Session 2: Exploring the island of Crockegg
Session 2: Exploring the island of Crockegg
'It's obvious the occupants of this castle tried to open this room', Anvil said, pointing at the broken weapons and tools lying in front of the stone doors. A well-made family heraldry covers the stone doors. 'Maybe it's some sort of a vault', Alishia mentiones. 'We could try to enter the room from the roof!', Victoria mentiones.
And that's what happened. The adventurers tried to climb the roof of the mansion. A broken battering ram with hand-knobs did his job as a ladder. Together with some ropes attached to it, Victoria managed to reach the roof of the mansion. Kreko (DM note: this is the 6th player who joined this session, see character description in the second post) made an iron hook attached to a rope which was attached to the rooftop by Victoria. Now the other adventurers could also enter the rooftop. However it's clear the rooftop is too sturdy to let the adventurers enter 'the vault'-room via this route....
While standing on the rooftop Green looks to lands of the surrounding island. Rocks, some vegetations and dangerous crevasses cover the island. 'It really takes some climbing skills to further explore the island', Green mentioned. 'However it's clear to me a natural cave is located in the middle of the island, only some 750 meter away from the castle'. Everyone tries to correctly spot the cave. However, only Kreko and Ramon could see the cave. Anvil, Victoria and Alishia trusted their companions and decided it was time to check it out! Is the story of an owlbear on the island really true?
A knotted rope, some climbing and walking later the adventurers moved to the center of the island. Now everyone could clearly see the cave. A huge opening underneath some big, clumsy rocks. Anvil, really on his toes during the walk, spots a glimmering snake like object in front of the cave. It moves in and out. 'What can it be?', Anvil asked his companions. After moving closer Green and Anvil see the snake is a chain. Anvil only made a couple of footsteps, suddenly the chain moves and a low growhling could be heard from the cave. A big, feathered beast runs toward the adventurers, hindered by the chain which is attached to one of his legs. Showing his big claws and beak the creature starts to climb the big boulders which cut the adventurers apart from the entrance of the cave.
Ramon and Victoria immediately start to take advantagious positions to have a clear shot at the beast. Kreko and Anvil take a good spot for a melee fight. Green casts an 'entangle' spell, making the bushes and grass trying to grab the angry beast.
It takes some time for the beast to reach the adventurers. When he finally is able to attach the beasts upper body is already blasted by arrows, bolts and the hammer of Anvil. The beast layed down his claws on Anvil and Alishia, causing massive damage! Fortunately a well placed shot of Ramon made an end to the beast. Alishia heals some ugly wounds. In the meantime the cave is explored by the others.
The chain is attached to an anker (iron cramp which is used by a ship, not sure if it's an english word), secured by some big builders lying on it. Clearly someone did this by purpose. 'What's an shackled owlbear doing on a remote island?', the adventurers asked themselves. After searching and re-searching the cave nothing is found. The cave is natural and doesn't lead to any other place.
The adventurers, proud of their first monster slain, return to the castle. Victoria, in the meantime, gathers some food from the island to make a nice meal for her companiions. Green and Kreko decide to further explore the nothern part of the island. And with no bad result! Standing atop a cliff they spot a small beach on the far side of the island (the side not seen from the lands around Crockport). Some objects are on the small beach. 'Crates, those are crates', Kreko says. 'Very strange!, we should inform the others!, Green says. They rush to the castle and after the adventurers had a small meal they decided the small beach is best to be reached by the rowing boats (DM note: indeed a good choice, climbing the cliff to the beach is not to be laughed at).
After rowing around the island the beach is indeed easily reached by boat. The wooden crates are still there and hold some expensive materials, iron ore and cloths. 'Smugglers!', Anvil says. The other adventurers find a medium-sized opening in the cliff wall. A dark and long passage lead inside the island.
After lighting a torch the adventurers move in to the passage. After several meters Anvil (walking in front with the torch) spotted a strange surface in front of him (Dm note: very, very lucky for him a had a natural 20 spot check, all other results made him not see the trap). Ramon and Victoria quickly searched and disabled the pit trap. The passage lead further into the island, finally reaching a men-made corrider which crosses the entry passage. Only a few moments later, the voice a woman could be heard from the left. 'Shoot them Bewul!', the female voice shouted. A fierce fight with the male and female took place. The female is quickly overcome, making the men even more vicious! 'Anas!' he almost cried, letting down his sword on his opponents. But the adventurers are with too many to have a fair fight. He dies to the end of Kreko's longsword.
Alishia didn't want the woman to die and decided to heal her with some of her divine magic (leaving Ramon a bit pissed because his wounds also needed some care..). 'Wh-a-at did you do to Bewul', the woman shouts to Alishia after opening her eyes again!
To be continued next session, a monster-session because my group will have a D&D weekend! Three days of gaming. That will definately be a big log.