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