Old Gods, Cauldrons and Watermelon Slime

??nd ??? 2022

## Adventurers Attending

* Kitz Drecas

Fizz (Aaron) - Level 2 lizardfolk sorcerer
Sikander (Nathan) - Level 1 goliath barbarian
Maxwell (Jessie) - Level 1 human ranger
Uannos (Josh) - Level 2 half elf rogue
Glod (Kai) - Level 2 halfling sorcerer
Barry (Igor) - Level 1 halfling rogue

## Mission Notes

A bunch of the newer adventurers at the guild are relaxing outside the Junction inn when a commotion sets off. Screaming, panicked local families start running past the inn – fleeing from a popular picnic spot usually called the Circle of the Old Gods because of the standing stones at the top of a small hillock. Stopping to ask one of the frightened picnic-ers, our adventurers discover that something came out of the hill and seized the child of a local called Erik.

Heading post-haste to the stone circle the adventurers find a distraught and clearly poisoned Eric. Pausing to give some first aid, our party discover that the child was dragged through a narrow passage into the hill beneath the stone circle. A passage lined with strange green and red fungi that cause unnatural tiredness to a couple of party members before they arrive in a large chamber containing carved stone pillars and a huge cauldron.

Investigating the cauldron awakens two undead things made from animated flesh and skin which, after a moment engulfing Sikander the barbarian and Fizz the sorcerer, are killed. An investigation of the cauldron reveals that it can be turned to match symbols on its rim with symbols on the ten stone pillars. On doing this a set of ancient steps are revealed passing further down into the hill.

Following these stairs our adventurers encounter some kobolds – or rather kobold zombies – which are swiftly dispatched. A small child lies on a stone slab, his arms enfolding a silver chalice. Once Glod had stopped being excited about the shiny goblet, it is seen that the child is warm but unresponsive. Maxwell, fashioning a makeshift child carrier, begins to take the boy away from the chamber as Sikander lobs a javelin at the strange carved face on the wall awakening a wraithlike creature that tries to enter the body of the child. Continuing to flee Maxwell heads up the stairs as the others fight the wraith – eventually the wraith is killed but its death scream near kills the party.

With the judicious use of a healing kit and some rest the adventurers recover and decide to investigate the strange carved face from where the wraith had emerged. Barry, the halfling rogue was able to crawl along the tunnel behind the carving’s mouth. Discovering a small featureless black being trying to open a small stone casket, Barry opens it, and the black thing slips inside. Leaving the mouth, Barry opens the casket and two forms – one black, one silver grey – emerge and head towards the child where they merge and enter the body. The child awakes, tearful, screaming and frightened but the adventurers successfully return him to his mother.

## Loot

* Standard Level Xp & Gold
* Tiny hammer and stone chisel
* Vessel of the Slumbering Dragon

## Rumours

* Why, after years as a benign spot popular with local families did the stone circle suddenly produce such evil? Is there more that can be discovered about the history of the place and is it still dangerous?