Restore Shrine of The Snake on behalf of Mazandyth
Rochtag, 3rd prime post-Tumultuous 1056
Log Entry Type
Recordkeeper
Days in Game
17 days
Archive Entry
- Mazandyth, the green dragon who was parent to Karpalor, the "Fake Snake" slain by Freelancers in 1055, visited Freelancers Tavern to make plain his offense that Karpalor's head was on display like a common hunting trophy. He demanded the head, and also that in recompense, that Freelancers assist him in restoring the shrine to The Snake at the fork of the Haven River.
- In particular, nothing but snakes was to be left alive in the shrine complex.
- Arnari Rilynn’sithek assented to this task, and dispatched Lorcan Puddingrass Pasternack Tuinstra, Peb Pebbles, and Petrichor to scout ahead, locate the shrine, and determine what materials were needed for restoration. Evvie, Laki, and Aleki would follow with the materials. Laki infused sending stones, so the scouts could report back.
- Peb, Petrichor, and Lorcan travelled for a day and a half on flying mounts to the fork of the Haven River, and located the shrine, which was underground with an entrance framed in stone lintels.
- Two ogres occupied the outermost rooms of the complex, and the Freelancers dispatched those.
- A quick inspection revealed stone facing on worked natural caves, with the tunnel roofs reinforced by wood beams. The Freelancers relayed this to Laki on the sending stone. Aleki, Evvie, and Laki spent the rest of the day gathering what was needed.
- The next day, Arnari dispatched Dominic Holyarm, Manu, and Kaladan Ophinshtalajiir to assist the Freelancers already at the shrine. Laki, Evvie, and Aleki departed on the roads with carts of materials, escorted by Mia Taumata, Murai, Minji, and Tim Jolly.
- Dominic, Manu, and Kaladan arrived to discover Peb had tried to compost the ogres, resulting in a horrific smell. Petrichor had left, with the sending stone, to find/meet up with Laki et al. Kaladan started clearing bones from prior kills and covering it up.
- The ogres had blocked the passage deeper into the complex, and the Freelancers cleared it and started to explore. The downward tunnel had various traps in disrepair, yet still dangerous. They navigated past to find a large cavern for contemplation, with benches, carvings, and flagstones in disrepair.
- The cavern was home to many colonies of bats, with some stirges. Manu slew the stirges and the Freelancers slew most of the bats while trying to persuade them to leave. Peb and Lorcan learned from the bats the next cavern had aggressive vines.
- Broad steps led down to the main shrine, which was a very long natural cave. The Freelancers opted to wait for the others to arrive before testing themselves against "aggressive vines", and busied themselves cleaning up the general area and increasing the safety of the main passage.
- It was plain to the Freelancers that Mazandyth was checking on progress.
- The supplies and its escorts arrived on Chaostag, last prime post-Tumultuous.
- The next day, Kaladan and Petrichor helped out Laki, Aleki, and Evvie with cleaning and restoration, while the others went to explore the main shrine.
- Lorcan stealthed in, using a torch held with mage hand to illuminate the cavern for the others to see. A large statue of The Snake, missing an eye, dominated one end, with some sort of water behind it. Plant life, mostly vines, covered the floor.
- The others stealthed up to Lorcan, but Manu was overstimulated, so dumped a bag of ball bearings unceremoniously on the floor to the Freelancers' right.
- Two shambling mounds of vines and four sets of awakened vines attacked the Freelancers. The Freelancers prevailed, but not before the mounds had absorbed Peb and Mia, who had to fight their way out.
- The Freelancers explored the area around and behind the large statue. Lorcan found and restored the statue's other eye, and Murai discovered coins at the base. The water behind it was full of dangerous snakes. Minji found a smaller shrine, surrounded by water, and made sketches. Peb discovered the snakes expected to be fed, and they & Dominic fed the snakes goodberries.
- The Freelancers also found two side passages. One led to a private shrine & altar, with silver accoutrements, the other to a living area with a dormitory and private rooms, with deteriorated regalia for priests of The Snake.
- Mindful of the green dragon, the Freelancers did not acquire any of the items they found, but instead returned to the others and reported these findings. Laki looked at Minji's sketches with interest, then followed her and Dominic down to look at the ruined benches and bridges.
- For the next 6 days, the Freelancers worked to clean out the vines and filth from the complex, restoring the collapsed timber supports, replacing bridges across the water, rebuilding benches. Dominic and Peb fed the snakes goodberries. Minji was sent to Cliffgate twice for supplies, with a bag of holding; once for cots for the dormitory, once for other items suitable for restoring the kitchen area.
- The day before Fulcrum, Mazandyth arrived, with several priests and acolytes of The Snake, who thanked the green dragon for his care, and took charge of the shrine from the Freelancers.
- The Freelancers took one day to travel directly to Cliffgate. They got rooms at the Hippogryph's Wing inn and spent the morning of the Fulcrum Holiday celebrating, before departing for Cliffshadow.
- Returned to Freelancers Tavern Remitag, 1st prime post-Fulcrum.
Loot
- Coin: 200 eagles (split between Lorcan, Peb, Petrichor)
- Gems: 25-eagle gemstones: rhodochrosite & blue quartz (split between Lorcan, Peb, Petrichor), orange carnelian (Manu)
Storyline
Session Dates
