[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Twenty-Two
Appearing Characters: Arthak Saurfang, Lasan Skyhorn, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Rak'Symma, Skullhat, Sol'chi, Thisalee Crow, Ugla, Zar'Kaa
November 15th
Sol veered the ship around to pick the group up and they set off toward the destination of Ugla the Hag. Thisalee Crow flew beside the ship for a moment with the wing-like feathers beneath her arms, and she landed on the roof and swung her way into the vessel.
She pointed out the window, and the group witnessed a heavy mist that had materialized and obscured the entire peak of the mountain.
Rak’Symma recalled a tale told by the Skyhorn which referenced a Mist of Loss, which could cause people to forget why they delved into the mists in the first place.
Arthak got up on top of the ship to try and help guide Sol into the mists. Eagle riders flanked the ship on either side.
The group was able to focus their thoughts as they drifted into the heavy, suffocating mists, and held onto their awareness of the situation. Arthak tried to keep an eye out on the environment, but he was unable to respond fast enough to warn of the rock that loomed from the mist. Sol slammed on the controls and was able to veer the vehicle out of the way.
Sol managed to land the ship, and they heard echoing laughter and the rattling of bone in every direction. It also became obvious that there were more things they were looking for than just the path ahead. They managed to pick up some tracks of kobolds, harpies, and other strange beings that are hard to identify.
However, Arthak suddenly found himself alone. And separately, so did Nyxxa. Nyxxa called for the others, but there was no echo, and even the mental link had no sound. They were wandering, seeking some way out. Unimportant memories started to get hazy.
Thisalee used [Warding Wind] around the group that wasn’t lost as they tried to look for any sign of their lost companions. They were first able to find Arthak in the mist. Shortly after, they stumbled upon Nyxxa, who was a bit frantic to find her friends and family. However, as they moved to pick up Nyxxa, Sol noticed something on the ground. It was a symbol. Sol shouted a warning as the symbol activated. The group drove out of the way, except for Arthak, who hunkered down and prepared to resist. The spell washed over him, but he seemed to be largely unphased.
They heard more cackling, and various shadowy figures raced through the mist. Nyxxa caught the trail of one of the figures and started to close in on her, and Sol released a spell as he called out Ugla the Hag. They heard a screech as the spell connected, and they raced over and saw Ugla the Hag dead on the ground before them. For good measure, Arthak cut the corpse’s head off. Sol didn’t understand the exact specifications of what was going on, but as he heard more cackling, he knew that was too easy, and there was something going on. However, the fact the spell sought her out meant this wasn’t an illusion or simulacrum. The body also didn’t deteriorate.
As they analyzed the situation, it did seem like the hag’s consciousness was in multiple bodies, and the only way to kill her was to kill all the bodies. If one of them escaped, she herself would also escape. As Zar’Kaa considered a mortal being, the thought came to him that Ugla was still mortal, and splitting one’s consciousness multiple times had to have been taxing, and Sol was able to kill one of them instantly. It seemed that the consciousness wasn’t split perfectly, and there were likely greater and lesser copies. There probably weren’t more than a half dozen bodies, as more than that would not be able to be maintained reliably.
They were able to hunt down several of the lesser bodies, but then they saw two of the Uglas split off, where one was headed down a cliff face into jagged cliffs, while another headed for a number of cave networks. Sol used his gaze of two minds ability on Nyxxa before he, Arthak, and Zar’Kaa rushed toward the caves, and Nyxxa, Rak’Symma, and Thisalee headed to the cliffs.
The cave group entered a chasm that had harpy fetishes with bone, sinew, and flesh plastered all over the environment. The group looked around, weapons at the ready, and then they heard cracking sounds. Two of the large fetishes started to move and miasmic energy from the mist coalesced around them. There was a battle cry, and as they swiveled around, they saw a spear dig into the ground right by their feet. They looked up and saw a small group of diminutive rat-like humanoids with primitive weapons in hand and lit candles on their heads. One of them was wearing the skull of another one of the creatures over his head and had a staff in hand. He made a squeaking war cry, and another, larger, 8 foot tall kobold lumbered up behind him.
Behind them, in the air over them, was Ugla the Hag with a sinister grin on her face.
Meanwhile, the other group found themselves in a glade with a massive shrine that was once dedicated to something great. Rak’Symma’s heart ached, as she realized it was desecrated with blood and tauren hide, turning it into a macabre effigy of the grotesque lows the harpies had fallen to. A bright, malevolent light flickered onto the skinless skull of a tauren that hung upon the macabre fetish. It also started to animate with a chill, frigid wind of the grave swirling around it, and the ground around them started to break as bones and flesh of animated harpies started to claw their way out of the ground. Their jaws were distended, and their tongues lolling around as they crawled toward them. Ugla the Hag, perched on a tree, cackled.
One of the Skywhisker kobolds charged at Zar’Kaa, but he teleported out of the way of the kobold and materialized behind Sol. The kobold swung at Sol, but the eredar was able to avoid the blow.
One of the harpy ghouls, a Crawliac Ravener, rushed at Rak’Symma and lashed out with its lengthened tongue and clawed at her. An explosion of storm energy and wind radiated from Symma and sent the Ravener blasting back.
Another Skywhisker kobold rushed at Arthak with a battlecry. It cut into Arthak’s shins and then fired a blow dart at Sol, which sank into his arm. Arthak glanced at Sol.
Arthak rushed around the two immediate kobolds and then slammed through another kobold to get into the cave entrance between the kobold brute and Skullhat, the Skywhisker chieftain. A few of the kobolds scrambled forward to protect their chieftain, but it didn’t matter, as Arthak was able to swoop his blade forward and slice right through the candle on the chieftain’s head. It was balanced on his blade, and then slid down into his hand.
Arthak then looked up at the kobold brute and smirked, inclining his head up at the candle at the top of the brute’s head.
All the kobolds gasped and then rounded to stare at Arthak. The orc swept his blade at the kobold brute, his eye on the candle.
The Ugla the Hag that was facing down Rak’Symma’s group began to laugh. The ground began to roil with vines and opened up as magical vines wrapped around everyone except Zar’Kaa, Arthak, and Rak’Symma. The sharp thorns began to pierce into their flesh. She then began to weave foul magics that were directed at Nyxxa, who squirmed out of the way. Ugla then launched herself at Nyxxa and slashed her.
Arthak then swung at the kobold brute and managed to knock the large creature out as he swept its candle from its head as well.
The mist swelled around them and started to erode more unimportant thoughts. As Arthak slammed the kobold brute into the cave wall, rocks started to fall down upon him. Arthak ducked out of the way of the brunt of it.
Another Crawliac Ravener rushed at Thisalee, who then teleported in a flurry of feathers and escaped the vines. Arthak was getting swarmed by the angered kobolds. Thisalee then rushed at Ugla the Hag and used [Inner Fire] on herself, Rak’Symma, and Nyxxa as a glowing moonlit symbol of Elune appeared over their foreheads. She then swept her double-sided blade at the harpy, who was able to dodge out of the way of the blows. Another Ravener went for Nyxxa, and it went straight for Nyxxa’s throat, but a veneer of moonfire deflected the blow aside.
Rak’Symma’s eyes glowed a brilliant white as lightning crackled around her and a blast of swirling, maelstrom energy radiated from her claws as the tattoo on her back also flared with energy. It washed over most of the undead, and in a wave of shredding winds, the bodies of the undead disintegrated, her eyes honed on Ugla the Hag with raw fury as she screeched and used [Roar].
One of the Walking Death Fetishes lumbers toward Sol and brings its claw down on him. The Ugla the Hag on their side also slashed through Sol as she flew by, and then she grabbed him and tried to use [Harm]. Sol used [Counterspell] to rip the spell away. However, she gathered up the energy and used [Death Coil] instead.
One of the remaining Raveners rushed at Nyxxa and slashed her.
Skullhat grabbed at Arthak, trying to get his candle back as he used [Hold Person]. However, it was ineffective.
Zar’Kaa ran at Ugla, but the fetishes swung at him as he passed. Zar’Kaa hurled his spear at Ugla, and then teleported up to her. He slashed into her multiple times, but then dropped his axe and grabbed onto the harpy’s leg.
Ugla started barking at the kobolds to help her, but they were too distracted by Arthak’s thefts of the candles.
The Walking Doom Fetish released a howling, mournful wail and a chilling wind blew over Thisalee and Nyxxa. Thisalee used [Absorb Elements] as the cold blast washed over them, and killed the nearby Ravener. It then lurched forward and slammed its fist into the night elf druid.
The Skywhiskers continued to swarm Arthak as Hooty was pulled into the earth by the vines.
He was destroyed by the thorned vines as Nyxxa rushed over to Ugla the Hag and unleashed a flurry of blows that left the harpy quite injured.
The vines constricted Sol and left him severely injured. Sol drank a potion of supreme healing to remedy his wounds and then used [Mind Blast] on Ugla the Hag. However, she was able to resist the effect.
The Ugla Zar’Kaa was grappling chomped down on a rotten apple, while the Ugla with Nyxxa and Thisalee vomited up a cone of bile and razor sharp apple seeds over Thisalee, Nyxxa, and Rak’Symma. They all dodged out of the way.
Arthak continued to sweep through the kobolds, and he stole two more candles for a total of four. He then turned back to the chieftain with the candles in hand. He relit them with Var’gosh.
He offered the candles back to the chieftain. Skullhat looked intensely at Arthak.
Arthak nodded and Skullhat looked over at Ugla the Hag, who was still fighting, and he was clearly confused and scared. Arthak raised his sword.
Skullhat whistled, and the other kobolds lowered their weapons, but they were not fully off-guard. Arthak turned to head towards Ugla. One of the kobolds started to attack Arthak as he left, but Skullhat told them to wait and watch. The kobolds started to bicker.
Zar’Kaa wrestled with Ugla and was able to bring her down out of the sky. They slammed into the ground and he got back to his feet as he drove his spear into her shoulder, pinning her to the ground.
Arthak grinned.
Arthak slashed his sword across the harpy’s face as she struggled against the spear. A Skywhisker Loyalist charged forward.
He slashed into Arthak, but then froze as wax dropped down over him. Skullhat had used [Hold Person], and the bickering amongst the kobolds only intensified.
Lasan swooped by and managed to pull Sol out of the vines as he was fighting off other airborne enemies and disappeared into the mist again. Sol hopped over Ugla the Hag.
He used [Disintegrate] at point-blank range as she continued to struggle.Violet and fel green energy overwhelmed her as he blasted her in the face, and her body broke apart and shattered. On the other side, the other copy also started to crack.
She ruptured from inside, and was gone. The mist dissipated around them. Sol then stepped over to the nearest Walking Death Fetish and slashed it with his lesser rapier of speed.
Nyxxa finished off the last Ravener before whirling around to the Walking Doom Fetish. With another series of strikes, fel flames began to lick at the remnant flesh and sinew. However, as she connected with her hoof, it seemed that it was immune to nonmagical damage.
It swung around to smash its fist into Thisalee, but Nyxxa saw her opening and managed to jab her glaive into it, and in a wash of fire, its movement halted as it was stunned. Rak’Symma used [Witch Bolt] on it, and lightning arched between herself and the fetish.
One of the Walking Death Fetishes struck both Arthak and Zar’Kaa while Thisalee slammed into the Doom Fetish. She dug her weapon in and twisted it, which gave Rak’Symma a perfect lightning rod. Together, they rip all the corpses and desecration from it, and it crumbles to the ground.
The second Walking Death Fetish tore into Sol as Zar’Kaa flickered out of the way of its other attack. Arthak used his giant’s might to grow larger. He swung at both the Death Fetishes and pushed them both back. One of the Death Fetishes swings back, but he is able to hold on.
Sol tried to use [Frost Bolt] but it was unable to connect. Zar’Kaa swung around with his spear and severed the constructs head, which then crashed down to the ground. He then shot a healing dart up at Arthak.
He then swung around to work on the other Walking Death Fetish. With another series of weaving attacks, and Arthak drove Var’gosh into the ground to give Zar’Kaa a lift that allowed him to get a final killing blow. The fetish raised its arms up to bring them down on Zar’Kaa with a final blow, but then the bones of its arms cracked and crumbled as the Skywhisker kobolds fired thick rocks to help bring it low.
Nyxxa asked if Rak’Symma wanted a moment, who nodded as she kneeled next to the crumbled shrine that had become the effigy. The battles were clearly taking a toll on her. Thisalee and Nyxxa both put their hands on her shoulders.
Rak’Symma looked up at Thisalee and asked if she could take the tarnished idol from the shrine with her.
Rak’Symma nodded and got to her feet.
Rak’Symma nodded again before she turned to check in with the others. The group arrived as the other fight was wrapping up. The Skywhisker kobolds were watching very cautiously.
Skullhat cautiously led them to one of Ugla the Hag’s lairs. Amongst the various fetishes and monstrous things was a pot of soup. There were harpies that had been recently slain around it, and there was an immense power there, but also a lot of danger.
Zar’Kaa took a quick look. It was likely full of all sorts of vile ingredients, and it literally killed people, but it also had immense restorative capabilities if people could push through the other ramifications.
Everyone took full bowls of the soup.
