The Cave

Beyond the tree bridge was an island that was warm and inviting. Ahead there was a cave carved in the form of a grave talon head. A huge boar stood perfectly motionless: a paralyed dire boar. Above the entrance was the hunt rune Briandra had drawn.

Oobleck inspected the dire boar and found two little fang marks as from a snake. He detected a parasite in the boar’s belly. Oobleck knew it was a magical beast and recommended destroying, but not before the Dread Heomophore emerged, and then burrowed back into the corpse. Ezzerkash breathed lightning on the corpse and killed the parasite.

Rosie pointed into the cave, but would go no further. Oobleck looked for ostrich tracks, but instead found one set of humanoid tracks and six sets of grave talon tracks. They followed Ezzerkash in to the cave.  

Suddenly, two bone vipers appeared. One struck at Oobleck and missed, and one bit Ezzerkash with no effect. He could tell it would have been a paralyzing effect. Then the serpents started writhing back and forth and Cham was mesmerized.  

One serpent slithered up Cham and into her mouth. The other attacked Brynjar, but he was not paralyzed. Ezzerkash attacked the one on Cham and clawed it. Oobleck and Slimy attacked the one on Brynjar but missed. He attacked and missed it. The serpent burrowed down into Cham’s stomach. Dominated by the Bone Viper, Cham attacked Brynjar. Oobleck attempted subdue Cham. Slimy attempted to slam the snake, but missed. Basil attacked the other Bone Viper, but missed.

The other Bone Viper stunned Basil. Ezzerkash attempted to subdue Cham. Cham regained control and subdued herself. Oobleck bound Cham. Slimy slammed the snake, but not hard enough.  

The Bone Viper bit Basil, but he was not paralyzed. It moved toward Ezzerkash and Slimy slammed it and engulfed it. Basil was paralyzed by the viper’s poison.  

Ezzerkash scanned for additional opponents and heard labored breathing around the corner. He looked and saw six Grave Talons covered in straw. There was also a hooded and robed woman there tending to them. There were no runes on the Grave Talons. The woman was a Verrick druid. He informed the others.

Basil fell into a deep slumber. Oobleck operated on Cham to remove the viper eggs. He found a mushroom that would keep her subdued for the duration of the procedure. Oobleck removed the viper and killed it. And he also found an egg.  

The Grave Talon Rescue

When Cham awakened, they went to speak with the druid. Oobleck approached. The Verrick greeted him by name. Her name was Quinneal, and she mentioned a dream of the harpy eagle, grave stones, and crystal, and asked if they knew what it meant. Ezzerkash had heard of the Crystal Fold that was kept by the Littorians of the far north. Brynjar recognized Quinneal. She was well known in Far Rough and referred to the Floating Forest as the Green Temple. She was also known to aid those who did not live in the town itself.

Oobleck asked about the Grave Talons. Quinneal said that they had been injured in many of the hunts that have been going on. He asked about Solange. She said that she was deeper in the cavern in her lair. He informed her that the Catchpoles in Far Rough were hunting her because they believed her responsible for the murders. Quinneal said that she may have killed those hunting her packs, but she was not responsible for the murders.

Oobleck asked if she knew Neverhold. She said no. He warned her to keep Nodaughter away from the Grave Talons as she was using them as scapegoats for her murdering. And also that she should tell the Catchpoles, if she saw them, that the Grave Talons were not responsible. When she saw Basil, she gave him a potion and he recovered. He Channeled Positive Energy and healed the Grave Talons, as well as the party. The restored Grave Talons left the cave.

Pursuing Solange

They pursued Solange In her lair to get her story. Her lair was illuminated by sunlight from above. A pool of water dominated the center of the chamber. The dry area around the pool was concealed in shadow. There was the corpse of a Grave Talon on the far side.  

Ezzerkash went to investigate and was attacked by another Grave Talon. It raked him. Ezzerkash withdrew to investigate the fallen Grave Talon.

Solange clawed Brynjar, and then her rune glowed for a moment and Saving Grace was activated. Cham implored Solange to stop attacking. Brynjar prepared to defend himself. Basil cured Brynjar. Oobleck attempted Wild Empathy on Solange, but she did not attack.

Ezzerkash examined the Grave Talon. It stood and attacked. It had a different rune mark from Solange. It was the same as the one on Neverhold’s staff. Then Oobleck heard chanting from the ledge Solange had leapt from. A hex appeared over his head. It was the Hex of the Bullseye. Neverhold’s ostrich was actually a Grave Talon. It hit Ezzerkash and he went down.  

Solange attacked the other Grave Talon. Cham entered the chamber stealthily and scanned for access to the ledge above. Brynjar entered and prepared to jump up to the ledge. Basil drew his crossbow, entered, and loaded it. Slimy climbed the wall and slammed Neverhold, but she was protected by a shield. Oobleck entered to gain line of sight on Neverhold.

The Grave Talon shredded Solange. Slimy hit Neverhold. She ran away. Ezzerkash continued bleeding. Cham shot the Grave Talon with an arrow. Brynjar climbed up and saw that Neverhold had fled. He gave chase. Basil shot at the Grave Talon, but missed. Then advanced toward it. Oobleck cast Magic Stone and loaded his sling. Slimy climbed down and advanced toward the Grave Talon. Then the Catchpoles arrived…

The Party

  • Ezzerkash the Distracted – Cloud Dragon Wyrmling
  • Cham – Aasimar Taskshaper
  • Oobleck – Halfling Ooze Druid with Ochre Jelly companion, Slimy.
  • Bazyl – Human Oracle
  • Brynjar – Human Magus