Session Starts: September 6th, 1136 – Around Noon, Camp Outside the Rat Caves
Burt’s not looking great. He’s slumped against a tree, breathing heavy, his armor scratched and stained. I’m not in much better shape. We spend the rest of the day licking our wounds, relying mostly on the magic berries I can create to recover. Burt complains—loudly—about why I don’t just make more. I try to explain that magic isn’t endless, that every spell takes something out of me, and I’m already drained—physically, magically. He doesn’t quite get it, but lets it go. Eventually, we settled in for the night. Nothing out of place. The stars are clear, and for now, things feel normal.
September 7th, 1136 – Early Morning
We wake up early, feeling a little more like ourselves. After a quick bite and some stretching, we decide to head back into the caves. Round two.
Inside, it’s much the same at first. More giant rats, the same kind we’d seen yesterday—feral, aggressive. We press on, descending deeper into the cave. On the second level, we come face to face with a ghoul. It’s a short, brutal fight.
By the third floor, the atmosphere changes. The walls are torn up—deep gouges and scratches everywhere, like something huge and furious had been trapped down here. It puts us both on edge. Then we find the den.
The manticore is waiting. The fight is vicious. I drop my sword—twice—but in the end, I manage to kill the beast. Burt is barely standing, bleeding and pale. I feel like I’ve been hit by a wagon. Still, I cut the tip off the manticore’s tail and take it as a trophy. Then, half-carrying Burt, we start the long climb back up.
On the second floor, something leaps onto Burt’s back—a fire beetle. He shouts, but I manage to kill it one-handed before it can do any real harm. He’s shaken. I am too.
As we make our way back to the surface, I find myself thinking about how this place gets more dangerous the deeper we go. I should’ve brought more berries—should’ve been better prepared. We were lucky this time.
By the time we stagger back to camp, the sun has dipped behind the hills. We’re both worse for wear, but alive.
Session Ends: September 7th, 1136 – A Few Hours After Dark, Camp Outside the Rat Caves