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Age of Worms Storyhour [Updated December 26, 2006]
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<blockquote data-quote="Spatterlight" data-source="post: 3109398" data-attributes="member: 42734"><p><strong>Session 11</strong></p><p><em>September 22, 2006</em></p><p></p><p>Scorch carefully wrapped the slain Doctor Voo in sheets he had found, trying not to hear the muffled sobs coming from the next room. The temple was quiet except for the weeping Aiyda and murmured words of comfort from the Smenk siblings. Max silently padded around the temple, taking stock of the riches of the fane and looting the fallen. Occasionally, the halfling gestured to the gladiator to help move some heavy item. In short order, the halfling had everything of worth in the temple in neat piles.</p><p></p><p>Max called the group together once Aiyda had steeled herself and wiped the tears from her eyes. The intrepid halfling gathered all the glittering trinkets and coin of the temple and Scorch put this in a sack. It was quickly agreed that this loot would be used to revivify the slain Doctor Voo. The group hoped that the followers of Wee Jas near town would be able to perform the ceremony. All the other items would be stored in a side room for retrieval later.</p><p></p><p>Seeing that was done, Max turned to the group, combing back his hair. "Well, it seems that the high priest of this temple kept a journal." He held up a large, crimson book with the sign of Hextor upon it. "That armored fellow who ambulated post-haste after I skewered his man was mostly likely Theldrick, the author of this volume. I have taken the liberty of scanning it for interesting bits." In a clear and surprisingly carrying voice, the halfling read out loud to the assembled:</p><p></p><p><em><p style="margin-left: 20px">The Faceless One grows increasingly concerned. That addled beast Grallak Kur has yet to provide new insights into the Overgod's nature. The crude missives he sends speak of the worms, of a slumbering power that must be awoken, but nothing more. I wish he would go back to the black pit that spawned him if he has nothing more to offer.</p><p></em></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>The Faceless One tells me this ties into an ancient figure, a being of great power. Of course, he tells me little else. He enjoys keeping his secrets, but he forgets that they flourish only behind the protection of Hextor. His latest taunt is a scroll that he tells me contains all the answers I seek. Of course, the fool wrote it in a cipher. Were it not for the dictates of the Ebon Triad, I would lead my troops into their damnable labyrinth and kill every last bird and wizard within it.</p><p></em></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Grallak is the key. Thank the Scourge that he trusts me and not the Faceless One. Otherwise, I doubt the Faceless One would bother imparting anything to us. We cannot trust these mages. When the Overgod arises, I think it will be time to settle some old scores.</p><p></em>The halfling flipped though many pages to one he had dog-eared, scanned the page, and continued: </p><p> </p><p><em><p style="margin-left: 20px">Grallak Kur has finally yielded a useful clue. I personally delivered it to the labyrinth, and the Faceless one giggled like a blood addled berserker when he saw the message. Grallak spoke of the worms again, of course. He says that even now they stir and writhe. The world is like an apple infested with them. All seems well for now, but soon they burst through the skin and swarm across the land. Still, part of this vision troubles me. Grallak spoke of a great power behind them, but the Ebon Triad teaches that these worms will awaken the Overgod. Is there some other power at hand here that we cannot see? Is it friend or foe?</p><p></em></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>The Faceless One knows more, but he of course has little to say. Perhaps Grallak has invented everything. His monstrous kin are few in number and battered after their pilgrimage through the Underdark. If he is an imposter or trickster, we may need to root him out of this place. In that case, our agents must make another supply run. Six coils of rope, and perhaps bows and more arrows, should do the trick. With the petitioners leading the way we can uncover any ambushes they have within the cliffs.</p><p></em>The halfling closed the book with a thump, "There is more, but mostly it is prayers to his bloody god." The group discussed the contents of the journal at length, but much of it was confusing and they could make little sense of it. After further discussion, the group decided to leave the temple and head for the surface.</p><p></p><p>The group crept out of the Temple of Hextor into the central chamber. As before, this area was silent and still. Looking over to the area where the lift landed, they could see that it was no longer present. Given that there was no mechanism to lower the lift from the current area, the group decided to take a look at the area behind the unmarked door. Max carefully examined the door for traps and finding none, let Natasha open it.</p><p></p><p>The door opened into a rough hewn cave which twisted into darkness. Seeing the caves had no source of light, Aiyda summoned an invisible servant and had it grasp a sunrod. Cloaking the force in a black robe from the temple of Hextor, she sent it out in front of the group, hoping it would draw any ambushes. In addition, Scorch activated a sunrod and stuck into his belt. The group picked their way down the narrow cavern, often stopping to allow Scorch, who was carrying the body of Doctor Voo, to catch up. As the group was about to turn a corner, the sunrod the unseen servant was holding suddenly shattered. Natasha peered ahead and spied several humanoids skulking behind several stalagmites. Whispering back to the others, the group quickly prepared for combat and charged around the corner.</p><p></p><p>The narrow cavern opened into a larger chamber whose floor was studded with stalagmites. As the group ran into the cavern, arrows flew from the darkness and shattered the sunrod that was in Scorch's belt. The room would have been plunged into utter darkness if Aiyda had not cast a light spell earlier. With all the sunrods extinguished, three humanoids charged forward. They were gray skinned, had ragged long black hair, and most disturbingly, had no eyes. Despite this lack of sight, they tracked the group and swung widely with rusty battleaxes. The battle was brief and two of them were cut down in short order. The third attempted to flee, but was slain before he could reach another cavern on the far side of the chamber. The skirmish over, Natasha told the group the things were grimlocks, a subterranean race of blind humanoids whose sense of smell and hearing were second to none.</p><p></p><p>Activating more sunrods, the group ventured down the cavern the grimlock had attempted to escape to. The cavern was narrow but soon opened up into a vast chamber. As the group entered into this chamber room, they were assaulted by two large wolf things who sprung from behind a thick cluster of stalagmites. In addition, arrows flew from the darkness, shattering sunrods and extinguishing their light. A pitched battle was fought, but the wolf-things were put down quickly and two more grimlocks were slain.</p><p></p><p>The battle over, the group lit the last of the sunrods and moved further into the room. They soon found that the far side of the vast chamber dropped off suddenly, plummeting sixty feet to a rocky cavern floor. At the base of this cliff a cavern entrance could be seen. Iron spikes had been driven into the side of the cliff, forming a perilous route to the floor far below. Suddenly, arrows shot up from somewhere in the chasm and drove the group back.</p><p></p><p>A hasty plan was formulated. A rope would be dropped over the side of the chasm and Natasha would climb down quickly. To draw fire off the climbing ranger, Scorch would use Natasha's ring of feather falling and drop in first. The others in the group would join next, with whomever not climbing providing covering fire. In addition, before anything thing happened, Aiyda cast a spell of light on a javelin and this was tossed over the cliff face to provide illumination to the warriors.</p><p></p><p>The gladiator leapt off the cliff face, his bastard sword and shield at the ready, and fell slowly to the cavern floor. Natasha scrambled down the knotted rope, deftly leaping off the rope near the base of the cliff and drawing her weapons. The two of them shared a glance as their noses wrinkled. An almost unbearable stench wafted from the cavern entrance that had been seen from above. As they looked into the gloom of the cavern, a gurgling, thick groan-roar issued forth and two bizarre creatures lumbered toward the duo.</p><p></p><p>They were both monstrous ovoid things with three stumpy tentacles that served as legs. A huge mouth, filled with jagged and shattered teeth, gnashed wildly, hungry for the prey that had stumbled into its layer. Three more tentacles, once brisling with a cluster of eyes, wavered in the air. Grasping with two of the tentacles, they grabbed Scorch and Natasha and drew them in. Scorch dropped his bastard sword, shoved his shield into the abomination's mouth, and bloodied the thing with his spiked gauntlet. Meanwhile, Natasha stabbed at the creature with her shortsword, driving it deep as she realized these things were hated aberrations. Seeing the two were in trouble, deadly magic rained down on the creatures from Sergi as well.</p><p></p><p>The one grappling with the ranger was the first to die and once Natasha was free, she rolled over and ran the one assaulting Scorch through. Kicking the corpse off him, the gladiator let it take his shield and jumped to his feet. Natasha, meanwhile, ran to one side and spotted the hidden archers. From a barely seen overhang in the chasm wall, she saw three grimlocks with bows. Aiming the glowing javelin at the creatures, she threw it. Her aim was true and the javelin stuck out of the side of the blind humanoid. Now with a valid target, the group at the top and bottom of the chasm shot arrows, bolts, and magics at the creatures. </p><p></p><p>However, while hits were scored by both sides, neither seemed able to strike a killing blow. Soon the grimlocks, low on arrows, retreated down a cave that opened beneath their overhang.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Spatterlight, post: 3109398, member: 42734"] [b]Session 11[/b] [i]September 22, 2006[/i] Scorch carefully wrapped the slain Doctor Voo in sheets he had found, trying not to hear the muffled sobs coming from the next room. The temple was quiet except for the weeping Aiyda and murmured words of comfort from the Smenk siblings. Max silently padded around the temple, taking stock of the riches of the fane and looting the fallen. Occasionally, the halfling gestured to the gladiator to help move some heavy item. In short order, the halfling had everything of worth in the temple in neat piles. Max called the group together once Aiyda had steeled herself and wiped the tears from her eyes. The intrepid halfling gathered all the glittering trinkets and coin of the temple and Scorch put this in a sack. It was quickly agreed that this loot would be used to revivify the slain Doctor Voo. The group hoped that the followers of Wee Jas near town would be able to perform the ceremony. All the other items would be stored in a side room for retrieval later. Seeing that was done, Max turned to the group, combing back his hair. "Well, it seems that the high priest of this temple kept a journal." He held up a large, crimson book with the sign of Hextor upon it. "That armored fellow who ambulated post-haste after I skewered his man was mostly likely Theldrick, the author of this volume. I have taken the liberty of scanning it for interesting bits." In a clear and surprisingly carrying voice, the halfling read out loud to the assembled: [i][INDENT]The Faceless One grows increasingly concerned. That addled beast Grallak Kur has yet to provide new insights into the Overgod's nature. The crude missives he sends speak of the worms, of a slumbering power that must be awoken, but nothing more. I wish he would go back to the black pit that spawned him if he has nothing more to offer.[/INDENT] [INDENT]The Faceless One tells me this ties into an ancient figure, a being of great power. Of course, he tells me little else. He enjoys keeping his secrets, but he forgets that they flourish only behind the protection of Hextor. His latest taunt is a scroll that he tells me contains all the answers I seek. Of course, the fool wrote it in a cipher. Were it not for the dictates of the Ebon Triad, I would lead my troops into their damnable labyrinth and kill every last bird and wizard within it.[/INDENT] [INDENT]Grallak is the key. Thank the Scourge that he trusts me and not the Faceless One. Otherwise, I doubt the Faceless One would bother imparting anything to us. We cannot trust these mages. When the Overgod arises, I think it will be time to settle some old scores.[/INDENT][/i] The halfling flipped though many pages to one he had dog-eared, scanned the page, and continued: [i][INDENT]Grallak Kur has finally yielded a useful clue. I personally delivered it to the labyrinth, and the Faceless one giggled like a blood addled berserker when he saw the message. Grallak spoke of the worms again, of course. He says that even now they stir and writhe. The world is like an apple infested with them. All seems well for now, but soon they burst through the skin and swarm across the land. Still, part of this vision troubles me. Grallak spoke of a great power behind them, but the Ebon Triad teaches that these worms will awaken the Overgod. Is there some other power at hand here that we cannot see? Is it friend or foe?[/INDENT] [INDENT]The Faceless One knows more, but he of course has little to say. Perhaps Grallak has invented everything. His monstrous kin are few in number and battered after their pilgrimage through the Underdark. If he is an imposter or trickster, we may need to root him out of this place. In that case, our agents must make another supply run. Six coils of rope, and perhaps bows and more arrows, should do the trick. With the petitioners leading the way we can uncover any ambushes they have within the cliffs.[/INDENT][/i] The halfling closed the book with a thump, "There is more, but mostly it is prayers to his bloody god." The group discussed the contents of the journal at length, but much of it was confusing and they could make little sense of it. After further discussion, the group decided to leave the temple and head for the surface. The group crept out of the Temple of Hextor into the central chamber. As before, this area was silent and still. Looking over to the area where the lift landed, they could see that it was no longer present. Given that there was no mechanism to lower the lift from the current area, the group decided to take a look at the area behind the unmarked door. Max carefully examined the door for traps and finding none, let Natasha open it. The door opened into a rough hewn cave which twisted into darkness. Seeing the caves had no source of light, Aiyda summoned an invisible servant and had it grasp a sunrod. Cloaking the force in a black robe from the temple of Hextor, she sent it out in front of the group, hoping it would draw any ambushes. In addition, Scorch activated a sunrod and stuck into his belt. The group picked their way down the narrow cavern, often stopping to allow Scorch, who was carrying the body of Doctor Voo, to catch up. As the group was about to turn a corner, the sunrod the unseen servant was holding suddenly shattered. Natasha peered ahead and spied several humanoids skulking behind several stalagmites. Whispering back to the others, the group quickly prepared for combat and charged around the corner. The narrow cavern opened into a larger chamber whose floor was studded with stalagmites. As the group ran into the cavern, arrows flew from the darkness and shattered the sunrod that was in Scorch's belt. The room would have been plunged into utter darkness if Aiyda had not cast a light spell earlier. With all the sunrods extinguished, three humanoids charged forward. They were gray skinned, had ragged long black hair, and most disturbingly, had no eyes. Despite this lack of sight, they tracked the group and swung widely with rusty battleaxes. The battle was brief and two of them were cut down in short order. The third attempted to flee, but was slain before he could reach another cavern on the far side of the chamber. The skirmish over, Natasha told the group the things were grimlocks, a subterranean race of blind humanoids whose sense of smell and hearing were second to none. Activating more sunrods, the group ventured down the cavern the grimlock had attempted to escape to. The cavern was narrow but soon opened up into a vast chamber. As the group entered into this chamber room, they were assaulted by two large wolf things who sprung from behind a thick cluster of stalagmites. In addition, arrows flew from the darkness, shattering sunrods and extinguishing their light. A pitched battle was fought, but the wolf-things were put down quickly and two more grimlocks were slain. The battle over, the group lit the last of the sunrods and moved further into the room. They soon found that the far side of the vast chamber dropped off suddenly, plummeting sixty feet to a rocky cavern floor. At the base of this cliff a cavern entrance could be seen. Iron spikes had been driven into the side of the cliff, forming a perilous route to the floor far below. Suddenly, arrows shot up from somewhere in the chasm and drove the group back. A hasty plan was formulated. A rope would be dropped over the side of the chasm and Natasha would climb down quickly. To draw fire off the climbing ranger, Scorch would use Natasha's ring of feather falling and drop in first. The others in the group would join next, with whomever not climbing providing covering fire. In addition, before anything thing happened, Aiyda cast a spell of light on a javelin and this was tossed over the cliff face to provide illumination to the warriors. The gladiator leapt off the cliff face, his bastard sword and shield at the ready, and fell slowly to the cavern floor. Natasha scrambled down the knotted rope, deftly leaping off the rope near the base of the cliff and drawing her weapons. The two of them shared a glance as their noses wrinkled. An almost unbearable stench wafted from the cavern entrance that had been seen from above. As they looked into the gloom of the cavern, a gurgling, thick groan-roar issued forth and two bizarre creatures lumbered toward the duo. They were both monstrous ovoid things with three stumpy tentacles that served as legs. A huge mouth, filled with jagged and shattered teeth, gnashed wildly, hungry for the prey that had stumbled into its layer. Three more tentacles, once brisling with a cluster of eyes, wavered in the air. Grasping with two of the tentacles, they grabbed Scorch and Natasha and drew them in. Scorch dropped his bastard sword, shoved his shield into the abomination's mouth, and bloodied the thing with his spiked gauntlet. Meanwhile, Natasha stabbed at the creature with her shortsword, driving it deep as she realized these things were hated aberrations. Seeing the two were in trouble, deadly magic rained down on the creatures from Sergi as well. The one grappling with the ranger was the first to die and once Natasha was free, she rolled over and ran the one assaulting Scorch through. Kicking the corpse off him, the gladiator let it take his shield and jumped to his feet. Natasha, meanwhile, ran to one side and spotted the hidden archers. From a barely seen overhang in the chasm wall, she saw three grimlocks with bows. Aiming the glowing javelin at the creatures, she threw it. Her aim was true and the javelin stuck out of the side of the blind humanoid. Now with a valid target, the group at the top and bottom of the chasm shot arrows, bolts, and magics at the creatures. However, while hits were scored by both sides, neither seemed able to strike a killing blow. Soon the grimlocks, low on arrows, retreated down a cave that opened beneath their overhang. [/QUOTE]
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