Session 25: Thunder & Lightning

Alton and Prophit squared off against the mummy in their midst. Alton's magics ended and as the darkness cleared, they could once again see it's hideous visage peering out from its ancient, moldering wrappings. The sight of it sent shivers down their spines, and their every nerve called out to flee, knowing their resources were dwindling. It lashed out it's dessicated claws at each of them, leaving deep festering wounds.

The lizardman witch doctor and all of his newly arrived group (save the two bodyguards) stepped back through the threshold. The witch doctor glared at the party with disdain, and spouting out some words in drconic, threw down a fetish, creating a writhing wall of burning vines to block the entrance. The two guards rushed forward to engage the group, brandishing their weapons with hatred burning in their eyes.

Elarios, Mannon, Krius attacked the bodyguards, flanking and maneuvering around them in a practiced lockstep. The lizardmen moved with a strange speed and grace that made them hard to strike as they moved about the batlefield. Despite their maneuverability, the battle was short, decisive, and brutal...the last lizardman's dying breath exploded in a torrent of blood all over Krius' formerly shining armor.

They looked about after the dust cleared and noticed that their friends were no longer present. The group rushed back into the hall again, and careened around the corner, where they could hear the mummy rending their comrades. They grouped up on the creature, redoubling their efforts. Before it fell from the ranger's arrow, it was able to tear one of it's diseased talons into Krius's flesh, leaving festering wounds.

Alton searched the sarcophagus and the twisted, leathery body of the fallen mummy and found a serpentine staff while the others retreated to the adjactent room to avoid the poison spikes. The group gathered themselves in the nest chamber to rest for a moment before proceeding. While the group licked their wounds, Mannon prepared a disgusting meal of some lizard eggs and nesting filth and fluids.

When Mannon finished his grusome meal, he an Elarios went back into the hall to disarm the spike traps. They worked in tandem, using Elarios' incredible senses to locate the mechanism, and Mannon's skill at disarming devices. They had to dodge a few volleys of darts before Mannon was able to finally disable the trap.

As they returned to the room, Mannon was able to recite the draconic phrase the witch doctor spoke earlier. According to Prophit, the witch doctor spoke of a "Ritual of Ascension". The group pondered taking a longer rest, given their current state, but decided this ritual sounded too dangerous to allow to pass, and time might have been against them.

They investigated the vines which were no longer burning. Elarios inspected the vines and noted that they were poisonous. The room shook with a thunder and light flashed in the tunnels running behind the vines.

The group hacked he writhing vines down and proceeded into the tunnels cautiously. Their resources and bodies strained from the seemingly endless fighting. They were not looking forward to another battle, but pushed ahead, knowing in their hearts that this ritual needed to be stopped, no matter what.

They reached a branching point in the tunnel, and Mannon and Elarios moved ahead stealthily. They came across a large chamber with curtains covering the far wall. The thunder, lightning, and room shaking ended. The room appeared empty and silent, save for two chests, a large stone dias, and light coming from torches along the walls.

Elarios scrutinized the space for a few minutes in silence and noted some very large lizard tracks. He pointed these ut to Mannon and bid Mannon to investigate the chests while he stayed back to cover him. Mannon approached one of the chests in silence, deftly picked the lock, opened the lid to reveal it was filled with dazzling gems, gold, baubbles, and a vial of liquid.

He pocketed the bottle and squealed in delight, dragging the chest noisily across the stone floor. The sound of metal scraping on stone resounded across the open hall. Mannon, distracted by his ill-begotten gains, didn't notice the curtains pull back and three massive lizardmen emerged. Elarios, however, did notice, and drawing his bow, shouted a warning to Mannon, bidding him to run.

The characters present:
* Alton/Morrainna (Aaron), drow wizard
* Mannon (Dave), halfling warlock
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Squire Krius (Matt), human paladin
* Elarios Amanodel (Guest player Jon), elf ranger

Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* The lizardman witch doctor mentioned something called "The Ritual of Ascension"

Treasure found (this session):
* Staff of the Serpent (picked up by Alton)
* Gold, baubles, and trinkets in the nest

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* 2 lizard guards
* 1 mummy
* disarming poison dart trap

Experience gained (this session):
200 each player