June 16th 1000 AC

Summary

Adventuring Party 2

First thing in the morning Vanga Yor tells the party about a pack of wolves that visited the camp while hän kept watch, but it wasn't a big deal. Hän took care of them because hän is good with animals. While traveling to the Caves of Chaos Vanga Yor spots a small flock of birds resting on the ground in a clearing. He runs over to them waving hän's arms scaring them off. Hän returns to the party and says:

See. Good with animals.

The party's objective is to gain more information from The Minotaur about the methods of traveling between worlds, but they don't know which of the 5 unexplored caves he can be found. When pressed by Olga, Conrad recalls that the last time he had an audience with the Minotaur it was in Cave I. But he can't help navigate the cave because he gets turned around.

As the party gets closer to the Minotaur the party convinces Vanga Yor to stay back, as they are afraid about how he'll react to seeing "an animal" like the Minotaur. Conrad also stays back because he's not in good graces with the Minotaur.

The party finds Erisippos the Minotaur in a chamber with various weapons mounted on the walls, sitting on an elevated makeshift throne holding a trident, and wearing a tightly fitting poncho. Beatrix Knibbs and Olga Volgamoore immediately assume he has slayed a Lintumiehet. They present themselves as bodyguards for a scholar who is studying the methods of traveling between worlds.

Beatrix relates a story about their interactions with the wizard Caladimus. Through conversation they learn:

• Erisippos reveals that he is the "muscle" of those who are bringing creatures into Mystara.
• Additionally he briefly detailed a ritual performed by a priest which involved pulling individuals out of a pool of slime and "blessing" or "cursing" them into being more unpredictable by human standards.
• It is only used to bring people in and they become part of the Minotaur's underlings.
• Some live in the caves and others go out into the world spreading chaos.
• The priest is sent from a temple and sometimes there is more than one at a time.
• The church is the one that employs them. One of the Minotaur's responsibilities is to manage what happens when they pull something out of the slime that is more than the priests can handle.

After divulging so much, Erisippos demands payment and Beatrix offers up the book he took from The Wizard's Tower.

Mira offers up a peryton feather and he gets excited about the prospect of one being in the area because he wants to challenge it.

Satisfied by the book and the knowledge of where he can find a peryton he states that they are even and the information they just gained would not cost them their lives.

Olga asks where they can find the priests who perform the ritual. Erisippos divulges the information and, for payment, Olga presents him one off Beef's meat pies. Erisippos begins to fall into a slow rage as he has been given a pie made out of what he considers his kindred.

In desperation the party throws all of the potions from the wizards tower at him. The vials break and steam surrounds him. From within the steam there are flashes of light. From a safe distance the party watches as:

• shrinks to 2 feet tall
• loses control of his faculties
• goes from swearing and cursing to only asking questions
• loses all of his hair
• his teeth fall out and his hooves fall off
• followed by horrendous body odor
• complains about the brightness of the light from the flashes

Then he finally succumbs to all the terrible effects.

Beatrix comments:

I now feel much safer not having any of that with us.

The party takes weapons that were mounted from the wall.

• Beatrix: +1 Sword (+3 against regenerating creatures)
• Mira: +1 Crossbow for distance (fires double the normal range)
• Olga: +1 Trident enchanged to demoralize foes. On a hit, an opponent must save vs spells or be demoralized for 2d4 rounds and make a moral check or surrender. 20 charges.
• Stilton: +2 Dagger blade lengthens to a short sword doing 1d6+2 damage. Against opponents made of wood or stone it inflicts maximum damage.

Mira also retrieves the perryton feather.

On the way out Beatrix asks what Vanga Yor what hän would have done if he was near a cow. Hän says that he is not allowed near them.

See Also

Session Dates