The chronicle record
Session recap
The flickering light of the campfire illuminated the rough stone walls of the cave, casting shadows that danced ominously as the party settled in for a much-needed rest. After scouting the area, Arsène warned of three small creatures lurking above, prompting the group to choose a safer room for their slumber. Watches were set, and while Wren’s watch passed without incident, Arsène spotted a xulgaths peeking into the firelight. The night continued uneventfully, with the party waking refreshed and ready to explore the Caves further.
Determined to clear the northern side before delving deeper, the group remained cautious of traps. Gundugar stowed his +1 Striking Maul in Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks’s Handy Haversack, and they passed through a chamber filled with mushrooms, recognizing its potential as an underground farm. In the bloody butchering room, they noted tracks of monitor lizards but found only small fish in the stream. Wren soon led them to a cavern with a dark pool, where Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks spotted submerged bodies. However, Arsène warned of crab-like cave fishers lurking above. The party decided to eliminate the threat, engaging in a fierce battle where they coordinated their attacks effectively, ultimately defeating the cave fishers and recovering valuable items.
As they pressed on, they encountered dark mantles hanging from the ceiling. Wren identified them as predators capable of spitting magical darkness, and the party chose to attack. Vendel quickly dispatched one, and the group utilized their skills to defeat the remaining dark mantles. Following this, they entered a larger cavern adorned with black marble and purple crystals, where they faced a chrysmal. The battle was challenging, but Bruneg smashed the creature against the wall, and they discovered an Alloy Orb hidden in a crevice.
At the next door, Wren heard whispering voices, but they fell silent when the others listened. The party forced their way into a chamber, confronting four xulgaths: one warrior and three spellcasters. The stench was overwhelming, but they pressed on. The battle was fierce, with xulgaths using fear magic and cold spells. Wren and Arsène focused on the frontline xulgaths while Bruneg and Gundugar supported with powerful strikes. Wren sent Nova after the xulgaths leader, leading to their victory and securing the chamber. They found a circular room filled with salt crystals and a glowing blue crystal set into an insectile statue, along with several useful items among the xulgaths’ belongings.
Exploring further, they discovered a burial chamber with an opened sarcophagus containing the crystallized remains of an ancient four-armed insectoid creature. They opened smaller sarcophagi, recovering treasures including a reinforced buckler and a Belt Of Good Health. Continuing on, they found a hidden door with instructions inscribed in Aklo, leading them to present “stone,” “steel,” and “woe” to open the way. After offering blood as “woe,” they entered a chamber that revealed a gelatinous cube. The ensuing battle was chaotic, with Vendel becoming trapped inside the cube. The party fought valiantly, ultimately defeating the cube and discovering a nearly destroyed skeleton within, bearing a holy symbol of Iomedae, believed to belong to a champion consumed in that chamber.