Adventurers
- Harlin Winklevos (Fighter 1)
- Henry (Cleric 1)
- Juttery Jangles (Thief 1)
- Koko (Fighter 5) and Umphred (Cleric 1)
- Mandras (Dwarf 5)
- Simon (Elf 2)
After a night’s rest and again applying the Healing Staff to Umphred’s shortened limb, the party departed Vyones, only this time they followed the river north. An overnight stay in Ximes, and then they continued along the river until they judged it a good spot to head into the woods, heading back towards the sunken temple where they’d hunted down Malachie; they had recalled the large, unclaimed mountain of coins in the beast’s lair, and felt that the young fighter, cleric and thief in their party could do with a bit more experience delving into known territory before facing the dangers chasing after Gaspard.
As they came into the temple’s clearing, they were struck by the change: what had once been a marshy bog had completely dried up, and crossing to their objective had them emptying their boots not of muddy water but of sand. Warily they re-entered the pyramid and descended down the ladder within the column. Their memories were hazy, and it took a little reorientation before remembering the route further down.
Rounding a corner they heard voices. Volunteering Jangles to go up to an open door to investigate, they found a group of masked, blue-robed figures engaged in a chilled discussion. The party huddled together and entered into a discussion themselves: would they avoid these people, kill them, ally with them, and in what order?
Eventually Mandras was also volunteered to go ahead of the party, though this time with the remit to approach these armed fighters initially for a chat. The robed men summoned another figure from another room who introduced himself as Kanadius, follower of Gorm. He asked the adventurers whether they followed Gorm, Usamigaras or Madarua. Determining that these were the three gods represented atop the pyramid, the adventurers declared themselves the freelance party who had slain Malachie.
Kanadius proposed an arrangement whereby the party would be rewarded for helping him take over the rest of the temple, a portion of treasure for each of the Usamigaras, Madarua and Malachie factions. The party once more huddled and debated.
With the consensus seemingly veering towards satiating their bloodlust, they were interrupted by a high-pitched whine rapidly growing louder. Out from the corridor behind them flocked a swarm of enormous locusts, darting around the already cramped room and trying to scrabble beneath everyone’s armour. The party and Gormies flailed about at the creatures but were hampered by the desire not to cloud a comrade over the head. Eventually they splattered enough of the mega-mites to send the rest screeching away in flight, but one of Gorm’s followers lay dead, as did Koko’s new thief retainer.
The scrap seemed to have moderated the party’s aggression, and they accepted Kanadius’ offer. They haggled a bit for the look of the thing, but very much had in the back of their minds that they may in all likelihood slay these robed fighters if they tried preventing the party from claiming Malachie’s riches.
Kanadius led the party into the next room, and threw open a trapdoor: a new way down.