Delves 8 & 9 - Caverns of Thracia

DELVE 8 

In which Iados (monk), Aspa (rogue), Athoz (fighter) and Nieven (warlock) awaken the Immortal King.

• The party decided they were going to explore more of the lizardfolk temple, where they had found a golden mask a few sessions ago.
• They ran into some skeletons on the 1st level, perhaps hinting that a rumour they'd heard about the influence of a "warrior of the Dark One" wasn't just a tall tale.
• Reaching the temple, they began exploring it's southern reaches. Some jars were found, undead lizardfolk fought, nothing too out of the ordinary.
• Then they came across the Immortal King's sepulchre. He was dormant, sitting on piles and piles of coins. When the party appeared, there was a blink of arcane light and he disappeared. The party decided to grab what they can and run.
  However the King was waiting for them in the main chamber, and ordered they drop what they had taken. The warlock decided to be cute and tried to teleport and run away, only to be counterspelled and paralyzed by the powerful mage. He let them live, on condition that they bring the lizardfolk to him so that "I may start my empire once more".

He didn't ask for the jars however, which were worth a pretty penny to a collector in town.

DELVE 9

In which three new characters, Nox (fighter), Nax (druid) and Fang (cleric) made some friends.

• On the 1st level, they saw animated skeletons where the previous party had destroyed some. After opening fire, there a panicked cry as a women, introducing herself as Elise, stated her business; she had been studying some oddities on the level, and had animated the skeletons to protect herself. Suspicion slowly melted away as Elise asked if she could accompany them (to keep her safe), and allowed the party to name her three skeletons in a show of good faith.

Elise is the "1" for now, with her animated bodyguards Chrarles, Trout and Carrie.

• Heading down a level, they ran into some gnolls who asked if the party wanted gold. They agreed, and waited for the gnolls to fetch their commanding officer.
  (This was due to a lucky reaction roll; the gnolls were friendly. This wasn't the first time, and I'd determined between sessions that perhaps there is a faction of gnolls unhappy fighting for the Minotaur King down below. The gnolls had suffered most at the hands of adventurers, while the Minotaur King feasted in the palace below.)
• They met Dog Sister Aatsyh, the head of a burgeoning faction of rebellious gnolls. She told the party that, by working together, they could clear the upper level and a way down to the 3rd. Aatysh and her gnolls would hold the passages open and, for a fee, allow adventurers to pass. The party agreed (as having someone to keep the cleared parts of the dungeon enemy free would be handy for faster travel) and agreed to clear out some lizardfolk from a nearby guardpost, so that Aatsyh could garrison it with loyal gnolls.
• A tough and grueling battle ensued in a nearby guardpost; the 7 lizardfolk were stubborn. The fight was in a 10 foot doorway, Elise blinded javelin throwers with a fog cloud, so it was down to a bloody melee. Nox went down, all of the skeletons were destroyed (though their bones were collected for further reanimation), and eventually the cleric was fighting toe to toe with three exhausted lizardfolk. A lizardfolk asked for a parley and, in exchange for a jewelled sword they found, the lizardfolk offered to retreat. The party, also in poor condition, agreed.
• The lizardfolk produced the jewelled two handed sword, a fine piece of gear. It sold for a few hundred, allowing the party to level up.

I decided to try a different way of writing out delves today. The bullet points feel easier to write and feel less rambling than just blocks of text. They're also a bit quicker to write and easier to sum up details, useful when I've forgotten to write delves from some weeks ago! Maybe I'll write up delves a day or so after I've ran then. Maybe.