Rise of the Runelords Recap # 75 [RPG]

[6 Calistril 4708 continued]

Following their successful battle against the lamias, the cautious adventurers decide to return to their hideout rather than press on.  As they’re passing through the narrow tunnels that connect Jorgenfist’s subterranean level with their own cave, however, they see a surprising sight: a large ceramic vase standing in the middle of the route.  Kang and Jemar hear the sound of movement in the various branching side tunnels around them and call out in alarm just as a stone thrown from somewhere in the darkness crashes into the vase and breaks it, releasing a massive black ooze!  The scope of the ambush becomes clear when the adventurers realize that a group of redcaps are trying to cut off their retreat so they can’t escape the writhing mass that seems to flow towards them.  Fortunately, Kang and Salma react quickly and incinerate the aberration before it can hurt anyone, and the party’s rear guard drives the surprised redcaps away.  It seems even the murderous fey know when they’re outmatched.

The glistening animate piles of sludge known 

as black puddings are the true scavengers of the underworld.

When the adventurers reach their makeshift base, they see the dwarves that they rescued earlier have arrived safely.  Considering his expedition to Jorgenfist successful, Jemar decides to escort the dwarves back home to Janderhoff.  Carefully descending to the riverbank below the cave, he and the other dwarves depart with barely a farewell, leaving Ava with hurt feelings.

After a brief rest, the adventurers decide they should press on with their own mission.  When they make it back near the winding ramp that connects the surface fortress with the subterranean level, they see barrels rolling down.  Ready for anything, the adventurers are shocked to see one of the barrels is labelled (in Giant) “Suitable for sacrifice for Lokansir” and contains a humanoid figure—alive!  When the captive is released, the adventurers can see it’s an almost naked, muscular figure covered in scars and tattoos with subtle gills on the side of his neck.  The newcomer thanks his liberators and explains that he’s Yuzo—“a seeker of fame and fortune—but mostly fame!”  Yuzo explains that he sought glory in matching his prowess against that of giant-kind, but must have been blind-sided because he doesn’t quite remember how he ended up in the barrel.  The others explain their mission to slay Mokmurian and prevent the destruction of Sandpoint, and Yuzo is keen to take part in a quest that is sure to bring them all great renown.  Fortunately, the other barrel contains Yuzo’s equipment, including a deadly-looking falchion.

Yuzo is a Gillman, a race of semi-amphibious humanoids

 with strong ties to Aroden, the Azlanti, the aboleths, 

and many other important aspects of Golarion's history.

With their numbers again bolstered by fortuitous aid, the adventurers continue past the site of their battle against the lamias and into a narrow passageway that starts to descend.  But before they get past the natural chokepoint, sharp ranseur blades suddenly jut out from the walls on either side!  The adventurers realize seconds too late that the walls on either side of the passageway have small holes in them, and that creatures on the other side don’t intend to let them pass without paying a toll in blood.  Kang is hurt and retreats, but Jinkatsyu darts forward and finds the narrow gap that allows him to slip around to the other side of one wall—only to come face to face with massive, armored troll!  The kitsune tumbles away, hoping to lure the troll out into the open.  About the same time, the troll on the side of the other wall is engaged.  Kang’s bombs blow one of the attackers to flaming bits of flesh, but not before Yuzo is badly hurt by getting repeatedly clawed and bitten.  Working together, however, Kang and Jinkatsyu manage to finish off the last one, and Ava is able to draw upon powerful magicks to heal Yuzo.  Salma’s keen eyes discern that some of the trolls’ possessions are magical, which leads the group to backtrack to their own hideout to secure the spoils of war.

While there, Yuzo sets up a collapsible bathtub and then opens a metal flask from which gallons of water stream forth!  He fully immerses himself in the water while the others talk about their plans for the morrow.  Kang expresses concern that they might be running out of time, and that, for all they know, the giant armies may have already set off.

[7 Calistril 4708]

In the morning, determined to finish off Mokmurian after days of gruelling effort, the adventurers sally forth again.  They pass the troll guard post and start following a narrow, corkscrewing tunnel that takes them hundreds and hundreds of feet below the ground.  When their descent ends, they see that the architecture is of ancient, peculiar design.  This is no giant-craft, but instead a place dating to the days of the Empire of Thassilon!
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Director's Commentary

I don't quite remember what led me to place the black-pudding-in-a-vase trap, but it seemed like a very redcap-appropriate scheme.

Yuzo, of course, was the new PC for the player who previously ran Nerissa, et al.  Yuzo was a very boisterous, outgoing character, and a lot of fun to see role-played.