Sequence of Events

The session began in the cold rain at the dilapidated Temple of Erastil, just after you defeated the undead grizzly bear, a “Cursed Guardian”. Despite the technical difficulties that plagued you at the beginning, you continued your investigation of the mysterious place. Gassi siphoned and emptied the pool of its water, while Zogg attempted to dispel the unholy magic with Dispel Magic, but to no lasting effect. Gassi cast a Divine Lance into the water and saw the light get “eaten” by the darkness. When Nym went to take a sample of the algae-filled, toxic water, he got an unpleasant, itchy rash on his hand that could not be cured by normal means. You determined that the source of the corruption must be in the water itself, but with no obvious way into the temple, it was a mystery you had to leave for the time being.

Your hunt for the purple kobold and his temple continued. On the way, you heard the sound of work and discovered a cave – a gold mine. Inside, you found several kobolds mining gold ore under the orders of a foreman. When Zogg mentioned Chief Sootscale, the kobolds immediately became hostile, confirming that they belonged to the usurper’s faction. A battle broke out. Although some of you were hard-pressed by arrows and spears, you managed to defeat the slavedrivers, thanks to tactical teamwork (and some impressive axe swings from Maven).

After securing the mine and taking a much-needed rest, you continued toward the place where Oleg had said there would be radishes. Once there, you found a field of the special plants, but it was guarded by four kobolds. However, they were in a strange state; they stumbled, giggled, and were clearly high on the hallucinogenic radishes. Nym and Zogg attempted diplomacy – or rather, to play along with their delirium – but the kobolds, with the memory span of a goldfish, were mostly amused by their “funny noses and ears.”

When you finally started picking their radishes, they became threatening. Instead of a bloody battle, however, you chose a different tactic: pure, unadulterated bullying. Aurelio wrestled one down, Maven pushed another away, and Zogg disarmed and knocked over a third. One of the kobolds got so scared of Maven that he soiled himself and was thrown away for smelling bad. Scattered and confused, the giggling kobolds fled the field.

Great Mysteries & Clues

• The Corrupted Water: The water at the Temple of Erastil is demonstrably unholy and magical in a way that resists normal purification. It consumes divine light and has infected Nym‘s hand. What is the source of this corruption, and how is it connected to the temple?
• The Usurper’s Gold Mine: The enemy kobolds are operating a gold mine. This is a significant resource. What are they financing with the gold? Is it to strengthen their army, or to serve an even darker power?
• Hallucinogenic Radishes: The radishes you picked for Oleg and Svetlana have a strong intoxicating effect on kobolds. This is an unexpected property that could prove useful (or problematic) in the future.
• Nym‘s Infection: The magical infection on Nym‘s hand persists. Can normal healing cure it, or does it require a specific counter-spell? Perhaps the sample of the corrupt water he took can provide a clue.

Cliffhanger

With the intoxicated kobolds chased away, you have finally secured baskets full of the coveted radishes for Oleg. you have also discovered a gold mine used by the enemy and gotten a dangerous taste of the corruption plaguing the Temple of Erastil – a corruption that is now literally itching on Nym‘s hand. you have defeated two groups of the usurper’s followers, but the purple leader and his true goal remain an enigma. With newly acquired resources and more questions than answers, your journey through the Stolen Lands continues. What will you do with the information about the gold mine, and where will your hunt for the true temple lead you next?