Sunday 3 February 2019

A Tale Of... Session Report 5

The third session in the Tomb of the Serpent Kings.

Cast

Arabella Volhollen (lvl 2 fighter)
An archer with societal ambitions. Highly suspicious of and condescending towards pretty much everybody.

Salazar Caltata (lvl 2 rogue)
The scrawny fourth son of a nobleman. Good at hiding in a crowd. A snitch and a sneak.


Vero Anzano (lvl 2 ranger)
An old hunter with a mysterious past. Swamped under an enormous bear cloak.

Apologies from players

Ceasar Giovana (deceased)

Giro Beanna (lvl 1 barbarian) - a huge mischia player made even angrier by the loss of his mother to a magical beast attack. Carries a wooden chest on his back.

Session Report

Our party of heroes tentatively stepped into the more naturally-formed cave tunnels, carefully stepping around the copious quantities of mushrooms and plantlife coating the floors and wall. They came across a number of goblins huddled around a messy construction of sticks and mud. The creatures didn't attack but kept a constant glare upon our adventurers. With more goblins visible at the edge of the torchlight, the group decided to withdraw peacefully.

There was a distinct sound of a large chain dragging along the ground echoing around the tunnels up ahead, and our band edged cautiously onwards. They came to a large carvern pitted with fallen and broken statues of human and beast alike. Rotten tables and benches lay crumbled between majestic pillars. While Giro hung back with Cosma, the others crept in. A large, lizard-like creature emerged from the gloom, a chain running back into the darkness, gaze averted from the unfamiliar torchlight. Warily, the vanguard tried making their way across to one of the doorways, but it followed. Arabella and Salazar felt their guts clench as it stared at them, but before they could act upon these signs the creature attacked. Arabella's readied arrow flew wide and the monster's jaws clamped around her arm, shaking her around like a rag doll. Vero inched backwards, peppering their assailant with arrows, but Salazar, wary to avoid the creature's gaze circle around the back and clambered upon its back, striking in futility at the scaly back.

Arabella's eyes met the creature's and suddenly she felt her limbs locking in place. Suddenly, one of Salazar's stabs pierced the monster's scales. The beast flung Arabella's crumpled body aside, knocking her out cold, and rolled around in an attempt to rid itself of the troublesome human. Salazar was thrown free; he scrambled for the exit. Vero tried to cover his retreat, but the monster fell upon him, crushing him into the ground. Salazar brandished his rapier grimly, ready to go down fighting but, through sheer strength of will, the old hunter dragged himself up and drove his shortsword into the creature's underbelly and vitals, rolling away as the large form collapsed lifeless to the ground.

As Vero checked for signs of life in Arabella, Salazar examined the fallen basilisk, grabbing a key dangling from its collar. Remembering a large locked door earlier, the group carried their unconscious companion back through the corridors. They unlocked the door and came upon a collection of valuables and trinkets. Upon trying on a ring, Salazar turned instantly to stone. Having wrapped himself in an enormous bear pelt, a suddenly braver Vero pulled the ring from the young noble's finger, and life returned to his skin. Among the haul they also found a set of spectacles which gave the wearer the impression that everyone was dressed as a clown, much to Arabella's bemusement, and a pair of identical amulets bearing a design of one figure being stabbed but another dying.

With everyone suffering injuries of varying degrees of severity, the party decided discretion was the better part of valour and carefully retraced their steps out of the tomb. As they emerged into the daylight, Cosma flung her arms around Salazar and planted a kiss upon his lips. He returned, dipping her back with a flourish, but he felt himself weakening slightly. As he leant back, suddenly feeling two years older, Cosma's eyes turned a bright red and she cackled. Wings sprouted from her back and she disappeared into the sky. Arabella berated Salazar for his folly, but he simpy smiled back: "Worth it."

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