The Caves of Inharmonious Discord Part 4

Now a battle-hardened group of nine, the party returned to the ground they'd claimed near the Caves, a small clearing serviced by a stream. They were surprised to find a statue of a man or humanoid, made of clay and stones, with a long braid of grass for hair. The statue was about two feet tall, and held the shaft of an arrow as a staff. The statue was placed on a low mound and surrounded by small offerings including a jar of beer and a stack of coins. Chilled to think that this was no coincidence but evidence that someone had tracked them to their base, the party set out to find a new place to bivouac. The place they found seemed satisfactory, but an hour after sunset, the sound of drumming rose to discourage restful sleep for anyone. It sounded like it was coming from a swampy area to the south. Half-expecting an imminent attack, the party listened until the drumming became monotonous, and then ate quick meals of rations while devising a schedule for sleep and watch. Sukh and Ginjo decided that the foreign priests would not be called upon to keep watch. Instead, they would share this duty with Irak and Sid, Sheng and Shek. The drumming ebbed and flow but did not cease until nearly dawn.

In the morning, the group decided to seek out yet another camping spot, and moved a couple miles away from any of the danger spots they'd identified-- the swamp, the "shrine" at their old campsite, and the Caves themselves. They found a decent spot, well-sheltered and with water nearby, and then set out for the caves. They decided to return to one of the caves on the northern wall of the cavern that Sukh had previously raided with Sentra. They found the familiar row of skulls and severed heads. They found a large hall, quiet, and with a cold fireplace. Hearing footsteps, they turned to meet the approach of a badly-injured bakemono, his pig-like nose having been crushed into his face. The bakemono's movements were slow and jerky and its eyes did not register the intruders. Pana, the foreign priest, pulled an amulet form under his robes and ordered the unsettling creature to begone. Without making any clear response to this gesture, the bakemono zombie passed through the room without attacking.

The party concluded that this cave had been deserted and decided to leave it themselves. They returned to their new camp.

That night passed peacefully. In fact, Sukh and Ginjo slept so well that they did not wake up until mid-morning and discovered that half the party was missing, including Shek and Irak (who had been on final watch together), plus the foreign priests. Ginjo found tracks that seemed to suggest that at least some of the missing people had gone in the direction of the caves.

On the canyon floor, they discovered the dead body of the one of the acolytes, as well as those of two dog-lizard bakemono. Reading this as a clue, they entered the low cavern on the northern wall from which Sukh had previously seen this same type of bakemono. They charged into the cave and Ginjo and Sid stumbled into a hidden pit. At the same time, a pack of giant rats attacked, followed by javelin-wielding bakemono. Sukh and Sheng fought off the rats, but Sheng received a nearly lethal wound from a javelin. Sukh helped him leave the caven and found him a place to hide. When he returned to the fight, he found four bakemono gathered around the edge of the pit, cheering and jeering while pushing the rats into it.

Two well-placed arrows from Sukh sent the bakemonos to flight. Down in the pit, Sid and Ginjo were harassed by vicious rats from all sides, but without the threat of additional rats raining down on their heads, their sharp swords soon obliterated the vermin. Sukh let down a rope and rescued his companions.

Based on this experience, Sukh and Ginjo concluded that a stronger group of bakemono had taken their friends. And also that they had little hope of prevailing in any battle against stronger foes. They took the injured Sheng back to Pasar and gave Gwinch the bad news that Irak had been captured.