This is a quick write up for the second session, cheers.
Kharduum Steepmine (Hill Dwarf Cleric)
Kronos (Human Rogue)
Co'nn'or (Half Elf Paladin)
Roza Chance (Tiefling Sorcerer)
Kem Bir (Dragonborn Paladin)
Ashford (Human Druid)
Vonmond and I had spent a lot of time ferrying stone and constructing our Almshouse, it was going well but we needed a bit of a break. I volunteered to travel with a new party to set out and search for our missing supply ship.
Co'nn'or (not sure how he spells that) had a cart and a lovely horse (Tess), so he recruited us for this task. We set out in earnest and began searching the coast, before long we spotted a large transport ship, the size of a Galleon flying the gold and blue flag of Arabella Debobri the half elf captain we hired to help with our expedition, but the ship was split in twain, dashed against the rocks, the Hull was littered with jagged metal objects and the ship held by thick, strong ropes. This was no accident, and why hadn't this been found on the previous searches? Was it fresh?
The smell of smoke filled the air and the Kronos discovered beach front was littered with shoddy, half working traps, unfortunately Ashford almost lost a hand to one.
Inside the ship was filled to the brim with shoddy traps, we found some alchemists fire and bits of cutlery, but the rest of the ship was stripped clear, no sign of the crew or a scrap of food.
Kem found some footprints heading off up the hills, Roza recognised these as Kobold tracks. As we approached the crest of the hill, we heard rumbling and soon we set eyes upon a large active volcano, a mere half days walk from our Outpost, something peculiar is happening here.
There was a large tunnel carved into the mountain, and tracks around the base, we found a few apples, a few gold pieces and Arabellas non magical medallion nearby (I checked).
We headed into the volcano and came upon 3 kobolds deep in conversation, they were armed with slings, stones and rusty blades. Kronos snuck up and killed 2 before we subdued the third.
The kobold was interrogated and revealed that they had captured the ships crew to sacrifice to a dragon, that there was a large egg in the centre of the Volcano and a prison inside too, but he was hiding something else for sure.
They had really worked to make this Volcano into a temple of sorts. There was a small refuse tunnel going heading up, Ashford wildshaped into a cat and went up to investigate while the rest of us headed back to the main entrance.
Ashford headed up the chute and managed to sneak past some armoured Kobolds, but was seen by more further along, they gave chase and he passed a couple of doors, but had no time to stop, he almost ran into a large clearing, filled to the brim with traps, he quickly jumped out of cat form, one of them slipped into the traps and he thunder waved the rest to death, unfortunately the power of the spell shook the mountain.
We headed deeper into the mountains, the work on the tunnels was bad craftmanship, and could collapse any moment, my folks died in a collapsed tunnel, not something I'd care to emulate.
As we walked we heard an odd and tinny unnatural roar, and a rush of heat, as we rounded the corner we stumbled upon a Kobold roaring through a large metal cone to amplify his voice, he ran, but Kem put a javelin clean through him.
Followed the tunnel further we discovered Ashford banging against a locked door, he had chased another Kobold inside. Kronos went to pick the lock, but could hear chatter from the otherside, maybe this was another trap.
As he unlocked the door, we stood back, the chatter stopped, quickly we pressed against the walls either side of the door and Roza used mage hand to open the door, suddenly a blast shot out of the room and into the hall way, some horrendous weapon. I blessed the melee fighters and they charged into the room, one Kobold was holding a large device, out of it shot a beam of light hitting Co'nn'or, he slowed, but powered through, to the shortlived disappointment of the kobold, as Co'nn'or cut them down, in the fray, Kem went to strike an armoured warrior, his strike was deflected and struck the device, it rumbled and exploded filling the room with light, Co'nn'or and Kronos were petrified, turned to stone, this device must be an artifacers weapon, likely looted from the workshop we searched before.
I didn't have to power to restore them, but quickly searched the room while Ashford went to check the other door, I found a store filled will all of our lost supplies, but the volcano started rumbling, Ashford reappeared and quickly iterated that the lava was flowing and we needed to move fast, he grabbed a bundle of food along with Roza, and Kem and I lifted our statuesque companions, together we ran as fast our assorted leg lengths would carry us. Kem fell momentarily, but used his ice breath to slow the lava nipping at his heels just long enough to get back to his feet.
We exited the tunnels, and as light hit us, our companions were restored, there wasn't much time to explain, so we grabbed them and ran up the hill away from the erupting volcano.
There was barely time to catch our breath before Ashford explained what he'd been through the other door, that he'd seen the giant egg, the crew tied up, and the kobolds starting to carry out a sacrificial ritual, before the lava started consuming everything.
It dawned on us that we'd failed, the crew were gone, and we hadn't secured the supplies. Dejected, we headed back to the outpost. Volcanic ash filling the air and raining down.
Kem and Co'nn'or ended up enrolling in the towns watch, Ashford started a small garden, and Moradin knows what Kronos is doing. Roza threw herself into researching the egg and the ritual, she said she has family connections that could help.
I went back to building, the Almshouse isn't going to finish itself, however, I discovered that utilising Volcanic ash with seawater in the concrete mix results in a incredibly hardwearing, durable end result. I'll call it Dwarven fire-forged concrete, it will really revolutionise our construction work here at the outpost.
Another great write up, keep them coming!