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• Aros – Lightfoot Halfling, Rogue- Absent This Session
• Galiena Erenaeth – Half Elf, Celestial Warlock / Druid
• Baldur – Human, Pack Chain Warlock (Spear) / Paladin
  • Hellina Kaitlyn Deramu – Human NPC, Wererat

As Galiena, Kavium, Baldur and Kaitlyn head back to the Drunken Dragon Tavern, Galiena shakes her head. “I was just sharing with Kavium about the marks on our necks,” Galiena sighs, “and how Mordak – or Razathorn, as he is known here – can summon us away at his whim. If Aros has disappeared, that means Mordak has pulled him back to complete some kind of mission for him. We shouldn’t pull Aros back for a little while, so that he can complete whatever he has to do for Mordak.”

“Is there no way to break the runes that bind you,” Kavium asks just as they enter the town’s borders.

“Not without severing our heads,” Galiena sighs. “We were on our way to the Gold Coast,” she says, remembering Ramgor’s words how the name “the Broken Lands” was considered a slur to his people who were native to the area, “in hopes of finding tomes there that could help us break the spell and free us of Mordak’s hold.”

“Well, perhaps your other friend you mentioned, Wicked-something,” Kavium nods, “perhaps she was summoned back to do whatever she was to do and now is headed for the Gold Coast. Perhaps Aros can do the same.”

“Perhaps,” Galiena sighs. “Although, with Mordak here on Eaglerock… and with an enemy such as Lord Brenmoon, our best chance may be striking at him on this island, if we can find a way to make this work,” she says.

Darko’s voice, muffled from Galiena’s bag, “If you find me a body, I could help you.” Galiena hisses for Darko to remain quiet because if he’s discover, the people of Green Haven will accuse them of necromancy.

The four reach the Drunken Dragon, where Gogert offers them some of the “Apple Cider” that the party suggested – however, after a quick sip, it’s clear that they’ve not yet made the cider correctly as Baldur makes a face and Galiena winces at the taste. As they’re sitting at the bar talking, they overhear one of the patrons at a nearby table complain, “Those blasted ankhegs are back again and they’re tearing apart the roots of the orchid. Not to mention, they’ve pulled several of my employees underground… I heard their screams, before disgusting snap, then silence… I just don’t know what to do… I can never tell where they’re going to strike next and the remaining employees are terrified of going out into the orchid, which I can’t fault them for since I can’t protect them…”

At another table, they hear someone complaining how Sam had gone into the swamps in search for Whistle Leaf, which is needed (crushed and soaked into the water that’s used to irrigate the orchids), and it’s been over four days now – and normally, the “patch” that Sam harvests is only a maximum of three days total (day and a half to get there, day and a half to get back).

At another table, several farmers complain about an ogre camp to the south of their orchids and how the ogres are raiding the apple trees at night; not only leaving little to harvest, but often damaging the delicate apple trees in the process.

“Sounds like Green Haven still needs us,” Galiena says.

“As well as Crescent,” Kavium whispers, “remember, he’d asked about the peryton problem in the mountains.”

“I say we take care of the ankheg problem,” Baldur nods. “It’s closer – and we can protect the apple orchids and the citizens, so they can get back to work on collecting apples to try and perfect the cider.”

“Besides,” Galiena remarks, recalling Aros’ passion for the Green Haven apples, “if we don’t do something when we call Aros back – and tell him that the apple orchids suffered under the ankheg invasion, he will never forgive us.”

“You stabbed him in the haystack,” Kavium mutters, “I am sure he will forgive just about anything you do.”

Galiena gives Kavium a scolding look and hits his arm. “That was an accident.”

“You both stabbed him,” Kavium pointed out with a smirk.

They move to the table, where the farmers had been complaining about the ankhegs in the northern orchids. “So,” Baldur begins, “we couldn’t help but overhear that you have a pest problem?”

Startled to have drawn any attention, one of the farmers stands and greets them. “Yes, these ankhegs – they’ve been digging up the roots, burrowing beneath the ground, destroying the harvest and attacking our workers. This is their mating season, like most wild life, but this year – they seem particularly vicious and overbearing. Usually you lose a tree or two maybe, but I’ve already lost six trees, and Harold over there,” a robust man waves, “he’s like sixteen trees. But the activity has spiked at my own farm, of late.”

“So how do we get the attention of these ankhegs,” Galiena asked.

“Two ways,” Dean Firearm – named so, due to generations of the amber hairs all over his body and beard (though if you listened to Dean, he’d tell you it’s because he’s made of apples). He stepped up and greeted them. “One of the ways – just walk in the orchids. The creatures have some kind of tremor sense and burst from beneath the ground. The safer way is using the trees. Climb in the trees and jump on the branches – that will draw the ankhegs out believing there’s workers in the trees.”

He adds, “I hope when you’re done dealing with them, you can help me with another little problem. My brother Sam, he went into the swamp to get whistle leaf, which we use to make the apples taste the way they do – and he’s not been home in awhile.”

“So you need to fly to get inside the orchid,” Galiena sighs.

“Well,” Dean itches his head. “I mean, if you have wings… Wait, are you one of Brandon’s wereravens? I don’t recognize you, and he said he wasn’t turning any others…”

“Wait,” Baldur turns and faces Galiena. “Did you get wereraven powers? Is this because I am dating a -“

Kaitlyn shoots him a stern look.

“A beautiful woman,” Baldur amends. “I want to be a wereraven too.”

“I am not a wereraven,” Galiena hisses. “I am just trying to figure out how we can get inside the orchid without being attacked right inside the entrance. It’s not like we have Aros with us that he could stealth in and climb a tree deeper in the orchid to get their attention and distract the ankhegs.”

“So where are we going?” Baldur asks.

“To the Northeast of town – look for Dean’s Delicious Apples,” Dean replies with a smirk, enjoying how on point he’d named his orchid.

The party heads for Dean’s Delicious Apples, when several townsfolk recognize the party as being the ones who helped against the scarecrows and the “demons of night” (as they’re so called, back in Session 8). They recognize Galiena and Baldur, but don’t recognize Kavium or Kaitlyn. One of the townsfolk says, “Ah, a double date.”

“Yes,” Baldur nods.

“You two seemed like a great couple,” the townsfolk says, looking at Baldur and Galiena.

“Wait, we’re not a couple,” Galiena quickly clears the air.

“That’s right,” Kavium quickly takes the opportunity to throw his arm around Galiena’s waist. “She and I are a couple, and those two are a couple,” Kavium smirks. Galiena sighs.

“Oh, pardon,” the townsfolk flushes red. “So where are you all headed now?”

“Dean’s Delicious Apples,” Baldur replies.

“Ah, the ankheg problem,” the towns person nods, knowingly. “It’s great you’re here to help. Lord Brenmoon’s men do little to help, if ever. They mostly advise staying out of the fields until mating season is over. Probably why the problem is as big as it is now – they didn’t do anything to take down the ankheg population.”

The towns person pauses – realizing he’d spoke out about Lord Brenmoon and his men without being aware of his surroundings. “You’re safe with us,” Galiena assures him, and the man breathes again.

“Well, I wish ye luck against the ankhegs,” he warns. “If the ground begins to rumble, get to running.”

Staring down into the rows of apple trees in the orchid, they can already see several of the apple trees have been toppled over. They approach the tree cautiously, trying to make no noise – constantly casting scathing glances at Kavium as his armor clanks. They can see that there appears to be a tunnel that ran just beneath where the roots of the tree had been – it, however, had collapsed. But there were definitely tunnels beneath their feet being made by the burrowing of the ankhegs.

Galiena looks at Baldur and says, “I can wildshape into a giant badger, and we can take the fight to them.”

She changes her form – and surprisingly, her body glows with green flame and energy, and she realizes, somehow Darko became a part of her newly shaped form.

(DM Note – I did this for fun, because Darko was still in her bag – and we agreed, that the idea is she’d dig a hole as a giant badger with the idea of Baldur and Kavium following her – but she’d need to roll a nature check to maintain the hole’s structure)

She turns to Baldur, and in Badger-Speak says, “I look amazing.”

Baldur nods. He turns to Kaitlyn. “You have no armor. Stay out here. If they come out here, cut them down if they’re wounded – otherwise, please run.”

Kaitlyn nods her head, understanding, gripping her sole weapon – a massive kitchen knife.

She begins digging and burrowing into the ground – and the heat from her body, from absorbing Darko’s energy, helps keep the soil heated and maintains its shape as she eventually burrows down into the ankheg’s tunnels.

Baldur calls down from the surface, “You all right down there?”

Kavium taps him on the shoulder, “She’s a giant badger. I don’t think she can speak Common.”

“I can speak with animals,” Baldur sneered, as if it were obvious.

“But you asked the question in Common,” Kavium pointed out.

“Good point,” Baldur nods and turns his head, clattering and hissing like a badger. Baldur pauses, and looks back at Kavium, “I can’t really hear what she’s squeaking – I can hear something, but can’t make it out. We should just go down there.” Baldur and Kavium then proceed to descend down the medium sized hole and realize that Galiena, as a giant badger, had zig zagged in the dirt, probably looking for the Ankheg tunnel – and before they get too far, Kavium’s armor causes a portion of the burrow to collapse around them! However, it collapses around Baldur encompassing him in dirt – while Kavium avoids actually being buried.

Kavium calls down to Baldur to ask if he’s all right – and can only see Baldur’s feet sticking out from the dirt. “Well,” he mutters, “this didn’t go as planned… but this seems to be the norm for this lot.” Kavium begins digging around Baldur’s feet.

Meanwhile, below, as the dirt begins pouring in through the hole Galiena had made, while still in her giant badger form – she begins digging upward, trying to get the dirt to come into the tunnel – fearing something happened above – however, at that moment – she hears the clacking sound of mandibles and knows this is undoubtedly a ankheg or two drawn here by the sounds of the collapse.

Baldur and Kavium struggle to pry Baldur free of the dirt – while Baldur is trying to dig downward, Kavium is pulling upward on his legs (this was flavor due to Baldur failing a Strength check with the Help Action giving him Advantage)

Galiena, as a giant (slightly green glowing badger) quickly digs sideways into the side of the tunnel, and uses her stealth – she knows she can’t squeak a warning, otherwise she’s liable to get attacked. She realizes, if she waits until the Ankheg pulls either Baldur or Kavium down from the collapsed hole.

The ankheg sensing where Baldur is – two mandibles burst into the dirt, and grab Baldur by the arm and begins pulling him into the hole (slashing him for some damage in the process). Kavium, being at the top – suddenly sees Baldur vanish beneath the dirt – and the hole begins collapsing again – and spends his time frantically digging at the dirt (this is to explain Kavium’s Critical Fail on Initiative – see house rules for critical fails on initiative).

The ankheg pulls Baldur mostly through the dirt – and tries to squeeze Baldur, but the dirt and mud interfere from the hit. Baldur growls, “Kor’Shar, I could use a little guidance! I can’t see the thing that’s got me!” Baldur calls on the young Amethyst dragon’s spirit trapped inside the spear as he jams it down through the dirt attempting to hit the ankheg – and whether through sheer luck or Kor’Shar’s guidance – the spear manages to hit the the ankheg. Baldur growls – seeing the mandible – and casts Hexblade’s Curse on the ankheg.

Realizing the ankheg has a hold of one of her companions – seeing legs dangling through the dirt – and the sudden thrust of a spear – she realizes it’s Baldur. She lunges forward, now that the ankheg is distracted and attempts to bite – but there’s too much dirt, and misses – but she rips into the connecting joints of the ankheg with a critical hit! (Natural 20!)

The ankheg manages to finally pull Baldur through the dirt and spits acid in Baldur’s face, that he’s unable to avoid. But as a result of the ankheg pulls Baldur through – it collapses the burrow further, because Kavium was digging above and the weight of his armor sends him sinking rapidly through the soil. When Kavium comes through the soil – he finds that Baldur has already stabbed the beast several times in the mouth – and Galiena, still in the form of a giant, softly green glowing badger – were engaged in full combat. Kavium drew his sword, which was covered in mud and joined the fray – hearing Baldur repeatedly shout, “It has a tough exterior! Stab it in the mouth!”

The party defeats the ankheg and tracks down one of the ankheg burrows to a Queen Ankheg, whose nest consists of the corpses of several humanoids (employees of the various farms claimed by the ankhegs) as well as some wild life and stock animals. It has several ankheg guardians – but the party is able to defeat the monstronsity and save the orchid for at least one more year.

TO BE CONTINUED?