Session 51 - Beset on all sides

Joe stormed straight into combat with Enet the werewolf. He landed an almighty blow which would have taken the leg off any ordinary creature but just succeeded in knocking back and stunning her. The hunters ineffectively shot at her and Malice dumped a choking cloud on top. Sam landed telling blows with the snake arrows. Enet charged out of the cloud to be met by Ogolorph but was soon incapacitated by the snake venom. Ogolorph finally killed her with his own magically enhanced arrow and tried to claim the kill as his but agreed to share the kill with Sam.

You ventured into the megaron and found Queen Vania and many people milling around. Queen Vania was happy to see you with the death of the werewolf the first good news she'd had in a long while. She said they'd been under siege from Decius Sunsword and some Aquilonian reinforcements. In addition the gargoyles had returned and slain another hunter.

She offered you 250 gold as a reward for the news you brought of Yalvan but you took the triceratops skull instead.

She introduced you to Bluebird the shaman who told you that he witnessed an attack on the pilgrimage to the Winter Palace. Aegwild the priest of Valar was abducted by cultists of the Snowbat. He tracked them to Orath and tried to free Aegwild but was repulsed by a pair of gargoyles. He then followed the cultists to Rappan Athuk, the gateway of the gods.

He gave you directions to Rappan Athuk. Head east along the Serpent's Tongue River to Orath. Strike out due east until you get to the Mayfly River. Avoid the temple of the serpent folk. Head north along the river to its source. Then look for the hill with no trees. There you find the graveyard and the entrance is the mausoleum. Don't go down the well.

Krogar the priest of Humakt said he'd sacrificed a goat and consulted the stars on hearing this news from Bluebird. The signs say that Aegwild may well be sacrificed on The Night of Terror, which is on the 15th May.

You then mentioned about the lizard men hunting for the heart of Valar in the Shrine of Kupchak and that that Valar's heart being stolen might be the reason for spring not returning.

Malice asked if this was part of a prophecy and Krogar sacrificed another goat and read its entrails. The entrails said that the lizard men were deceptive and after great power. Krogar said the lizard men were not to be trusted and if they desired to see an end to the winter, what they would do with Valar's heart could kill Valar and bring a new god into the world. They feared that the compromise which forbids gods from walking in the mortal realm might be about to broken. The followers of Orcus might be trying to bring him back.