Session 23 2013-12-09

1500XP each making 69688XP Total for each Party Member - Level 9 (next level 71,000)

1 Hero Point awarded to Kul'theras for roleplaying his disabled character with good humour and patience.

Excavating The Dragon

We left the last session with Tharin telling Pelastour "Fuck off." Pelastour responds almost to himself, incredulous that after all this time he has trusted the wrong people with his legacy. Tharin tells Pelastour that he hardly has the high moral ground with all the lies he has told, to which Pelastour responds that he lied once only to buy himself extra time. Tharin states that once is all it takes. Pelastour looks stricken, muttering to himself "I've made a terrible mistake." as he disappears.

Tharin remembers the other things he left at the bottom of the Oubliette and instructs the Terraken to remain still, tearing past the Hand of Kali in the form of a Water Elemental. Hand of Kali asks what he's doing. Tharin says he left some things in the Oubliette and assures her that the Terraken won't misbehave.

Tharin returns and gives the Hand of Kali a Cloak of the Manta Ray and they swim up the lower canal. Tharin has the Terraken start digging its way through the tunnel blockage as he and Hand of Kali discuss the idea of keeping the Terraken.

Exploring The Lion

Magni and Landra discuss the possible locations Poltur could still be in, they check the lock doors at the bottom of the Lower Canal and Magni begins to understand the mechanism, realizing that opening those doors would lead to a Bad Time. During this time Kul'theras and Wyrick make their way to the mouth of The Lion and find the water level rising rapidly. Kul'theras heals each of them somewhat with his wand and sends Wyrick to find the others.

Magni is suggesting going back to find Tharin and Hand of Kali as Wyrick arrives and tells them about the rising water. Landra decides it is time for them to try to get out. Boarding the boat they came in, they realize that the mast is likely to catch on the roof of the cave mouth and so Magni heaves Bloodseeker, felling it with two strikes of the greatsword. Despite the water flowing into the cave mouth Magni and Landra are making good progress heaving at the oars, but just as they think they might escape the cave mouth the boat lists ponderously to one side, rolling over and over as it is pushed back into the cavern. Landra and Wyrick grab Kul'theras and the entire group swim underwater against the powerful current. It takes a full minute before they are confident to surface in the choppy waters of Chimera Cove, looking around to get their bearings, and striking out for the long swim to one of the smaller islands.

Wreck It Ralph

The Hand of Kali and Tharin have moved around to the landing near the steel doors and are chatting as they float in the rising water waiting for the Terraken to claw its way through the rubble blocking the Lower Canal to this side, when Pelastour appears. He entreats them to "Put the damn thing back where you found it", and is taken aback by Tharin's apparent determination to take it out. He tells "You two aren't exactly strong thinkers, are you? This thing was created by powerful people, I had to dedicate my life to imprisoning it where they couldn't find it, don't you think they'll come looking for you once you're out there in the world?", to which Tharin suggests that maybe they are more capable than he was.

Pelastour mutters something about life giving him lemons, and Tharin addresses him "One more thing before we go-" just as the Terraken begins to emerge from the rubble with a crash of tumbling rock. The ghost begins to turn as if startled by the sound but disappears mid-turn, and Tharin's attempts to elicit a response are met with silence.

The Hand of Kali and Tharin make their way to the end of the Lower Canal, the water level rising even more rapidly now. Tharin directs the Terraken to destroy the lock doors and is swept off the beast (but unharmed) as a torrent of water escapes, bringing the Silver Reign with it and eliciting screams of rage from its mysterious occupant. The Hand of Kali is similarly unharmed and is even able to maintain her position by clinging to the shell of the Terraken. Tharin directs the beast to destroy the Silver Reign and within minutes the ship is torn open, some debris drifting to settle to the floor of the canal with more buoyand sections rapidly rising to bob on the surface which is fast-approaching the level of the high dock which the vessel previously occupied. The two companions ride the Terraken up through the lock and smash their way through the doors they find there, soon emerging into the late-afternoon sun.

Meet The Locals

Magni, Landra & Wyrick spot the Terraken as it emerges from the cavern but do not initially spot Tharin and the Hand of Kali riding it. They re-double their efforts to make progress on their swim through the choppy water of the cove with a rope strung between each of them and Kul'theras. Tharin directs the Terraken to head in their direction and as soon as he recognises Magni he casts Message and tells him to "Meet Ralph" and that he would not appreciate any interaction between Bloodseeker and the beast.

On catching up to the swimmers, Tharin explains his control of the Terraken via the amulet and sets the creature standing in the middle of the island while he and the others retreat to a distance of about 150'. He levitates up another 60' while observing the creature, trying to get an idea of the range on his control but it does not appear to change behaviour until he rescinds control completely and removes the amulet. When he does this, the creature begins to turn its head, and on spotting the village turns and starts to make its way in that direction. Tharin immediately dons the amulet again and instructs the creature to remain still.

On landing, Tharin asks "Did you all see that?", which is rather insensitive to Kul'theras' blindness. He explains that, essentially, he just wanted the Terraken. He throws around the idea of keeping it, or selling it to the highest bidder. Landra agrees that it needed to be moved from the Oubliette as Polture may return for it, but calls it an abomination and doesn't think they should keep it. Magni shares her concerns.

Tharin mentions what Pelastour said about Chelaxian interests in the creature. It is raised that they might head to Diamondgate to seek advice as they need to go there anyway and it was once a crucial point of resistance against Chelaxian invasions. It is also suggested that they offer to sell the creature to Sever Oeaga Treandra in Madrill. Landra suggests asking the Elders of the village about it, and while Tharin feels it will be a waste of time, Magni agrees.

Landra correctly anticipates the Elders will not be pleased.

It is agreed that Tharin and Hand of Kali stay with the Terraken while the others head to the village. Before they go, Landra asks Hand of Kali "You believe it will be useful, don't you?". The Hand of Kali admits she'd like to keep it, saying something about unstoppable death machines being useful in securing offerrings to Kali. Tharin suggests they can buy other unstoppable death machines more suited to them with the funds they would get from the sale of this one.

On arriving at the village, they find the villagers gathered behind Targas on the road leading in, armed with what weapons they have and clearly terrified. One of their elders steps forward, furious at the refusal by The Hunted to return the creature to its prison, only to be cowed by Magni's intimidating glare. He is mumbling about having failed his ancestors and resigned to The Hunted doing what they will when Kul'theras jokes about needing to feed the Terraken. The entire assembled crowd takes two steps backwards in fear with the exception of Targas who transforms into a half-man, half-bear hybrid and plants himself in front of the cowering villagers, brandishing his great axe protectively and roaring his defiance.

The Hunted return to the Terraken and it is suggested that they should head to Madrill and talk to the Magistrate. Tharin is miffed to hear the villagers are upset and says he's going to go give them a talking to, but stands down when Landra insists. Kul'theras suggests that when they meet with the magistrate, one of them should stay away with the amulet, removing the option to take it by force.

When the Hand of Kali suggests keeping it, it opens up a debate about whether the Terraken is considered the property of Tharin or the party. When Landra argues that Tharin would be unable to control the creature without the amulet, Tharin suggests maybe he should get it permenantly attached. They discuss what would happen if they lost control of it and it is agreed it would be a bad time.

Landra feels no-one is in an appropriate position to control this thing, which raises the ire of the Hand of Kali who says "Yet you would sell it to the government."

Landra: I never agreed to sell it to anyone, I merely entertained your suggestions.

Kul'theras: It does seem that a government would be a safer option, with no one man or woman in control of it.

Landra: I do think our next course of action is to return to the ship, and then to Madrill, with the Terraken.

Tharin muses: Once we see some authority, the attention we receive from prospective buyers will increase.

Landra: We have more pressing personal issues than the sale of this thing.

Tharin: Such as?

Landra: Assault by shadowy death monsters.

Tharin: I have an idea on that actually. The Terraken could make short work of them.

Magni: Our best lead is in Diamondgate. If you get too far away from it, we might lose control of it. We need to have someone control it. Essentailly, we have a disagreement, some feel it should be sold, some kept by responsible parties, some want to keep it.

Tharin muses about what would happen if they had a mindless Undead wear the amulet, allowing them to hide it away. Which gives Kul'theras the idea of having the Hand of Kali wear the amulet to see if a construct is able to pilot it.

The Hand of Kali looks at Tharin and raises an eyebrow...

WILL THARIN GIVE THE AMULET TO THE HAND OF KALI? WILL THE HUNTED BEGIN TO FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES? TUNE IN NEXT TIME TO FIND OUT, SAME HUNTED-TIME, SAME HUNTED-CHANNEL!