llot session 4 - the sacrifice

Session #4 of the Lorn Labyrinth of Tsathoggus, an OD&D 3LBB megadungeon campaign run over at the OD&D Discussion Board Discord Server.

Rules Clarifications

Previously the party utilized a Censer of Controlling Air Elementals in their dungeoneering. It was made known to me that according to Monsters & Treasure, that an elemental under a magic-user's control only stays so insofar as the MU remains still and is not attacked. This causes the Censer to become much less effective in the following sessions.

The Expedition

The party of Sebed and Athona the fighters, Eless and Aurelius the magic-user, and a new addition, Erling a halfling fighter set out to make their fortune within the labyrinth. This time the party is down their hired men due to their brutality in the last expedition. They still have their men-at-arms under the mental power of Eless who join them. During their time between adventures, Sebed was given the strange sword by Athona who found it to press against her Chaotic nature. Sebed discovered it to be a blade that glowed with a sickly green flame when drawn (+1 Sword) that held more secrets to be discovered with use.

The Labyrinth

Delving into the labyrinth, the party finds themselves in a room with a tub of ash and melted wax candles. Wanting to make the most of their time, the party sets out to the east and begins exploring. They find a room with pig-bodied men who they attack and slay but not before a front-line man-at-arms is bludgeoned to death by one of the creature's metal pipes its wielding as a weapon.

Continuing east, the party found themselves in a temple complex and soon encountered a group of robed individuals who claimed to be worshippers of the "god of frogs". A quick useage of the helmet of telepathy by Eless rendered one of them a new party member. The rest seeing the strange mood shift of their friend fled. The party convinced their newfound ally to initiate them into the cult of the frog god. The cultist gracefully obliged.

The party was led further east and taken into a sauna room where 6 more cultists sat and prepared themselves by ritual cleansing. Upon entry the cultists became uneasy and attempted to leave the sauna but not before Eless could press one into service with her magical helmet. Simultaneously, Aurelius used a spell of charming to add another to the party's ranks.

With their growing army, the party insisted on entering into the ritual chamber. The cultists led them on and the party found themselves in a large room bedecked with pillars. At the room's center an elevated altar behind which stood a 10' stone statue of an anthropomorphic frog with a twisted demonic face. About the base of the altar laid 6 robed cultists in a state of catatonic sleep. On the altar's surface was a bloodied corpse, clearly sacrificed just hours prior to the party's arrival.

The cultist offered to be the party's initiation liaison. Somberly the other two cultists cleared the corpse from the altar. Erling was selected to be the speaker for the party and the ritual commenced. The cultists placed their liaison ally upon the altar and plunged a dagger into his chest. Suddenly a wave of energy swept over the party causing all but Erling, Eless, and Sebed to fall into a magical slumber. Eriling was struck with a violent headache receiving an increase in wisdom (+1 WIS) but having a strong darkness fall over him (alignment shift to Chaos).

After being woken by her allies, Athona wished to receive a similar blessing and recreated the ritual. The rest of the party left the room, overcome with a dark presentiment. Athona now touched with a dark gift from the elder god, piled the slumbering corpses of the remaining cultists high on the alter and set them alight, reveling in the death.

Aghast with their fellow's behavoir the rest of the party decided it was time to return home. After regrouping the party returned back the way they came with only a small resistance from small pointy-eared creatures found in a side room, which they looted.

The Return

The party arrived to the outskirts of Croy before nightfall with no resistance. After calculating up their earnings they found they had several hundred silver coins, and a handful of gold coins. Each received ~300XP. No magical items were found, but the horrific experiences in the depths lingered with the party. The following nights Athona had several disturbing dreams of being swallowed up feet-first, by and enormous gibbering frog until one night after stumbling back to her room in a drunken haze she was approached by a dark-robed man. He introduced himself as Molobi a seer of the elder god and offered his services as a Sage warning that your treachery would surely result in the untimely demise of Athona and her friends.

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