Blood River, Ep. 7

The Arrowford Six hired a boat and a crew of sailors to explore the mysterious Lost Fork River. A premonition from the tarot cards, the Six of Swords, warned of danger from all directions, a prophecy that would soon prove true. During their first night camping by the riverside, the watch was ambushed by two vicious, shark-toothed Sahaguin. The sudden assault was brutal; Haixia was struck down with a near-fatal blow, and Eric was gravely injured. The party awoke to the sounds of battle, and Eric retaliated with a blast of burning magic that sent the wounded creatures fleeing back into the dark water.

Pressing onward, the group discovered a narrow gorge marked by a fifty-foot-tall petroglyph of a strange, lanky figure. Navigating the tributary, they found a secluded amphitheater dominated by six massive stone slabs covered in ancient Giant runes. Driven by curiosity, Buford unleashed his power and blasted one of the slabs to pieces, revealing the crypt of a long-dead giant. The creature’s bones immediately stirred to life, and the party found themselves locked in combat with an eighteen-foot-tall skeletal horror.

Their victory was short-lived, as the remaining five slabs shattered, unleashing more skeletal giants, two of which had bones gilded in gold. The ensuing battle was a desperate struggle for survival. The giants’ powerful blows felled both Fang and Sabo, leaving them bleeding on the stone floor. Through coordinated attacks, desperate healing, and clever use of magic, the party systematically destroyed the undead guardians. After the final skeleton crumbled to dust, the adventurers looted the crypts, securing a fortune in golden bones and quartz spheres before making their triumphant, treasure-laden return to Aerofort.

OUTLINE:

Journey up the Lost Fork

The party hired a boat and three sailors to explore the southeast region of the Lost Fork.
Sailors informed them that the dwarves of the Hunlet Dwarf Fortress had not been seen in town for a few weeks.
A tarot card reading of the Six of Swords predicted danger from all directions.

Ambush by the River

While camped for the night, the party was attacked by two Sahaguin.
Haisha was critically wounded and nearly died from a trident strike.
Eric used Burning Hands to severely injure the creatures, causing them to flee.
Sabo, influenced by his cursed sword, did not attack the Sahaguin, calling them ‘friends’.
Haisha was stabilized using a vial of troll bile.

Discovering the Giant’s Gorge

The party discovered a 50-foot-tall petroglyph carved into a cliff face.
They sailed up a tributary into a gorge, finding a secluded amphitheater.
Buford carved his name into a 15-foot-tall stone head found on the beach.
Sabo and Eric fell through a crumbling granite bridge while crossing the river.

Battle in the Crypts of the Skeletal Giants

Buford blasted open one of six stone slabs, revealing a giant’s tomb.
An 18-foot-tall giant skeleton animated and attacked the party.
After it was defeated, five more giant skeletons emerged from the other crypts, two of which had golden bones.
The fight was desperate; Fang and Sabo were both knocked unconscious.
Goblecki dazed multiple skeletons with his Cryptspell Sleep, and Haisha healed her fallen allies.
The party eventually destroyed all six skeletal giants.

A Lucrative Return

The party looted the crypts, finding valuable golden bones and hundreds of quartz spheres.
They cached their mundane gear in an empty tomb to carry all the treasure.
On the return trip, Fang used a Warpwood spell to destroy a log blocking the river.
They sold the treasure in Aerofort for 400 gold and purchased a War Room for their headquarters.

NPCs:

Jacob Jr.: The son of the bait shop owner in Aerofort. Previously traumatized after being petrified on an adventure, he is now inspired by the party’s heroic return and vows to become a ‘river warrior’ just like them.
Jacob Sr.: The owner of the bait shop in Aerofort who recommended a trustworthy boat crew to the party.
The Boatmen: A crew of three sailors hired by the party. They ferried the group up the river and, while they didn’t participate in combat, they spread tales of the party’s heroism upon returning to town.

ITEMS:

Bone-Tipped Trident: A primitive trident dropped by a Sahaguin. It is fragile and risks breaking on a poor attack roll.
Golden Bones: The gold-gilded bones of two giant skeletons. Highly valuable as both treasure and a rare alchemical component.
Quartz Spheres: Hundreds of small, cracked quartz spheres found in the giants’ crypts. They function as gems and are quite valuable in bulk.
Sabo’s Cursed Sword: A longsword made from a giant ivory tooth. It is cursed, preventing its wielder from harming followers of the elder god Dagon.
Troll Bile: A potent, if low-grade, healing substance that can stabilize the dying and restore a few hit points.

LOCATIONS:

Aerofort: A swampy fishing town on the west side of the Blood River. It serves as the party’s home base and is dominated by the Drayman’s Guild.
Giant’s Gorge & Amphitheater: A secluded gorge containing a giant petroglyph, a massive stone head, and a natural amphitheater housing six ancient giant crypts.
Hunlet Dwarf Fortress: A dwarven keep located far to the south. Its inhabitants, who normally trade in Aerofort, have been missing for several weeks.
The Lost Fork: A tributary of the Blood River that the party explored. It leads into a hidden, ancient gorge.

FACTIONS:

Drayman’s Guild: The most established guild in Aerofort, controlling most of the region’s business. They are known for paying their workers in company scrip.
Followers of Dagon: A faction that worships the elder god Dagon. The Sahaguin encountered by the party are members of this group.

QUESTS:

Explore the Lost Fork: The party’s self-directed mission to travel up the Lost Fork river and investigate its secrets.
Investigate the Missing Dwarves: The sailors mentioned that the dwarves from the Hunlet Dwarf Fortress have been absent from Aerofort for weeks, suggesting something is amiss.

PLAYER CHARACTERS

Buford Aleblood: A boisterous Dwarven Kineticist from Kingmaker with a penchant for solving problems with powerful blasts of energy. He acts first and thinks later, as demonstrated when he impulsively carved his name into an ancient stone monument.
Eric: A human magus who conceals scars on one side of his face with an ornate mask. He is a capable combatant who stands on the front lines, using spells like Burning Hands and Magic Missile to damage his foes.
Fang Goldskin: A Vishkania necromancer with a Road Warrior background. He contributes to fights with necromantic spells like Bonebolt and is not afraid to get his hands dirty, though he was knocked unconscious during the battle with the skeletal giants.
Goblecki Teppe: A fledgling Fetchling wizard specializing in enchantment. He is resourceful and knowledgeable, using a vial of troll bile to save a dying companion and a specialized Cryptspell to daze undead foes during a critical battle.
Haisha Deep River: A half-elf paladin sworn to the Four Dragon Kings, dedicated to protecting the sanctity of the world’s waters. She is a stalwart defender, enduring a near-fatal wound and using her divine powers to bring her allies back from the brink of death.
Sabo: A human fighter who recently joined the group to acquire his current weapon. He wields a powerful but cursed longsword made from a giant tooth, which compels him to be friendly towards followers of Dagon and kept him from fighting the Sahaguin.