Pining for Treasure

The following is from GameDoc's personal session log from our private social media group.  You can listen to him recount it himself here on the Arcane Alienist!

** The Mythic World of Urd Campaign **

While prepping for their adventure to the pine forest, Harald strikes up a conversation with the displaced foresters and learns that the goblins seem to have descended throug the forest from the north. Their numbers are unknown because they came in the night when the humans couldn’t see anything. Eager for any help, they provide Harald with directions to their camp.

Celestina also eavesdrops in on the conversations of the foresters over breakfast and learns they’ve appealed to the castellan for aid, but that they are competing with a group of dwarves who want help securing their mine.

While gathering flowers, Gormer is approached by one of his fellow villagers from Ünmann who explains that the rest of the group set up their own camp nearby because when they arrived, Urgash was not permitted into the Canopies due to being an orc. Gormer sends word for Urgash to meet them outside the Canopies and join the treasure hunt.

The party sets out at last, guided by Jessup, the odd fellow who first approached Dolly about helping find the treasure. Along the way he explains that there is an old tower in the pine forest where the treasure is supposed to lay. No one that’s gone after it has returned, and the lizardfolk of the surrounding fens refuse to go into the forest.

When they arrive, they discover most of the trees are covered in webs. Several skeletons have been webbed to rocks and trees. Roderick pokes at a skeleton with his sword and it falls apart, spilling forth a swarm of spiders. Another nearby skeleton animated and lunges at the party. Urgash shoots it with an arrow and it also fast apart and released a swarm of spiders. As the party is overrun by hundreds of spiders, most are bitten. Harald lights a torch and is able to disperse the swarms with fire.

The party approached the tower, carefully avoiding the other web encased skeletons they find along the way. As they near the tower, the clerics are hit with a feeling that something unholy is about. The tower is covered in webbing whose strands are far to thick for normal spiders. 

Khaine scales the side of the tower to reach the rooftop while the others cautiously enter through the door. The first floor is empty. Ascending the stairs, they discover a pair of giant spiders with glowing eyes and profane symbols on their heads. 

On the roof Khaine discovers the site of an unholy ritual with Chaos runes written in blood. He destroys the runes. Menawhile, inside the tower, Celestina managed to put the spiders to sleep with a spell and the others quickly kill them as the evil symbols fade from their heads. 

The party locates a cache of coins, jems, and jewelry in the tower and Urgash is able to harvest the venom glands from one of the spiders. 

The party heads back to the castle to cash in their loot and buy additional gear. Urgash is admitted to the castle after the others vouch for him.  Celestine notes that one of the corner turrets has the markings of a wizard’s tower. A guard confirms for her that it is the home of Ovilair, a reclusive wizard who often advised the castellan. She knocks on the door but no answer is given.

At the inn, Dolly meets a pair of fellow dwarves who further explanation their predicament. They are of the Irongrit clan. A week or so hence, their sulfur mine was attacked by bugbears and the dwarves were driven out. Their thane, Hanksite Irogrit bravely covered the escape of his clan and is presumed to have been killed. They are getting nowhere with the castellan in terms of help and offer a reward if the part can reclaim their mine for them.

The party decides to first investigate the foresters’ camp and try to learn more about the goblins in the woods, and then move on to the dwarven mine. Given that goblins and bugbears are related, there is likely a connection.