Path…

It is the early afternoon after a half a day’s travel from Cinder’s Den to here.

Immediate Event

The immediate action for the Party to deal with.

Getting Into Drasiyl’s Path

• Epicentre of the earthquake, the structure seems fine but the ground is clearly damaged.
• Let them fumble around for a way in; they’ll stumble upon a similar journal made of a deep green leather. It all but one page torn out (give them Piers’ journal entry #558)
• Eventually Dridge will appear and say “Oh bloody hell am I glad to see you! We’ve got a small problem down here!!”
• The front door will open as it once had and Dridge will rush through the floor just slowly enough for you not to lose him. He leads you past the study where you met Quill and Flick previously and down into the large cave system where the rest of the Terralpi are.

The Situation

• Terralpi are scrambling to barricade a section of the cavern you hadn’t explored previously.
  • One Terralpi has increased his size and is pushing a boulder in the way of the cave opening
  • Another is surrounded by magical energy as they are telekinetically moving rocks and heavy objects in the way.
• Dridge says “you remember that Serpent cunt you fought last time you were here… well it’s children seem to have found this place. They took Quill and a few other Terralpi from that tribe with them. We sent a party ahead to look for them but they returned missing a guy. We’d really appreciate your help sealing that ca-”
• Interrupted as the large Terralpi will shout “It’s not gonna hold! - everybody run for safety!

Combat Part #1

• Combat Guide (gid=526586694)

Two Serpents will spring from the partially blocked opening. These look like a step up from the smaller serpents you encountered a few days prior. Where those were loosely held together by twigs and mist - these appear to be scaled and radiating with a strange blue, glowing energy. Initially they seem to be scanning the Terralpi before catching the eye of Aurevald as they both rush for your party.

I need you all to roll initiative After one round of combat - or if they get really low have them retreat back into the cave (if logical/needed one of them will kidnap Dridge)

Initiative is paused

Plots Points/Paths Forward

Details about various plot threads that can be explored this session - with a subheading for each one.

Taking Stock

• We had barricaded that cave as it was too easy to lose the children; it seems that the previous owners had setup a mineshaft of some description.
• One of the women taken; Proska, was fond of sneaking past the barricade and exploring. She’s convinced that there are Gyi’Gantos ruins down there but every search party proved to be all risk and no reward.
• These serpents appeared shortly after the earthquakes; we don’t understand what they are or where they come from.
• Eldos will ask The Fated Eight if they would head deeper into the caves as soon as they are ready to.
  • “I understand if this is not what you came back for; but we would be forever in your debt if you could rescue our kidnapped tribespeople…”

Search & Rescue

• Ruins on the cave walls;

Chamber One: A dusty cave with torn and ripped minecart tracks. There

• There are words in Giant that read “The Trickster cursed us; The Blind Lady saw to that…”
• There are words in Sylvan that read “The Trickster birthed us; The Deaf Lady heard our cries…”
• Symbols that are neither Giant nor Sylvan but a blend of both. Comprehend languages does not work
• There are “slither” marks in the stone/soil that follow deeper in.
• There is a loose piece of paper under one of the tracks (Give Piers’ journal #767)

Combat Two

The cave winds back on itself for a bit before you arrive at a shallower section and see a wooden archway maybe 30ft ahead of you. You can hear the sounds of creatures moving as it echoes through the cave passage in front of you.

How do you proceed?

The room gives way to sloped section where a small crevasse has formed down the middle - creating a left and right paths to the other side of the chamber. The gap appears to be a drop into darkness from this angle. From the doorway the room; appears to be empty but there is still the sound of creatures moving around you.

Entering the room will trigger combat

Combat #2 (start with 6 and add if it doesn’t feel hard enough)

• The last 3 Gandyr’s to be killed will cough up a Terralpi upon death.
  • 2 Unnamed Kids and Proska. All unconscious.

Rewards

• Two lumps of Springtime Iron; Jin can gleam this is a rare metal. If Aurevald holds it his runes will faintly glow
• Whatever they want to do with the corpses; I guess.

Get The Terralpi Home

• Get the Terralpi back to base; as they leave they notice a faint blue-purple glow emanate from the other side of the cave. There’s definitely more to explore with this part of the cave.

Wing It

• Proska
  • A member of the Vad’Nya Tribe; her ancestors used to live in this refuge with the Gyi’Gantos
  • She offers to read Aurevald’s spirit for truths.
    • “Tell me child? What answers do you seek?” Ask 3 Yes/No Questions about Aurevald, and she will do her best to answer them.
    • After a reading; she will offer more…
      • “I sense The Loving Lies of The Mother & The Selfless Sacrifice of The Father”
      • “I sense strong regrets - you failed to accomplish something in your youth, didn’t you?”
      • “I sense the loss of a dear friend. I sense the sadness of irons. You my boy have lived a tragic life.”
• Springtime Iron is a suitable material for Fimbul. It might take a few days to prepare however; heating it too hastily ruins it’s special properties.

ENDING

• The Eternal Mountain
  • IF it makes sense - end on the cliffhanger of Baldyr Oathkeeper saying “My my - I’ve seen many of your kind try to copy my ears before; but never has one been so bold as to copy our runes…”