Week 8 - Necromancer's Sanctum (#20)

Flush with all the gold from the Lost Island (#17) we spent a day resting up and drinking at the Sleeping Lion. We were all a little sad Ktzlx had decided to move on and the threat of Jekserah still hung over our mood.

Groot was telling a great tale of the time Ktzlx scampered about behind some Inox loosening all their belts while they are all focused on one of Cymbidium's fire tricks when suddenly a Quatryl appeared sitting at our table. The Tinkerer mentioned in a soft voice that his name was Dr. Vendilion Asmeris and had heard us mention the name Jekserah in vain. He too had an issue with her and was eager to join someone hunting her down. He also mentioned that he had been tracking her and knew exactly where she was hiding. 

Blog Note: I forgot to make a note of both the Road and City events we encountered at the beginning and end of this week's adventurers.

 Setting off with our new companion we headed for the Dagger Forest. It was a good thing the Dr. was with us, she certainly had a well hidden lair. After various twists and turns we found ourselves peering through the trees across a clearing at a mostly hidden overgrown door to an ancient mausoleum. This building must have been built ages ago and was the perfect lair for our quarry.

We squeezed past a tree trunk and found ourselves in a cool dark hall of tombs. Cymbidium flicked her fingers and lit a torch, then we moved deeper into the dark. We paused a ways in to listen for any sounds of inhabitants. Tabbax heard something faint off to our left and she quickly found a set of hidden stone doors. Opening the doors we were confronted by an army of the dead.

Jekserah had obviously been hard at work building her army of Living Bones and Living Corpses. She also had quite a few Cultists scattered around.

The first room was quite easy, we were getting good at mowing down the undead by now. It was obvious we had been relying on coordinating with Ktzlx and adjusting to Dr. Vendilion was going to take some adjustment of our tactics. He was certainly handy with some of his fascinating tools.

The second chamber was more of a struggle because Tabbax decided to take a side trip and opened up a treasure room with a chest (Chest #60 - Item 113 - Skullbane Axe) Tabbax seemed really thrilled with her find.

Jekserah was in the last chamber and put up a fierce fight. She was summoning Living Corpses like crazy before Groot managed to drop a serious blow on her head - stunning her and sending her crashing to the floor. Jekserah held up a hand in defense and moaned out "You have no idea what's coming" (Map Location: Outer Ritual Chamber - #28) Tabbax stepped forward and with her knives quickly separated her head from her body. 

Cymbidium looked around at all the carnage and dead bodies and suggested we had completed our objectives and needed to depart the mausoleum without delay. We returned the head to the Captain of the Guard and were paid handsomely for the gruesome work. (Reward: 20 Gold Each, +2 Reputation, +1 Prosperity).

The Captain continued "I have more work for you if you want." We paused to listen "We have reports from our northern scouts about flying creatures, perhaps a dragon". (Map Location: Mountain Pass - #16)

Not seeing much interest he suggested "Closer to home there is trouble brewing in the sewers. The wells in the area have become poisoned and the area is infested with snakes and sentient slimes. " (Map Location: Abandoned Sewers - #18) "I would love someone to find the source of the poison.

Here are the Locations we have unlocked:

#4 - Crypt of the Damned: (Scenario #2) Suggesting we find out more about the "Gloom"

#7 - Vibrant Grotto: (Scenario #8) Argeise suggesting we can track Jekserah in the wilds

#9 - Diamond Mine: (Scenario #3) Jekserah wanted us to go find her a diamond

#15 - Shrine of Strength: (Scenario #13) Seer mentioned great power to be had

#16 - Mountain Pass: (Scenario #20) Captain of the Guard wants us to hunt a dragon

#18 - Abandoned Sewers: (Scenario #20) Captain o/t Guard wants us to find the poison source

#19 - Forgotten Crypt: (Scenario #14) Hail told us Jekserah might be here

#28 - Outer Ritual Chamber: (Scenario #28) Jekserah's dying breath mentioned this place

#31 - Plane of Night:(Scenario #14) Hail wants us to help her build an orb with gold metal

#43 - Drake Nest: (Scenario #14) Hail told us Jekserah might be here

#63 - Magma Pit: (Scenario #1) Random Side Scenario treasure map

#68 - Toxic Moor:(Scenario #8) Random Side Scenario treasure map

Peace

Mercenary Backstory: Dr. Vendilion Asmeris - Quatryl Tinkerer

Mercenary Backstory: Dr. Vendilion Asmeris - Quatryl Tinkerer

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Week Seven - Lost Island (#17)

Blog Note: I have been really busy of late and this scenario was written up long after the scenario had been played. I used the notes I took during the session for the high points.

Off we went in search of "Great Wealth"! We needed to get to the port and hire a ship.

The guard atop the wall seemed bored and wanted someone to pester "Heading out a little late, aren't you?"  Not really in the mood, I grunted in reply and headed through the gate. 

He shouted out the other side of the wall "Nobody's gonna go looking for your corpse if you don't return". I was fine with that assessment, besides he was right, it was late to be embarking on a journey.

Many hours later as dusk was falling we started hearing the howling of wolves (Road Event #01). It did not take long to assess that the foul vicious beasts were getting closer. Feeling surly - we decided to take up a defensive position and fight them if it came to that - and it did. We had the high ground and the pack that broke from the woods looked ragged and hungry. There were more of them than we expected and they quickly surrounded our position. The fight was furious but we managed to fight them off (Start Scenario with 3 Wounds).

Late the following morning we found the port and easily hired a ship to take us to one of the Lost Islands in the Misty Sea. (Scenario #17 - Lost Island) The captain seemed dubious about our destination, but gold always talks the loudest. Hopefully the Seer had not steered us wrong and we followed the map to a small and simple lump of earth covered in trees and rocks. We could see on the opposite side of the small island a derelict ship, likely aground on the shallow coral reefs surrounding the island.

As soon as our feet hit the sand, an arrow whizzed by my ear and another grazed my leg. Dropping into a crouch and reading our weapons we could see numerous Vermilings scurrying around in the underbrush. Tabbax went into full on sprint and stealth mode, darting deep into the underbrush and skewered one of the Shaman with both of her blades.

Cybidium used Flashing Burst and immediately completed a Dynamo scenario goal. Hearing the roar of Bears, Groot decides his talents are best head to head with other brutes - he heads for some rocks. Ktzlyx steals some life, and donates it to Cymbidium. Tabbax grabs another Shaman and rolls over - tossing him onto a trap.

Cymbidium summons her Racoon. Ktzlyx gets smashed into by a bear taking almost lethal amounts of damage before side stepping and guiding the bear onto another of the traps. By this time the Vermling Scouts around us start dropping, not being much of a match for us. In a fit of rage the racoon manages to take out 2 of the scouts with a cool combo. Tabbax takes a moment to Loot 2 and grab a whole pile of cash.

Who knew so many of these damned creatures could exist on such a small island? Reaching the other side of the island we discovered a gang plank running out to the derelict ship - the Vermlings were defending the ship fiercely. Entering the ship, there was gold scattered all over the place!

The rooms were tough to clear because the Shamans kept healing themselves. Cymbidium used Fire Orbs to great advantage and Ktzlyx used Hostile Takeover to have one of the healing Shamans kill the other healing Shaman! Tabbax used the Horned Helm and a Back Stab to do 18 points of damage to finish off the last Shaman.

With the distractions of flashing swords and swiping claws put to rest, we investigated further to find great caches of gold. So much for being poor! (Reward: 25 Gold Each)

Inside the Chest we found a new treasure map (Chest #71: Side Scenario #65: Sulphur Mine).

Returning to Gloomhaven with all our newly found wealth we decided to have a look around the Market. It was late in the day, but there was a couple of stands still open.

A robed Savvas had some strange artifacts on display. He nodded at me when we approached and looked interested in some of the items we had picked up in our travels. He seemed interested in one item Groot had and offered a small bag that contained a single rectangular black and white coin in exchange. Groot liked the look of the coin and quickly agreed.

Cymbidium seemed to think the coin was more than it appeared and we headed to the University to do some research. Hours later we could find nothing - so we headed for the tavern. Groot still seemed fascinated with the coin and was playing with it when an Aesther approached. He claimed to know all about the coin and told us a tale about a secret meeting place.  The information seemed worth the price of a beer - so we pulled out our map and he showed us the location of a long forgotten temple (Scenario #81 - Temple of the Eclipse)

Later in the night Ktzlyx suddenly got serious and sullen. He then told us he was getting tired of all the adventuring and fighting. Now that we had all the Vermling ship gold - he had enough gold to donate a bunch to the Sanctuary of the Great Oak and have a little left over to retire (Personal Goal - Piety in All Things) (Unlock Mercenary: Sawbones)

We opened the Town Records and recorded: Chris - Ktzlyx - Mind Thief - Level: 3 - Perks: 6

That was a long fight and we were all quite near exhaustion by the end. Here are the Locations we have unlocked:

#4 - Crypt of the Damned: (Scenario #2) Suggesting we find out more about the "Gloom"

#7 - Vibrant Grotto: (Scenario #8) Argeise suggesting we can track Jekserah in the wilds

#9 - Diamond Mine: (Scenario #3) Jekserah wanted us to go find her a diamond
#15 - Shrine of Strength: (Scenario #13) Seer mentioned great power to be had

#19 - Forgotten Crypt: (Scenario #14) Hail told us Jekserah might be here
#20 - Necromancer's Sanctum: (Scenario #13) Seer told us Jekserah might be here

#31 - Plane of Night:(Scenario #14) Hail wants us to help her build an orb with gold metal

#43 - Drake Nest: (Scenario #14) Hail told us Jekserah might be here

#63 - Magma Pit: (Scenario #1) Random Side Scenario treasure map

#68 - Toxic Moor:(Scenario #8) Random Side Scenario treasure map

#71 - Sulphur Mine: (Scenario #65) Random Side Scenario treasure map

Peace