Session #5 – Daring Tale #3 – Curse Of The Spider Cult
[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 5th session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play. The narrator is shown in italics.]
In this hair-raising adventure of Tesla’s Power Corp you can follow the exploits of the following heroes:
- Mike Callahan – Tough private-eye with a zest for life.
- Liam Clark – Heroic world traveler, linguist, and transportation ace.
- Tommy Kelly – Teen thief with a “Robin Hood” complex.
- Miles Ravenwood – Mysterious man-of-means with knowledge in all things arcane.
Temple Of The Spider God
After the midnight assault on the riverboat Captain Santiago is very upset as one of his crewmen has been killed. The Corp assuages his fears by paying him to deliver them to their destination. Reluctantly the Captain accepts the money. Several hours later Captain Santiago informs the Corp that the river is narrowing and that they must continue with the launch. With a bit more river travel Liam informs the group that they must continue on foot. As night falls and rain starts to fall Liam finds a cave that they can use for shelter. Upon investigating the cave the group finds an image carved into the stone walls. The image is that of a strange ziggurat with two spider-like legs emerging from the top.
The next morning the Corp continues to the center of the Spider Cult’s web with Liam giving directions and Mike hacking down the thick undergrowth using his machete. Eventually the group reaches a small clearing with one path leading forward. The path forward is blanketed with webbing! Liam then lights a fire and makes some torches for the group. After he starts down the path burning away the webs spider swarms then huge spiders the size of small dogs start to emerge from the undergrowth behind the party. Thinking quickly Tommy drops his lantern. Mike lights it with a torch chasing back the spiders. While backing down the path Miles lets loose on the large spiders with his confusion spell.
As the group reaches the end of the path the see a rope bridge leading across a deep ravine. The bridge is made of webs instead of ropes! As the group races across giant spiders climb up from underneath! Liam dashes across then turns and begins to shoot spiders off of the bridge. Mike takes up the tail end of the group while kicking a spider off the bridge. As the spiders start to follow Mike picks up Miles and dashes the rest of the way across the bridge. Once across Liam burns the webs sending the bridge falling back across the ravine. Now there is no choice but to proceed.
Once the brush clears the Corp makes out an ancient ziggurat that is covered in vines. At the corners of the ziggurat are burning braziers which produce a purple colored smoke. At each stairwell up the ziggurat stand a pair of ancient Aztec warriors. At the top of the ziggurat is a powerful looking warrior with a huge obsidian axe and a cloak that appears to be made of spiders. The chief appears to be standing next to what could only be a shaman wearing a feathered mask. The shaman is directing two Aztec warriors toward the top of the pyramid. The two warriors are holding the arms of a blonde woman who appears to be drugged. As the Corp nears the warrior declares the strength of the Spider Cult in English then orders the warriors to attack in Spanish. Miles start blasting away with his lightning bolts to devastating effect! Mike lets loose with his rifle. Liam and Tommy rush forward to try and help the captive. One of the warrior knocks over one of the braziers towards Miles! The brazier flares up into a dangerous cone that sears Miles a bit. Tommy then reaches the blond woman and runs towards the far side of the ziggurat with her. The shaman then lets loose a fantastically terrible spider swarm spell on Liam! In a turn of fate the spider spell hits Liam’s compass leaving him without a scratch! In a flash Liam scales the ziggurat and opens fire on the shaman sending him flying off the side of the temple! The next second Miles fells the chief with a well placed lightning blast.
As the leaders fall a giant spider the size of several men emerges from a pit in the center of the ziggurat! As the spider god emerges it skewers two of the Aztec warriors while Mike opens fire. After felling the warriors the spider moves toward Mike and Tommy. Thinking quick Mike knocks over a nearby brazier towards the spider god! In an explosion of flame the spider god reels back! After some ferocious bolts from Miles the charred body of the giant spider god falls down the side of the ziggurat!
With everything in hand the Corp learns that the woman is named Marian Darlington. She was part of the original expedition by Professor Brakespear. Searching around Tommy finds a necklace on the chief that can apparently call a swarm of spiders. On the shaman Miles finds some magical powder than can be mixed with certain oils to produce a massive flame.
Now to return to civilization…
Ancient knights! Fabled treasure! Dastardly enemies! You can find it all in our next Daring Tale Of Adventure!
