Hunt for the Thessalhydra
Dusk Tiamats Day 10.2.2215 A monster terrorized the Oakhurst River Market a few days back. There were several fatalities. Reports of the attack vary wildly, an enormous crocodile, a pack of marine owlbears, cultists from the ruins of Morlun across the river, and even a monster with seven snake heads chief is calling the Thessalhydra.
Chief Vurnor's Hall Breakfast Mitra's Day 11.2.2215 A monster is terrible for business. And with the great moot only a few months away, chief Vurnor is taking no chances. The Chief and the Huc's have clubbed together to offer a reward of 1000gp for all of the heads involved.
A band of Lomari warriors has also agreed to help. They will search the ruins of Morlun on the river's western bank while you return east to the sunken citadel at the edge of the Earthreach Caverns.
The Chief believes the beast came from the citadel and because your such good pals he's giving you first crack at it. He hasn't mentioned this to the Lomari - First Spear Felosial found tracks of a huge creature around the switchback stairs that lead down to the subterranean fortress.
Session 1
PC: Alibongus, Banner, Peren & Snout
Interviews with the witnesses:
- Timbo the Lomari River Trader "I have read about these monsters, seven heads, each with a different breath weapon, fire, ice, lightning, acid, poison. My business partner died in the attack. We were unloading the canoe, and I had my back to her as I carried carrying goods up to the market. When she screamed, I turned and saw her frozen in fear. To my shame, I fled."
- Ammur Hunter - Yar "Marine owlbears, I tell you, huge things with white feathers and claws, and teeth. They come in the spring when the river rises. There was an attack when I was a lad. Cant fly no no no, that's why they swim. Don't look em in the eye. They'll dead yer."
- Kerowyn Huc - River Market Boss "I did not see the beast. It attacked the lower market, which floods at this time of year. The snows on the Serex melt and the river rises. I have plans to build a floating dock that will prevent flooding and allow the area to be used for trade all year round. Increasing commerce will increase revenue. Three people died, and that isn't good for business. The Lomari on the flooded dock and two hunters from the musk ox hunt bringing the catch back from the west bank."
- Rurik - One Eye "Baah, everyone knows monsters hate fire. I heard it's a roar and ran toward the danger, but as soon as I appeared with a torch, the beast fled. What are you doing tonight, Miss Peren, there is a bard in town, and she's playing at the Ole Boar Inn if you fancy it, Miss Peren?"
Investigations Oakhurst (and surrounds):
- At the river market, the purse of one of the victims - frozen solid.
Morning 11.2.2215 Hike north along the Old River Road to the great rift in the earth & the Citadel.
- Midday On the old road, the remains of a Thulean Oxen. The disemboweled beast has had the flesh torn from it savagely. You found white fur from a huge monstrosity in the grass nearby.
- Twilight/Dusk At the top of the switchback stairs, the ropes descending are covered in frost.
Evening 7.00 PM Party takes a short rest & Alibongus uses arcane recovery.
+ 500 XP Each
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| Upper Citadel |
Session 2
7 PM 11.2.2215 Oh Rats!
PC: Alibongus, Banner, Peren & Snout
XP 500 each
After resting, you burn out a nest of diseased giant rats. Taking your time picking through the filth, you uncovered small treasures and an adventurer's corpse, which Alibongus animates as Ruprecht, his zombie valet. From there, you tracked west across the northern Citadel, coming upon another entrance to the beastmen's lair you raided a few days ago. Having got your bearings, you headed straight for the pulsing shaft and clambered down the dry roots to the level below.
You explored the southwest of the lower level, discovering a rift that splits this part of the Citadel in two. It appears to have been created by an earthquake. A small shrine cut is off by the rift. Untouched by the beastmen squatters or the outcast Belak, the shrine holds a dragon statue constructed from a strange metal that has survived the millennia. The statue radiates conjuration magic. Filling a tray in the dragon's mouth with a fire snake's blood, you conjure a dragon-shaped key also made from the mystery metal. You retrace your steps to the chamber beneath the root covered pulsing shaft and head north into caves where you are set upon by troglodytes. The Troglodytes have come from northern tunnels that lead deeper into the fabled Earthreach Caverns, the deepest cave system in Thule. You determine the tunnels are too small for a huge monster and return to the Citadel to pick up the trail.
Below the pulsing shaft (is it me or do you guys like spending a lot of time looking up into this ruined old hole?), you pick up another monster's trail -Banner's rampage through Belak's laboratories. However, Peren points out that there are no bodies left, only gnawed fleshless bones, perhaps you have picked up the river market monster after all. The bloody trail leads back to a sunken chamber with the huge circular metal contraption with indented draconic runes in the metal rim. Some of the indented runes are covered in blood.
Alibongus recounts a story of a Nesskian wizard who built these contraptions millennia ago for transportation. "Skelos the Necromancer built these teleporters thousands of years ago before the elves drove the snake people off Thule. It was my ancestor's life's wor
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| Alibongus |
k to discover Skelo's lost treasure. But having discovered one such portal three hundred years ago, he disappeared."
Exploring the surrounding area you find a shadowy wing above the 'teleportation chamber,' there is an inscription on a metallic plate beneath yet another dragon statue. The inscription reads, "Let the sorcerous power. illuminate my spirit." The wind that constantly whistles through Citadel rustles scraps of parchment in what looks like an old library to the north.
Session 3
830 PM 11.2.2215
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