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Adventures in the Eastern Provinces
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 7583565" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>Our heroes continue to dig around the yuan-ti camp. Soon, Karl finds a map. “Look at this.” He points to a scrawled label on the parchment. “'Excavation site.' I think that's what we're after.”</p><p></p><p>“Or at least, it's where they are,” quips Bradford.</p><p></p><p>“Seriously,” says Shar, “we need to stop them. This plague of serpents, whatever it is, can't be good for us.”</p><p></p><p>Kane nods. “Agreed.” Before he can say more, there is a call from the gate set in the palisade. </p><p></p><p>Several hours earlier, the yuan-ti had sent out a group to search for potential sacrifices. Now they have returned. </p><p></p><p>The yuan-ti realize that there is trouble awaiting them from the subtlest signs, such as dead bodies lying in plain view, so when they meet our heroes it is weapons in hand. They, along with several servants- a pair of ghasts and an ironstone gargoyle- fight hard, but the party is ready for a fight, too. Though the yuan-ti and their lackeys are tough and dangerous foes, Kane enters a rage and gets their attention with a bellowing charge, backed up by Sepia's brass knuckles and PHUQ-69's morning star. The others strike from afar with arrow and spell.</p><p></p><p>It is during this fight that our heroes realize just how durable their new shardmind friend is, for P-69 is able to throw off lingering effects (such as the yuan-tis' ongoing poison effects) far more quickly than anyone else.*</p><p></p><p>Once the party has dispatched these new foes, Sepia says, “Maybe we should get out of here in case there are more groups that are gonna come back.”</p><p></p><p>“I'd like to burn this camp,” Kane growls, “but it's all too wet.”</p><p></p><p>“And from this map, it looks to be fairly swampy the whole way.” Karl frowns and glances around. “Here, we at least have dry ground. Perhaps we should avail ourselves of it and rest the night. I'm sure we can deal with any other groups that return before dawn.”</p><p></p><p>The others agree. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The group ends up spending several days at the camp, using the time to harvest a great deal of meat from the giant snake they slew. Shar dedicates the first meal of “this god we're eating” to the Sword Emperor. No more foes arrive. </p><p></p><p>Then they set out for the Ziggurat of a Thousand Serpents.</p><p></p><p>Traveling through the swamp is arduous. The party is harassed by insects, occasionally including giant varieties. Movement is slow, landmarks are hard to find, and swamp gas severely limits visibility.</p><p></p><p>They get lost, find their way then lose it again. They are confronted with impassable tangles of trees and brush that turns them around and costs them whole days' worth of progress. Several of them catch blinding sickness; the party has to use <em>remove affliction</em> rituals more than once as they journey along. And they are attacked several times by rancid horrors made of rotting vegetation. </p><p></p><p>But finally, after almost a month, they pass through a screen of trees and large leafy bushes and their destination comes into view. They draw back and spend a few minutes watching.</p><p></p><p>About 60' away is a large step pyramid that rises about 30' above the surface of the swamp. It is covered by swamp growth and muck; although its outline is clear, it is impossible to actually see the surface at all. An encampment of crude wooden shelters has been constructed at the base of the pyramid, which has at least three visible levels. Steps ascend each side of the pyramid. At the apex is a huge slab of stone with a 10'x10' opening through which a group of human-looking cultists are excavating copious amount of mud via buckets. At any given time, anywhere up to three working people are visible, hauling mud outside the top and dumping it off to the side, onto a mud pile now about 10' high. A number of huts are scattered around the base of the pyramid. Two more of the yuan-ti, these ones obviously overseers or guards, keep watch from the top of the pyramid. Long hoses extend out of the pyramid, water draining sluggishly from them. </p><p></p><p>“We can take 'em,” Kane says. Sepia nods agreement. </p><p></p><p>Shar purses her lips. “All right, let's do it before any more of them arrive.”</p><p></p><p>The party scrambles forward to attack. </p><p></p><p>At first things look good; Sepia and Karl shoot the cultists down while Kane and P-69 rush forward to engage the overseers. Unfortunately, the noise of Kane's <em>howling strike</em> awakens the additionally cultists in the huts. And more of the workers pour out of the top of the pyramid, buckets discarded in favor of daggers or scimitars. </p><p></p><p>Suddenly, instead of somewhere around five enemies, the party is facing 20 foes (well, more like 18, given that two are already down). </p><p></p><p>Then snakes start to emerge from the entrance- first, three rattlesnakes; then a huge constrictor; and finally, half a dozen water moccasins. </p><p></p><p>Karl enters a <em>wizard's fury,</em> recognizing that this is no time to hold back. He begins dropping cultists left and right with massive volleys of <em>magic missiles.</em> Meanwhile, Kane and P-69 seem to turn into living snake sausage grinders, brutally laying about themselves and surrounding themselves with sprays of blood. </p><p></p><p>The snake cultists fall one by one, but not without dealing their fair share of damage to our heroes. Likewise, the snakes themselves wound, poison, and crush Kane and P-69, but both of them are too tough to quit. </p><p></p><p>Soon, the pyramid exterior and entrance have been secured. </p><p></p><p>Coming down from his rage, Kane realizes, “I could use some healing.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>There's no point in waiting. If they don't move fast, our heroes know that any yuan-ti still in the pyramid will figure out that they are under attack. So, after a quick breather to heal, the party advances to the top of the pyramid and in through the entrance. </p><p></p><p>A bunch of buckets, shovels of various makes, casks of water and pumps, long coils of hose and similar material are in the chamber below the 10' x 10' opening. The stuff is very organized but still takes up a great deal of the space available. Mud still covers most surfaces, but the surface of the green serpentine stairs with their bannister formed to resemble a series of intertwined cobras running downward have been washed clean.</p><p></p><p>“Look,” says Sepia. She points at several places where spikes are sticking up from the banisters like fangs. The hoses they noticed outside run down the stairs.</p><p></p><p>“All right,” Shar declares, “let's finish these guys.”</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Our heroes descend into the Ziggurat of a Thousand Serpents!</p><p></p><p></p><p>*This is because P-69 is a warden. Wardens get to make “save ends” saves at the start of their turn, as well as the end of it. Come to think of it, it might be only one at the start of your turn- IDHMBIFOM- but whatever, it was an awesome ability.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 7583565, member: 1210"] Our heroes continue to dig around the yuan-ti camp. Soon, Karl finds a map. “Look at this.” He points to a scrawled label on the parchment. “'Excavation site.' I think that's what we're after.” “Or at least, it's where they are,” quips Bradford. “Seriously,” says Shar, “we need to stop them. This plague of serpents, whatever it is, can't be good for us.” Kane nods. “Agreed.” Before he can say more, there is a call from the gate set in the palisade. Several hours earlier, the yuan-ti had sent out a group to search for potential sacrifices. Now they have returned. The yuan-ti realize that there is trouble awaiting them from the subtlest signs, such as dead bodies lying in plain view, so when they meet our heroes it is weapons in hand. They, along with several servants- a pair of ghasts and an ironstone gargoyle- fight hard, but the party is ready for a fight, too. Though the yuan-ti and their lackeys are tough and dangerous foes, Kane enters a rage and gets their attention with a bellowing charge, backed up by Sepia's brass knuckles and PHUQ-69's morning star. The others strike from afar with arrow and spell. It is during this fight that our heroes realize just how durable their new shardmind friend is, for P-69 is able to throw off lingering effects (such as the yuan-tis' ongoing poison effects) far more quickly than anyone else.* Once the party has dispatched these new foes, Sepia says, “Maybe we should get out of here in case there are more groups that are gonna come back.” “I'd like to burn this camp,” Kane growls, “but it's all too wet.” “And from this map, it looks to be fairly swampy the whole way.” Karl frowns and glances around. “Here, we at least have dry ground. Perhaps we should avail ourselves of it and rest the night. I'm sure we can deal with any other groups that return before dawn.” The others agree. *** The group ends up spending several days at the camp, using the time to harvest a great deal of meat from the giant snake they slew. Shar dedicates the first meal of “this god we're eating” to the Sword Emperor. No more foes arrive. Then they set out for the Ziggurat of a Thousand Serpents. Traveling through the swamp is arduous. The party is harassed by insects, occasionally including giant varieties. Movement is slow, landmarks are hard to find, and swamp gas severely limits visibility. They get lost, find their way then lose it again. They are confronted with impassable tangles of trees and brush that turns them around and costs them whole days' worth of progress. Several of them catch blinding sickness; the party has to use [i]remove affliction[/i] rituals more than once as they journey along. And they are attacked several times by rancid horrors made of rotting vegetation. But finally, after almost a month, they pass through a screen of trees and large leafy bushes and their destination comes into view. They draw back and spend a few minutes watching. About 60' away is a large step pyramid that rises about 30' above the surface of the swamp. It is covered by swamp growth and muck; although its outline is clear, it is impossible to actually see the surface at all. An encampment of crude wooden shelters has been constructed at the base of the pyramid, which has at least three visible levels. Steps ascend each side of the pyramid. At the apex is a huge slab of stone with a 10'x10' opening through which a group of human-looking cultists are excavating copious amount of mud via buckets. At any given time, anywhere up to three working people are visible, hauling mud outside the top and dumping it off to the side, onto a mud pile now about 10' high. A number of huts are scattered around the base of the pyramid. Two more of the yuan-ti, these ones obviously overseers or guards, keep watch from the top of the pyramid. Long hoses extend out of the pyramid, water draining sluggishly from them. “We can take 'em,” Kane says. Sepia nods agreement. Shar purses her lips. “All right, let's do it before any more of them arrive.” The party scrambles forward to attack. At first things look good; Sepia and Karl shoot the cultists down while Kane and P-69 rush forward to engage the overseers. Unfortunately, the noise of Kane's [i]howling strike[/i] awakens the additionally cultists in the huts. And more of the workers pour out of the top of the pyramid, buckets discarded in favor of daggers or scimitars. Suddenly, instead of somewhere around five enemies, the party is facing 20 foes (well, more like 18, given that two are already down). Then snakes start to emerge from the entrance- first, three rattlesnakes; then a huge constrictor; and finally, half a dozen water moccasins. Karl enters a [i]wizard's fury,[/i] recognizing that this is no time to hold back. He begins dropping cultists left and right with massive volleys of [i]magic missiles.[/i] Meanwhile, Kane and P-69 seem to turn into living snake sausage grinders, brutally laying about themselves and surrounding themselves with sprays of blood. The snake cultists fall one by one, but not without dealing their fair share of damage to our heroes. Likewise, the snakes themselves wound, poison, and crush Kane and P-69, but both of them are too tough to quit. Soon, the pyramid exterior and entrance have been secured. Coming down from his rage, Kane realizes, “I could use some healing.” *** There's no point in waiting. If they don't move fast, our heroes know that any yuan-ti still in the pyramid will figure out that they are under attack. So, after a quick breather to heal, the party advances to the top of the pyramid and in through the entrance. A bunch of buckets, shovels of various makes, casks of water and pumps, long coils of hose and similar material are in the chamber below the 10' x 10' opening. The stuff is very organized but still takes up a great deal of the space available. Mud still covers most surfaces, but the surface of the green serpentine stairs with their bannister formed to resemble a series of intertwined cobras running downward have been washed clean. “Look,” says Sepia. She points at several places where spikes are sticking up from the banisters like fangs. The hoses they noticed outside run down the stairs. “All right,” Shar declares, “let's finish these guys.” [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Our heroes descend into the Ziggurat of a Thousand Serpents! *This is because P-69 is a warden. Wardens get to make “save ends” saves at the start of their turn, as well as the end of it. Come to think of it, it might be only one at the start of your turn- IDHMBIFOM- but whatever, it was an awesome ability. [/QUOTE]
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