Ravenloft Game Log - Session 13
Almost forgot my LJ cut!
As a heated discussion arises on whether the undead residents of the Ivlis Marsh are potential allies, the party realizes that Mad Mary has slipped away into the mist. Soon after they are greeted by one who claims to have Mary in her custody, an Ussuran (by accent) named Inka. Although Inka never shows herself, the party presumes that she is the leader of the ghastly graveyard denizens. She reveals that she and her fellow undead would be under the control of one who took the power of the Swamp Fane. Thus, she offers the adventurers a deal: defeat the guardian of the Fane, and Inka will tell them how to take its power without immediately arousing the wrath of its current holder.
After resting a brief time in a copse of trees, they continue down to the deepest part of the marsh. Through the mist, they see an island, surrounded by a small lake. On the island are the ruins of some ancient structure. In the quiet of the morning, Heironymus approaches the shore and, in a challenge to the guardian, drives his blade into the lake. Immediately and without warning, he is snatched up by a creature lurking underneath the calm pool and dragged underneath in a spray of foam! As the rest of the party hurries to see where he has gone, they are attacked by two giant blood-sucking eels!
Underwater, Heironymus struggles to breathe as the life is slowly squeezed out of him by a terrible green-haired monster. Time after time he struggles to free himself from her claws, but is unable to do so; his holy healing powers are all that save him from death. Meanwhile, the eels continue to attack. By the time they are dispatched, the guardian has almost reached the island. Fortunately, Zidara's water walking spell allows the party to rush to the island themselves. One of the first to arrive is Thorne, who is the first to get a look at the face of the monster. Her evil eye affixes him and his physical strength fails him, but his will is more powerful and does not falter.
Finally, the party is able to take the battle underwater, diving in to the rescue. Thorne takes the shape of a merman, and his visage disturbs the guardian. She releases Heironymus to attack this new interloper. But surrounded by heroes, she falls to their blades. Rikard removes her head, wary of the continuing power in its gaze. Heironymus, however, his mind still in the heat of battle, is enraged by the stealing of his trophy. He takes the hag's head, retrieves her body as well, and leaves the party to create a pyre to burn it. He does not hear the pleas of his fellow party members as they follow, and at last, only Yves-Michel accompanies him back to the Zvalich Woods.
The rest of the group recover Mad Mary, left paralyzed by the ghouls. They also retrieve the guardian's necklace of teeth. Investigating the island, they discover that it holds a magical circle similar to the one under Lysaga Hill. Only this circle is surrounded by bones of all shapes and sizes, and all burning with infernal power...
As a heated discussion arises on whether the undead residents of the Ivlis Marsh are potential allies, the party realizes that Mad Mary has slipped away into the mist. Soon after they are greeted by one who claims to have Mary in her custody, an Ussuran (by accent) named Inka. Although Inka never shows herself, the party presumes that she is the leader of the ghastly graveyard denizens. She reveals that she and her fellow undead would be under the control of one who took the power of the Swamp Fane. Thus, she offers the adventurers a deal: defeat the guardian of the Fane, and Inka will tell them how to take its power without immediately arousing the wrath of its current holder.
After resting a brief time in a copse of trees, they continue down to the deepest part of the marsh. Through the mist, they see an island, surrounded by a small lake. On the island are the ruins of some ancient structure. In the quiet of the morning, Heironymus approaches the shore and, in a challenge to the guardian, drives his blade into the lake. Immediately and without warning, he is snatched up by a creature lurking underneath the calm pool and dragged underneath in a spray of foam! As the rest of the party hurries to see where he has gone, they are attacked by two giant blood-sucking eels!
Underwater, Heironymus struggles to breathe as the life is slowly squeezed out of him by a terrible green-haired monster. Time after time he struggles to free himself from her claws, but is unable to do so; his holy healing powers are all that save him from death. Meanwhile, the eels continue to attack. By the time they are dispatched, the guardian has almost reached the island. Fortunately, Zidara's water walking spell allows the party to rush to the island themselves. One of the first to arrive is Thorne, who is the first to get a look at the face of the monster. Her evil eye affixes him and his physical strength fails him, but his will is more powerful and does not falter.
Finally, the party is able to take the battle underwater, diving in to the rescue. Thorne takes the shape of a merman, and his visage disturbs the guardian. She releases Heironymus to attack this new interloper. But surrounded by heroes, she falls to their blades. Rikard removes her head, wary of the continuing power in its gaze. Heironymus, however, his mind still in the heat of battle, is enraged by the stealing of his trophy. He takes the hag's head, retrieves her body as well, and leaves the party to create a pyre to burn it. He does not hear the pleas of his fellow party members as they follow, and at last, only Yves-Michel accompanies him back to the Zvalich Woods.
The rest of the group recover Mad Mary, left paralyzed by the ghouls. They also retrieve the guardian's necklace of teeth. Investigating the island, they discover that it holds a magical circle similar to the one under Lysaga Hill. Only this circle is surrounded by bones of all shapes and sizes, and all burning with infernal power...