Al-Rathak Actual Play Part 3

Into the ruins.

A large party from the crew of the Shalandi pause for a brief moment before making their way into the upper part of the ruin. Qasim al-Dim is feeling both nervous and excited. He is joined by deckhand and warrior Barbak ibn Abdul, ship carpenter and thief Hana al-Fayal, Healer and Immolation Mystic Amira al-Sherif, helmsman and warrior Cyra al-Qamar with newcomer Rashid al-Rashid rounding out the party. Rashid leads the group into the outer perimeter of the ruins, cautiously skirting the large skeleton snake they encountered the day before.

Curved corridor leads into the ruins. One open door at the end. Empty. Another straight corridor. 3 doors. Spike trap before the first door.

As the party make their way into the ruins proper, Rashid speaks about the various depictions carved into the stone walls all around them. There is enough hazy light coming in through breaks in the ceiling above. As Rashid calls attention to a particularly grisly scene carved into the wall a loud snap followed by a cry from Cyra stops everyone in their tracks.

“I’m ok! Just caught my leg.” Cyra assures everyone as she sits down to let Amira get a better look. Amira tells Cyra she was very lucky.

Rashid, eyeing the spike jutting from the wall, tells them all to be cautious. “Azhdaha guards its treasure greedily even to this day. There will be more traps and worse waiting for us.”

Qasim points out a dark and heavy looking wooden door. A crowned snake head is carved into it. Hana, adjusts her unusual looking pack and holds up her hand for silence as she examines the door. She whispers that she can hear something on the other side. Barak grunts and steps forward; he nods to Amira and Cyra. Cyra pushes in front of Qasim, limping slightly.

Area 2: 3 Jackal Beastmen. HP 4, 6, 4. Barak crit roll (6 that explodes for another die roll).

Hana throws open the door and Barak, Amira and Cyra charge inside. Three Jackal aspect Beastmen yip and howl excitedly and meet the three head on. Barak spins, his blade in a blur as it beheads a Jackal Beastman. Amira begins to cast Blazing Palm, but falters, grimacing in pain, and narrowly dodges an overhand swipe of a Beastman’s scimitar. Cyra’s blow is deflected as she back peddles, deflecting a return strike. Qasim takes out the Beastmen confronting Cyra with an arrow to the chest. Rashid cannot get in a strike before Barak finishes off the last Beastman.

The group examines the Boiled leather armour of the Jackal Beastmen. Their armour is embossed with the same crowned snake found on the entrance door. Sculptures in various states of ruin line the walls of the large circular room. At its center lies a stone stairway heading down. Flickering shadows from low burning sconces light the stairway. IT seems the ruins are still active with followers of Azhdaha.

Amira indicates to the group that she has met a brief impasse with her immolation spells. Perhaps the Efreet she made a pact with is trying to send a warning. She will stick to healing until she can get a proper rest.

They all know the stairs must lead down to the treasures of Azhdaha and also greater peril. Everyone steels themselves for what must lie ahead. Barak and Hana take the lead as the group cautiously makes their way down.

Area 3: Room with an altar. Dark Destruction Sorcerer HP 10 with 2 skeleton warriors. Hp 9, 5.

After scouting ahead, Hana quietly informs the group that she can hear more creatures at the bottom of the stairs. The group decides to see what awaits them and they are surprised to see a woman working over an altar of sorts, 2 skeleton warriors standing guard.

The woman seems irritated as she looks up and warns the group to leave or pay the price. She is wearing heavy looking medallions on golden chains around her neck. “This is the realm of the great and terrible Azhdaha. You are all forbidden unless you bear worthy gifts!”

Rashid yells out, calling the woman a pretender. She motions the skeletons forward and begins to cast a spell. Barak reacts quickly and clashes with one skeleton as Cyra meets the other. Qasim sends an arrow at the sorcerer that strikes true, but not before the she is able to cast Temple’s Demolishing Breath. The destruction spell hits Rashid and Hana hard as they close in on her. Rashid takes the brunt of it and is thrown back. Hana spins, avoiding most of the damage, also being pushed back.

Barak and Cyra finish off the skeleton warriors, Cyra is hurt badly. Qasim sends a final arrow into the Dark Sorcerer who goes down with another spell almost cast. Amira is able to tend to the worst of Cyra’s wounds and she insists on pressing on.

1 XP. 

Notes:

The group seems to be handling themselves well. Maybe too well? I have sent them into the lower part of the dungeon sooner rather than later. Al-Rathak has a mechanic to encounter more dangerous creatures further into dungeons.

Al-Rathak is by Bookwizard999 and SilverNightingale

For this and other Actual Plays check out my Table of Contents Page.