What an odd sensation. I’m not sure where I am and I can’t see anything, but can sense that I’m moving at a great speed – and my friends! I can hear them as though I’m standing next to them, but they’re nowhere to be found! (was driving home, talking to everyone over Discord through the car bluetooth system)
*pop* Ahhh, reality, that’s better.
Or not! We’re fighting a bunch of lobotomites – those red-faced half-skulled aberrations! Right in front of me is an injured ratfolk, Claw. He’s in real bad shape, and is closest, so I heal him up as much as I can. The group dispatches the remainder of the abominations, and after healing everyone, I take a look around. It’s an odd room and the walls are lined with these large cylindrical tanks, and one of them isn’t empty. It’s been closed with rope, and there’s a figure inside. With everyone healed up, we decide to open it. A ratfolk in very bad shape tumbles out – Whiskerfits.
The other ratfolk close on him, and I remember what Redtooth said – that he only wanted parts of his brother to be brought back. I must intervene though, and I ask them to not kill him. One (Claw, I think) speaks to the others, and when done, they all just look at me. I tell them that we all need to live, and Whiskerfits may have information that will help with that. Besides, Redtooth didn’t specify WHEN to kill him, and that could always kill him later after he’s been of use. Of course, I don’t want for this to happen, but sometimes buying time is good enough. They seem to agree.
With his newly bought time, Whiskerfits tells us what happened. According to him, it turns out that he was kidnapped 3 nights ago, he didn’t “defect”. As far as I can tell (and I rolled quite high), he’s telling the truth. It’s about this time that Mr. Preston, Esq., who also believes Whiskerfits, tries to intimidate the other ratfolk into not killing Whiskerfits. His lack of intimidation was so severe that it could only be interpreted as a purposeful joke (Curry rolled a 1), thus enamoring us a bit more with these little furry fellows. Claw thought it was hilarious.
We don’t have a lot of time to pal around though, as we’re closed on by more abominations! These aren’t lobotomites though – after a round or two I recognize that they’re UNDEAD! And their mistress, Marrow, a hobgoblin necromancer, is watching and urging her creations on from the next room!
I cannot abide by this. Sarenrae will not have it! I move a step closer, and let loose a blast of Channel Positive Energy. But instead of healing my comrades, I turn it against those undead. Six of the rust-risen (an unholy combination of technology and corpse) and zombies fall, for good. All that remains is our party, and her. I take a moment to just stare her down, grinning, and say “Sarenrae’s blessing be upon you. Bitch.”
Marrow, realizing that all is lost, drops to her knees and offers information on the Lords of Rust. What’s odd is that she asks not for her life, but for her death. In exchange for information, we agree to not only kill her, but burn her body. She seems to have a strong fear of poetic justice – she doesn’t want to be brought back by another Necromancer and turned into a rust-risen.
Marrow tells us of a secret tunnel in this room – a door that leads outside of Scrapwall. She also tells us of some alien undead that are lurking about Scrapwall – they are probably crew of the ship that crashed long, long ago.
Vayu tries to put her out of her misery by snapping her neck, but oddly cannot do so. So, I pray to Sarenrae to allow her grace to take her – but there’s nothing. Mr. Preston shoots an arrow through her eye, and as she’s dying, the other eye flicks open and she begins screaming – the arrow must be painful enough, but she’s been enveloped in a bright light – Sarenrae is cleansing her soul. As promised, we take her body out front to burn it.
On her, we find: 2x cure moderate (1 to Preston, 1 to Aakpesh), 3x wands (I carry them), 2 gas grenades (Jacques), 4 doses of soothe (Preston), a dagger, a cloak (magical), and 48g (14g ea).
In her room in a cabinet, we find: 7 batteries, 22 silverdiscs, a pouch with 12 fire opals (100g ea), 3 large garnets (300g ea), 14 vials of soothe, 3 gas grenades, and 4 scrolls. In one corner is Whiskerfits gear, and a book (perhaps it’s a spellbook in ratscratch? Whiskerfits hasn’t been fully cleared yet, so I pocket it). He quickly paws through gear. “Where’s the book? Where is it?” I ask what’s special about it, and he replies: “you wouldn’t understand.”
Session Date: 06/16. Session XP: 1750 Song: Opeth – Marrow of the Earth
