Adventure 07 - Summit Cavern

2016-11-10

5th month (The Beast), days 12 through 19

The group went to explore Summit Cavern, a cave just three days east of the city-state of Aedok. Summit Cavern is a natural cave which existed for a long time before being sealed off by landslides. In recent years, erosion has opened the cave yet again.

The PCs arrived and started to search through the caves. About 20 minutes into their expedition, they found a large opening and were set upon by a group of Dark Creepers. After a short fight, they gathered up their loot and continued on.

In the southern cavern, they found a patch of Thallus Brume, an underground moss which emits a small purple mist. This patch of Thallus Brume was large enough that the resulting mist was toxic to breathe. The PCs decided to hold their breath as they entered the cavern. While passing through, they encountered a Myceloid, who was unaffected by the mist. The Myceloid fought with the PCs and infected two of them with Purple Pox, a disease which reduces the PC's Wisdom and Constitution. Melir was able to remove the effects on Cain, but Ryoma had to suffer the effects for the rest of the adventure.

After moving through the southern cavern, they reached the western cavern. Halfway through it, Pannan noticed a patch of Fulgurate Mushrooms. They attempted to sneak passed it while Mordin attempted to burn them out using his torch. Unfortunately, this triggered the electrical blast which hit himself and Cain (Pannan was able to avoid the damage). This also alerted the Cave Troll which was in the area. After a few rounds of combat, the troll was brought down and Cain finished him off by burning his body.

Once the PCs reached the northern cavern, they discovered the alchemist lab. After springing the trap which protected it, Pannan and Cain searched the lab while the warriors continued through the cave. Two snake swarms attacked them. The snakes did their damaged, and even poisoned each of the fighter's at one point during the combat, but eventually, the snakes were dispersed.

The alchemy table had a riddle which implied that a mixture left there could grant visions of the future. The PCs successfully determined which ingredients were needed to create the mixture. The visions they saw are listed as follows:

1 - Mordin saw a vision of a black forest with a ghostly shape sweeping back and forth among the trees. The shape splits apart until three distinct ghostly images of women were seen. The ghostly mists look directly at Mordin and fly toward him. Before they reach him, each of the ghosts disappear, crying in pain.

2 - Cain saw a vision of a large flat land and an empty sky. He saw to men walking and talking together. As they approached, they became argumentative, then violent toward one another. They attacked each other. From the surrounding ground, more men rose up and fought alongside each of the men. The vision ended as an immense battle unfolded.

3 - Melir saw a vision of the flat void. From the ground below, trees begam to rise up and take form. Eventually, an immense forest stood before him. After a large gust of wind sweeps through, some of the trees seemed to take on bestial forms. They uprooted and began to walk the ground freely. The vision ended when the zombie-like trees see Melir and charge toward him.

In the last part of the cavern, there was a small campsite with a red and white striped fish in a glass bowl. Ryoma picked up the bowl which triggered a conversation with the fish. He began to speak of who he was and where he came from when the spirit within the fish possessed the mind of Ryoma. The spirit's name is Aghlamore the Orange, and he claims to be the lord of the House of Orange. He telepathically can communicate with Ryoma, and tells him that he wishes to be brought back to his home (which he says is near Lake Draskin) where he can remove himself from Ryoma's mind.

Unfortunately for Ryoma, he now has two minds in his head. The PCs are now returning to Aedok to make arrangements for the House of Bloom (which they are taking control), and then they plan to seek out the House of Orange to remove the possession in their samurai's head.