Boyshyvs: Return to Arms, Chapter 3
A lesson in loyalty.
Session 3 - 1/25/25
The Boyshyvs; Urtag (Trey- barbarian), Theron X (Chase- cleric), Wendyl (Nick- wizard), Kris Angel (Andrew- illusionist(mindfreak)), and their squire Nabilo stood in a smoky storeroom. At their feet were the charred corpses of several oil beetles. They took a moment to survey the room, and inspected the crates within. Several of them contained unspoiled, unburned dried food. Kris Angel collected his caltrops. They lugged them out of the room and up the stairs, moving slowly. When they moved through a passage they had passed several times before, Kris’ elven eyes noticed that some of the wall stones were not lined up correctly. They took a note, kept moving, and reached the Brotherhood of Gorm hideout without incident.
Kanadius and the brothers were overjoyed at this contribution. They rewarded the Boyshyvs with two valuable gemstones. Kanadius also said that this act went a long way towards making the non-warrior types full-fledged members. Urtag, who had been both scalded with oil and bit several times by the large beetles, asked if the Brotherhood had any healing implements that they would part with. Kanadius nodded and gave Brother Urtag a small bowl of golden honey. He said that this could be eaten to increase one’s vigor, or applied like a salve to help with the blisters. Urtag ate the honey and the group departed to investigate the imperfect wall Kris had seen.
After some time investigating, the adventurers discovered that this section of wall was indeed a secret door. They opened it carefully. Their light glinted off something in the center of the room, but they were also set upon by large black birds with long, probusci-like beaks. Wendyl, who always moved quicker than his age imply, deployed a spell that sent most of the beasts crashing to the ground. Nabilo stepped forward and impaled one, while Urtag leapt forward in a rush. He missed his attack but distracted the stirge from Wendyl the Weak. The stirge dove in, attempting to plunge it’s beak into Urtag’s neck. But Urtag clenched his chin to his chest, and the beak bounced off of his golden mask. They dispatched the final stirge in a feathered salvo, then moved about the room slaying the sleeping beasts. There was an egress hole in the north wall, which they promptly jammed with the corpses of the stirges, and searched the room. They found four valuable gems.
The room had another exit on its north side, which was also secret from the outside. A fantastic storeroom, they thought. The crew ventured north and east, trying to complete their map of the level. They found an empty room, then a room occupied by sprites. They joked, danced, and cajoled with the sprites, and also made off with a sealed box of ancient fireworks. The northeast-most room was completely empty besides a green slime covering the floor. They poured sand from a nearby jar on it, which had no effect. They shut the door and discussed. They hadn’t seen anything valuable in there, and wondered if they should just leave it. Wendyl lit a torch, opened the door, and tossed it in. The sentient ooze sizzled and seethed. They shut the door again, and ultimately decided that there was no point to spending their resources killing this thing.
They looped back to their secret chamber and dropped off about half of their fireworks and all of their valuables before heading back downstairs. They went through the storeroom they had recently robbed, and north through its other point of egress. They followed this corridor to a T-intersection. To their right was a strange door with a stone wall behind it, and to their left was a brass statue of a winged child holding a wand and a handful of coins. The men discussed, and determined that this must be another of the old gods, Madarua or Usamigaras. Kris and Wendyl hoped that it was Usamigara, as they had heard from the Brotherhood that they were an arcane bunch. They inspected the statue and found it to be hollow. They also noticed a seam at the elbow of the wand arm, and wondered if it perhaps oscillated.
A long discussion unfolded, and the party split. Urtag and Nabilo left to go back to the Brotherhood while the two arcane casters and the cleric pressed forward to contact this new faction. Nabilo was confused at this, and said, We’re gunna have to tell Kanadius about this.
Urtag was also conflicted, but trusted his friends. He told Nabilo that those three were on a secret mission, and that Kanadius already knew. But that they must not give it away to the other brothers. Nabilo seemed to buy this, mostly because he’d buy anything Urtag was selling. Kris Angel turned the wand arm to the left, and a low rumbling sounded from the floor. The statue, as well as the wall it was attached to, slid backwards– revealing a long hallway painted black with little white stars. They hid their Gorm necklaces in the storeroom and tentatively proceeded, and came to a door heading north.
They entered a massive room, two of the walls covered in tapestries. Thirteen humanoids in shimmering rainbow robes awaited them– spellbooks and silver daggers at the ready. All but one wore a silver mask of the winged child, the thirteenth a silver crown. This is the one who spoke: Who goes there? Theron immediately dropped to a knee and announced himself and his intentions to purify the temple. There was a short back and forth, during which it came out that all three of the party members were magically inclined. Auriga, the crowned magi, was excited by this. He asked for their pledges of loyalty, and promised them great arcane knowledge. They boys jumped on this, and made a second vow of loyalty.
Urtag and Nabilo safely reached the clubhouse and loitered, partaking in some of the wine they had just stolen from the wizards.
The disloyal three, were magically branded on their palms. While near the star-shaped altar, Kris Angel noticed a secret compartment in the base, which he kept to himself. Auriga gave them a task, to prove their loyalty. Long ago, he said, the Brotherhood of Gorm stole a valuable necklace from us. It is two snakes, one of silver, one of gold– coiled around each other. Retrieve this for me and I will pay you in arcane power. The three betrayers agreed.
As they were about to leave, Kris spoke up, asking for any resources the Magi might have to share. Auriga said, Of course. Heraldo– bring them to the storeroom.
On their way to the storeroom, the boys started spinning their yarn. The storeroom was being raided, and they just ran through. But it was dark. And we were holding hands. It was the Cult of Zargon, for sure. Heraldo stopped. This was above his pay grade. He turned and got Auriga and a few of his magi. So they start their lie over again, in the storeroom. Auriga was furious with the destruction and theft. He stooped over the scorched area and picked through with his dagger. He asked many questions: What are these beetles? Who were the men? What caused this burning? Where did our food go?
Kris wandered over to the spot they had hid their Gormish charms. Look at this, he exclaimed, necklaces! Auriga inspected them and spat.
Those bastards. He grabbed Heraldo and whispered something. Heraldo exited to the north and they heard the grinding of the statue once again. Auriga and his four magi continued their investigation for a few minutes, while the Boyshyvs added details to their story. Soon all thirteen of the Magi were in the storeroom.
Urtag, back in the Brotherhood clubhouse, stood over a small table with Nabilo and three other Brothers. They spun a silver coin, attempting to stop it on its edge. Another jug of wine was uncorked, and laughter echoed through the surrounding halls.
Auriga turned to the three deceivers. Something about your story, he said softly, just isn’t adding up. Drop your weapons and spellbooks, now! The magi had surrounded them, their spellbooks and daggers once again at the ready…