Spirit Storm Session Log: Epic Tale #3 – Blue Bellies – Chapter #3
Date At Start Of Game: 05/25/206
[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 4th session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]
Rock Ridge
The PC leave Shatter’s Peak hot on the trail of the mysterious Narduhl. The stick leads the PC into the Mountains Of Lament several days to the northeast. The Mountains Of Lament were formally called the Mountains Of Lamankar after a mountain guide who discovered a very important pass. During the Spirit War the pass was the site of many battles due to its strategic nature. At one particularly bloddy battle a spirit mage casted a spell that made the mountains swollow the opposing army. Although the spell worked the spirits in the region were angered by the cries of the dying soldiers and now wail through the desolate mountain range in protest.
The PC reach the base of the mountain pass at dusk. At the base is a tiny fort ringed by sharpened pine trees. While watching the fort the PC see several scouting parties returning. As the fort looks friendly the PC approach. The gatekeeper is a massive Bear Kin dressed in leather fringe called Marley. Marley heartily welcomes the PC and asks that they rest their gear with his returning scouting parties. After closing the gate he questions the PC. The PC learn that fort is known as Rock Ridge. The residents are locals trying to rebuild after the war. The PC are surprised when Marley recognizes Oren as being in the military and asks the party to leave at first light. Several of the PC respond with their quest to find a pale skinned figure in black that might have come through this way recently. Marley tells the PC to stay as his men report on their daily findings then to ask the entire group at the end.
As Marley prompts the men they begin to report their findings. Their reports center on movement of what they call “Bellies”. Bellies are local Lizard Kin that inhabit the region. These small creatures have tan scales with lighter underbellies. Typically these Bellies are not a problem as they are unorganized, unequiped, and not very bright. Recently things have changed. They are conducting organized raids, have strange armor made of beetles, and have some type of oil weapon that leaves serious burn holes. Two of the scouts report that two of their members have gone missing. The PC learn that a total of 6 men have gone missing over the last month. The two scouts found what appeared to be a battle where the others had been scouting but that they could not find them. Po then briefs the men on the object of their quest. He gives a detailed description, mentions that he has caused many deaths, and then asks the men to let them help as the Bellies might be aligned with the man that they are hunting. Finally he tells the scounts of Rock Ridge his name (aka Narduhl) and several of the men are shocked. Marley says that Narduhl is dead. The PC disagree and Marley says they must speak with their local shaman, Iocane, about the matter.
Iocane is a Mole Kin shaman who provides healing and guidance to the camp. He seems very wise and is not surprised when the PC say that Narduhl is the object of their journey into the Mountains Of Lament. Iocane says that Narduhl worked with him delivering messages between General Buck and himself. Narduhl was a very private man but seemed quite peaceful. After the war Narduhl returned to Rock Ridge wanting to help rebuild. The people of the community did not welcome Narduhl and associated him with the destruction of their land and homes. Their wounds were raw and deep. They stoned Narduhl and threw him out of the keep for dead. Iocane went to check the body the next day but could not find him. He has not told anyone that Narduhl’s body was not found. Iocane also says that Narduhl uses insect spells and can somehow travel undetected even through hostile terrain. Narduhl was a critical messenger during the war. With that the PC speak among themselves about the situation. Oren reasons out that Narduhl could have known about the acorn by reading General Buck’s journal before it was sealed away in the chest. Convinced that the PC are noble Iocane gives Po a healing potion that may help in their quest to find Narduhl.
Exploring The Mountains Of Lament
The next morning the PC venture into the mountains with two guides. They first want to check the battle site where two of the men were lost. They find a tipped over cart and two ashen gray humanoids who are pulling at a body that is trapped under the cart. The creatures are unliving creatures which Po describes as ghouls. Once destroyed by the PC the site is searched. The cart appears to be from a previous raid by Bellies. The body under the cart is that of a merchant. The ghouls are two of the men missing from Rock Ridge. Inside the corpse of the men Po finds a piece of black obsiden that looks like a rude bat or bird carving. Hanging from one side is a piece of leather and some raven feathers. Po takes the trinkets which he feels are part of the spell which was used to cage spirits inside the dead men. After examining the site the PC follow tracks of the Bellies and ghouls back up the mountain. Their guides return to Rock Ridge.
Exploring The Bellies Cave Complex
After searching around the PC find two seams in the rocks which lead into a complex cave structure. The caves are the current home of the Bellies. At this point Bilby sneaks into the cave complex to look around. (Cillian also looks through the walls and sees several light sources and movement but does not inform the party.) There are guards at the entrances with clubs that have glowings red bags that seems to pulse red. They are dressed in cockraoch armor. Behind them is a huge natural cavern with houses raised on stilts. Bilby also finds what appears to be a chieftan in a back room. He has a large two sided club, a fuller set of armor, and a strange silver helm with a large feather that appears like something a knight would wear. In another room near the back of the caverns Bilby overheards a small group of Bellies that appear to be working on potions. Infrequently he hears voices speaking in Ape Man with directions. He guesses it might be Narduhl and Belly shamans. Bilby also finds a pen full of large insects that include beetles with red glowing abdomens. One room contains pit cells that have what appear to be one of the scounts from Rock Ridge that was taken earlier. After a full search Bilby emerges and reports everything to the group. He guesses that there around 15 males and roughly 10 to 15 females and children.
Now what!?!
Date At End Of Game: 06/01/206
