Jekserah was finally dead. Finally. For some reason we did not think we were done with her machinations however. The looming dread of her last words haunted our thoughts. Even our newest companion Dr. Vendillion seemed to be troubled.
Tabbax spent some time training with her new axe Skullbane to get used to the heft and balance. Cymbidium buried her nose in some tombs. Groot spent most of his time in the Sleeping Lion. Dr. Vendillion well - tinkered. We all had our own ways of dealing with the darkness we had witnessed.
It was decided over dinner and drinks that perhaps a visit to Hail to discuss that Rift we heard about..
On the way we saw a lone man walking toward us on the road (Road Event #08).
"Oi there. I wouldn't suppose you lot might spare me some coin?" He asked. "A lotta coin actually."
I looked at him quizzically and he continued. "You see, I lead a lotta thieves and bandits in this area and we gotta make sure all the mouths get fed."
At this, a large number of bandits came out of hiding around us, emerging from the brushes.
"So, about that coin..." The man says with a smile "Five Gold per head ought to do it."
Groot was in no mood for extortion and raised his weapon. Unphased by the ambush we attacked the bandits. The leader tried to flee from Groot - but not fast enough. There were a lot of bandits, but they sure didn't put up much of a fight. They seemed weak and malnourished. (Start Scenario with 3 damage).
"You want to do what now?" Hail stared at us blankly. "You found a rift and you want to close it?". She sighs.
"Well, I did agree to help you." Hail begins tossing the orb we retrieved up and down in thought. "Okay, based upon your description, it's going to take a little extra work to close a rift of that magnitude. I could do it myself, but it would take a while, and it may get troublesome if we were attached by the other side in the middle of the incantation. It would be easier to do if I had an elemental censer, which really, is entirely too convenient because I've been wanting to get my hands on one anyways."
"I knew a powerful elementalist who owned one many years ago. He's dead now, but I'll take you to his crypt. I'd advise against handling the censer on your won."
After a days journey, we found another ancient mausoleum resting along the Serpent's Kiss river.
"Stonebreaker really was a nice fellow. Getting crushed by a massive boulder is just one of the hazards of being an elementalist thought.". After clearing away some of the overgrown vines, we headed down into the crypt.
"Oh Great!" Hail says "These blasted cultists are everywhere nowadays. Probably looking for the censer too. Or they simply don't want to to get it."
I looked at hail with confusion, and she pointed to the shadows where dark figures in black robes emerge.
"You should not have come here, Ghostface" one of them says.
"Ugh" Hail Sighs. "Dispatch these simpletons quickly. I'm already bored with them".
Tabbax seemed to have a thirst for blood because she went deep into the shadows and started wielding her new axe with abandon. The cultists replied though muttering Curses (Scenario: Add 3 Curse Cards to attack decks.)
Those damned Cultists kept summoning Living Bones to hamper our progress. Cymbidium leveled a few with some of her purifying fires. Groot managed to charge right in smashing and bashing. Dr. Vendilion seemed to have some trouble with some of his equipment initially, but sorted out the issues pretty quickly when a Living Bones almost skewered him to death. He was also trying to protect Hail.
Cymbidium was going wild with her spells and decided to keep opening doors. She does have some unusually aggressive battle tactics for an Orchid Spellweaver on occasion. Groot was hot behind her though and charged into the midst of 5 Living Bones. He loved it. Hail was in trouble though because a couple of the Living Bones we already dispatched had risen from the dead to continue the fight.
Cymbidium again decided to recklessly charge deeper into the crypt, opening more doors - what was she thinking?!? It was hard to wipe the grin off Groot's face at this time, he was in his element. More undead were spawning behind us threatening Hail, but they were slow enough and Tabbax and Dr. Vendillion were keeping them under control.
Tabbax and the Dr. were batting clean up in the rear with Hail trundling along. The Dr. opened up with a flamethrower and roasted 2 Living Spirits - who knew they were so flammable?
Cymbidium managed to get herself surrounded by a few Living Corpses when her reckless luck ran out - and ended up on the floor after a severe smash to the head. Groot stepped up and stood over her unconscious form trying to protect her from further damage, but she was out cold. Groot took out 3 Living Bones in quick succession.
The good Dr. Vendilion had more tricks in his belt and Ink Bombed 2 more enemies out of the fight. Tabbax finished the fight by taking out three Living Corpses in one turn.
Finally Hail stepped forward and grabbed hold of the censer. She lifted it aloft and started chanting a few words in an unknown language. Fire burst forth and immolated the remaining undead behind us into ash.
Hail breaks the smallest of smiles. "Well, now that that annoyance has been dealt with, let's get on with the real fun. Show me to this rift of yours." (Map Location: Runious Rift #27) (Party Achievement: Stone Breaker's Censer) (Reward: +1 Prosperity)
We decided the Rift can wait another day, we were pretty beat up and needed to resupply back in Gloomhaven. We agreed to hook up with Hail in a day or two.
As soon as we entered the city gates we encountered a pair of guards scuffling with a young boy. "Stop Struggling! You're coming with us and there is nothing you can do about it." The young boy was dressed in rags. "You snatch purses, you go to the Ghost Fortress. No way around that."
"But my family is starving" the boy cried. We recognized his voice from some of our dealings in the Sunken market. He's given us helpful tips for mercenary work on a number of occasions.
We stepped up and tried to intervene on the boy's behalf. Unfortunately, the guards were initially unmoved and claimed there was a find to be paid before they agreed to let the boy go. (Lose 10 collective Gold.) The guards cuffed the boy's ear and set him free. (Add City Event #70 to the deck)
Tabbax seemed unusually contented in the Sleeping Lion afterwards. She seemed to open up to us and told us a little of her life's story. She had decided she had had her fill of undead for a while and wanted to spend some time in other areas of Gloomhaven. (Personal Goal: Tabbax: Implement of Light - Find Skullbane Axe, kill 7 undead)
With those words, she tossed some coin on the table "Last meal's on me my friends. Stay true and good hunting.", turned and walked out the door.
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
#27 - Runious Rift (Scenario 19) Hail agreed to help us seal off a Rift
#28 - Outer Ritual Chamber: (Scenario #20) 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
