Previously:
In our previous episode, Eilwen, Aron, and Kyffin venture into the dark subterranean ruins beneath the tower of the Husk, Edris, hoping to pass through to the other side of the mountains. They move through a huge rectangular-wrought chamber with large finely-crafted statutes carved into the pillars holding up the ceiling. The artistry is similar to what they found on the mask of the shriveled warrior on the surface and to the workmanship of the bridge where they hunted the birds. They surmise that this must be the handiwork of the elves, and at one time, one of their populations centers. But now it is a dark and dismal place, devoid of any wholesome life. They follow one of the main thoroughfares. After traveling long weary hours, they stop to camp amidst the rubble of a partially collapsed ornate archway. Eilwen, on watch, hears sounds of something moving in the dark. Unsure what it is she wakes her brother and has him start lighting a torch while she wakes Kyffin.
In the light of a torch, they see a monstrosity, a horror come to life. It's a huge bug-like creature, something like a giant centipede with a long body, a hard black carapace, sharp spear-like legs, and a head filled with razor-sharp teeth the size of daggers, surrounded by tentacles writhing with ill intent. They try to flee, and Kyffin is chased down, and overcome, gravely wounded and bleeding out. Eilwen wants to save him, but is physically detained by her brother, Aron, man handles her and pulls her back into the darkness, away from the macabre meal as Kyffin is consumed alive in the dying light of their fallen torch.
For the astute among you… I made yet another mistake last episode and forgot to drop my maximum momentum down by 1 because of her Shaken debility… Max momentum is usually 10, but it is affected by debilities, like Shaken, and so technically her momentum could not have exceeded 9 until Shaken is removed. I told you my previous mistake wouldn't be my last. But I don't feel too bad about it since she wasn't technically supposed to have taken Shaken anyway. So, when you hear maximum momentum of ten just be aware that that is incorrect. Anyway, I won't (and cannot) retcon this error, so this and future episodes with this mistake, stand as they are.
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Attributions:
- 'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley (www.scottbuckley.com.au) - released under CC-BY 4.0.
- Various tracks by Tabletop Audio ( https://tabletopaudio.com) - released under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. Minor modifications (fading/splitting) made to support this podcast format with written permission from the creator.
- Sound Effects from Pixabay (Pixabay.com).
