Stonehell: The Lady is a Vamp

Session 81 was played on 10/20

Eiric, wizard 7 (Kat)
- men at arms (Mulligan)
- linkman (Dungforth)
Brie, wizard 4 (Apprentice to Eiric)
A-A-Ron, Thief 6 (Henchman)
Orpheus, Human Fighter 6 (Henchman)
Karl, Dwarf 7 (Julia)
- Hobart (dog)
- men at arms (Dar)
Lex the Cheeseman, Fighter 4 (Henchman)
Koltic, Cleric 3 (Chris)
- Grishnaz, Goblin
Kili, Dwarf Cleric 3 (Matt)

Having survived approximately 5 days in the caves, the party was getting anxious. Not helped by the occasional visits by various vermin (bats, rats, spiders, etc) that were enough to keep everyone jumpy without actually being a threat. And then came the visit by an ogre scout. After making several rude comments he departed, saved by the truce of the commons. Some hours later a massive ogress and half a dozen ogres came into the room. Words were exchanged and threats issued, but again, no fight erupted.

Later, as the party rested, a swarm of giant ants emerged from the pit, and attacked the party. Most were sleeping when the attack started, and Dungforth was promptly torn in half. A few others took some damage before the pony sized bugs were squashed.

In revenge, Koltic pees on the ants, much to everyone else’s disgust. He then drags the corpses and piles them up in the passageway toward the east. Karma strikes later as there’s a loud long rumbling that dislodges several rocks, one of which strikes Koltic on the head.

On the 6th day (the party thinks), Reveka, wife and representative of Lord Faite arrives with annoyance at the party, their freeing of Ka-Nefer, and pointed comments about their lack of hygiene. In the darkness beyond their torchlight there is the hint of shadowy movement. Eiric conducts most of the negotiation. They first discuss Rocky’s riddles to the party about destroying the heart of Ka-Nefer and finding the heart somewhere in the hothouse. Kili asks if Reveka knows where the hot house is, and if she’ll take them there. She points the general direction of the hothouse out to them, but laughs at the idea of taking them there.

Eventually it comes down to the fact that the party wants *unspecified* help cleaning up the problem they created. Reveka wants blood for her help. Eiric offers up her arm. For her life’s blood (and a loss of 2 levels), she’s given a sword designed to slay mummies.

Needing to resupply, the party packs up and heads back to the surface. They meet some grumpy kobolds on the elevator, and then some mummy wardens in the passage between the Asylum and the Reptile House.

Back in town, they collect the mace that Eiric commissioned from Feris the Archmage, Kili commissions some full plate armor, and a few other mundane items are purchased. Eiric then goes to talk to Darryl. There was a lot of cajoling, but she was just able to convince him to return to the dungeon

Hiring on a few more meatshields (Lorman, Cadwell) linkmen (Nolmar), and taking on a new fighter (Blix), they head back down into the dungeon, heading for the hothouse. In the Asylum they again encounter more Mummy Wardens, of which Darryl turns 2 and the other 3 are slaughtered. Down in the 3rd level, they prepare to enter the warm and humid hothouse. The hallways are choked with vines, moss, and fern-like plants, making visibility difficult in spite of the weird light.

Before going in a kobold pops up with a lavender scented letter from Reveka.

Carstahz was rather put out to find that I’d given his sword away. I probably should have asked. Oh well, I guess you’ll have to beg his forgiveness.
Good luck with Ka-Nefer!
Reveka
P.S. You’re absolutely delicious. Caz really enjoyed tasting you on my lips. We’ll have to do that again sometime.

Gains: ~500gp
Kills: 6 giant ants, 9 mummy wardens
Losses: Dungforth