Episode Four
Episode 4: Oni-Magumara the Forsaken Warrior
The party, pressed by ill weather and few supplies, is forced to land in a ramshackle abode in the swamp. The place is owned by a man named Karplie, formerly known as the Karp of Blue Haven, and his companion, Rangar (Rangor's twin brother –see episode 2: Fist Full of Jade for more info). Karplie has been forced to live in the swamp as the result of a snafu that occurred in Abalone when he accidentally misprepared a poisonous blow fish for a high ranking guild official. He has taken residence here because no sane person would come this far into such an accursed place.
Upon arriving they discover that Karplie is badly injured, and that his friend Rangar is currently in the northernlands marsh hunting. His injuries seem to be the result of an escape from the ruins of a sunken keep to the south west- suspected to be a keep of a long dead evil called Gokol. Karplie saw lights in the ruins a few days ago and went to investigate. He would be all too happy to aid the characters if he could however he can not give them supplies because his food is all poisoned. The Karp does this to prevent "Wyld Rats" (Read: SkavenEpisode_Four/Nezumi) from raiding his home while he is out hunting. The antidote is in a locket he usually keeps about his neck however it has been left in the ruins by accident. He was on a precipice taking a leak when he was attacked by something that can only be described as a half-man half-alligator. Panicked he grabbed his sword, then pulled up his pants and left. The route back (which is a 2 day journey) didn't treat him well.
He hands the heroes a map and describes the numerous dangers of the swamp. They decide on a direct route to get to the keep and leave at dawn. At night they are forced to camp on a haunted battlefield, a shadowland, and are attacked by ghosts, the next day they trek out and are ambushed by "Wyld Rats". The ambush is thwarted by the death of the shaman, and they proceed onward. They cross a broken bridge barely and find themselves on a river island that is home to "Mud Men" animated humanoid creatures who are unbelievably slow, but also unbelievably hard to kill. They run past them and cross the bridge to the other side of the river and make camp. A gargantuan River Beast, apparently called a river dragon by some members due to its serpentine appearance and massive size, bursts through the middle of the bridge to attack. The result is Pele Cindertind walking up to it and decking it across the nose with all of her might. The creature is so stunned by this unexpected reaction that it retreats and the party continues with their encampment.
In the morning, after a night of Love running up to the bridge and firing arrows down into the hole to "scare the beast from returning", they set off to the keep. The keeps front door has a magical barrier that has a riddle on it that the heroes/heroines must solve to enter. After an immense amount of effort they safely do and enter into the keep in search of Karplies locket. When Stratvm steps foot inside he has a flash and a vision. He sees himself standing in the door of the keep, facing the opposite way. His sword is drenched in dark purple blood and somehow he knows that the blood is that of a demons. He snaps back and joins the rest of the group as they begin searching. They discover a fire on top of the only precipice they come across, shortly after Love runs off from the party. Atop the precipice is a gigantic humanoid who is enraged for apparently no reason. He attacks the party, and Pele does her best to defend.
The stairway leading to the top is very narrow and were it not for her magical gifts Pele would have been at a large disadvantage. The opponent introduces himself as Oni-Magumara, the Forsaken Warrior a concubine of his Empress's chambers. His anima banner flares, a Dawn Caste, and it appears behind him as the visage of a gigantic minotaur. During the fight he confesses that she has gone missing, and on the night of her disappearance he had discovered himself here. In an effort to help defeat this monstrous being, Stratvm runs along the side of the walls in a spiral up to the precipice and swings his sword down on him. During one of the last blows of the fight Oni-Magumara sees Black Dawn and suddenly his rage turns from his opponents to her. He bombards her with a fearsome attack just as Atropos blasts him off of the precipice. The structure collapses on him and the characters take his Orichalcum Breastplate, and his sword.
Love appears with the locket and the characters return to Karplies home unharmed. He gives them supplies and tells them to take Rangar along to Blue Haven because he might be able to help them. Karplie advises them to see Captain Torazin and sets the characters on their way.
Most Comedic Moment(s)- Pele hits the River Beast, and its so random and unexpected it fails its valor check and runs away. Love sneaks by Stratvm after having been caught only moments before, and returns to the bridge to launch arrows into the water where the beast arose.
Back to Maylin
