A5 – Damn Annoying Elf

Kruger’s Converts…or is that Convicts? 

Recent shipmate hires: Johan (short & hairy) & Luxus (carries a lute & sings). They were put in charge of the boat anchored in the bay as the group walked inland towards the Stellar Pyramids. Koro found the trail of plants trampled by the passing Orc. The sound of crashing announced a large Razordon spiny lizard: most hid while Ranulf climbed a tree where he used his Animal Affinity to calm the beast that became attracted to the others’ movements. Fortunately, it harmlessly continued on its way. 

5 Stellar pyramids rose before us… more like monoliths arranged in a constellation pattern that Lemmy recognized as foci of magical lay-lines. Leaning against one monolith was an emaciated porter suffering from blood-rot per both broken legs. Abandoned by lizardmen who took his wizard master 2-weeks ago. Before Dargo put him out of his misery, he described Orc tracks to the west. We ignored those tracks and headed north following the lizardmen. It was a long arduous trek thru swamp and low-lying plants that caused some of us to develop swamp-foot: a festering necrotic rot that if not treated could lead to gangrene and amputation. 

Camp was miserable for those infected. The next day we came upon a ziggurat where 20 skink and 10 lizardmen gathered. Perched off the 2nd level was a gibbet that held a dead man whose intestine dangled as crows feasted. Lemmy focused on his colorful robes and a satchel that held a book: this was the rumored (#4) wizard who journeyed to study the magical energy! The rest of us were more focused on the other human begging for his life as a lizard Priest of Zotec cut his chest open, pulled out his heart, and took a bite! Koro and Ranulf understood the priestly Saurian chants and speech as he proclaimed Slawn had led the lizardmen wrong and it was their duty to cleanse Lustria of man. 

Reason won out as we waited for the ritual to end and as expected, most of the lizardmen left to return to the Stellar Pyramids. Even 3 skink and 2 large lizardmen were more than a match for our party, but Lemmy wanted that book! As the others readied their slings and spells, Ranulf snuck away to call out in Saurian in pretense of being the lizard priest wounded and in need of help. He got more than he expected as the lizardmen answered his call! The others dealt with the lowly skinks before intercepting the lizardmen bearing down on the weakling Interpreter Ranulf. 

Armor and thick hide made hurting the lizardmen difficult. Thus, one was able to critically wound Ranulf: major wounds and 3 bleed! At least Kruger was able to prayerfully staunch one bleed condition as Ranulf fled from the lizardman toward his allies. The lizardman chose Tulkir as his target: while the Norscan Soldier was bit in the leg, he dealt a critical hit to the lizard’s crotch thus stunning (3) him. That made for an easy kill thus allowing others to quickly bandage Ranulf and stop the bleeding. But it wouldn’t take much to reopen the wounds; Ranulf needed surgery! 

The elf Urial was displeased with the group’s decision to return to the boat and Steggi to tend to the wounded, “We’re so close to the Orc and my armor. He’s but a lowly human.” Tulkir had enough of the pompous elf and struck him from the rear. Dargo also swung to stun the elf, but Tulkir wasn’t playing around: he coup de grâce the elf! At least the elf had the promised pay on his body as we collected his 100 gold. Kruger took his longbow although he didn’t know how to use it…yet. Kruger gave his regular bow to Koro. Lemmy was more interested in the gibbeted wizard: he collected the spellbook and another 45 gold. Inside the ziggurat temple, we gazed upon murals dedicated to Zotec. But the large/heavy golden disk caught our eyes. Dargo and Rufus carried the heavy treasure on the returned to the boat. It was a slow trek back to the boat but at least the trench foot (swamp rot) abated. 

Back in Skeggi, we found a surgeon to heal Ranulf. Heal? It was more blood-letting as the doctor hoped to stitch the wounds before his patient bleed out! Which might explain why Ranulf immediately invested in armor once he was released from the hospital. 

ENDEAVERS 

Kruger & Ranulf trained (Engineering) for the cannons added to their boat. During that time, Ranulf (Latest News) learned that the ruler of the City of Bechasen was bragging about a broken magical sword he’d found. How he was willing to part with it if someone would do him a favor. 

Lemmy studied in the library and his new book as he transposed ne spells into his own spellbook. 

Koro tracked down an alchemist to craft special sling bullets. 

What did everyone else do? 

NEXT SESSION: A6-Shut It or I’ll Break your Hip!

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