(May 15, 2005) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 4, Day 15, Year 1563 –
Gorvak and most of the party met with Magoun and his “entourage” in the capital city of the Dragon clan. Magoun’s entourage included the dire tiger Ravool, the 4 rokuro-kubi sisters (dressed as samurai), and a korobokuru woman named Kara.
Kara explained how some odd yak-like creatures took over her village and forced the korobokuru to work in some mines as slaves. The yak-like creatures walked on their hind legs, wore fancy clothes, armor of bones, and had skin like stone. They also had some spell-casters, because they used some powerful magic when they fought and enslaved the korobokuru.
While working the mines, Kara fell and hurt herself. She decided to play dead, and was eventually able to crawl away and escape. Magoun found Kara half-starved in the mountains, took pity on her, and nursed her back to health. (Apparently even lawful-evil folks can be soft-hearted, but Magoun warned us not to let that get around; he has a reputation to maintain.) Magoun told Kara he couldn’t help free her village, but he knew a korobokuru hero (Gorvak) who might be able to help. Magoun brought her to meet us, and then he and the sisters went on their way.
From Kara’s description and general knowledge, the yak folk are monstrous humanoids, similar to ogres in size and toughness, but much smarter. Their leaders tend to be sorcerers and sorcerer/shamans. They do have some odd magic abilities: can merge with other creature’s bodies and possess them, but takes a while to do this; can use magic staves; can summon jann (efreeti) for odd jobs (laundry, cooking, cleaning). The yak folk employ 10 Stone Giants as minions, who seem to enjoy torturing the korobokuru. The jann are not at all amused at being forced to do mundane housework.
Kara’s village is 120 miles west/southwest of capital city of Unicorn lands. Ashiko was busy studying new spells, but said she could cast Fly on those of us who decide to join Gorvak. We eventually decided to travel by ship, getting a free lift from the Dragon Clan navy. We visited seven ports over eleven days, and traveled on foot the rest of the way to the mines.
Month 4, Day 26 –
Kara advised attacking at night, when the korobokuru were back in their cells, away from the guards. We wanted to get in the door quietly, so Abu put Zim and Raji in a portable hole. Hatori and Abu both cast Dim. Door, and took Gorvak, Birkat, Isaku, Til’k inside with them. Zenako and Mulan stayed back to cover the door until the rest of us opened it.
Despite our plans, we weren’t able to surprise the enemy. The yak had a familiar posted outside as lookout. As soon as we got inside the door, the alarm bells sounded and 10 Stone Giants started throwing rocks at us. Behind the giants were the two yaks (husband and wife), plus a janni that was forced to fight against his will. We eventually defeated the foes and freed all the korobokuru slaves. They were especially glad to see Kara, who they thought was dead.
Gorvak and Birkat went down in the battle, but got healed in time to avoid a visit to the ancestors. We gathered up the following treasure from the yaks and their minions:
Staff of Frost (9 charges) – Ice Storm, Wall of Ice, Cone of Cold (DC 16)
Tullwar +2
Ring of Mind Shielding
Ring of Jumping
Ring of Protection +2
Bracers of Armor +3
Cloak of Resistance +3
Cloak of Resistance +2
Amulet of Natural Armor +2
Quarterstaff (huge), +1 at one end, +2 at the other
Chain shirt (yak size) +3
10 Bone Armor (stone giant size) +1
10 Nodache +1
Statue (yak idol) – prevents scrying and divination of those attuned
to it; attune by sacrificing something (unkown) to the idol on a regular
basis.
The korobokuru said the yaks made them mine some kind of strange red rock. None of us could identify what type of ore it was, but Abu took a sample of it in his portable hole for later identification.