Session 9 - The Shalk Chasm Escape
2025-10-24 | 3+ hours
Overview
After defeating craven and claiming the cosmic horror artifact, the party breaks their contract with the Chainlord and flees the Void Spire through Shalk Chasm. Survival against hostile runes, avalanche, giant eagles, and the orb’s terrifying truth shape their journey to Last Light Inn—where political corruption and supply chain betrayal await.
Part One: Mountain Pass Survival
Hostile Runes (Banjo - CRIT Knowledge)
The party finds runes carved into mountain walls. Banjo’s critical knowledge roll reveals: these runes amplify the torrential downpour and bone-chilling cold, and they are hostile to the party.
Strength saves vs. cold:
- Vaerenth: SUCCESS
- Banjo, Augustus, Aster: All FAIL
Desperate measures needed—fast.
The Crimper Hunt
Aster and Banjo spot centipede-rat hybrids in the storm: “crimpers”—creatures with fish eyes, many legs, and elongated torsos. Vaerenth’s nomadic pack yields a net. Banjo shadowsteps behind the nest and drops it. 5 crimpers trapped. Fire built, creatures cooked on sticks. Warmth and food. Survival.
Rune Destruction - Catastrophic Mistake
Morning. Party examines the runes. Augustus taps his cane against one—it cracks the stone, rune partially disrupts. Banjo sees opportunity, uses his returning blade to carve the rune out completely.
Thunderous blast through the sky. Temperature shifts violently. Mountains collapse.
The Avalanche
Agility saves:
- Banjo: SUCCESS (safe)
- Vaerenth, Augustus, Aster: All FAIL
Knocked 200+ feet downslope. Each takes 15 damage.
- Augustus: Minor damage blocked by armor—MAX STRESS
- Vaerenth: 1 HP + armor loss
- Aster: 2 HP damage
- Party separated, Banjo above, others on narrow ledge below.
Rope Bridge
Aster produces three 50-foot ropes (150 feet total). Bridge spans the ~100-foot chasm.
- Vaerenth climbs successfully
- Aster climbs successfully
- Hogpog struggles, chewing nervously mid-climb
- Augustus, at MAX STRESS, pulls Hogpog up manually. Companion saved. Party reunites.
Aster’s instinct roll (16 WITH FEAR): Light filtering through fog above. Exit visible. Sky within reach.
Part Two: The Giant Eagles
Vaerenth spots: Massive nests. Two giant eagles descending—screeching, homing in.
Round 1
Both eagles deadly dive on Augustus and Aster.
Banjo activates Rogue’s Dodge—but an eagle grabs him mid-dodge. Banjo reaction roll: SUCCESS. Breaks free, but dodge nullified.
Varik (NPC) channels Blood Thirsty Experience: SEVERE HIT on Eagle 1. Eagle wounded, still airborne.
Aster attacks and misses; eagle counter-misses.
Round 2
Eagle 2 lands MAJOR HIT on Banjo (wounded).
Augustus, Galapa bird-phobe, channels Turtle Power Experience. Attack: 22 WITH HOPE. Forceful push into tree. Rolls all 1s (4 damage total), but impact catastrophic. Eagle 2 KO’d, downed.
Round 3
Aster: CRITICAL HIT—31 damage. Emblazoned Body + Forceful Push. Eagle 1 forced to ground (20ft max), grounded and severely wounded.
Banjo finishes it. Both eagles dead.
Harvest & Reflection
Collected: eagle bones, meat, feathers. But no celebration.
Banjo honors the fallen. These eagles were untouched by Umbra—pure creatures forced into combat. Guilt. Regret.
Augustus shares it. He’s never experienced hardship before. This survival is routine for others. He’s confronting privilege.
Questions linger: Who made the runes? What were they protecting? How did eagles stay pure in a shadow-drowned world?
Part Three: The Orb’s Truth
By fire, Banjo asks Vaerenth for the orb. Shakes it like a magic 8-ball. Unresponsive—swirls counter-clockwise, indifferent.
Augustus: “Don’t play with it.”
Banjo rolls it to him like a bowling ball. Augustus catches it.
Vision floods Augustus’s mind:
Massive tentacle structures descend from cracking sky. Reality splinters. Cosmic horror reaching through. Vision snaps away.
Augustus pops up, shaking. “By my shell!”
Confirmation: The orb is world-ending. No scenario where Chainlord should own this.
Vaerenth immediately picks up orb and wraps it tightly. No more contact. No more visions. Party’s resolve: Never deliver to Chainlord. Contract broken. They are fugitives.
Part Four: The Journey Home
Mires End - Abandoned
Party travels through Mires End. Settlement completely abandoned. Spire fire extinguished. No inhabitants—only scattered boats.
Craven’s death cascades. Region depended on Spire presence. Evacuation or flight. Cost of breaking ancient cycle.
Slithermrash - Character Beat
Banjo suggests covering in mud. Party complies without question.
Aster: “How does this help?”
Banjo: “I dunno. I just think it’s funny.”
Party laughs. Genuine laughter amid crisis. Accidental camouflage. Group bonds through absurdity.
Last Light Inn - Return
Nearly a month passed outside. Lightless cold suffocating. Spire fire visible on horizon, still burning—light and warmth to the town.
At gates: guards extract systematic bribes from traders. Augustus observes: “Ruling party getting too controlled.” Authoritarian structures tightening.
Muddy party spotted. Recognition blooms.
Guard: “Hey, you’re back! I’ll be! Cmon in!”
Party welcomed without question. They have standing here.
Guard Debrief
Guards ask about supplies. Party has none. Banjo hands over eagle feather. “You’re welcome.”
Guard: “I don’t see Craven with you…”
Aster: “He is… unfortunately corrupted. He is gone.”
Silence. Processing.
Guard: “We’ve been doing what we can to help Nicholas. We didn’t think Craven was still around. I’m glad I’m not the one to deliver the news. Maybe you can get Blackwood to deliver it.”
Aster: “We have a lot of information for Blackwood, but first we need rest. It’s been a long journey.”
Guard: “Hope’s Call is always available! Glad to see you back safe.”
Part Five: Blackwood’s Briefing
Equipment Provided
Blackwood provides gear. Banjo receives Dagger of Parrying and immediately renames it “Harry Parry.”
Augustus recognizes the vendor. Equipment from Blackjaw Harbour. A supplier with troubling reputation.
The Briefing
Party reports:
- Craven is dead (beyond corruption—was only Umbra)
- Artifact secured
- Contract broken
Blackwood shares: Craven’s final message to Nicholas: “I will be free of the cycle.”
Not just possession. Craven was escaping something. A cycle. A prison. An ancient pattern. If Craven found freedom in death, what about others?
Supply Chain Corruption
Augustus: Vendor is from Blackjaw Harbour—untrustworthy.
Blackwood: “Our suppliers apparently aren’t trustworthy. And we can’t operate without them.”
Supply network compromised. Entire operation depends on vendors conducting nefarious operations. Corruption runs deep. Possibly Chainlord-connected.
Party’s Response
Augustus proposes:
- Negotiate with Valeria for alternative supplies
- Investigate Blackjaw Harbour directly
Party takes agency. They’ll uncover corruption themselves, establish new routes, regain control.
Next: Blackjaw Harbour.
Session Summary
| Element | Status |
|---|---|
| Party | Battered; Augustus MAX STRESS |
| Artifact | Secured, world-ending threat confirmed |
| Contract | BROKEN |
| Faction | Fugitives; heroes in Last Light |
| New Threat | Supply chain corruption |
| Lore Mysteries | Runes origin? Craven’s cycle? Pure eagles? |
Previous: session-8-craven-battle | Next: Session 10 (Blackjaw Harbour)