Thursday, January 30, 2014

Under a Dark Sun: Session 14

Session 14: (1/28/14)


Adventure name: Last Stand at Outpost Three - Follow-Up

Current PCs / NPCs
Grom Dunestalker - Half-Giant Psionic Warrior (PC)
Lain - Half-Elf Bard (NPC)
Sadiria - Half-Elf Wilder (NPC)
Russk - Mul (stated as a Half-Orc) Fighter (NPC)


When we last saw our heroes, they had just rescued the Urikite relief forces from a swarm of monstrous scorpions.  They then set back out across the Sharprock Badlands to the dried-up riverbed where they all rested for the night.


The next day the group had an uneventful trip retracing their steps back to the elven observation post where they again rested.  Russk manages to scrounge up enough water to restore the health of the relief soldiers.  The following day, the party traveled to Outpost Three. Along the way, they were nearly ambushed by a huge snake but Sadiria noticed it and was able to warn the party in time to meet the viper head on. 

Moving on, the group timed their arrival to Outpost Three to coincide with the elves assault at dusk. The group of heroes and refreshed soldiers easily cut through the elven siege lines, reinforcing the walls and ending the attack for the night.  Upon reporting to the outpost commander Gorgoreth, they received orders to break the siege by whatever means necessary.

That evening, the party went to go interrogate the their elven prisoner again. They discovered him pale, sweating, and covered in vomit. The guards told our heroes that he had been refusing food and drink for several days. A healer was summoned, and when she arrived she examined the elf and reported that he was likely suffering the effects of withdrawal from an addictive substance. Further examination revealed it was probably a smoking weed known as Redleaf (Redleaf apparently also creates a feeling of invincibility in the user and makes them much more susceptible to suggestion).  The elf was treated and party would return the next morning to continue the interrogation.

The next day the party finds the elven prisoner (whose name is Alie-Aka) quite a bit more helpful. He initially accuses his jailers of poisoning him, but is soon convinced  that he was going through withdrawal from the Redleaf.   The enraged Alie-Aka reveals that the Swiftwing chief  gave all the tribe numbers the Redleaf to smoke and agrees to escort the party to his tribe's camp to confront the chief.  From their conversations, the party gleans that the Swiftwing chief might not be in control of his own actions - perhaps someone is even controlling his mind

At the Swiftwing camp, the party and Alie-Aka are escorted to see the tribe's chief.  Alie-Aka exchanges heated words for a while before with the chief before the two come to blows.  The party decides to assist their erstwhile prisoner, and also attacks the elven leader. 

The heroes prove victorious.  With the old chief dead, Alie-Aka temporally leads the Swiftwing tribe.  Upon questioning the tribe members present, they learn that a cloaked stranger was seen delivering the Redleaf to the dead chief once a week.  Further questioning reveals that tribal scouts have seen the undead elves approaching Outpost Three at night from the West, in the direction of the Red Tower.

The party travels SSW from the Swiftwing encampment to the Red Tower.  Upon arriving, they find it to be a ruined tower of red sandstone.  The group proceeds through the entrance, and before their eyes can adjust from the searing light of the Anthasian day to the absolute blackness of the interior, two undead elves fire at them  with bows.....An ambush!  The party eventually cuts down the undead elves and moves deeper into the tower.  Another elven zombie lays in wait in the next room (a former guard barracks), but he does not last long against the might of the adventurers.

The group finds two staircases past the barracks, one going up, and one going down.  Proceeding up the stairs, they enter a once lavishly furnished room, perhaps a reception hall.  Before they can really get a good look around, a severely wounded man fades into view before them.  His eyes burning with hate and power, and the party can feel him begin to assault their minds.  Most of them manage to withstand the assault, but Lain succumbs and runs screaming from the room (perhaps even from the tower).  Soon after, the restless spirit fades back out of view, leaving the heroes wondering what do about Lain.  Should they wait for him, go after the coward, or proceed on without him?

Outstanding Plot Hooks:
  • Who is this mysterious cloaked figure that has turned three elf tribes against Outpost Three?
  • Will our party survive to reach Urik and get the payout from their caravan? 

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