Welcome back to Altered Worlds Press's game night posts!
This is the second post describing the details of a two-part sidequest our heroes completed a month or more ago. To read the first episode of this quest click here!
The heroes set out the next day guided by Tessa, the aspiring priestess of the moon goddess Lunaqqua, toward her goddess's lost temple on the edge of the mountains south and west of the Terem Village. Tessa's vision, impressed upon her mind by the goddess, leads them quickly and without incident to the edges of the mountain range.
Seeing the path leading up the mountainside toward the temple, the party decides to rest for the night. During the evening, they are attacked by several leaping insect-like daemons! Tan Chama's flaming missiles and the blades and arrows of the heroes soon manage to cut them down.
They attempt to rest for the remainder of the evening and awake early to begin their approach to the temple. The band move up the trail and see, built into the mountainside, a long portico held up with columns. Eyes are certainly watching from the darkness within. As they near the end of the trail, a robed figure approaches them on the final stairs leading up into the columned interior. It speaks in a strangely accented common tongue, warning them from the depths of its hood not to go farther into the temple; it is beset by daemons. The heroes confront the mysterious robed figure, noting its spindly and strange claws that hang from the sleeves of the robe. It threatens them; the heroes do not take kindly to that and in the exchange that follows, cut the creature down. It is a strangely emaciated bipedal dog-like creature. Another daemon for certain. The heroes move into the interior of Lunaqqua's temple.
Within, a forest of columns in a large open space. In the dim light from the party lantern, they move inward, looking for chambers and perhaps foes. A stench pervades the place. The stench of... evil. Though prepared, the party is ambushed by strange creatures that teleport to them, attack, then teleport away. A difficult fight ensues. Yet Xull the barbarian and Bior the monk hold their own. More hurt is dished out than taken, with Fennig's arrows and Leighsech's bolts taking their toll on the daemons. The heroes are soon victorious.
They reach the far edge of the columned interior, and find a number of open doorways to chambers carved into the mountain stone. In each chamber save two they face terrible foes. A swarm of undead bats. The reanimated skeletons of mountain apes. A trio of daemons with blue abyssal flames that damage the heroes. The 6 heroes take their licks each time, blasting away with silver arrows and bolts, fire missiles and fireballs, and the horrors are eventually slain.
Within one of the last chambers is a platform overlooking a murky pool covering the floor of the room beyond. Bior decides to plumb the depths of the pool, and is attacked by a tentacled daemon horror! The heroes fire arrows and magic, and though bruised and beaten, Bior survives with Rianorix's healing help.
Eventually the heroes find a chamber that has a receptacle in one wall that fits the medallion Tessa wears around her neck, a key of sorts. Within, a hidden and undisturbed priestly chamber. They find a sleeping area and a number of temple treasures. Gems, both precious and semi-precious, lacquered magical armor, and a number of golden pinecones that can heal. An old chest with thousands of copper coins in it completes the collection. Though they defer to Tessa, she grants the heroes a significant portion of treasure. Rianorix and the heroes rest here, and then in the morning ensure that the temple is clear of daemons. Rianorix consecrates the pool -- a divination pool now -- and the temple in general. Tessa, still hinting at her attraction for the priest of Boreas, praises him. She will return with them to Terem Village to gather the faithful, and to begin to establish the new temple, hoping to see Rianorix at some future date -- perhaps to continue the budding relationship.
There ends our tale of the most famous sidequest (non-Stonehell Dungeon delve) of the campaign thus far! Thanks for reading. We at Altered Worlds Press wish you a future of happy gaming.
Fortune and Glory!
AWP
