As they wait for Jethlus to arrive, our heroes stay near the local tannery, and do some chores so they won't be kicked off the property (since they rolled another pathetic 2 for charisma). When he finally returns, they dash off to meet him. Agace, barely remembering the names in question, asks, "Hey, Jeff-less, can you help us find Ass-less?" The GM remarks, "No wonder everyone you guys meet can't stand you."

Latke's charisma roll is the highest, so she takes over the job of talking to Jethlus, which makes him very confused. Finally, the other Adepts pitch in and make it clear that they're looking for Azlos, and they want Jethlus to help them. He asks, "What's in it for me?" In return for his assistance, Jethlus wants a nearby waterfall/hot spring/herb garden to be cleared of the monsters living there. The Adepts quickly agree to his terms.

Jethlus takes them close to the waterfall. Agace climbs up into a tree and looks around. Thanks to the most amazing perception roll ever, he sees three monsters approaching even though they're in stealth/invisibility mode, so he's able to warn the other Adepts; then he takes a few pot shots with his spears.

Once hit, the monsters become visible: large snowy tiger-like beasts. They swipe at our heroes with giant paws, and also cast some vicious ice magic. Latke threads earth darts, Sine battle-shouts while attacking, Agace continues to throw spears, and Ritha misses a lot.

Latke takes down two of the monsters; Ritha takes a lot of damage; the surviving monster takes off (with Ritha in futile pursuit). Just to make sure it's dead, Agace slits one monster's throat; Ritha tries to do the same with the other beast, but it springs up and escapes. This only manages to postpone the inevitable, as our heroes hunt it down within the hour.

The Adepts slice off the tails of the two downed monsters to prove they've killed them. Now it's time to rest; badly-damaged Ritha gets put up in a tree to scout around while she heals, and somehow manages to do well on her recovery test for what must be the first time in the game.

There is a cave near the waterfall; Latke flies close by to scout it out. Sine sneaks towards it, and so does Ritha, albeit less successfully. Agace, the Stealth Boulder, comes along too. Into the deep dark cave they go, and even low-light vision can't keep Ritha and Sine from sliding down a steep, icy slope. Luckily Agace keeps his footing; he attaches a rope to the cave wall and starts lowering himself down the slope.

Both Ritha and Latke spot a cluster of furry creatures on a ledge halfway up the slope: one gigantic mother creature, and several small fuzzy cubs. Everyone finally reaches the ledge, Latke fires up Sine and Agace's weapons with an elemental spell, and Agace airwalks in for an attack. The big mother critter blasts everyone with coldness; our heroes miss a lot; an injured Latke flees. Agace is batted right off the ledge; luckily he's still attached to the rope, so he swings right back into the battle. Luckily, I mean, for the rest of the group, since Agace is the only one who seems to be doing any damage. ("The obsidiman ROCKS!")

Sine also lands a blow, and the mother creature, wounded fairly severely by now, charges out of the cave with her cubs in tow. As the cubs escape, the mother encases herself in rocky ice in the middle of the waterfall's pool. Agace and Sine go after the mom-sicle; Ritha and Latke follow the cubs, which are leaving little icy pawprints wherever they go. Verdict: too cute to live.

Ritha, in what might be described as an unwise move, kills one baby. Its death cry causes the mom-sicle to shatter; the mother creature, now magically healed, rushes towards her cubs, roaring and magically shockwaving everyone in her path. Latke suffers a dreadful loss of health points and has to use her death-cheat charm in order to survive.

The mother beast hunkers down next to her fallen cub and tries to heal it, giving our heroes a chance to regroup. Agace tries launching more spears, but they do "ping" damage against mom's icy hide, so he switches back to the axe. Sine lands some blows, and even Ritha manages to do some damage. Finally, Agace knocks the creature out, and the battle ends.

The Adepts get some rest and heal themselves, then go back to Jethlus with proof of their grisly deeds. He seems pleased. After a couple of days spent in healing and meditation, he leads the group to the same wild tribe of T'skrang to which he took Azlos. This wild tribe led Azlos somewhere along a nearby river, and he hasn't come back; now everyone's favourite group of Adepts want to be taken to the same place.

Next: Jungle Fever
Back to the index page

© Megan Jones 2002. This story wouldn't be possible if not for my endlessly entertaining friends, and the Earthdawn RPG originally by FASA.