Freedom – Session 7

The Bloodstones are a mountain range in central Zydar named for the red hued rock of the area. It’s a lawless, dangerous region, riddled with a honeycomb of caves and delvings, largely uninhabited apart from a few mining settlements and fortresses scattered about the outer slopes. The interior is infested with aberrant creatures mutated by the reality-warping emanations of ancient machinery buried beneath, whilst the surrounding lowlands are patrolled by brutal mercenaries and slavers.

The characters fall out of the cistern pipe into a small pool roughly ninety feet across. The water drains into a river that sluggishly winds off to the south-west, and erosion has carved a small canyon into the surrounding rock. Jagged, sheer cliffs rise above them on all sides, cutting off any means of escape other than the waterway. The baking midday sun shines down on them, and after the darkness of the Citadel they are forced to cover their eyes against the glare.

Q – This seems a safe, hidden area. Is anything living here?

A – Yes.

Halfway up the side of the northern cliff face is a small ledge on which nests a 5’ lizard-like creature. It has a bright violet frill that’s extended menacingly as it stares at the escapees.

Bordan swims over to the freed captives and attempts to ease their panic whilst somehow mollifying the creature but he misreads the situation. As more humanoids congregate in the pool, the lizard rears up on its hind legs and extends leathery wings tipped with razor sharp claws. A rattling shriek rises from its throat.

“Stop flailing about,” Mira commands, her eyes beginning to adjust to the bright light. “All of you, move towards the river. Slowly. Calmly. Just float away.”

Doing as they are told the group slowly drifts towards the river mouth. The creature watches them suspiciously, folding its wings and retracting its frill. Once the trespassers are out of sight the lizard sits back down, moving around on its haunches until comfortable, soon forgetting the blundering intrusion into its lair.

Q – Is the river treacherous or fast moving?

A – No.

Six of the prisoners cannot swim, but with some help from the others they manage to stay afloat in the relatively calm water as it winds languidly southwards before turning east. The canyon walls mean there is no bank or place to stop, so all the characters can do is drift with the current.

Q – As it progresses and tributaries merge, does the river get faster before exiting the canyon?

A – Yes.

Time passes. The water is refreshingly cool against the onslaught of intense summer heat, but as the river again winds southward it become faster, deeper, and choppier. Some of the prisoners begin to flounder, and Subira is dragged down by the weight of her armour.

Mira swims over to the cleric and heaves her upwards. Subira clings to the warrior, coughing thanks. Contact with water seems to have made the filaments of mycelium that pattern the cleric’s skin radiate a multi-hued iridescence. Bordan and Dragos try to help as many of the others as they can, but sadly one of the escaped captives has no strength left and goes under.

Q – Does the river get any faster before exiting the canyon?

A – No (doubles).

A cry goes up from some of the escapees. Mira grips the cleric tightly and turns in the water, directing her gaze downriver. Ahead, hanging from the canyon walls are a series of glistening, bulbous sacks. She estimates there must be a dozen or so, each a couple of meters across, dripping with dark, viscous fluid. A shudder runs through her as she notices cavities in the sack walls, through which bloated, writhing shapes can be seen.

“Defend yourselves!” she cries, drawing her longsword clumsily in the churning water.

The group float closer and closer, until they pass underneath the nightmarish growths. They hold their breath, looking up at the writhing masses and hoping to pass unnoticed. Alas, there is a sudden explosion of activity, and a horrific, low droning sound rises above the noise of the water. A cloud of large insectoid monstrosities takes flight and swarm towards them.

15 x Blighted Spider Locusts: AC 6. HP 2d8. THAC0 18. ML 8. MV 60’.

Round 1

As the insects close in Subira begs Mira to let go and save herself. Mira holds the cleric firm and tells her no. The prisoners begin to panic and Ostrik attempts to swim faster. Dragos must let one of the escapees go in order to draw weaponry.

The creatures, mutated chimeras of giant spider and locust, descend upon the group, attacking at random. Screams of agony and terror echo against the canyon walls. Three of the freed prisoners are killed within seconds, their skulls pierced by razor sharp, chitinous mouths. Dragos manages to duck and bob out of the way, but Ostrik is impaled in the back as he tries to flee.

Bordan moves over to the wizard and dispatches the attacking creature whilst Lana tries to fight the current to reach the orcan.

Round 2

The thief manages to swim closer to Dragos, her shortsword making quick work of his opponent. Freed from the attack, Dragos drifts over to the nearest flailing fugitive and helps her ward off the swarm.

With nowhere to go, and no means of escape, the attack soon devolves into a bloodbath. Two more escapees are killed, the creatures burrowing into their flesh, and many others are badly wounded.

Mira awkwardly lashes out with her sword, the blade bisecting one spider locust whilst a second lands on her back and bites deep into her neck. A third swoops down but misses, and her riposte sends it flying off in search of easier prey.

In desperation, Subira grabs the insect on Mira’s back and submerges it. The creature lashes out wildly, slicing into her arm, before drowning in the cleric’s vice-like grip.

A large, bloated spider locust swerves around Bordan and plunges its fangs into Ostrik’s eye socket. The wizard spasms and begins to sink below the water. Bordan roars in anger and swings his axe at the creature, but it dodges easily and flies away. Another lands on him and slices deep into his shoulder.

Round 3

Dragos and Lana both attack the creature cutting into the barbarian and manage to kill it. With that, the swarm lifts into the air and departs as suddenly as it arrived, having travelled too far from the nest and taken too many casualties.

Still holding the cleric, Mira swims to Ostrik and, dropping her sword into the river, pulls the wizard above the waterline. The group floats down river, the corpses of their comrades and friends drifting alongside them.

They exit the canyon, the walls of rock giving way to rough crags and slopes of red stone, and finally manage to pull themselves out the water, exhausted. Subira desperately tries to save Ostrik, but he has breathed in too much liquid, she has no supplies, and his wounds are grievous. The wizard passes away on the crimson banks of the river, bathed in the heat of the early afternoon sun.

Mira holds her neck, the deep wound still bleeding, and watches the bodies float away. She turns to look in the direction of the Citadel and feels a cold rage slowly building in the pit of her stomach.

Featured Image by Jeff Brown.