Previous: Tragedy
Kaorti Cyst (Session #5)
See Cyst map for game info.
The group waited quietly outside the cave entrance for a while, then decided to enter en masse. They entered through the hanging strips as quietly as possible. Just beyond the strips, the the entire surface of the walls, ceilings, and floors were completely covered with a substance similar to the strips. As soon as they were through the strips a wave of nauseating energy enveloped the group. They were able to fight the feeling and continue on. Approximately 10 feet after the end of the strips, the corridor sloped sharply down. The group had to descend slowly so as not to tumble to the bottom. They made it 40 feet down the corridor before they spotted and were spotted by a kaorti who came around the corner at the bottom of the ramp.
The first kaorti instantly yelled for help and shot Blaine with a sparkling ray. Blaine shrugged off any effect that was intended. Kruenor rushed down the corridor and tripped over an irregular protrusion on the floor. He fell 10 feet down the ramp before stopping himself. A second kaorti rounded the corner and released a cone of bright, shifting colors. The color spray stripped both Kyle and Kruenor of their sight temporarily. Gaelen and Rory attacked the kaorti with ranged attacks while Blaine closed to melee range. Kyle and Kruenor stayed where they were since they would only get in the way in combat. The group was able to defeat the group of three kaorti quickly. When the sound of the battle died down, the group heard growls coming from farther along the corridor. A creature that resembled a bear that had been turned inside out turned the corner, rushing at the heroes. Since they were prepared, the group quickly destroyed the tainted animal.
They continued along the corridor until it opened into a large cavern with another corridor leading away in the southwest corner. In the southern area of the room, the character saw a kaorti reaching into the wall, remove a weapon, and advance. In the northwestern area of the cavern there were two prone humanoid forms with two kaorti crouching over them with their jaws clamped on the prone humanoids' necks. Kruenor and Rory advanced and Gaelen fired his bow toward the kaorti to the south while the paladins rushed toward the kaorti accosting the humanoids. Both battles were very quick, but when the sound died down they heard a sound from the corridor.
A kaorti dressed in breastplate entered from the corridor. He released a color spray then waded into battle. Although this kaorti was more puissant than his companions, he was defeated all the same. Afterward the group split up and searched the area. In the south they found that there were translucent membranes covering storage nooks. They found a couple of potions within.
The paladins attempted to help the humanoids. When they examined the humanoids closely, they saw that the people (probably from Tourlin) were undergoing some sort of transformation. Kyle attempted to call to his god for aid to heal the unfortunates, and although the healing magic helped heal some of the wounds it didn't reverse the transformation. As soon as Kyle's healing magic passed into the incoherent "creature" it began screaming and thrashing about. It was obvious that these being were more kaorti than human and Kyle and Blaine put them out of their misery. Then they made their way toward the rest of the party when the group was attacked.
Rory fell to the group asleep, obviously overcome by some sort of magic. Then, from somewhere in the darkness in the north end of the cavern a gray ball of magic streaked towards Gaelen, Blaine, and the now sleeping Rory. Blaine, although within the radius of the sticky web, was able to get away from it, but Gaelen (and, of course, Rory) were held fast. Kruenor, Kyle, and Blaine rushed to the north. Kruenor was the first to see the kaorti wizard and he got a magic missile for his trouble. The wizard then scaled the wall like some sort of insect and Kruenor fired a bolt at him. Kruenor missed and the kaorti quickly climbed out of reach. When it was out of reach it cast another spell, the one a shield to protect him from the missiles firing from the companions. The kaorti then escaped through a small passage high in the ceiling above.
The group, disappointed that they were unable to kill the apparent leader of this kaorti cyst, searched the north wall until they found a piece of the resin covering a crudely made stone door. They opened the door and were assailed by an acrid smell. The room at the end of the corridor held a small laboratory and there were several strips of resin hanging from the ceiling with some sort of writing on them. On the north was there was six more of the translucent membranes that covered storage.
Rory started with the first membrane, sticking his arm through to feel around for loot, when something went horribly wrong. As soon as he stuck his hand through the membrane, something grabbed his arm and pulled with irresistible force. Rory had passed out from the sudden pain. When he saw Rory go limp, Kyle tried to pull Rory away from the membrane but quickly realized that to pull him away would be to rip his arm off. When he let go, Rory's arm was released by the membrane and Rory fell to the ground. His arm had been removed and replaced by a red-skinned arm with a clawed hand. When he awoke, he was able to use the arm as if it were the arm he was born with.
When they were searching they found a stone that had been knocked off of a pedestal in the main cavern. The stone was giving off the energy that had sickened them when they entered the cave. Not wanting to leave the stone where it lay or carry the unknown stone into the city, they decided to send two of the group back to Xraxus to try and find some help with the stone. Rory and Blaine rode hard to the city then Rory went to Allister Camesi and Blaine went to the church.
At the church, Blaine approached Teron Herdrich, a mid-level functionary, to see if he knew anything about what the stone was. Teron sent a young cleric named Harvey Belanger with Blaine to cast some divination spells to determine some information about the stone.
Rory went to Allister Camesi's house. The sage gave Rory a lead box to put the stone in, figuring that the lead should block the energies from escaping. Allister told him to bring the stone to him and he will research it to find out what the stone was and if it will pose any sort of long term threat.
Rory and Blaine rode back to their friends. When they got there, Harvey cast some divinations on the stone which came up inconclusive, so they put the stone in the box. The feeling stopped as soon as they closed the lid. They returned to Allister and gave him the stone.
In the time since Rory got the fiendish arm, he realized that people had begun treating him differently. He found out that there was some sort of taint in the arm and periodically it would make him do something that he wouldn't want to do. The paladins took him to Solomon Orin to try and see if they could get the arm removed. Solomon told them that it is possible, but the necessary spell is beyond his ability, however, if the group could find Ibrahim Jarel he could help Rory. He explained that Ibrahim, the high priest of the church of Arthom in Xraxus had traveled to a city in the mountains known as Suldath.
The group began readying themselves for their long journey.