Session 21: Into the Tomb

The group of heroes was surrounded by large green-scaled lizardmen. Some wielding the bones of felled foes, others with obsidian encrusted clubs, and one somewhere in the dark was sending poisonous darts flying through the air.

Krius leapt into the fray with bravado and zeal, sword flashing and shield bashing. Soon he was flanked on all sides by foes and precariously near the water’s edge; dark murky water that hid the giant crocodile waiting to spring.

Rhin attempted to work his way through the throng of lizardmen hewing with his axe to help. As he did Alton and Mannon resorted to the dark arts. Two icy beams shot forth from Alton’s outstretched drow hands and Mannon cursed foes left and right.

Towards the back of the cavern Elarios was busy letting arrows fly while Prophit was sending out holy energy, however despite their attacks the rancid lizardfolk advanced into their ranks.

Alton had no problem seeing in the darkness of the cavern; however he knew the rest of the group could make use of more light, so the drow summoned a shimmering light directly on the surface of the water. Only a second after the spell was complete the giant crocodile burst forth from the muck its diseased maw ready to grab Krius and pull him under. In a lightning fast move Elarios sent an arrow into the eye of the beast, injuring it severely and distracting it from its intended prey.

Mannon seeing opportunity where others saw danger used an arcane trick he had mastered from the fey spirits he was known to commune with and vanished in puff green vapor only to reappear directly on top of the vicious croc. This caused the reptile much confusion and it swam into deeper water with the halfling clinging tightly to its back.

Fighting on the land continued with Prophit, Rhin, and Elarios taking down foe after foe with Alton providing magical attacks of his own. Soon the only lizardman left alive was the one hiding in the back of the cavern still sending poison darts through the air. Mannon blasted the croc with a magical curse and vanished as it sank beneath him, in a flash he reappeared next to the remaining lizardman.

Alton, Elarios, and Prophit sent spell, arrow, and healing Mannon's way as he battled the last foe into submission.

With all lizardmen defeated everyone breathed a heavy sigh and regrouped to allow themselves time to rest. As they did Rhin stood up, pulled an ornate dwarven dagger from under his cloak, held it forth and announced his intent to leave. He felt he had honed his fighting skills and was ready to find his miserable uncles and plunge the very blade he held deep into their necks.

Rhin went on to explain that the dagger was his fathers and that he had found it on one of the orcs they had fought when they first entered the swamp days ago and he had reason to believe there was a connection between the orcs of the mountain king and his family's betrayal. He was bound and determined to head north and enter the mountain kings lair if need be, find his uncles and extract bloody vengeance. With that he bid best of luck to the group, muttered something about elves and drow and promptly exited the cave to parts unknown.

Rested and ready for more exploration the group now one less in number crossed the deep water of the cavern into the passageway beyond. Once all were safely across they caught flickering fire light play off the wall ahead. They also heard the hissing sound of more lizardfolk speech from around the bend of the cavern wall.

As plans were made Elarios' sharp eyes noticed something gold flash from under Mannon’s cloak. It was one of the three fingered claws that Mannon wore around his neck. Given Elarios' history with such a profane symbol an argument about why Mannon would keep such an unholy relic soon broke out. Voices were raised along with tensions and a spirited debate about power and revenge erupted. Trust was now strained between new found allies.

As the argument continued the sound of the lizardmen became silent. It would seem the loud dispute among the group had been noticed by the barbaric creatures.

It was time for reconnaissance. Elarios crept forward. Around the bend of the cave was a flight of stairs that went up twenty feet or more. At the top flickering torch light lit a great hall. Large barrels were poised at the top of the stairs. The elf strained to look and listen and could just make out a deep, steady, rhythmic throbbing sound coming from somewhere ahead, deep within the cavern complex.

The ranger moved back and reported what he had observed. Mannon then decided it was time for stealth of his own. He moved forward with ease around the bend in the cave and started up the stairs. The rest of the party moved forward slowly and as quietly as they were able. As Mannon was about half way up the stairs lizardmen revealed themselves, popping up from behind the large barrels.

Before Mannon had time to speak a lizardman with a wicked gleam in his eye shoved a barrel down the stairs. It slammed into Mannon's chest knocking the wind out of him. It crashed into the cave wall at the bottom of the stairs spilling oil everywhere. Next another lizardman tossed a burning brand into the oil causing it to erupt, sending flames leaping into the air. Everyone save Alton was caught in the inferno and began to retreat back towards the watery cave.

Alton still had his wits. He looked up the stairs as two hulking ten foot tall black scaled lizardmen marched forward joining several others at the top of the stairs. They each beat a huge spiked mace into the ground to make their presence know. Thinking quickly Alton muttered a quick spell and send shards of magical force exploding in their midst. His spell hurt the creatures but it also seemed to make them that much more enraged.

Seeing his friends retreat he quickly followed...

The characters present:
* Alton/Morrainna (Aaron), drow wizard
* Mannon (Dave), halfling warlock
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Squire Krius (Matt, absent ran by Aaron), human paladin
* Rhin No-Clan (NPC, ran by DM), dwarf fighter
* Elarios Amanodel (Mark), elf ranger

Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* These lizard men also had tattoo scares of a five eyed demon on their chests
* Rhin admits to finding his fathers dagger and leave the group to pursue orcs
* A deep rhythmic pulsing sound is coming from somewhere deep in the tomb

Treasure found (this session):
* None

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* 1 giant crocodile
* 4 lizardmen clubbers
* 1 lizardman blowgun snippier
* stairs fire-trap ambush

Experience gained (this session):
245 each player