TRS05 - The Rise and Fall of Dave the Camel

The Rise and Fall of Dave the Camel is the fifth full session of the campaign The Red Star. It features the party, along with Eptol's new companion, Dave, traversing a maze.

Summary
After leaving Merrywire, the party encounters a group of merchants. They attempt to haggle with the merchants and May sells the pistol (for a loss). Eptol buys a camel who he names Dave, and one merchant warns the party that they are about to enter the Arachnus Plains, a so called death trap. The party enter the Arachnus Plains, a strange place where they enter a stone passage. The entrance closes in on them and they're trapped inside.

Further in the passage, they see some orcs battling a man named Johla Naise. The party helps Johla defeat the orcs including their leader, Orog, and Dave proves to be an unexpectedly powerful combatant. Along with Johla, the party continues through the passage, and after avoiding a batle with a giant beetle thanks to Eptol's skill at handling animals, they meet Pyrria, who is fighting a giant lizard. After the party quickly kills the beast, Pyrria joins the party and they continue, battling a giant bat along the way. At the end of the passage, in a large opening, is a goblin riding a spider.

The goblin introduces himself as Grust, and reveals that he is responsible for the strange magic of the Arachnus Plains. Grust attacks the party, and warns them that if his blood hits the sands, the plains will give him life anew. Eptol ignores these warnings and slashes at Grust. His blood promptly hits the sands, and he merges with his spider to become a hydra. During the struggle with the hydra, the hydra tears apart Dave, and throws its carcass against the wall. The rest of the party manages to defeat the hydra, with a lust for vengeance. Afterwards, May mocks Dave, and Eptol loses his temper with her, proceeding to punch her in the face. May, in an outrage, leaves the group. Pyrria suggests the party tag along with her through a forest, while Johla invites them to join him on the path to the lake. The party, sans May, joins Pyrria, and the adventurers continue their journey. Paddy was lost in the confusion.

Trivia

 * Introductions: This session introduced the characters Dave, Johla Naise, Orog, and Grust.
 * Deaths: In this session, Dave, Orog, and Grust died.
 * Notable Events: This session saw Dave join the group, Dave's death, May leave the group, Paddy get lost, and Pyrria join the party.
 * Upon seeing Pyrria, Edus and Eptol refer to her by name, even though she never introduced herself.

Quotes
''"Malachi I really want this camel." ''- Eptol

"WWAAAAARRR" - Dave

''"Oh look, the camel's dead." ''- Malachi