Session 16 – Achy Breaky Heart
Campaign I, session 16. Previous: Session 15. Next: Session 17.
The loot is divided, with Count Roland taking a share of the magic items. The party carts up and readies to trek back to Vedycaer. On the first day, they spotted a gnome sneaking into some kind of hidden roadside encampment on their first day, but agreed to pass by without incident.
On the second day however, they party was stopped at the roadside by a knight in bone-decorated plate armor. Travain recognized him to be one of the Bone Knights of Caernath, and surmised that he might be traveling from the city-state of Korth. As the party came to a halt, the Knight announced that he had archers trained on their position, and that he wanted them to “turn over the Heart.” Travain began rummaging through their cart, while Pash called out requesting payment.
The Bone Knight nodded, and dropped a heavy, jingling sack on the ground in front of him. Some of Meathead’s followers rushed forward to claim it, stopping only when a warning shot landed at their feet. Meanwhile, Travain motioned to Abiyir that he intended to destroy the Heart with one of their newfound magic swords. Alwyn noticed this and, desiring the Heart for himself, attempted to intervene – but fumbled and tripped on his way in. Abiyir’s initial blow against the Heart with a ball-and-chain had little to no effect, but Travain struck true with a cobra-hilted sword, prying the Heart’s three crystal pieces from each other and pierced the still-beating flesh beneath.
In moments, miasma seeped out and clawed at those closest, transmogrifying Travain into one of the abominable proto-shoggoths they had fought inside the dome. Alwyn’s bones took on a rubbery consistency (-1 CON, +1 DEX, Contortionism proficiency), while Abiyir’s skin turned to crystal (+3 AC, considered to be stone rather than flesh for purposes of attacks and spells, max movement halved, -2 saves versus sonic attacks, and -4 to all reaction rolls).
With the destruction of the Heart, the Bone Knights and his companions seemed stunned at first. They then began shouting about not having clear shots, delaying their fire. The PCs conjured some berserkers between themselves and these ambushers, while swiftly dispatching Travain’s new form. The ambushers began shooting at the berserkers (in what they now felt was self-defense), and one of the kobolds shouted “no mercy” and began to rush Calgronen (the Bone Knight leader).
It was a long fight, with Calgronen attempting to call truce when it seemed he and his retinue would not be allowed to retreat. After a long, hard fight, the PCs won the day, though at some cost – Travain of course was beyond recovery, several kobolds bled out (and others have nasty wounds), and both of Singil’s legs have been lamed.
In the aftermath, Abiyir tends to the wounded foes (several died), but was distracted by Ardingle and Thranator while one of the dying kobolds achieved his dying wish to “cut the throat of the one that got me!”
The session ends with the PCs taking several prisoners, and unsure how many of their kobolds will survive the night.