Chapter V : The Abomination (Part I) - The Adventure

The adventure is here.

The Fellowship of Light approach the temple-tomb of Thugra Khotan from the south, surprised that the dome of energy no longer covers it.  What mystery is this ?

Shortly afterwards, the dessicated body of the Prince of Thieves is found up against an exterior wall.  The trail in the sand makes it obvious he crawled out from the temple, badly wounded, to die here.

 

The company splits into two groups, Cadmendin and Shevata using the door just in front of them, whilst Zarese and Marotte skirt around the edge of the temple.  The priestess' Magical Barrier seals several mummies outside.

Meanwhile, Cadmendin and Shevata are involved in heavy fighting.  The monk is under attack from all sides, whilst the rogue shimmies up to the top of the wall and uses her throwing daggers to halt any reinforcements.

Zarese finds the only stable stairwell, and runs down it to the shrine.  This is where she discovers the empty sarcophagus that once contained Thugra Khotan.  All is now clear ! [well, not quite, as in a more roleplaying fashion, I let the girls figure out what had happened, and they came to some hilarious conclusions. For the eldest, the Prince of Thieves had stolen the mummy (why ?  and then errr, what, dragged it outside with his dying crawl ?  Where it was maybe eaten by bandage-loving jackals ?).  For the youngest, Thugra Khotan had turned into...a Giant Spider !  We had a good laugh as they pieced the plot together].

Yes, if Natohk is communicating with his servants in Old Kuthcheme it is because...he is none other that Thugra Khotan, awoken from a millenia-long sleep by the foolish daring of Zamora's Prince of Thieves...

With that settled Zarese held mummies, giant spider and assassins at bay with her Mystic Barrier, allowing Marotte, then Shevata and Cadmendin to join her and cunningly survive the horrors lurking in the lower level of the temple.  As the light of Mitra pushed back the shadows, Cadmendin was able to tell his fellow adventurers that, long ago, men and women of his order hid magical items beneath Kuthcheme, to slay Thugra Khotan should he ever rise again.

 

A mighty victory for the girls, in a very interesting scenario with lots of adventure and opportunities.

Each of the heroes gained +1 XP, except Cadmendin.  Having slain a Stygian Assassin, he receives an additional point, for +2 in all.  Cadmendin and Marotte each have a Torch, Zarese and Shevata an Antidote, and Zarese also picked up the Fangs of the Serpent and an Explosive Orb from the thief's corpse.  Only Marotte was wounded (1 wound).

The Fellowship of Light must now descend into the catacombs beneath the temple, to try to put a definitive end to the evil of Thugra Khotan !