shifty louts

Arduin Arcade Session #3 - The Howling Tower

Players

Summary

Qwain the 24th. The Month of the Whirling Horse 5202

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For this Arduin Arcade1, a group of two returning players Patxi Facultad, Human Green Magus, and Tuncay Tamir, Human Armsman, is accompanied by three new adventurers, Sandman, Piscoid Blue Magus, Caja, Elf Armsman, and Snarkk, Gnoll Blue Magus.

The group enters the Howling Tower, and after some discussion within the first room, from the east, a scuttling and sizzling sound is heard. It then bursts through the metal door, a 60’ long skeletal centipede, wielding broad swords.

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The group retreats to room west, but not before Caja’s left eye is maimed. The group can bear the door, and after a few turns, the sizzling sounds disappear. Centipedes are discussed, and the group further plunges eastward, finds the yellowed and desiccated body of a former adventure.

The group continues eastward after absconding with 50’ of rope from the body. Patxi Facultad takes some masonry from a wall and plugs a “doggie-door” to prevent the larger centipedes from entering the room, and the group continues east. Paxti speaks of the dangers of the centipedes' acidic sprays.

Caja heads north and sees thirteen ebon skeletons at regimental rest, and the group heads south and continues eastward. Tuncay recalls the strange crossbow beetles drawn to fire and recovers his lantern from the last delve. The tunnel terminates at a door that Tuncay recalls having broken into. The door has runes that speak of a “toll of 1gp to enter to help out for the Broken Doors Fund.”

The group peers through the broken coin hatch to Caja sees a small room filled with ornate, floral arabesques. Upon the floor is a small 2’ body of a fae creature covered in a cream and taupe lichen, like a grave shroud. Snarkk listens at the north door while Caja finds wet masonry that leads back out and finds the wall and floor to be filled with stinking, wet straw.

Snarkk hears modulating and hypnotic childlike laughter coming from the west, from behind the door that blurs between masculine and feminine timbres, while Caja, Tuncay, Sandman, and Patxi break down the wall to find a secret room filled with soot-covered sacks.

The group finds this room has another fall eastern wall and breaks it down again to reveal a room that has strange yellow threads that snake along the masonry and terminate in a yarn ball in the center of the room. The group fears what is portended as Snarkk grabs it, much to the group's chagrin.

They find an armoire with pentagram sigils jammed into an eastern passage hall. Its feet were gnawed by mice. Pentagrams on doors. Sandman casts Detect Magic, and it reveals long-faded Black Magikal energies. Paxti finds silver and gold coins within

The group pushes it aside and continues eastward along a passage, finding an ornately carved metal door that bears images of ravens. The raven echoes what one says back in a cawing voice. Snarkk finds no door handles and suggests they look for a password.

The group once again continues eastward and is surprised by a group of twelve zombies shambling out through the Raven Door, wielding battle axes. Tuncay lights a lantern and throws it against one, killing it with fire. The smell of burning rotten flesh, like an abscess, poisons the air.

The rest of the group dashes back towards the door as Sandman opens it. A plan is formed, Paxti will open the door as Caja and Tuncay funnel the zombies through the opening.

Caja fells two in succession as sword and axe clash. Tuncay is killed as more and more bodies pile up between the door. The magi grab sword and mace and finally push the zombies back, slaughtering them, leaving the hallway filled with viscera and gore.

Snarkk and Sandman consume Tuncay’s body as a sign of respect for this great warrior, hoping to gain his strength as the group leaves the Howling Tower with one less adventurer.

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Aftermath

Treasure Found:

Foes Encountered:

Rumors:

Deaths:

XP Awarded:

Notes

  1. Arcade Gaming↩

  2. Boss Fights↩