Participants: Mirarim, Ash, Seiko no Megumi, Plume
Location(s): Between Silent Forest and Dragon's Tail
Short summary: Party sent north to investigate and potentially disrupt serpentfolk activity. The party found evidence of:
- serpentfolk tunneling, possibly to unearth a trapped dragon
- transformation rituals, in the form of an elf-turned-hostile naga
- serpentfolk blood rituals to awaken undead champions
The party was unable to put down the pseudo-naga, leaving it in a shack near the river. The party slew several groups of serpentfolk, including a ghost serpentfolk warrior. The party attempted to interrupt a blood ritual, but failed once the serpentfolk killed each other, enabling the summoning of a highly powerful ghost of a bone prophet. Recognising the mortal threat, the party recalled to safety.
Loose Threads: The pseudo-naga, the Bone Prophet Ghost, buried dragon
Full report: With serpentfolk activity in the north increasing in the form of raids and tunneling around kobold territory, the guild sent a small group comprising Mirarim, Ash, Seiko no Megumi, and Plume, with the goal of scouting and potentially disrupting their activities. The party took a boat to the Avis River Basin, then trekked upriver inland. The party found evidence of serpentfolk tunneling in the region, and encountered a travelling kobold merchant, After initial caution as to his intentions, the party engaged him in conversation, and he expressed his disdain and hatred for the serpentfolk, and informed the party of rumours of a dragon trapped underground the serpentfolk were attempting to free. The party then investigated a house containing what seemed a naga, though evidence suggest it was originally an elf subjected to a cruel transformation, given its telepathic wishes for death. The pseudo-naga proved an unexpectedly dangerous foe with its magic and slowing venom, and the uncoordinated party were forced to retreat from the fight. At this point, party morale and unity were notably low.
The party soon found evidence of another threat, and tracked a group of serpentfolk for a few hours. Upon the termination of the tracks, Ash was able to discern the presence of illusory magic, and continue the trail into an underground structure. The party first encountered a ghostly serpentfolk, where after a tough fight dealing with its spectral resistances Mirarim managed to end it. Progressing further into the tunnels led them to a small group of Aapoph and Zyss. Their poisoned arrows proved of significant concern and they were eager to pepper Plume with them, but on the whole they posed a meagre threat. The last serpentfolk attempted to flee, but an illusory wall from Ash stopped it in its tracks and the party finished the fight cleanly, whereupon it was noticed their blood was being drained up the corridor.
The party opted to recover before investigating, whereupon they found a group of Aapoph, Zyss and a giant pale serpent all performing a blood ritual, using their own vitality as fuel. The party surmised that the ritual could be interrupted if the supply of blood was stopped, and set about nonlethally incapacitating the serpentfolk. Despite a lack of specialisation towards nonlethal takedowns, the fight went reasonably smoothly with only Mirarim being downed. The situation turned dire once the serpentfolk started shooting their fallen allies instead of the party, and the resulting final influx of blood enabled the ritual to be completed. A massive bloody spectral serpent was summoned (identified by Seiko as likely a former bone prophet), the party estimated its threat level to be approximately CL12, and the party recalled home before it could start monologuing.
At the bottom of the report, a small note is added, signed by Plume's hand. I must commend the others; they make fine companions, and more than once saved me from my own foolishness.