Salkan Soiree Ep25: Hunting for Harambe

 Run Date: February 7, 2024

PCs
Helvezia: Lv1 Paladin
Fenric: Lv3 Thief
Mina: Lv2 Explorer

Hench
None

Hunting for Harambe

The party set out north from Sherbin in search of an old hook from like session 2 involving a shrine to an ape god. I feel like I’ve used that phrase before…

On the way up, they came across a construction site. The main bridge was out and detours were sending people west to a little hamlet called Duloc; where they attempted to cross a smaller, makeshift bridge. The party soon found themselves surrounded on both sides by the residents demanding a toll. The party, wanting no trouble, paid out 10gp and went on their way. They quickly passed through Fayum, and a new hamlet, Pilgrim’s Pass. Soon after, they ventured into the mountains.

Locating the shrine of the ape god was a simple and uneventful task for Mina. Upon arrival, they climbed up the large stairs and stepped to the edge of an archway into the mountain that revealed a large chamber. Holes in the ceiling allowed sunlight to fill the space, and revealed a statue of a massive gorilla holding a football-sized green gem.

The players were immediately suspicious, expecting the removal of the gem to animate the statue. As such, they sent Fenric to scale the mountain and see if he could possibly lasso the gem from above. The hole wasn’t perfect, but with some assistance at the ground level their plan could work. From his vantage, Fenric also spotted a pair of stairs descending further into the mountain. Instead of executing their plan, the group reconvened and searched for the secret of the chamber. To their surprise, it was merely an optical illusion (see: Labyrinth).

The party set their “battle lines” and descended further into the mountain. The first chamber broke off into three different halls. The party picked one more or less at random and found themselves stumbling on a guard of silverback-themed humanoids with primitive stone weapons. As the lines clashed, the noise and shouts echoed down a hall behind the monstrosities. The group soon found themselves desperately defending against a growing tsunami. Though they fought valiantly, Fenric and Helvezia soon fell. Mina made a desperate retreat and eventually found her way back to Pilgrim’s Pass after evading the roaring cave-things. 

Rewards (Totals)

None

Afterword

Not much to say on this one. Fenric, the newest player with little to no experience with tabletop, asked me several questions after the session. The primary one of interest was in regard to freedom and choices. “Could we really have just stolen the gem and left?”

The answer, of course, is an emphatic “Yes!”

It served as a reminder to me that it’s very much a common occurrence. Some call it conventional play, others blame video games. Even moreso, people have gotten used to being forced into “epic encounters” or having cheating Game Masters that won’t allow PCs an easy win (despite the “Nat 20 means I can do anything” memes). For myself, it reinforces my role as a guide, a teacher, a master… a Judge.

The slow realization of player freedom is something I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing first hand on multiple occasions (many of my current players came from 5e). It’s an absolute treat, and my hope that my players become better than me.