Yuan Flew Over The Cobra's Nest
Mar 23, 2018 10:43:59 GMT
Tugark (Retired), Nuno (Rholor), and 3 more like this
Post by Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar on Mar 23, 2018 10:43:59 GMT
Excerpt from the Journal of Varis Nailo
20th day of Ches
After spending some weeks acquainting myself with the forge under Master Samed's keen tutelage, I felt compelled once again to venture from Daring in the company of some of my fellows. It seems that while I concerned myself with mundane matters, seeking mushrooms in the woods or hunting rats at Port Ffirst, a few of the adventuring sorts from Daring have attempted to root out a cult of Yuan Ti in the mountains. That this was their fourth clash with the snake people should tell you all you need to know. It has certainly reaffirmed my growing conviction that mercy has no place on the battlefield.
I joined the group at The Ettin - some I knew from before, such as the priest of Selune, Rholor, the half orc Anwen, a hulking brute named Erik and the minstrel William. Others were new to me: a brother paladin, Gabriel, newly arrived in Kantas, a poet who called himself Lachlan, a quiet human named Flick, a dwarven holy man calling himself Barden and the warlock, Nowhere, who's path I have crossed before but with whom I had never actually spoken. We travelled uneventfully for three days, reaching at last the place my fellows had described. The huge, carved stone head of a snake protruded from the earth. Nearby lay the remains of some kind of magical construct, apparently defeated by them on a previous visit. I reserve judgement on the veracity of this - suffice it to say they are an "interesting" band of warriors.
Bound to one of the fangs of the snake head was a Yuan Ti woman, apparently trying to cut her bonds as we approached. With some prompting, she confessed that after the last attack by Daring residents had decimated the cult, she went to beg aid from the local Xvarts, but was instead betrayed by the foul creatures and bound here while they searched for a way to unlock the weapon below. After much debate, my suspicions were confirmed, and the reason it has taken four attempts to be rid of this menace became undeniably clear. Some of the softer hearted members of the group (those with "artistic" sensibilities) insisted on freeing the snake woman. Despite the protests of myself and a few of my more pragmatic fellows, she was set free, undoubtedly to sow misery in some other corner of Kantas.
We descended into the literal belly of the beast, finding the place alarmingly empty until we reached a stone door to the side of the downward curving passage. From the other side we could hear humming and the clack of bones. Frustrated at my companions’ indecision, I opened the door to be met with the sight of one of these Xvart creatures, a diminutive blue humanoid, playing with the bones of the dead. We interrogated him, discovering that six of his compatriots were below, but revealing little else of use. Resolved that we not repeat our earlier mistake, and to the apparent horror of some of my companions, I executed the Xvart.
Or rather, I attempted to. As my maul connected with the thing's ribs, it seemed to slow, and a previously unnoticed illusion faltered, and then failed. Standing before us now was a shirtless fiend. Rholor and Nowhere seemed to recognise him, calling him Pascal, but before we could attack further or glean any information from him, he vanished. This is the price of mercy - when the wicked are left unpunished, they do not reform. They merely regroup and redouble their efforts to destroy all we hold dear.
We continued down the tunnel, coming finally to the base of the structure. Some of us held back while the quieter members of the group attempted to reconnoitre the area. However, in their eagerness to surprise our foe, they triggered some kind of magical alarm, and the Xvarts working on the final seal turned on us, eager to give battle. Among them was a champion of their kind, a wielder of foul magic, and he turned his considerable might on us, urging his fellows to unlock the door. We managed to defeat him, but as he fell, one of his kin pulled a hidden lever and opened the door, fleeing through it. Rholor pursued, but it was too late. The weapon of the Yuan Ti was released.
Rising from a pit of countless corpses, a great skeletal snake head burst into the passage on a wave of black sorcerous energy. Powered by the souls of thousands of dead Yuan Ti, the thing began to move toward the surface. Our task was clear: destroy it before it reached the mouth of the cave. Should we fail, the consequences would be dire.
A great battle ensued, the construct proving a terrifying enemy, and our efforts to destroy it not aided by the warlock Nowhere summoning a demon which he could not control. Regardless, largely down to my brother paladin Gabriel and the priest, Rholor, the creature was destroyed. But now the infernal device turned in on itself, trying to pull us down into the pit of bones and the arms of the horde of Yuan Ti spirits. We sprinted for the exit, assailed by the ghosts of the snake men, furious that we had foiled their plans, and burst finally into the sunlight of Kantas.
The threat from this cult seems at last to have been laid to rest, yet for me, many questions remain. Who is this Pascal, and what does he want with the citizens of Daring? How did the Xvarts (simple creatures by all accounts) come to possess the great magic they displayed in the tunnels? What has become of the Yuan Ti we allowed to escape? Questions, I fear, for another time. For now, I must return to the forge - Master Samed waits, and I have much to learn.
20th day of Ches
After spending some weeks acquainting myself with the forge under Master Samed's keen tutelage, I felt compelled once again to venture from Daring in the company of some of my fellows. It seems that while I concerned myself with mundane matters, seeking mushrooms in the woods or hunting rats at Port Ffirst, a few of the adventuring sorts from Daring have attempted to root out a cult of Yuan Ti in the mountains. That this was their fourth clash with the snake people should tell you all you need to know. It has certainly reaffirmed my growing conviction that mercy has no place on the battlefield.
I joined the group at The Ettin - some I knew from before, such as the priest of Selune, Rholor, the half orc Anwen, a hulking brute named Erik and the minstrel William. Others were new to me: a brother paladin, Gabriel, newly arrived in Kantas, a poet who called himself Lachlan, a quiet human named Flick, a dwarven holy man calling himself Barden and the warlock, Nowhere, who's path I have crossed before but with whom I had never actually spoken. We travelled uneventfully for three days, reaching at last the place my fellows had described. The huge, carved stone head of a snake protruded from the earth. Nearby lay the remains of some kind of magical construct, apparently defeated by them on a previous visit. I reserve judgement on the veracity of this - suffice it to say they are an "interesting" band of warriors.
Bound to one of the fangs of the snake head was a Yuan Ti woman, apparently trying to cut her bonds as we approached. With some prompting, she confessed that after the last attack by Daring residents had decimated the cult, she went to beg aid from the local Xvarts, but was instead betrayed by the foul creatures and bound here while they searched for a way to unlock the weapon below. After much debate, my suspicions were confirmed, and the reason it has taken four attempts to be rid of this menace became undeniably clear. Some of the softer hearted members of the group (those with "artistic" sensibilities) insisted on freeing the snake woman. Despite the protests of myself and a few of my more pragmatic fellows, she was set free, undoubtedly to sow misery in some other corner of Kantas.
We descended into the literal belly of the beast, finding the place alarmingly empty until we reached a stone door to the side of the downward curving passage. From the other side we could hear humming and the clack of bones. Frustrated at my companions’ indecision, I opened the door to be met with the sight of one of these Xvart creatures, a diminutive blue humanoid, playing with the bones of the dead. We interrogated him, discovering that six of his compatriots were below, but revealing little else of use. Resolved that we not repeat our earlier mistake, and to the apparent horror of some of my companions, I executed the Xvart.
Or rather, I attempted to. As my maul connected with the thing's ribs, it seemed to slow, and a previously unnoticed illusion faltered, and then failed. Standing before us now was a shirtless fiend. Rholor and Nowhere seemed to recognise him, calling him Pascal, but before we could attack further or glean any information from him, he vanished. This is the price of mercy - when the wicked are left unpunished, they do not reform. They merely regroup and redouble their efforts to destroy all we hold dear.
We continued down the tunnel, coming finally to the base of the structure. Some of us held back while the quieter members of the group attempted to reconnoitre the area. However, in their eagerness to surprise our foe, they triggered some kind of magical alarm, and the Xvarts working on the final seal turned on us, eager to give battle. Among them was a champion of their kind, a wielder of foul magic, and he turned his considerable might on us, urging his fellows to unlock the door. We managed to defeat him, but as he fell, one of his kin pulled a hidden lever and opened the door, fleeing through it. Rholor pursued, but it was too late. The weapon of the Yuan Ti was released.
Rising from a pit of countless corpses, a great skeletal snake head burst into the passage on a wave of black sorcerous energy. Powered by the souls of thousands of dead Yuan Ti, the thing began to move toward the surface. Our task was clear: destroy it before it reached the mouth of the cave. Should we fail, the consequences would be dire.
A great battle ensued, the construct proving a terrifying enemy, and our efforts to destroy it not aided by the warlock Nowhere summoning a demon which he could not control. Regardless, largely down to my brother paladin Gabriel and the priest, Rholor, the creature was destroyed. But now the infernal device turned in on itself, trying to pull us down into the pit of bones and the arms of the horde of Yuan Ti spirits. We sprinted for the exit, assailed by the ghosts of the snake men, furious that we had foiled their plans, and burst finally into the sunlight of Kantas.
The threat from this cult seems at last to have been laid to rest, yet for me, many questions remain. Who is this Pascal, and what does he want with the citizens of Daring? How did the Xvarts (simple creatures by all accounts) come to possess the great magic they displayed in the tunnels? What has become of the Yuan Ti we allowed to escape? Questions, I fear, for another time. For now, I must return to the forge - Master Samed waits, and I have much to learn.
