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Story Hour
"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4678951" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #31 – “The Darkness of the Deep Mire”</strong> (part 2 of 2)</p><p></p><p>“<em>Augio Allio!</em>" Bleys completed his incantation and Timotheus grew to over twelve feet in height. The <em>enlarged</em> warrior, reached over and easily grabbed the mosquito and yanked it off Telémahkos, crushing it to death in his huge hands.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, one of the mosquitoes, still buzzing around, spotted Markos and grappled on to the mage’s chest to feast. All the while, the mushroom men continued to sing, hopping towards Katan’s shack, to gather chorus-like before the door. Laarus struggled to yank the insect grasping onto him.</p><p></p><p>“Hold still!” Bleys said to Telémahkos, and rolling a dart in his hand along with an adder’s stomach and some powdered rhubarb, he spoke an arcane word and an arrow of acid went flying from him. Unfortunately, however, the mosquito proved too small a target to get easily hit and Telémahkos screamed as the acid splattered on his clothing and skin. In desperation, he was finally able to stab the mosquito satisfactorily with his dagger, and as it detached to fly off bloated and happy, Timotheus stomped over and crushed it with a firm hand clap. But drained nearly dry and with the acid still burning him, Telémahkos collapsed.</p><p></p><p>Markos cut at the mosquito on him as he leapt into the bathwater of Katan’s tub, causing it to detach, while Victoria called on Anhur to <em>create water</em> causing a momentary downpour on a mosquito still diving at her. It buzzed and fluttered with wet wings on the ground trying to straighten up and fly, but Timotheus stomped on it, killing it. Seeing that the one that had been on Markos was still buzzing around the tub, Victoria stabbed it and it collapsed to the ground, pouring out Ackers blood along with its own ichor.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Veneficus aquom!</em> Markos cast as he stood in the tub, and two arrow of blue watery light slammed unerringly into the one on Laarus’ neck, killing it. The priest did not hesitate; he stepped over to Telémahkos and called on Ra to close his wounds to keep him from dying. However, the blood sucked away from him would take some time to recover from.</p><p></p><p>Timotheus helped Telémahkos to his feet. “You’re pretty pale, cuz…”</p><p></p><p>“What in tarnation was that?” Katan said, finally coming out of his house in a half-corroded chain shirt with a club, and an ill-fitting helmet on.</p><p></p><p>“Giant skeeters,” Timotheus said.</p><p></p><p>“Gods! I ain’t never seen skeeters that big! They could kill a man…”</p><p></p><p>“They almost did,” Telémahkos croaked.[sup]1[/sup]</p><p></p><p>Tymon and Tavius were called out from their hiding spot and they dealt with tying up the packhorse and pony to a post on the side of the house, and Tymon fell to dealing with the group’s gear as he was prone to do.</p><p></p><p>Timotheus convinced Katan to allow Telémahkos to rest in his shack with Tymon looking over him, while Markos and Bleys speculated on why the mushrooms had started singing when the creatures attacked.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps they called them?” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“No, I heard the buzzing before they started singing,” Victoria said.</p><p></p><p>“So you have never seen insects like that before?” Bleys asked. Katan shook his head. The watch-mage continued. “Giant locusts… Giant mosquitoes… There must be some connection, and I would not be surprised if these mushroom creatures are somehow connected as well. You say they only recently arrived?”</p><p></p><p>“Well…” Katan took a seat on the stump by the tub. “I used to see one or two at a time deeper in mire when I do my gathering… Never were too bothersome. They’d sing a little, I’d sing a little… But a few weeks ago they kind of followed me home and then the next thing I knew there were six or eight of them varmints following me around, staying out front of my house and making a gods-damned racket half the time…”</p><p></p><p>“Fascinating…” Bleys was deep in thought.</p><p></p><p>“The only thing that seems to shut them up is when I light me a cigar…” Katan continued. “I guess they don’t like ‘em…”</p><p></p><p>“Or they do!” Markos snapped his fingers. “The smoke from your cigars probably keeps the mosquitoes at bay, that’s why you’ve never seen one before. When the mushrooms hear them they start singing, you light a cigar and you’re saved! The mushrooms have been protecting you and trying to warn you!”</p><p></p><p>“Exactly what I was thinking,” Bleys said.</p><p></p><p>“These things?” Katan held up a loosely rolled greenish-brown cigar. “I make them from some leaves that grow out in the mire…”</p><p></p><p>Markos offered to buy some, but Katan was hesitant, saying they took a long time to dry out and make.</p><p></p><p>Over the next couple of hours the young nobles took the time to rest. Markos badgered Victoria and Laarus into healing Telémahkos, and they all munched on rations and on Katan’s roasted whole onions smeared in some kind of cranberry paste, and small fried fish.</p><p></p><p>When convinced that the party could make a second rowboat by means of magic, Katan finally agreed to act as their guide to the old Apshai shrine. He also had the makings to roll a few more of his swampleaf cigars, and he agreed to make those as well.</p><p></p><p>“How do you know where this shrine is?” Bleys asked the old man.</p><p></p><p>“Live in swamp long enough with no people around and ya get bored,” Katan explained. “I used to wander into every nook and cranny of the place I could find just ‘cause there was nothing else to do…”</p><p></p><p>Later in the evening, Timotheus and Markos spent a long time discussing principles of the Pillars of Thricia,[sup]2[/sup] but finally everyone went to sleep (the mushroom creatures planting themselves in the ground and going into some dormant mode wherein they were indistinguishable from just very large mushrooms), ready to head out the next day.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">Osilem, the 24th of Syet – 566 H.E. (637 M.Y.)</span></p><p></p><p>Morning found the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland taking their time to get ready to go. After Victoria and Laarus prayed for their spells, the militant used <em>lesser restoration</em> on Telémahkos to handle his loss of blood, but two casting was not enough to get him back to full health.</p><p></p><p>The on-going morning conversation concerned what to do with Tavius and the mounts, and coming to the doorway of the shack, leaning weakly in the frame, Telémahkos announced that he wanted to send Tymon back to civilization with the guide to keep him safe. As usual, Tavius drove a hard bargain about his pay and what he would charge for coming back for them in four days time. After raising his price when Markos insulted him, Tavius finally agreed to Bleys’s offer. As for Tymon, it was left for him to decide what he wanted to do, and he agreed to stick with the party.</p><p></p><p>As Tymon took over making breakfast that day, and Victoria and Timotheus took some time to spar, Markos and Katan sat at the edge of the dock talking quietly.</p><p></p><p>“How long have you been hiding out from the Red Lanterns?” Markos asked the old man.</p><p></p><p>“A long time… nigh 30 years or so…” Katan answered sadly. Two of the mushroom creatures were running back and forth up and down the dock trying to get their attention and giving their little squeaky laugh. Markos smiled at them, Katan scowled.</p><p></p><p>“That’s <em>is</em> a long time… Ever consider they may not be after you anymore?” Markos asked.</p><p></p><p>“Red Lanterns never forget them that crossed them, or else they wouldn’t be the Red Lantern Gang…” Katan answered. “Anyway, I’ve gotten used to being out here on my own…”</p><p></p><p>“But still, there must be some way to buy off the contract on your head,” Markos said. “Or perhaps there are only a few people left who remember whatever it was you did and they can be bribed or… uh…you know… <em>taken care of…</em>”</p><p></p><p>“Taken care of!? That’s what got me in trouble in the first place, <em>taking care</em> of someone I shouldn’t have…” Katan said, angrily, but then his anger was immediately deflated. “But still… It was an accident…”</p><p></p><p>“It strikes me as unfortunate that you would have to remain here hidden when there is so much of the world to enjoy for something that may not even be a concern to anyone anymore…” Markos said. “I am unconvinced of your belief that it would not be forgotten after all this time… There is a lot you can contribute… For example, I am sure the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/University+of+Thricia" target="_blank">University of Thricia</a> would be willing to pay for a report and specimen of these mushroom creatures…”</p><p></p><p>“You sure do talk funny…” Katan replied with a smile. He was missing several teeth and his remaining ones were crooked and yellow. “Can’t you talk like a regular person?”</p><p></p><p>“No…”</p><p></p><p>There was a long awkward silence. Markos turned to one of the mushroom creatures as it got close and whistled at it. It turned it face towards him and meeped in confusion.</p><p></p><p>“I guess they only copy you…” Markos said to Katan.</p><p></p><p>“Whaddya mean, copy me?” Katan’s brow furrowed.</p><p></p><p>“When the mushroom creatures sing, they seem to be mimicking you,” Markos explained.</p><p></p><p>“WHAT!” The dock creaked as Katan rose to his feet suddenly. “Them varmints can’t sing at all! You’re saying they sing like me? I sing better than them little moldy things!” He marched off in annoyance.</p><p></p><p>Markos stayed behind finding that if he sung to the little mushroom man, it would sing back in the best imitation it could muster. He was having fun, his legs dangling off the side of the dock, smiling when the creature got the melody right, or even improved on it, and muttering to himself that perhaps <em>he</em> should present a paper at the university on these creatures.</p><p></p><p>“I think he’s finally found a friend,” Timotheus commented to Bleys as they watched the salty mage playing on the dock in the dappled morning light.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly there was a disturbance in the water under the dock, and Markos instinctively pulled his legs up, just as a great dull green monster came splashing up out of the water, its huge maw slamming shut to try to grab him. It was a gigantic crocodile, over twenty feet long, with a head that could easily fit a man of Markos’s slender stature. Markos screamed like a girl as he scrambled to his feet to avoid the great beast as it climbed up onto the dock, causing it to groan in protest as its outer supports gave way. The mushroom creature peeped in fear as it slid down the askew dock into the crocodile’s mouth. One bite and it was motionless, but spores of some kind went flying out of its little broken body, and the crocodile gave a strange sneeze. Suddenly, it was moving with strange lumbering movement, <em>slowed</em> by whatever was in the spores, though it did not stop trying to get at Markos.</p><p></p><p>“Tymon!” Telémahkos called from the porch of the shack, seeing the monster attack. “Get your crossbow, and bring bolts and my weapon belt!”</p><p></p><p>Timotheus went running out to the dock, trying to provide the crocodile a different target as Markos continued to scramble. “Get up here!” He swung his sabre down on the croc’s face, but its hide was much too thick to be easily cut.</p><p></p><p>“May Ra’s light sear this abomination from the water!” Laarus prayed to his god for <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spell+-+Holy+Light+of+Ra%27s+Glory" target="_blank"><em>the holy light of Ra’s Glory</em></a>, but the beam of golden holy light that came from the sky scorched the dock, missing the creature completely.</p><p></p><p>“Gods! I ain’t never seen one of those around here!” Katan said, from his position frozen in shock and fear at the base of the dock. Bleys leapt into the rowboat beside the dock, to try to get a vantage to attack the crocodile, but he caught his foot on the gunwale and fell face first into the boat. Victoria was moving to a similar position, and the rocking of the boat caused her to fall atop the watch-mage.</p><p></p><p>Atop the broken dock, Markos screamed as the crocodile grabbed hold of his legs and then did a quick chomp to try to draw him in more deeply. There was blood everywhere, and Markos tried to focus through the pain to cast a spell, but the effort drove him to unconsciousness.[sup]3[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“Tymon! Try and get one of Victoria’s spears and a torch on the shore,” Telémahkos continued to give his manservant orders, and Tymon struggled to obey. Meanwhile, Telémahkos saw an opening and let an arrow fly from his short bow, and it nicked the crocodile’s wide back.</p><p></p><p>“Pay attention to me, ya scaly bastard!” Timotheus roared, but even his mightiest blows were bouncing off the thing’s thick ridges. Laarus of Ra came running out onto the dock, flail drawn and closed with the beast as it drew back. Annoyed with the priest swinging the weapon in its face, it opened its mouth and Markos’s limp form plopped into the water. It snapped at Laarus, but the priest leapt back. However, he lost his footing and as he struggled to remain upright the croc snapped again, and this time Laarus felt the thing’s teeth tear into the flesh of his leg. Luckily, however, he was able to pull it free before he was grabbed as his cousin had been. In the rowboat, Bleys and Victoria stood. The militant hopped up onto the dock, and then into the water beside the crocodile, while Bleys, leaving his sword in the bottom of the boat, cast a spell. “<em>Sagitta corosiva!</em>” But his <em>acid arrow</em> sailed over the thing to hiss harmlessly into the water.</p><p></p><p>As Laarus and Tim hacked and swung at the thing ineffectually, Bleys spoke another arcane word and <em>jumped</em> off the boat, leaving it to rock wildly, and flew through the air, spinning to land by Victoria and the limp form of Markos, whom the militant was healing. However, she had to hop awkwardly away to avoid the crocodile’s huge thrashing tail. [sup]4[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“Gods! Oh Gods!” Markos croaked painfully as he waded as fast as his injured body allowed him through the deep water and to the far side of the dock away from the melee. Katan came running back out of his shack with his crossbow in time to see Laarus yanked off his feet by another bite of the crocodile. The young priest grew even paler than normal and the crocodile gulped at him, drawing him deep to drive long sharp teeth into Laarus’s waist and chest. The disciple of Ra’s head hung loosely from his shoulders.</p><p></p><p>“Get the hell out of there!” Timotheus yelled to Bleys and Victoria, who were still in the water as the immense monstrous reptile withdrew once again moving at normal speed, Laarus’ body disappearing further into its maw as is disappeared into the water. The burly warrior gave chase and hacked some more to no avail. Bleys obeyed leaping once again with the aid of magic, to land on the far side of the dock on dry land, turning in time to see both the animal and their companion disappear just as an <em>acid arrow</em> from Markos hissed against its snout.</p><p></p><p>“Noooo, Laarus!” Victoria cried, casting <em>bull’s strength</em> on herself before climbing into the rowboat. “Someone get this boat moving… We need to save Laarus!”</p><p></p><p>Everyone scrambled to get in the rowboat. Timotheus dropped his sword and shield and grabbed an oar and Markos hopped in. Bleys spotted the crocodile surface briefly some forty feet away and cast <em>magic missile</em>, sending two arrows of light to slam into its back as it submerged again, leaving bloody bubbles to burst on the surface of the murky water.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, that awful!” Katan said sadly, seeing the desperation on the faces of the young nobles. “They’re never gonna find his body… He’s gone…” </p><p></p><p>Bleys leapt again, but this time he overshot the boat and landed awkwardly in the water. Telémahkos hurried forward, leaving Tymon standing confusedly with a torch in one hand, a crossbow in the other, and a spear leaning on his shoulder. The blond Briareus ran among the scattered arrows he had fired at the thing on the dock and fired another blindly, trying to gauge by the trail of blood on the water’s surface.</p><p></p><p>Victoria cast <em>enlarge person</em> on herself as Timotheus rowed the boat out to follow the trail, and was forced to roll off the boat before her increased size and weight caused it to submerge. She risked leaving herself vulnerable to feel around the mucky depths with her spear, but there was nothing. In the end, all the found was Laarus’s right hand with a bit of his forearm still attached as his signet ring on one finger.</p><p></p><p>Laarus Raymer, priest of Ra, was dead.</p><p></p><p>The Scions of Thricia returned to shore in silence, and no one said anything for a long time.</p><p></p><p>“I would like to at least find his holy symbol…” Markos finally said, and the others agreed. As he, and Tim and Victoria worked to dredge the area of the bog to find it, Telémahkos took care of giving Tavius instructions of what to do with the packhorse and when to come back.</p><p></p><p>“And if I find out that you have been selling information about us or that anything on our packhorse is missing, I will kill you, but first I will make you watch as I kill your family…” Telémahkos said to the guide with all the quiet grimness he could muster.</p><p></p><p>Tavius smirked. “You can trust me…” he replied, dismissing the threat.</p><p></p><p>“What do we do now?” Timotheus asked Bleys as he returned from the search, all they found was the priest’s crunched up shield and the necklace he had been given by the Ray-Ree. [sup]5[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“We continue on as we planned…” Bleys replied. “The fraternity of warriors is never stronger than when they have suffered a loss…”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I know…” Timotheus said sadly. “I’ve been there before… More than I care to recall…”</p><p></p><p>“I thought as much…”</p><p></p><p>“We need to be more cautious when we get to this temple or shrine or whatever it is…” Timotheus added.</p><p></p><p>“I am not one to be reckless, but at the same time over-caution has its own dangers,” the watch-mage said wisely.</p><p></p><p>It was decided that the young nobles would spend the day resting once again and that at dawn they would have a short informal service for their fallen companion.</p><p></p><p>“So let’s all try to think of nice things to say about Laarus,” Timotheus said to the others.</p><p></p><p><strong>End of Session #31</strong></p><p></p><p>-------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>[sup]1[/sup] Telémahkos suffed 7 points of Constitution damage from the mosquitoes.</p><p></p><p>[sup]2[/sup] <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Pillars+of+Thricia" target="_blank">The Pillars of Thricia</a> is the book found among <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Oroleniel+the+Salmon" target="_blank">Oroleniel the Salmon’s</a> things that proposes a form of democratic government to replace <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Thricia" target="_blank">Thricia’s</a> <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/magocracy" target="_blank">magocracy</a>.</p><p></p><p>[sup]3[/sup] Markos was <em>staggered</em> (i.e. at 0 hit points).</p><p></p><p>[sup]4[/sup] This was an attack of opportunity from the large creature.</p><p></p><p>[sup]5[/sup] This is the jackal-head necklace given to each of the party members in Session #20.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 4678951, member: 11"] [b]Session #31 – “The Darkness of the Deep Mire”[/b] (part 2 of 2) “[I]Augio Allio![/I]" Bleys completed his incantation and Timotheus grew to over twelve feet in height. The [I]enlarged[/I] warrior, reached over and easily grabbed the mosquito and yanked it off Telémahkos, crushing it to death in his huge hands. Meanwhile, one of the mosquitoes, still buzzing around, spotted Markos and grappled on to the mage’s chest to feast. All the while, the mushroom men continued to sing, hopping towards Katan’s shack, to gather chorus-like before the door. Laarus struggled to yank the insect grasping onto him. “Hold still!” Bleys said to Telémahkos, and rolling a dart in his hand along with an adder’s stomach and some powdered rhubarb, he spoke an arcane word and an arrow of acid went flying from him. Unfortunately, however, the mosquito proved too small a target to get easily hit and Telémahkos screamed as the acid splattered on his clothing and skin. In desperation, he was finally able to stab the mosquito satisfactorily with his dagger, and as it detached to fly off bloated and happy, Timotheus stomped over and crushed it with a firm hand clap. But drained nearly dry and with the acid still burning him, Telémahkos collapsed. Markos cut at the mosquito on him as he leapt into the bathwater of Katan’s tub, causing it to detach, while Victoria called on Anhur to [I]create water[/I] causing a momentary downpour on a mosquito still diving at her. It buzzed and fluttered with wet wings on the ground trying to straighten up and fly, but Timotheus stomped on it, killing it. Seeing that the one that had been on Markos was still buzzing around the tub, Victoria stabbed it and it collapsed to the ground, pouring out Ackers blood along with its own ichor. “[I]Veneficus aquom![/I] Markos cast as he stood in the tub, and two arrow of blue watery light slammed unerringly into the one on Laarus’ neck, killing it. The priest did not hesitate; he stepped over to Telémahkos and called on Ra to close his wounds to keep him from dying. However, the blood sucked away from him would take some time to recover from. Timotheus helped Telémahkos to his feet. “You’re pretty pale, cuz…” “What in tarnation was that?” Katan said, finally coming out of his house in a half-corroded chain shirt with a club, and an ill-fitting helmet on. “Giant skeeters,” Timotheus said. “Gods! I ain’t never seen skeeters that big! They could kill a man…” “They almost did,” Telémahkos croaked.[sup]1[/sup] Tymon and Tavius were called out from their hiding spot and they dealt with tying up the packhorse and pony to a post on the side of the house, and Tymon fell to dealing with the group’s gear as he was prone to do. Timotheus convinced Katan to allow Telémahkos to rest in his shack with Tymon looking over him, while Markos and Bleys speculated on why the mushrooms had started singing when the creatures attacked. “Perhaps they called them?” Laarus said. “No, I heard the buzzing before they started singing,” Victoria said. “So you have never seen insects like that before?” Bleys asked. Katan shook his head. The watch-mage continued. “Giant locusts… Giant mosquitoes… There must be some connection, and I would not be surprised if these mushroom creatures are somehow connected as well. You say they only recently arrived?” “Well…” Katan took a seat on the stump by the tub. “I used to see one or two at a time deeper in mire when I do my gathering… Never were too bothersome. They’d sing a little, I’d sing a little… But a few weeks ago they kind of followed me home and then the next thing I knew there were six or eight of them varmints following me around, staying out front of my house and making a gods-damned racket half the time…” “Fascinating…” Bleys was deep in thought. “The only thing that seems to shut them up is when I light me a cigar…” Katan continued. “I guess they don’t like ‘em…” “Or they do!” Markos snapped his fingers. “The smoke from your cigars probably keeps the mosquitoes at bay, that’s why you’ve never seen one before. When the mushrooms hear them they start singing, you light a cigar and you’re saved! The mushrooms have been protecting you and trying to warn you!” “Exactly what I was thinking,” Bleys said. “These things?” Katan held up a loosely rolled greenish-brown cigar. “I make them from some leaves that grow out in the mire…” Markos offered to buy some, but Katan was hesitant, saying they took a long time to dry out and make. Over the next couple of hours the young nobles took the time to rest. Markos badgered Victoria and Laarus into healing Telémahkos, and they all munched on rations and on Katan’s roasted whole onions smeared in some kind of cranberry paste, and small fried fish. When convinced that the party could make a second rowboat by means of magic, Katan finally agreed to act as their guide to the old Apshai shrine. He also had the makings to roll a few more of his swampleaf cigars, and he agreed to make those as well. “How do you know where this shrine is?” Bleys asked the old man. “Live in swamp long enough with no people around and ya get bored,” Katan explained. “I used to wander into every nook and cranny of the place I could find just ‘cause there was nothing else to do…” Later in the evening, Timotheus and Markos spent a long time discussing principles of the Pillars of Thricia,[sup]2[/sup] but finally everyone went to sleep (the mushroom creatures planting themselves in the ground and going into some dormant mode wherein they were indistinguishable from just very large mushrooms), ready to head out the next day. [size=5]Osilem, the 24th of Syet – 566 H.E. (637 M.Y.)[/size] Morning found the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland taking their time to get ready to go. After Victoria and Laarus prayed for their spells, the militant used [I]lesser restoration[/I] on Telémahkos to handle his loss of blood, but two casting was not enough to get him back to full health. The on-going morning conversation concerned what to do with Tavius and the mounts, and coming to the doorway of the shack, leaning weakly in the frame, Telémahkos announced that he wanted to send Tymon back to civilization with the guide to keep him safe. As usual, Tavius drove a hard bargain about his pay and what he would charge for coming back for them in four days time. After raising his price when Markos insulted him, Tavius finally agreed to Bleys’s offer. As for Tymon, it was left for him to decide what he wanted to do, and he agreed to stick with the party. As Tymon took over making breakfast that day, and Victoria and Timotheus took some time to spar, Markos and Katan sat at the edge of the dock talking quietly. “How long have you been hiding out from the Red Lanterns?” Markos asked the old man. “A long time… nigh 30 years or so…” Katan answered sadly. Two of the mushroom creatures were running back and forth up and down the dock trying to get their attention and giving their little squeaky laugh. Markos smiled at them, Katan scowled. “That’s [I]is[/I] a long time… Ever consider they may not be after you anymore?” Markos asked. “Red Lanterns never forget them that crossed them, or else they wouldn’t be the Red Lantern Gang…” Katan answered. “Anyway, I’ve gotten used to being out here on my own…” “But still, there must be some way to buy off the contract on your head,” Markos said. “Or perhaps there are only a few people left who remember whatever it was you did and they can be bribed or… uh…you know… [I]taken care of…[/I]” “Taken care of!? That’s what got me in trouble in the first place, [I]taking care[/I] of someone I shouldn’t have…” Katan said, angrily, but then his anger was immediately deflated. “But still… It was an accident…” “It strikes me as unfortunate that you would have to remain here hidden when there is so much of the world to enjoy for something that may not even be a concern to anyone anymore…” Markos said. “I am unconvinced of your belief that it would not be forgotten after all this time… There is a lot you can contribute… For example, I am sure the [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/University+of+Thricia]University of Thricia[/url] would be willing to pay for a report and specimen of these mushroom creatures…” “You sure do talk funny…” Katan replied with a smile. He was missing several teeth and his remaining ones were crooked and yellow. “Can’t you talk like a regular person?” “No…” There was a long awkward silence. Markos turned to one of the mushroom creatures as it got close and whistled at it. It turned it face towards him and meeped in confusion. “I guess they only copy you…” Markos said to Katan. “Whaddya mean, copy me?” Katan’s brow furrowed. “When the mushroom creatures sing, they seem to be mimicking you,” Markos explained. “WHAT!” The dock creaked as Katan rose to his feet suddenly. “Them varmints can’t sing at all! You’re saying they sing like me? I sing better than them little moldy things!” He marched off in annoyance. Markos stayed behind finding that if he sung to the little mushroom man, it would sing back in the best imitation it could muster. He was having fun, his legs dangling off the side of the dock, smiling when the creature got the melody right, or even improved on it, and muttering to himself that perhaps [I]he[/I] should present a paper at the university on these creatures. “I think he’s finally found a friend,” Timotheus commented to Bleys as they watched the salty mage playing on the dock in the dappled morning light. Suddenly there was a disturbance in the water under the dock, and Markos instinctively pulled his legs up, just as a great dull green monster came splashing up out of the water, its huge maw slamming shut to try to grab him. It was a gigantic crocodile, over twenty feet long, with a head that could easily fit a man of Markos’s slender stature. Markos screamed like a girl as he scrambled to his feet to avoid the great beast as it climbed up onto the dock, causing it to groan in protest as its outer supports gave way. The mushroom creature peeped in fear as it slid down the askew dock into the crocodile’s mouth. One bite and it was motionless, but spores of some kind went flying out of its little broken body, and the crocodile gave a strange sneeze. Suddenly, it was moving with strange lumbering movement, [I]slowed[/I] by whatever was in the spores, though it did not stop trying to get at Markos. “Tymon!” Telémahkos called from the porch of the shack, seeing the monster attack. “Get your crossbow, and bring bolts and my weapon belt!” Timotheus went running out to the dock, trying to provide the crocodile a different target as Markos continued to scramble. “Get up here!” He swung his sabre down on the croc’s face, but its hide was much too thick to be easily cut. “May Ra’s light sear this abomination from the water!” Laarus prayed to his god for [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spell+-+Holy+Light+of+Ra%27s+Glory][I]the holy light of Ra’s Glory[/I][/url], but the beam of golden holy light that came from the sky scorched the dock, missing the creature completely. “Gods! I ain’t never seen one of those around here!” Katan said, from his position frozen in shock and fear at the base of the dock. Bleys leapt into the rowboat beside the dock, to try to get a vantage to attack the crocodile, but he caught his foot on the gunwale and fell face first into the boat. Victoria was moving to a similar position, and the rocking of the boat caused her to fall atop the watch-mage. Atop the broken dock, Markos screamed as the crocodile grabbed hold of his legs and then did a quick chomp to try to draw him in more deeply. There was blood everywhere, and Markos tried to focus through the pain to cast a spell, but the effort drove him to unconsciousness.[sup]3[/sup] “Tymon! Try and get one of Victoria’s spears and a torch on the shore,” Telémahkos continued to give his manservant orders, and Tymon struggled to obey. Meanwhile, Telémahkos saw an opening and let an arrow fly from his short bow, and it nicked the crocodile’s wide back. “Pay attention to me, ya scaly bastard!” Timotheus roared, but even his mightiest blows were bouncing off the thing’s thick ridges. Laarus of Ra came running out onto the dock, flail drawn and closed with the beast as it drew back. Annoyed with the priest swinging the weapon in its face, it opened its mouth and Markos’s limp form plopped into the water. It snapped at Laarus, but the priest leapt back. However, he lost his footing and as he struggled to remain upright the croc snapped again, and this time Laarus felt the thing’s teeth tear into the flesh of his leg. Luckily, however, he was able to pull it free before he was grabbed as his cousin had been. In the rowboat, Bleys and Victoria stood. The militant hopped up onto the dock, and then into the water beside the crocodile, while Bleys, leaving his sword in the bottom of the boat, cast a spell. “[I]Sagitta corosiva![/I]” But his [I]acid arrow[/I] sailed over the thing to hiss harmlessly into the water. As Laarus and Tim hacked and swung at the thing ineffectually, Bleys spoke another arcane word and [I]jumped[/I] off the boat, leaving it to rock wildly, and flew through the air, spinning to land by Victoria and the limp form of Markos, whom the militant was healing. However, she had to hop awkwardly away to avoid the crocodile’s huge thrashing tail. [sup]4[/sup] “Gods! Oh Gods!” Markos croaked painfully as he waded as fast as his injured body allowed him through the deep water and to the far side of the dock away from the melee. Katan came running back out of his shack with his crossbow in time to see Laarus yanked off his feet by another bite of the crocodile. The young priest grew even paler than normal and the crocodile gulped at him, drawing him deep to drive long sharp teeth into Laarus’s waist and chest. The disciple of Ra’s head hung loosely from his shoulders. “Get the hell out of there!” Timotheus yelled to Bleys and Victoria, who were still in the water as the immense monstrous reptile withdrew once again moving at normal speed, Laarus’ body disappearing further into its maw as is disappeared into the water. The burly warrior gave chase and hacked some more to no avail. Bleys obeyed leaping once again with the aid of magic, to land on the far side of the dock on dry land, turning in time to see both the animal and their companion disappear just as an [I]acid arrow[/I] from Markos hissed against its snout. “Noooo, Laarus!” Victoria cried, casting [I]bull’s strength[/I] on herself before climbing into the rowboat. “Someone get this boat moving… We need to save Laarus!” Everyone scrambled to get in the rowboat. Timotheus dropped his sword and shield and grabbed an oar and Markos hopped in. Bleys spotted the crocodile surface briefly some forty feet away and cast [I]magic missile[/I], sending two arrows of light to slam into its back as it submerged again, leaving bloody bubbles to burst on the surface of the murky water. “Oh, that awful!” Katan said sadly, seeing the desperation on the faces of the young nobles. “They’re never gonna find his body… He’s gone…” Bleys leapt again, but this time he overshot the boat and landed awkwardly in the water. Telémahkos hurried forward, leaving Tymon standing confusedly with a torch in one hand, a crossbow in the other, and a spear leaning on his shoulder. The blond Briareus ran among the scattered arrows he had fired at the thing on the dock and fired another blindly, trying to gauge by the trail of blood on the water’s surface. Victoria cast [I]enlarge person[/I] on herself as Timotheus rowed the boat out to follow the trail, and was forced to roll off the boat before her increased size and weight caused it to submerge. She risked leaving herself vulnerable to feel around the mucky depths with her spear, but there was nothing. In the end, all the found was Laarus’s right hand with a bit of his forearm still attached as his signet ring on one finger. Laarus Raymer, priest of Ra, was dead. The Scions of Thricia returned to shore in silence, and no one said anything for a long time. “I would like to at least find his holy symbol…” Markos finally said, and the others agreed. As he, and Tim and Victoria worked to dredge the area of the bog to find it, Telémahkos took care of giving Tavius instructions of what to do with the packhorse and when to come back. “And if I find out that you have been selling information about us or that anything on our packhorse is missing, I will kill you, but first I will make you watch as I kill your family…” Telémahkos said to the guide with all the quiet grimness he could muster. Tavius smirked. “You can trust me…” he replied, dismissing the threat. “What do we do now?” Timotheus asked Bleys as he returned from the search, all they found was the priest’s crunched up shield and the necklace he had been given by the Ray-Ree. [sup]5[/sup] “We continue on as we planned…” Bleys replied. “The fraternity of warriors is never stronger than when they have suffered a loss…” “Yeah, I know…” Timotheus said sadly. “I’ve been there before… More than I care to recall…” “I thought as much…” “We need to be more cautious when we get to this temple or shrine or whatever it is…” Timotheus added. “I am not one to be reckless, but at the same time over-caution has its own dangers,” the watch-mage said wisely. It was decided that the young nobles would spend the day resting once again and that at dawn they would have a short informal service for their fallen companion. “So let’s all try to think of nice things to say about Laarus,” Timotheus said to the others. [b]End of Session #31[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] [sup]1[/sup] Telémahkos suffed 7 points of Constitution damage from the mosquitoes. [sup]2[/sup] [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Pillars+of+Thricia]The Pillars of Thricia[/url] is the book found among [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Oroleniel+the+Salmon]Oroleniel the Salmon’s[/url] things that proposes a form of democratic government to replace [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Thricia]Thricia’s[/url] [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/magocracy]magocracy[/url]. [sup]3[/sup] Markos was [I]staggered[/I] (i.e. at 0 hit points). [sup]4[/sup] This was an attack of opportunity from the large creature. [sup]5[/sup] This is the jackal-head necklace given to each of the party members in Session #20. [/QUOTE]
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