RC Karyst: Down to the Hollows

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Outside of the tavern, the group spies another stranger coming around the side of the building; a familiar face to all. While Jibreel and Feywiley greet their companion, the remainder of the party takes a few moments longer to recognise Kahraman, the young knight whom they met in Malvrin where their adventures began.

As the members of the group re-acquaint themselves, they discuss what they have learned about the death of Maaric and the slaver named Garren. Putting together the various bits and pieces of information that each has gathered, the party slowly comes to the conclusion that the halfling, Maaric, must still be alive, and his disappearance is somehow connected to Maaric's frequent ventures into the underworld, G’hnna, as well as the recent appearance of Garren. Varg further speculates that Garren has kidnapped Maaric, and faked the halflings death in order to conceal his disappearance.

Taking their lead from the information gathered in town, the party decides to venture forth to the Hollows, an area of ancient barrow mounds not very far from town. Said to be haunted and, possibly, even cursed, the Hollows rarely receives visits from the people of Banlogh. However, Varg and others in the party believe that somewhere in the Hollows, hidden within on the barrow mounds, is a gateway or entrance to G’hnna. Thus, the party prepares for an extended journey, one which, they hope, will take them down beneath the surface world and into the depths of G’hnna.

After gathering supplies and making the necessary preparations, the group sets off through the woods, heading south east towards the Hollows. Their journey through the woods is relatively pleasant, and affords them sometime to continue their discussions and speculations on the fate of Maaric, and his possible connections to Garren and the slave trade. Within the hour, they arrive at the place known simply as the Hollows.

The woods open up, revealing a large, expansive clearing that is more meadow than woodlands. Scattered across the landscape are nearly two dozen large, rounded mounds of earth and grass. The mounds are quite large, with most measuring at least 20 feet in diameter and more than 15 feet in height. Several of the mounds are marked by large white drawings of a primitive nature.

As Varg begins moving about the mounds searching for signs of recent visitors, the others take a few moments to examine the closest of the drawings, which appears to be a sketching of a deer or similar animal. The drawing covers most of one side of the mound. The group also notices a peculiar structure in the approximate centre of the mounds: a large stone platform, flush to the ground, dotted with four stone constructs, each about 4 feet tall, and arranged in a diamond-like shape. Within the diamond-shape is a fifth stone object.

Although Varg finds no sign of recent activity in the area, he does find an opening within one of the mounds: a rough doorway, little more than a hole in the mound. The opening measures 4' wide and 8' high and is slightly sunken below ground level. Peering inside, Varg can see that beyond is a dark passageway, leading downwards. Calling to the other party members, Varg prepares to descend into the mound.

Within this mound, the group finds a fairly large room, littered with leaves and other debris that has likely been blown in by the wind. At the back wall the group finds a large statue, some 15 feet tall. The statue is roughly carved; other than representing a humanoid shape, there are no other features to determine what race, if any, it is meant to portray. Held in it's outstretched hands is a stone cup which, Kahraman discovers, has a small hole drilled into the bottom. As Devious and others carefully move about the chamber, searching for anything unusual, Kahraman pours a flask of water into the cup; the water drains away into the statue, but with no other discernible effects. Then, after much searching, Devious locates a secret door at the back of the chamber.

The door opens to another passageway that opens onto a second, smaller chamber. Within the chamber is an enormous skeleton, standing 16' tall, wielding a giant warhammer. As the group moves into the passageway, the skeleton comes 'alive', attacking Varg and Kahraman. In the ensuring melee, Kahraman is badly hurt, although Varg is able to hold it off long enough for Rhwydd to banish the undead creature: as it retreats to the corners of the room, the skeleton is quickly cut down by the party.

With the giant skeleton defeated, the group progresses further through the mound, discovering a third chamber. Carved into the walls of this chamber is what appears to be a map or picture of some sort and, like the drawings on the mounds outside, it is quite primitive. (Carving on Chamber wall.)

 

Jibreel pulls out a parchment and some ink, and copies the drawing onto it, just for future reference.

 

Fey makes a faint squeak as she notices she lost the others, studying some of the stones in the corners and quickly scurries to find the party, using her senses at best ability to seek them out.

Catching up, she takes a step closer to the carving keeping out of Jibreels way, "Hmm.. Could it be that all these things go to the center? Could be a drawing of a sun, or a circle with arrow heads pointing into it. Else all would perhaps come from the Triangle to the center and then out to the others.."

"Wonder what these are.." Fey points out the circles on the big triangles points.

 

"Oh, I get it. It's like the Triangle to the Sun to the Animals. Hrm. Well, I suppose it'd be a good idea to head back outside and look at the drawings on the mounds."

 

Er. sorry i wasn't there. I hadn't heard anything about a game. Gnolyn, i did tell you my email changed, right? Molotov_Monkey@Yahoo.com for future reference.

I'll try to make it next week.

 

Kahraman watches over Jibreel's head as the drawing is copied. "It seems to me that the stone pillars outside made a similar formation. If there's nothing further we can find here, let's return to the surface."

[ January 14, 2003, 00:59: Message edited by: Capstone ]

 

Leaving the chamber and the first mound behind, the group returns to the world above ground. Looking around, the party moves towards the centre of the region to examine the pillar-like structures on the platform.

Three of the pillars (each about 4' tall) stand in a triangle about a fourth pillar. Each of these structures has a small notch carved onto the very top: a small, semi-spherical depression only a few inches across. The fifth construct is a short, broad wall, again about 4' tall, positioned a few feet above the triangle. On the inward facing wall is a map-like carving.

The party continues to search about the area, focusing on the four mounds marked by the large chalk drawings: a bear, a wolf, a deer and a sun or star.

While searching about the mound marked with the bear figure, they find a concealed entrance; little more than a large opening covered over by earth and stone. Beyond the opening is a darkened tunnel that descends down into the bear-mound. Cautiously, the group proceeds down into the mound. At the bottom of the passage, they find a broad chamber (30' x 15') with high ceilings. Against the south wall stands another primitive statue (approximately 16' tall), identical to the first. In the south east corner, another passageway leads out of the chamber.

Climbing up the statue for a closer look, Ratheof and Jibreel spend a few moments to peer inside the large stone cup. Within they find a small amount of residue on the bottom of the cup; after a hesitant moment, Jibreel dabs a tiny amount on his finger for his taste. Fortunately, Jibreel discerns the faint taste of wine. After much debate about the purpose of the statue and the cup, the party decides to investigate the south east passage.

The passage leads a short distance to another room, although not before a spear trap catches Ratheof off guard. The second chamber is considerably smaller, and contains another giant skeleton. After an intense battle, the party manages to dispatch the giant skeleton and, taking a long pause to catch their breath, proceed to examine the room. Other than the skeleton, the only other object within is a large iron-bound chest, which Devious is able to unlock.

Contained within the chest is a yellow, crystalline globe (app. 4 inches in diameter). Taking sometime to examine the curious object, Jibreel determines that it is indeed magical, albeit very weakly. Further study reveals the enchantments of two schools: evocation and transmutation.

Finding little else inside the bear-mound, the party returns to the outside and then proceeds to search about the wolf-mound in the hopes of finding another concealed entrance. Fortunately, they are able to locate such an entrance and, after considerable excavation, find a tunnel leading down under the mound.

Following the passage down, the group discovers a large chamber (25' x 15') with two more passageways leading out of it: one to the south east and another to the south west. The chamber smalls of mould and rot, a thick coating of slime covering the walls. As well, a third primitive statue stands against the south wall of the chamber. After confirming that it is, identical to the other two statues, the party decides to continue exploring. While Varg, Ratheof and Jibreel move down the south west corridor, Rhwydd and Kaildren decide to investigate the south east corridor.

Following the south west passage, Varg, Ratheof and Jibreel discover a small room (15' x 10'), its walls coated in mould and slime, and its sunken floor flooded with stagnant water. In the back corner rests a large, iron-bound chest; although the chest is intact, it is surrounded by several large vegetable masses. As Varg moves towards the chest for a closer look, two distinct masses of purple vegetable matter begin to shiver and quake; massive fungal stalks, with numerous tentacles. As Varg moves in to hack down the things, Ratheof and Jibreel provide cover fire. Though a difficult fight, the three manage to fell the abominations, although Varg is left feeling the poisonous effects of the fungi's attacks. Looking inside the chest, they find a large iron key.

In the south east passage, Rhwydd and Kaildren locate another chamber, but are spotted by a giant skeleton. Fearing they are outmatched by the enormous undead creature, both Rhwydd and Kaildren flee to the main chamber, where a surprised Kahraman prepares to lend his aid. Together, the three manage to hold off the giant skeleton, allowing Varg, Ratheof and Jibreel to come join the fray from the south west. Eventually, the giant skeleton succumbs to the combined efforts of the party and it collapses into a head of bones.

Returning to the now empty south eastern chamber, the group locates another large chest which they unlock with the iron key. Within they find another crystalline globe, this one blue in colouration. Again, Jibreel is able to discern faint traces of magic about the globe, similar in strength and nature to the yellow globe.

Now, tired and weary from their exploits, the party decides to rest within the confines of the wolf-mound. While Jibreel brings in the pack animals, Kahraman and Varg manoeuver the large chest to partially block the passageway into the south east corner.

[ February 09, 2003, 19:56: Message edited by: Gnolyn Lochbreaker ]

 

Ratheof searches again the chest for anything of interest other than the globe but whithout much hope of finding anything. He also checks the room for any non-obvious exits.

"These globes seem very common. Every mound with self-respect seems to have one. The question is what they are used for. Are they meant to be placed on the pillars? and then what? Do they change stuff then?", he says to anyone caring to listen to him.

After a while he loses interest of the room and sits down to take care of his tools. Polishing the mace and sharpening his sword.

"I must say I'm very intrigued by these statues, I wish we had some wine to test with. Maybe it was used as sacrifice and the cleric secretely collected the wine and drunk himself senseless in his house afterwards." ,
glances at Rwhydd and continues,
"did I say cleric? I meant some .. mayor.. yes that's it, the mayor"

 

Ratheof digs through the bottom of the large chest, now situated in the entranceway of the chamber. However, other than some fragments of wood, possibly from old weapons, and some bits of decaying cloth, the chest is empty.

After several moments searching about the room, Ratheof is unable to detect any other exits from the chamber.

 

The preparations for camp finished, Kahraman walks over to Jibreel and squats down beside him. "So have you discovered anything more about the magical globes you have found?"

 

Jibreel grumbles and closes his eyes.

"Ugh. Not 'til I get some sleep; I'll check on it tomorrow, alright?"

 

Fey sits down in a lotus position at the fire, and humms a bit as she looks at the others trying to discern they personalities.
After a little while she finds a folded piece of clothing in her bag and a shining goblet, then rises.
"I'll be back soon.. got some personal things to do."

Then she leaves till she's out of sight, to perform a graceful dance to her goddess in her nightgown. Some fifteen minutes later, she returns and wraps up in her cloak and looks at them.
"So how long have you known each other?"

 

Kahraman nods and shrugs at Jibreel. "It's been a tiring day. Sleep well." He walks over to another corner and pulls off his armor, grunting as his side twinges with remembered pain. After polishing his shield up a bit, he starts going over the scale mail where the latest battles have bent and torn it and attempts to straighten it out.

As Feywily reenters the room, he looks up from his work with a smile. In the back of his mind, he puzzles over why he can't remember her taking any part of their recent fights. With a mental shrug, he gives up and responds to her question. "Actually, I met several of these people before we encountered them in Banlogh. Varg, Rhwydd, and Devious were at a tavern I stopped at in Malvrin on my way to Ulsmeth. There were some odd events going on there involving the undead; we began to investigate, but I was called away soon afterwards to hurry onwards to Ulsmeth." He turns to Rhwydd, adding, "I believe you discovered the cause and put an end to it, did you not? I've not yet heard the full story."