Rockworms for Breakfast

[etherial]

From the journal of Gronk Longtusk:

20 Rua, 1423 T.H.
It's been nearly a year since I've been out in the world. I had to have my bow and armor re-Forged just to make sure they stay fresh. Still, I've heard rumors that the descendants of Marrek have begun to try to reclaim their homeland and faced stiff opposition from the Rockworms we encountered there the last time we ventured North of the Serpent.

22 Rua
Travel over the mountains is a lot easier with a fleet of Magic Carpets, and we made it across the Serpent in no time. Strange markings litter the land, spirals erupting from the Earth then suddenly disappearing, clear markings of the presence of Rockworms.

The land here is much transformed. Flooding in some areas, drought in others, as if some malign entity is constructing earthworks and levies with the Rockworms, and we do find tracks indicating some Ork-sized creature with steel sabotons has been directing them. Curiously, it has neither tracks leading to nor from the site we have seen its ministrations, only wandering around within. We are wary of their presence and spend a night defying logic and sleeping in trees.

A small trio of gnashers, quaint adorable things, really, came meandering by in the night, intend on eating our sleeping trees. I obliterated the first in a single shot while Aegharan woke Romari and Ceadda. I roused Thane, who engaged a second with me, while the two Spellcasters fought off the third and Ceadda armored up.

I do not understand why that man still sleeps in the nude out of doors. It's not like his armor is *that* uncomfortable.

The gnashers were not the only threat, however. Something called a Wormskull appeared as if from nowhere (but in fact from Astral Space) and laid into Ceadda. Turning, I engaged with it and between the five of us, it was vanquished, but not before it bore a hole into Romari's mind and warned it of its...brother, soon to be arriving.

23 Rua
We speak with the members of the Expedition, who have built themselves quite the fort in the Marrek wilds. It seems they have lost some of their number to fool's errands but the leader is no longer willing to risk his neck to save them, and the situation is tense but stable. They inform us of an area to the North West where most of the Rockworm sightings have occurred, and so there we go. Four Rockworms have been sighted, three large and one massive. I do not look forward to fighting all four at once.

23 Rua (continued)
We follow a dried riverbed North, the air thick with a palpable dread. We each tried to cheer each other up, encourage each other to carry on, and find other ways of fighting the Terror by singing songs, doing katas, reciting poetry, and using spells to affect the terrain. We can tell that the Rockworms are close, but we know that the Wormskull is also close. Could they secretly be related? We plan on slaying the Wormskull first, then the Greater Rockworm, and then the others. Focus fire all the way is the order of the day.

As the ground began to shake below us, I saw three Rockworms converging on us from different directions. Readying my bow, I spotted a weak point in the closest Worm's armor and tore a massive hole in its side. The casters and Thane moved to engage, but Ceadda hung back and wisely so, as the Wormskull appeared and used its Skin Shift power on him. Tempted to change my focus to save Ceadda, I risked his life a round to try and finish off the Rockworm. Its body split like an overcooked sausage. Remains of previous adventuring parties were thrown from the carcass. I was able to salvage a badelf looking hat.

Despite its desire for revenge, the Wormskull did not like its odds. It retreated first to Astral Space and then off the map as we eliminated the Rockworms one by one. We never did see the Greater Rockworm, perhaps it was eaten by the Wormskull, perhaps it had moved on to greener pastures.

PCs:
Aegharan, male Elf Illusionist/Thief
Ceadda, male Human Warrior
Gronk Longtusk, male Ork Archer/Liberator
Romari Savre, male Elf Wizard
Thane Cawdor, male Troll Sky Raider