Tomb of Annihilation (Session 17)

 

The Party continues trudging through the swamp after the Ghoul attack.
Towards the end of the second day after the Ghouls they find a rocky outcrop to camp for the night.

During the night Eku wakes them hearing something coming. Thavakean see nothing so simply readies his axe while Alyssia sends Solus into the air. The keen eyesight of the Owl familiar spots lizard like people heading towards them but Alyssia has no idea what they are.

As the camp prepared for a fight Alyssia asked Eku if she knew what they were to which she said she didn't know their intentions and had never met the Lizardfolk. Leaping to the top a boulder Alyssia shouting they had no hostile intention she was replied to with a deep hissing and a noise as if a beast cleared it's throat. As Alyssia, Orion and the rest looked around in confusion Thavakean replied in the same language.

A Lizardfolk wearing skull charms and shamanic fetishes talked with Thavakean. The Shaman asked why they trespassed and Thavakean told them they wanted to head to the floating rock and kill dead things. This appeased the Lizardfolk and they took the party to their lair near the Eastern edge of the swamp under some ancient Chultan ruins.

The Lizardfolk Shaman who they find out is called Xelle, lets them rest and says they will hunt undead in the morning.

The next day the party ventures out with Xelle and some Lizardfolk warriors. Eventually the party is led to an area of the swamp with several zombies and a Ankylosaurus!
The party springs to action blasting the zombies as the Lizardfolk wade forward.
Orion soon blasts one apart with radiant energy and the Ankylosaurus charges into Thavakean as his axe glows from his primal surge though he doesn't know why.
The Lizardfolk Shaman then started launched bolts of fire at the Zombies as his troops attacked.
As Orion dispatches another with the help of the Lizardfolk, Alyssia who had been dancing around with her blade suddenly surges with energy becoming a ball of burning radiance. The party keeps attacking holding the undead in place as the energy from Alyssia burns them even as it hurts herself.

Afterwards, with the undead destroyed, Xelle cuts himself and marks each of the party announcing them members of their tribe and welcome to stop by again. A rare safe haven found in the depths of the jungle.

That night strange dreams once again haunt them, the sound of an old crone talking - “Well Peggy, the blindmans gold was no challenge” the sound of a cockerel squawks in agreement before a second  voice says “it was fun watching them squirm, such delicious emotions. Lets send a stalker while we prepare the next ritual.. evil laughter rings out as they wake.

Disturbed but determined to push on the next day with the Heart of Ubtao visible floating in the distance they continue. About half way through the day a strange sight greets them and even their experienced jungle guide Eku comments "I have seen many things in this jungle but this is a first".
Ahead a large portion of the swamp is frozen over. At the centre a giant Snake poised in a striking position is flash frozen.

As they investigate Orion comments that it would take power magic to do this and between Alyssia and Thavakeans investigations they determine it's slowly melting and that 2 creatures, one booted and one more saurian in nature headed North West from there.

Clearly there's someone powerful in the jungle.