Wicker
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Game Break January 3rd
No
session was held on 1/3/2016 – New Year’s Weekend. Jake is out of town in
Disney World with family. This marks 3 weeks off of the game, to resume for the
final session 1/10/2016.
Game Break December 27th
No
session was held on 12/27/2015 – Christmas Weekend. Justin was traveling in
Ohio.
Game Break December 20th
No
session was held on 12/20/2015 – Jake had a rehearsal dinner for a wedding to
attend that evening.
Game Break November 29th
No
session was held on 11/29/2015 – the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Justin was in
or traveling home from Iowa, and Jacob was traveling home from Arkansas.
Session 60
Date: 12/13/2015
Attending:
Jake, Joey, Justin, Aaron
Absent: Dave
– at Texans game
Start Time: 7:30
pm
End Time: 10:45
pm
XP awarded: 10,000
Game time
elapsed: 3 days
Enemies
Defeated: Battlebriar
Notes:
After
slaying the dragon the knights pull out of the forest and camp in the fields.
In the light of day, after some discussion, they decide to try to cut quickly
through the forest and risk the dragons rather than take the longer route
around the Varian Forest.
They move
through the woods, noting how quiet it is. Around midday they come upon a
dragon that is sleeping, and see that he is covered with twigs and vines,
seemingly blanketed in wicker. The sneak past and push on.
Late
afternoon they arrive at a mound that rises 70 feet in the air, and seems
untouched by the dragons’ rampage. Examining it the party realizes that it is a
wicket shell that has been overgrown with moss and lichen. Both Bajol and
Feydor can sense evil within the shell. Frumious attempts to consecrate it, but
the spell only causes a 6 foot by 3 foot patch to become brittle and shatter.
The knights, without Fyn to play Chicken Little, head in.
They
traverse a short maze of tunnels through the wicker dome, and arrive in a
central room. Hanging from a vine is the top half of a human body wearing the
tattered remains of a Illmarian uniform.
He is missing everything below his navel, but thick black vines are
growing up into his abdominal cavity, and are pulsating with a thick blackish
sap. One arm is missing at the shoulder,
and one just an inch above his elbow joint. Vines encircle his head growing
into his ears and nose, and they are wrapped around his jaw. He is constantly
repeating “It’s underneath Halvenspring, that’s all I know” over and over in an
agonized voice.
When the knights
enter the room, he looks over at them and says, “You are not him. His guardian
is coming. Please kill me.” They question him briefly – he appears to have been
captured and interrogated by the Wicker King, but was only able to reveal that the
Illmarians are looking for something underneath Halvenspring (he doesn’t know
what). The party kills him just as the ground erupts in an explosion of twigs
and wood, and a beast made of vine and thorns springs out at them. It has six
legs and is brutally viscous, but the knights are able to slay it before it
does too much damage.
They exit
the mound, travel for a few more hours, and rest in the Varian Wood. They then
get up and continue their journey. They exit the forest after lunch and enter
the Broken Hills. Resting that night they continue onward and arrive at the
outskirts of Halvenspring late the next afternoon.
Halvenspring
is in pitched battle. A supernatural storm blackens the sky, and rains fire,
lighting, and acid down on everything suffusing the whole area with a red and
purple light. Illmarians and Tainted Ones are everywhere and are fighting each
other while also trying to take the town.
Flaming meteors fall sending Tainted Ones and Illmarians alike flying, and
setting the fields aflame.
Frumious summons
a giant eagle and Little Baskins mounts it with instructions to find Osgood and
tell him that the knights are heading to the tomb. The party rides around the
battle north to the spring. They find it a short ways away from where the
Carrion King, fully revealed, squares off against an incredibly old redcap who
seems to be more than holding his own against the fallen solarian. The two
throw mighty magic back and forth, and the knights duck down towards the
waterfall just as one of them opens a gate.
In the cleft
of the hill carved by the spring’s water fall is an area of relative calm. Only
the distant sounds of battle intrude. The party passes through the waterfall
and find a small shallow cave beyond. Searching the back of the cave (and
lamenting the absence of Fyn) they get lucky and find a secret door, which also
luckily is unlocked (did I mention that Dave sprang his absence on me at the
last minute?). They enter the tomb.
The tomb is
constructed of white bricks, walls ceiling and floor. They use light spells for
illumination and leave Brutus and Zephyr at the door, which they shut. Frumious
receives a panicked thought from Little Baskins. He scrys on the weasel and
sees Osgood and a group of villagers fighting street to street for survival –
all thoughts of holding the town gone. Suddenly everyone stops –
Halvenspringers, Tainted Ones, Illmarians, and turns to gape in one direction.
Frumious asks Baskins what he sees. Little Baskins replies, “You know those
really big things that look like you guys only much bigger? Well what I’m
looking at can only be their god.” Frumious tells Little Baskins to run, and
then breaks contact.
The party
moves into the tomb which strangely wasn’t trapped (no fault for going to the
game Dave, but wish I knew sooner). They pass many chambers, some obviously
filled with treasure, but stay on the central path until they arrive in a room
with a massive water clock in the corner and large unadorned stone doors.
Through the doors they see rows and rows of mechanical men standing at the
ready with greatswords aloft. Returning to the clock they again lament the
absence of Fyn since none present know about devices, and how they are disabled
or figured out.
Eventually
they discover that the clock tracks months and seasons and that the bricks in
the floor are just tiles that can be removed. The clock drains into the floor
under the tiles, and there are basins in rows of 10, each basin filling over a
year. They figure out which decade is the current one and find that there are
letters in each basin – this decade’s password is “solace.” They announce it to
the mechanical men, and the constructs relax to an “at ease” position. The cavern is immense, and they pass
thousands of the automatons before arriving at the other side. Moving through
doors they continue down halls until arriving once again at two stone doors.
Entering they find themselves on a narrow rail-less stone bridge (2 ½ feet
wide), supported on columns, that extends over a vast gulf of darkness. As
their light only illuminates about 10 feet they have no idea how large the room
is – how high up the bridge, or how far the walls and roof. They walk that
narrow bridge into darkness for several hundred yards when an immense voice
rings out, offering to eat them – but questioning who and what they are.
Realizing that this is the wyrm, they start to try to bribe him, offering books
and gear. The wyrm, who gives his name as Atreyus, does not seem to be too interested
in the things offered. He asks to see Bajol’s armor. Bajol tells him it was
made by Ellicor and reluctantly reveals it. The voice immediately grows both
fearful and wrathful and says, “No, it was not made by Ellicor! Get out! Begone
from here!” They party hurries along the bridge finally crossing the void and
exiting through the far door.
After
wandering down more halls, they come to another antechamber with plain
unadorned stone doors. Opening the doors, they see a vast room filled with
coffins and bodies where hundreds of spectres and ghosts swarm about filling
the air. About this time Bajol gets a panicked thought from Zephyr. He has been
attacked and is in pain. Bajol immediately dismisses him, and Feydor summons
Brutus to him. Brutus arrives with a huge gash out of his flank. The knight
summarize that one of the major player has entered the tomb.
After a
little experimentation the knights realized that you had to walk through the
room while reciting the prayers identified by Aramus. When they do the spectres
part and allow them to walk through. The path leads to a very ornate stone
door.
Opening it
and stepping through the knights find themselves in a large room, but not a
massive cavern or hall like the previous ones. The whole thing is made out of
polished white stone. Columns support the ceiling here and there, and in the
center of the room is a stone dais where the body of a beautiful woman lies on
a matting of white material. A groove is carved in a circle around the dais on
the floor, with a channel that leads away and into the wall. The groove and
channel are filled with clear water.
Suddenly out
of the shadows in the corner of the room steps a dark figure. He is tall and
exceedingly beautiful, but crackles with a dark energy. From his back spring
feathered wings, that are barely white at the tips, the rest being variations
of red and black. A halo of dark flames surrounds his head. A massive two
handed sword is strapped to his back.
Completely
ignoring the party he steps forward and addresses the body on the dais. In his
short speech it is clear that this is Culminos. The party shouts out and tries
to move towards him but find themselves unable to approach – held away by an
invisible force. Culminos sneers at them, belittles them, and tells them that
they cannot approach, contend, or resist him because he is divine. At that
moment Ellicor springs out of Bajol’s breastplate, and shouts “Not anymore!” as
he makes a flying tackle at Cuminos, passing through him as if Ellicor had no
substance. When Ellicor come out the other side of Culminos he is cradling a
brightly glowing orb of light in his hands. In that moment the party realizes
the truth about the wyrm Atreyus’ statement. Ellicor did not make Bajol’s armor
– Ellicor IS Bajol’s armor.
Culminos
suddenly seems reduced somewhat in stature and the party finds that they can
approach him. They draw their weapons and charge. End Session
Friday, December 18, 2015
Session 59
Date: 12/6/2015
Attending:
Jake, Joey, Justin, Dave, Aaron
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:45
pm
End Time: 10:30
pm
XP awarded: 12,000
Game time
elapsed: 4 days
Enemies
Defeated: Dragon. Big one.
Notes:
The party
rides away from the burning inn all night and the full next day. Stopping
exhausted they rest for the night on the 19th of Summer Waxing.
While Bajol is on watch a shadow pops up and moves independently. The following
exchange occurs:
Bajol: Identify yourself.
Shadow: I’m one you have talked to before.
Bajol: What do you want?
Shadow: Your location and intentions.
Bajol: Identify yourself.
Shadow: In this age I am known as the Lord of
Shadows.
Bajol: Begone foul creature!
Bajol then
brandishes his holy symbol and the shadow dissipates.
In the morning
Frumious sends a message to Ellicor.
Been visited by some of your old dark
friends also encountered Culminos’ followers. We’re fulfilling last orders
given – will we see you? Soon?
The reply
from Ellicor is:
Wicker seems to have beaten shadow. Crows
converging on your home. Giants arrive game over. Culminos on shore, influence
but not enter. See in tomb.
The party
keeps riding, and that day they break out of the hills and enter plains. That
night they stop to attempt to speak with dead. First they try Aramus and the
spell is successful.
1) How does one go about obtaining this decade’s
password required by the mechanical men to gain access to the ladies tomb
without fighting?
A) Carefully
decipher from the clock in the antechamber of the Mechanical Men.
2) What sort of bribes will the wyrm accept?
A) Gnomeflesh,
unique magic, gems
3) What are the names of the prayers, in order,
that are required by the Revered Dead in order to gain access to the tomb of
the lady?
A) The
Gloria Omnone, the Benediction of the Solarians, the Acknowledgement of
Creation, and the Thanks of the Dead.
4, 5, 6) What are the words in order of 4)the
Benediction, 5) the Acknowledgement, and 6) the Thanks of the Dead?
A) Aramus
gives the prayers. The Gloria Omnone is already known by Frumious.
They next
try to Speak with Dead on Fingali, and lo and behold it is successful (rolled a
1 on his will save).
1) What are the intentions of the God King of
the Giants?
A) Total
dominion here, above, and below.
2) Did you pass along information from the
Scrolls of Epic Legend you destroyed to anyone else?
A) Yes.
3) Who did you give the info to?
A) Astros
At this
point the party realizes (with a little prompting from the very gracious DM)
that dwarves in this world change to stone upon death, yet they have been
carrying around Fingali’s corpse as if he were a human for 2 weeks.
4) Why has your corpse not become stone?
A) I did not
know that in taking service with the God King that I would be remade and serve
him in life and beyond.
5) What purpose does the God King have for
obtaining the Words of Power?
A) He
searches for the 13th Word, the Word of Creation.
6) From whence does the God King draw his
power?
A) I do not
know, but Astros believes it is from worship.
Having
answered the last question, the party throws the corpse on the campfire. It
ignites but then jumps up and attempts to flee. They haul it back and watch it
burn away. The knights then realize that the God King has probably heard every
conversation they have had since acquiring Fingali’s corpse.
They rest
the night and begin journeying across the pains. They camp again and notice
that the Varian Forest seems to be on fire in places. They keep on the next day
and enter the Varian Forest at dusk. They encounter a dragon, who during a
short exchange realizes that they are the Knights of Mist Valley and according
to songs previously slew a dragon (Nolan’s exaggeration of them sneaking by the
slumbering dragon early in the game). It attacks to revenge its fellow.
The party
fights and slays the dragon. End Session
Session 58
Date: 11/22/2015
Attending:
Jake, Joey, Justin, Dave
Absent: Aaron
– out of town Africa
Start Time: 7:30
pm
End Time: 10:40
pm
XP awarded: 8,000
Game time
elapsed: 1 day
Enemies
Defeated: the Knights of Culminos (but
only the violinist confirmed slain)
Notes:
The knights
ride west into the hills, trying to make a bee line for Halvenspring. The going
is rough, and the rocky hills and scattered foliage make for slow going.
Shortly after lunch they notice that there is a distinct lack of wildlife in
the area, and the vegetation seems unhealthy.
They press onward but keep an eye on the plant life, and slowly watch it
progress into complete blight as they ride. That evening after the sun sets
they spy a building on top of a hill about 2 miles distant, by seeing the light
in the windows.
They press
on to find a low one story inn named the Hill Pillow. Bajol detects evil and
notices that the air seems filled with an evil miasma. They enter the inn and
are greeted by the proprietor, a withered crone who introduces herself as
Noella. The party is struck by the noticeable lack of conversation in the tap
room and scans the patrons.
Against the
wall next to the giant fireplace is a youth playing a melancholy tune on a violin.
Across font him flanking the fireplace is a woodsman with a bow leaning against
the wall. At a table a fat Halfling chortles to himself as he plays with a set
of cups and dice, and at another table is a man with a long thin waxed mustache
idly toying with a dagger. Three young women stare off into space at a third
table, and finally at a fourth table four stout peasants hunch over tankards.
The knights
swagger in, and begin talking to everyone. The mustachioed man is openly
hostile, the violinist seems absent, and the woodsman is rudely reserved. The
women seem in shock. Fyn steps out onto the porch and has a pleasant conversation
with the fat halfing (who goes out as well) while Bajol has an aggressive exchange
with the mustache wearer and the woodsman. Fyn and the Halfling realize that
they are on opposing sides and both reenter the inn, right as things build to
ahead with Bajol and the others. Frumious meanwhile has been trying to speak
with the women, who ask for help. He
sends them (and the peasants, their servants) to their rooms. They exit. When
Frumious confronts the violinist, who he has identified as magically
communicating with another far distant – the violinist’s voice changes and
says, “I have landed at the shore. You killed my servant, now try my knights.”
Realizing that this group of adventurers serve Culminos the banished Solarian, the
room immediately erupts into violence.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Session 57
Date: 11/15/2015
Attending:
Jake, Joey, Justin, Dave
Absent: Aaron
– out of town for work
Start Time: 7:36
pm
End Time: 10:25
pm
XP awarded: 5,050
Game time
elapsed: 3 days
Enemies
Defeated: 4 fire giants, 2 stone giants
Notes:
The party
divvies up Fingali’s things and then gives Fyn a whole day to search the crypts
in an attempt to find what Fingali was looking for. In one of the sarcophaguses
Fyn finds an inscription behind an old skeleton. The inscription is translated
by Frumious to read, “Separated in death from his brother who rests in the
Lady’s burial place under the spring of Halven.” Summarizing that this is what Fingali was
looking for, the party decided to attempt to speak with dead with the coffin’s
resident. The spell is successful (failed Will save) and Frumious has 6
questions. The questions and their answers are as follows:
1) What is your name?
A: Arameth
2) What is your brother’s name?
A: Nurvic
3) Why is your brother in the Lady’s tomb?
A: We
devoted our lives to protecting the location of and access to the tomb of the
Lady. When Nurvic died he was placed beside her so that he could protect her
even in death.
4) How does one access the tomb of the Lady?
A: to access
the tomb one must know the location, bypass the traps, slay or pacify the
Guardians, and open the door.
5) Who are the Guardians, and how may they be
pacified?
A: The
mechanical men can be by passed by saying this decade’s password. The wyrm may
be bribed. The Revered Dead will stand aside for those reciting the correct
sequence of prayers.
6) What organization were you and your brother
a part of in life?
A: None.
The party
then discussed next steps, considering a trip to Illmar, discarding a direct
assault on the giants, listing the facts as they know them, etc… Frumious used
the message spell to deliver the following message to Osgood in Halvenspring
(remember message and answer 25 words or less each):
What is latest? We in Mooncrest, headed to
Halvenspring. Army of Giants invaded Caer Wynnic. We have slain Marquis
Daedalus. Name major players in Halvenspring?
Answer:
Firnockt is a battlefield. Dwarves hold the
run. Shadows, men, and Tainted fight in trees. Dragons in hills. Ground blood
soaked. Sky smoke and flame.
Then
Frumious had a similar exchange with Ellicor, where Frumious checks in via a
message spell and receives this answer:
Puppet King was in Avonhollow, suddenly
disappeared. Things building to a head. If I reveal myself will instigate. God
King marches to Halvenspring. Arrive first.
The knights
decide to ride straight to Halvenspring after receiving these messages. They
take the road west out of Mooncrest and ride for a day. That night a fleeing
soldier shares their campfire and tells them that he was part of the army Albus
Wynnic mustered to confront Mario in Goldmeadow, and the King’s army was
routed. He said that Mario’s army did
have undead but what cinched the deal was the Mossreachean force was attacked
by a horde of shadows. The soldier, whose name was Joe because I’ve come up
with enough unique names for this campaign thank you very much, said he headed
north and passed through Carradeen which was in chaos – the King had not
returned (no one knows if he survived the battle with Mario’s) and most of the
government was missing. He continued on north, hoping to seek refuge in Phaerus
Keep only to find the keep burning (he saw from a distance and doesn’t know the
details). Bajol suggested to him that he continue on east to Shadowmount where
he could find safety.
They ride
west for another day, camping where the road turns north to Phaerus keep. Early
in the morning (last watch) they are spotted by a patrol of giants, and the
knights are forced to defend themselves. They then begin riding due west into
the hills, making a bee line to Halvenspring. End Session
Session 56
Date: 11/8/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Joey, Justin, Max observing
Absent: Dave
– Wendy recovering from eye surgery
Start Time: 7:20
pm
End Time: 10:20
pm
XP awarded: 6,250
Game time
elapsed: 2 days
Enemies
Defeated: Fingali
Notes:
The session
begins with the party riding towards Mooncrest which they reach that evening.
The gate guards wave them through and they enter the town about an hour after
nightfall. The streets are filled with people huddled under makeshift tents and
lean-tos. The party summarizes that these are refugees from the surrounding
area which seems to be overrun with giants. Trios of guards patrol the streets,
keeping a watchful but friendly eye on all. Figuring the church would be a cool
place to look for catacombs, they went to the center of town only to find the
church had been burned and the remaining stone structure boarded up. Asking a
passing patrol of guards, they found out that there had been a Chovalian
uprising that burned the church and slew the local priests, only to be
violently put down by the town guard. He suggests they look for catacombs in
the cemetery behind the church.
The knights
circle the church and find a large densely packed cemetery. In the center is a
big mausoleum structure. Entering the mausoleum they find a hatch covering a
staircase leading underground, but in opening the hatch they set off an alarm.
Going down
they find a second world underground network of burial crypts. There are many
traps which are all disarmed when they arrive. Fingali taunts them, his voice
echoing down the corridors, and as the make their way they find that he has
left a trail of burning scrolls – pages of the scrolls of epic legend, all of
which are destroyed. The knights finally reach a room that is filed with a
network of stone columns of irregular shape, holding upright coffins. Many of
the coffins are open and the whole area is lit with many torches providing a
skeletal audience for the fight.
Fingali is
able to move with unnatural speed, and suddenly rushes out to strike at the
knights, only to rush away again and disappear in the columns (spring attack
feat). A long frustrating fight begins as Fingali continues to spring out and
then away while the knights stalk him through the twisted columns and leering coffins.
Bajol is slain only to be revived by Frumious’ magic, and Feydor falls only to
be healed onto his feet. Fingali take steady wounds, and then after a long
fight of hit and fade bolts for the back door. The knights, almost exhausted of
healing and all low on hit points give chase, Frumious using a wand of haste so
that they can keep up. It is apparent
that Fingali can run faster even than the hasted Bajol and Feydor, but they
pursue anyway, chasing him out of the catacombs and into the streets. Bajol
stops occasionally to pepper him with arrows, and Feydor summons his mount
Brutus, but Fingali still gets further and further ahead. Eventually he climbs
the outer wall, but when he does so Frumious –flying via potion – hits him with
a flame strike. Fingali, now smoking jumps off the wall outside the town and
continues running. Frumious flys over the wall and flame strikes him again.
This time Fingali does not get up.
Frumious
stays with the body while Feydor and Bajol work around to the town gate and outside
to join him. They strip the dead dwarf of all his possessions and haul his
corpse back into the city and then into the catacombs. They rest in the crypts
until Frumious is able to cast speak with dead, but Fingali resists the spell.
End Session
Session 55
Date: 11/1/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Joey, Justin, Dave
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:15
pm
End Time: 10:00
pm
XP awarded: 3,000
Game time
elapsed: 5 days
Enemies
Defeated: none
Notes:
After
looting the giants, the party heads into the cloud giant’s tent to address the
efreet. They agree to release the efreet if he will answer 3 questions, and he
offers to give them each an item as well. The questions they ask and the
answers they receive are nothing of substance save to confirm that the efreet
is not in any way a plot point. He does confirm than Fingali is in catacombs
underneath Mooncrest. The items given are necklaces that prevent scrying, which
the party gratefully dons.
The party
decides to bypass Caer Wynnic and not try to confront the giants; their main reasoning
was to find and kill Fingali anyway and since he is elsewhere they decide to
just bee-line towards him. They ride for Mooncrest. In the evening of the
second day on the trail, Fyn (on watch) sees a lone figure destroy a patrol of
giants. The party rouses and chases after the figure. He proves to be
completely obscured by a cloak and hat but is quickly identified as the Puppet
King (or one of his manikins, unknown for sure). The party disperses but Bajol
stays to confront him. They have a terse conversation inside a dome of wicker,
where Bajol learns that the Puppet King is not interested in the party anymore
because they no longer have Alerhaus’ Book Box, and that the Puppet King cannot
enter the Library on Isles of Mist. In the meantime he is killing giants out of
boredom and sense of antagonism towards the God King. The party continues
towards Mooncrest and the Puppet King wanders off east in Avonhollow.
They ride
for a third day, continuing to dodge giant patrols, and arrive at the road to
the south around lunch time. They then turn west towards Mooncrest and continue.
That night they meet a group of merchants traveling east; a Halfling named
Trevor and two human companions Enrique and Hefe. The merchants let them know that the road is
still open but dangerous, and that travelers are disappearing regularly.
They travel
the next day and hit the crossroads at midday, and continue, rest for the
night, ride again, camp once more and wake, a day’s ride from Mooncrest. End Session
Session 54
Date: 10/24/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Joey, Justin, Dave
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:43
pm
End Time: 10:30
pm
XP awarded: 6,700
Game time
elapsed: 1 day
Enemies
Defeated: 2 hill giants, 1 cloud giant
(eldritch knight)
Notes: Fyn moves in anyway, and realized the Caster
can hear him but not see him. The rest of the party moves in to confront the
giants. Bajol makes a diplomacy check, “We don’t mean you any harm, we just
want our friend back.” Meanwhile Fyn releases Percival and tells him to fly
away. The caster responds to Bajol with, “I have a duty.” He is not aggressive
toward the knights, only guarded, but when he sees Percival flying away he
calls lightning from the sky with his staff, instantly killing the diminutive
celestial.
The party
retreats and discusses how they are going to respond. Fyn is for leaving but
the others wish to avenge Percival. The party rests for the night. Having
decided to return, they wait until noon and move back up to the giant’s camp.
They notice a vulture circling and suspect it is the cloud giant’s familiar.
The party rushes in and attacks while Fyn circles around again. Fyn has a
conversation with the efreet, and is surprised that the efreet now knows his
name. Fyn refuses to release him and joins the fight against the giants. After
a relatively short brutal fight the knights prevail and both hill giants and
the cloud giant caster are slain. End Session
Monday, November 9, 2015
Session 53
Date: 10/18/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Joey, Justin, Dave
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:30
pm
End Time: 10:10
pm
XP awarded: 4,000
Game time
elapsed: 3 days
Enemies
Defeated: 3 fire giants, 2 stone giants
Notes:
The next
morning the Knights begin the journey to Caer Wynnic, heading northwest into
the hills following their plan to travel cross country rather than via road.
That night they see what appears to be a campfire in a cave off in the distance
to the north where the mountains are, but are too far away to investigate.
The next day
they continue, but after lunch run into a group of giants. There are three fire
giants and two stone giants who are clearing a patrol of somesort. The giants
ask some terse questions and demand that the knights go back the way they came.
When the knights do not immediately comply the giants attack. It is a hard
fight but the party is victorious.
The knights
decide that they need some advance notice of future patrols, and send Percival
flying ahead to scout. That evening when Percival has not returned, they make
camp (having traveled the rest of the day) and Fyn scouts ahead trying to
locate Percival. He comes upon a hasty and crude camp on top of a hill with a
rudimentary earth and wood wall. Sneaking in he finds two large stupid looking hill
giants and one tall cloud giant with a staff dressed in robes. Behind the cloud
giant in a wooden cage is Percival. Fyn continues exploring the small camp and
sneaks into the large tent. Inside he finds a red skinned creature made of fire
from the waist down (Fyn assumes it is a devil but it is actually an efreet)
trapped in a cage. The creature asks Fyn to let him out but Fyn declines and instead
returns to the party. In the morning Fyn leads the party to the giant camp. The
party hides for the rest of the day and approaches the camp at night. Frumious
summons earth elements and commands them to attack the crude wall, while Fyn
sneaks in and around to Percival’s cage. The caster, waiting in the center of
camp, hears Fyn. End Session
Monday, October 12, 2015
Session 52
Date: 10/11/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Joey, Justin
Absent: Dave
– Father’s death
Start Time: 7:30
pm
End Time: 9:55
pm
XP awarded: 6,500
Game time
elapsed: 2 days
Enemies
Defeated: Marquis Daedalus, Orlanivich,
Banshee
Notes:
The party (which
includes Marcus) mounts up and rides to Dalus Keep. They pass the old
table/altar on the road and find it still destroyed (as they left it). Shortly
after dusk they arrived at the keep. The suits of armor were waiting for them
and took the reins of the mounts (except Frumious’ writing dog). The knights then entered the keep to find the
Doorwarden waiting for them, who indicated that dinner was about to be served.
They went through the keep and arrived at the same banquet hall they had dined
in previously. Appetizers were served by a figure that was possibly undead and
then the Marquis joined them for dinner.
The party
cuts right to the chase, and engaged in a direct conversation with the Marquis.
He was evasive about when he had had Thomas killed, the knights suspecting that
Thomas had been dead all along, and remained arrogantly aloof. The knights
threaten him, reminding that they almost slew him before, and he responds with
a warning that there are dire consequences for slaying him in his home. The
Marquis proposed an alliance between him and the knights to address the
happenings in Halvenspring and especially Caer Wynnic. Conversation leads the
Knights to believe that the Marquis does not know the specifics surrounding
current events, and in particular knows nothing of Allanora or her body.
Frumious tires of the whole verbal dance, and calls the Marquis out on his
attitude – noting that he needs them and should be a little less condescending.
The Marquis responds by telling them he intends to have their help, willingly
or unwillingly. Frumious asks how he plans to manage the unwillingly option,
and the Marquis invites their other dinner guest, Orlanivich, to join them.
Olanivich enters and takes a seat and is clearly a vampire. Frumious,
understanding that the Marquis intends to use the vampire to dominate the party
leaps to his feet and begins casting, plunging the room into combat. Before the
Marquis can react Feydor (sitting next to Daedalus) deals a series of massive
blows with the legendary Storm’s Fury (including one critical hit) that slays
him where he stands. Upon his death contingency spells go off in the banquet
room, some sort of summoning and gate spells. Since the contingencies will take
a minute to resolve the party hurriedly dispatches the vampire, forcing him to
revert to gaseous form to escape. The entire back of the banquet hall shimmers
and becomes a summoning portal to a place of black rock, fire, and red skies. A
mighty winged reptilian creature begins to enter the room, which Frumious
identifies as a hellfire wyrm. Also present in the room are two gate spells,
which open to a similar landscape. Creatures Frumious identifies as bearded devils,
vrocks, and chain devils begin massing to enter the keep. The knights turn and
run out of the keep, one step ahead of the awesome breath weapon of the wyrm.
As they flee they pass the Doorwarden who is shrieking that she is free before
she explodes in a wave of writhing black tentacles. Leaving the keep they see
that the suits of armor are falling apart revealing black mold and fungus
within. They gather their horses and ride out of the keep. A few hundred yards
out they wheel around and watch the building, but nothing appears to be exiting
either via door or window. As far as they can tell everything is contained
within the keep.
They ride
through the night, and as they approach Shadowmount’s walls they hear a
horrific wailing. The banshee descends
on the knights, immediately slaying Frumious and Bajol with her deathly wail.
Marcus passes Feydor a potion of fly and quaffs one himself, and the two of
them ascend to do battle with the nightmarish spirit. Meanwhile Percival, in
the now dead Frumious’ backpack, wrestles out the Rod of Ressurection and uses
it on Frumious. Frumious joins the battle, at one point making his way to Bajol
to use the rod on him as well. The knights are victorious but not before the
banshee drains Marcus of all Charisma, slaying him utterly and reducing him to
stone as is the way of the dwarves (a note is made that he has died within one
week of being told about Halfling Tainted Ones). The party sheds a tear, says a
quick word, and then loots their fallen comrade.
Entering the
town they ask the redsashes that were on guard (and witnessed the banshee
fight) to take them to the redsash commander. The commander (named Stephan) and
Marwyn met with the party where they were filled in on the death of the Marquis,
the unsafe nature (to say the least) of Dalus Keep, and the destruction of the
banshee. Stephan lets them know that at least 3 banshees have been seen at one
time, so the nightly threat is not ended, merely reduced (the party declines to
try and deal with the remaining evil spirits, pleading – justifiably – more pressing
matters). The group agrees that Stephan will rule in the Marquis’ name, and
Daedalus’ death will not be publicized at this time. The party then retreats to
the Gutted Candle, identifies Marcus’ things, and rests for the day and the
following night, resolving to cut across country due west through the hills
towards Caer Wynnic. End Session
Monday, October 5, 2015
Session 51
Date: 10/04/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Dave, Joey, Justin
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:18
pm
End Time: 10:15
pm
XP awarded: 3,700
Game time
elapsed: about 2.5 days
Enemies
Defeated: none
Notes:
Leaving
Waymeet the Knights travel throughout the day along the road to Shadowmount. That evening they stop and set up camp, but
shortly into the first watch it begins to rain. Not equipped to weather the
rain in any comfort they strike camp in the night and on Marcus’ advice head west
off of the road to find a rural residence. Fyn climbs the nearest hill and sees
lights, and using this as a guide the party eventually finds their way into the
simple pastures of a local goatherd.
Even though
it is the middle of the night there are still lights on in the home, and so the
party knocks on the door seeking shelter. The goatherd, a plumply fat man named
Hadrick, is obviously extremely cautious about the party but lets them in and
feeds them in his kitchen. Noticing Frumious’ holy symbol, he asks each to take
an oath on their faith that they will not harm him while staying under his
roof. They party goes through their normal metagame paranoia, carefully
constructing an oath that allows them to justify almost any action in hindsight
anyway (an example - but not verbatim – “You swear not to kill me tonight?” “…we
swear that we will defend anyone who is good from anything we feel is evil…” “Uh,
that means you won’t kill me right?” “It means we don’t kill things we don’t
think are evil.” “Uuuh…”) and then bunk down in the kitchen with watches while
the goatherd retreats to his room and barricades the door (see parenthetical
above).
The night
passes peacefully until Frumious’ watch, when the small cleric has to take a
leak. The home has an indoor privy, and Frumious heads to it to take care of
his business. Within the bathroom however he finds the corpse of the goatherd,
clearly dead for several days. Being Frumious he takes the time to piss, and
then goes back to the kitchen to wake up the party. Fyn sneaks outside and
takes position outside the bedroom window, and then Feydor and Bajol break down
the bedroom door. The bedroom is empty, no Hadrick to be found. The party
immediately ransacks the place. Bajol notices (nat 20 on untrained Search!)
that in the bedroom there is a small rat hole that leads outside the home. The
knights confer and drawn the conclusion that this was a Halfling Tainted One.
They rush outside and find a pen behind the home with about 20 goats. Assuming
that their opponent is posing as a goat, they set about systematically
slaughtering the entire herd. After the first quarter is slain the goats mount
a panicked but futile defense, escalating into a maddened escape attempt, but
are slain to the last kid. The goats all prove to be merely goats. The party
then turns suspicious eyes on their horses. After using Brutus to verify the equiness
of the horses (but still not being able to vet the riding dog), the Knights
head back to the road and continue travelling north.
The Knights
ride all day and press on into the night, arriving at Shadowmount around
midnight. The guard, a redsash, informs them that no one is supposed to enter
the town at night, but that it is not safe for them to camp outside at night.
He consults with a superior who comes out and recognizes half of the group (no
Grigor, added Marcus, Feydor now an orc) and tells the guard to make an exception.
The nights ride into the quiet streets of Shadowmount, and sleep at the Gutted
Candle for the night.
In the
morning they get up and decide to go see if Ellicor is in town. They cross the
center to his shop, only to find Marwyn behind the counter. They converse with
Marwyn, shop at Ellard’s, return to talk to Marwyn, return to shop at Ellard’s,
return to Marwyn, etc… all of which I am going to summarize with the following:
Ellard remains creapy, and refers to Frumious as the ensouled one, and Fyn as
the Sosyl spawn, and tries to sell several obviously evil items to the party.
Marwyn does not know where Ellicor is at the moment, cast a spell that reveals
that no less than four separate individuals are scrying on the party at that
moment – one of which he can identify as Ellicor and one as a magic item of
some sort instead of a spell. He is very interested in what the Halfing Tainted
Ones are, and scoffs at the rumors that he will now be slain in a week for
knowing. He tells them that there is a small army of giants occupying Caer Wynnic,
and that Fingali has been working for the God King all this time. Albus Wynnic’s
army in in Goldmeadow trying to put down a rebellion led by Mario, and the
remainder of the Seven Vales armies are at sea fighting the Choval Empire, or the
northeast supporting Tak Nor Vel against the Choval Empire. According to Marwyn
the empire is not doing well, being ill prepared for a two front war and
missing much of their martial leadership strangely. In particular he notes that
no one knows where Sevarius is.
When they
ask Marwyn why he’s manning the store, he tells them that Ellicor asked him to
keep an eye on Ellard’s Oddities and the statue, gesturing to the gigantic arm
holding a sword that sticks out of the ground in the middle of the Center. They
tell Marwyn that they are here to kill the Marquis, and Marwyn wishes them good
luck. He also tells them that many powerful beings have tried to kill the Marquis
in his home, but none have succeeded. He implies that the Keep, being Daedalus’
home territory and lair, is heavily prepared to defend him.
The party
confers, agreeing that they are here to kill Marquis, and try to brainstorm
some way to lure him out of the keep. While they kick ideas around, Frumious on
a hunch pulls Percival out of his backpack and asked him if he knew anything
about the statue (arm and sword). Percival squints at it for a second and says,
“Yeah. That’s Brulor.” Frumious, paused, and asked if it was a statue of the
solarian. Precival responded with, “No man. That’s Brulor. His corpse, and what
looks like his sword.” Conversation stopped for a quick moment, and then
Frumious cast Detect Magic. The statue did not read as magical.
Knowing that
artifacts often don’t ping Detect Magic, Fyn climbed the 40 foot tall arm to
the sword and hammered at it with a piton spike. The sword turns out to not be
made of stone; instead the accumulation of centuries had coated it with a stone-like
covering. About half an inch in Fyn found and exposed metal. Frumious then used
the wand of identify on the exposed metal. The spell identified it as “Left
Manacle Key.” Frumious immediately buys a shovel (gnome sized!) and starts
trying to dig up the enormous, skyscraper sized statue. After about an hour and
around 7 cubic feet or so of moved earth, the party convinces him to stop and
they head back to the Gutted Candle. Remembering that they saw party of the
statue (they think) in the ruins under the inn, they ask Helga for permission
to descend again. Helga tells them that the Marquis himself closed up the
access in her cellar. Heading down to investigate they find a new brick wall.
Hammering a brick out of it they see a shimmering multicolored multi layered
field, almost like a wall, right behind the bricks. They give up and go back
upstairs.
Re-confering,
the knights hypothesize that if they can get the box the Marquis was bound in
out of the underground ruins that would lure him out, and they could even
perhaps re-bind him. They head to an
alleyway which is where Fyn estimates the box is (below) and Frumious summons a
large earth elemental who manages to dig an 8 foot diameter hole 14 feet down
before the spell expires. Fyn and Feydor hop in and start digging. Meanwhile Bajol heads back into the inn and
tells Helga the Marquis’ complete history as far as the party knows of it,
thinking that he can convince the population of Shadowmount to revolt by
spreading the information. As he wraps up his tale, a redsash enters with an
envelope for the Knights of Mist Valley. Bajol opens it and sees that it is a
dinner invitation to dine with the Marquis that evening. He tells the party but
suggests that they ignore it, thinking that something that they are doing has
Daedalus’ attention and perhaps scares him.
Bajol then
does some quick calculations and realizes that the box Daedalus was bound in
probably weighs 10 – 15 tons and it is not likely that they will be able to
lift it out of the ground. Fyn then remembers that Daedalus was able to
magically transport when they last confronted him, and that attempting to lure
him out was perhaps futile. Bajol looks at Fyn and replies, “Then I guess we’re
going to dinner.” End Session
Friday, October 2, 2015
Session 50
Date: 9/27/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Dave, Joey
Absent: Justin
– in Florida
Start Time: 7:50
pm
End Time: 10:35
pm
XP awarded: 4,000
Game time
elapsed: 2.5 days
Enemies
Defeated: 1 alien creature, 2 steeltoes
Notes:
The group
heads upstairs (Bajol trailing behind and still recovering from the effects of
the insanity spell). Fyn is sneaking ahead when the next level opens up into a similar
room. In it 4 steeltoes are talking to one of the alien creatures, but do not
see the hidden Fyn. The party retreats back down into the floor they entered
from and discuss their options. While they are talking they hear a steeltoe
coming down the stairs. The knights hide in a side tunnel. The steeltoe enters
cautiously and immediately goes to the tunnel that has the stair leading to the
lower unexplored levels. The knights remain hidden, and Fyn sneaks out and
returns upstairs. He finds that the other steeltoes are gone and only the alien
creature remains, pouring over some documents. Fyn sneak attacks and slays the
alien creature. He picks up the papers (stashing them for later in his bag) and
returns downstairs. He ducks his head into the tunnel where the steeltoe that
came downstairs went and hears something very large making its way up the
stairs. He informs the group and they all head up to the next level.
In the room where Fyn killed the alien
creature, the knights ignore the various side rooms and tunnels and take the
stairs upward. There they find a room similar to the two below it. It is a large
room with a stair that continues upward. Where the double doors the party
entered the complex from are located two floors below on this floor is a small
door made out of the wood of the walls. Like before there are several side
passages and rooms, but unlike the previous two floors there is a bright
silvery sword embedded into the wall opposite the small door. Standing in front
of the small door are two steeltoes who clearly see the party. A vicious fight
ensues where the steeltoes are slain. The large thing that was following them has
almost reached the room. Feydor manages to rip the sword free and Fyn picks the
lock and throws open the door, revealing rocky hill country beyond and spilling
morning light into the room. Frumious, having summoned a large earth elemental
during the fight with the steeltoes, sets the elemental to block the stairs
preventing the large thing from below – which proves to be an enormous steeltoe
in armor wielding a massive lochaber axe – from entering the room or giving
pursuit. The party then exits the complex.
From outside
the knights see that their suspicions were correct and that they were in the
Hanging Tree they encountered in Avonhollow. Now finding themselves there, they
travel for the whole day until they make it to Waymeet. As Waymeet does not
open the gates at night, the party camps outside the walls and then heads into
town to plan, discuss, and rest up. Realizing that Bajol is in no condition to
insist that they stay at an inn with an attached stable, the knights choose to
forego the Stag and Chalice and instead rent rooms at the Lump Pillow, being
run by a Halfling woman named Lois. Since the Lumpy Pillow doesn’t serve food or
have a taproom, the party has a hot lunch at the Venison’s Rest tavern (instead
of the Foaming Tankard). There they hole up and examine both the papers Fyn
snagged and the sword they took. Not recognizing the language Frumious employs
magic to be able to read them. The papers seem to be a set of orders, records
of movements, and partially drawn maps. They are obviously written with the
expectation that the recipient knows all they need to know, and thus there are
no labels on the map fragments, and no names or places on the others. They
party is able to make little sense of them except for one note:
“I know you
and yours cannot leave the Tree. I have gathered my kind to the Forest to repel
aggression and to claim what is ours. Stand ready; should we succeed I will
bring it to the Tree for the ritual.”
The note is
signed “Blackbriar.”
The sword
proves to be a highly magical blade named “Colwych, the Sword of Allanora.”
After discussion, the group decides to disband until dinner. Fyn heads back to
his room to work on Ratchets and sleep. Feydor decides that since Grigor is no
longer traveling with the party a group historian is needed and spends the
afternoon taking notes on their adventures since the Isles of Mist. Frumious,
on learning that the baker for the Venison’s Rest has retired, spends the
afternoon baking.
The group
regathers at the Venison’s Rest for dinner. Frumious gathers information from
the crowd and picks up the following info:
*something
or someone has occupied Caer Wynnic; no one knows what’s going on but everyone
and everything is avoiding the area around the former capitol.
*the Marquis
came into the Marque from the east and rode straight through. He has been
largely absent of late.
Frumious
then uses a spell to communicate with Osgood (note that only a limited amount
of words – 25 - can be sent with this spell, and both Frumious and Osgood know
this). Frumious’ message to Osgood is:
“Osgood –
What is the major news of Halvenspring of late? We are in Waymeet right now.
Tell me if we should return home with haste.”
Osgood’s response
is:
“Things
tense but not active. Holding breath. Army at lake. Suspect Illmar. Firnockt
impassable. Tainted all around. Last settlement left north Mossreach. Dwarves are
coming.”
The party
then sits for dinner and discusses what Frumious’ information and Osgood’s message
could mean. During dinner Marcus Oakcask comes in for a drink sees the knights
and joins them for dinner. Frumious is all of a sudden and somewhat uncharacteristically
diplomatic (nat 20 Diplomacy check) and the party finds Marcus spilling the
beans somewhat about the Underground Mine.
From Marcus (and the DM’s notes):
“The
Underground Mine (hereafter UM) is a secret dwarven organization that protects
the interests of dwarves and guards against the day when the Tainted Ones rise
up enmass again to threaten the world. While technically they have a multi
continent presence, most of the UM is concentrated in the Kingdom of the Seven
Vales as it is based out of Boulderrest. The Seven Vales also has most of the
Tainted One locations of concern for the UM. The UM is divided up into 4
branches – the Watchers, the Walkers, the Hammer, and the Council.
The Watchers
are UM agents spread throughout the world. Less sleeper agent and more passive
spy, the Watchers typically live in communities and run local businesses. Many
are inn keepers and smiths, no small few are merchants of one type or another.
There is at least one in every area where there is a significant population of
dwarves, the local regime seems racist or overbearing, or there is a sight or
location associated with the Tainted Ones. Each Watcher has a coin or medallion
with the symbol of the UM on it. They can use it to contact the Walkers by
tracing a symbol on it – one symbol means “send Walker”, one means “in danger
send help”, and one means “I’m dying”. Outside of the coins, each Watcher
writes a written report twice a year which is picked up by a Walker passing
through.
The Walkers
are scouts and messengers. They are constantly on the move through both the
wilderness and along the roads, carrying reports from Watchers and
investigating new and moving threats. They are also the UM’s fast response
group when protection or martial action is needed. Every Walker carries a map
that magically responds to the coin of any Watcher within 100 miles. When a
Watcher traces the appropriate symbol on his coin, that symbol appears on the
Walker’s map in the Watcher’s location. The Walkers also have a metal belt loop
that allows them **********<concealed>*****************. In dire
circumstances the Council can communicate directly with the Walkers via their
maps. Twice a year Walkers rendezvous with a Councilmember to deliver reports,
receive instructions, and hear about the doings of others.
Most people
do not know about the existence of the Underground Mine. Those who do know do
not have specifics, merely knowing that there is a dwarven organization of some
sort. A small percentage of that actually know that the group is called the
Underground Mine and are vaguely aware of the Watchers and Walkers, and then
not by name. Almost no one outside of the organization knows of the Hammer or
the Council.”
It’s worth
noting that Marcus seemed willing to talk, albeit slightly reluctantly, but the
party chose not to press him on the part above he edited, or ask him anything
about the Hammer or Council. This was not a party decision or anything, they
just didn’t do it.
Anyway,
Frumious then tells Marcus about the Tainted Halfling. Marcus’ demeanor
immediately changes. He then tells the party that when he dies they should take
an iron box that is bound with leather from his store to Klaus in Halvenspring.
He then tells them that everyone who has ever learned what the Halflings become
when Tainted has died suddenly and mysteriously. No one knows how or why.
Immediately Feydor and Fyn suggest Marcus come with the Knights. Marcus agrees.
The knights then spend the night in Marcus’ shop as Fyn doesn’t want Marcus to
leave sight of at least one party member. The party gears up, buys 2 horses and
a riding dog, and then heads north to Shadowmount. End Session
Thursday, September 24, 2015
A Prayer
Omnos!
Are we all not but passengers on a slab of stone? Are we not careening through this world at terrifying speed, with only the solid foundation of your grace protecting us from oblivion? Do you not guide us safety, and lead us to our destiny?
You have delivered your champions into a nest of evil and wickedness ---- we will exterminate the hornets. My faith is my shield - I will not be stung. I am buoyed, not burdened, by the responsibilities you place on my shoulders - they lift me up instead of weighing me down.
I will go wherever you take me. I commit myself to your service. Let our enemies see you in our shadows, great Omnos, and quake at the sight. May they find themselves cowed in your presence, blinded by your glory, and may they despair when they oppose your will.
Are we all not but passengers on a slab of stone? Are we not careening through this world at terrifying speed, with only the solid foundation of your grace protecting us from oblivion? Do you not guide us safety, and lead us to our destiny?
You have delivered your champions into a nest of evil and wickedness ---- we will exterminate the hornets. My faith is my shield - I will not be stung. I am buoyed, not burdened, by the responsibilities you place on my shoulders - they lift me up instead of weighing me down.
I will go wherever you take me. I commit myself to your service. Let our enemies see you in our shadows, great Omnos, and quake at the sight. May they find themselves cowed in your presence, blinded by your glory, and may they despair when they oppose your will.
Session 49
Date: 9/20/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Dave, Justin, Joey
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:15
pm
End Time: 10:20
pm
XP awarded: 4,000
Game time
elapsed: 9 days
Enemies
Defeated: 4 alien figures, 2 steeltoes, 2
mistwalkers, 1 doppler
Notes:
Deciding to
pass on further investigation of the blood trail, the Knights returned to the
main passage and continued out. They walked for 2 days. On the third day they
came to an intersection which had crude signs scratched into the wall. The left
one showed what appeared to be a sun over land, and the right one appeared to
be a tree. They continued down the left passage. After another day they finally
feel fresh air. They exit the mine on the side of a mountain overlooking a vast
section of moors. They camp for the night and debate what to do next,
slaughtering Frumious’ goat for a hot meal. The group decides to head back into
the mine and explore the branch of tunnel marked with a tree.
After
traveling a day they rest at the fork with the scratched signs. Then they take
the right passage marked with a tree. They travel for two days and on the third
find a underground river of lava with a floating stone slab tethered to the
tunnel. The knights take the raft which races along the lava river through the
night and into the morning at a fantastic speed. Along the way they pass
another raft being towed against current by 4 beings seemingly made of fire and
lava. On the raft are a few redcaps, but the two rafts pass so far that the
occupants can do little more than register the passing. In the morning their
raft stops at the mouth of another tunnel. The party exits the raft and enters
this new tunnel. After traveling for ½ a day they find a massive root system
made of titanic roots, which has a double door set in the side (the tunnel
continues on). The doors are made of the same pitted corroded iron used in the
Tainted One rituals. The Knights rest and then enter the tree.
Inside the
tree the very air feels wrong, and Feydor is driven to the floor sobbing and
clutching his head when he tries to Detect Evil. Immediately inside is a large
room with several passageways and a stair. Also there is a figure who turns to
the party. This figure is about man height, but almost impossibly skinny. It is
bald and its features are alien and otherworldy, far too angular and stretched.
The party attacks and kills it fairly quickly although Fyn notes that it was
readying fairly powerful magic. They also notice that while a red substance
does pour out of its wounds, it is actually thousands of little red mites
instead of liquid blood. One at a time they examine the hallways. Each one
leads to a roomo that seems to be set up to create Tainted Ones. In one of them
they disturb a horrific ritual.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Session 48
Date: 9/13/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Dave, Justin, Joey
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:07
pm
End Time: 10:20
pm
XP awarded: 3,000
Game time
elapsed:
Enemies
Defeated: 2 Dread Wraiths, 2 Morghs, 1
Spectre, 10 ghouls
Notes:
In the
morning the Knights head to the mine. They follow the stream to a small
mountain pool fed by a waterfall. A man
named Jorl is fishing. Talking with him they discover that the Northern
Wanderer had headed into the mine a month ago. He had mentioned to jorl that to
make it through the mine you had to always choose the left option. He also
claims to have met 3 Wanderers in his time.
The Knights
then went into the mine through the entrance behind the waterfall. Heading
through the mine, the party detoured to the right to examine a separate First
World tunnel. They found an old crypt that was guarded by wraiths, morghs,
ghouls, and a spectre as well as a few traps. The sarcophagus in the burial
chamber had “Here lies Flavius” inscribed on it (Frumious copied). They also
found a chest with treasure and items. They rested for 2 days in the tomb to
disarm the traps on the chest and heal up after the fight with undead.
Continuing
on they traveled through the mines for another 2 days. After that time they
came upon an intersection with a blood trail leading down a path to the right.
Investigating they found that the blood trail seemingly went straight into a
wall. After discussion the party left it alone and retreated back to the
central mine path, to continue the journey out. End Session
Game Break September 6th
No
session was held on 9/6/2015 – it was Labor Day Weekend; Aaron was at a wedding
and the plan was to play without him (since Joey could not play Monday the 7th),
but Justin wound up extending his out of town trip longer than he anticipated
so the session was cancelled.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Session 47
Date: 8/30/2015
Attending:
Jake, Aaron, Dave, Justin, Joey
Absent: None
Start Time: 7:06
pm
End Time: 10:00
pm
XP awarded: 3,000
Game time
elapsed: 10 days
Enemies
Defeated: None
Notes:
Bajol
charges Sevarius and his group, which are 6 Inquisitors, 4 archers, and 10
elite guardsmen. A battle ensues. Fyn
and Frumious’ horses are slain and the Knights quickly decide that they are
over matched. Fyn summons 5 dire bats with his cloak, which he and Frumious
ride away while Bajol and Feydor break free of the melee and flee. Since most
of the Chovalians had dismounted to fight and a spell of Frumious’ had slain
many of their horses, they were not quick to pursue.
The Knights
flee and ride all night long. In the morning they send Brutus and Zephyr off to
leave a false trail and head south. After a few hours they pull over into a
tall wheat field and camp up (dismissing Zephyr and summoning Brutus). Fyn
takes a watch, and later in the day sees a messenger riding hard along the
road. Fyn kills him and takes his horse back to camp. They find an APB in the
messenger’s bag with their descriptions. They continue to camp in the wheat.
The farmer
who tends the field comes upon them (investigating the big flat patch of
wheat). The farmer lets them know that no everyone has bought into the propaganda
of the Empire, and tells them to head due west into the mountains. Apparently
the hill and mountain communities are only loosely under Imperial control, and
may be able to help the party across the mountains. They rest in the field for
a total of 2 days and begin traveling west at sunset on the second evening.
They travel
through the Empire, heading west, for a week and a half (7 days), resting in
crops during the day and traveling at night. They see that the Empire is
largely empty, presumably due to the war effort. In the late afternoon of the
seventh day they come upon a small village in the foot hills, right where the
actual mountains begin. A man named Brek directs them to the village inn, which
is run by a woman named Millie. In there they look for and find an old story
teller, and ask him if there is any way through the mountains. He tells them
about an old mine that runs underneath but that it is filled with horrible
things such as the walking dead and creatures in large metal shoes. The entrance is behind a local waterfall. (The
party doesn’t ask but the village is named Fallsong if it is needed in future
reference) End Session
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