Rise of the Runelords Recap # 109 [RPG]

 
[3 Gozran 4708 continued]

The Heroes of Varisia have reached a bluff overlooking the legendary city of Xin-Shalast, but have not yet stepped foot on its gold-paved streets.  Twice, they’ve been intercepted by patrols of the vulture-men known as kuchrimas.  In the aftermath of the second battle, the adventurers discuss strategy.  After Ava discovers her teleportation abilities are unreliable due to the strange planar energies that surround the city, the group settles on the direct approach: a frontal assault on the guard fortress!  But there will be a small twist, as the adventurers hope they can lure the defenders out so the battle can take place around fortified bunkers and walls created through Ava’s rudimentary knowledge of stone-shaping magic.  Before they set the plan in motion, Ava extracts a promise from Morgiana to never split up again as she did in the previous battle.

When the attackers have completed their preparations, they approach the fortress and stop about a hundred yards from its gates.  Kang strides forward and signals that he wishes to talk, and, moments later, a kuchrima flies forward while her companions take to the skies in formation.  The kuchrima shouts a demand, in Thassilonian, that the intruders explain why they have come to Krak Naratha (the name of the fortress).  Kang replies that they’ve come at the behest of Karzoug, but the kuchrima states that entrance to the city is permitted only to those bearing tokens of passage.  Kang rejoins his allies and there’s whispered discussion of the group perhaps trying to bluff their way in using the Sihedron-marked coin found in Magnimar, but ultimately the idea is rejected.  Instead, Kang announces to the kuchrima that they are not followers of the Runelord, with predictable results.  The circling kuchrimas instantly let loose a volley of arrows, and first blood goes to the defenders of the city as Kang and Ava are struck.

The adventurers duck behind the stone barricades that Ava previously conjured in the middle of the grand highway and wait for the kuchrimas to draw closer so their advantage in ranged combat will be negated.  But instead, one of the kuchrimas shouts “Release the herd!” and there’s a thunderous explosion from somewhere within the fortress.  The gates are wrenched open, and dozens of mountain aurochs rush out, panicked and willing to trample anything in their path!  Realising they can’t stand against such an onslaught, the adventurers take to the sky through various means in order to get above the sheer mass of animal flesh.  The kuchrimas try to press their advantage, but they’re still no match for the sheer offensive power of Kang’s bombs and Jinkatsyu’s rapier.  In a matter of minutes, the defenders of Krak Naratha are slain, and the Heroes of Varisia stand astride the fortress walls.
From their new vantage point, they can see that the wide golden highway that brought them to Xin-Shalast continues through the city until it turns into a golden staircase and begins ascending toward the peak of Mhar Massif.  Not too far away, a large, seemingly temporary encampment of various types of giants can be spotted.  The group decide they need a place to hide while they plan their next move, and they settle on a, long-abandoned storeroom deep in the bowels of Krak Naratha.  Morgiana decides to put her newly-constructed bear trap to good use, and leaves it in the hallway outside of the storeroom covered in a fine coating of dust and debris.  Inconclusive discussion is had on whether the group should attack the giant camp, try to negotiate, or avoid it altogether by taking to the back streets and alleyways of the massive city.

The afternoon stretches on until ponderous footsteps can be heard coming from above.  The deep bass of the Giant tongue can be heard—it seems like a search of the fortress has been ordered!  At the same time, Kang realizes that he’s being scryed!  He decides to dart out of the storeroom so the others won’t be discovered, wandering through various dusty passageways until the nigh-invisible magical sensor finally disappears.  As he’s returning to the storeroom, however, he hears a rock skitter behind him and realises he’s being followed!  The tiefling begins to run until he hears a sharp metallic crack—

Morgiv could be just what the PCs
need--an ally in Xin-Shalast!

Morgiana’s bear trap has sprung!  And it has clamped down on the leg of a thin, unarmed humanoid with loose skin.  The being lets loose a mournful howl, and says in Undercommon “Morgiv hurts!  Morgiv hurts!”  Kang and the others carefully release the creature from the trap, and Ava casts some minor healing magic.  The stranger throws his arms around Kang in a tight, enthusiastic hug—“Morgiv find Chosen One!” he shouts.

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Director's Commentary

PCs disguising themselves as followers of Karzoug to gain entry to the city was definitely a possibility the AP contemplated, but this group tended to pursue the more direct approach.

The massive stampede of aurochs was really fun to do, even if it didn't work.

I found running Xin-Shalash very challenging.  The AP did its best in providing as much information as possible about key events or locations, but there's just a ton of detail that GMs need to fill in themselves.  The fortress of Krak Naratha, for example, is not mapped or detailed at all, so I had to improvise.  We'll see the same phenomena in some later sessions when the PCs go to locations in which the AP gives only super brief coverage of matters that are actually quite labor-intensive to flesh out (like "swarming with a variety of spectral undead" and the like).

I liked the little twist ending.  PCs usually (understandably) expect the worst, so it can be a fun surprise when something good comes out of the blue.