). She decided not to intrude upon their conversation.
) had a lustful staring contest. 
) sharing an intimate looks.
) with his daughter(
). 
) was also watching the two while trying to catch only the daughter's eye.
) staring daggers at a balding man(
). 
, Abadar=
, Gozreh=
, and Shelyn=
) performed a powerful blessing on the grounds that was amplified and empowered by the 7 stones in the center of the church. 
) separate off and hide a portion of all of his sales.
) that had heated Discussion with Aldren was here(See "Drinks at the rusty Dragon")) was here earlier having a heated discussion with
Aldren and from her view it look like Aldren was on the receiving end of the “not
friendly” talk.
Experience
Each Player receives 2148 (Total: 11,714, 5th
level) for monsters and Role-playing
,
, 
) as part of the game. After spending so much time with the orphans,
Zheda was curious as to where they got the flag from. Stepping away from the group Zheda said she
was going to talk to “my Orphans”. The children
came running over to see her. They
explained that it was the Flag of a pirate captain that was once bad but now he
only kills bad people. They were all
running around pretending to be part of his pirate crew. Children being children, it did not take them
long before they were distracted and running back to play their games. Zheda let them go, not wanting to put a stop to
the fun. After Zheda returned to the group,
they continued on their way south. Once
they reach the Goblin Squash Stables, Daviran Hosk came out to greet
Cereliona. The two stayed together until
it was time to leave. Sais found his
horse and was happy to learn that Daviran had completed training the horse for
combat over the last few weeks. Very happy
with the horse, Sais tip Daviran an extra 10 gold. While all this was going on,
Alaina made a stop next door at the Rusty Dragon to pick up some high proof
rum.
Session 36 (06/27/2018) [Skovald {Kane} Missed Session]
Day 68 [continued] (Oathday the 29th of Neth, Thursday 11/29/2047)
Waiting for the rangers to wake up
Zheda and Alaina were clearing out the dead ogre bodies from the first floor while Sais and Cereliona put the rangers in the cells. While they made sure the rangers where as far apart and with as many empty cells between them as possible, the two did not try to separate Kibb from Jakardros. The animal companion was not hostile to the group, so they allowed the mountain lion to follow and stay with his master. Then they made sure to take the ranger’s armor, weapons, and any other gear that wasn’t basic clothing. Sais even took the time to fully pat each ranger down, but he did not find any hidden items. By the time Zheda and Alaina had finished clearing the dead ogres out of the fort, Sais and Cereliona had returned from dropping off the rangers in the cells. It was a little after 10 am and the group was already tired from the morning’s work. In the main hallway they discussed what to do while they waited for the rangers to wake up. At first all were going to find a room to rest in on this floor but that changed when Zheda asked, “Is anyone going to watch the rangers?” With this question Zheda helped everyone to realize the error they made in the leaving the alone rangers in the cells without a guard. Sais being the one that could most likely escape from a prison, volunteered to watch the rangers. Cereliona also went to help watch the rangers and to keep Sais company. As the two were headed down, Alaina asked Cereliona if there was any ranger magic that might allow the prisoners to escape. She did not know of any and then she added that ranger magic usually does not work like that so there should not be much to worry about. Once those two headed down, Alaina went to one of the east hallway guest quarters to rest. In there she used rope trick to give her some added safety and security while she slept. Xavian moved into one of the rooms next to her but he instead used the bed in the room. Zheda sat down in the south hallway facing the front door. There she rested and drank, while on guard duty.
Sitting on Cushions
Jailer’s Den
Taking advantage of the many comforts in this room, Sais and Cereliona both found a cushion and got comfortable. Thinking that it might be a good idea for another set of eyes upstairs, Cereliona sent Barkenstien up to guard. The dog followed his orders as commanded but a few minutes later the large dog “snuck” back down and got a one of the large pillows. Seeing her friend so comfortable, Cereliona did not yell at him and instead let him stay and sleep. With some time to kill now, Sais pulled out his dagger and called Kassandra. As before her soul poured out of the dagger into the middle of the room to form her ethereal body so Sais could see her. Thanks to her previous connection to the woman’s soul, Cereliona saw her as well. Once her shape had fully formed, Sais asked her if she knew anything about the magic that was on the rangers. Kassandra told him that she did not know anything more about magic spells that he did, but due to her time in Foxglove manor she recognized that all 3 rangers were under some form of suggestion, possibly more than one. She went on to explained that she could tell by the single-minded way the rangers acted when fighting the group and the ogres in the courtyard. As she was telling Sais and Cereliona all this, her spirit form was exploring the room making it, so she did not look at them as she spoke, instead her focus was the strange room she was in. Next Sais asked her if she knew anything about the hook mountain area and she gave him a look that said “wrong question” as she told him she knew nothing. She explained that in her whole life she had only ever been to Magnimar, Sandpoint, and her family’s manor. Recognizing the look, she gave him, Sais point blank asked her if she knew something he did not and if so would she share it with him. In response Kassandra asked him to look around the room at all the silk and cushions. Then she asked him, “Does this look like Nulia’s taste to you?” Sais and Cereliona then started to look at the room in a new light. Kassandra added that everything in this room was elegant and designed to please the senses. However, from what Kassandra got out of Sais mind and from what she read from over the dwarf’s shoulder Nualia does not seem like that kind of person. Seeing the wisdom in Kassandra’s words, Sais and Cereliona then agreed with her and said that Nualia was more into demons, skulls, and other strange things. Cereliona then got up and went about searching through the room again with fresh eyes so she noticed something odd she missed before. One of the large cushions had a dent in it that could have only come from a large creature.
Main Floor
While Sais and Cereliona were down stairs talking, Zheda was up on the main floor thinking and drinking. During this time, she pulled out the note they found at the top of the Shadowclock and read it again. Something in it rung a chord in her mind so she headed down to talk to Sais and Cereliona about it. She then drunkenly stumbled her way to the end of the hallway and down the stairs.
Basement level
Just before Zheda entered the room, she could see Sais and Cereliona apparently talking to no one. After a few moments she heard Sais dagger talking as well and she figured out what was going on, so she entered the room but drunkenly she did not close the door behind her all the way. As Zheda entered the room, Sais saw the look on her face and it reminded him that Cereliona and himself were the only ones that could see Kassandra’s spirit form, so he asked her if there was a way for Zheda to be able to see her as well. Kassandra said yes but she added that she did not think Zheda would like it. She then added that in order for Zheda to see her, the monk would have to let Kassandra share her soul. And as she said this there was clearly a want and desire for souls in Kassandra’s voice. Sais and Zheda could tell that she was not joking and that it would be something bad for Zheda, so they dropped the issue. Cereliona then picked back up the thread of their previous conversation by saying that she could not see an ogre living in here, so it must have been something else that sat on the cushion.
Main floor again
Xavian heard the monk get up and head down stairs so he tried to quietly follower her. However, stealth was not his area of expertise, so he was about as quite as a bag of rocks being rolled down the hallway. As he walked by Alaina’s door she noticed him from within her rope trick but decided that rest was more important, so she did not follow him. As the dwarf moved down the stairs the analogy of his stealth held true because as he moved down the stairs he sounded like a bag of rocks rolling down stairs.
Basement level again
When he got to the bottom, he pulled out his book and quill then he started to noisily write down what the others were discussing in the next room. However, the others in the next room clearly heard the dwarf so Sais decided to have some fun. He called Kassandra by name and animated the dagger, which cause her spirit form to flow back into the weapon. Then he sent her to get Xavian by saying, “Go surprise him but don’t hurt him.” The dagger floated over to the door and went through the open crack Zheda left. As the dagger was hovering over Xavian and his book, he was so focused on writing down what Sais just said that he did not realized it was in reference to him. Then Kassandra stopped floating and the dagger fell, point first into the center of his book. This caused the dwarf to scream like a little girl for a moment or two. Then once he got his composure back he picked up his book, leaving it open with the dagger sticking in it and took it into the Jailer’s room. Everyone was having a good laugh at his reaction to the falling dagger, but the dwarf did not seem to mind this and took it in good humor. He then proceeded to walk the open book up to Sais, so he could take the dagger out of it. Once Sais did, Xavian then asked the group as a whole if he could record their conversation. Everyone agreed but Sais also jokingly added, “don’t sneak around anymore, just ask. You’re not good at it anyway.” Xavian thanked them and then he started to look for a seat. Zheda poured a drink and gave it to him which Xavian accepted. However, Zheda noticed he did not drink it, instead he sat it down by his cushion as he pulled out his book and started to write again; doing his best to fade into the background. Zheda then pulled out the note and address the reason she came down here. She pointed out that in the letter to Xanesha they found at the top of the Shadow clock, the author refers to Xanesha as little sister. Adding her own thoughts now, she told them that if they are sisters then they should be the same race. Cereliona asked for and examined the letter as well and she said that the letter looked to have been written by someone with education and refinement. Sais then asked Xavian if he would look at the letter to see if he could see anything in the writing style. Xavian looked over the letter but he could not tell them anything. The Dwarf then explained that his knowledge was limited to general book knowledge and he knew nothing of handwriting types. Thinking of books, Zheda remembered the library upstairs and said that they should checked it out because maybe it would help them identify these sister’s races. Cereliona thought it was a good idea too so the two went upstairs together and Xavian followed them. Sais stayed and relaxed on a cushion; keeping watch on the rangers, just in case. Barkenstien stayed as well because he was asleep on one of the big cushions and Cereliona did not want to disturb him.
Library
Once they made it up to the first floor, the library was just to their left. They went in and started to work their way through the chaos of the ogre ransacked books. It took about an hour but when they were done, Cereliona found a book about Monstrous humanoids which talked about Lamia Matriarchs and these creature’s descripted match Xanesha perfectly. Cereliona realized that this was the creature they faced so once she shared this with the others there, they decided to take the book and headed downstairs to rejoin Sais.
Game effect
Lamia Matriarch
Back to the cushions
Once everyone was back downstairs and seated on a cushion, Cereliona listed the many powers of a Lamia Matriarch that she discovered, but she focused on ther most famous powers were shape changing, spell like abilities which included charm and suggestion, and that all of them were born as medium powered (6th level) sorcerers. Hearing all this from Cereliona, Sais said, “Well that explains a lot.” Now that they knew they had a powerful enemy in this area, it gave them all pause. After a moment Sais said that they should all stay on their toes because whoever this other Lamia Matriarch was, she is mostly likely not far, so they should all keep their eyes open for her. Thinking of their missing group member, Cereliona volunteered to go up and update the resting sorceress on the new threat they discovered and everyone thought it was a good idea.
Small Guest Quarters
Cereliona then headed upstairs and into Alaina’s room. There she found the 5-foot rope used to access to Alaina’s private space. Climbing the rope, Cereliona entered the rope trick spell. Inside Alaina was sleeping with her new pet lizard on her. Thankfully the lizard like Cereliona so it did not attack her as the ranger gently woke up Alaina. Once she was awake, Cereliona filled Alaina in on all they had discovered. The half away caster took in the information and her brain fired out one important fact which she told Cereliona, “Invisibility is a sorcerer spell so that could be a problem. The Lamia may still be here, hiding invisible.” After stating this, Alaina thanked Cereliona for telling her everything and then she started to go back to sleep. Cereliona then decided to let Alaina continue resting so she climbed back out of the rope trick. The thought of an invisible enemy hiding in the fort concerned her at first. But, she ultimately decided that it was unlikely because they had search this entire fort and nothing had tried to take advantage of any of their weaker moments, so she returned to the cushions.
Once more to the basement
Once she returned, Cereliona filled says in on what Alaina said and Cerelionas opinions of it, which Sais shared so they did not worry too much about it. Sais then decided to close the secret door to the lizard warrens and trap it. He then took one of his bear traps, placed it right in front of the secret door and covered it with several pieces of pink silk, making it look very convincingly like just another cushion. While he was doing this, Cereliona peaked in on the rangers and found them all still out cold. Zheda decided at this time to return to her watch of the front door so she said goodbye and went upstairs to rest and drink for a few more hours. Sais and Cereliona stayed on the cushions but they made sure the door to the prisons was open enough for them to be able to hear any noise coming from within, then they rested as well.
The Rangers wake up
The group then got a few hours of uninterrupted rest and ate lunch before the rangers woke up at about 1 pm. Cereliona and Sais both heard the rangers start to stir so they headed in to the prison to talk to them. As the rangers woke up they saw the group, but they did not speak at first. Sais stayed quiet as well and tried to get a feel for the room, but the rangers were not giving anything away. After a few moments, Shalelu said, “You should know that your monk friend, hits hard”, rubbing her jaw as she spoke. Sais turned to her and said, “you do too.” He then asked her what happened and why they attacked the group. Shalelu said that her friend told her to and at the time she thought it was a good idea, but now she was not sure why she thought that. Sais continued by asking her “What friend?” Shalelu’s answer surprised him when she said, “I never knew her name, but she is a beautiful red haired woman.” At this moment Shalelu realized that she was in a cell and told them she wanted out. Sais told her at they all needed to stay locked up until they were safe. Shalelu while not angry was very unhappy with this answer. She wanted to know when she would be safe or what she would have to do to prove that. At that moment Jakardros spoke up and he yelled at them, “You cannot keep us here, this is our fort”. Sais responded with, “Yes, but you would not have this fort if not for us.” And Jakardros angrily added, “Yes and we of the Black Arrows thank you for that but it does not mean you own it or us.” Sais then explained that they were all under spells that controlled their actions and they would have to wait until the spells are gone before they would be let out. Shalelu then asked when that would be because magic can last hours, days, weeks, or months and she refused to stay in her that long. Sais said that once Alaina was rested and regain some of her magical powers, she would come down and break the spells on them. Shalelu accepted this and then calmly sat down on her filthy bed to wait. At this moment Sais focused on reading faces (Skill unlock: sense motive) and it allowed him to read their thoughts from their body language and facial expression. So, he could tell that Jakardros and Vale were both very much wanting to hurt and kill the group; while Shalelu did not, she was just waiting. After he shared this with Cereliona, the two decided they would not be able to get any more information for now so they returned to the jailer’s room.
Another discussion on cushions
Once Sais and Cereliona got the jailer’s room, they found that Zheda and Alaina had both gotten up and come down to check on the rangers as well, so they filled them in on the little bit of information they got so far. Most important being that they think Jakardros and Vale are still being compelled to kill the group while Shalelu seemed to have had her opinions of a red-haired lady magically altered. Thinking about what they knew about Lamia Matriarchs, he said he believed Jakardros and Vale where under suggestion spells to attack the group and that Shalelu was under a charm spell. Alaina then spoke up and started to talk about the limits of Charm and Suggestion spells. She explained that a charm spell makes someone see you as their best and most trusted friend and in the best possible way no matter the situation. She then added that Suggestion forces you to complete one action to best of your abilities, but it had a flaw. If a suggestion spell forces someone to do something that would guarantee their death the spell weakens and sometimes the victims can break free on their own. The group then tried to think of a way to use that flaw to their advantage, but they could not think of a way to convince the rangers that continuing to attack the group would be suicidal while at the same time getting to them attack and trigger the flaw so they moved on to other idea. Next, they realized that since Shalelu was only charm, they could continue to question her as long as they did not expect to see her the red hair lady in any bad way, so the group headed into the prison again.
Questioning the charmed Shalelu
The group moved into and filled up the hallway between the cells. Alaina started by asking Shalelu, “Where did you all meet this red-haired friend of yours?” However, before Shalelu could answer Jakardros moved up to the bars of his cell and yelled at them, “She is no friend of ours! Now let us out of here!” Sais was the quickest and moved up to Jakardros cell and said, “I already told you we will let you out when the magic has been removed.” Jakardros responded by giving Sais a look of death which the rogue returned. However, while this distraction was going on, Vale had moved up to the edge of his cell and was just about to grab Zheda from behind but Zheda’s senses where too well trained for that and she noticed him when he was still a few feet away. Vale realized that she saw him so he stopped his movement at the edge of his cell and did not attack. Zheda then turned around and gave Vale a look that said, “Try it and you die in the process” while at the same time Sais called his dagger to his hand, said “Kassandra” and then through the animated weapon into Vale’s cell. The fear Zheda put in him with a look combined with Sais’s animated dagger in his cell truly scared the man so he backed up and cowered on his bed in the corner (GM note: both Sais and Zheda made and passed intimidate checks so ruled he was panicked instead of shaken). Sais then turned and looked at Jakardros again, who was fuming and clearly upset that their plan had not worked. Now, Alaina asked Shalelu her question again and Shalelu told them she met the red-haired lady in the Jailer’s room next door when they entered through the secret door. Alaina then wanted to know if there was anything about this lady that was unique or unusually and Shalelu said that the lady had a tattoo just like Cereliona’s chakrum on her right breast. Alaina then asked when and by what means did the lady leave. Shalelu answer by saying she left just after they arrived, and she went through the secret tunnels and left the area. Alaina then focused on what Shalelu’s friend asked her to do which Shalelu responded by telling her that she was told to go up to the fort and fight ogres after they lit the bitter bark. Shalelu then volunteered that at first, she did not remember being asked but when they surrounded the group, she remembered that she was also asked to kill the Heroes of Sandpoint and that she did think it was odd that she did not remember it until that moment. Cereliona’s and Alaina’s magical knowledge told both of them that the spell Shalelu just described was a more powerful compulsions spell called, Triggered suggestion (4th level). In addition, they also realized that a normal Lamia Matriarch would not be able to cast a spell of that power level, so this red-haired lady must be a more powerful caster than most. Once those two finished explaining this to the group, Sais joined the conversation. He told them that the red hair of this lady reminded him of the Turtleback Ferry citizen’s descriptions of Lucrecia. Zheda then moved up to Jakardros and with a look she said “answer or else” as she asked him if he had ever met Lucrecia before. The man was a little scared by her look, so he answered but he had never seen her before because he rarely went to town. Next, she moved on to Vale and she used the same tactic with him. Since the man was already cowered, he answered her right away. He had seen her around Turtleback Ferry in passing but he never got to know her. But now that they had asked him, he was sure that it was the same person. However, as he said this his voice was breaking and he was shaking a lot. Everyone could see that the loss of the Fort, all his family, and the black arrows combined with the fact that he had been tortured for weeks by the Grauls and now he was under the effect of a suggestion spell in a prison where his former friends were now threatening him was becoming too much for him. He was starting to break down under all the mental pressure. Feeling sorry for him, the group decided to leave him, and the other rangers alone and not ask any more questions until the spells had been removed. Sais was the last one to leave and, on his way out he leaned over and said to Vale, “Don’t worry we will get you fixed up.”, but the Black arrow did not respond.
Resting for the rest of day
It was about 2 pm by the time the group was done talking with the rangers. At this point the group separated off and past the time in their own ways. Cereliona pulled out the water color paints she got from the Turtleback general’s store and tried her hand at painting. Seeing what Cereliona was doing, Zheda pulled out her calligraphy set and asked to join. Cereliona was happy for the company so the two then whiled away the rest of the day. Since this was Cereliona’s first attempt at art, it was not surprising that Zheda’s writings looked more like art work than Cereliona’s paintings. After they were done, the two picked up their supplies and got some sleep on cushions in the Jailer’s room. While they were paining, Sais pulled out his Sure foot Training Blocks and practiced with them in the Jailer’s room before he also slept there as well. Alaina returned to her room where she went straight to sleep.
Day 69 (Fireday the 30th of Neth, Friday 11/30/2047)
Midnight castings
At midnight, Alaina woke up as she had planned. She then focused her magic and once she was ready she headed down to the prison.
Jailer’s room
When she reached the Jailer’s room, she found the rest of the group asleep on cushions, including Barkenstien. Xavian however was instead, sleeping leaning up against the door to the prison. Alaina saw this and thought, “He really wants to make sure he does not miss anything.” As Alaina moved through the room she did not try to be quiet or loud, she simply moved over to the prison door. As she had expected, her presence woke up the group including Xavian. Seeing Alaina everyone got up and once Xavian was out of the way they all headed into the prison.
Cells
Upon entering, Alaina wasted no time and casted detect magic, so she could see the spells on the rangers. When she did, she noticed that one of the enchantment(compulsion) auras that were on Jakardors and Vale had dissipated on its own. Figuring the spell had expired, Alaina went to work removing the other magic spells. She started with Vale and the spell broke easily. Next, she moved to Jakardros but Xavian got in front of her and said, “Let me see if I can help you to conserve some of your magic.” Alaina agreed so Xavian turned around and started to mutter a prayer over Jakardros. When he was done, the spell broke which both surprised and pleased the dwarf. Alaina thanked him for the help then she turned to Shalelu and casted dispel magic on her which removed the only aura from Shalelu. The sound of Alaina’s and Xavian’s spell chanting woke up the 3 rangers so they started to stir. However, after all the spells were successfully brocken, Sais started to head back to the Jailer’s room saying, “Let’s go back to sleep and let them out in the morning, I am tired”. The others did not seem to think that was a bad idea, but Alaina did not react to his words. Instead she moved around the room, so she could stair at each of the locked-up rangers in turn for about 20 seconds each (3 rounds). Seeing no magic at all, she was convinced that all the spells had been fully removed. Then before the others could leave, she got the keys off the wall and started to let Shalelu out. Sais saw this and said, “What are you doing, we can let them out in the morning.” And Alaina responded by saying, “There is no reason for them to stay in here anymore, the spells are gone, and they are safe now.” And then she proceeded to open Shalelu’s cell door. As she did, Cereliona and Zheda spoke up in support of Alaina’s idea so Sais seeing the wisdom in what was said did not argue any more. As Shalelu’s door was open, a look of amazement and shock came over her face. Shalelu was clearly very surprised that Alaina was the one that not only let her out of her cell but also the one that convinced the others that it was a good idea. As Shalelu was making her way out of her cell, she stopped in front of Alaina and said, “I may have been wrong about you. You are a person of your word and I thank you for that.” She then said she needed to be outside and see the sky, so she started to make her way up the stairs. Everyone got out of her way and let the ranger pass, except Alaina who instead followed her up to the fort and outside, handing off the keys to the group as she passed them. The group then let Jakardros and Vale out of their cells as well, the men were grateful to the group because they did not want to continue sleeping on the uncomfortable straw mats of the cells. However, like Sais they wanted to finish their sleep, so they asked if they could all talk in the morning. The group agreed, so the rangers headed upstairs and went straight to the nicer guest quarters on the west side of the first floor. The remaining group members then all moved back into the Jailer’s room, found a cushion, and went back to sleep.
Outside
Once upstairs, Shalelu went straight to the front door and outside with Alaina following. Outside the rain had not stopped but it had died down to just a drizzle, but the weather did not reduce Shalelu’s mood. Once out and in the rain, the improvement in the Shalelu was instant and obvious to anyone that could see. Alaina even saw how the elf’s ears perked up from the night air. After a minute or two where the elf did nothing but smell the air and look at the clouds and rain, Shalelu then started to make her way to the outer wall of the fort and Alaina continued to follow her. Once she reached the wall, she turned and put her back to the wall protecting herself from most of the rain. This made it, so she was facing into the fort while at the same time being as far from the main building as possible. Alaina moved up to sit next to Shalelu and the ranger moved over to make room for her. Once Alaina sat down, Shalelu closed her eyes and started to go to sleep. Alaina then used her prestidigitation spell to create 2 small umbrellas; one over her head and one over Shalelu’s. By the time she did this, Shalelu was already asleep so Alaina stayed out there with her, all night. Alaina was already full rested so just enjoyed the cold night air and the quite of Shalelu’s sleeping form, but she made sure to keep the Umbrellas around all night for protection from the rain.
Weather
GM Note
Pickled fish for breakfast
Jailer’s room
The next morning about 5am Zheda woke up but due to the common room sleeping arrangements, her motions also woke everyone else up. Everyone then went about completing their morning rituals and readied for the new day. Once everyone was done, they all went upstairs as a group.
Mess hall
Once up the stairs they all immediately noticed that there was light and noise coming from the mess hall, so the group moved to investigate. There they found that Jakardros and Vale had set up a large table in the room and were sitting around it, eating a breakfast of pickled fish. Sais and Xavian had eaten pickled fish over the course of their sea going past so they sat down and got a plate. Cereliona and Zheda had never tried it before but they decided, why not, and each got a plate full. Everyone then found a seat at the table and joined them. Barkenstien went under the table to join Kibb there so they could both beg for scraps. Sais then asked if they kept the pickled fish because ogres can’t stand the smell or the taste. However, Jakardros said, “No, this is one of my favorite foods.” He then looked at Vale to see if he knew about ogre’s hating pickled fish, but Vale look clearly said that he did not. Both rangers then looked a little surprised and embarrassed that the group knew something about ogres that they did not. Then the two men, returned to eating trying not to focus on their missing knowledge about ogres.
Outside
Over the course of the night the rain continued and while the rain did not worsen, the weather started to turn cold. It was not enough to freeze or snow, but a small amount of frost formed here and there. Thanks to Alaina’s constant prestidigitation spells to create umbrellas, Alaina and Shalelu stayed mostly dry so the cold did not bother them too much. It was about 5:30 am when Shalelu woke up on her own. As she was waking up, she noticed the umbrellas Alaina had made. Shalelu thanked Alaina for the protection from the rain and then looking at the lights in the fort she asked if Alaina was ready to head inside. Alaina was so the two got up and walked in, with Alaina maintaining the umbrellas as they walked.
Weather
Everyone around the table in the Mess hall.
It did not take Alaina and Shalelu long to make their way into the fort and into the noisy mess hall. Once they arrived they were given a plate of fish, then everyone made room at the table for them. It was tight but the table was just big enough for everyone to have a seat. Everyone then talked and enjoyed their breakfast. During the meal, Xavian was occasionally seen feeding scraps to Barkenstien and Jakardros also gave a few pieces of fish to Kibb as well.
The group and the Black Arrows talk and plan their next move
Future of the black arrows
After everyone ate and woke up, Sais ask Jakardros what the Black Arrows were going to do now. Jakardros said, “Vale and I cannot restore the order of Black Arrows by ourselves, so I plan to contact Magnimar to see if they will send additional reinforcements, but if Magnimar does send help it will take weeks for the to get here.”
The Fate of Lamatar Bayden
After short pause, Jakardros continued, “However, in the meantime, I plan on looking into what happened to our commander, Lamatar Bayden. As I told you the last we knew, he left on one of his communion walks. Since we did not find his body in the fort, it is my hope that he is out there somewhere.” Cereliona responded to his statements by showing the Black Arrows the love sonnets, the Book, and locket of hair they found in the Commander’s quarters. Jakardros and Vale looked over the papers and the locket. They both instantly identified the hair as nymph hair and came to the same conclusion as the group did, that it was a token the nymph used to inspire the commander. Both rangers became very excited by this, then they stood up from their chairs, and started to quickly talk to one another. They both animatedly told the group that if it was a Nymph and if she and Lamatar were lovers, as the rangers suspected, then that Nymph could have help to protect him from the ogres so Lamatar could still be alive. Also, if it was a Nymph then as a fey she might see the best way of protecting him as keeping him with her, so he might need to be “rescued” from her. They then turned to the group and said, “If there is a nymph in the Hook Mountain environs then she would be in White Willow. We should go save there and him right now.” The rangers continued to speak in an excited tone, telling the group that Lamatar’s skills were equal to that of the group and that he could help to restore the Order of the Black Arrows to its former glory. The group responded with patients and understanding. They all said that they wanted to help but believed that leaving now would be a mistake. They had questions to ask the rangers about White willow and other things they discovered while retaking the fort that needed to be discussed first. That way the group would have a full understand of what was going in the area. If they were to just jump ahead it could be fatal for all involved. They said they knew this from experience because they once leaped into a shadow fight in Thistletop and almost died which taught them to investigate first and then act. This tempered the Rangers reactions so that they were willing to wait until the group had learned all they needed before they left. After both sat back down, Jakardros gave Cereliona back the locket, the sonnets, and book before asked the group what else they wanted to know.
Things found in the Fort
Sais started off by pulling out the map he found in the map room and Cereliona did the same. Sais told them that these where only maps that where salvageable form the map room upstairs. Jakardros was upset about the loss of most of the maps but thanked them for saving these. He then told them what each map was and as an additional thank you he offered to make them copies if they wanted them. The group accepted the offer and gave Jakardros the maps for now, so he could make the copies. Next the group showed them the boots they got from the secret compartment in the captain’s wine cabinet. Much like the love sonnets, the book, and the locket; neither of the Black Arrows even knew this item was in the fort so Jakardros said if they wanted it they could have them and the group should consider it a thank you for helping to retake the fort. Next Sais asked how the rangers came to possess so many high value items in the upper levels of the Fort. This seems to surprise both Black Arrows and Jakardros asked, “Are you referring to our holy symbol to Erastil in the chapel?” Sais said that was one of them but that their where more. Then in addition to pulling out the platinum holy symbol of Erastil, he retrieved the dark wood chalice, the helm carved from a pit fiend skull, and the Platinum mask. Jakardros said that the holy symbol was one of the fort’s few treasures, but the others were not their religion or taste. He told them that the ogres most likely brought them with them and if that was the case then someone must be paying the ogres well in treasure for them to have brought this much with them. Jakardros then asked if they could have the Erastil symbol back which the group happily returned. As the item was being returned, Alaina took advantage of the lull in conversation to feed the last of her pickled fish to her lizard. The electricity of the lizard flowed through the salted fish meat causing it to flicker and glow. This surprised everyone for a moment, but it did not take anyone long to realized it was just a natural phenomenon of the lizard’s electric current. Next was Cereliona’s turn to talk. She moved over closer to Vale and started to tell him about the body they found in the secret tunnel. Alaina interrupted her at the beginning of the tell and added that the body was found in a crypt of some kind that had been recently unsealed. Jakardros responded to Alaina by saying, “That was where, we of the Black Arrows once interred the remains of our brothers and sisters. However, no Black Arrow has been buried in that crypt for nearly 30 years because the crypt filled far more quickly than was anticipated, so rather than spending more time expanding the crypt, we began sending off our fallen kin in funeral pyres and then scattering their ashes in the woods.” Cereliona then continued by explaining that she found the body of a younger black man that had the same chin and nose as Vale so she thought he might be a relative of his. And she added that they thought the man was named Dale. Vale took the news well and said, “I believed all my family and fellow Black arrows to be dead, I thank you for finding my brother Dale’s body. At least now, he can have a proper funeral pyre.” Cereliona then added that Dale was holding a bundle of 2 arrows, 2 scrolls, and 2 notes with giant names on them. At this Vale seem to fill with familial pride as he stood up and started to explain. He said that Dale was most likely completing the third act of a Black Arrow. He went on to explain that all Black Arrows must swear to Protect the people, Protect the land, and take revenge on all those who hurt the people or the land and traitors. Vale then explained that the arrows and scrolls they found were meant to be the last hope of the Black Arrows. They were to be used as a last-ditch effort to take out the current Kreeg leader(Groki) and their military general(Jaagrath). He explained that if the leadership could be taken out then the Kreeg clan would be in chaos. These are were be used when the Black Arrows had been defeated but not wipped out, the hope was that the chaos of the loss of the ogre leadership would give the Black Arrows the time they would need to recover. Vale said he believed that Dale had taken the arrows to do that, but he was forced to hide in the crypt. Sais then added that Dale was unlucky because there was a spectre which killed him and turned him into one as well. Sais added that the group was able to end the Spectres’ existences. Hearing about the Spectre, Jakardros added his thought on the first Spectre. He said, “I think that Spectre was Lorgus Fenker. He was the last Black Arrow buried there and he was a bitter, brutal man. His ‘accident’ while on patrol had long been suspected of being an arrangement made between the others in his group, but since the leaders of the order at the time felt that his passing was for the best of the Black Arrows, there was little investigation into the particulars of his fatal fall from a ledge up on the Hook. He is the only person, I know of that could have had enough vengeance or hatred in his soul to come back as an undead, so I thank you for ending him.” Jakardros then asked for and was given the bundle back. Sais then told them, that he found a pair of magic sheaths on Lorgus’s body and asked if he could keep them. Jakardros said that they were in fact Lorgus’s when he was alive, and that he believes they would have been tainted by his undeath so if Sais wanted them he could have them, the Black Arrows did not want them. Sais thank him and then he made a mental note to have Xavian and Alaina check them over later. Next Zheda asked if they knew about the dead halfling or gnome at the bottom of the ravine and she told them of the gear they found there. Neither of them new that anyone had been in there because the Black Arrows only enter the tunnels once or twice a year to either lite bitter bark or to update the Kreeg leadership names. He then added that if the group wanted those items the Black Arrows saw no reason why they could not keep them. Then as a secondary thought, he also added that he did not think they would have to lite bitter bark for a while because the lizard population had been reduced so much over the last few days.
White Willow
The group then thanked him for the items before moving on to their last question which Sais asked. He wanted to know what the rangers could tell them about White Willow. Jakardros answered and told them that White willow was in the Shimmerglens swamp. Also, that White Willow itself was said to lie quite close to the First World so it was full of fey. But in order to get there they would have to go to Bitter hollow and travel about half way across the Wicker walk. Then they would need row boats to travel through the swamp waters of the Shimmerglens, at least until they reached White willow itself. There the ground was elevated so they could walk but they would have to fight their way through bogs. However, the land will be the least of their worries because once they entered White Willow itself, the fey and their magic would be afoot. Jakardros added that fey magic is most focused in the areas of Illusion and enchantment, so they will need to keep their wits while there or the fey may walk them into danger. Zheda then commented that she is used to being around gnomes, so she knows how to deal with that type of magic. After Zheda’s comment, no one had any more questions for the rangers, so they asked the group if they were ready to leave and no one had any objections, so everyone got up from the table and ready to leave.
Treasure
Readying to leave for White Willow
Fort Rannick
As everyone made their way out of the fort and outside, they found it still drizzling and that the cold while not as bad as this morning did stick around, chilling everyone. At this moment everyone remembered that they left their horse in the clearing a few miles south of the fort, so they started the long walk to them. As they walked, Zheda ask if anyone should stay behind to man the fort. Jakardros responded by telling Zheda that he was not worried about someone or something coming along and claiming the fort while they were gone because he believed that the ogre numbers had been reduced to a point where they would not come back for a while. However, as he said it, Zheda could tell that he was rationalizing it to himself more that he was answering her question, but she did not comment.
The Horse’s clearing.
When the group arrived the could clearly see evidence of a fight. There was a dead ogre to the south of the horse’ area and a large amount of horse and ogre tracks to the north of the clearing as well. Due to the rain and time since the battle, none of the rangers could get a clear picture of what happened here. However, they determined that Shadowmist had been hurt, that some sort of conflict happened to the north, and that the horses succeeded at killing one ogre to the south. But other than those simple facts they would never know what really happened here (See Session 35 Side Adventure: Horses vs Ogres for full details of the battle). While the rangers survived the area, Xavian healed Shadowmist and the others checked and saddled the horses. Now with their horses, everyone mounted up. However, as they did, Jakardros turned to Vale and said, “I am sorry, but we cannot do this. We of the Black Arrow must fulfill our duty and return to the fort. It should not be left empty and I cannot do it alone, so I must order you to come with me.” Vale gave Jakardros a looked that said he expected nothing else and then he nodded his acceptance of the orders. Jakardros then turned to Shalelu and told her that they could use her help at the fort, so she was welcome to stay with them, but he also understood that she had an obligation to the group, so he would let her decide whether she would stay or go. Shalelu response was to turn it around and put it the group’s hands. If they want her she would join them, if not she would go with Jakardros. The group had a variety of opinions on whether the elf should go them. Zheda understood the skill the ranger could bring, but felt it was best she did what she needed so said that Shalelu should stay with Jakardros. Cereliona enjoyed the elf’s company and felt her skills were needed so she wanted Shalelu to come with them. Alaina stayed out of it, saying that she felt whatever Shalelu decided would work for her, either way. This left the vote at a tie, so Sais casting of the final vote effectively decided whether Shalelu stayed or accompanied the group, and he wanted her help so asked her to come with them. Shalelu agreed. Now readying to accompany the group, she moved over to Jakardros and said a good bye to him in elven. The two half elfs of the group, Zheda and Cereliona could not help but over hear and understand their goodbye (GM note: only Zheda and Cereliona spoke or understood Elven)
Jakardros told Shalelu that even though he was older than her, he still saw her as a daughter and family, so he wanted her to come back to they could get to know each other again.
Shalelu thanked him for what he said and then she explained that she was wrong about him, he was not the man she thought he was when she made her way here. She then said she wanted to reconnect as well and she then promised she would return.
Sais tried to listen in on the conversation by asking Kassandra to translate for him. She spoke with a little bit of true sadness in voice when she said, “I am sorry, but I only speak, Common, under common, and Giant. I seem to have the magical ability to read any language now, but I seem to understand only the spoken words I knew in my life.” Sais was a little upset by this because he was curious, but he told Kassandra he understood. As this point everyone that needed one, started to mount up on their horses and the two groups readied to separate. Jakardros and Vale were returning to man Fort Rannick while Shalelu, Xavian, and the group where headed south to investigate White Willow. As they started to part, Sais put his foot in the stirrups and yelled over to Jakardros, “We will call for more help to man the fort as soon as we can.” He then lifted his weight up, but before he swung his leg over he said, “We also will try to send a Blacksmith and or a carpenter up to the fort as soon as possible.” He then swung his leg over the back of the horse and landed in the saddle. He then grabbed the reins of his horse and turned it south. Sais then added in a voice that made it sound like an afterthought, “Ooo by the way, there is also a very deadly trap down stairs in the jailer’s room. I put a large bear trap right in front of the secret door from the lizard warrens, but it is disguised to look like a large pink cushion. It is the only pink one”. Just as Sais finished the last word, before the Black Arrows and really any of the group could process what he said he rode off. The group picked up on what was said a little faster than the rangers so they quickly followed Sais. The Black arrows then processed what was said so they then understood why everyone just left. Taking the moment in good humor they turn and rode back to continue they duty and man Fort Rannick.
Weather
The Ride to Turtleback Ferry
Following Sais, the group rode out into the rain and found the road they knew would lead them to Turtleback Ferry. As they rode everyone had their minds on Whitewillow and what they might find there. While cold and wet, the ride was uneventful until they reached the old wooden bridge about 3 miles from town. Alaina, being the least observant of the group, rode up and started to cross the bridge. Everyone else paused when they saw the bridge because they noticed that the water level of the river was rising over the top of the bridge. It was not enough to completely cover the bridge, but enough that Alaina’s horse was walking through about a foot of moving water on the bridge. Seeing this Cereliona realized that the river was now at flood levels which meant Turtleback Ferry could be in trouble. Holding their breath, the rest of the group watched as Alaina made it safely across, oblivious to the danger. The group then shouted out to Alaina what she missed. Then worried about the stability of the bridge, they went over it only one at a time. Once everyone was across the bridge, they all rode to Turtleback Ferry as fast as their horses and legs could carry them.
Weather
The Turtleback Ferry Flood
As the group came within sight of Turtleback Ferry, they found the town drowning. The muddy, surging waters of the Skull River had torn through the center of the community to fill Claybottom Lake with a terrible fury; many of the buildings that once sat comfortably on the river’s banks were already flooding and in danger of collapsing from the rushing water. The flood started at the graveyard’s lower edge and extended south to cover most of the town in 10-foot-deep flowing water. Toward the center of town, everyone saw a group of children and a woman huddled aboard one of the old turtleshell ferryboats, the tiny flood-bashed vessel was lodged up against the general store and was threatening to capsize at any moment. Even the higher grounds of the lake overlook were not enough to deter the waters. The water was flowing up and over it from the sheer speed and force of its flow. On the overlook, the town’s church stood solid, but its foundations were already three feet deep in floodwaters. Frantic movement was visible in the upstairs windows as townsfolk trapped inside rushed about in a desperate attempt to save scriptures, comfort the sick, and pray for deliverance.
Weather
Saving the School Children
Seeing the teacher and herclass in danger, the group moved to help them first. Alaina used Dimensional Door and Teleported herself to the turtleshell ferryboat and Zheda stepped there using her monk abilites. Sais rode his horse straight into the water hoping the horse was a better swimmer than he was. Cereliona gave Barkenstien her potion of “Touch of the Sea” before jumping on his back. Barkenstien’s toes became webbed and then they turned into flippers. Now using the gift of magic his master gave him and with his master on his back, Barkenstien started to swim out to the children. Shalelu and Xavian both darnk their potions of “Touch of the Sea” before they also jumped into the water and started to swim out into the flooded city. Just as Alaina and Zheda arrive two large 16 foot long constrictors rose from the water with loud hisses. Zheda reacted to the danger by stepping up to the snake and punching it in the face, stunning it. The other snake turned its attention to one of the school girls and attempted to swallow her, pigtails, freckles, and all; but amazing the rocking of the boat made it miss. Zheda then continued her onslaught by first stunning the snake again. Then while the snake was distracted by the pain, she swung low hitting it 2 times in the body. As she connected, she could feel organs bursting and she saw the light leave the snake’s eyes. It then went limp as it died. Zheda then took a step closer to the other snake and kicked it hard, pushing it 5 feet back and onto the roof of a nearby building. Alaina then quickly casted another Dimensional door spell to take her to the north shore and she brought 3 of the children with her, leaving only Tillia, Zheda, and one child on the boat with the snake. As it turned out, Sais’s horse was not as skilled as swimming as he had hoped. The animal was dragged under by the water, taking his rider with him. Xavian and Shalelu use the magic they drank to help them swim, but they did not make it to the ferryboat, they ended up about 50 feet away. Barkenstien was faster so he made it to about 20 feet away and since his master was letting him do the swimming she was still able to attack. Seeing these creatures up close, Cereliona knew they were the Night belly Boas that Othovir had warned her about. Not wasting any time, Cereliona through her chakrum and even though she was riding an animal (-8), in the water (-2), and in the rain (-2); her aim was still true. She hit the snake but due to her legs being in the water she had been unable to put her full strength behind it, so it did little damage. Zheda then continued her attack. First, she moved up to face it on the roof. There she punched it hard just below its head and then she kicked it back even farther. She then drunkenly stepped forward again and tried to kick it, but she missed. However, as she did she could clearly see that the snake was severely wounded and unsteady (0 HP Staggered). At this moment about a 150 feet way, Sais’s horse came up out of the water but as it did, Sais came out of the saddle. Now off the horse, Sais worked to use the reins to guide the horse back to the water. The wounded snake then slithered back into the water, thinking better of continuing its attack. Alaina then dimensional doored back to boat, before she immediately cast another dimensional door to take everyone back; but Zheda asked to Alaina to let her stay so Alaina only took Tillia and the last girl with her to the safety of the shore. Zheda stayed where she was and yelled to the rest of the group to head back. She watched as Sais horse went back under the water once more before Sais finally got it to shore and out of the water. Then she took a few drinks and stepped over to join everyone. Once everyone was safe on the north shore, Tillia thanked them before quickly leaving, leading the children north to the school house and relative safety.
Monsters
Black Magga Rises
With the school children and their teacher saved, the grouped turned to look at the church. They saw what at first appeared to be a huge black tree being swept downriver on a collision course with the church. However, moments before the “tree” hit, it submerged. A few moments later, the floodwaters surged violently, and with a thunderous roar, an enormous leering reptilian head rose up out of the water. It was connected to a serpentine neck and had a body that was a wriggling mass of black tentacles. Seeing this creature, Alaina failed to identify it so she rushed head first to the fight by casting Dimensional door to move her self over to the church. However, Cereliona also saw the creature and she knew that this was the legendary Black Magga. Which meant that teleportation magic would be interfered with near her, so she tried to stop Alaina, but she was too late. As Alaina was Dimensional door-ing away, Cereliona shouted to the group what legendary power she had heard this monster possessed.
Black Magga
The Last thing that happened
The group had just saved the school children and Tillia when they saw Black Magga rising up to attack the church. Alaina had just cast a spell to teleport there and she is currently mid-teleport so she will arrive next session.
GM Favorite moment
Sitting on Cushions were the group figured out that Lucrecia was a Lamia Matriarch, Xanesha’s sister, and that she was the one that charmed and put suggestion the rangers. Group used the many clues that had been seeded throughout games so far to figure this out and I was impress at how everyone put it together.
Experience
Each Player receives 4,950 (Total: 105,000 [11h level], Gained a level) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Game note: This night leveled the players just after sleeping and before any real fights, so the Players were allowed to level their characters at the end of this session gaining all abilities, feats, HP, etc. as if they had rested. Then any abilities already used since they woke up (spells, stunning strikes, punishing kicks, etc.) were to still count toward this days limit. This effective made it so the character leveled on the morning of Day 69
Session 37 (07/11/2018)
Day 69 [continued] (Fireday the 30th of Neth, Friday 11/30/2047)
Slaying the Legendary Monster Black Magga
Surprise on the north end of town
Seeing Alaina teleport away toward the danger of Black Magga, Shalelu reacted and put all of her will power into moving quickly so she could help Alaina and repay the debt she owned the sorceress for freeing her from the cells (GM note: used my personal GM Birthday Gift, Natural 20, on Shalelu’s initiative). Acting first, Shalelu yelled for all to here, “Heroes of Sandpoint, I go to help Alaina.” Then she quickly pulled a stone from her belt and held it up as she yelled to the group again, “Follow me.” Cereliona saw the stone in her hand and used Shelyn’s gift to determine that that it was magical, but she was not able to completely identify it, she could only tell that it was druid magic. Shalelu then activated the stone which sent out a wave of magic toward the group. As the magic washed over the group, no one knew what it was doing but everyone trusted Shalelu and therefore did not fight the magic. Once they felt it take hold, everyone saw Shalelu take a 5-foot step into the tree she stood next to and disappear. Sais was the frist to respond to her actions. At first, he thought to himself, “Cereliona just said Black Magga had a bad effect on teleportation magic”, which caused him to hesitate for just a second. Then he thought, “Ooo Well, you only live once. Or in my case 3 times” and stepped into the tree. The Viking warrior that was Skovald followed right behind him, not thinking of the danger. Cereliona and Barkenstien were next into the tree but Zheda and Xavian followed right behind them. Everyone was able to use the trees as teleportation anchor points which allowed them to exit through one of the 4 trees by the church.
Surprise at the Church
Alaina’s spell dropped her off right where she wanted it to, on top of the church facing Black Magga. The drizzle of rain made everything wet and hindered her vision a little, but only a little. Then not seeing any help, Alaina used one of the most powerful abilities in her arsenal, her Elemental Blast Bloodline power. Shalelu, Sais, and Skovald all 3 arrived through trees just in time to see Alaina use this ability to throw a huge sphere of lightning at Black Magga. When the sphere reached Black Magga, Alaina could feel the monster try to resist the magical nature of her effect but the monster was not able to fight it off so the magical electricity formed and burned her wet, slimy skin. Since Alaina did not see the group members arrive, she and they were lucky that they were not in this area of effect. The rest of the group then came out of the trees around the church and readied for battle. As they did everyone noticed that for the first time in 5 days, the rain stopped. Not only that, they could tell that the flood waters were starting to recede, or at least they where around the church. Not having any time to celebrate the group stayed focused on the fight.
Weather
Round 1
As the first out of the tree, Shalelu was the first up. She fired 3 arrows into the monster, but she only hit once, and that arrow did almost no damage to the monster because its body seemed to resist the metal and wood of the arrow. While the flood waters were receding, they were not gone yet so this meant that Sais was forced to swim in order to move. Thankfully Black Magga had not seen him yet (Flatfooted) so she was unable to attack him as the rogue got right up next to her. Skovald had exited a tree right next to the monster so he laid into her with all he had, swing his large katanas 6 times. However, only one managed to pierce her black skin and even then, the swords blade did almost no damage to her and the acid from his gloves flowed off her skin like water, but his electricity did harm her for minimal damage. However, those attacks, made the monster aware of his presence so the creature breathed out a cloud of mind numbing smoke that spread out 60 feet to the north encompassing Cereliona, Barkenstien, Sais, Skovald, Zheda, Shalelu and Xavian. Cereliona and Xavian were able to resist most of the effects of this mist but everyone else became confused by it (Confused 1 round) and their minds were fogged by it (6 Wisdom damage). The only ones completely unaffected were Alaina and Sais, and that was only because they were lucky enough to not be in the mist. Acting in response to this, Alaina used her elemental gift to take flight without a spell. In the air, she moved where she could target Black Magga without giving her cover or effecting the group with her spell. Once she was in position, she casted a cone of cold. However, this time, the monster resisted the magic, so spell did not affect her (failed to be Spell Resistance). Cereliona was up next and she first attempted to swim closer to the monster, but the current was still too much for her so instead she got her footing and let her chakram fly. The weapon flew and struck true, but this weapon’s injuries were not resisted by the monster, meaning Cereliona’s weapon bypassed the creature’s resistance. Barkenstien’s mind was fogged by the mist so rather than attacking the monster he stopped and barked at the tree he just arrived from. Xavian then swam to a more central location in the fight so he could see everything better. The monk was up next, but she was unable to do little more than babble incoherently for a few seconds. She said over and over again, “What is going on? What do I do? What is this thing?”
Environment
Round 2
Now that enough time had passed the water had finished receding, allowing the group full movement across the wet ground. Continuing to hold her ground, Shalelu was able to fight off the confusion and fired 3 arrows at the monster. However, while all 3 hit, all of the damage of the arrows was resisted by Black Magga’s outsider’s flesh. Next up was Sais and he was also able to fight of the confusion. He decided they needed more fighters, so he pulled out his knife, said “Kassandra”, and released her to fly and fight the monster. As she was released the floating knife stabbed at the monster as if Sais was invisibly holding it, but she was unable to land a strike. Skovald was next but the confusion got the better of him, so he fumbled and hit himself in the head with his own sword, doing a little damage and making the Viking bleed. The fight continued as Black Magga lashed out with 4 tentacles and her bite. She successfully hit, grabbed, and grappled Sais, Skovald, and Zheda with 3 of her tentacles. The fourth one she used to grab and break the dagger, Kassandra into 2 pieces which caused the weapon to fall to the wet ground lifeless. Her bite she aimed at the large Viking, taking a chunk out of his flesh and draining some of his life force away as she did (Skovald gained 2 negative levels). Alaina saw this so reached deep for all the power she had tapping into her book of spell pages to cast an empowered fireball, but she was careful to place it where it would not affect the group. As the fire hit Black Magga and burned her flesh, Alaina shouted out “Let them go you Bitch.” Cereliona followed the empowered fireball by throwing her Chakrum at the monster which thanks to its makeup by passed her resistance to damage and severely wounded the monster, doing almost as much damage as Alaina’s amped up spell. She then sent Barkenstien in. The dog was forced to dodged out of the way of one of Black Magga’s tentacles on his way up to her body, so his bite missed. Xavian used his new central location and channeled energy to heal only the group before pointing at Skovald and using a quick prayer to ask for divine aid. Thanks to Xavian’s magic Skovald was able to free himself from the monster tentacle. While this was going, Zheda decided to try and fight while being held by this monster. The grip the monster had on her foot made it, so she twisted her ankle with her first swing, but she continued to fight through it. She followed up the first attempt with 4 more punches, but the monster was shaking her too much which caused her to miss.
Monster
Round 3
Taking a single step closer, Shalelu continued to rain arrows down on the monster. This time all 3 of her arrows hit even after the creature’s resistance they still managed to do a little damage (1 point per arrow). Sais then tried to escape from Black Magga’s grip, but she was too strong for him. Next up was the recently freed Skovald. He swung for all he was worth 6 times and he managed to land 2 very powerful blows (2 critical) but the rest missed. The first one hit an artery and caused her to start bleeding (3 Bleed). And for the second one, Skovald stabbed his sword into her gut then he leaned on it, putting his weight into it which drove the weapon deeper into the monster, dealing incredible damage. Again, her body resisted some of this damage, but it was only a small portion of Skovald’s blows. At this point the monster looked to have had enough. She dropped everyone she was still holding before she turned away from the church and headed south east toward Clay bottom lake. As she started to leave, Alaina could be heard saying to herself, “Wow I can’t believe that worked”. The group took advantage of Black Magga’s distraction and took one more swing at her. Sais was first but he was not truly fighting alone. As Sais stabbed with his short sword, Zheda took everything inside her that was a hero and she willed it into Sais’s weapon allowing him to strike true (GM note: Zheda used her GM Birthday Gift, Natural 20, on Sais’s attack roll). The hit did respectable damage but most of it was resisted by the monster. However, the damage is not what was important to Sais. Using his rogue skills, he bewildered the fleeing creature, so she would be an easier target (Debilitating Injury: Bewildered) and he hampered her, so she would be able to run as far away (Debilitating Injury: Hampered). Skovald’s hit was just behind Sais’s. The Viking hit and hit hard causing the monster to bleed more (natural 20 bleed effect increased to 4). Barkenstien also tried to bite the monster but his teeth could not get through her thick skin. Zheda did not have any more luck then Barkenstien as her punches just seemed to bounce off the monster’s thick skin. None of the groups stopped the monster so she was able to get some distance between herself and the group. Now seeing the creature fleeing, Alaina casted a lightning ball but Black Magg’as resistance to magic made it so the spell had no effect on her. Cereliona then through her Chakram at the beast and when it hit, the weapon went clean through Black Magga’s chest and out the other side before it magically returned to Cereliona’s hand. As the weapon left Black Magga’s body, the monster fell lifeless to the ground, dead.
Monster
Aftermath of the fight
Claiming body parts
Once the creature’s body fell to the ground, Alaina immediately flew up and started to remove Black Magga’s eyes and tongue. After Alaina rounded up the eyes and tongue, she put her holy necklace on the wet ground, placed everything in the circle it made, and then whispered, "Alright here you go as per the new deal. Pazuzu Pazuzu Pazuzu." Once she said the last word the eyes and tongue disappeared. As she was doing this, she explained to the group that unlike most outsiders, Black Magga’s body would not disappear and return to her home plain. She also added that she learned all this from Pazuzu, who also told her the reason for this was because Black Magga had been banished to the mortal plane (Oustider[Native]) by Lamashtu to serve as her servant on the Mortal Plane. Sais and Cereliona then both decided they wanted a prize too, so they headed for her mouth where each of them took one of her teeth. As everyone collected items, they realized that in addition to the rain stopping and the floods receding from the church; the overall water level in the town had lowered, allowing the water to return to the river. The group saw this and knew that it would take a while for all the water to leave the village, but the danger of a flood was now over.
Treasure
Healing and Repairing
While all this was going on, Xavian moved around the group and channeled energy twice to heal most of the group. Then he used a single healing spell on Skovald because the fighter had taken much more damage than everyone else. Then using all of his lesser magical spells, Xavian went from person to person removing the mental damage from Black Magga’s breath attack. However, he ran out of magic before he could heal Shalelu. The ranger was not upset by this, and she told the dwarf that the heroes must come first and that he should not worry about her which Xavian accepted. Sais then took his truly wounded friend, Kassandra, to Alaina and asked if she could fix it. Alaina said she would try but her skills in magic crafting did not include weapons. Hearing this Skovald said he had weapon smithing skills and that he would be willing to help Alaina. The two then talked for a few moments about what they could do and they both thought that the might be able to fix her, but they would not know until they tried. Sais then gave Alaina the pieces of Kassandra before he thanked her and said he would do whatever it took to repay her. At this Alaina started telling Sais about a hidden magical item deep in a dangerous dungeon she wanted, but as she did Sais realized that she was joking with him, trying to lighten the mood. He took the joke well and then again thanked her for whatever she could do. At this moment Skovald pulled out the Scavenger’s stone they found at Thistletop and asked if it would be able to repair her. Alaina’s and Cereliona’s knowledge of magic told them that it might but they could not be sure. The group then decided to save the stone to try if Skovald and Alaina failed to repair Kassandra.
Evel
After the group finished gathering up items, healing, and discussing repairs; a female person exited the church and ran up to them. She was dressed a black and gray dress, boots, gloves, and metal pauldrons. When she got close enough to be seen the group noticed that she looked shocked and amazed; but they also noticed that all of her attire had a Skull theme. She even had a fake human skull on her belt. As soon as she reached them she started to speak quickly and in the tone of one that cannot believe what she sees. “You killed Black Magga. Black Magga, one of the favored servants of Lamashtu and the embodiment of the goddess’s reign over beasts, monsters, and madness in this realm. She was an unholy auger of Lamashtu’s will, who originally sought to confound the works of the civilized world, spread fear of monsters and the wilds, and direct Lamashtu’s lesser servants in acts of depravity and bloodshed.” The group then tried to insert themselves into her speech, but she did not stop talking, she just rambled over anything the group said to her. “It was believed Black Magga arrived in the Storval Deep not long after the immense lake formed, and her presence in the newly formed lake was believed to have brought much misery and dread to the Thassilonians who dwelt on the lake’s shores or sailed its surface. It was said that the goddess spoke directly to Black Magga, and for many, the words of this monster were equal to the commands of Lamashtu herself.” During her second speech many of the group members asked her to stop and tried to talk over her but it did not work, she just kepy rambling on. “Although she was effectively immortal until slain, ...” At this point the rambling woman was silenced by a look from Skovald that said, “Stop or I will stop you”. That look not only stopped her from speaking but it brought her back to her senses. After a few moments of silence, she started to talk again but this time in a much calmer tone and at a normal pace. She first apologized for rambling, then she explained that she had studied Black Magga, Skulls Crossing, and the Skull river all her life. In fact, her area of study was the very reason she moved to Turtleback Ferry and purchased the Skull river ferry. Hearing this the group asked her where Black Magga came from. She told them, “I think the signs point north, something must have happened at Skull’s Crossing. Black Magga lived in Storval deep so she must have gone over the dam and floated down river until she arrived here, but I don’t know how that could happen because the water levels should have never gotten high enough for her to make it over the dam. I should tell you that, in the past when storms threatened to spill over the dam much like now, the dam’s floodgates would open automatically to release water pressure in a controlled way. No one knows how the mechanism for opening the floodgates works because no one has been able to investigate the structure. You see, Skull’s Crossing has long been the den of a tribe of trolls known as the Skulltakers. Yet as long as anyone can remember, the floodgates have always functioned without fault. If the floodgates are malfunctioning, someone must brave the wrath of the Skulltaker trolls to determine what, if anything, can be done to repair the ancient Thassilonian structure before an even bigger flood washes the entire region away.” Listening to this Skovald asked for clarification about Black Magga and Skull’s Crossing, specifically he wanted to know how and why the monster would climb over the dam. Eval said that she could not think of a good reason because if she wanted to come here she had easier ways. Eval then explained that it was rumored that Black Magga did not stay in the Storval deep because it was believed that there underground, water filled tunnels that connected Claybottom lake with Storval deep, so she could have use those to come down here.” Just then Cereliona and Sais took a good look at the monster and they release that she had a lot more damage to her body than what was caused by the group. Upon their request, Xavian started to examine the monster’s body to see if he could determine what happened to her. However, he did not understand outsider anatomy, so he could only tell them that she was at least minorly damaged when she first arrived in town. The group then ask Eval if there was anything else she thought that they should know. She said, “There is one other thing, the dam is rumor to be haunted by the dead of those that have drown in the Skull river. It is said that the skulls of the dam call to those lost souls because it allows the dead to watch you when you approach, but I don’t believe it.” The group heard the word haunt and got a little worried about what they would find there, but they all agreed they needed to investigate it.
Hero worship
At this point everyone turned to the church and saw the many townsfolks still inside, just watching them in awe, so the group decided to head inside and do some talking.
Cathedral
They entered the church and all of the townsfolks stayed silent at first. Sais moved in and started to help out the townsfolks as best he could. Cereliona walked in and said, “We killed Black Magga” and she held up one of the creature’s teeth as proof. As soon as she did this, she was mob by a group of the townsfolks, all talking at once. Through the crowd the group could make out what 3 of the people were trying to tell them. One said, “How can you be talking about it. Those who have seen Black Magga and lived can never speak of their experiences. It is said that when they attempt to tell the tale, black blood wells from their throats and into their mouths, choking their words.” Another said, “How did you do it. Black Magga was older than many gods. In fact it was said that Divine magic had little to no effect whatsoever on her abominable form and anyone that cuts Magga’s black heart from her vile chest and bathes in its putrescent blood will likewise become invulnerable to the power of the gods. Are you going to bathe in her blood?” And the only other one they could make out said, “Black Magga was a storm bringer. Sightings of Black Magga often heralded powerful storms and hurricanes. It was said that the beast summoned these storms to pull victims into her watery domain, whereupon she captured them, consumed them, and transformed them into monstrous, vermicular horrors. Do you think she is the one responsible for the storms?” Cereliona responded to each one person in turn. To the first Cereliona said that no blood came to her mouth when she talked about it so that one must be just a rumor. And to the second she said that Black Magga was obviously not as powerful as the gods because the Heroes of Sandpoint killed her. Alaina then joined the conversations and talked to them about bathing in the blood to gain immunity to the powers of gods, but the group convinced her it would be a bad idea. Then Cereliona addressed the last one she understood and told her that the storms stopped when Black Magga attacked so she did not think the monster was controlling these storms. Next the group brought up the idea of feeding the town with Black Magga’s flesh but worry over what an outsider’s strange flesh might do to them, they decided to not risk it. While that conversation was going on, Alaina pulled mayor Shreed to the side and away from the crowd, so she could talk to him. Alaina then very bluntly explained that all of the townsfolks with a Sihedron mark tattooed on their body would need to be put somewhere safe because if they died their souls would be used to fuel a magical Runewell. Hearing all this, Maelin went into a temporary state of shock. He basically froze in place as all of his mental faculties went into processing and dealing with what he heard. Alaina comforted him as best she could, until he came out of it. Once he did, he asked if he could borrow Alaina’s book (Book of Spell Pages) so he could show the symbol to the townsfolks and Alaina agreed. Maelin then took the book, moved front and center of the church, held Alaina’s book up and started to speak. “My people if any of you have a mark like this one [pointed to book cover] on your body, for any reason, then you are in great danger. Not your life but your soul. The Heroes of Sandpoint have told me that this mark will steal your soul when you die. Those of you that have the mark gather together until we can find a place for you stay for now.” Once he was done, Maelin returned Alaina’s book. At hearing this the church turned into chaos with a purpose as everyone moved around. The group could see that everyone was scared but the Heroes of Sandpoint, who just slayed a legendary monster, had given them a warning so everyone listened and was acting on it. Seeing this community come together lifted the groups’ member’s moods considerably.
Zheda goes to school
At seeing this community work as a unit, Zheda remembered the school children and teacher they saved that where on the other side of town. The monk decided since the others had this handled she would just step over there. As Zheda was stepping across dimension, Sais noticed her go. Then to make sure she knew he understood what she was doing, he pulled out his Cayden mug and toast the air. However, at the point where his mug should have hit someone’s else, Sais mug impacted with a seemingly invisible mug. At the same time, Zheda felt her mug shake as if someone just toasted her. She correctly assumed this was Sais so she took it as a sign of approval. Once she appeared by the church she was immediately set on by the children. All of them dog piled on her in one big hug. The children all spoke at once thanking her for saving them from the snake by holding it off, so Alaina could teleport them. Tilla was just as grateful as the children were. In fact, the teacher ran inside and pulled something out of our chest which she brought to the monk. Once there was an opening, Tilla said, “I cannot thank you enough for saving my children. Please take this as a token of my gratitude.” And then she handed over a magical corset. Zheda took the gift and accepted the lady’s and children’s gratitude.
Treasure
Back at cathedral
While the townsfolks were dealing with Maelin’s announcement, Cereliona asked Shalelu if she would step aside so they could talk. She agreed but she said she needed to talk to Alaina for a moment first and then she would join Cereliona, so the elf then walked away toward Alaina and Cereliona waited for her to return. Once Shalelu found Alaina she walked right up to her and told her that she had been completely wrong about Alaina. And that she thought Alaina was a true hero and she considered her a good friend now. Alaina was so shocked by this change in Shalelu and the bluntness with whcih the ranger told that she was left speechless, so she did little more that nod her understanding. Seeing this, Shalelu moved away so Alaina could deal with it in her own time and returned to Cereliona. Those two then moved away from the crowd so they could talk in private. Once they were alone, the first thing Cereliona said was “you will have to teach me how you do that (leaving Alaina dumbfounded).” And Shalelu smiled at the joke and said, “Honestly does it every time.” Cereliona smiled in response and then she addressed the real reason why she pulled Shalelu aside. She wanted to know what Shalelu thought of them heading to the dam first and then taking care of White Willow later. Shalelu told her that she believed that the dam was more important right now. She also added that from what she learned from Jakardros, if the dam were to fail it would flood the entire hook mountain area in water at least 12 feet deep so she believed that this flood is only a precursor to a much larger flood. She also explained that she believed that the Black Arrows would also make this decision because their first rule was to protect the people and their second rule was to protect the land, so this would count as both in her mind. Cereliona thanked her for her input and the she told Shalelu that was the same thought process she had but she wanted to make sure the other ranger in the group agreed with her. Cereliona then returned to the group with Shalelu. Once she found them she told them that she thought they should head north and take care of the dam first and everyone agreed with her.
Heading back to Fort Rannick
The Plan
However, they all also knew they needed to rest before they took on a tribe of trolls. Since it was 10:30 am now and if they left right now it would be at least 2:30 pm by the time they got to the dam; they instead decided to return to Fort Rannick for the night, so they could rest and head out early in the morning, hoping that whatever was going on at the dam could wait one more day. Everyone then said a quick goodbye to the townsfolks and they mounted up to leave. However, since Zheda preferred to run because she was faster than all the horses, Alaina had recently acquired the power of flight so did not want to ride, and because Skovald was riding Shadowmist; there was no one to ride Skovald’s foxglove horse. Instead, Skovald decided to turn it into a pack horse and loaded it with the groups gear. Now ready, they set off for Fort Rannick with a wet and scare but very grateful village behind them. Once they got a mile from town, the rain returned; starting slow. As they rode, the group asked Xavian if he could remove Skovald’s lost life force (negative levels). Xavian said he could but he warned them that he had a limited amount of diamond dust, only 5000 gp worth. He continued by adding that every time he does a powerful restoration to one of them it cost him 100 gp of diamond dust and that every time he uses it to restore lost life force it cost him 1000 gp in diamond dust so he has a limited supply. However, Xavian did add that because Skovald had just recently been affected by the lose of life force (temporary negative levels) that he could remove them both for only 100 gp for the next day. The group listened to him and then everyone made a point to say that they would consider that going forward but that this time they all wanted Skovald healed. Xavian did as he was asked and casted a spell that restored all the lost life force to the Viking.
Weather
Attacked by a beautiful woman and water elementals
As the group continued north along the Skull river, the rain increased, and it was not long before everyone was soaked. When they were about 1 mile from the turn to Fort Rannick, they were set on by several Water creatures from the river. First a beautiful woman with pearlescent skin and long, dark hair rose up out of the water. Her nudity was barely hidden by a diaphanous, wet shawl. However only Zheda and Cereliona saw her. When these too looked at her they were taken back by her beauty and became fascinated, so they could do little but stair at her. Directly after the woman rose up, 3 huge water elementals rose up behind her as well, but no one saw them at first. The woman used the surprise she now had to move up closer to Cereliona. The elementals attacked with their watery arms but only one hit, however it was a powerful hit to Alaina. Now seeing the danger coming up out of the water everyone but Zheda and Cereliona who were fascinated, turned to see the woman that came out of the water. This caused Alaina, Barkenstien, and Shalelu to become fascinated by the woman’s beauty just like Zheda and Cereliona. The woman then moved up and touched Cereliona, as she did the ranger could fill her lungs filling with water, which tried to drown her. Thankfully she was able to fight off this magic which also freed her of her fascination. Skovald quickly dismounted off of Shadowmist by letting the horse drop to one knee and dumb him off (Shadow made the ride check). He then drew his sword and let loose with one powerful swing which connected to with northern most water elemental. It was a powerful blow, but Skovald could tell the monsters body of water resisted some of the damage. Next to act was the recently mentally freed Cereliona who also quickly dismounted before dropping into her Startoss style stance and then letting her chakram fly. It hit one and then bounced to a second water elemental, before bouncing once more to hit the lady. Cereliona could tell that her weapon did not do full damage to the elementals, but it did to the lady. She then tried to command Barkenstien to attack but the dog just stared at the lady. Next, Sais toasted Cayden and used his mug to teleport behind the northern most Elemental, before striking at it once with his short sword. However, the rogue could not find any vital spots to hit (Immune to sneak attack) and the monster did not seem distracted by being flanked (immune to Flanking) so Sais’s attack did little damage. After this the Elementals moved in and attacked the fascinated group members of Zheda and Alaina, but the north one went after it’s attacker, Sais. One hit Zheda once and the other hit Alaina twice, bruising them but also freeing them of the lady’s effect. The one that attack Sais only landed one blow which hurt but did not stop the rogue. Now heavily wounded Alaina withdrew by flying 60ft up in the air. Woken from her stupor, Zheda moved up and to the lady, drawing attacks from the Water elementals as she moved, but only one connected. The monk did not let it phase her, as she ran up and punched the lady right in her temple stunning her which thanks to the power of Zheda’s dragon style also scared the lady (Shaken). From where he was, Xavian stayed on his horse and channeled energy which in addition to healing the group, allowed them to play with the strings of fate a little (Faithful Channel). Thanks to Zheda’s blow the water lady could do nothing more than defender herself while trying to regain her senses (stunned). But it did not stop the power of her looks from effecting the group. Shalelu and Xavian diverted their eyes, helping them to avoid her gaze, while Skovald avoided looking at her all together. Alaina was out of range of the lady’s magic; Cereliona’s will allowed her to resist the magic; but Zheda failed to resist and became fascinated again. Barkenstien never stopped his fascination with the lady. Ignoring the lady completely Skovald focused on the northern water elemental in front of him; going all or nothing, leaving the water monster heavily weakened. Shalelu then continued to fire arrows into the southernmost water elemental, scoring 3 hits each of which managed to exceed the resistance of the water and damaged the creature a little. The ranger then yelled for all the horses to flee, which they did, but two of the horses were swung at by the water elementals. Thankfully, neither was hit. Cereliona’s chakram then flew around the battle field, through both water elementals and then hit the lady before magically returning back to her hand, with the weapon being most effective against the lady. Sais was next and attacked the northern most water elemental. His first hit seemed to turn the creature’s body to mist but it still held its shape, until Sais’s second slash landed then it fell apart and did not reform. Sais then took a 5 foot step south. The remaining two elementals continued their onslaught unaffected by their ally’s death. The north one, hit the fascinated Zheda which freed her mind and allowed her to better react to the creature’s second swing, avoiding it. The other elemental got Cereliona with her guard down and hit her twice. Alaina took the time to slowly move closer to the lady until she safely determined the range of her aura and ended up staying 35 feet up in the air where it was. Zheda then focused on the power of the greed in her body which gave her hands a metallic look (Sin Monk power of greed: count as silver, cold iron, and adamantine). She then let loose with the Fury of a Dragon and the Wrath of a Medusa, first barely stunning the lady thanks to the fear Zheda had put in her from her last stun (GM note: Lady rolled 6, bonus +14, penalty(shaken)-2 = 18 vs Fort DC 19). The monk then followed up with 4 punches before ending with a sweep kick leaving the lady stunned and lying on her back. Xavian then continued to help the group the best way he could, he channeled the healing power of Irori and excluding the group’s enemies. However, Alaina was surprised to find that she was still barely in the effect of the dwarf’s healing (Xavian channel ranger 35 feet). Next, even stunned and on the ground the lady’s magical aura effected the group. Alaina stayed out of range while Xavian and Shalelu averted their eyes but everyone else faced her. Amazingly the only member to fail was Zheda. Next Skovald stepped 5 feet south then he swung 6 times at the remaining northern water elemental, but he only scored one minor hit. Cereliona continued with the trick that had worked so far for her; her chakram hit both elemental’s before hitting the lady again severely hurting her with the metal of her weapon. However, this time, she also bounced the weapon of the lady and toward Barkenstien; hoping do some minor damage to the animal and free his mind; but it missed. Then she took a 5 foot step north trying to get the southern elemental to follow her. The elemental did not follow, instead it changed its target and attacked the fascinated dog, hitting it only once but it brought the dog back to his senses. The other one did not change its tactics and continued to attack the fascinated Zheda. It managed to hit her twice due to the monk’s distraction but as before it freed the monks mind. Alaina then through a lightning bolt from 35 feet above the elemental, effecting only that one. The elemental reacted better than she expected to the electricity, but it was still hurt by it. Sais then ran south past both the remaining water elementals, so he could flank the lady with Zheda, which he hopped would allow him to fight an opponent that he could better use his skills on. As he moved, he tried to avoid them but both water elementals were able to get a swing at him and thankfully they both missed. Zheda continued to push greed into her hands, keeping them metallic as she swung high, aiming for the lady’s temple one more time, but this time when she connected the bones of her head did not withstand the power of the monk’s fist. The lady’s skull caved in, killing her as she stood there, leaving a dead body to fall to the ground a few moments later. Then as if it was her plan all along, the monk turned around and punched and kicked the water elemental, missing with all but 2. Xavian channeled again, helping to keep everyone in fighting form. Skovald then amped up his electricity before going berserker on the water elemental, scoring 5 successful hits. The power of his strikes turned the elemental’s body into a ball of water and light that quickly evaporated and blew away. Shalelu then continued her onslaught onto the southern water elemental but she only hit once and even then its body resisted most of the damage. With only one elemental left, Cereliona hit it once with her chakram while sending in Barkenstien who managed to score 2 hits, but the power of his bites where not enough to overcome the water’s resistance to damage. Sais then looked at Zheda’s back before he yelled at her for killing the only creature he was any good against and she told him to take out the elemental behind him instead. Sais looked annoyed that she missed his point that he was not very effective against elementals, but he turned took a step and stabbed 3 times into the creature. His attacks were weak but Shalelu’s arrows had weaken it enough that the small amount of damage Sais did was enough to finish it off.
Weather
Monsters
Sais’s Rant
As soon as the last elemental was dead, Sais turned to the group and yelled that he just wanted to go back to the fort and rest now. They had dealt with a flood, fought a legendary creature, and faced several elementals, but through all this he[Sais] had not really been able to do much more than take hits, so he wanted this to be over because he was done with this day. As the rogue was doing this, Xavain touched Cereliona and Alaina giving them inspiration which allowed them both to identify the creature’s they just faced. Skovald and Shalelu used this time to search the Fey’s body, finding a satchel on her hip. Inside it they found several stones, a helm, and a set of bracers. Once Sais was done with his rant, everyone said that they agreed with. The items where then quickly identified and apprised, before they packed, got their horses, and continued on their way to the fort.
Nereid
Water Elemental
Treasure
Finally reaching Fort Rannick
It took another 2 hours before the group reached the fort. Once they did, they quickly stabled their horses where Cereliona found her raven, then they got inside out of the rain. Once they filled in the rangers, they found that the Black Arrows agreed with them and supported their current plan, so they let the group rest while they continued about the work of manning and cleaning up the fort.
Alaina’s diamond dust blood of the earth
Once everyone was inside the group started to break up for the night, Alaina pulled Xavian aside and asked if he would help her. Xavian was willing to help but he wanted to know what she had in mind before he agreed to anything. She explained that she should would need him to cast one of his more power healing spells on her after she performed a few spells. Xavian was intrigued and agreed. The two then moved in the barracks for a little privacy. Alaina then told Xavian she was going to cast a few prep spells first but that she would follow quickly with the spells that are going to hurt her. First she casted Bull strength to increase the strength of her body. But as she did Cereliona, Sais, and Shalelu heard her casting so they moved up to see what was going on. While they did not hide, Alaina was focused on her task, so she did not notice them. Continuing with her spells, Alaina casted elemental body II (earth) to strengthen her body even more. While she did this, Skovald and Zheda saw the others head to the barracks so followed. They arrived just as Alaina finished the second spell, but the unobservant sorceress did not see them either. This made it so that as Alaina casted her spells, the entire group plus Shalelu and Xavian were able to watch. Next, she casted Arcane sight, Alaina’s then picked up her book of spell pages in her right hand and then picked up a dagger in her left. She followed that up by cutting her right arm with the dagger she held in her left, causing her to bleed while at the same time she spoke a command word which cause the book of spell pages to glow and fill her with magic. As the blood flowed out of her arm it floated up into the air and hovered in front of Alaina as she casted another spell. This last spell was more complicated and took longer to cast than the others. As she spoke her floating blood turned to diamond dust which quickly flowed into her now glowing eyes. The wound on her arm did not close, instead the blood flowed fast and fiercely out of her body for such a long time it looked as though it would drain her dry. After all the castings were done and all the magic was complete, Alaina was left with just a few drops of blood in her body, just enough that she did not die (GM note: Alaina’s Strength= 8, Bull Strength +4, Elemental Body II [Earth] +4 = 16, and Blood money dealt 15 Strength damage, so it left Alaina at 1 Strength). The cost of these spells then took full effect on Alaina so the sorceress could no longer hold up the weight of her own body and started to fall. Xavian was ready for this and caught her as she did. He did not hold her up, instead he held her in his arms and slowly lowered her to the ground. Once she was on the ground, Xavian prayed to Irori and called upon his divine magic to heal her. The spell worked as expected and Alaina was restored back to full strength. Alaina then stood up and looked around, seeing her audience for the first time. With so many eyes watching her, she explained to them that she had found a way to permanently place a spell on herself. She then also added that if they wanted, she could do this trick 2 more times today which meant she could place 2 permanent spells on group members if anyone wanted them. The group was awed by the “ritual” Alaina just performed, and they told her they would need time to think about her offer.
Treasure
The Last thing that happened
Alaina use Blood money to permanently cast Arcane eye on herself while the group watch her, then she offered 2 permanent spells to the group. Everyone was thinking about the offer.
GM Favorite moment
Alaina’s diamond dust blood of the earth, I did not see the combo of these spells which surprised me as a GM, plus the actual casting of the spells was done in a very stylish way. 2 points to Traskus(Justin).
Experience
Each Player receives 13,430 (Total: 118,430 [11th level]) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 38 (07/18/2018)
Day 69 [continued] (Fireday the 30th of Neth, Friday 11/30/2047)
Permanent spells
Everyone talked about Alaina’s offer of permanency but after about 10 minutes of talking, it became clear that while they may some day want to take advantage of this. Right now, all the spells they would have wanted; either no one in the group knew the spell or no one in the group was powerful enough to cast them right now. So as the group was ending their discussion, Jakardros joined them and asked if Alaina would be willing to use those 2 castings to make two of his spells permanent in the Fort. Jakardros explained that he wanted to make 2 Selective Alarm spells permanent; one on the main floor by the front door and one in the center of the top floor. Alaina agreed so the two with everyone else following went about the fort setting those spells up while the others watched. The first casting was done on the main floor. Jakardros set up the spell in the hallway by the entrance so that it had the main door, the armory door, the work room door, and most of the barracks including the east door within its area of effect. Jakardros told them that he casted it so that the alarm could be bypassed by anyone that says the Black arrow oath when they enter, is wearing the crest of a black arrow, or is accompanied by some that meets the first two. As before, Alaina used her book of spell pages to cast Blood money which drained her blood and turned it into diamond dust, but this time the diamond dust flew about the area of effect where it turned into pure energy and settled into the structure of the building. As Alaina fell to the floor, weakened by the spells, Xavian stepped in and healed her again. For the top floor, Jakardros placed a selective alarm in almost the center of the room so that it would encompass the stairs, the chapel, the tribunal, the door to the captain’s quarters and almost all of the main hallway. This time Jakardros set the alarm to go off anytime a giant entered the area and it could not be bypassed. So, for the third time Alaina did her blood money, diamond dust blood trick followed by Xavian healing her. Jakardros and Vale then thanked Alaina for her generosity in casting these spells and they added that because of these spells the Fort itself is now safer than it has even been. Jakardros then continued to thank Alaina until he was sure she knew how much the Black Arrows appreciated what she had just done. After accepting the thanks and now that both spells had been made permanent, Alaina was done for the day as was the rest of the group, so they headed to bed while Jakardros and Vale continued to watch and man the fort. As everyone was separating, Skovald asked and was given permission by the group to take the cyclops helm they recently acquired. Thanks to the ring Alaina had acquired from Pug a while ago, she only needed 2 hours of sleep so she rested by reading in a guest room until midnight, then she got her sleep, waking back up at 2 am to continue reading.
Treasure
Day 70 (Fireday the 30th of Neth, Friday 11/30/2047)
Waking everyone up to ask for a favor
At about 4 am, Sais went around the Fort, woke up each of the group members in turn, except Alaina who was already up. Then he gathered them together, so they could all talk. Sais explained to the group that the dagger Kassandra had latched on to his soul because she was dying. And that she told him in a dream that she needed soul energy to heal herself. Cereliona’s only response was to say, “O Shit.” Sais nodded in agreement with the ranger before he continued. He told them that this is the kind of situation where the group helps her, or they let her die, but at the same time he understood that it was a piece of their souls they would be giving up, so he would understand if they did not want to help. Skovald joined the conversation at this point and hopefully asked, “Does she need our souls, or will any soul do?” But Sais had to tell him that Kassandra told him it would need to be the people that where present at the end of the Foxglove Manor haunt. Next, Alaina joined in and she asked if the drain would be temporary or permanent. Sais did not know but he described what had been done to him as scaring his soul. Alaina took that to mean it would be a permanent drain on their life force (GM note: Players learned that they would gain a permanent negative level if they agreed to this.) Zheda also joined in and she wanted to know if this would be the same type of soul connection that Kassandra talked about earlier. Sais did not know for sure, but he guessed that since it is a soul bond it might be the same thing but if not, then in his mind they should at least be close. The group then asked Xavian if he would be able to repair the damage to them. He said that he only had enough supplies (Diamond Dust) to repair the damage to 4 of them, which would leave one person unhealed. At this point Cereliona said that she was willing to give up some of her soul to save Kassandra and if needed she would also be willing to the one that was healed yet. Zheda then add that she was willing because she wanted to save Sais from any side effects as a result his bonded weapon’s death. Sais thanked them, but he also gave them one more warning to make sure everyone knew what they where agreeing to. He explained that this would link or bond them to the dagger and it would leave a permanent scar on their soul in the process. He wanted to make sure they understood all the consequences as he knew them and that he, Sais, is not forcing or trying to coerce them into helping. He wanted them to make up their own minds. Zheda then thought about all she knew about religion and souls that she had learned from Ilsoari. The monk realized that if Kassandra were to die, then Sais’s soul would be damage as Kassandra was torn away from it; but that it would not kill him. She shared this with him before she asked him, “Do you want Kassandra to stay with us?” Sais responded, “I have a connection…. a relationship with her. Also, she is useful and knowledgeable. Yes, I do want to save her. But I understand if you don’t want to give up a piece of your soul to do that.” Zheda then told him, now that she knew Sais wanted this and he was not being forced into it, then she is willing to help. She just wanted to make sure Sais knew he had other options and that he was free to do what he wanted. At this point, everyone voiced outloud their intention to help Kassandra.
{Start of Discord Chat notes}
GM note: As the GM, at this point I required all the players to post a public message in chat stating that, Yes, they would let her take a piece of their soul.
Fyre – Wednesday July 19th at 5:39 PM
yes, I will let her take a piece of my soul. For Sais.
Tom - Wednesday July 19th at 5:39 PM
Yes, I let her take a piece of my soul.
Jacob - Wednesday July 19th at 5:39 PM
Yes, I let her take a piece of my soul
Kane - Wednesday July 19th at 5:40 PM
Yes, I let her take a piece of my soul. Reason #460793 Sais owes me.
{End of Discord Chat notes}
After the first 4 group members agreed, Alaina worried to herself for a minute or two that Pazuzu might have a claim on her soul and therefore he might be upset by this. But eventually she realized that currently her soul was hers and hers alone, so she knew she could do what she wanted. She then accepted as well.
{Start of Discord Chat notes}
Traskus - Wednesday July 19th at 5:41 PM
Yes, I let her take a piece of my soul
{End of Discord Chat notes}
As soon as Alaina said the words out loud, the process started. The two pieces of Kassandra floated out of Alaina’s pocket and moved to hover 5 feet off the ground in the center of the group. Everyone felt her link up with them and the dagger pieces started to glow. Next the group members could feel their strength being drained as the metal of the dagger seem to turn liquid. First the two pieces rejoined to form a whole dagger. Then metal continued to flow which allowed 3 blue sapphires to come to the surface as the dagger changed shape. It took a full minute for the process to complete but during the process, the group felt their life force being drained and being used to power the transformation. Once it was done, the new weapon held itself in mid air for all to see. Then Kassandra’s spirit form came out of the hovering dagger for all the group to see. Looking at her form and the floating dagger, the group members could all feel the new power the dagger possessed.
Game Note
Kassandra Reforged
Catching Kassandra lying
Looking at Kassandra’s face, Zheda instantly knew something was wrong. She was too happy and she looked too strong for her to have just been dying. Zheda then said with a large amount of indignation in her voice, “What did you do?” Now that the task was done, Kassandra did not lie to her. She told them that she did not tell the truth about how much energy she needed restore herself.. She was dying but she only need the soul energy from 2 of them to repair herself, the other 3’s she used to increase her own power. Zheda was angered by this so she moved up to the spirit form and stared her down, while at the same time she grabbed the floating knife and threw it into the wall. Sais then joined in, “You could have asked.” Kassandra replied with, “You might have said no.” Then she explained that she had been bonded to Sais so she was now on his path of destiny which meant she would be facing even greater dangers. So, she decided to take this power now, while she could so that she could survive this journey. She then thanked them for all they had done for her up until this point; freeing her from Foxglove Manor and helping her to see more of the world. As well as, for giving up a piece of their souls to reforge her; but she had to do what she felt was necessary. Zheda then challenged her again, saying that she did not want her life force drained so that Kassandra could improve herself. Kassandra immediately responded to this, “I did not want to be the victim of my husband’s necromancy experiments, I did not want to be trapped in Foxglove Manor where I was tortured for 60 years. Life is not fair, this is what I had to do to keep my freedom.” When Kassandra talked about her freedom, it really struck a cord with the monk. Zheda respected freedom so while she was still unhappy about being tricked; she did not pursue the issue anymore. However, Cereliona was not satisfied and told Kassandra, “You should not have taken more than you needed.” Kassandra explained that from the way she saw it, she would “need” this power in order to survive the ordeal that she was accompanying them through. She then ended any future arguments by returning her spirit form to the dagger. Sais then called her to his hand from the wall and she instantly teleported to him. Once in his hand, he quickly put the dagger away before he apologized to the group for the situation. And he asked what he could do to make it up to them. Skovald jokingly told him that Sais could say that Skovald was better than him. Sais laughed and responded with, “I would have rather had her drag me down with her.” Sais then held his Cayden mug up for Zheda. The two toasted each other and took a drink. It then quickly became apparent to everyone that no one blamed Sais for what happened, they all instead and rightfully blamed Kassandra. Next Xavian went to the 4 people he could heal: Alaina, Cereliona, Skovald, and Zheda. Using up the majority of his remaining Diamond Dust, he removed the damage done by Kassandra’s reforging (GM Note: removed 1 Negative level from Alaina, Cereliona, Skovald, and Zheda). However, Sais had recently had this kind of damage repaired to his soul (GM Note: removal of negative level on Day 65) so Xavian informed him that even if he had the material, he could not repair Sais damage for a least 2 more days. By then Sais body would be ready for more healing.
Readying for the dam
Morning time
After everyone was done talking about Kassandra, it was about 5am so everyone decided to go about completing their morning routines rather than going back to sleep. Alaina prepped her magic, Cereliona communed with nature to access her magic, Sais practiced on his training blocks, Zheda and Xavian did their exercises and meditations, and Skovald checked over his weapons and gear. Once everyone was done, they met up in the mess hall to eat and talk.
Cold weather Gear
When Cereliona returned from the outside, she told everyone that the weather had turned even colder (30 F) so they would need to break out their cold weather gear. Thankfully most of the group had their own; Cereliona and Sais had purchased one from Wenda Leenee at the Turtleback general store while Skovald and Zheda had come from the north, so they brought their own with them. Shalelu had prepared for a trip up north and brought her own. And, Xavian had been provided with one by the pathfinders. However, Alaina did not have any so Sais talked to Jakardros and got a set of cold weather gear from the Black arrows in Alaina’s size. As the rogue handed over the clothing, all of which bared the crest of the Black Arrows, he jokingly asked her if this (him getting her clothing) made up for Kassandra taking a piece of her soul. Alaina kept her head down and thanked him, but she also jokingly said, “No.”
Treasure
Breakfast
Zheda then pulled out her mug and got everyone a liquid breakfast. Everyone accepted the gift but Cereliona decided to eat also, but first she ask Sais for Kassandra. The rogue handed over the knife without question. Cereliona then proceeded to use Kassandra to cut up and eat a breakfast of deer steak. When she was done, Cereliona tried to return the knife dirty but Sais made her clean it up before he would accept it back. After Cereliona ate she joined the group as they drank their breakfasts. While drinking, the group called over Jakardros and asked him what he knew about Skulls crossing. U Unfortunately, he did not have any new information for them. All he knew was that the dam was and ancient Thassilonian structure, that had been taken over by a tribe of trolls a long time ago. He also included that the dam has floodgates that have always opened whenever the water level got too high, but that the floodgates had always opened before the water was to the level is now and he did not know why they had not opened yet.
Troll Research
Hearing all this about the dam, Cereliona got an idea. She asked and got permission from the group to delay their departure so that she could research Trolls in the Black Arrow’s library. It took about 30 minutes but Cereliona came back with a lot of information about trolls, most important being that they can regenerate unless they are put down with fire or acid. The group then talked about the various acid attacks they had which included a few of Alaina’s spells, Skovald’s Deliquescent Gloves, and Zheda’s elemental fury of acid so they felt they were well equipped to handed trolls.
Troll
Apparently, we cannot sleep anymore
While all this was going on, Alaina stayed to herself and kept her head down. Seeing this Zheda walked up to the sorceress and said, “It doesn’t take much to see that something is wrong with you, what is it?” To that Alaina looked up into Zheda’s eyes and Zheda saw it. Alaina’s eyes which had been grey where now lightning blue and seem to glow just a little. This shocked the monk, so Alaina used the silence to say, “Sais is not the only one that had a visitor last night.” As she said this, the group all focused on Alaina and everyone noticed the difference in her eyes. Seeing Alaina’s eyes and hearing her words, Sais said, “Apparently, we cannot sleep anymore!” Alaina agreed with him then she told them what happened to her last night. She explained that Pazuzu came to her again. This time he gave her a reward for getting Black Magga’s eyes for him. Skovald heard this and jumped to the conclusion that Alaina was given Black Magga’s eyes. Alaina quickly corrected him. She explained that Pazuzu filled her eyes with his demon power, which improved her vision considerably (+10 bonus) and allows her to see very far (120 ft Darkvision) in the dark. In addition, he will now only be required make one sacrifice per day no matter how many battles she is in that day. Skovald asked if she had to complete her ritual if there was no fight and Alaina confirmed on those days she would not need to do the ritual. Seeing evidence of and hearing the details of Alaina’s deal with Pazuzu while at the same time remembering Sais deal with Kassandra, Zheda started to look back on the choices the group has made so far. So, she thought to herself, “I wonder how long before all of us are magically linked to something evil.” However, she decided not to share this with the group and instead she left to ready their gear and horses. Cereliona then moved up to and toled Alaina and told her that since they had been dealing with Pazuzu for a while now, they had a learned how he works so while she is nervous for Alaina, she believes everything will work out and she did her best to make sure Alaina knew she understood why Alaina was working with Pazuzu. The rest of the group shared this sentiment and told Alaina as much, so everyone let the conversation about Pazuzu die as they got up and readied to leave. The group then went to their horses and mounted up, except for Zheda and Alaina who ran alongside or flew respectively. Again, Shalelu and Xavian mounted up and joined them. The Black Arrows wished them luck and helped them out of the gate. Now that everyone was ready, the journey to Skulls Crossing started.
Reaching Skulls crossing
The Cold Rain
Once outside the group was exposed the more of the constant rain in this area but today was different because it was colder. Winter was fast approaching, but before her cold breath descended on the Hook, and before winter arrived the skies had darkened one more time like blood-muddied water accompanied by ominous clouds on the horizon, which brought this near-constant rain to new heights of torrential downpours. After an hour or so on the road in the rain, Alaina decided to cast Mage Armor on herself and Zheda. However shortly after she finished the second spell, Skulls Crossing came into view.
Weather
First Sighting of Skulls Crossing.
Spanning the great breadth of the gorge was Skull’s Crossing. The massive wall of stone held back the waters of the Storval Deep, but only just. Thousands of skulls had been carved into the dam’s face, with five larger ones that decorated the middle length. The easternmost of these immense skulls was all but hidden by a steady flow of cascading water that poured through what appeared to be a recent break in the dam. For now, the ancient dam seemed to be holding its own against the Storval Deep, but unless these rains ended soon, the recent flood looked to be but a minor precursor to a fantastic disaster. Just as the group took in the sight the rain picked up and added hail to the mix, damping the groups already wet spirits. Looking the dam, Cereliona was the only one able to see several lumbering shapes moving about on the dam’s upper reaches. However, even from this distance she could tell that the shadowy outlines where ogres. Zheda on the other hand, was focused on the damage to the right side of the dam. She told the group that she guessed that the damage was were Black Magga came over the dam. Even with her improved vision from Pazuzu Alaina still could not make out much on the dam so she asked the group if she could send an Arcane eye up to scout the dam. Everyone thought it was a good idea, so they found a good spot to sit and let Alaina cast.
Weather
Scouting Skulls crossing
West upper walk
Once ready, Alaina casted the spell and began to relay what she was seeing. She started the sensor where Cereliona saw the ogres. The magic sensor showed her, the upper walk of Skull’s Crossing which was relatively clear of rubble, though a three-inch layer of water had pooled across much of its surface. Here and there, sections of the dam’s surface had crumbled away, although this damage appeared relatively old. A tower of skull-shaped domes sat at the center of the dam’s walk. To the north surge the choppy waters of the Storval Deep, while to the south, the slope of the dam’s face dropped away nearly three hundred feet to a muddy lake below. On the walkway, Alaina saw 4 ogre thugs hammering their hooks against the stone and a fifth ogre one that looked to be the one in charge that was taking break sitting on a block of stone near the dam’s central complex. Thanks to her newly improved vision, Alaina was able to see through the rain and hail to notice that all five ogres where moving slow and clearly very tired (All 5 ogres were Exhausted). Alaina then moved the sensor closer to the central complex, so she could see the door. The two sets of double doors that led into this structure had been repeatedly smashed, and hastily repaired so as a result she could tell that they would take a great feat of strength to open. However, the quick repairs had left many holes for the sensor to go through so Alaina had the sensor enter the complex.
Weather
Skulls Watch
Moving out of the rain, Alaina found a dark room with almost no light; but thanks again to her recent gift from Pazuzu, Alaina could now see in the dark, so this did not hamper her. Piles of rubble dominated this large room, along with bits of flesh, broken weapons, splashes of blood, and a few dead ogres that had been torn limb from limb. Wind and rain howled through circular openings to the north that looked out over the Storval Deep, and puddles of water had collected on the floor. Thick sheets of ropy green fungus grew along the walls here, winding in through the windows and through numerous cracks in the domed ceiling thirty feet above; behind the fungal vines, the walls were decorated with hundreds of skull-shaped carvings. Looking around the room, Alaina found 4 sets of double doors along the southern semi-circle of this room, but all of them were closed and there were no openings small enough to squeeze the sensor through, so she turned her attention to the eastern main set of double doors. She found these doors in much the same state as the ones on the west side but with on difference. While the west door had been clearly bashed out from the inside before they were repaired, these where bashed in from the outside. It did not take the group long to realize that this meant the ogres started on the East walkway and then fought their way through this area to get to the west. Curious what was on the other side, Alaina took the sensor through one of the openings in the east double doors and went back out into the rain.
East upper walk
This side of the dam was empty, but Alaina was able to see the damage spot on the dam, so she moved up to look at it. After a quick examination, she could easily tell that the weight of some large creature had broken through this part of the dam from the Storval deep side, most likely due to the damage the ogres had caused to this spoit. When Alaina relayed this, everyone quickly came to the agreement that this had to be the place were Black Magga went through and over the dam. Alaina then turned the sensor around and she proceeded to examing the central structure looking for other ways in. She found that most of the eye sockets and some of the mouths of the structure’s skull-shaped façade were in fact windows. The eyes where all small windows, only about 3 feet across but the mouths were easily 5 feet across. In addition, one of the skulls on the south east side had partial collapsed away, making a very large and easy entrances into the structure. However, before she could enter and explore any of these entrances her spell expired.
Weather
Finding a way to the top of the Dam
At this point the group felt they learned all they could from Alaina’s scouting, so they looked around themselves to see how they could get to the top of the dam. Looking around the group all noticed that the eastern slopes of the gorge were sheer and slick with rain, but to the west, a narrow stone stairway, its edge decorated with hundreds of poles bearing the skulls of as many different creatures, winded up to a cave mouth near the western rim of the dam itself which led to a set of giant sized stairs. Hundreds of stakes line the edges of the path and the stairway, many of them decorated with skulls, some animal, some humanoid, were all marked with a strange skull-shaped rune on the brow. Seeing symbols that he could not read, Sais called out Kassandra. Her spirit form quickly came out of the dagger and moved up to the symbols to look at them. Kassandra calmly and with a “matter of fact” tone in her voice, then told them that the skulls and their markings were territory markers for the Skulltaker trolls. She added, “It is there version of ‘Trespassers will be attack, survivors will be killed’ signs.” Sais then unceremonially sent Kassandra back into the dagger. Zheda then step into the conversation and pointed out that the Ogres and Trolls must not be allies, the battlefield Alaina’s sensor saw combined with these markers proved that. Also, she added that it looked like the ogres beat the trolls in a fight so that may make things easier for them. Seeing that they where only about 500 feet from the top of the dam, Alaina offered to dimensional door the group to the top, much like what they did to get into Fort Rannick. She also added that she felt if there was going to be a trap or guards to deal with they would be along the western shore path, so she did not want to go that way. The group liked this idea but because Alaina could only carry 3 plus herself they would need Zheda to step herself up there. This was not a problem but in addition to that, they had Barkenstien, Xavian, and Shalelu with them. Cereliona solved some of this by casting carry companion which turned Barkenstien into a small figurine once again, which Cereliona pocketed. Alaina solved the rest by offering to cast fly on Xavian and Shalelu so the two could fly up to the dam. This meant the group would be alone against the ogres for a while, but everyone was confident in their abilities so no one worried. With their plan now set, Alaina casted fly on the elf and dwarf and then she casted shield on herself. Then Shalelu and Xavian took off and started to fly to the top of the dam, as Alaina casted dimensional door taking Cereliona, Sais, and Skovald with her, while at the same time Zheda dimensionally stepped up to the dam.
Weather
Ogre Demolition team
When the group arrived up top, Alaina placed herself and the ones she brought along near the central complex with in 10 feet of the ogre leader. Zheda landed very close to them and was also within 10 feet of the leader, but she placed herself more to the north, so they would be more spread out. The rain and heavy hail Alaina had seen with her magic sensor fell upon the group as they in turn fell upon the ogres with surprise. Sais used their surprise to attack the leader, sticking his blade into one of the ogre’s kidneys. Skovald followed him and swung hard with his sword, heavily wounding the leader and knocking him a little off balance which gave Skovald another attack on him, which landed and just added more to the damage the Viking dealt. Because none of the ogres were close enough together to be good fireball targets, Alaina decided to haste the group instead. Next, Cereliona through her chakrum, bouncing it between 2 of the ogre thugs before it magically returned to her hand. Zheda used her surprise to run up to and trip the leader ogre, leaving him flat on his back on the wet stone. Still acting faster than the ogres, Sais stabbed down 2 times at the ogre leader. The rogue hit his other kidney and then his heart, killing the ogre. As the ogre died, Sais looked up at Skovald and Zheda and gave them an air high five for their teamwork in taking down the leader. After quickly accepting the compliment with a nod, Skovald moved south to take out the northern most east ogre thug. As Skovald swung he found this ogre, incredibly easy to hit due to the ogre’s exhaustion. Alaina then pulled out her toppling rod and used it when she casted magic missile, targeting the far south ogre. The invisible missiles hit and knock the ogre to the ground. Cereliona continued her trade mark skill and bounced her chakrum between the same 2 ogres again. The ogre by Skovald then finally seemed to understand what was going on and swung at Skovald with it’s ogre hook but the attack went wide, and it had no strength behind it. The ogre near Cereliona swung at her with it’s hook but it was even easier to avoid than the one that attacked Skovald, Cereliona simply leaned back from the ogre’s weak swing. The southern ogre then moved up and joined his friend near Cereliona but due to his exhaustion he was unable to move and attack. The far south one, got up and moved but it was slow and did not even reach the main battle at this point. Zheda then used a flying kick to reach the two ogres by Cereliona. As she flew through the air, both ogres swung at her but neither came close to hitting her. Her kick hurt the ogre and she followed it up with a punch that went through its face, crushing its brain and killing it. Zheda then took a 5-foot step toward the other ogre and continued her onslaught. Her first hit did just the right amount of damage to stagger the ogre (0 HP) which allowed Zheda to get in under its guard. Using this to her advantage (Meduza’s Wraith), Zheda brought both fist up and swung them together, hitting the ogre simultaneously hitting both sides of his head. This had the effect of popping the ogre’s head like a zit, killing it. Sais then used his hasted movement to charge the southern ogre, running around the one Skovald was engaged with. The south ogre, tried to bring its hook around in time to stop Sais’s advance, but it was way too slow. Sais reached the southern ogre and stabbed it right in the chest. Skovald then let lose with all the speed of haste and swung 7 times at the ogre in front of him. 5 blows landed, each going all the way through the ogre. This combined with the power of Skovald’s electrical blade aura quickly turned the ogre into several chunks of flesh that the strength of Skovald’s strike knocked over the Storval deep side of the dam. Alaina then flew south and casted an electric burning hands on the southern ogre. It shocked and burned the ogre but it stayed standing, just long enough for Cereliona to follow up Alaina’s spell with her chakrum. The circular weapon flew through the ogre’s face and out the back of his head, killing him before it returned to the ranger’s hand. Even though all the ogres were dead, Cereliona and Zheda were still in a hyper state of awareness which allowed them to see a filthy, two-headed giant who was wearing tattered remnants of leather armor and clutching a large flail in each fist, come running up from the western cave and onto the dam. Neither of them could make out what this monster was but they knew it was a giant which is all that mattered to them. Zheda then used her impressive speed combined with the speed boast of haste to reach the two headed giants. As she did she shout to the group what she saw. When she reached the giant, she focused her desire to kill giants into her hand, making them a little harder and stronger (Sin power: Wrath). This allowed her to hit the giant extra hard in his leg, both breaking it (Natural 20) and stunning him. Sais was next, and he charged the two headed monster and stabbed with his short sword. Thanks to the stun from Zheda, Sais was able to stab this monster in the gut debilitating it. The next and final person to charge the new threat was Skovald. Using his hasted speed, he ran up to the giant and jumped in the air and brought his sword down cutting the 2-headed monster in half, leaving each half of the body with one head, one arm, and one leg. As the body parts fell to the ground the heads screamed with their death throughs. As they scream, Sais and Zheda could smell the scent of barbecued human stench on it breath. They got such a nose full that they could tell that it was the exact same smell as the barbecue humans they smell just before they took the fort back. Just as the creature finished dying, Xavian and Shalelu showed up and landed on the dam. The rogue and monk shared what they smelled with the group. Sais then shared that based on the two-headed giants clothing and markings he was at least an honorary member of the Skulltaker tribe. Also, Sais told everyone that the creature was an Ettin and pointed out that Ettins are famous for their powerful two-weapon fighting, but thanks to the groups quick teamwork it was not something they really had to deal with this time. The group then went around and gathered all the gear from the creatures, finding only 2 weak magic items. As they did this, Cereliona commented that she wished she had magic, so she could do more than bounce her weapon around. But, the others argued with her and told her that her bounce weapon was one of the most lethal things they had seen, second only to Skovald in full fighting form. This nullified the ranger’s concerns a little. Cereliona then freed Barkenstien of the spell so he could join them.
Weather
Monster
Ettin
Entering Skulls Watch
After dealing with the monster they moved up to the damage set of double doors and discussed what to do next. At first Sais wanted to go west into the cave the Ettin came out of to make sure that no more reinforcements were on their way. However, Alaina pointed out that they need to fix the dam first and that they had already dealt with the Ettin so she did not expect more. Zheda, Cereliona, and Skovald all agreed with Alaina that fixing the dam was the priority, so Sais agreed to take care of the central complex first. Skovald then walked up to the door, pulled out his Adamantine Skeleton Key and readied to “open” the door. He then asked everyone if they were ready, but Alaina wanted to enlarge Skovald before they went in. Skovald liked that idea, so she quickly cast Enlarge person on him. Everyone was then so excited at seeing big Skovald cut down another door that no one heard Cereliona when she offered to tie robes to and have Barkenstien pull the doors off its hinges. Instead before she could even ask for rope, Skovald brought down the doors with one mighty swing. The doors feel to the ground, both now in 2 pieces.
Weather
Slaughtering Trolls
Once the door was open, the group entered the battle field Alaina had seen with her spell, earlier. The room was dark so those without Darkvision were given light by Skovald’s ioun torch. Using either their own Darkvision or Skovald’s light, everyone noticed 4 trolls hanging in the fungal vines on the north side of the room. Sais was the first to react. He ran up to the middle east troll and stabbed it, finding its liver when he did. Next was Skovald. Thanks to his large size and a 5-foot step, he was able to reach both middle trolls, so he swung 3 times at each, landing a total of 5 blows, all sizzling with acid when their touch made contact with the creature’s flesh. The one on the left he only hit twice, but his second hit was so deep the monster’s blood flowed like a river as Skovald pulled out his weapon. This in turned the trolls skin from dark green to light green and it clearly weakened him (Fatigued). The one to the east, which was the same one Sais hit, Skovald landed all three blows on. The final of which cut the troll in two, then gravity took over and pulled the pieces to the ground. Alaina was next, she sent an acid arrow to hit the troll on the far east, burning it and causing its flesh to sizzle as the acid touched it. Shalelu fired 3 normal arrows at the same troll, heavily wounding it but not killing it. The trolls were next to act. The 3 remaining each attacked a different group member; Zheda, Skovald, and Sais; but none of them landed even a single blow. Cereliona then bounced her chakrum from the middle west troll to the far west, hitting both and killing the first, which fell out of the vines it was hanging in. Barkenstien then jumped up and grabbed the remaining west troll and pulling it down out of the vines to land on it’s back. Then he bit it again, taking a large chunk of flesh out this time. Last to attack was Zheda. She stepped up to the prone troll, activated her elemental fury, and then laid into the troll with 5 acid coated punches. The trolls flesh sizzled as the punches, turned it into a green slime stain on the floor. Now that all the trolls were dead, they searched the bodies, but the troll had nothing on their bodies, not even clothing.
Monsters
Searching the Battlefield
With no more threats in the area, the group stopped to really look at the place they had entered. Cereliona looked at the walls of this room and found that under the fungus they were decorated with 100s upon 100s of skulls that all looked as though they were phasing out of the wall. Skovald and Zheda, joined Cereliona in looking at the walls. As they did this, Cereliona thought about the workmanship here and wondered how long it would have taken to carve, but she could not remember all Vale taught her about stone masonry, so she did not know. However, Xavian came up and put his hand on Cereliona’s shoulder; willing knowledge into her. This jogged her memory and Cereliona released that stone carving like this would have taken a team of 20 master at least year just to carve this wall. While they did that, Alaina moved up closer to Shalelu and said, "So..how does it feel to no longer be bound to the confines of the ground?" The ranger only playfully smiled back at Alaina without answering.
Skulltaker’s Den
While everyone else was doing this, Sais entered the eastern most south set of double doors. The walls of this room were thick with green ropy fungus that hung down over several windows, almost like curtains. 4 large nests made of the stuff were spread throughout the room. Looking alone while the other’s talk Sais found a loose stone near the base of the southern wall that hid a small cache of treasure. Inside was a cracked emerald, a bent gold comb that looked like a behir with its legs comprising the comb’s teeth and tiny pearls for eyes, and a pair of lacy pink gloves that smelled faintly of lilacs. Hoping he found something good, he brought the items to Alaina and Cereliona to be appraised. Cereliona was able to give him the value of the emerald and comb, while Alaina saw the gloves as magical and identified them as a pair of gloves and swimming and climbing that would never grow dirty and would always smell faintly of lilacs. Sais then pointed out that they have had issues with swimming in the past so maybe they should keep them around just in case. The group agreed so the items were given to Skovald to store and carry. At this point Sais returned to exploring and Cereliona went with him. Next, they moved counter clockwise to the south east double doors. On the other side was just a hallway that connected the main room to a side door that led outside and another door that led south. They continued south.
Treasure
Observation Deck
Three round windows in this room looked out over the southern view from Skull’s Crossing. Additional skull carvings decorated the walls, ceiling, and even the floor. In the middle of the north wall stood massive stone double doors, their smooth surfaces smeared with graffiti written in dried blood. Seeing the graffiti, Sais tried to summon Kassandra by saying “Kassandra, chop chop.” As soon as he finished speaking, Cereliona saw Kassandra’s spirit come out of the dagger but rather than move out on its own, it covered and seemed to soak into Sais’s body. After a moment’s Sais posture change and he looked a Cereliona. Cereliona could still see the spirit form of Kassandra on top of Sais as he spoke in Kassandra’s voice, “I am a lot more powerful now than I was, so you should remind him to show respect.” Sais’s body pointed to itself when she said “him”. As soon as she finished speaking, her spirit flowed back into the dagger and Sais was freed from her mental control. Sais told Kassandra he was sorry, then he asked her to read the graffiti for him. In a rude tone but with clear enunciated words, Kassandra read it out loud, “BELOW DWELLS WET PAPA GRAZUUL! ALL HAIL WET PAPA GRAZUUL!” Then she went silent. Sais then looked closely at the doors themselves, seeing that were heavy and their hinges were old and gritty Sais knew he was not strong enough to open these doors, so he decided to come to them later. However, as he was walking to the next door the name Grazuul rang a bell in his head. It sounded like a name that a Scrag troll would use so assuming there to be at least one behind the door, he shared what he knew about them with Cereliona. Most important being that Scrag trolls only have regeneration as long as they are in water and that they were hardly more intelligent than an animal. Sais then commented to Cereliona that the normal troll they just faced had low humanoid intelligence, so they would be at least a little smarter than any Scarg troll. With nothing left in this room, they moved onto a single door in the west wall.
Scrag troll
Storeroom
This room was nearly clogged with thick coils of the strange, vinelike fungal growths, which transformed the chamber into a miniature jungle that reeked of damp mold and rot. Not wanting to leave anything unsearched, Sais entered the room and search through all the fungus. He did not find anything, and his clothing and body became covered in gross fungoid slime. After he came out of the room, he called to Alaina to come and clean him up. When she arrived, she saw Sais slimy state and said, “ask nicely”. However, before Sais could do anything other than give her a dirty look she casted prestidigitation which cleaned up the rogue. Sais said “Thanks”, then he moved to the east wall and the other single door.
Collapsed room
The southeastern section of this ancient room has collapsed away, leaving a treacherous-looking gap in the wall overlooking the lake far below. The three then entered this room, but other than the amazing view of the storm falling on the Skull river and the hook mountain valley; there was nothing to interest them in hear so they head north east door. Through this one was another hallway, much like the one on the other side; except this one had a door the led to the east dam walk so they followed it and returned to the battlefield room. There they went to last room, using the east set of double doors.
Skulltaker’s Other Den
Inside this room they found another room with the green ropy fungus and 4 troll fungus beds. The three quickly searched this room but they did not find anything, so they gathered the rest of the group up and took them to only unopened door, which was in the Observation Deck.
Descending into Skulls Crossing
As everyone was move there, Sais filled everyone in on what he found, what happened with Kassandra on the Observation Deck, and that he thought a Scrag troll or two might be beyond these doors. Everyone took that in so they readied for a fight. Once all were ready, Skovald pulled out his adamantine Katana and with 2 might swings the doors came off the walls and fell to the ground. This revealed a set of stone stairs that led down 15 feet before it had a landing with a turnaround. The group kept their light handy as they started down the dark stairs. They went down a total of 10 flights of stairs, taking them 150 feet down into the dam, before anything changed. After the 10th turn around, they found a set of stairs that extended out 30 feet and 30 feet down, but the ceiling stayed at the same level it was at now, meaning that the room at the bottom had a 40 ft high ceiling. The group stopped on this landing, not sure what they might find at the bottom.
The Last thing that happened
After descending 150 feet into Skulls Crossing, the group had just reached the last flight of stairs and they readied to face what was next.
GM Favorite moment
When the group found out that Kassandra had tricked them by telling a partial lie. I love it when the players are surprised.
Experience
Each Player receives 3,200 experience points (Total: 121,630 [11th level]) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 39 (07/25/2018) {Skovald(Kane) missed session but still contains some pre-scripted Skovald actions}
Day 70 [continued] (Starday the 1st of Kuthona, Friday 12/01/2047)
The Observation Pool
Salt water?
At the landing before the 30-foot stairs everyone but Alaina smelled salt water. Sais, the pirate of the group, knew this smell and it was the smell of the ocean. Once this was pointed out to her, Alaina became confused. She asked everyone if the Storval Deep was fresh or salt water, and Cereliona confirmed that it was freshwater. Zheda then asked if the troll could be giving off the scent of salt water but Sais quickly informed her that Scrag Troll were not known for giving off the smell of salt water but that it could live in it. Furthermore, the rogue added that he knew this smell and it was not just any salt water it was the smell of the ocean. He had smelled it all his life and he was sure it was the real ocean. This gave everyone pause as they wondered why that smell was in here. Alaina then broke into everyone’s thought when she said, “Well we are not going to find out here, let’s go find out.” That simple phrase was all that was need, and with that they proceeded down the last flight of stairs that led to a set of double doors. As they moved Cereliona drew her Chakrum and Alaina checked over her spells, thankful that Shield was still active. Once everyone was ready, Sais moved up and quietly opened the door and peaked into the room. Inside he found a cold, damp room that featured a large pool in the floor, the edges of which were caked with pale yellow slime and fungus. The surface of the pool boar a similar film. Additional carvings of skulls decorated the walls here. To the south, an impressive mound of skulls; mostly from humanoids; lied heaped against the wall, where they partially blocked a large stone double door.
Troll in the water
In the middle of the pool of water, Sais saw the ears of a submerged Troll that was resting in the water. Then while still holding the door, Sais let each of the group members look into the room. After each of them had seen the hidden troll, they all rushed through the double door surprising it. The first to act was Alaina which surprised everyone, no one more so than Alaina. She started of by casting magic missile. The 5 invisible missiles flew into the waters and hit the troll. Sais then moved into to position next the monster. Shalelu fired an arrow from behind the advancing fighters but the water stopped her arrow before it could hit the troll. Xavian then moved farther down the stairs but he stop just shy of entering the room. Cereliona was next and she hit the troll with her Chakrum, but the water stole most of the power from her weapon. Barkenstien then moved into the room where he could get a good angle on the troll. Zheda activated her Acid hands before she used her new ring to strike the golem from a distance. The magically powered blow brought the acid from Zheda’s hand with it and hit the troll hard underwater, making a thunderous clap as it made contact. Sais stepped closer to the troll and through a smoke bomb in its eyes blinding it. He followed that up with 2 swings, the first missed but the second slash, cut right across the troll’s eyes, permanently blinding it (Natural 20). Shalelu was next and she shot three arrows this time and all found their target in the water. Xavian continued to watch from his location at the foot of the stairs. Cereliona then moved into the room and through her chakrum. Again, she hit and again the water stole most of the power from her weapon. The ranger then sent in Barkenstien. The dog stuck it head in the water and bit the troll which caused it to lean back so seeing the opening Barkenstien took his chance. A just the right moment the dog lunged for the troll’s throat ripping it out and killing the troll. And, thanks to the Acid from Zheda’s first hit the troll’s body did not regenerate. Impressed by the dog’s skill; Cereliona, Sais, and Zheda surrounded him and proceed to pet him, give him belly rubs, and to scratch him behind the ears; thanking him. The dog loved the attention so much that his tail was wagging so fast he looked like he was ready to start flying. After he was done with Barkenstien, Sais moved back over to the water and looked into the pool. He saw the trolls weapon on the bottom of the pool which was only 30 feet down, so he put on their new gloves of swimming and climbing and jumped in after it. Tasting the salt water as he swam, Sais made it to the bottom and back up with the weapon with easy. However, while in the water he noticed there were two tunnels about 10 feet under the water level; one that went east and one that went west. Once Sais got back to the surface, he moved over by Alaina and asked her to use her magic to dry him off. At first Alaina looked like she was jokingly not going to help him, but Sais looked ready to give her a wet bear hug, so she dried him off before he could act on that thought. Then using her new magical sight, she identified the large weapon. Other than the troll and its weapon there was nothing to interest the group in here, so they looked to the west doors.
Monsters
Flood Chamber Access
Once Sais got closer to the north west door, he could smell the ocean even stronger and it was a purer scent; the difference between the smell in the two rooms was like the difference between smelling the ocean while standing on the docks at Magnimar verses smelling the ocean from a ship at sea. Sais told the others this and then he peaked through the door. This narrow chamber contained a long, ten-foot-wide pool. Along the west wall was a mural depicting what looked like 2 storm gods, a man of the mountain and a woman of the sea. The entire room was sent 2 feet below the floor of the rest of the complex and this cavity was filled to the top with salt water. Standing in the north end of the pool was a tall creature that appeared to be made of wrinkled stone and coral, bits of plant life clinging to its creased body and claw-like hands. Seeing the coral creature Sais closed the door before it saw him. Sais then described the creature to the group and based of this description, Alaina identified it as a Coral golem. She then pointed out to the group that this type of golem could actually “heal” itself as long as it was in contact with a pool of salt water and that in addition to being immune to magic it would actually be “healed” by any water spells. It did not take the group long to figure out that the golem would “heal” as long as it was in the west room. However, before entering, Sais also described the mural to everyone which Zheda and Cereliona recognized as a depiction of the dual natures of Gozreh. The two added that Gozreh had a male and a female form so the male and female in the mural were both Gozreh, just different aspects. No one knew why that mural and golem were on the other side, but they knew thye needed to search this place so with everyone readied for a fight. Cereliona first looked at using Grazuul’s adamantine glaive but due to it large size she thought better of using it. Instead she pulled out her adamantine chakrum. Sais got his adamantine short sword ready as well. Zheda warned everyone that she would not be as effective against this type of creature because she could not stun it. Everyone understood so then with everyone prepared, Sais went to the door again and peeked in.
Coral Golem
Surprising a Golem
The golem still did not see him, so Sais opened the door and snuck in behind the creature. Once he was ready the group came rushing in to lay into the construct. First up was Zheda, she used the greed in her soul to turn her hands metallic and then she ran into the watery room where she could flank the monster with Sais. Alaina was next, and she yelled for the group to all move closer to together for her spell. Then she held her spell and waited on the group. Xavian held his location as well, ready to move when he needed to for Alaina’s spell. Cereliona then moved in as well but due to the water slowing her movements she was unable to move and attack the creature this time. Barkenstien followed his master and placed himself to the north where he had room to stand. Shalelu headed toward the south door to the west room. As Shalelu moved, Xavian saw the opening and moved with her to end closer to the group like Alaina had asked. Once Shalelu and Xavian were by the group, Alaina casted Haste on them all. Next was the golem and it did not hold back. It swung out with both of its claw like hands, one at Sais and one at Zheda. Both hit, and both tore at their flesh when it made contact, causing them both to bleed profusely. The golem the took one step south heading for deeper waters. As the creature moved, Sais and Zheda could also see some of the creature’s body reform and repair itself. Zheda step south with the creature, filled her hands with greed once again, and then she used the corset she just acquired from Tilla to allow herself to fall back into her dragon stance before she swung at the golem. Zheda hit and this time she took a large chuck out of the creature’s side; but as she did her blood flowed from the wound she suffered from this monster earlier which weakened her (6 bleed damage). Alaina then flew south and opened the door for Shalelu, so the ranger could run in and start shooting right away. Sais mimicked Zheda’s movements and followed the creature to the south. And just like Zheda when he moved blood flowed from his wound (6 Bleed Damage). Once he was in position and flanking with Zheda again, he tried to blind the monster but it’s magical eyes resisted the flash bomb. He followed that up with 3 swings, the last one thanks to Alaina’s haste; but only one landed and it was his non-adamantium weapon, so it did little damage. Xavian moved into the watery room and headed to the north area where he would be out of everyone’s way then he channeled to heal. The wave of healing energy closed up Sais and Zheda’s wounds so that the two no longer had to worry about blood loss. Cereliona followed Xavian into the room were she through her adamantine chakrum at the monster. The weapon hit, crumbling of a good portion of the creature’s coral body but after hitting the golem, the weapon fell to into the water. Cereliona then sent Barkenstien in but in order to get close enough to bite the golem, the large dog was forced to stand on the medium sized walk way which made him unsteady (squeezing), but the dog was still able to break off a very small piece of coral (1hp) with its bit. Shalelu then ran in the open south door but as she did she tripped, so her arrow shot went wild.
Skovald commands a golem and the group
At this point, the Viking in the group yelled for all to hear. He commanded the golem to stop fighting and for the group to leave the area immediately. At Skovald’s command the golem stopped fighting and stood in the water; but as it stood there more of its body reformed. Seeing that the creature did not attack; Zheda left through the north door, Alaina flew out of the room, Sais ran around the outside of the room to get out the north door, Xavian followed him out that door, and they had Cereliona just behind them who call Barkenstien to follow. As they left, Skovald closed the door behind them. Shalelu saw everyone leave so she exited through the south door which she closed behind her. Skovald was then alone with the Golem. Sais and Cereliona were curious what he was doing so they moved up and listened at the north door. Inside they heard Skovald praying to Gozreh. After about a minute of this, Skovald came back to the north door, opened it up, and let everyone in. He then explained that this golem was placed her to protect this temple to his god, Gozreh. He found out through prayer that it was left her and commanded to slay all those who enter that are not displaying Gozreh’s symbol and the he[Skovald] as a follower of Gozreh could command this creature. As Skovald was explaining this all to the group, everyone notice that the golem had already “healed” over half the damage from it’s fight with the group. The group like the idea of having their own golem, but Zheda brought up that if they let it come along; stealth would be dead. The monk then asked if the creature could leave the salt water. Alaina explained that yes it could but as long as it was out of the salt water it would not “heal” damage. Alaina also added that if needed she could use a few water spells to heal it while it was out of the salt water. However, at this point Sais jumped into the conversation. He wanted to be stealthy, so he asked if they could leave it here for now and call it if they needed it. Everyone agreed with him so the golem was left in this room and they went back into the Observation Pool room so they could try the east door.
Monster
Group Ally
Floodgate Controls
Moving up to the east door this time, Sais stopped and listened to see if he could hear anything else on the other side. Zheda and Cereliona joined him and the only thing that they could heard through the door was the sound of flowing water and nothing else, so Sais opened the door. A pool of water sat against the wall to the west of this chamber, with a set of steps that led down into it along the pool’s eastern side. Opposite the steps was an alcove in which rose a fantastically detailed scale model of Skull’s Crossing. However, everyone’s attention was directed to the creature that stood directly in front of them. It was a giant headless scorpion-like thing of blackened bone and chitin. A long, grisly tail composed of dozens of chattering skulls arched up over its back. Some of the skulls were ancient and bleached white, while others were recent trophies still shrouded in rotting cheeks, their jellied eyes rolling madly in their sockets. A curved bony tip protrudes from the last skull of its tail, its deadly point smeared with poison. Seeing this creature’s Dreadful Visage was horrifying and filled those that could see it with fear. Cereliona fought of the fear and headed south so she could get in behind the creature. Thanks to the many drinks she had already had, the monk was too drunk to be affected by fear (Drunken Master: Drunken Courage) so she used her step ability to move herself behind the monster. Sais however was not as lucky as the other two. The creature’s Dread Visage frightened him, causing the rogue to run back to the Flood Chamber Access and the safety of their coral golem. After the initial shock of seeing this creature, the group moved in to attack. Cereliona again acted first. As she reached the south door, she opened it up and sent Barkenstien in. The dog moved into the room, but it was not able to reach the monster yet. All by herself, Zheda first activated her elemental fury then she laid into the monster landing 4 punches. The power of her punches was reduced considerably by the creature’s tough body, but the power of her acid helped to almost make up for this lost damage. Alaina then flew in the south door and saw the monster for the first time which after resisting its visage, allowed her to identify the monster. She let everyone know about the construct, most important being that if it pins someone it will try to cut off their head. She then casted an electric sphere and placed on the creature. The creature tried and failed to resist the magic so the electric of the spell burned its body. In the west room, Sais got over his fear and ran back to face the monster. As he got close, the monster reached out with one of its pincers, snatched up the rogue, and squeezed him. Then the creature improved its grip on Sais pinning him. Worried about the rogue, Shalelu then fired 3 arrows through the open door, hitting the golem 3 times but the creature’s body resisted all of the damage. Xavian then moved to the center of everything and channeled energy. Continuing the battle, Cereliona ran to the west room and had Skovald command the golem to fight the other one. While she did this, Barkenstien did as he had been commanded and ran up on the monster. Again, he was forced to stand on a small ledge, so he was a little off balance. As a result, he only hit with his bite once and the creature had far too many legs for Barkenstien to trip. Next, Zheda tried to end the golem before it could take Sais’s head, so she put all the greed she had into her hands and feet, and then she successfully kicked the monster twice both knocking of large chunks of the constructs body, but it did not stop the monster. In another attempt to help Sais, Alaina then moved in close to cast a spell but the Skullripper reached up, plucked her out of the air and squeezed her in its pincher. As result of the construct’s grip on her Alaina lost her spell (GM note: Failed Grappled Concentration check). Sais used all the strength and skill he had to try and free himself, seeing this Xavian said a quick prayer to Irori (immediate action) which called down divine help for Sais (Liberating command spell). Thanks to the help Xavian gave him, Sais was able to free himself from the pin, but he did not get free just yet. Thinking strategically Sais grabbed his Cayden mug and with a quick toast he teleported out of the construct’s grip to land safely behind Xavian. Once Sais appeared he saw the Skull ripper closed the north door in front of him, leaving Zheda, Barkenstien, Shalelu and Alaina in the room with it. It then dropped the mage and laid into Zheda and while its pincher managed to slash the monk, Zheda was able to keep it from getting a grip on her. Shalelu then fired 3 more arrows at the construct and while its body resisted most of the damage, this time a little got through. Xavian then channeled to heal the group again. At this time the Coral Golem responded to the command it was given, by getting out of the pool of water and moving toward the east room, but it only got half way there at this point. Cereliona then moved into the middle room as well, were she whistled to call Barkenstien back and out of the Coral Golem’s way. Zheda kept up her greed and punches landing 3 hits. On the third punch, the golem’s body finally gave out and it fell to the ground where it came apart. After she finished off the construct, the monk immediately took several large shots of booze to come down from the fight. As she did this, Alaina’s permanent spell allowed her to see as the magical energy of the construct flowed toward and then into the Skull’s crossing model on the east side of the room. Seeing where the energy went, Alaina also noticed that the model was a very powerful magical item.
Skull Ripper
Monster
Model
As she got closer Alaina noticed that the five skulls along the model’s face seemed to be actual human skulls with the bone polished to a gleaming sheen. Cereliona moved up to join her, using Shelyn’s gift as she did. However, before they could fully examine the model they noticed at a line of magical energy was connecting the model to something in Alaina’s pocket. When she looked, she found that the Scavenger’s stone and the model had magically linked together. The model was not draining power from the stone and nor was the stone draining power from the model, the two items seemed to be resonating. Seeing the Scavenger’s stone with her magic eyes, Alaina could tell that the model would actually restore charges to this item if it was placed on top of the model. Also, that this Scavenger’s stone would be able to repair the dam itself as if the entire structure was a construct. Alaina and Cereliona then worked as a team to examine the model and it took both of them to figure out its powers (Gm Note: Roll 7, + 26 skill, +2 aid another = 35, DC was 35). They deduced that the device was used to control the dam’s floodgates, and that the source of its power had seemed to have waned to the point where the device no longer functioned. However, they did not find the power source in this room, so the group moved about the area, searching for it. Sais went over to the Skull Ripper and took the time to harvest a few doses of poison out of the monster’s stinger before it dried up. Zheda moved back to the main pool room and started to clear away the skulls from the south double doors. Shortly after she started Cereliona joined her and the two of them cleared all the skulls in about 5 minutes. Zheda drank as she worked, but she did not show any signs of getting drunk no mater how much she drank (GM Note: Zheda filled her Drunken Ki pool to its maximum).
Treasure
The Infernal Engines
After Sais was done collecting his poison, he moved into the pool room were the southern double doors had just been cleared. The rogue moved right up to the doors and checked them out. They were not trapped or locked but the doors were stuck a little with dirt. Sais then took his time, so he could quietly and slowly open the doors a crack, allowing him to see inside side. This narrow chamber ended at two curved alcoves, one to the east and one to the west. Each alcove was enclosed by a dull iron portcullis. A winch next to each provided a way to raise or lower the gates. Beyond each portcullis was a circle of runes that glowed with a faint orange light on the floor. Inside the circle to the west was a pile of crimson ash, while inside the circle to the east was curled what appeared to be a long-dead devil, its flesh taut and dry on its bones. Seeing the room was free of enemies Sais opened the door and let everyone in. Alaina and Cereliona were the first in the room, but the rest of the group was right behind them. When Alaina and Cereliona saw the devil the two discussed what they knew about the planes and determined that the Devil on the eastern side was the body of a pit fiend. They shared what they new of it’s abilities, most important to them was that it was a Lawful Evil being. They also added that they would not believe it was dead until they were able to check the body themselves. The two then moved up to the east side to look at the “dead” devil and the group all followed. As they approached they could see the 2 sets of magical circles in the cage. A bottom circle of runes that worked as a binding to trap this devil and only this devil within it and a top circle that could be used to perform a life draining ritual on whoever was under it.
Pit Fiend
Avaxial
Alaina and Cereliona were standing closes to the portcullis so they saw as the devil stirred free from his torpor and then feebly reached out one clawed had toward Alaina. His body was feeble and he was barely able to move so it took him a few seconds just to raise his arm. Then while breathing heavy as if every breath took the same effect as lifting 1000 lb., the devil spoke, “Alaina and the Ranger, you have finally come to free me.” Alaina did not seem shocked by this, instead she leaned closer to the bars and said, “What is your name?” “Avaxial”, the devil responded. Then with a tone of superiority Alaina asked, “you seem to be bonded very well here, did the Thassilonians do this to you?” The devil took several deep breaths and then it responded, “I know nothing of the Thassilonians. I was conjured into this trap from Hell itself by a wizard named, Karzoug.” Sais then joined the conversation and asked how the demon knew Alaina and Cereliona. It took the devil several minutes as he had to stop to catch his breath several times, but he explained that when he was summoned here he had in his possession a scroll of Divination. The Thassilonians did not think anything of Divination magic so they let him keep it. He used it to find out when he would be freed, and it told him that one day far in the future: Alaina, Cereliona, Sais, Skovald and Zheda would come and release him. Looking at the demon as he talked Cereliona noticed that much of this being’s life force had been drained away, much like what happened to them when Kassandra was reforged. Alaina’s superior magical knowledge told her that he was almost dead (19 permanent negative levels on a 20 HD monster). Next at the same time, Zheda and Sais both tried to ask it a question. Sais wanted to know why they would free it and Zheda wanted to know how to free it. Sais turned to Zheda before the devil could answer and said, “The why is more important.” “But how is also important, because we need to know what will have to do to free it before we can decide what to do.”, Zheda responded. Avaxial answered Sais first. “If you free me, then I will help you one day in the future. 1000s of miles from here, in the future when you are much more than you are now, you will face an enemy that more than you are prepared to handle and that you cannot stomach to fight. When that happens, I will return to you and I will repay the debt I acquire now. I cannot tell you when this will happen or which of you will be there, but I have foreseen the battle and you will need my help.” That speech seemed to take a lot out of the devil, it took him a minute to catch his breath before he answered Zheda’s question. “You can either dispel the magic that traps me here or you can destroy the stones of the circle, either will free me. I will then immediately return to hell and start my long process of recovery. When I am healed and restored I will then return to you and repay my debt. Then I will be allowed to return to hell and I will be free of any obligation to you.” Seeing all the effort it took for the devil to talk, surprised Zheda so she asked him how long he had been here. He responded, “I have been trapped in these circles for over 10,000 years. During that time, I have been connected to the dam through the infernal engines that power the flood gates. Even now I can feel the circle tugging on the last shards of my spirit. I have felt it for days now, if not weeks.” It then took 2 deep breaths before it said in a forceful and forced tone, “Free me.”
Fighting over a demon
Zheda looked at the devil and she listen to him speak, but the torment and imprisonment of this creature was too much for this follower of Cayden. She could not take it and she had to act. Without talking or telling the group her intentions, she moved to grab the lever to raise the portcullis. Sais and Cereliona saw her reach for it, and the two had very different reactions to it. Cereliona attempted to grab Zheda and hold her back but the monk was too fast and dodged out of the way. Sais on the other hand, pulled out his Cayden mug and said, “Good luck, I am not getting involved in this” before he took a drink. Zheda was therefore able to pull the lever and raise the portcullis. Cereliona then reached to flip the lever and lower the portcullis back down, as she did Zheda caught her off guard and punched her on the side of the head. She did not do any real damage (non-lethal) but she did try to stun the ranger. Cereliona was able to resist the power of her hit so she got the portcullis back down. Next the ranger called in Barkenstien but as the large dog entered the room, it had to squeeze by the rest of the group. Zheda used this momentary distraction to trip the dog. Sais continued to drink but he reached down petted Barkenstien as he laid on the floor. Zheda then monk stepped into the far section beyond the portcullis. Alaina who had been watching this whole time, then decided to step in. She dimensional doored beyond the portcullis as well and then she looked Zheda in the eyes and said, “Stop or I will stop you!” Once her beloved companion had been affected by this fight, Cereliona realized that to her this was not that important, so she moved over to check on Barkenstien and she said, “Fine, do what you want” as she moved. Sais moved out of Cereliona’s way and let the ranger check the dog over. Zheda then looked Alaina in the eyes and said, “Then stop me” She then raised her fist high and started to bring it down on the stone. As she moved, Alaina casted Charm Person in an attempt to calm the monk, but due to the battle frenzy in her soul right now (Alaina Threaten Zheda so Zheda gained +5 to the save), she was able to fight of the spell. The monk’s blow was not stopped by Alaina’s spell, but it was by the stone. As the monk’s fist hit the stone, it made a loud thud; but the stone remained unharmed. (GM note: magical hardened stone; Hardness 26; HP 120; Break DC 40). When Zheda failed to damage the stone, Alaina whispered under her breath, “Thank you Thassilonians for making your stuff to last.” Alaina then tried to reason with the monk, “Stop, we can let him go after we ask a few more questions.” This comment calmed Zheda, she then made it clear that as long as the devil was released soon she would let them question him more. Alaina agreed and Zheda made sure to read all the sorceress’s facial expressions to make sure she was not lying, and after doing this the monk felt she could trust Alaina so she stopped her attack on the stones. Alaina then kneeled down to the devil and asked, “How can you be sure that you have a realm to return to?” He took one breath and said, “I am a Duke of Hell.” Alaina knew of the Dukes of hell and she shared what she knew with the group. She explained that the Dukes of hell were the most powerful of all pit fiends and lords in their own right. These Devils were of the elite caste of infernal politics and leadership. While not all of the Dukes of Hell were pit fiends, the majority of them were and in all cases, they have unusual abilities, additional spell-like abilities, and/or unique powers over and above those of other pit fiends. She also added that she knew that Avaxial would have a home to return to. Zheda also added that devils believe in law and order (Lawful), so she believed that other devils would not have stolen from Avaxial’s realm while he has been trapped here. Learning all this, combined with all the Alcohol he had drank recently Sais said, “O He is so powerful.” As he said this the rest of the group gave him a look that said, “Don’t antagonize a Duke of Hell.” Moving away from her original line of questioning, Alaina ask Avaxial how the dam worked. “These two magic circles are powerful life draining magical circles that use that life force as a power source for Skull’s Crossing’s floodgates. Whenever the floodgates need to be open, the magic circles drain life energy from whoever is inside them, and it uses that power to run immense gears hidden deep within the dam that governed the use of the floodgates. There was originally two of us that Karzoug captured. But, over 50 years ago when the last powerful storm wracked this region and triggered the dam’s flood controls active. This drained the last of his life force from my partner and his body crumbled into the crimson ash now in the west circle.” This was a lot for the devil to say and he almost past out from exhaustion before he finished. Alaina then asked if any “body” would work and Avaxial told her that any living being would work (Construct, undead, and any other creature that is not alive will not work). Alaina then wanted to know how bad the damage to the dam was. Avaxial told them that the force of the water would bring the dam down in a few days. However, with the damage it had now, he did not believe it would take that long. Sais then joined the conversation and ask for clarification on how the dam worked. He explained that the way he understood it that as soon as one living being stood in each circle then the dam would awaken. The two in the circles would have their life drained. Then the flood gates would open all on their own and release the water pressure. And once the water level returned to normal, the gates would close automatically. Avaxial confirmed Sais was correct.
Freeing a Demon
After this last set of questions, Zheda asked if everyone was done. No one had anymore questions for the devil so Zheda asked Alaina to release him now. Alaina then looked at the powerful magical circle (CL 20) and she asked for help in dispelling it. Xavian stepped up and said he would help (Aid Another: +2 to Caster level check to dispel). The two then worked together to try and remove the magic and as they did, all three of the charms disappeared from Alaina’s necklace as they enhanced the spell, but it was not enough to remove the magic. Alaina then asked them to wait and she went back into the dam. There she got the eyes from the Skull Ripper, Grazuul’s eyes and tongue, as well as a set of eyes and a tongue from one of the trolls up top; and sacrificed them to Pazuzu. This gave her 3 more charms which is what she wanted so she then returned to the infernal engines. While she was gone, Zheda had gotten out her Adamantine knuckles, just in case Alaina failed again and she needed them. Watching all this transpire, Cereliona wondered what would happened to Avaxial realm if he died, but she remembered reading somewhere that when a pit fiend dies, his realm crumbles and the space is then taken over by other denizens of hell. By this time Alaina had returned so she moved up next to Xavian to try again. The two then put all they had into their spells and just barely managed to disrupt the magic of the circle (13+11+6+2 = 32 vs 31). As the magic circle weakened, Avaxial quickly said, “I will repay my debt” and then he used his spell-like ability of greater Teleport and vanished. The circle only stayed dispelled for a few moments but by the time it was functional again, Avaxial was gone and free. After he was gone, Zheda said, “Now the people of Turtleback Ferry can have a dam that is no longer powered by the imprisonment of a being.” No one else wanted commented on what happened and what Zheda just said.
Treasure
Opening the Floodgates
Moving on with their mission, everyone then tried to figure a good way to power the dam. Alaina said she had an idea but that she needed to do some more for Pazuzu to do it, so she would be right back. Alaina then went back to the top of the dam and use the 3 trolls there to give her 3 more charms. When she returned, she used her Pazuzu holy symbol to summon several small Air Elementals. Alaina then commanded them to enter the circle, apologizing as she did. Once both air elementals were in the circles, the dam activated which drained life force from them. As the power was drained the floodgates in the dam grinded open, releasing waters from the Storval Deep in a constrained torrent into the valley below. The sound of rushing water could now be heard in the dam. Hearing this the group knew that back at Turtleback Ferry, the waters would rise again; but this time the rise would be more controlled and less destructive. The air elementals did not die in the circle (Small Air Elementals have 2 HD). Alaina then apologized to the air elementals again before she dismissed them all.
Making amends
With Avaxial now freed and the peril of the storms averted, Zheda looked to make amends with her friends. First, she went to Cereliona and asked if she had hurt her or Barkenstien. But Cereliona confirmed that as the monk had intended, neither was hurt other than their pride. Cereliona told her that since no one was hurt then no harm was done to their friendship. Zheda thanked Cereliona for understanding and told her that hearing about that pit fiend’s long imprisonment, she just lost her cool. Cereliona then told Zheda she still felt that letting the devil go was a mistake because that fiend had done a lot of bad and hurt a lot of people in the past. Also, that it will do more in the future and that was now on them. Zheda just said that no one should be imprisoned liked that, it was against everything in her. At this moment, Sais drunken joined them. He came up from behind and put his arms around both women. Then simultaneously Zheda jab him in the ribs and Cereliona slapped him on the back of the head. This made them all laugh a little. Sais took both hits in stride as he told them he was happy they were all still friends, because in the last few battles all he had done was get grappled. Cereliona then quickly added, “That is because you are so cuddly”, which caused the whole group to laugh.
Returning to the East caves
With friendships mended, they now decided what to do next. They remembered the side west cave at the top, so they decided to head that way and they decided to bring the golem along. They took the stairs back up and headed back out into the heavy rain, but thankfully the hail had stopped. But when they reached the edge of the dam, they learned that the coral golem could not leave the dam. They decided to make it the dams protector. Skovald and the group then commanded the golem to guard the dam but to let anyone from Turtleback Ferry to have unrestricted access to the dam. Also, that the golem was to use the Scavenger’s stone on the model to repair the dam. With its order given, the construct headed back into the dam to get the stone and start its work. The group then looked at the caves and readied to enter them.
Weather
Group Ally
The Last thing that happened
The group had just reached the entrance to the western cave.
GM Favorite moment
The entire discussion with Avaxial. Everyone played well in character and did what they felt was necessary.
Experience
Each Player received 7360 experience points (Total: 128,990 [11th level]) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 40 (08/01/2018) [Skovald(Kane) miss ½ session, Player made it to this half] part 1 of 2
Day 70 [continued] (Starday the 1st of Kuthona, Saturday 12/01/2047)
Entering the Western Cave
On top of the dam the rain continued but the hail had stopped. With Sais leading the way, the group approached the entrance to the western cave. When they got closer, Sais drew his weapons and peaked inside.
Weather
The upper passage
Inside, the cave was 15 feet tall and it had a set of stone stairs that descended into the cave. Sais’s keen eye for traps noticed that most of the stone stairs were crumbling and as a result all of them were covered in loose stone pebbles which he knew would make a lot noise as they were walked on (-8 Stealth). Wanting to make as little noise as possible, Sais tied a rope to one of the rocks at the top which of the cave; gave him better and more fine control as he descended into the caves (+5 climb, ½ stealth Penalty[-4]). Using this technique, he was able to quietly and quickly make his way down the stairs. At the bottom he saw no immediate danger, so he waited for the others to follow him. Cereliona used the same trick as Sais but she made sure to stay at least 20 feet behind the rogue. Alaina entered the cave and started to fly down it. Once these two were out of sight, Zheda took 2 shots for strength (Drunken Ki) and then she stepped down to join the rogue. As Alaina was flying past Cereliona, Alaina talked to the ranger about the elegance of her bloodline power of flight and how it makes things easer and faster. However, when the 2 reached the bottom they found Zheda already standing next to Sais. Hearing the last part of Alaina’s comments to Cereliona, Zheda jokingly asked the flying sorceress, “What took you so long?” This question deflated Alaina a little and she went quiet; but she was clearly not offended, maybe a little embarrassed. Staying a good distance back, Xavian and Shalelu followed behind the heroes.
Gorger and Chaw’s Lair
This forty-foot-high cave was filled with a stomach-turning stink that came from the dozens of mostly eaten firepelts, deer, and even a few humans heaped along the North east corner. A brisk breeze whistled in from the north, but it did little to dissipate the smell here. The wind continued south with the cave. On the west side of this area, next to the pile of dead bodies was a dried moss bed and inside it, Alaina and Cereliona could see a bag with the glow of magic items coming from within it and they shared this with the group. Sais then moved up and check the area for traps. Finding none, he took the bag and gave it to Alaina; telling her that they should wait and check it over after they clear the area. Alaina reluctantly agreed with an, “OK”. Next Sais moved up and looked over the human remains to see if he could identify the bodies. Unfortunately, they had been skinned removing any chance of identify the bodies, but he did notice something odd. The humans on top had been barbecued with sauce and spices over a slow roasting fire and that they smelled exactly like the barbecue humans that the ogre’s were cooking when the group took back Fort Rannick. However, everything else in the pile was just dead animals, no humanoids, and those animals had been mostly eaten raw. Then any left overs were thrown on this pile to eat later and/or to decompose. As Sais explained what he found to everyone; Cereliona darkly commented out loud, “Humans are a delicacie to them[Giants].” Zheda then asked, why were the humans cook when nothing else was, but other than Cereliona’s comment, no one had any idea why the human bodies were treated differently. Next, they moved to southern part of this cave.
Entrance cave
Following the cave, Sais headed south. Here he saw a lot of large tracks in the dirt and to the east he noticed a fifteen-foot-high ledge that provided access to a passageway leading out. Once he saw it was clear he called everyone up. Cereliona immediately went to work reading the tracks. She found a lot of Ettin tracks, many of them very old. On top of that there was a fresh set of ogre tracks, showing that recently about 2 dozen ogres had come through here. After hearing all this, Zheda asked if ettins and ogres commonly worked together. Cereliona informed her that they were not known allies or friends but at the same time they were not known enemies either, so it could have been possible that they were allies but there was no way of telling. She also added that the ettin was a member of the troll tribe, so it may have also be possible that the ettin and trolls were in charge of the ogres. And that the ettin was the point of contact between the two. With no way to answer their questions and curiosities, they moved on.
Ettin’s Doorstep
Sais headed to the only exit out of this cave and when he reached the eastern ledge, he again noticed that the ledge was crumbly and covered in loose stone pebbles. He then set up a rope like before, so he could climb down it quietly. This time the group watched as Sais started to climb down the ledge but just as he started he slipped and fell backward over the ledge. The group saw him disappear behind the ledge, but they did not hear him land. Panicked by this Zheda step to the bottom of the ledge to check on her friend. There she found Sais fine, and she saw that he had landed on all fours so that he made no noise on impact. (GM note: Nuffle [Great God of dice] had fun here Sais rolls: Climb Natural 1 (14) that failed check dc 15 check, Stealth 41 passed check). Zheda was little a little impressed by this and told the rogue so. The two the moved to the end of this passage. The 40-foot ceiling dropped down to only 15 feet tall by the time they reached the end. Here the cave opened up to show the outside. They saw that the heavy rain was falling down on a seven-foot-wide winding stairway of stone that descended the cliff face here, dropping nearly two hundred feet before ending at the west side path. Hundreds of stakes lined the edges of the stairway, many of them decorated with skulls; some animal, some humanoid; but all marked with a strange skull-shaped rune on the brow that was the marker of the Skulltaker tribe. Having explored the entire area and finding no threats, Sais said out loud, “Well that was anticlimactic, I did all that stealthing for nothing.” He then turned around and with Zheda by his side, they rejoined the group. Once everyone was together, Alaina opened the bag and was shocked by the treasure she found inside. There were 6 small crystals, 2 strange looking items made of glass and spun metal, a scroll tube, and a very small leather box. Also, the bag had diamond dust just dumbed on top of everything, making it all glitter. Cereliona then appraised the treasure while Alaina identified the magical items. The group then quickly divided up their loot and prepared to make their way south. As they readied, they discussed continuing their original mission to White Willow to look for Lamatar Bayden, the commander of the Black Arrows. But they also wanted to fill Turtleback Ferry about everything in all they learned about the dam so they decided to head there first, because it was on the way.
Treasure
Returning to Turtleback Ferry
As they left the caves, they returned to rain and the storm. Following alongside the Skull river, they took the road south. The rain continued and the river next to them was filled to capacity by the open floodgates. As they travelled the rain lessened a little, but it did not stop. After a few hours, they reached the bridge to cross Skull river. Here they noticed that the water level of the river was just a foot or so under the bridge. It was just low enough so that the bridge was in no danger from the high water, but just barely. After crossing they followed the last few miles till they reached Turtleback ferry.
Weather
Turtleback Ferry after the flood
As the group approached they could see that the town was cleaning up after the flood. Since it was just yesterday, they had not made a lot of progress, but the community was working together to restore their town. They noticed that most of the town’s folks were in the church, so they headed there. They got to the church, dismounted, and entered before Maelin noticed them. Once he did, he walked up and immediately thanked them for fixing the dam.
Something you should know
As soon as Maelin greeted them, Zheda said, “There is something you should know about the dam.” Maelin then gave them his full attention. Everyone was a little wary about telling him how the dam worked. Cereliona was the first one to speak, but Alaina quickly joined the conversation as well. The two tried to gently tell the mayor about the empty magic circles inside the dam. They started by telling him that the power source for the dam was gone. They explained that it was powered by 2 pit fiends, but now one was dead, and the other had fled so new people would be required to power the dam. However, because they did not use phrases like, “The dam drains the life force out of two human sacrifices and used]s that energy to power the dam”; they stumbled over their words, instead they used phrases like, “to power the dam, it will need a couple people to let it exhausted them.” This resulted in Maelin not understanding the situation, he thought they meant that people would have to go up and work the dam until they were tired until it open the gates. At this point Zheda jumped in and said, “The dam drains the life force of 2 volunteers to power the dam.” Cereliona quickly added to this, “and the volunteers may or may not recover from it.” This was what was needed and now Maelin understood. He told them that the people of Turtleback Ferry were proud and tough frontier people, so they should be able to handle this news. Also, he believed that since the dam’s flood gates don’t need to be used very often, hopefully it will not be needed until the next generation, and they may have a better solution. At this point a thought popped into Cereliona’s mind and she realized that there was a simple solution, she told Maelin that they should use cattle or animals instead of people. The power of the dam might kill the animals, but 2 cows should have enough energy to power the dam’s floodgates. Maelin liked that idea and thanked her for it. The group then quickly explained about the dam’s Corel golem protector, the stone, and what commands they had given the golem. Maelin thanked them for this as well. Then since the group was done, he excused himself, so he could fill in the other important members of town with all they had shared with him. As he did this, Irontooth came up to Alaina and asked if he could talk to her alone. Alaina agreed and the two then separated from the group and headed toward a side room in the church.
Resting and helping around town
After Maelin left and while Alaina was with Irontooth, the group decided to rest their horses in town for a while. Once they had finished getting horses stabled, feed, and watered; Alaina rejoined the group. They all then headed into town to see how they could help. For the most part they were put to work removing logs and other debris from the town and its buildings. As they worked the group talked and since they knew that if they stayed in Turtleback Ferry that they would be sleeping in the church with most of the town since the turtle’s parlor was still being cleaned out. They decided that they should make their way to Bitter hollow today and camp there for the night. Cereliona pointed out that it would be better than the cramp church or sleeping in a tent in the wilderness during the beginning of winter. Everyone agreed so after about an hour, the group felt it would be best for them to get moving. They found Maelin and let him know of their plans before they readied to leave. As they were saddling up, the group Xavain 2 “gifts”. First, they gave him all the diamond dust they had found in the ettin’s cave for his powerful healing spells, but they also gave him the phylactery of positive channeling. Xavian thanked them profusely for the items so the group told him that he had earned it which caused the dwarf to smile. With the gifts given, the group was ready to go and Maelin walked with them to the edge of the town so he could wish them luck as they left.
Bitter hollow
The view from Willow River
The group headed toward Bitter Hollow by making their way along the willow river. As they rode through the rain, everyone but Skovald noticed the clear view they had of the storm sitting on top of the Hook Mountains. Due to all her time outdoors lately, Cereliona’s nature skills had returned and she noticed two things something very unnatural about the storm. First it did not move, the clouds just stayed sitting on top of the mountain in different to the wind blowing around them. Also, she knew that at this time of the year rain should be turning into snow rather than staying rain. She shared this with the group, but no one knew what it meant so they decided to look into it later. They continued to watch the storm for the full 3 hours of the trip, but soon enough Bitter hollow came into view.
Weather
Gator’s Nest
Bitter Hollow was a filthy, remote thorp of about 50 hunters and trappers; and their families. A single trading post sat in the center of this settlement, with a sign out front that proclaimed it “The Gator’s Nest”. At seeing the sign, Cereliona said that she did not like the sound of that place, so she would wait outside and a few of the others agreed with her. Sais was less concerned with the name, so he went in alone. Inside he found a warm but small trading post. Behind a counter was a hunter. As Sais entered the hunter, introduced herself as Coraga Stalkingwolf and she ask what she could do for him. Sais asked about lodging and Coraga explained that she did not have rooms but that anyone was welcome to camp near the trading post. Sais then asked what she had for sell in here. Coraga looked around to make sure Sais was alone. Once she confirmed this, she pulled out a bag from behind the counter. Coraga said that she dealt with the gnomes of the Sanos forest, so she had a few unique items for sale (Rogue Talent: Blackmarket connections). She pulled out a pair of boots and 3 feather tokens. Sais was without his spell casters, so he asked her what each item was. Coraga explained that the boots would protect the wearer from the cold of the winter (Boots of the Winterland) and that each of the 3 tokens were one time use items. She then held them up for the rogue to see as she described each one. The first was a bird token and it would create a small messenger bird for the user which would deliver a message anywhere. The second was a campsite token and it would make a campsite including tents and firewood for 6 people. And the final was a swan boat token which would create a magical boat that could hold up to 32 people at once and would last for 1 day. Sais listened carefully to her description of the items and he selected the Campfire token and purchased it. Sais then told her that he would check to see what her friends wanted and send them in if they were interested, Coraga thanked him for the purchase and for the possibility of another sale. Sais then left the Gator’s nest and rejoined the group who were waiting outside. Once he told everyone of the items that were for sale, Cereliona talked about how they already had 2 messenger ravens, so they should not need the bird token, but she decided that she wanted the boat token for herself, so she headed into buy it with her own money. Zheda asked about the boots because she thought about how the weather had recently turned colder so they might need them, but Sais pointed out it was only good for one person. Zheda accepted that but she still thought it would be a good idea, at least a first. However, after a minute or so of them debating the purchase, Zheda picked up that these items were coming from another of Sais’s black-market connections. Once she realized that she no longer wanted the boots and was completely done shopping. Sais knew she did not like his black-market world, so he was not surprised by this. Just as they were finishing up, Cereliona came back out with her purchase and joined them.
Treasure
Sleeping
Looking around at the tents in rain around them, Cereliona commented to the group, “I was wrong Bitter hollow is not better than sleeping in a tent in the rain, it is the same thing.” Zheda responded to this by pointing out that the location and the people at least made this spot safer for them. Alaina said, “I don’t know what you are all worrying about.” and then she casted rope trick and climbed up the rope. Everyone realized she was right and they should have known better, then most of the group follower her up the rope. However, Shalelu said she wanted to sleep outside. She then moved to the edge of the settlement and found a tree that would protect her from the rain. There she sat with her back to the tree and readied to sleep. Zheda also stayed out of the rope trick, she decided to keep the elf company and set up a tent next to her. Shalelu welcomed the company but she did not talk much. The group was able to get a good night’s sleep while at Bitter Hollow, even though the rain did not lessen all night and it continued into the morning.
Weather
Day 71 (Sunday the 2nd of Kuthona, Sunday 12/02/2047)
Crossing the swamp
The next morning, the first thing Cereliona did was check on the storm over the Hook Mountains, and she was not surprised to find that it still had not moved and was still unnaturally raining. This worried her a little but with little she could do about it now, she put it out of her mind and focused instead on today’s tasks. After everyone got up and did their morning routine, the group discussed how they would make their way to White Willow from here. They decided to leave their horses here at Bitter Hollow and travel on foot across the Wicker Walk. Once they got far enough into the swamp, they would get on a boat and ride the rest of the way to White Willow. So, after they finished breakfast they headed out onto the bridge and into the rain.
Weather
Wicker walk
This 3-mile-long boardwalk was hung regularly with long-burning pitch lanterns, and its often-creaking boards offered a mud free path into the Shimmerglens. The rain continued the entire journey and after traveling on the wicker walk for about 2 miles they found a good spot to set up the boat. At this point Cereliona joked that it was a good thing she bought a boat. Then she pulls out her recently acquired boat feather token, broke on half to active it and the through it into the water. The magic of the item created a large swan boat for them all to climb into. They filled the boat to capacity, but everyone fit. Sais then said that he had skill with a boat (Ranks in Profession[Sailor]), so he would pilot it and no one disagreed with him.
Weather
Enter the Shimmerglens
The Shimmerglens themselves quickly grew tangled and densely packed once they traveled out of sight of the Wicker Walk. Their boat made it easy to get around and to navigating the narrow channels of water. This far from the mountains, the main weather front was still felt, the rains that had been plaguing this area had not lessened here and the subtle chill of winter’s approach mixes with the water to try and freeze them. Thankfully everyone had cold weather gear, so they managed to keep the cold from touching them. A short while into their trip, Zheda and Skovald were at the front of the boat looking ahead and talking to one another, when everyone else in the group noticed a small, invisible creature trying to get into Skovald’s pack. Sais and Alaina both found the invisible creature particularly easy to spot; Sais thanks to his focus on being perceptive (Skill Unlock: Perception 10 Ranks, +5 to spot invisible creatures) and Alaina due to the fact that her permanent spell allowed her to see the magic aura of the invisibility spell (negated the +20 stealth bonus to stealth, AGM solved this by giving player +20 to check) and the improvement Pazuzu has given her. Alaina casted See the invisible to she could see what the aura hid. She saw a tiny, whimsical-looking humanoid with wildly colored gossamer wings. From her quick description, Cereliona identified it as a pixie. She then moved up the little invisible creature and said “Hello.” Once the little creature realized that they noticed him, he immediately ended his invisibility. Fulling seeing the pixie for the first time, everyone noticed that his clothing as rumpled and his eyes were puffy from crying, show just how things were out of place for the poor creature. Then he flew up to within a few inches of Cereliona face where he started to speak in a rapidly, high pitched voice, as if he was afraid that at any moment the group would turn him away. “My mistress, she is… ill. Very ill. Death would have been a kindness. The land sickens with her heart, and it cannot be cleansed until her misery is purged.” Then while still talking he flew over and got in Skovald’s face. “I cannot do this myself. Please, you must help her!” His plea continued as he now flew over in front of Alaina. “You are friends with her human lover, yes? He wouldn’t want her left like this!” He then continued to fly between the group members, this time he went to Shalelu. “I can take you to her, maybe you can do something. I have tried everything to cure her forlorn heart, but to no avail.” After Shelalu he moved over by Zheda were he finished his plea. “She wails and moans in Whitewillow, and the trees and plants and nixies and frogs and everything are dying or worse! I can take you there! Please Help!” Cereliona tried to calm the little creature. First, she asked his name, and he told them he was called “Yap”. The ranger continued to consul him by telling him that they were already headed toward White willow. This caused Yap’s mood to improve at least a little. Sais comment to himself that the pixie’s voice was getting on his nerves and could they get it to be quiet. Cereliona did her best to calm the creature and then she asked if it would show them the way, so they could get there faster. The pixie then immediately flew over and landed on Sais shoulder. There he gave Sais directions on were to go but he updated the directions every couple second, which meant that he almost never stopped talking. Sais did a good job of containing his annoyance with the pixie’s voice and tried to talk to him. Sais looked at the pixie on his shoulder and said, “We are getting paid for this, right?” The pixie was a little surprised by his question, but he recovered quickly. He pulled a bag of his side and opened it up showing 16 vials of dust inside. He told Sais that this was his pixie dust and if they helped him then he could have the whole bag. Sais asked him what pixie dust was good for and Yap explained that it could be sprinkled over an arrow or the like to cause it to do no harm and instead do one of 3 magical effects: Sleep, Charm, or it could cause them to forget the last 5 minutes. Zheda then joined in on this conversation and said, “Is it right to take payment when we are already doing this for the Black Arrows?” But Sais really wanted the “cool” pixie dust, so he negated with Zheda by saying, “How about a few instead?” The monk accepted that and did not argue anymore. Yap then said, “We can discuss price after you talk to my lady” and everyone agreed. At this point, they had been on the boat for about 2 hours and the “land” of White Willow was coming into sight.
Weather
Pixie
Monster
[Game note: Skovald(Kane) left game at this point]
Session 40 (08/01/2018) [Skovald(Kane) miss this half session] part 2 of 2
Day 71 [continued] (Sunday the 2nd of Kuthona, Sunday 12/02/2047)
White Willow
The boat bottomed out as they reached the edge of White Willow, the swamp here giving way to a deep bog. Everyone then disembarked from the boat and their feet sank deep into the mug here. Sais however was unaffected by the bog as he was using the Boots of the Mire they had found in the commander’s quarters and Alaina flew up above it all. The group then moved into White Willow and as they did two things changed. Frist the bog depth decreased, while still not easy to move around in, it was not as bad as the deeper bog. And second, the rain lessened to only a drizzle. Then after another 10 feet the rain stopped altogether. The sky stayed full of dark, ominous clouds but rain did not fall here. The group then got their first rain free look at White Willow. Twisted black trees rose wretchedly from shallow pools, seeming to have lurched from the land, their arthritic branches curled into miserable tortured claws. The rain seemed to scorn this place, and a cold, dark mist loomed within the canopy of the bone-bare branches above. Evil murmurs rode on an unnatural wind that flowed forth from the glens, and shadows danced in the dark mists within. The trees of this swampy region of White willow, clearly once beautiful and mystic with drooping boughs of sparkling ivory leaves, had gone dark and twisted as if they had been tormented and tortured. Now, they seemed to shift and move when they should not. Shadows played cruel tricks on even the sharpest of eyes, while sanity-shredding whispers could cause even the canniest woodsman to lose his way. Looking at this twisted area of White Willow Sais ask Yap what happened here. Yap explained that he had been away for the last couple months in the Sanos forest and he only returned last night, so he did not know what had happened. All he knew was at the heart of White Willow he saw a ghost, a ghost that cried in the voice of his mistress. He then left to find help and he ran into them. Even though Sais, Alaina, and Yap were not slowed by the bog everyone else was, so it took the group about 30 minutes to go 1/4 of a mile and here the area seemed to worsen.
The depths of White Willow
The degree of the corruption seemed to grow here. Spiders, languid and fat with poison, hung from the trees. Dying birds twitched in the shallows. Slithering things with too many eyes squirted away through the water. Here, Alaina became worried about physical dangers at this point and casted Mage Armor on herself. Cereliona was in perception overdrive as she tried to catch and identify everything that moved. She failed to catch everything, but she did the best she could as they continued deeper into White Willow
Environment (In all areas below unless stated otherwise)
Apparitions of Death
Nothing but chill silence surrounded them, but as they moved through the bogs they glimpsed tall, dark-robed figures in their peripheral vision. The figures seemed to have had enlarged skeletal claws that extend from their outstretched arms as if reaching toward the group. Cereliona and Sais were the first to react to this and when they drew their weapons and turned to face these enemies, they saw that these apparitions were nothing more than horribly twisted black trees. Sais then pulled out a few tindertwigs and threatened the trees with them. He then asked Yap what he knew about these trees, but the pixie was no help. He did not know anything more than they did and his only comment was, “Something is not right here.” Alaina then told Sais not to worry because trees are not a threat and Zheda quickly jumped in on this, “What about the tree in the Graul basement, that was a threat.” Alaina admitted Zheda was right and then she dropped the conversation. They all then continued deeper in silence.
Mysterious Derelict
Next, they came upon a clearing where the storm clouds thickened letting very little light in. Because of the cloud cover, they had to strain for every bit of light (Dim Light). In this clearing they saw a derelict ship inexplicably located hundreds of miles from the Varisian shore. The vessel was pristine, as if it was just removed from the ocean and then gently placed here, yesterday. Cautious of what this could be the group slowly approached the ship. Sais looked at the odd design of the ship and from all his day sailing, he had never seen or heard of a anything like this one. Cereliona commented that she had never heard of a design like this in history either. However she added that her lack of knowledge could have more to do with person lack of skill that then fact. Sais mental asked Kassandra if she knew of anything like this, she mental replied with “No”. As they move up they saw no traps, guards, or any obvious threats so Sais climbed up the side of the ship alone and quietly. When he got to the top, he found an old flag on the deck near the mast. When he looked at it, he saw that it had the Gozreh Holy symbol, Green leaf with a water drop on its tip, on one side and the Ginfaxi symbol on the other side with this quote on the bottom: "If they stand behind you protect them, if they stand beside you respect them, if they stand in your way defeat them." Not sure what it meant, Sais put it in his pack. Then Zheda slammed 2 shots before she stepped up to the deck, next to Sais. Then Alaina flew up by them, as Xavian climbed the boat’s rigging to join them. After a quick look around, Cereliona and Barkenstien climbed up the rigging after Xavian; master and companion moved up side by side in perfect unity (both rolled a total of 21 on their climb checks). Shalelu instead stayed off the ship and said she would keep a look out. The deck of the ship had only one door, at the stern, where the captain’s quarters would be. Seeing the human sized door, Cereliona commanded Barkenstien to wait here, guard this area, and bark if he saw any threats. The dog happily moved to and sat down in the middle of the deck near the mast, clearly content to wait a while. The group plus Xavian then opened the door and entered the ship. The only thing below deck was the captain’s quarters. They immediately noticed that this room while large was not large enough to completely fill the dimensions of the upper deck. Yet, the windows of this room looked out on different areas around the ship as if they were located based on the larger deck’s size. It was like being inside a reverse extra dimensional space. The long-dead captain sat at an elegant darkwood harpsichord carved with demons battling angels. Still dressed in his ancient uniform, he sat behind the instrument as if he was ready to play it. He unlike the rest of the ship, looked as though he had been left here for hundreds of years. He was bones held together by his clothing, positioning, and luck. At the harpsichord, Alaina saw a book of sheet music, that glowed with a strange magic aura. She moved up and took it. Cereliona was right behind her and looked at it with her. Alaina saw it had the magical ability to enhance their skills and combat prowess of those nearby for 1 day if it was performed by anyone’s voice or instrument as long as the performer had some skill. Cereliona noticed that this lyrical masterpiece, would be worth 5000 gold to a collector because it is so unique. She was sure that she had never heard of music like this before. While they did that, Sais looked at the captain and noticed that he had a set of sea charts, in the inside pocket of his jacket. Sais then very carefully and gently removed them from the dead captain, and he succeeded in not disturbing the skeleton. Sais looked at the map and so did the rest of the group, but it looked completely alien to all of them. Everyone was sure that they had never seen or heard of an area in all of Golaria that looked anything like this. And, if the scale of the map was correct, it had a central land mass bigger than all of Varisia. Cereliona then moved up and checked over the captain’s remains to see if she could determine what killed the captain. There was basically no flesh left so the only thing she could determine was that he died a long time ago (GM note: Natural 1 on a none maxed skill). Still confused by what all this meant, they pocketed their finds and headed back up top. When they reached the top, they found that a medium sized dog was sitting next to Barkenstien. At first Cereliona readied to scolded Barkenstien, but then she noticed that he did not see the dog as a threat. It was like Barkenstien was sitting next to one of the Red Mastiffs from the Red Dog Smithy in Sandpoint so Cereliona held off. The red eyed dog then walked toward the group. Cereliona throw out some of her dried trail rations for the dog to eat. It stopped at the food and did just that. While it ate, Sais asked Yap what this was. The pixie was even more confused then they were. He did not know how this ship got here or what it was. The red eyed dog then finished eating. As soon as it did, it sat back and howled in a calm and basic tone. As it did, all around the group, creatures began to light up with fairy fire, that only the group and their allies could see. These ceatures had the head of a feral elk with jagged teeth and sharp antlers. There humanoid legs ended in blackened, burnt stumps. Cereliona then turned to thank the dog, but when she looked for the red eyed dog it was gone. With no time to worry about the dog, she quickly identified these creatures as Boggards and then she shared what she knew about them with the group, most important being that they could move around on bogs and swamps without any difficulty. There was total of 12 boggards but they were group up in pairs and all around the ship which mean they had the group surrounded.
Environment
Treasure
Boggard
Slaughtering Boggards
Due to the Fairy Fire that only they could see, the group was able to get automatic surprise on these enemies and it negated any penalties they had due to the dim light here. Sais took the time to smile at the group as he grabbed his new vanishing Wayfinder and turned invisible. Zheda used the resonance power of her new brown thorny ioun stone to tumble her way off deck and move out into the bog a little so the group could spread out. Alaina flew 30 feet up in the air. Shalelu pull out her bow and fired at one of the boggard to the east, hitting it hard in the stomach and heavily wounding it (vital strike). Cereliona dropped back into her startoss style and through her chakram at the pair to the south west. Hitting the first one and bouncing to the second before it returned to her hand. Barkenstien jump over the side of the ship and ran north near but not right next to Zheda, trying to draw away one or two attackers. Xavian then moved up the center of the boat, pulled out quill and journal, ready to write down everything he saw as he saw it. Then some of group was still moving faster than the surprise boggard so they acted again. Sais ran over the south west side of the boat, landing gracefully. He then turned visible as he put his short sword between the eyes of one of the beggars, winking at the other one as he pulled out of now dead body. Zheda then moved a little closer to the west boggard pair but she was limited by the bog so she focused on the pride she felt in her appearance and made 2 mirror image copies of herself, then she waited for the boggards to come to her. Alaina casted an electric ball that shocked the north east pair and the unharmed of the east pair to death. Shalelu then put an arrow in the lone eastern one killing it. She then turned her bow Northwest and fired two arrows. Only one hit, wounding one of the beggars there. Cereliona then readied to throw her chakrum at the south east pair and as she did she noticed that one of them was wearing a strange leather armor that glowed faintly. Her eyes were too sharp to be fwuled by it, but she could see how it could lead others to believe that it was a spectre, ghost, or other similar undead. She smiled and thought to herself, “I see your game there” and then she through her weapon. It hit the one in the glowing armor wounding it, then it bounced off him and went through the head of his partner, killing him instantly before it bounced off a rock and returned to her hand. Barkenstien moved closer to the north east pair, he followed Zheda’s lead by limiting his movement and readying for them to come. At this point the boggards finally acted. The north east pair moved up on Barkenstien. As they did, he grabbed the wounded one by his head and shook him causing the creature’s body to detach from its head and go flying. The other boggard was so surprised by this that his morningstar swipe went wild. The east pair ran up on Zheda and she managed to hit one good in the side, but it did not go down. Their skills in melee combat were not even close to Zheda, so as they brought their morningstars down, Zheda easily moved out of their way. The once next to Sais, managed to land a blow with his morningstar but that is only because Sais was dodging his tongue. The boggard in the glowing armor, then moved up right next to the boat and crocked for all he was worth. The sound of it filled everyone that heard it with fear which included everyone but Barkenstien and Zheda. Thankfully most of the group was able to fight it off, but Sais was left a little shaken by it. Feeling this, Sais called up to Xavian and asked if there was anything he could do to steady him. The dwarf then ran south west and jumped of the side of the boat to land next to Sais. It was a good landing, but it was not pretty. The dwarf then touched Sais on the shoulder and smiled, instantly Sais’s fear was gone (Restoration: Restorative Touch). Sais thanked Xavian for the help before he stabbed out his sword and easily killed the boggard next to him. He then run across the bog using his magical boots to move up and flank one of the boggards on Zheda, hoping to help even up the odds for the monk. Zheda then activated her acid hands and started to lay into the creatures in front of her. She punched the one she flanked with Sais, then she turned her other fist on the other one. She then turned to use her third punch on the first one, but it was dead. She then looked back to the second, but she had killed them both in one hit. These dead bodies bodies stood standing for just another second before fell to the ground. Alaina then casted magic missile and took out the one by Barkenstien. Shalelu then turned her bow to the lone North West one. She fired three arrows, all hit, and the last one went all the way through its chest killing it. Cereliona then moved to the edge of the ship right above the last boggard, the one in the glowing armor. She then leaped up in the air and through her chakrum down with all she had. It landed perfectly in the center of its head, flew completely through its body and came out between its legs, dragging all of his organs with it, causing his inside to spill out into the swamp. (GM note: boaggard had 4 of 24 hp, Cereliona did 48 point of damage in a single critical hit). With all the creature’s dead, Zheda turned to Yap and asked him why these creature’s attacked them. He was panicked when he told them that this tribe was a member of his lady’s court and that they were normally a peaceful group. He did not understand why they attacked and said, “Everything is wrong here” before he cried a little. Alaina then went around and gathered up all 12 sets of the beggars’ eyes and tongues and sacrificed them all to Pazuzu. While she did that Sais and Zheda gathered up the creature’s weapons and Cereliona used Sheyln’s gift to identify the glowing armor. It’s ability to go ethereal appealed to Sais and he was allowed to take it. Yap then beckoned them to continue on, so they left the ship and headed deeper into White Willow.
Monsters
Dead Pool and Whispers of Regret
They walked through the trees and the bog until they were just out of sight of the ship when they found a natural pool of water created by the runoff from the remains of a hulking dark tree, that stood in a clearing ahead of the group. The water looked clear and refreshing enough. However, Cereliona noticed that no algae or larval insects dwelled in the pool, indicating the water was most likely poisoned or toxic. Sais moved up to investigate it. The water was calm and worked as a mirror. In it, Sais’s own reflection was normal, but the other group members appear reflected as dried and desiccated corpses. In addition, they all appeared to be glaring hungrily at the him, as if they were about to attack and devour him. But Sais felt that this was wrong, and he fought of its effect. However, it did remind him of the Foxglove haunts in effect but not in source. The foxglove haunts felt like they were showing you something, this felt like raw emotion that had been left her for someone to find. Still by the pool, Sais looked over by the tree and he saw a strange woman whose flesh seemed to be made of wood with hair that resembled leaves and blossoms. She looked sick and dying, she breathed in and out slowly and repetitively as if she was doing it because she thought she should. She raised her hand while the rest of her body stayed still. When her hand pointed as Sais, she stopped moving and then she slowly raised her head. It was as if she only had the strength to move one body part at a time. She then spoke, “she should not have fallen in love, her heart brought this upon us, why won’t she let us go? Why won’t she let us die?” Sais then called the other’s over and Cereliona moved in first. She identified this as a lady as a dryad, and she told the group that Dryad’s have a Tree Dependency and the dead tree by the pool hers. If she had gone this long without finding a new tree she should be dead. The ranger then checked over the fey and from what she knew about their anatomy, this fey was dead. Her organs were not functioning, but she was still moving around; not decomposing or rotting and still able to breathe but she was a dead. Cereliona quoted the lady, “She won’t let us die” before she asked the dryad what happen. The Dryad responded with long drawn out words. “An aristocratic-looking human woman with firered hair and alabaster skin” at this point she stopped to take a deep breath and Sais said, “That dam red head again”. The dryad then continued as if Sais had not spoken, “She led a small group of ogres into the Shimmerglens under the cover of magic. As they approached my lady’s domain, this woman sent out her ogres to savage and destroy my tree. Both Myriana and her human lover, Lamatar, were quick to respond to this assault, only to discover that this attack was an ambush. The fire hair lady had sacrificed the first wave of ogres as a distraction, as soon as the first wave was dead, she sent a much larger wave of ogres, at least five times as many, to overwhelm the weaken fighters. The human was captured and made to watch while the white skinned lady let her ogres have their way with my mistress. It was a blessing that the ogres were too enraged by their losses in the fight to do anything but tear her limb from limb. Yet the sight was clearly driving the human mad. He did truly love, my mistress. As Myrianna was now dead, the lady escorted the human and her ogres out of the here to the north.” As the group hears the end of her story they are filled with regret, but also with an increased resolve to lift the curse that vexes the swamp (GM Note: All players gained +2 bonus on all will saving throws as long as they are working toward ending White Willow’s haunt.) Sais then asked where her lady was. The dryad slowly moved her hand and pointed deeper into the bogs. The group felt they could do nothing to help this fey for now, so they headed on hoping to do some good further in.
Ghostly Revels
The next area was a thicker forest and the group was forced to move between trees. Then all of the sudden; all around the group, ghostly translucent forms emerge from the trees. Fey of all sorts: spectral satyrs, ghostly grigs, phantom nixies, and sprightly spirits floated gently from the swamp around them. They were followed by a parade of phantom animals. Some of the fey cavorted and frolicked with the group as the rest marched on. The fey especially liked the flying Alaina but after a few moments, the ones that remain quickly flew off, as they did they tried to pass through the group members. Most of the group were able to resist this but Alaina was overwhelmed, and they did some real damage (9 HP damage) as they forced their way into and out of her body, before flying away fast to catch up with the others.
Heart of Sadness
From here they followed Yap north. The tangled swamp gave way to a relatively large clearing, a calm pool of unnaturally still water ringed by twisted, decayed willow trees. The wind blew, but the trees did not sway. It was if the very land had died. At this point yap stopped and said, “We’re here… My lady waits for you within. I dare not go any closer…” He then flew backwards toward a tree, turned invisible and then he could be heard flying up into its branches. As the group moved up past the willow trees they saw an area that was a rough 30-foot radius circle of land, not bog. The group quickly moved up and got onto the solid ground. Once the last member set foot on the land, a ghostly figure came out of the center of this area. It was the body of a once soul-shakingly beautiful, the nymph princess that was now a haggard, ghostly horror. Her disembodied arms floated at her sides, exposed bone and sinew stretched toward her torso, but it stayed ever too far out of reach. Her lower torso faded away to smoke, savaged too cruelly by the ogres for even her insane ghost to retain. But her most terrifying feature was her eyes: Wells of hellish horror, that cried out silently in an agony beyond anything a mortal creature could have ever known. She was beauty undone, and torment incarnate. This was a powerful sight and it had a blinding effect on most of the group. Only Xavian and Barkenstien were left with sight. Xavian immediately shouted that he could heal three of them. The group quickly agreed for him to heal the ranged combatants. Xavian move to Shalelu who was the closest to him, but before he could touch her, the ghost spoke. “Dwarf stop what you are doing. What are you all doing here. Why have you not saved my Lamatar yet?” Cereliona very bluntly said back, “We only just found out he needed saving and about you today.” This did not sway her anger, she just started to bemoan her losses. “The red-haired lady and her ogres took my love to hook mountain and killed him. But foul magic holds his soul so I cannot reincarnate him. However, if you bring me a piece of him I believe I can overcome it and bring him back as one of my fey.” Sais then asked her to clarify, she wanted them to go to hook mountain and get her a piece of Lamatar if he is dead or rescue him and bring him back alive …” but whatever else Sais was going to say will never be known because at this point, Myrianna glared at Sais and through the power of her glare alone she mentally attacked him, stunning him. Myrianna then screamed “He is dead, my Lamatar is dead and you will not say otherwise. If he was alive he would have found a way to return to me by now.” She then turned toward Zheda while raising her floating arm to point at Sais, “He does not speak any more.” Zheda then said, “We are all blind, I do not see how we can do this.” Myrianna told them that she did not care and that it was not her concern. They had a healer and they could take care of their own problems. She punctuated this by glaring at Zheda which stunned the monk. Sais and Zheda were now stunned and blinded; suffering effects identical to the ones they prefered to inflict, so a thought went through Zheda’s head. “Stupid ghost fey, I stun things not you. This is what I do.” The ghost then looked to Cereliona and said, “Return my love, return my Lamatar to me. PLEASE.” Cereliona agreed to help the lady and no one disagreed with her. The ghost Myrianna then faded back into nothingness. Xavian made his way around restoring sight to Shalelu, Cereliona, and Alaina. Cereliona then loaded Sais and Zheda on the back of Barkenstien so he could carry them, that way their blind members would not have to worry about tripping in the bogs.
Environment
Nympth Ghost
Leaving White Willow
As they left the circle of WhiteWillow, Yap came out and became visible. He flew right up to Cereliona and asked, “You will help?” Cereliona told him that they are going to go to the hook mountain peak and tried to get a piece of Lamatar because Myrainna really believes that Lamatar is dead”. The ranger then went onto explain that the horror that Yap’s lady was now, had blinded several of the group so they had to go to recover before they could make the assault. Yap apologized for lady again, saying that she was sad and ill. Cereliona said they hoped if they brought back Lamatar or a piece of him, it would calm her and maybe put her spirit to rest. She added that they planned to rest at Fort Rannick tonight before they left in the morning. Yap thanked her and all of them for helping, then he said he was going to stay here so when they reached the swamp water, Yap stayed in White Willow. As the group left White Willow they returned to the rain.
Returning to the Fort
Weather(All areas)
The last of the Swan boat
Even in this rain the boat ride back only took about 2 hours and it was an easy trip. They reached the Wicker Walk, near where they originally left. As they started on foot, they left the swan boat tied up on one of the posts. No reason to take it, it would disappear in less than 15 hours and there was the possibility that someone else would get some use out of it. They then walked the last 30 minutes to Bitter hollow with Barkenstien working as both a seeing eye and guard dog for the 2 blind members. Here they mounted up on horses, with Skovald having to give up his pack horse so Zheda could ride. She and Sais being blind, did not actually control their horse, instead their reins were held by Xavian and Shalelu.
Picking on the blind
As they rode on the horses, Cereliona and Alaina got bored and annoyed by all the rain, so they decided to play a joke on Sais and Zheda. First the Alaina used mage hand to try and poke Sais with a stick. However, Sais was still able to dodge it as effectively as if he could see (Uncanny dodge). Seeing this Cereliona moved up to Sais other side and tried to help but this did not help either (Improved Uncanny Dodge). Since they could not touch the rogue they decided to try the monk. Alaina went first and sent her mage hand up while holding a stick. She managed to touch the monk but as soon as they did, she turned and swung at a spot just 3 inches above were the stick was, hitting nothing but air. Alaina and Cereliona, picked up on this “subtle” hint to leave them alone. They did not stop at Turtleback ferry, instead they shirted the town, because they wanted to hurry. While horses were doing most of the work now, the group had travelled very far today and some of them were currently blind, so they done for the day. The rain continued all the way up to Fort Rannick.
Fort Rannick
Once they got in the fort and out of the rain, the group explained to the rangers what happened and the swamp and they current mission to find the Kreeg Clanhold so they could retrieve a piece of Lamatar. Jakardros and Vale listen carefully. They took the group at their word and trusted everything they said. Jakardros help by telling them the general location of the clanhold. it was about 24 miles away, with the last 4 miles of climbing the Highest peak in the hook mountain. He then warned them about the dangers they would face. In addition to the ogres and roaming mountain monsters at the end they would be at over 5000 feet, so they would be an issue with altitude fatigue. Basically, it meant they would not have enough air to breathe, so everyone would eventually make start to feel fatigued all the time. Worse the only way to none magically remove it was to go below 5000 feet and catch their breathe. He added that creatures, even humanoids, can could adapt to the lower air level, but it takes about a month or so of continuous exposer. This meant the ogres would not be affected anymore. Jakardros then tried to explain the trial up the mountain but before he got very far into the directions he said, “This would be easier if I could go with you. It is a difficult path. But I cannot leave, it takes 2 to man the fort so I must stay.” Shalelu then walked up to Jakardros and said, “I will stay, you will go. Finish this.” It was not a question or a command, it was as statement of what was going to happen. The group all did their best to make sure that they stayed out of this. Jakardros was shocked at first but he did not argue, he just nodded his head in agreement. The group then planned out their basic path with Jakardros. They decided to travel the 20 miles to get to the base of the mountain tomorrow. Then they would camp for the night and take the last 4 miles up the mountain in the morning. After this was agreed upon, everyone went and got some much-needed rest.
Day 72 (Moonday the 3rd of Kuthona, Monday 12/03/2047)
The next morning
As soon as everyone woke up and did their morning rituals, they noticed that the weather had worsened. It was now raining heavily which meant it looked to be a long ride today. After everyone ready, Xavian removed Sais’s and Zheda’s blindness. As soon as Zheda saw the dwarf she hugged him. He smiled and said, “Glad I could help” as he turned a little red. The group then stressed to him that he really was a big help. He took the gratitude in a gracious way and without comment. Sais then asked Xavian if he could restore the last of the life he had lost when he was recently raised from the dead. Xavian warned him that it would use up all of the ettin’s treasure and some of Xavian’s now limited supplies. The group was ok with this so Xavian casted the spell which turned 1000 gold in diamond dust into magical energy that restored Sais lost life. (GM note: Remove one of Sais Negative levels. Leaving only the Negative level he lost when Kassandra was Reforged). Once this was done, everyone got a quick breakfast of wild bird eggs before they loaded up their horses and geared up themselves. Cereliona waited until everyone got on their mount, start to fly, or in the case of Zheda just shows up; indicating they are ready to go. She then casted Nature’s Paths on Jakardros which gave the ranger a bonus to his guide skills at the paths would just seem to show themselves to him for the next 8 hours. Cereliona was just barely powerful enough of a caster (7 level caster) to allow the effects to be shared by all the 5 group members (GM Rule automatically effected their mounts), Xavian, and Barkenstien. She then mounted up and Vale opened the gate, so they could leave.
Weather
The Last thing that happened
The group was fully rested, cured of many of their ailments, mounted, and ready to head out of Fort Rannick.
GM Favorite moment
Yap, I love playing fun fey.
Experience
Each Player received 2,180 experience points (Total: 131,170 [11th level]) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 41 (08/08/2018) {Skovald[Kane] Missed Session}
Day 72 [continued] (Moonday the 3rd of Kuthona, Monday 12/03/2047)
Last minute things
Since the Rain was still pouring, the group had mounted up in the stables. As they were finishing up checking their gear and animals, Sais asked Jakardros or Vale if they knew anything about the red eyed dog that the group saw in White Willow and warned them about the boggards. Neither Black Arrow had heard or knew anything about a dog like that. Sais asked if it could be the commander’s pet, like Barkenstien or Kibb. But Jakardros informed Sais, that the commander had not train an ally like Cereliona and himself. Sais thanked them anyway and then he returned to readying gear, wondering why that dog had helped them. Jakardros then turned his attention to Cereliona. As he looked at her, Jakardros pulled out a small stone from one of his belt pouches then he through it to Cereliona, saying “Catch”. Cereliona caught it and noticed that it was a tiny sphere of white marble with the Black Arrow crest on it, in black. The Black Arrow then said, “Feed that to your pet, it will help both of you.” Cereliona trusted him so she through the stone over to Barkenstien without hesitation, who caught it and swallowed it whole. As soon as it was downed, Cereliona immediately felt the magical bond she had with her companion strengthen. She could now feel the Barkenstien’s location, distance, and health. In addition, she knew she could transfer damage from Barkenstien to herself. While Cereliona was feeling the connection, Jakardros told her that being able to sense a friend and know they are out there helping you can get you through a lot. He then admitted that if he had not felt Kibb running around looking for help, then he did not think that he would have mentally survived the Grauls. Cereliona thanked him for the gift and the information. With that done, everyone was now ready to leave. As they left the stables, they entered the cold heavy rain. Cereliona then looked up at the sky again, and as she did she realized that today was the coldest day they have felt so far (20F) and this cold weather should have turned the rain to snow by now. However, it was still coming down as rain, which froze on the ground here and there. Seeing this, she now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was not natural rain and it would have to be magically or in some way manipulated to keep raining instead of snowing. She shared this with the group as they headed out of the fort, but no one had any ideas as to what could be causing it, so no one spoke, they just looked at the sky wondering as they rode out.
Weather
Treasure
· [Cereliona] Stone of Alliance: 5,000 gp
The Valley Brocken Trees
Weather (Every area in this section)
After a short distance into their trip, Jakardros told Cereliona that her spell was going to take a couple of hours off their trip (GM note: Nature’s path turned a 6 hour and 40-minute journey into a 4 and half hour trip) and he thanked her for it, especially because the heavy rain did not show any signs of stopping. Cereliona accepted the compliment in silence but she thanked him with a head nod. As they continued, they moved a few miles away from the fort and entered the Valley of broken trees. In this dry gulch, the trees clearly found it difficult to grow and survive, leaving tree stumps and small dead trees here and there. Most of the stumps and the few young trees that tried to grow here had been uprooted or smashed with ogre clubs. This treeless area stretched across a 7-mile-long swath of land, that started at the north east edge of Kreegwood and stretched almost all the way to the Skovald Deep. While this area looked sickly, it did allow them to see farther all around them.
Finding a Giant in Trouble
Moving through the valley, the group rode up a steep incline to reach a mostly level area with a few minor 5-10 foot tall mounts here and there. Just as they peaked over the rise, everyone in the group saw a Hill giant up on one of the mounts, ahead of them to the west, and he was surrounded by a gargantuan spider to his west, 4 dire wolves to his north and north east, and 4 giant scorpions to his south and south east. Looking at the giant Sais noticed that something was different about him, he did not look like a normal hill giant; he moved his arms and legs just a little too fast. Cereliona’s keen perception allowed her to see something no one else did, in addition to the giant and the other monsters, she also noticed three aberrations between them and the giant that looked very much like tree stumps. She pointed them out to the group and then she identified them as Wolves-in-Sheep’s-Clothing. She shared with the group what she knew about these strange creatures, most important being that they had eight 15-foot-long tentacles that it would to grab and pull creatures toward its stump. Cereliona also knew about all the other creatures so she quickly told the group about their most important powers and abilities of these creatures; with the spider’s being its Barbed Hairs and the Scorpion’s grab with constrict ability; being of the most concern to the group. As she was explaining the monster’s abilities and skills to the group, Cereliona noticed that everything except the Wolves-in-Sheep’s-Clothing, which were native to this valley, were under some form of mind control, they were not acting the way wild animals should. They had no concern for each other, they only focused on the giant. Even though they had surprise on the monsters, Sais did not feel any sympathy for the giant because he had dealt with enough giants and seen the way they treated humans and he did not see any reason to help. So, he took his horse and went south, taking a path behind a small hill as he tried to avoid this fight. Cereliona was of a similar mind set but she decided to watch and see how the battle played out before she left, so she held her ground, watching to see what the giant did. At this point, the giant noticed them. As soon as he did he yelled to them in Giant, but only Kassandra could understand him, so she mentally translated for Sais, “Warning, Tree stumps dangerous. Tree stumps attack you.” He then ran at the spider, moving so amazingly fast that he literally blurred as he moved. The fast giant landed a good blow on the spider with his earth breaker before stopping just behind one of the dire wolves. Sais the yelled the translation back to the group so they would know about the giant’s warning.
Wolf-in-Sheep’s-Clothing
Giant Scorpion
Dire Wolf
Giant Tarantula Spide
Something they thought they would never do, Saving a Giant
Hearing about the giant’s warning, Cereliona said, “Fuck it, I am going to help him.” She then got in her stance as she moved her horse north a little way, giving her a better angle. Once in position she let loose with her chakrum, hitting one stump and bouncing it to hit a second. Zheda then decided to join in as well. She dropped into dragon style while she stepped to land in the middle of the giant scorpions. Alaina then dropped an electric ball on all 4 of the wolves, severely burning them and putting the smell of burnt hair in the air to mix with the smell of wet dog from the rain. She then used up all 3 of her Pazuzu charms to quickly summon a Celestial Pteranodon Pterosaur and she placed it where it could swoop down and attack one of the giant scorpions while also flanking with Zheda, but it missed with its bite. Jakardros, did a quick dismount. Once he hit the ground he fired off one arrow, hitting one of the Wolf-in-Sheep’s-Clothing. Xavian did a simple dismount as he watched everyone work. At this point, Sais saw that Zheda and the others had joined the fight, so he said to himself, “Son of a bitch, I did not want to fight these grapplers.” He then pulled out his cup, toasted Cayden which teleported him to where he could flank one the giant scorpions with his fellow follower of Cayden. He then laid into the vermin with all he had. The rogue hit with 2 strike and he found vital organs both times, resulting in him killing the creature with his last hit. He then took a step toward another giant scorpion, but he lost his footing and tripped so he missed (Unconfirmed Natural 1). Sais then shouted to Zheda, “Zheda, you know I did not want to fight these grabby guys. Why did you make me?” Zheda responded, “Make you, you could have attacked the wolves.” Neither had any more time to talk after that because the battle continued. Next, Cereliona moved her horse forward before performing a quick dismount. When she hit the ground, she went to throw too quickly and strained her throwing arm (Natural 1: -1 Dex). Barkenstien then moved up and bit one of the wolves, but it was prepared to be tripped and stayed on its feet. Razmus was next and he was fast. He ran next to the large spider, blurring as he did, and hitting it once with his Earth Breaker as he passed by it. His movements were so fast that the spider did not get a chance to swing at him (spring attack). As he moved Cereliona noticed his skill in fighting Vermin (Favorite Enemy: Vermin) and the speed at which he moved was greater than any giant she had ever seen. Next the stumps were up. The north one attacked Barkenstien with all 8 of its vines, hitting him 3 times and grappling him which pulled the dog right next to the stump. The middle one, went after a wolf and it hit with 7 of its vines allowing it to pull that canine into a grapple as well. The final one, the south one, attacked a giant scorpion, hitting it 6 times and pulling it into a grapple tool. Zheda used the alcohol in her system to power her first punch (Drunken Strength) as he swung and hit 5 times, killing a giant scorpion. The three free wolves then chased and attacked Razmus. The hill giant, quickly brought his earth breakdowner on the first wolf’s head, killing it just as it entered his reach. The remaining two charged up on him but the giant managed to dodge out of the way of their teeth. The fourth wolf, freed itself from the stump and tried to run after Razmus but the stump, whipped out with one of its vines and killed the wolf before it got 5 feet. After the wolves, the spider sprayed Razmus with barbed hairs by flicking its abdomen. This cause the giant to turn green and look like he was ready to vomit (nauseated). Alaina then flew into a position just above Xavian were she casted a cone of Electricity that encompassed all 3 stumps and the grappled giant scorpion. The powerful spell burned the stumps and killed the scorpion. Her pteranodon then moved to attack the spider and as it did, the spider was able to bit it on the wing, poisoning it (1 Str). The blow knocked the pteranodon off course a little, so it missed. Jakardros command Kibb to stay close and guard him, as he dropped to one knee and aimed at the tree stump. He fired 3 arrow and 2 hit, taking the electricity of his bow to the monster, burning but not killing it. Xavian then moved up closer as he casted sanctuary on himself. Sais next charged up on a giant scorpion in a zig zag pattern, so he could approach it without opening himself up to attacks. At the end of his charge, the rogue successfully stabbed the last scorpion deep into its chest, but the monster survived. Cereliona then did a fast dismount off her horse, drew her javelin, and through it at the northern most tree stump. As it hit, she activated it’s anchoring ability, locking down this creature’s already limited movement. With that enemy out of the fight for now, Cereliona sent Barkenstien after the spider. As he moved in closer, Barkenstien was able to avoid a swipe of the spider’s leg. Once he got close, the dog got in a good bite, but the spider had way too many legs for him to trip it. The dog was lucky and barely avoided the barbed hairs this time. Sick to his stomach, Razmus withdrew from the wolves and the scorpion on him, trying to buy time until he could recover. The anchored stump then went after Cereliona’s horse and hitting with all 8 of its vines like tentacles. This dropped the horse to the ground (-1 HP), but thankfully the foxglove horse stabilized as it lied there. The remaining 2 stumps then moved a little closer (10 feet total) to Zheda, but their limited movement made it, so they did not get far. Zheda followed this by running up on the spider and punching it in the side but she failed to stun it because she was focusing too much on avoiding the barbed hairs. The 2 remaining wolves continued to ignore all but Razmus as they move to follow him, which allowed Sais to swing at one as it left, slashing it in the side. Even as sick as he was, Razmus was still able to keep his guard up and both wolves missed again. The spider also followed its single-minded goal of killing Razmus, which allowed Zheda, Barkenstien, and Alaina’s Pteranodon to all get an attack while it was distracted. Only Barkenstien and Zheda landed hits, with Zheda avoiding the barbed hairs, Barkenstien however got a few in his face which nauseated him. After the blows, the spider finished its charge and succeeded in biting the giant. However, Rasmus giant constitution allowed him to resist its poison. Alaina then tapped into the power of her book of spell pages to drop a powerful electric ball where it would land on the Wolves and the spider but leave Razmus just outside the radius. The electricity burned and shocked the spider and the wolves, but the gargantuan vermin survived while the wolves on the other hand, were both put down by the spell. Alaina’s Pteranodon then tried to moved up and bite the spider again, but was weakened again by the spider’s poison in its veins (GM note: Failed save again, additional -1 Strength, total of -2) so it missed. The remaining scorpion then tried to follow Razmus, but like the wolves, Sais was able to slash out with his short sword as it diverted its attention. This time, hitting it hard in the middle of its body, finding a vital organ and killing it before it could get 5 feet away from him. Jakardros then fired 3 arrows into the southern stump, hitting with all 3 and burning the aberration with the electricity from his bow. Xavian then moved up closer but he made sure to stay at least 25 feet from any of the stumps. Sais then left the dead scorpion and ran toward the spider, making sure to dodge out of the way of its bite as he got closer. Once he was right next to it, he through a flash bomb in its eyes but there were too many eyes for him to get them all so the spider was not blinded. Cereliona’s foxglove horse then dragged itself to the north to get away from the anchored stump. Cereliona saw this so she through her chakrum to hit the anchored stump which also bounced to the middle one, distracting the creatures and slashing them both in the process. Barkenstien was sick to his stomach so all he did was throw up on the ground. Thankfully the rain quickly washed the mess away. Razmus then withdrew from the spider, but he moved closer to the group as he did so anything that followed him would have to run by the group to get at him. The anchored stump then tried to move but it was not strong enough to resist the javelin so it could only flail with its vines wildly in anger. The other two stumps moved closer to the group. The middle one move 10 feet and managed to almost reach Sais while the second one chased Zheda but it did not even come close to her. Zheda then charged the spider and with one mighty blow to its face, the monk ended the arachnid. With the last mobile threat taken out, Cereliona shouted out to the group and toward Alaina in particular, “Don’t waste your spells and such on the stumps, we can easily stay out of their reach and take them out with range.” Hearing this, Alaina switch to a simpler spell and casted Magic Missile. The five missiles of force hit the stump hard. Jakardros heard her words so he continued to fire at the middle stump, hitting it 2 more times. Xavian stayed where he was, watching as the group finished off these last monsters. Sais then dropped his sword, pulled out his long bow, and fired an arrow at the southern stump. Cereliona through her chakrum at the anchored one, killing it, before it bounced to hit the middle one and then back to her hand. Barkenstien, now over his nausea, ran up following his master’s weapon in. Once there, he managed to land a good bite into one of the many arrow wounds the stump had which ripped it open, killing the aberration. Zheda then moved closer to the last one but she was not able to reach it just yet. Alaina fired one of her basic elemental blast at the last stump, burning it a little with electricity. Jakardros followed Alaina’s blast by putting 3 electric arrows into the same spot Alaina hit, and finally Cereliona added her Chakrum to it which all combined together to literally split the monster in two.
Monsters
Razmus
Once the final monster was dead, the giant moved up to stand by Sais. He was still unable to speak due to his nausea, but it was passing fast. After a few moments, the giant spoke in very broken and hard to understand common, “Than…k Y…ou.” Hearing the giant struggle to speak in comon Sais called Kassandra to his hand and pointed at her. Sais then said, “my magical dagger will translate, you can speak in your native language.” Kassandra then spoke out loud and translated what Sais said into giant. Then using Kassandra as an interpreter Sais asked the giant why he warned them about the stumps. The giant first told Sais his name was Razmus and then he told him that he knew he was in trouble so when he saw them, he warned them hopping that if he did, then they might help him. And he was correct. Sais was a little surprise that Razmus, a Giant, thought that humans were worth talking to, and Razmus explained that even though “humans are unfortunately tasty”, he had learned that they are worth talking to. Zheda then joined them and asked Razmus why the monsters were attacking him. Razmus simply said, “I leave my tribe and I no talk about it.” Sais then asked him if him leaving the tribe had anything to do with a red-haired lady or a red-haired ½ snake lady. Razmus said, “No, Red haired lady.” Hearing his response Zheda knew he was holding something back, so she gave him a look that would stop a rampaging ogre as she asked him to tell them more. The sight of a 5-foot 2 elf staring down a 11-and-a-half-foot tall hill giant was truly amazing, especially because it worked. Seeing the lookon Zheda’s face, caused Razmus to step back a little before he then told them that while he had not seen a red-haired snake lady, he had met 2 others. He also added that those snake ladies are most likely the ones that sent these creatures after him using their magic. Sais then tried to befriend Razmus a little by telling him about all the trouble they have had with the red-haired snake lady; the paradise, the tattoos, the fort where she mind controlled the rangers, and what she did in the swamp. As Sais told the story, Alaina went around to all the bodies and got eyes and tongues for Pazuzu. Alaina was giving the giant murderous eyes as she went about her rituals. Also, as he was talking, Sais went out of his way to read Razmus’s facial expression and body language so that he could read the giant’s mind (Skill unlock Sense Motive 10 ranks). As Sais told the story he saw a vision in Razmus’s mind, it was 2 lamia Matriarchs, one with black hair and one with green, standing next to a 10-foot-tall Stone giant. Once Sais was done with his story, Razmus said that he would like to repay his debt to them by going with them and helping to fight this red-haired snake lady. Sais then asked Razmus if he had seen any black-haired snake ladies and the giant did not lie. He said he had seen one a while ago with his tribe, but that he left his tribe and did not want to talk about it. At this point, everyone realized that Razmus was a lot smarter than the average giant, he could lie and even tell only part of a story, so Sais asked him what his story was, how to did he become faster and smarter that most of his kin. Razmus explained that as a child he was taken from his tribe with several other children by a man. This man then did experiments on them which killed all the children but him. In his case, he was gifted with speed and intelligence. However, because he was the only survivor of all the children, the man sent him back to the tribe alone and never returned. At first everyone immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was a mage that was trying to make a super soldier to him, but Alaina realized that it would have had to have been an Alchemist (GM note: Alaina determined that Razmus had the Alchemically Quickened template). Sais then told Razmus that they were on their way to the Kreeg clan hold and that he assumed Razmus’s tribe would be there. However, Razmus told him, “NO, my tribe is far from here.” This surprised Sais so he said, “OK?” Sais then turned to the rest of the group and asked them if Razmus could join them. Zheda said that he had proved himself to be reasonable, so she did not have a problem with it. Cereliona said, “Yes” and then she added that after all she was the first one that jumped in to save him, so this should not be a surprise to them. Before Alaina could answer, Sais looked to her and said, “No, Fireballs this time.” Alaina then reluctantly told them that if they did not want her to, then she would not attack him. Sais then put Kassandra away, but he placed her on his belt where she could still be heard in case she needed to translate more. Once he was unarmed, Sais held out his had to shake and Razmus put down his earth break before holding out his pinky. Sais grab his finger and the two, “Shook Hands” in friendship. At this point, Xavian returned from healing Cereliona’s horse. He then went about healing Zheda and even Razmus as if the giant had always been a member of their team. With friendship’s started, Sais then went about the vermin to collect poison from each one. The last scorpion’s stinger had been damaged so it took him a second attempt before he got enough to make a dose. While Sais worked, Razmus watched him and as soon as the rogue was done, he asked if they were done with the bodies and if he could have them. Sais quickly confirmed with the group before he said “Yes”. Razmus then went over to each of the vermin and used his earth breaker to turn them into paste. Zheda watched how he swung his hammer, in order to get ideas on where to punch him, just in case it came to fight at some time in the future. Once this was done, everyone that needed to then, mounted up as then they all continued to the Kreeg Clanhold with Jakardros leading the way.
Treasure
Yap returns or did he really leave
Weather (Every area in this section)
After about another 2 hours of riding in the rain, Xavian rode up to the front of the pack so he could talk to Jakardros. While he was there, every one of the group members noticed a small invisible creature doing something in his pack. Seeing what he knew to be a pixie, Sais said, “not again.” Then Cereliona said, “Yap, come on out.” They had all assumed correctly because as soon as he was called by name, Yap became visible and flew up to Cereliona. He looked much better than he did last time, his eyes were not puffy from crying and he had a smile on his face. He then turned to Sais, and said, “I bring payment, you agreed to help, and I agreed to pay.” Hearing about payment she did not care about, Zheda asked Yap why he was always invisible. This distracted him. He then flew over by Zheda and with a very fast pace he told her that he liked to go through people’s packs and leave presents. Sometimes it would be a little doll he made, sometimes mushrooms, and sometimes even fresh fish. However, he found out that no one would let him do this if they saw him, so he has to go invisible so that they don’t stop him. Also, that he likes to hide and watch. Cereliona then said, “you have been following us this whole time, haven’t you?” Yap said, “Not the whole time, most of it but not all of it. There was a little time after the swamp where you were alone, but it was not long.” Zheda then asked Yap if he took anything from Xavian’s pack. He said, “No, I only leave presents. And sometimes writing too, yea I like to write things too. Does that count as leaving something?” Zheda said, “Yes” in a firm voice as if she was scolding a child. Yap then flew over to Xavian’s pack and lifted up one of the flaps. Under it was written in small letters, “Xavian’s pack everyone else is a stupid head.” Showing this to group made Yap laugh which in turn made most of the group laugh even Xavian. However, Sais did not find it funny, he instead tried to plug his ears as he tried to ignore the pixie’s annoying high-pitched voice. Yap then seemed to remember why he was here and he said, “But payment.” Sais then looked at Zheda and asked for permission with a look. Zheda nodded that it was ok with her so Sais turned back to Yap and said, “OK, I will take it.” Yap then dropped a bag into Sais lap. Inside the rogue found 16 vials of pixie dust. Getting more than he expected, Sais offered some to Cereliona and Jakardros. They both wanted a few with Jakardros being surprised but very happy to be included. Sais took 2 and the rest was split between the two rangers, giving each 7 vials. Zheda was very happy the group was sharing with and helping the Black arrows which showed on her face so much that it could have even been seen in this rain. Seeing this, Sais decided to pick on her, so he stuck out his tongue at her. Zheda returned this in kind but as she stuck out her tongue, Yap flew above her and did the same. Riding in the rain had been taking its toll on the rogue’s patience and this pushed him over the edge. He called Kassandra to his hand and he threatened Yap with her. This caused Yap to immediately go invisible and fly behind Zheda to cower away from Sais. The group then, all as a team, quickly calmed Sais down and got him to put the magical knife away. After that Yap flew up and let them ride a little away from him. However, before they got far, Cereliona yelled to Yap, “Come on.” Sais gave Cereliona a dirty look for inviting the pixie, but as he did Alaina flew up to float next to the mounted rogue and said, “I allowed the giant, so you will allow the pixied.” Sais accepted this so he rode on without looking at the Pixie anymore.
Treasure
Yap’s true mission
The heavy rain continued but it did not seem to dampen Yap’s mood. He flew around Cereliona as they traveled. Then after about a half an hour, the pixie moved up to “whisper” in Cereliona’s ear. He got close to her ear and cupped his hand around his mouth before he started to speak. Now a normal person would lower their voice or maybe yell as a joke, but Yap just spoke in his normal volume, which was still louder than most people, “What is up with the giant?” Cereliona was a little shocked by the loud “whisper” but once she recovered, she told Yap that Razmus was an ally of the group and not one of the giants that attacked his lady. This cause the pixie to get excited. He next spoke out loud for all to here, “Since the giant is your ally then Yap can complete his real mission and his true reason for being here.” He then looked confused for a moment, “What was the info again, I cannot have forgot.” It took him a moment but then he seemed to remember which him even more excited. He said, “You should know that the sisters of the hook are with the Kreeg. They were sisters of my mistress and were nymphs.” Zheda then said, “So do we need to worry about being blinded like when we met your lady?” Yap said, “No, they were nymphs, but they performed rituals and sacrifices, so many sacrifices, in an attempt to become prettier than my lady. Not possible!!, but they tried. It did not work. They are not pretty now, they are not nymphs either, they are not even fey anymore, they are now monsters.” Hearing Yap’s description of the sisters and what they have become, Cereliona realized that these fey had most likely become Hags. And she knew that Hags were most infamous for being able to cast powerful spells including Control Weather. As soon as she shared this with the group her and Sais said in unison, “Now, we know were the strange weather is coming from.” Hearing this Yap flew into the center of the traveling group, floated in the rain, and pointed up as he said, “Yep, this storm is definitely them.” Sais then turned and asked Razmus if he had met any hags, but he said, “No only snake ladies.” Zheda then asked Yap if he knew how to get to the sisters of the hook. Yap did not know but he flew up to and landed on the back of Jakardros’s horse and sat down facing toward group. He then pointed his thumb over his shoulder at Jakardros and said, “But he does, He is taking you to the clanhold and I don’t know a better way. Or even a way at all, I would never find the clanhold without following him.” As the pixie sat on the back of Jakardros’s horse, everyone noticed that ranger was not looking at or acknowledging the pixie, he was acting as if he believed that if he ignored Yap, the pixie would go away. Ironically after a few moments, Yap left and went back to fly by Cereliona.
Hags
Acid Mountain encounter
Weather (Every area in this section)
Thanks to Cereliona’s spell, only took them another 2 hours of riding in the never ending rain to reach the base of highest peak in the mountains. As they were traveling around at the base of the mountain looking for a place to stop and camp for the night, all of the heroes of Sandpoint noticed two creatures with multiple angry snake-like heads rising from its sleek, serpentine body up in front of them coming down mountain paths to the east and west of their north bound pass. Also, up on the 60-foot-high mountain hills around them were 8 ferocious looking creatures that resembled a small brown-and-yellow scaled dragon with no wings. Seeing these magical beasts and Dragons, Alaina’s arcane studies came in handy because he had read about these creatures, they both acid versions of their respective types; hydra and drake. She warned everyone about the dangers of these creatures while the group attacked before the monsters could pounce, surprising the drakes but not the hydras.
9 headed Acid Hydra
Acid Drake
Battle at the base of the Mountain
Sais was the first to react, activating his vanishing wayfinder. Cereliona charge up on her horse and through her chakram, hitting the eastern hydra before the weapon returned to her hand. Barkenstien followed next to her. Zheda then stepped up behind the western hydra before dropping into dragon style. The Hydras then returned the group’s strikes. The hydra by Zheda turned and bit the monk once. The one by Cereliona, charged up and bit her once also. Seeing this, Alaina flew 30 feet strait up. Sais then quickly dismounted and moved to sneak up behind the hydra by Zheda. Cereliona then moved her mount 5 feet before she gracefully jumped out of her saddle to land where Barkenstien would be between her and the hydra. She then through her chakram, careful to not hit Barkenstien, and hit it hard in the chest and as the weapon returned to her hand, Barkenstien followed it by bite at and scoring 2 good hits against its necks but he could not get a leg to trip. The Acid Drakes then all dove into the mountain rock as if it was water. However, everyone was able to track their movements as 7 of them moved to be under the main party, but since they had moved a great distance; they were not able to pop out just yet. The eighth one moved up behind Zheda were it popped out of the earth and slashed at her with acid coated claws, landing a wounding blow. Zheda quickly recovered and then she came back swinging with all the sin in her soul (Sin monk: Sinful strike) hitting 3 times and heavily wounding the drake. Razmus then ran up on the east drake, using his speed to hit it when it was not looking (Spring attack), landing a power blow with his earth breaker as he ran by, ending up about 20 feet behind the monster. The estern Hydra then breathed acid 4 times and then it stuck out with its other 5 heads. The 4 acid breaths were focused on the up-front group effecting Cereliona, her horse, Barkenstien, Sais horse, Jakardros, his horse, and Kibb. Cereliona managed to evade all but of 1 of them (Evasion), taking only minor damage. Her horse was burned so bad it passed out but even after it feel it kept breathing (-1 HP, stabilized). Barkenstien faired about as good as his master. Jakardros, Kibb, and his horse all 3 did well avoiding these breath attacks, luck was clearly on their side as they took only minor acid burns. The 5 heads then came in after them, but the creature must have been too excited because it stumbled over its own heads and feet landing prone at the group’s feet (3 Natural 1s in a row). The other creature sent 5 of its heads at Zheda landing 1 hit and 4 after Sais, landing 3 times. The bites tore at their flesh and hurt but neither took serious damage. As they finished attacking, those around these monsters could see as some of the damage done to these creatures closed up stopping any bleeding (Fast Healing). Alaina then through 3 scorching rays at the one by Zheda, landing all three and severely burning the monster; before she flew another 30 feet up. Jakardros then rode his horse up before he quickly dismounted to land and fire a single arrow at the Hydra by Cereliona. Kibb followed behind him. Xavian then moved to place himself in the middle of the group where he channeled to heal, but he could not get Alaina or Zheda within range. Sais then struck from the safety of invisibility. Striking at the head’s shared heart killing the creature and becoming visible in the process. Seeing Zheda now only had one drake to deal with, he turned south and moved to rejoin the main group. Cereliona then sent all the horses away, causing them all to withdraw from the combat, she then stepped north and through her chakrum at the east hydra, hitting it for some good damage again. Barkenstien then got a perfect bite into the hydra’s side (Critical hit) tearing up the creature’s lungs, killing the 9 headed monster. Zheda then turned her focus on the drake behind her, hitting is 3 times and succeeding into stunning the creature which allowed her to drop in under its guard to hit it two more time. This finish it off because she crushed in its rib cage. Then the 7 remaining drakes popped up out of the earth amidst the main party. The one by Cereliona missed with it’s bite and claws, as did the one by Sais. However, two popped up by the cleric both hitting the dwarf twice dealing good damage. The remaining 3 used their Acid ball breath weapons, hitting Sais, Cereliona, Barkenstien, and Xavian. Barkenstien and the heroes managed to evade most of the acid but Xavian took all three hit hard which dropped him (-7). Razmus then ran up on the drake by Cereliona and Barkenstien, where he brought his earth breaker down on the drake’s head killing it. Seeing this Cereliona said out loud to herself, “I am so glad we brought him along.” Alaina then casted an Electric ball and sent it to land perfectly in the middle of all the group where it could burn 3 of the drakes but none of the group, killing one of the drakes. She then used her Pazuzu holy symbol to quickly summon (Swift) a Celestial Dire bat and sent it after one of the evil drakes. The bat swooped down on it, but the drake was too fast this time. Jakardros then took a step back from the drake and as soon as he did, Kibb moved up between him and the drake blocking so the ranger could use his bow. The cat got in a good scratch on the drake as Jakardros fired 3 arrows into the creature burning it heavily with the electricity of his bow. Xavian could only bleed on the ground (Gm note: failed to stabilize, -8). Sais then blinded the drake in front of him before slashing it twice with his short sword. Cereliona sent Barkenstien in to attack and hopefully trip a nearby drake. The Drakes reach allowed it to swipe at him first, but it missed. Barkenstien succeeded on his bite to its leg which allowed him to trip the drake as the ranger had hoped. Cereliona was then allowed to pull her wand out and run to Xavian while the drake was down. She quickly used the wand to heal the cleric. She did stop his bleeding, but he did not wake up (GM Note: healed only 5 so still at -3). The 6 remaining drakes then attacked. A north one went after Kibb but it only managied to land one weak hit. The one by Sais faired a little better, hitting the rogue twice. A middle one went after Barkenstien but it missed the large dog with all three attacks. The tripped drake tried to get up, but Barkenstien snapped at it with his teeth, tearing flesh. Alaina’s dire bat then took advantage of the dragons weakness and bite it in the throat right after Barkenstien hit, killing it the drang. The next one stepped to flank Cereliona and attacked, missing with all three strikes. The last one ran up on Rasmus, dodging an attack from Cereliona but missing on the giant as well. Zheda then did a flying kick down the hill to hit the drake that attack Sais. Hitting with a kick and two punches the second of which killed the drake. Razmus then brought his earth breaker down twice on the drake the charged him, crushing its spine and killing it. Watching the giant fight Cereliona thought to her self again, “Really glad we brought him along.” Alaina then found the perfect place to put another Electric ball and hit all 3 of the remaining drakes, killing 2 of them. Her bat went in and bit the last living Drake. The bat’s fly by was quickly followed by 3 arrows from Jakardros which ended the creature.
Healing and digging up treasure
With all their enemies dead, Cereliona then immediately healed Xavian with her wand again. This time he opened his eyes. It took the dwarf only a few seconds to look around, and immediately channeled to heal. He then thanked Cereliona for healing him and she told him anytime. Everyone then got back together were Xavian healed everyone back up to full health while they looked around to determine where the creature had come from. Zheda, Cereliona, and Sais all 3 noticed that up the path the east hydra came from was a mound of dirt. Cereliona and Sais then both said, “Dragon Horde” and they ran up to see what it was. While everyone went to investigate this, Alaina went around and gathered up all 8 drake eyes and tongues as well as all of the hydra’s for Pazuzu. Back at the mount, they found that the mound was not made of typical loose dirt, it was more like something had been pushed up from within the earth. They guess that the drakes had placed it here using their earth glide. It took them a minute to dig it up, but the rain had made the ground loose so while it was wet it was not difficult. In the earth they found a bag which contained an amulet, a ring, and a book. Alaina then joined them and quickly identified the items. She then quickly claimed the amulet because it would help her with spellcraft and no one argued. Zheda took the ring because it was only useful for a monk. However, she had one problem. She already had 2 ring she liked. One was her far strike ring and the other protected her from harm. Eventually she decided that her monk training could defender her enough, so she replaced her protection ring with this new monk ring. The book was then stored for them to look at later. At this point, Yap came out of his hiding place in Cereliona’s horse’s saddle bags as he became visible. He rejoined them, but he did not talk about his hiding, the battle, or really anything at all. It only took about 30 minutes for them to gather everything else back up and a find a place to set up camp for the night. Once they did, they all got off their horses and started to set up camp in the rain.
Monsters
Treasure
The Last thing that happened
The group had just found a suitable campsite and they were setting up in the rain.
GM Favorite moment
The beginning of the Razmus fight were everyone took time and decided if their character would help a giant. Everyone in the group had a reason to hate giants so while they did not want to help, in the end, I think in came down to “Heroes must do what Heroes must do.”
Experience
Each Player received 14,900 experience points (Total: 146,070 [12th level] Gained a new level) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 42 (08/15/2018)
Day 72 [continued] (Moonday the 3rd of Kuthona, Monday 12/03/2047)
Bedding down and the next morning
Weather (in effect all night and into the morning)
Before bed
As they prepared for the night, Skovald asked the group if someone would be willing to rise early so that they could help him with some training. Sais and Zheda both offered their help, but Skovald only needed one so he decided to work with his “little sister”, but he thanked Sais. The monk and the Viking then went off to bunk together. Alaina then casted rope trick so the group could have somewhere dry to sleep. Razmus did not want to climb the rope, instead he found a spot that was sheltered from the rain and laid down there. Before climbing up, Jakardros casted a spell on kibb to turn him into a small figurine again, which he pocketed. Seeing this Cereliona said to him, “Good Idea.” Jakardros then looked at Cereliona and said, “Had to be done. She is deadly in forests and open areas, but she will not be very effect in caves, so I am keeping her safe for now.” They then quickly set up watches for the night, before everyone climbed up the rope and rested for the night. Thankfully the night passed without incident and everyone was able to get a good night’s sleep.
The next morning
The next morning, Zheda was the first one to wake, other than Alaina who only slept 2 hours a night. The first thing she did was wake up Skovald, so they could practice. Once the two were up, they left the rope trick and went out into the rain. Once outside, Skovald had Zheda stand in a combat stance and hold it for 1 hour. During this time, the Viking performed a serious of practice swings on Zheda. This allowed him to develop the muscle memory necessary to use his new skill in combat (GM note: Kane used Critical Versatility to gain Bleeding critical). Standing still like this, Zheda meditated and practice monk patients. While this was going on, everyone else slept in a little longer. Not too long after Kane finished, everyone got up, left the rope trick, and came out to complete their own morning rituals in the rain. Jakardros took this time to set up an area for the horse where they would be safe. Once everyone was done, Zheda went around a gave everyone an alcoholic breakfast from her mug. Now that everyone was fed, they readied to climb the mountain. Jakardros told them that they would have to leave the horses here, because the quadrupeds would not be able climb the mountain. Everyone understood so they got any gear they needed and readied to go. Alaina took this time to cast Mage Armor on herself and Zheda.
Climbing the Hook Mountain
As they started to head up, Jakardros led the way. It took a few minutes but eventually he found a set of hunting trail used by the ogres which he followed. Cereliona took note of the trail herself just incase she needed to know the way back. As they climbed up the mountain, they also moved closer to its center and as they did, the rain turned to light snow. This area was like a mild snow storm in the middle of the eye of a storm raging around them. Cereliona could also tell that this was natural snow, meaning the control weather spells were not being used here. However, the cold weather made everyone very glad that they had cold weather gear, but even with the gear they could still feel the cold reaching for them. However, Cereliona and Jakardros used their wilderness skills to help everyone cope, allowing everyone to ignore the cold for now. (GM note: everyone received +2 from Cereliona and Jakardros survival rolls and +5 from their cold weather gear for Fort saves vs the cold. Everyone passed). However, as they kept climbing the mountain; the air thinned which presented another challenge, altitude fatigue. As they were getting close to reaching the top of the mountain; Alaina, Barkenstien, and Sais all succumbed to the lack of oxygen which drained their strength (GM note: All 3 were fatigued by the Altitude). Seeing the weakness in the rogue, Skovald moved up to check on him. As he did, he smelled the ocean coming from Sais’s pack. This peaked his curiosity, so he started to dig in Sais’s pack to get to the smell. Sais stopped him before he could get a hand in, by flicking him in the ear and saying, “What are you doing.” Skovald told Sais that he smelled something strange in his pack and that he wanted to check on it to make sure that nothing was going to eat through Sais’s back and spine. Cereliona then moved up and joined them. Once she was close she made it a point to sniff the air and she could not smell anything but the mountain and the snow. She told the Viking this and his response was to say, “Trust me”. Cereliona said she was fine with Skovald checking Sais’s pack, but Sais then jumped in and say, “No he cannot, it is my pack.” Skovald then looked at Sais and waited for the rogue to decide if he would trust him or not. After a moment, Sais agreed and Skovald was allowed to check Sais’s pack. The smell of the ocean was coming from the flag that Sais found on the ship in the swamp so Skovald pulled it out. As he did, Alaina noticed that the item became magical as Skovald touched it. Once the Viking had the flag out, the knowledge of what it was filled his head. He could fell the power of Gozreh (his god), the strength of mountains, and the calm of ocean all with this piece of cloth. Feeling the power in and knowing it was for him, Skovald took the flag and pinned it to his armor with the Gozreh symbol displayed. He then clapped Sais on the back and thanked him for carrying the flag this far. As he touched Sais, the magic of the flag was shared with him. As the magic effected Sais, he could smell the salt water aroma of the church of Gozreh that they had found in Skulls Crossing. This smell seemed to fill him with air and allowing him to breathe fully again which allowed him to get over his altitude fatigue. Sais thanked the Viking for this. The Viking then turned to Alaina and Barkenstien and apologized because once a day was all the power the item had. Alaina was little upset about this because she did not like being tired, but she was only a little upset. They then continued the climb up the mountain.
Weather/Environment
Treasure
The Top of Hook Mountain
As they finally crested the last craggy outcrop about a half-mile from hook mountain’s 10,000-foot-high peak, they found a gaping cave that was belching fourth foul black smoke. The cave entrance looked out over a wide ledge of windswept stone, while the chambers within were prowled by ogres aplenty. Now that they were in sight of the clanhold, Cereliona decided to try a new ranger spell. She casted Life bubble and shared the spell between herself, Alaina, Barkenstien, Zheda, Jakardros, and Razmus. This spell put a thin bubble of air around them, allowing them to breathe easily while also protecting them from the cold. They then moved closer to the cave, so they could get a better look.
Weather/Environment
Guards
The constant flurries of windborne snow and frost lashed the gaping hole in the side of Hook Mountain here. Smoke poured forth from the cave entrance, only to be instantly dispersed by the wind. Standing just outside the cave entrance, everyone but Skovald saw 2 ogre fighters on guard duty. Cereliona elven ears let her hear that the ogres were talking, however it was in giant so she did not understand the words. When she shared this with the group, they asked her if she could repeat the words so Kassandra could translate, but the wind and the snow distorted the words that she did not understand to such a point that this would not work. Sais then volunteered to take Kassandra up to the cave entrance, so she could hear them and translate. Alaina said that she wanted to send in an Arcane eye instead which was followed by Skovald joining in saying, he would rather just charge in. However, Zheda and Cereliona also wanted to know what the ogres were saying and to scout it out with Arcane eye also, so it was quickly decided that they would do both. First Sais would sneak up and then Alaina would send in an Arcane eye.
Weather/Environment
Scouting the Clanhold
Listening to the guards
Sais then quickly got ready to sneak up to the ogre guards. As he did, Yap flew up next to him with his bow out. Once he was next to the rogue the pixie made himself invisible. Alaina, Cereliona, and Sais were all still able to track as he flew in place, invisible. Cereliona simply said to the pixie, “No noise.” The pixie’s only response was to nod his head, which no one saw but because he did not make noise they all assumed he got it. Sais then started to make his way around the outside of the cave with the invisible yap right next to him. Once he was within 100 ft of the cave entrance, Kassandra told him she could make out the voices well enough. Sais then placed himself somewhere safe and outsight; were let Kassandra do just that. She explained to Sais that she could hear them talking about a third ogre guard that had been caught sleeping by Barl. The stone giant tore off the lazy ogre’s legs and left him rolling in the snow to bleed out before animating him as a zombie and turning him over to the three sisters for an eventual meal. There was then a small pause before the ogre’s started to talk again. Kassandra told Sais that now they were talking about when Barl first arrived. When he did, he show Groki a seven point start medallion around his neck. Grolki then fell to his knees in shock because that rune was once his family’s mark. Grolki immediately swore allegiance to Barl but Barl executed him moments later. After that one of Grolki’s guards tried to take out the stone giant, but the guard was killed with a single spell. After that Barl put them to work making weapons and both of the guards were happy to not be making weapons right now so they were trying to do a good job while on watch. After this the guards went silent and started to look around more. Sais waited until it was clear and then he made his way quietly back to the group. Once he made it back to the group, he filled them in on what he heard. The news of a spell casting giant was of particular importance to Alaina. She asked Kassandra if she was sure of what she heard 2 times. On the second time, Kassandra spirit form came out of the dagger and got right in Alaina’s face where she said, “For the third time, Yes, they talked about a magic wielding stone giant. Do not ask me again.” Sais then asked Alaina why that was so important to her. She then explained that a magic wielding stone giant is what killed her family. As she talked about this, Alaina got a murderous look in her eyes, and as she did her new eyes from Pazuzu filled with lightning putting an exclamation point at the end of her words. Seeing she was motivated the group then asked her to scout with arcane eye to give her something to do. This distracted Alaina from her anger for now, so she got to work on her spell. She started the eye by the ogre guards but she quickly moved it inside. The cave itself, went down into the mountain with this door way appearing to be the high point of the cave complex. This allowed the smoke from fires deeper in the cave to find its way out. The soot from generations of fires, covered the walls here. The tunnels were 50 feet high and the larger rooms had vaulted ceiling that went as high as 100 feet.
Weather/Environment
Bones of the Behemoth
As she moved the sensor deeper into the mouth of the cave, jagged spurs of bone protruded from the stone on either side of the cave entrance, each towering twenty feet in height, apparently the ribs of some monstrous behemoth. Alaina easily identified these as the bones of a blue dragon. These bones had been covered with crude scrimshaw carvings, incorporating the seven-pointed Sihedron Rune into the markings in many locations. Not seeing the giant, she wished to kill, Alaina moved farther into the cave.
The Rune-Bound King
At the end of the cave entrance was a set of stairs with an enormous statue standing next to them in a frozen vigil. It was a forty-foot-tall giant with black skin covered by fissures and cracks, like the bed of a dried river. He wore majestic armor, gilded and encrusted with gems, and he gripped a towering glaive in his armored fists. The giant’s face was hidden by a ferocious full helm forged into the sneering grimace of a fanged devil while around the giant’s neck hung a seven-pointed star medallion. This “statue” did not respond to her, so she ignored it and headed down the stairs.
The Burning Pit
After a short distance, the stairs came to landing. To the east a short cave led to a deep pit hewn from hard stone, that descended into soot and darkness and to the west was more stairs going down. Alaina ignored the pit as well and headed deeper into the cave.
Chokepoint
At the bottom of the stairs was a central area with 3 more exits. A tunnel to the north that had natural light and some snow blowing in from father in. To the west was another tunnel but this one had the flicker of firelight coming from within. And finally, to the south was stairs leading down to an area filled with firelight. Each exit had a guard, to the north and south were ogre fighters but to the west was a hill giant. Still with no sign of a stone giant, Alaina headed west.
Circle of The Sisters
This tunnel led to a cave that was cluttered with an appalling amount of body parts, dead animals, spoiled food, and filth, but what was most hideous is what bubbled and cooked in a huge cauldron over a sputtering fire in the middle of the room. Around this cauldron were 3 creatures. One was a hulking, humpbacked hag dressed in black with oversized talons sprouting from her stumpy arms. The next was tall and thin, like a skeleton wrapped in ugly purple flesh and a sagging red robe. The final one’s face was a mass of pustules, warts the size of gold pieces, and craters that wept ooze. She was squat and fat with bulbous breasts that hung almost to her knees and wearing filthy blue robes. All three of them were moving their lips but Alaina could not make out their words. As she described these creatures to the group, Cereliona remembered more about these hags. She added that in addition to control weather, the coven could cast baleful polymorph and mind blank. Just as Cereliona finished saying this, the three hags all disappeared from the sight of Alaina’s magical sensor. Alaina realized that they must have been casting mind blank because that spell is one of the few that would conceal them from Alaina’s arcane eye. Now that she could no longer observe the hags, Alaina headed the sensor back to the center area and then south toward more fires.
Hags
The Clanhold
Fire and thick black smoke reigned here, spewing from black pits in the bedrock where forge fires glowed. Anvils loomed throughout this enormous cavern. The ring of steel on steel thundered here as giant hammers crashed down again and again on glowing half-forged blades and axe-heads. The southern wall had 3 small side tunnels. Inside this large room, Alaina found 10 ogres hard a work forging and repairing weapons while a single ogre fighter task master watched over them. Ignoring the ogres, Alaina checked out the side tunnels, but each of them led to a cramp mine shaft that clearly went very deep into the mountain. She felt that a stone giant would not fit in these tunnels, so she turned around and headed all the way back to the north tunnel.
North Tunnel
This tunnel split to the East and North west after a short distance. To the East was another set of stairs while the North west had natural light coming from it. North was also the source of the snow, it blew in and throughout the area. Alaina decided to say in the cave so headed east.
Abandoned Shrine
At the base of the stairs was a shrine that bared the feral visage of a brutally beautiful monstrous maiden with the head of a three-eyed jackal and the belly of a pregnant young woman leaned against the far wall. In the middle of this church was a pale skinned walking corpse, its body was skeletal in places, ice and frost clung to its hair, its left hand looked almost to be a claw made of icicles, its brow was decorated with a crown of the same and its eye sockets glowed with blue-white light. Seeing this creature Alaina described him to the group and Zheda quickly identified it as a Frost Wight. Hearing about a powerful undead, everyone immediate worried that the creature would be incorporeal but Zheda quickly informed that it was in fact a solid, corporeal being. As Alaina looked at the monster she noticed at Black Arrow Crest in the folds of its clothing. When she shared this with the group, everyone came to the conclusion that this undead was Lamatar Bayden. However, Alaina did not care much about that, she was on a mission to find a stone giant caster, so she headed the north east passage.
Frost Wight
As the Dread Kings of Old
This cave opened up into a gigantic chamber that extended deep to the east, sloping upward between two wide ledges on which loomed statues with angular faces, stern brows, and strong jawlines. Above, the ceiling opened to the slate gray sky above. The ramp led up in tiers, finally coming to an end before an immense stone throne. On both ledges were 3 stone giant’s each. All were watching the entrance that Alaina came through and appeared to be ready for a fight. Now having seen all the rooms and not finding anything that looked like a stone giant caster Alaina was disappointed. However, she did not waste the last bit of her spell. She moved the sensor forward and saw that there was some gems and other treasure piled up behind the throne on the east end of this room. Instead of investigating it, she instead tried to take the sensor out the open top, so she could hopefully find a way to it from the outside, but her spell ended before she got 75 feet up.
Entering the Kreeg Clanhold
Plan of Attack
With her spell over, the first thing Alaina pointed out was that they did not see the spell casting stone giant. However, everyone pointed out that they saw his treasure, so this was his base, but he may have left for a while. Then they moved on to Lamatar Bayden and that he had now been turned into a frost wright. Zheda then pointed out that wight have a particular vulnerably to resurrection magic so if they could cast raise dead on him, hit would instantly destroy him. However, Xavian pointed out that raise dead takes at least 10 minutes to cast so unless they wanted to hold him for 10 minutes he could not cast anything fast enough to help there. Skovald said he thought the could hold the wight for 10 minutes but if he could do that he could just as easily kill it, himself. Alaina then tells them she has a crazy idea. Cereliona’s first response is, “No Alaina we are not going to fireball them from up in the air.” This cause Alaina to smile but she told her that “No, I want to include everyone. We are the Heroes’.” I think we can set up a bottle neck in the cave right by the giant statue. I can make Zheda and Skovald big which should block anything from getting through. Then the rest of us can stay back and use range. Then all they would have to do is make noise and the giants would come to them. Sais did not like that idea, so he gave a counter offer. He suggested that they take out these front guards quietly if possible. He then said that he was glad Yap showed up because they could use his pixie dust to put the guards to sleep. At this moment Yap became visible flying over Sais head. He was all smiles and happiness as he bounced in the air like an excited child from the little bit of Sais gave him. Sais looked up and saw the pixie. He then just smiled and continued. He explained that he figured Yap and Cereliona could each take out a guard simultaneously. Cereliona interjected at this point and said, “In this case, Jakardros will be a much better shot. His bow has much better range.” Everyone accepted Cereliona’s honesty and Jakardros thanked her for it then he agreed to be one of the shooters. If they succeeded, then Sais added they could move on to the next set of guards. He then continued that if they were lucky they could put those ones to sleep too. He hoped they could do that for a while, he knew they would get attacked eventually, then they could fall back, and Alaina would get her bottle neck with many possible area effect targets as well. He hoped that doing this would actually help them clear out the side tunnels easier. He said the only thing that really surprised him in the cave was the hill giant. As he started talking about putting the hill giant guard to sleep, Razmus leaned over them to listen and due to his large size, he worked as an umbrella of sorts shielding the group from the snow, so everyone instantly noticed him. The group accepted this as part of him joining their group, so they continued to speak openly in his presence. Cereliona then asked Yap how often his dust failed to put something to sleep. Yap proudly said, “They fail to fall asleep less than 1/3 of the time.” Cereliona then did the math so she knew that something would resist the magic eventually. She then focused on true combat and talked about how the Hill giant could be trouble. But before she could get too deep into this Razmus spoke up and said, “I protect Hill Giant.” It took everyone a moment, but they picked up on the word “protect.” Cereliona then turned to Razmus and asked him what he meant. He said, “Hill protect hill, Hill not fight hill”. Sais asked if putting him to sleep was ok. Razmus thought for a moment and then said, “Yes, but I stay and guard while he sleep.” No one had a problem with this, so they continued their planning. Skovald then ask Cereliona to continued telling them about giants. She warned them that stone and hill giants can through boulders, so they always have a ranged weapon. Alaina ask for a moment, so she could cast spells. First, she cast Protection from fire and then shield. After the second one, she said she was done. At that moment Yap went invisible and said, “I got the South One.” Not quite ready yet but close enough, everyone just followed Yaps lead. Jakardros quickly readied his arrow with pixie dust, drew his bow, sighted up on the north one and waited for the south one to fall.
Wight, all varieties
Hill and Stone giant
Taking out the front guards
They did not have to watch the south one for long. After just a few moments, the south ogre dropped to snow, asleep in an instant. As soon as that one started to fall, Jakardros took his shot. Hitting the ogre center of mass and putting it to sleep as well. Everyone then quickly moved up on the cave entrance. Sais went to the sleeping south guard, pulled his dagger, and asked, “Should we leave them alive?”. However, he was able to see his answer rather than hear it because as he turned north he saw that Jakardros was already the middle slitting that one’s throat (Coup de Grace). Sais then followed suit and slit the south one’s throat as well (Coup de Grace). They then quickly took the guards gear and headed inside.
Monsters
Skovald’s Giant Connection
Next, they moved into the cave, past the dragon bones and made it all the way to the giant “statue.” As they got close, Sais and Cereliona noticed that the tattoo Skovald acquired from Xaneshia was glowing and pulsing in beat with a similar mark on the statue. Sais through a rock at Skovald to get his attention and the rock echoed perfectly but not too loudly on his head to sound just like an open coconut. Cereliona then point to his arm and the “statue”’s arm. However, as everyone looked at it again, they realized it was gargantuan sized giant’s corpse. Seeing this Skovald walked up to and touched the corpse. As he did, Alaina could see all the runes on this corpses body glow with magical power and then after only a single second, the magic of these runes all flew into Skovald. Now taking the time to look up at the Statue, Alaina also noticed that the corpse was wearing a gargantuan Sihedron medallion, just like Nuilia and Xanesha. The group talked about not taking it now because they felt it would be bad juju; but they decided they would come back and get it on the way out. However, Zheda added that it was bad juju either way. Then Sais said, “Ya, but it is worth gold.” Zheda just shook her head as they headed deeper in.
Xanesha tattoo
The pit again
After the first set of stairs, they came upon the pit Alaina saw. However, the first thing everyone noticed was the stale reek of decay that wafted up from it 100-foot-deep depths. Sais moved over and gave it a quick look, but he saw nothing to interest him and no reason to climb down so he returned. They then headed down the next set of stairs.
Not everyone falls asleep this time
They then headed down the stairs, but they knew they would come across the next set of guards soon so they all got ready. Yap, Cereliona, and Jakardros got their dust ready. The group then quickly decided to have yap take out the south ogre fighter, Jakardros the west Hill giant, and then Cereliona would run in to take out the north ogre fighter. Everyone then stayed back and let those three do their thing. Yap was first and he went in invisible and hit the south ogre with his arrow, but it resisted the fey magic. At first everyone panicked a little, but instinct kicked in, so they pressed on. Jakardros let his arrow fly which hit the hill giant; putting him instantly to sleep. Next Cereliona ran in and succeeded at throwing her chakrum from around the corner to hit and put to sleep the North ogre fighter. After this, Cereliona caught her weapon only to immediately turn and throw it at the ogre that did not fall asleep, aiming to kill. Barkenstien then moved up to help bottle neck the base of the stairs. Sais stealthed his way along the side of the cave, staying on the stairs but doing his best to stay out of sight. Zheda them moved up with Barkenstien where she readied for them to come at her. The south ogre then yelled for all his worth in giant. However, they did not need Kassandra to translate they were all sure he said “intruders” or in some other way sounded the alarm. The fighter, then started to move down the stairs heading into the south room. As he moved he walked right by the invisible Yap, who took a chance and tried to stab the ogre with the arrow he was holding. It hit, and the fey magic again tried to put this giant to sleep. It did not work this time either. Skovald then joined Zheda and Barkenstien at the base were they now made an impressive wall of bodies. As Skovald arrived, Sais gave up his position and called for Yap to come back. Even though they could not see him directly, either through his magic aura, sound of is wings, or his smell; everyone knew he moved back up and joined them. Jakardros then moved up and readied to fire over his wall of protectors, working as ranged support. Xavian moved up right behind the line, ready to heal if needed. Razmus stayed back but he readied to run up when there was an opening. Cereliona then flee back to join the line of fighters, getting right up by Barkenstien. Zheda then held her ground waiting for the attack to come to them. In the distance they could hear ogre grunts and the sound of weapons being picked up in the south room. This was quickly followed by the sound of large feet coming this way, but they were still a good distance off. Skovald then readied to swing at the first ogre that came within reach. Being invisible Alaina was the only one to see this and even then, it was only the aura of his magic she saw, as the pixie casted shield on himself. Alaina then casted improved invisibility on herself before flying to the far north corner so she could ambush the first wave. Jakardros held his shot and continued to wait for an ogre to peak it’s head out. Xavian held his ground and did his best to look around and take in every sight and sound so he could remember it. Razmus continued to wait for an opening or anyone that needed his help. Cereliona heard the sound of many ogres coming so she readied to throw as soon as she could hit 3. Sais moved up against the wall by the entrance and disappeared into the shadows. Zheda then drunkenly ran up to the south stair case and readied to trip the first ogre she saw. Moments later she got her wish, as 10 ogres, the original ogre fighter, and the ogre taskmaster came charging into the cave. The ogre fighter was in the front. He stopped just out of Zheda’s reach but not his, hitting her hard with his ogre hook. The 10 ogre blacksmiths then came running in with clubs and tried to run by her, so they could surround her. However, thanks to her preparations and reflexes, she was able to trip many of them, but they kept coming, running or climbing on top of their tripped comrade so that 4 more got swings at her. Only 3 hit but it was enough to make the monk second guess her drunken idea. As the ogres started to hit Zheda, Jakardros got sight of one of the ogres on her. He did not hesitate as he let his arrow fly which hit the ogre good in the shoulder. Skovald then moved up and finished off what Jakardros started and killed that ogre bit just barely. It took the magic acid of his glove and the electrical gift of his blood line to finish of the creature. (GM note: Without acid and Electrical damage ogre would have survived that blow). Yap the moved to the west side of the cave and fired a sleep arrow at another ogre, sending it to sleep town. Alaina then yelled to Alaina, clear out of them, I am going to do something big. Cereliona moved to within 40 feet to get the ogres in close range, throwing and hitting one with her charkrum but she missed on first bounce; ending the weapon’s cycle and returning it to her hand. Barkenstien was then commanded to stay and guard the stairs, which he did. Saia then moved quietly around the outside of the pack and made his way to one of the trip victims. Stabbing the creature when it was not looking. Zheda then punched and stunned one of the ogres in front of her before smiling and stepping to north by the sleeping guard. Seeing the area clear, Alaina then immediately dropped her power elemental blast on all the ogres; killing all 9 of the remaining workers and leaving the fighters heavily burned. She then flew up and unleashed a fast spell called “Cold Ice Strike.” Freezing the guard with a bolt of magic. The two remaining ogres, then brought their hooks down on Skovald with each hitting him once for heavy damage. Jakardros then moved into position by the Hill giant but it was too far for him to get a shot off after his run. Skovald then charged up to one of the ogre fighters but his swing went wild (unconfirmed Natural 1). Yap then fired an arrow at the north fighter, hitting it but for a third time, this ogre resisted the fey magic. Xavian then moved closer to place himself within 10 feet of the group. With the way now clear, Razmus moved up to guard the sleeping hill giant. Cereliona then used this opening to bounce her weapon between both fighters, hitting each for good damage. Barkenstien then left the stairs and moved up to watch Cereliona’s back. Sais then toasted Cayden and disappeared to reappear flanking one of the fighter’s with Skovald. He then stabbed it, hitting its liver killing it in a single blow before he turned and with 2 quick stabbed killed the other one as well. As soon as those creatures dropped, Jakardros moved to the north sleeping ogre. Once there he pulled out his dagger and slit the ogre’s throat. Xavian then moved up and healed the only two with wound, Skovald and Zheda, with a few quick spells.
Monsters
Where to go next
Cereliona then pointed out that it would have been nice if everyone had followed the plan and stayed back, staring at Zheda as she spoke. Alaina then said, “Let’s go kill more giants” and she then told them she thought they should move north and take on the stone giants. She explained that she figured that she could dimensional door the heavy hitters; Skovald, Cereliona, and herself to east side of the cave while the rest of the group came in the west side tunnel. She was already explaining how she thought they could put the giants in a kill box. However, the others had to interrupt her murder plans as they pointed out that would put the hags and that undead to their back which they did not like. As the other began to explain to Alaina why they felt the spell casters were a bigger threat, Alaina noticed a magical sensor appear in the corner of the room. This was only thanks to her permanent arcane sight which also helped her to identify the spell as Clairaudience-Clairvoyance. She quickly dispelled it. She then told the group that someone had been magically spying on them and while she had ended it before it saw more that a few seconds, they needed to hurry. Zheda then quickly voiced her opinion, which was that any being that could turn them into cats or newts when they were not looking, was something they should not leave at their back. She expressed that in this case, they were more of a threat than any ogre, giant or undead could bring to them. The group then quickly voted on Alaina’s plan vs. Zheda and it was decided on a 4 to 1 vote that they would take out the Hag’s first. Next, in order to scout the Hags, Sais moved into the west cave and slowly and quietly made his way to the end. At the end, he found the Circle of The Sisters. However rather than 3 hags, Sais saw 3 ogre fighters around the fire instead. He then quietly returned to the group and informed them that the sisters had left and now only 3 ogre fighters remained. Well since there were no Hags they changed their plans and readied to head north and take out the stone giants first. Just a they were getting their new plan of attack going, Cereliona said, “I bet you 5 gold, that those hags can disguise themselves with magic and that really was them we just saw.” (GM note: this is a direct quote from the player, and it was said just for fun so as GM gave a free Monster knowledge roll which he passed). And as she did, she remembered that another one of the hag’s coven spells was Veil. An illusion spell that would let them do just that. The plan then returned to the last version and they decided to head in and kill the 3 ogre fighters just in case they were the hags in disguise, first. Following a the pattern, they used before, Alaina agreed to dimensional door in Skovald, Cereliona, Xavian, and Sais; while Zheda would step her self over. Jakardros, Barkenstien, and Yap would then make their way slowly in the tunnel once they heard any noise. Razmus then told them he would take the sleeping giant south and out of harms way. He would then stay with him and that they should call if they needed him. They agreed with him and thanked him for his help. They then waited until Razmus was out of sight before they started their attack.
Hags
Killing the Sisters of the Hook
Once he was out of sight, Alaina casted her spell and brought Cereliona, Sais, Skovald, and Xavian with her into the west room. Zheda used her abundant step at the same time so they would all arrive together. Their arrival surprised the 3 ogres in here. Sais first complained about where Alaina decided to land her spell before he moved up and attack the North east ogre. As soon as his blade hit, the hag’s spell ended which show Sais that he had attack a haged. Skovald then moved up to join him but the Viking, was still a little off balance from the spell so he missed. Alaina then dropped an electric ball on the hags, making sure not to affect any of the group. Most of the hags took the spell well, but the south one was surprised and took full damage. She also thought about using one of her cold ice strikes, but she thought it would be better to save that spell for the giants. Cereliona then let her Chakrum fly, and the hags were perfectly placed to allow here to bounce her chakrum around the circle. She hit the North east one first, it then bounced to and killed the south one, before ricocheting off a wall to hit the North west one before then it magically returned to her hand. Zheda then dropped into dragon style and ran across the southern one’s body to run up to hit and stun the North east one. Sais then stepped a little around the North east one to get a better angle and it paid off. The rogue then finished off the hag with a single stab into the center of her chest. Next Jakardros made his way into the room from the cave and fired a single arrow at the only remaining hag, hitting it. Skovald then stepped away from the dead hags and swung his might swords at the remaining hag. Hit her with 3 very powerful hits (3 confirmed criticals), doing immense damage and slicing the hag up into 3 pieces. As the last hag fell dead, before any of the hags could ever respond to the group’s surprise attack, Cereliona said “Lets hear it for team work.” Everyone enjoyed this successful attack but that did not focus on it for too long because they had more enemies to face. Everyone the moved back out into the middle cave so they could start their raid on the stone giants. As they walked out of the cave, Cereliona waited to be the last one out and as she left she kicked the hag’s cauldron over, putting out the fire.
Monster
Readying to attack stone giants
With the Hags taken care of, everyone was ready to move in on the stone giants. Alaina started by offering to make Skovald and Zheda big but Skovald was the only taker. She also casted bull strength on Skovald and Zheda, before casting greater invisible on Sais. She then offered to turn anyone else that wanted it invisible, but there were no takers for this spell either. The group then broke up into 2 teams. The first team was Alaina, the enlarged Skovald and Cereliona; Alaina planned to teleport them to the east side of thrown room behind the stone giants they saw. However, since Alaina could take one more, Xavian asked to come with them and he was welcomed into their team. Team 2 would be the invisible Sais, Zheda, Barkenstien, Yap, and Jakardros. They would come in through the west entrance, so the stone giants would be trapped between the two teams. Just as they were finishing their final preparations, everyone noticed the frost wright that used to be Lamatar, leave its cavern and start to head into the throne room. Seeing this everyone said “Go” so Alaina casted Haste on the entire group, then she dimensional doored into the cavern. Once that team disappeared the other team head up to face the wright.
Fighting stone giant soldiers, Lucrecia, and a stone giant wizard
As everyone entered the cave either through the east tunnel or magic, they all noticed that snow was coming in from the open roof. It was only a little powdering that was mostly just ground snow being blown around (GM Note: Weather had no game effect on combat). Just as Cereliona and Xavian came out of the void that was the teleport spell, they immediately noticed 2 other threats in the cave. To their north was a red-haired half snake lady and to their south east was a 7th stone giant. This one was seated on the throne. However, no one else in the group noticed the new threats they were too focus on the enemies in front of them. Even though there may have been more enemies then Cereliona and planned, she still charged in not wasting their surprise. Cereliona aimed her chakrum at Lucrecia hitting her before it bounced to hit one of the northern stone giants, and then back to her hand. Barkenstien was with the other group so he waited for them to move. The stone giant in the thrown then casted a spell and used a magical semi corporeal hand that floated in the air next to him to deliver it to Cereliona. The spell drained a large amount of the ranger’s strength and transferred it to the spellcaster. On the West side, Sais then charged up and stabbed the Wight. Barkenstien followed the rogue but the cave was too tight for the large dog to reach the Wight. Then back by team one, Lucrecia casted entangle were it affected all of team one, including Alaina because she was still hovering only a few inches off the ground, but only Xavian was trapped by the plants, everyone else was able to keep them from wrapping them up. Zheda then charged in to join Sais where she kicked the Wight hard in the chest knocking it to the ground (punishing Kick). Sais used the Wight’s momentary distraction to stab it in the side as it went down (Advance Rogue Talent: Opportunist). Skovald then charged into the middle of the giant where he attacked the one lone giant, not on a ledge, and hit it hard. Alaina then flew 45 feet up in the air where she used all three of her “holy” charms to summon a medium Air elemental that she commanded to appear next to Lucrecia. Once summoned, the air elemental attempt to attack her but she was far too well defended so it missed. Xavian then broke himself free of the entanglement and move west out of its area. Cereliona next took one step to got out of the entangle spell’s area of effect. She then through he chakrum at the 3 north giants, hitting all 3 one after the other before her weapon returned to the hand. Barkenstien then tried to overrun the wright, but it stopped him by swinging at the dog’s face. Barkenstien dodged the attack but that ended his forward progress. Next the giant on the throne, casted another spell which he again used the floating hand to send to Cereliona. Once the hand touched her, she became paralyzed and started to give off a carrion stench. Jakardros was not as fast as the others on the west side so instead of attacking, he moved clockwise around the wright, ended up on the west with a much better angle of fire. Sais then tried to blind the Wight, but his flash bomb missed by a mile. The rogue followed up his mistake by stabbing the undead twice, once with each sword. Lucrecia then quickly drew 2 daggers that she used to shred the Air elemental in front of her with 3 hits from each dagger, killing the summoned creature. Back by the west entrance, the Wight got up from Zheda’s attack which allowed both Zheda and Sais to take advantage of its distraction. This allowed Sais to stab its leg, tearing several tendons and damaging its leg which slowed the undead (Critical hit: ½ speed). However, the power this hit cause the creature to lean back at just the right time to avoid Zheda’s punch. The Wight, then slashed at Zheda with its ice claw but it missed. Zheda then took a single step to the north east to move around the wight as she caused acid to coat her hands. Then she laid into the undead, punching it 3 times in the face, burning it with acid with each hit. Yap then flew invisible into the room and casted an entanglement of his own. It encompassed most of the east area, effecting Lucrecia and 2 of the stone giants to the north; but all of the group was safe from the spell. The stone giants where all held tight by the plants, but Lucrecia was too fast and avoided getting entangled in the spell. From where he was Skovald was almost in the center of the 6 main stone giants, so he started to drop them. First, he aimed at the center one again, hitting it one which killed. He then took a step to the north and swung one of the entangled stone giants there. The Viking hit twice, the first hit opened a large wound in the giant and the second one killed it. The stone giant to the south west then through a rock at Skovald but it missed. The 3 remaining giants, all surrounded Skovald and then they each swung at him twice with their great clubs, each hitting the Viking once. This heavily wounded the fighter, but it did not stop him. Seeing her friend in danger, Alaina casted an electric ball centered on Skovald and as she did this, she tapped into her book of spell pages to bring her desire for power into the mix making the spell that much more powerful. Thanks to his immunity Skovald was unharmed by the spell, but the 3 giants around him were severely burned. However, none of the giants died. Xavian then moved over by Cereliona and used his faith in Irori to remove the paralysis from the ranger. Cereliona thanked the dwarf before she quickly turned and through her chakrum at the stone giants around Skovald, bouncing the weapon between all three. While each took a hit, the north west giant was caught off guard and took a very bad hit to the chest (Critical). Barkenstien tried again to overrun the Wight and this time he managed to push his way by the undead and thanks to the training Cereliona had given him, he was even able to avoid the Wight as he moved. (GM note: Barkenstien AC 29, Wight rolled 29 to hit, but Barkenstien has mobility so only missed because of the +4 feat bonus to AC). The stone giant in the throne, then tried to blind Alaina but she resisted the spell. However, he then used his magical rod to quickly cast a magic missile which all hit Cereliona. Jakardros then fired a single arrow from his location which went straight into the Wight’s head, killing it and dropping it to the floor. Sais then left the wrights body and moved in to the join the group, but as he tried to get up the side ledge to reach the western most giant, he slipped and fell. He was able to catch is footing so he did not fall to the ground, which meant all he lost was time. Next Alaina and Cereliona watched as Lucrecia turned invisible, but Alaina was surprised that she did not see a magical aura like she did with Yap, which meant that the Lamia Matriarch had using some sort of supernatural ability to accomplish this instead of a spell. Zheda then followed Sais in, but she had better luck with the climb, so she was able to reach the stone giant where she kicked it once to get its attention. Skovald then held his ground and swung at all the giants around him; but he was only able to land two glancing blows. Yap then fired an invisible arrow at the north west giant, but it resisted his fey magic and stayed awake. The 3 giants around Skovald then swung at him again and just like last time, each hit once. However, unlike last time Skovald did not survive. The last club crushed in Skovald chest pushing his soul out of its mortal body (GM note: Skovald was taken to -12 hp and his Constitution score was 12 so he was completely dead). The angered Alaina dropped another electric ball on the 3 giants, which killed one but also had another surprise. Inside the electric ball, Alaina could hear Lucrecia’s noise of pain, meaning she must have been in the radius of the spell as well. Xavian, then knowing there was nothing he could do for Skovald at the moment, moved up to Cereliona and healed her wounds. Cereliona then bounced he chakrum between the 2 north giants, killing another one. Barkenstien then followed Zheda and bit the giant near him, while avoid the giant’s reach. The giant on the throne then casted a Ray of Exhaustion that hit Alaina. The Sorceress was able to resist most of the spell, but it still fatigued her. The giant caster then used his rod to quickly cast another spell, animate dead. The floating hand then flew over and touch Skovald’s body, animating it as a zombie. The zombie then rose and quickly moved over to attack Xavian, but the zombie Skovald missed. As the zombie raised its right hand and the tattoo Skovald got from Xaneshia became visible, everyone heard Lucrecia scream, “Murderer!” She then invisibly moved up and shredded the Zombie Skovald. While she stayed invisible, her words and actions, had given away her location to the group. Jakardros then moved into the main room and fired a single arrow at the north west giant, killing it. Sais then blinded the last giant, before he stabbed it 3 times. Zheda then left the blinded giant for Sais to deal with, she had only one target in her mind, Lucrecia, the being that just shredded Skovald’s body. Her uncontrolled rage caused her punch to go wild as she cried out in an unholy scream of pain and suffering. Yap then tried to kill the last giant, but his tiny arrow did almost no damage (1hp). Alaina, then flew over by the caster and placed a true fireball on him. Shen then quickly followed that up with a cold Ice Strike; both spells hit the caster, but he was tough and survived both. Xavian then moved to the center of the group and channeled to heal. Cereliona then sent Barkenstien in to try and finish of the last giant which the dog did with one bite to the giant’s throat. She then turned to attack the invisible Lucrecia. She first through her magical Chakrum, then her Adamantine one, and finally two of her basic Chakrums. She hit with the first two, but Lucrecia’s invisibility ability tricked the ranger on the last two, so they missed. The stone giant caster, then focused on Alaina. He started by using his rod to quickly cast blindness which this time succeeded in effecting Alaina. The giant then casted magic missile and sent the 4 missiles of force to strike Alaina. However, they were stopped by Alaina’s shield spell. Jakardros then moved up again before he took aim and fired an arrow where he knew Lucrecia to be. The arrow struck true and hit the Lamia Matriarch in the heart, killing her and making her visible as her body fell on Skovald’s. Sais then ran up to the giant caster, but he was too far away for Sais to reach yet. Zheda then stepped over, right next to the caster, ready to distract him if he tried to cast another spell. Alaina was blinded from the giant’s spell, so she did not know she would effecting Zheda when she dropped another fire ball in the exact same spot as last time. Thankfully, Zheda’s monk skills had improved so she was able to complete evade Alaina’s spell. The giant failure to move, was its undoing for Alaina spell was just enough to finish him off and drop him dead at Zheda’s feet.
Monsters
The Last thing that happened
Barl Breakbones was just defeated, literally. Barl’s body had just fallen to the ground.
GM Favorite moment
Jakardros getting to be the kill stealer. He managed to land the finishing blow on several opponents, each with a single arrow: Lamatar, one of the stone giants, and Lucrecia.
Experience
Each Player received 27,460 experience points (Total: 173,530 [12th level]) for Monsters and Role-playing.
Session 43 (08/22/2018) [Skovald {Kane} Missed Session]
Day 73 [continued] (Toliday the 4th of Kuthona, Tuesday 12/04/2047)
A Bitter Sweet Victory
The Bitter taste left in their mouths
The moment after the stone giant in the throne was dead, everyone but Alaina, who was blinded, looked at Skovald’s dead body. Sais was left dumbfounded as he looked at his friend’s dead body. Zheda became panicky and ran over to Xavian were she desperately asked, “Bring him back, I know you can do it. I have seen you do it. Please bring my brother back.” Xavian then explained her he was sorry, but he could not bring Skovald back, because his soul had been taunted by undeath. Then while still staying close to Zheda, Xavian acted like a doctor with professionalism as he started to heal the group that he could. The Dwarf then moved over by Alaina and removed her blindness. Zheda followed him and asked if there was another way to bring Skovald back, such as more powerful spells. Xavian told her that there existed a few spells that could bring back a soul taunted by undeath (Resurrection [Level 7] and True Resurrection [Level 9]), but that were beyond him. Also, he added that had never met anyone skilled enough to spells of that power level. Then from his current position in the center of the group, Xavian channeled which fully everyone but Zheda. As he did this the group thought about all the people they had met on the journey so far and they could not think of anyone they have met that was skilled enough (level 13 cleric) to cast these spells either. Xavian then used a strong healing spell to finish removing the last of the damage Zheda took in the fight. As he finished, he told them that there could be someone in Magnimar that is skilled enough to cast the spells but there was no guarantee they would be able to find them or that they would be able to help. Hearing all this really took a toll on the monk. As she processed the information she had just been given, she developed a thousand-mile stair. While her mind was still focused on the bad news, she walked back over by Skovald’s body. There she stopped and stood vigil over his body, as she continued to stair off into the distance. And there she stayed for a while to think and process their current situation. Alaina then went over to the stone giant caster’s body and performed her Pazuzu ritual using his eyes and tongue. After that she went around and collected all the eyes and tongues from every other creature they killed. She stored them in a large bag which in turn stored in her Handy Haversack. Jakardros moved over and started to clean up and wrap Lamatar’s body for transport. Cereliona did not know what to do so she moved over to and help Lamatar so that she could be doing something, anything. Xavian pulled out his journal and started to document the recent events. Sais just watched as everyone did their thing, he was stunned by the events and just stood there a while, not even noticing the passage of time. The only person left that had energy was Yap. And while he was invisible, the group was able to notice him every once and a while as he flew near them. He seemed to be burning off his excitement that he was able to help, but at the same time he did not want to bother the group’s morning, so he never became visible or talked to the group. During this time, Razmuz came in with the other hill giant with him. Seeing everyone in morning, he did not bother them, instead he walked over to the throne and sat down on it. The group saw this, but everyone decided they would deal with that soon enough, right now all they could focus on was the loss of Skovald. The other hill giant followed Razmus and stood next to the throne as if he was the second in command. However, this hill giant did not look to be too bright. In fact, based off the look on his face alone, everyone assumed he would be the dumbest giant they would ever meet.
Zheda’s desperation
After about 10 minutes, Alaina returned from her gathering of eyes and tongues. As soon as she entered Zheda saw her and moved up to talk to her. Once Zheda was next to the spell caster, she bluntly asked, “How did you make a deal with a devil?” Alaina did not seem shocked by this question, she simply calmly explained that once the devil made contact she was asked to perform her rituals in exchange for a favor. Zheda then asked how to make first contact with a devil. Alaina explained to Zheda that she could concentrate on the devil, picture him in her mind. Then she would need to think his name and the thoughts she wanted to send to him. If she concentrated hard enough then that devil, as a Duke of Hell, would hear her. Zheda listened intently and then she went off to a corner on her own. Zheda was only by herself for a few seconds before something happened. Because she had just walked off, everyone noticed that for no apparent reason, a force was applied to Zheda that almost knocked her to the ground. It was like someone had used telekinesis to shove her to the ground. Zheda was able to catch herself and stay standing. As this happen, Zheda felt her mug act as if it had just been toasted by another mug. And Sais felt the same thing but when his mug was toasted he could feel it ever so slightly pull him toward Zheda. Sais did not fight this pull, he moved over by the monk. He did not speak when he first arrived, he let Zheda take her time and talk first. It was not long before Zheda looked at Sais and said, “I don’t think that worked.” Sais immediately asked her, “what?” Zheda explained that she had tried to contact the devil they freed from the dam, to ask for help in bringing back her brother. She ended by saying, “I think I got told no. I was pushed out of my contact with the devil.” Sais said, “I believe that force was our god. I was called to you by our mugs.” Zheda then said, “I think that was a bad idea.” Sais did not agree or disagree with her, he did not need to. After a few more moments of silence Zheda said, “I don’t think I will get my brother back.” Sais sadly agreed with her and explain that Skovald being turned into a zombie is what made it permanent. He told her that he believed it would be best if they moved on by honoring Skovald’s memory and not try to make a deal with a devil to bring him back. He then pulled out his mug so the two could toast. Zheda showed her agreement by toasting with him which filled their mugs with ale. Two quickly drank down the liquid and felt the alcohol burn on its way down. The hug between these two was a little awkward but Sais did not let that stop him as he said to Zheda, “I know this is odd for us but just go with it.” After the hug Zheda said that she wanted to give Skovald a funeral pyre and then she just looked off into the distance again, so Sais let her have her time. But as he sat there, he secretly drew a mustache on the face of Skovald’s body. No one saw him do this so when he was done Sais adjusted the body’s wrappings to cover that part of his face. Cereliona than talked to Jakardros about bringing a piece of Lamatar’s body to the Nymph Myriana so they could appease her. Zheda then started to pick up Skovald’s body, explaining out loud to anyone that was listening, that she was going to take it and burn his body in the pit they saw on the way in. However, Alaina came over and told her not to burn him, because there was still a possibility that they could find someone in Magnimar that could help. Zheda morning came out as resentment, as she told the Sorcerer, “No, my brother and I know what his wishes are. You should back off.” Alaina did not push the issue after this. However, Sais came up and tried to help. He told Zheda that she should not burn his body in an ogre pit, instead she should give him a warrior’s funeral pyre. Zheda asked when and Sais promised that as soon as they got back to Fort Rannick, he would help her do it because there were together in this. Zheda said “I agree.” She then kept talking, “You know we were not real brothers, he adopted me.” Sais listen and then said, “Not all families are blood.” This help Zheda to see that he understood which helped to bring her back to the here and now. She then walked over to Lucrecia’s body and took the Sihedron medallion off her body, making sure to kick the body a few times, and then she placed it around Skovald’s neck so that his body would not decompose during the journey. She then went about removing all of Skovald’s gear and items as well as wrapping the body for transport.
Unexpected results
Sais and Cereliona the went over together to talk to Razmus. As they walked, Jakardros and Alaina joined them. Just before they got to the throne, everyone heard yap moving near them, but he stayed invisible. Everyone guessed he wanted a better view, so they ignored him. Sais was leading the pack so once they were close enough for Rasmus to hear him clearly, he bluntly asked, “What are your intentions on that throne. And you know we are taking that treasure.” Razmus said, “I agreed to help you take out clan. Clan taken out. You good, thank you, not attacking hills. I leave old clan, make new one here.” He then pointed to the hill giant next to him as he said, “Lunderbug, my second. I am part of team, I get 1/5 treasure.” Alaina, Sais, and Cereliona immediately disagreed with him. They said that they did most of the work and while Razmus had helped, they could have done it without him. Razmus then told them, “Need treasure to rule clan. I keep 1/5.” Sais then turned to Jakardros and asked what he thought. Jakardros had stayed back until this point, but now that he had been addressed, he walked up to the front of the pack. Once there he asked Razmus, “What will you do as the new clan leader?” Razmus answered, “Peace. I keep ogres in forest and mountain. You keep black arrows out of forest and mountains. You keep people out of forest and mountains.” After hearing the giant out, Jakardros turned to the group and said, “This could make for a lasting peace here on the hook. Hill giants are a lot stronger than ogres, so it will be easy for him to keep his throne, especially with the other hill giant as his second. I feel that this deal would be worth the loss of 1/5 of the treasure. Alaina then asked Jakardros how many ogres were left, because they cleared out the main cave. Jakardros informed her that there should be about 40 to 50 more ogres, most likely in the mines. He added that the Kreeg clan makes it gold, by mining ore from the mountain which they turn into weapons and sell to other giant clans. Alaina then remembered the 3 mine tunnels she saw to the south, so she understood. Sais then said, “I can agree to this with the condition that your share comes out of the gems and we get the weapons.” Razmus then took a closer look at the treasure, all of the weapons were human sized, so he had no issue saying, “I agree.” Sais then turned and checked with everyone with him to make sure they agreed which they did. Sais then held out his hand to shake. Again, Razmus stuck out his pinky for Sais to grab and the two “shook” on it.
The sweet treasure with bad news
The four humanoids and the giants then went about identifing, apprising, and dividing up the treasure. As Alaina was the removing items from stone giant caster’s body, she found a symbol that was a white skull with red eyes on a black background. She immediately recognized this as the clan symbol of the giants that destroyed her home. Alaina then showed the symbol to Razmus and asked him what he could tell them about this clan. Razmus said, “I have new clan so I talk about old.” He then went on to tell Alaina that was the symbol of the clan of stone giants led by a 10 foot tall stone giant runt name Mokmurain. This giant and his snake ladies came to see his tribe in the cinderlands and there he used the call of taking back the lands of the ancestors and reclaiming stolen treasures to recruit his tribe. Doach, his old beady-eyed chieftain accepted and brought 40 hill giants, including Razmus with him. Alaina then asked where the runt was headed. Razmus told he, he led them into the wyvern mountains and through the hook. However, Razmus realized that that stone giant runt was just going to use them as weapons of war. His clan chief did not feel the same way so Razmus left to make a home in the valley they found him in. He could not stop them because “hill do not hurt hill.” However, before he left he learned that their final destination was somewhere in the iron peaks but he did not have an exact location. Sais thanked him for the info, but Razmus then interrupted Sais and said, “Old Clan Black fist” He then held his old clan symbol up, it was a hand painted skull on a Black back ground. He then said, “Black fist loyal to Mokmurain. Hill not hurt hill, but you not hill. You see, you kill before they kill you.” After hearing this, Alaina jumped in and ask, “Mokmurian is the leader of clan of stone giants with this symbol?”, holding up the red eyed symbol she got off barl as she did which Rasmuz confirmed again, “Yes”. Sais then asked why it was important and Alaina told him that the giant that destroyed her home had the same symbol so this was the same clan. Everyone then understood its importance to the caster, so they did not ask any more questions. On Lucrecia’s body they found a scroll titled “Those who have agreed to grant their greed to the master’s need” and it was a list of over 200 names, included in the names were Gery and Kaven with Kaven’s being circled. They then moved on to the treasure pile and in addition to the treasure was a piece of mammoth hide that had a message written on it in giant. Sais used, Kassandra to translate and read it to the group.
Barl
Latest contact with Teraktinus indicates he has narrowed the search, he believes a human town called Sandpoint could hide what my lord seeks. Terraktinus will lead several of the people, as well as the dragon, on a raid into the town soon. When they return, they may be pursued, and I may need your ogre slaves to aid in Terraktinus’s retreat to Jorgenfist be ready to return at my command!
M
After hearing the message, the group asked Razmus if he knew any of the names in the message. Razmus then kicked the dead stone giant caster and said, “He Barl and I think M Mokmurian. I not know this place called Sandpoint.” Everyone then solemnly told him that they do, it is there home. Alaina then asked if he knew Terraktinus. Razmus told them that he knew the name Terraktinus, but that he had not met him before he added “Terraktinus student of Mokmurian like Barl.” As Razmus finished he kicked Barl’s body again, something he clearly enjoyed. Alaina then finished checked Barl’s body and while doing this she opened the gifts for Terraktinus and Mokmurian. Inside the package she found 2 large diamonds each with the Thassilonian symbol of wrath inscribed on them. Alaina immediately recognized these as an Arcane focuses for one of the spell pages she had acquired. She told them it was the scroll she found under Sandpoint and it was a very powerful combat spell. Everyone remembered that she got it from under Chopper’s isle, where they faced their first haunt. They all took this in and processed it, accepting that they would be fighting opponents with powerful magic soon.
Treasure
· Barl Breakbones [stone giant necromancer 7]
o 2 gifted wrapped packages (opened): each contained a 1000 gp diamond with the runic Sign of wrath inscribed on it.
§ One of the diamonds was given to Ramus and Alaina claimed the other.
· Hoard
o Coins (Given to Ramus)
§ 436 pp,
§ 1399 gp,
§ 140 sp
o Gems (Given to Ramus)
§ Aquamarine: 550 gp
§ Black Pearl: 650 gp
§ Bloodstone: 45 gp
§ Carnelian: 40 gp
§ Citrine: 45 gp
§ Deep Blue Spinel: 80 gp
§ Ivory: 65 gp
§ Tourmaline: 90 gp
§ Diamond: 1000 gp
o Weapons/Armor
§ Masterwork Heavy Crossbow 350 gp
§ Masterwork Longsword 315 gp
§ Masterwork Scale Mail 200 gp
§ 32 +1 arrows: 46 gp 5 cp each (total: 1473 gp 6 sp)
§ 12 +1 giant bane arrows: 166 gp 5 cp each (total: 1992 gp 6 sp)
§ +2 light fortification studded leather: 9325 gp
§ +1 longsword: 2315 gp
§ +1 composite longbow: 2400 gp
o Magic Items
§ belt of incredible dexterity +2: 4000 gp
§ cloak of elvenkind: 2500 gp
§ boots of the winterlands: 2500 gp
§ Vambraces, Duelist’s: 8000 gp
§ Scrolls
· 1 scroll of Ghost Bane Dirge: 150 gp
· 1 scroll of mass Ghost Bane Dirge: 1,125 gp
New mission
Plan of action
With the treasure sorted out and all the documents examined, the group now talked about saving Sandpoint. Sais pointed out that they would need to get there before the dragon, because it could easily burn down the town. Then he asked what they could do about the dragon, but no one had any ideas on how to stop a dragon, in particular, so they decide that they would just have to slay it like any other monster. Cereliona then added that when they do, it will make for bard songs. Alaina then joined in and told the group she had acquired the teleport spell so she could teleport everyone around the hook and then back to Sandpoint. However, when Alaina did the logistics of teleporting 5 humanoids (Group minus Alaina, plus Xavian) and 5 horses she realized that based on her current magical powers it would take her a total of 7 spells (4 there and 3 back) to teleport everyone. This meant she hould could only do 1 one ways trip that took everyone per day and after she would be drained of a lot of her more powerful magic. Everyone then discussed having Alaina teleport just the group to the swamp, leaving Jakardros here with horse. Then since this way she was leaving the horses after they were done in the swamp, she could still teleport the group back to the fort. However, this idea was killed by Jakardros when he said, “I am not leaving Lamatar’s body. Black Arrows take care of fallen Black arrows.” Alaina then changed the plan to where she took Jakardros but someone else would have to stay, but this was quickly shot down because the group did not want to separate. Alaina then brought up the idea that Jakardros could take Lamatar’s body to the swamp on horseback by himself which would allow the group to teleport home now. However, Zheda spoke up at this point and pointed out that in the swamp they would be dealing with a crazy, undead fey so it would be best if they were there because she knew them. Taking all this into consideration combined with the fact that they could only make only a single full one-way trip, the group decided that they would teleport everyone including Jakardros, and all the horses back to the fort today and then they would ride to the swamp in the morning. After they were done there, Alaina would then teleport everyone to Sandpoint. With their plan formulated, they talked about ways to warn Sandpoint. They first talked about using Cereliona’s raven to take the giant’s message with a message of their own explaining it to the Rusty Dragon. Everyone liked this idea, so they planned to do that when they reached the horses. Sais then pointed out that the Ginfaxi was going to be needed to defend the town, so it was a good thing that all of them had joined. Alaina then remembered some of her magical studies, specifically the divine spell of “Sending.” The sorceress then asked Xavian if he knew that spell which he did but he also added, “I am sorry, but I did not pray to Irori for that magic today. But, tomorrow I will and once I get it I will send a message to Sabyrl. I know her well and she will trust me.” Group accepted this and decided not to send the Raven because the spell would be faster, and the bad weather did not bode well for the raven’s long flight home.
Returning to fort
With their plan all figured out, the group said goodbye to Razmus were Sais asked the giant to report anything he hears about Mokmurain or his plans to the Black arrows and he agreed. They then started to make their way out of the fort. As they did, they came upon the rune giant corpse. Looking at the giant’s gem encrusted armor, the group talked about how to pry the gems free, but Cereliona realized that it would be worth a lot more if they kept it intact. Then she moved up and removed the heavy gargantuan Sihedron medallion from the body. The instant the medallion was free of the corpse, the body quickly turned to dust (like a vampire death on buffy). After only a few seconds they were left with his valuable armor and a pile of dust. Seeing this, Sais and Alaina joined her. Sais instinctively said, “You know you are going to hell for that.” To which Cereliona fired back, “But it was a giant.” So, Sais said, “Good point.” And then Sais and Alaina helped her collect the armor. After collecting the armor, they headed out side. It was still snowing just like before. Cereliona then found the hunting trail they used to get here, and she led the way back because Jakardros was carrying Lamatar’s body. As they moved down the mountain they returned to the rain and Cereliona’s spells expired. Alaina and Barkenstien became fatigued again but they quickly got over this after only a little way down the mountain (GM note: dropped below 5000-foot mark very quickly). At the bottom they found their horses safe. Once all the animals and gear were checked over, everyone was ready to be teleported. Before casting, Alaina reminded them that this would be a one-shot thing today and she made sure that everyone wanted to go to the fort. Everyone confirmed it so Alaina casted her spells. First, she brought everyone but Jakardros and the horses, then after returning to Jakardros she teleported 2 of the fox glove horses to the fort. She then returned and got 2 more foxglove horses before she returned one more time. Then with her last spell she took Shadowmist, and Jakardros to the fort. All of these spells were casted one right after the other so that it took less than a minute to get everyone teleported.
Treasure
· Gargantuan Sihedron medallion: 3500 gp
· Gargantuan masterwork half-plate armor: 4,950 gp
o weighs 400 pounds
Weather
· [Outside the cave, top of the mountain] Light snow
o reduce visibility to 3/4 of the normal range
o -2 penalty on Perception checks.
o -2 penalty to Ranged attacks
o moving into a square of accumulated snow requires 1 extra 5-foot square of movement (this stack with difficult terrain)
· [Base of the mountain] Medium Rain
o reduce visibility to half of the normal range
o -4 penalty on Perception checks.
o -4 penalty to Ranged attacks
o automatically extinguishes unprotected flames (candles, torches, and the like)
· Temperature: 0 F
o Even with Cold weather gear, a Fort save vs. cold is required every hour.
Fort Rannick
Shalelu had not been idle
As the group was arriving by teleport, their presence was noticed by Vale and Shalelu, who both came over to investigate. By the time they arrived, all of the teleport spells were done. Even though they were in the rain, everyone still noticed something different about Shalelu. She now had a Black Arrow Crest sown onto her tunic and cloak. Seeing this, Cereliona asked about it and Shalelu told them that she had joined the Black Arrows, Vale had her take the oath of the Black Arrows this morning. Sais and Cereliona then congratulated the elf on finding a new home. However, Alaina followed that up by saying, “Well, your old home is in danger now.” Shalelu was confused so Alaina showed her the note about the impending attack on Sandpoint. After reading it, Shalelu told them that while she had traveled with them and watched them work, she realized that watching was the best she could do. She was not a hero like them and she would only slow them down but here at the Fort she could be useful. And on top of that she added, “The best thing that can be done for Sandpoint is already happening. The Heroes of Sandpoint are returning to save their home.” Everyone understood her reasoning so they all accepted her staying. Jakardros then stepped up and shook the hand of the new Black arrow.
Skovald’s funeral pyre
With the initial meeting done, Alaina informed Shalelu and Vale of Skovald’s death. The two took it solemnly. Sais, Cereliona, Zheda, and Jakardros, then all went to work collecting wood and fuel they would need for Skovald pyre while Vale and Shalelu went back to manning the fort. As they were building the pyre, Alaina approached Zheda and calmly asked her if she could take a lock of Skovald’s hair just in case there was someone in Magnimar that could bring him back. Zheda agreed but she said, “If we do that, you will help me to bring him back. Your magic brought this about.” While the sentence was said with anger, it was truly directly at Alaina, she was just angry at the situation. Alaina agreed then she went to Skovald’s body and cut a lock of hair. After this, Alaina and the other Black Arrows, all joined in and helped to make Skovald a truly huge funeral pyre, that would burn bright even in the rain. Once everything was ready, Zheda placed Skovald’s body on it. Sais then lit a torch and moved up to stand next to the body. There he spoke of Skovald, “Skovald will be missed. He was my friend and the world is a lesser place without him.” However, while Sais was talking he used sleight of hand and a piece of ash to draw a penis on Skovald’s face. Seeing this Zheda, softly through a small rock at the rogue to get him to stop it. Cereliona laughed at seeing this and said, “That is the relationship they had.” Next Jakardros moved up and asked Sais if he could speak. Sais gave him the torch so Jakardros turned to face the group and spoke.
“I thank you all for what you have done. You have faced the Kreeg clan, slayed all the leadership, and set up Razmus as a “peaceful” giant to rule them. You should know that the inbred ogres of the Kreeg clan had long menaced those who struggle to survive in the shadow of Hook Mountain, more than any other ogre clan dwelling in the Hook environs. They were the most aggressive and ravenous butchers, responsible for most of the countless slaughtered mining and lumber camps. Tales of the horrors visited upon those captured by the Kreegs had been something of a local legend around here. However, now the Hook mountain environs will be a much safer for a long time to come because of you so you should be proud of what you have done. We also learned they were making weapons for a giant army and we stopped them from getting those weapons.”
Jakardros then paused form a moment, before he continued.
“The 6 if you have helped the Black Arrows at a time when our order looked to be at the beginning of its extinction. We had lost our fort, our keep, and most of our men. We were down to three when you saved us, and you even found the traitor on our mitts that was responsible for our ruin. Then with your help and your skill; Fort Rannick was retaken, Kreep clan weakened and now this a good chance for a lasting peace in the land. All of this, while stopping an ogre plot to destroy skulls crossing and flood the entire hook mountain area. I can only thing of one way to show how much we appreciated what you have done for us…. We of the Black arrows would like to induct all of you as honorary members.”
As soon as he finished, he pulled out 5 Black Arrow patches for them. Before he would let them take a patch he said. I must tale you that if you take these badges you, must make the oath of the Black Arrow.
“Protect the people, Protect the land, and strike back against those that harm the land or the people, especially Traitors.” Everyone thought for a few second about his offer, before they all accept the patches and say the oath. After they finished the oath, Cereliona joking said, “It feels like we have already been following that oath so far.”
Jakardros, then turned in the rain to face Skovald’s body. He then pinned a patch on Skovald, giving him the same honor in the death. As he did this, Vale walked over to Cereliona and told her, since he had trained her in the ways of the Black Arrow he had gotten her the rank of captain while the rest of the group would officially be Sergeants which meant she out ranked them. As Vale told her this she looked at the group and thought, “Get in line troops.” However, everyone else gave her a look back that said, “Just try it and see what happens to you.” Vale then handed her a whistle with the Black Arrow’s crest carved on it connected to a long piece of twine. It was clearly meant to be worn around the neck. Once Cereliona held it, Vale said, “That is a Mark of your rank, any Black Arrow will recognize it and know who you are. Also, you should that power your goddess gave you, you will find that the whistle allows you to always have back up if you need it.” Cereliona decided to identify the item, latter so thanked Vale and then put the item in her pocket because she had noticed Jakardros was done. She then walked up and held her hand out, taking the torch she was handed. Jakardros then joined the crowd as Cereliona started to speak. She said that Skovald will always be remembered because he was a fight of the type that songs will be written off and she will make sure of it. She then stepped down and held out the torch, saying all she needed in a very few words. Alaina then moved up and took the torch. Alaina stood in front of everyone and said, “I may have not known Skovald long, but we fought together and that made us allies.” She then turned and touched his armor using prestidigitation to give his armor a golden aura. After this she was done, so Zheda took the torch and looking at the pyre she asked Alaina, “Do you have all you need in case we can find someone to bring him back?” and Alaina confirmed, “Yes, I have all I need.” After that Zheda walked up and set the wood a blaze. The fire lit very quickly. It also, burn bright and hot, so hot the rain barely effected it. Sais then raised his mug and Zheda did the same. The two then toasted with Zheda saying, “My brother is with his god now.” The two then drank down the liquid religiously. The veteran black arrows clearly used to this type of funeral stayed and watched the fire burn for a couple hours. But they and Shalelu were the first ones to leave, because they had a fort to man. After another hour, everyone but Zheda left to head to get inside out of rain, eat, and rest for tomorrow. While inside the fort, Cereliona looked at the whistle she got from Vale and discovered it was a magic item that would allow her to summon Barkenstien from up to a mile away, so she took the time to bond herself and the dog with the item so that it would work for them. Zheda however, stayed and watched the fire burn for another 3 hours until it was only a few embers. At this point everyone else came back out and watched the last of the embers die out over the next few minutes. Zheda then got up and started to gather his ashes so Sais helped her. The others then silently returned to the fort to call it a night, except for Shalelu who was on night watch tonight. It took the other two an hour or so to collect his ashes, they then stored them on the back of Shadow mist before heading in and calling it a night as well. That night everyone got a good night sleep in the warm dry beds of the fort.
Treasure
· Whistle of Calling: 6,300 gp
o Whistle made of a Firepelt Cougar’s Fang with the Black Arrow’s crest engraved on it.
o Signifies Cereliona’s rank of Captain.
Day 74 (Wealday the 5th of Kuthona, Wednesday 12/05/2047)
Next morning
The next morning everyone did their morning rituals with three exceptions. In addition, to praying for spells today and his daily “yoga”; Xavian also casted the sending spell to warn Sabryl of the giants coming for Sandpoint. After Alaina completed preparing her mind for spell casting, she pulled out a set of Eyes and a tongue of one of the stone giant body guards and sacrificed it to Pazuzu. Finally, when Cereliona stepped outside to connect with nature for her spells, it was not raining. It was still winter and therefore cold and mostly cloudy, but it did not rain. It felt like if it was going to do anything it would snow but not for several days. She could tell that the natural weather patterns were returning to the region. When she told everyone this, they all moved outside to enjoy the lack of rain as much as they could. They then started to gather up their gear and ready their mounts. Skovald’s body was put on the back of Shadowmist while Jakardros placed Lamatar’s body on the back of Skovald’s Foxglove horse. He then turned to the group and said, “You are now Black Arrows so I am entrusting your with taking Lamatar to his lady and putting an end to her suffering. Consider this your first and only task as a Black Arrow.” Everyone accepted this as they made final preparations to leave. Alaina said good bye to each ranger, but she made sure to find and shake Shalelu’s hand. The elven ranger was glad Alaina had come to her. She told Alaina that she was glad that she had been wrong about Alaina back in ThistleTop and that she now knew that Alaina was a “True Hero.” Alaina thanked her for this and talk her that she was glad Shalelu was her friend. Alaina then took to the air as everyone readied to leave. Zheda then moved up to the three rangers and gave them each a Gaven’s bar fight ale and a bottle of Baijiu. As Shalelu took the large bottle of offensive alcohol and handed it to Vale, smiling as she said, “Here you go Vale, from what Jakardros has told me, you are the only one that will drink this.” Vale took the Alcohol with a big smile on his face. Cereliona then said goodbye to Shalelu, and then Jakardros; leaving Vale for last. These two embraced in a big bear hug, Vale not shy about showing his emotions. Then the two let go and Cereliona turned and got on her horse. The Heroes of Sandpoint then left the Black Arrows taking the road south. It was only a mile or so before they could no longer see the fort and while the road was still muddy and the river still high, there was no rain, so it made it the most pleasant ride they have had in a while. As they got the bridge, Cereliona pointed out that they did have her boat anymore, so they would have to find a new way to White Willow. Alaina said she wanted to talk to the ship captains in town, maybe they will be lucky, and they could find a ride there. Everyone then hoped for the best as they saw Turtleback Ferry come into view.
Weather
· Temperature: 10 F
The Last thing that happened
The group was riding to Turtleback Ferry and the town had just come into sight.
GM Favorite moment
The funeral Pyre. I like that everyone in character said good bye to Skovald.
Experience
Each Player received 2000 experience points (Total: 175,530 [12th level]) for Role-playing.
Session 44 (09/05/2018)
Day 74 [continued] (Wealday the 5th of Kuthona, Wednesday 12/05/2047)
Turtleback Ferry
Getting to the church
As the group got closer to Turtle back ferry; Sais, Cereliona, and Alaina noticed that Yap continued to fly invisible with them, about 45 feet above the group. They decided it would be best if he stayed there so they let him be. When they entered the town, they could see all of the town’s folk working to repair the damage that the flood did to their town. However, this time was different than the other times they came to town. This time the townsfolks had the look of hope and happiness in their eyes and again unlike before, everyone looked glad to see the group. As they made their way to the church, so they could see Maelin and pick up their wagon, everyone saw Irontooth and Tillia making out in front of Irontooth’s metal works. This made everyone smile so they did not bother them. However, while they were still in the middle of town, Gery the farmer that saw the Paradise sink, came up to Zheda and embraced her in a big hug. Seeing the man come in for the hug, Zheda did not resist him, but she was put off a little by the fact that he smelled like a dirty wet pig but considering the fact that a dirty wet pig was one of his few possessions, Zheda did not hold this against him. While embracing Zheda, Gery said, “Thank you for stopping the rain.” Zheda modestly told Gery that she did not do it alone, they all did it as a team. Cereliona then jumped in and told Gery, “We killed the hags that were causing the rain.” At hearing about the Hags, Gery became excited and said, “Really, I bet Wenda Leenee will want to know, she is always telling that witch story.” With excitement and a mission, Gery left to go tell Wenda about the hags. Seeing him go, Alaina said, “That is how rumors and superstitions get started.” Zheda then jumped in and said, “But it is true.” Alaina added that all rumors and superstitions have some truth. But that one could lead to this town hating and or fearing witches. Zheda then said, “I feel sorry for any witch, good or evil, that comes to this town.” Everyone then laughed at the oddity of watching a rumor start.
Church
They then continued on their way to the church. Outside the church, standing underneath the overhang was Maelin and Othovir, chatting. Seeing the Mayor in the same spot as before everyone wondered if his normal post was under that overhang and the fact that it had protected him from the rain had just been a coincidence. As they approached, Maelin saw the bodies on the back of the horses and asked, “What happened?” Sais then answered by telling Maelin that he[Sais] killed the hags and stopped the rain. Everyone else then immediately interjected that Sais did not do it alone. Sais then quickly said, “They helped too.” Before he continued to tell the mayor about their adventure on the hook. He explained that they defeated the stone giants that taken over the clan but Skovald had died in the process. Cereliona then joined the story and told Maelin that the Kreeg clan now has a new leader, a Hill giant, name Razmus. And that this hill giant made a treaty with them; as long as people stay out of Kreeg woods and off Hook mountain, the ogres will not leave that area and they will leave the rest of the Hook area alone. Hearing this seemed to dumbfound, Maelin and Othovir. They both had a look on their face that said, “That is a miracle. How did you deal with all of the troubles of the Hook Mountain in such a short time?” But their mouths kept moving as they both said together in mono-tone voices, “No one with any brains goes into Kreeg woods anyway.” Using this break as a way to start a new conversation. She asked the two men if there were any ferries or ships that the group could use because they needed to get to White Willow. Othovir said, “I can take you. The Claybottom ferry is not running right now due to the floods.” Sais asked, “Why?” So, Othovir told them that the rapid flowing flood waters had stirred up the clay on the bottom of the “Claybottom” lake so right now the waters were black and murky and filled with several upset gars and other aquatic monsters. As a result all of the boats and ferry in the area are docked for safety. Zheda then asked why he would be willing to take them out on the dangerous lake. Othovir told them that as long as they were with him, he would feel safe and he wanted to help out in any way he could. Everyone accept that so Zheda asked, “When can you be ready to leave?” Othovir then pointed to his boat, at its dock in town and said, “Now.”
ClayBottom ferry
The group then picked back up their wagon from the church and proceed to the Claybottom ferry, so they could load up. The group then talked about how they would get to White Willow once they reached the swamp’s boarder. It was discussed and decided that they would take boats, but the only one they could use would be Othovir’s so they asked and he gave them permission to use them. However, this still made it so once they were done in White Willow they would still have to spend 2 hours in the bogs and swamps to return the boats to Othovir. Ultimately, they could not find a better way to do so everyone agreed to this. As they finished loaded up their gear and horses, Alaina approached Othovir and said, “Will you have our horses delivered to my Townhouse in Magnimar?” Othovir smiled and told Alaina that once the group was done with him, rather than returning to Turtleback Ferry he would go straight to Pendaka and see if he could get the horses on a ship today. Alaina and everyone else thanked him for this. As everyone got on the ferry, Alaina saw Yap’s magical aura of invisiblity fly up and hang out about 45 feet up in the air. He traveled with the ship, but he did not make any noise.
White willow
The Paradise
It only took a few hours to get to where the swamp of the Shimmerglens, meet the waters of the Claybottom ferry from Turtleback ferry. However, as they approached the swamp, all of the group saw a wooden vessel or barge of some kind, laying on it’s side at the boarder of swamp. Sais training in being observant (Skill Unlock Perception) helped him to see and read the name plate on the boat and it said “Paradise”. Seeing the ship here, Sais first response was to ask, “How did that get here, it was on the bottom of the lake.” As soon as he finished asking he realized the answer, but the others still told him that it was probably brought up by the floods. The group then asked Othovir if he could land the ferry, close to the Paradise. Othovir said he would try. As he moved the boat in, Sais and Xavian took up some of the ferry’s riggings and helped to land the boat. It was not a pretty landing, and everyone was sure that it not for Sais and Xavian, then the things would have gone very wrong; but the boat landed in a good location for them to investigate the Paradise. (GM note: Othovir rolled a 2, had +15, gained +2 from Sais, and another +2 for Xavian for a total of 21 vs DC 20). Once the anchor was down, Alaina and Cereliona looked over the side to figure out a good way to get the boats out and into the water. However, as they watched, the vines and plants of the swamp started to rise up and form a flat surface that was about 1 inch under water. Seeing this Alaina immediately noticed the magical aura of this effect. At first, she thought it might be a trap or something dangerous but when she studied it she noticed that it was a modified Telekinesis spell with no other spells or effects on it, so she changed her mind and felt it would be safe. Then while still looking at the vines, Cereliona then asked, “Yap, is this you?” Yap stayed high and invisible, but everyone clearly heard him say, “No, it is my Lady.” Cereliona then asked if “his Lady” would be upset if they made her wait while they investigated the paradise. Yap told them that he did not know. Sais then joined Alaina and Cereliona were he told them that they should head in to the White Willow now and come back to check on the Paradise after they where done. Zheda was of the same mind so she backed him. However, Alaina then added that she felt that the Paradise might be gone by the time they got back or they might not come back this way, so they should investigate it now. Cereliona felt the same way as Alaina and they convinced that there might be treasure on board, so he joined them. With Zheda being the odd woman out, she agreed to check the boat now, but she said, “If she[Myraina] is mad because we made her wait it is on all of you.” They then used the vine path to get to the Paradise where they split up and searched it. As they went through the boat, everyone found the barge’s hull bared several obviously artificial holes, the boards had burst out rather than in, indicating that the damage that caused the barge to sink was inflicted from onboard. As they saw these, Gery’s account of the boat slowly sinking made a lot more sense to them now. However, in addition to the holes, Cereliona found a small Darkwood chest with a broken lock, that someone had left so she decided to take it to Sais, so he could open it for her. She found Sais with Alaina and Zheda on either side of him looking at some of the holes. When Cereliona entered the room but before she could say anything, Sais seem to sense the lock box because without seeing or hearing her enter, he knew to get up and head to the door. Once he got there, Sais went to work on the damage locked and in less than a minute he had the chest open. Inside were 10 bags of diamond dust so Cereliona handed the chest over to Xavian so he could use them as components for his healing spells. But as Cereliona handed it over, she commented that if the lock on the chest was not broken it would be worth some money. Hearing this, Alaina casted mending which fully repaired the chest. Looking at the now repaired chest, Cereliona told Xavian not to lose the chest, because they planned on selling it which the dwarf said he would be careful with it. After that they spent a little more time giving the ship one more look before they were done and ready to head into the swamp.
Treasure
Traveling through the swamp
They headed back to the ferry where they picked up Shadowmist. Zheda took the bags of Skovald’s ashes off Shadowmist as they loaded Lamatar’s body up on the horse’s back. As they did this, Othovir told them that if the vines disappear then he would assume they are not coming back and would head straight to Pendaka and that he expected their horses would be in Magnimar in about a week. Everyone thanked him for taking care of the foxglove heard as they said goodbye. They then set off on the vines with only Shadow mist. As they moved the vines behind them did not leave, they stayed in until the ship was out of sight and they could no longer tell If they truly staied. However, the vines never appeared more than 30 feet in front of them. Literally giving them only one way to go but at least it was a quick and mud free path to the center. Walking on the vines was not as easy as land though, it would give and bounce a little here and there (Like a really firm waterbed) but it always held their weight. Also, it was 1 inch under the water, so they splashed as they went. Everyone except Alaina that is, who instead flew next to the group staying dry and with her lizard riding on her shoulder. The electric creature looked nervous about the water as it held tight to Alaina.
Into White Willow
The vines continued with no break when they reached the bogs of White Willow. Continuing to give them a safe route to the center. As they got closer to the center, veryone started worried about being blind again by the mere sight of Myraina again. Cereliona then added that Nymphs could turn that ability off so if they were lucky so could this undead version and she might be nice because they have Lamatar. Everyone then decided to get blind folds ready and started being careful were they looked in case they needed to avert their eyes; just in case she was not in a good mood. Alaina even commented that she did not want to lose her new eyes from Pazuzu. As they then looked around carefully everyone noticed that there still was no rain, there was no mug or bogs either and while it was still cold their cold weather gear kept it out so this trip, had not been ½ bad to them so far.
The soul of Sadness
As they were all being cautious everyone noticed Myriana’s circle of trees ahead, so they readied to see her again. As they got to the dry land they could see the Myraina already floating in the center of the dry land. Cereliona then moved to the front and said, “Great Nymph of White Willow we have brought Lamatar to you.” The nymph then looked directly at Cereliona and said, “You may enter, bring me my love.” Cereliona then grabbed Shadowmist’s reigns and led him to her with Lamatar’s body on his back. Myraina then touched Lamatar’s body and in her eye’s Cereliona saw wells of hellish horror, crying out silently in an agony beyond anything a mortal creature like her could ever know and it touched her to her core. She then turned those eyes on Cereliona, but they did not harm her, instead Myriana spoke, “You said you would go and return Lamatar to me. You have so I thank you.” She then held out her hand and Cereliona felt the large bag of holding she carried, that Zheda had taken off the turtle and given to her, become warm. She looked down and saw 3 images appear on the bag; one of Myriana as she is now, one of the dryad they saw by the evil pool of water, and the third was Yap. On the bottom of the bag, an image of the golden Chakrum Cereliona got from under Sandpoint, wove itself into existence using Myriana’s hair. Cereliona suspected that was the nymph she had found in the Lamatar’s room and she later confirmed this. The bag was now giving her the same connection to nature’s working as the token of hair Myraina gave Lamatar, and she could some feel the extra power with in it. The power of it was clear to Alaina with her magical sight so they both knew that this bag would allow Cereliona to modify the golden Chakrum she got from under Sandpoint. The Ranger then thanked Myriana for the gift, but the Nymph had already turned to Lamatar and started to cast her spell. However, the spell failed and then Cereliona and Alaina both realized that reincarnation has the same problem as raise dead, it is not powerful enough to raise a soul taunted by undeath. Aliana then said outload, “It won’t work. He was an undead.” At hearing this Sais said, “O Crap.” However, Myriana did not get mad instead she got a look of extreme determination on her face and she then casted the spell again but as she did, her ghostly form started to fade.
Treasure
The Second Spell
This time something happened. An golden energy started to envelope Lamatar’s body. Once it completely covered his body, he started to glow with sunlight. The body then floated up a few feet as under the wrappings it seemed to be liquefying. As this was happening, everyone in the group, but not Myriana, noticed as Alaina reached out her right hand out and pulled a black feather out of nowhere. She then flicked the feather at Lamatar’s body and it disappeared a few inches in front of her hand. Cereliona was using her gift of Sheyln to look at Myraina so she noticed the overwhelming transmutation aura Alaina gave off when the feather disappeared. However, before anyone could do or saying anything about what they saw in front of them, a bolt of the golden light around Lamatar shot off to the side and struck an object floating in the air. It took everyone a second to see what it was, but when it glowed everyone could see that it was the lock of hair Alaina had taken from Skovald just before his Funeral Pyre Yesterday. This lock of hair started to grow rapidly in the body of a large humanoid. It took only a matter of seconds until it completed its growth. But when it did, the body took shape and he was clearly a larger humanoid creature of some type. Shorty after the larger one finished forming, Lamatar’s body floated next to hit and his wrappings fell off; revealing the body of a handsome man, with the furry legs of a goat and a set of curling ram horns extending from his temples. Both Sais and Cereliona Identified the larger being as a Half giant and Cereliona knew that Lamatar was now a Styar. At this point the larger being opened his eyes and Skovald looked down on his friends. As he did, the first thing he noticed was Alaina had an overwhelming aura of evil, the same aura he had just seen during his reincarnation. He knew he was now a champion of his god and all that is good and right in the world now, so his instant was to get over there and get that evil off Alaina, so he stumbled that way. As he started to move toward her, Alaina then held her hand out flat with the palm facing Skovald as a Wall of Force appeared between the too. Cereliona was still looking into the magical world and she realized that Alaina did not cast that spell so much as she channeled it, similar to a cleric. As this point, Alaina said, “I wish I could have done this longer, it was fun being on the mortal plane with you.” Everyone then watched as a spirit form of the demon lord Pazuzu came out of Alaina’s body and then disappeared. Cereliona pointed out that it looked identical to when she saw Kasandra leave Sais back at Skull’s crossing. Sais then looked around at everyone and asked, “What happened.” Cereliona immediately answered by telling everyone that she thought Pazuzu had just possessed Alaina and used one of his feathers to cast a wish to tap in to Myriana’s Reincarnations spell. Zheda just stood there with a blank expression on her face. (GM note: Player called it “Error page not found.”) Sais then said, “So who is the giant man?” At hearing this Skovald looked down at his new half giant body for the first time and took the time to look over his whole body. As he did this, Skovald saw Zheda and he was so filled with joy, he charged her. Zheda felt no ill intent from him so she did not attack but much like when she was hugged by Gery, she flinched at his first touch. When Skovald reached her, he picked her up in a great big bear hug. At this point, Zheda still could not process what just happened so she hung in his arms like a doll. As Skovald stood there and held Zheda, the others heard Lamatar say in a manly but high-pitched voice and Myriana say in a dry gasp, “My Love”. Everyone but Skovald and Zheda, then turned and saw Lamatar in his new Satyr body, touch the Nymph Myriana’s face as the last of her spirit faded away. Seeing this they were all momentarily reminded of the headboard they saw back in the Thistletop of Satyrs and Nymphs cavorting in a forest. As soon as Myraina’s spirit was gone, Lamatar sat down on the remains of the tree stump there, look down but not at the spot were Myriana disappeared. Cereliona did not know what to do with the friendly half giant so she decided to go see Lamatar as he was at least something they had expected. Sais then said outloud, “Shit there goes out path back.” And he was right because as soon as they look the could all see the vines were gone and this was again the only mud free place for miles. When she reached him, Cereliona asked Lamatar, “Do you know what has happened to you?” he said, “I was brought back as one of my Love’s fey at the cost of her soul.” He then looked up and pointed at Skovald as he said, “But she did not bring back him.” Then as if that had taken a lot out of him, he dropped his head back down and stared at the ground, thinking. Sais then said, “Pazuzu did that,” he then turned to face Alaina and continued, “Alaina you want to explain that.” Alaina told them she had made another deal with Pazuzu. Sais then ask, “At what cost?” Alaina answered, “Daily rituals and a little possession.” As if it was not mor that than agreeing to clean the dishes back at the Rusty dragon. This surprised Sais and he said, “Pazuzu now possesses you?” Alaina responded, “He left. He only stayed long enough to complete our deal and bring Skovald back, in spirit.” Sais then said, “So you are beholden to him now?” Zheda then popped out of her shock and said, “Alaina just spit it out, tell us everything.” Alaina then explained at after the fight with Barl, she was pulled into Pazuzu’s realm where she had made a deal with him to bring back Skovald’s spirit. In order to do that Alaina had agreed to give the demon lord rituals every day. And that in order to hide his presence from the gods Pazuzu had to possess Alaina until the right moment came along. Also, that because Pazuzu was a demon that keeps deals, he had now left her. Sais then said, “so this is Skovald but not Skovald?” Cereliona then said, “that Pazuzu must have used that wish to Reincarnate Skovald as a half giant.” Sais then turned to the half giant Skovald and said, “Explain, what do you remember.” Skovald said “I remembered being a soul in the either and then something grabbed me. After that I remember flight. Then, there was light and life, and my god. Then He/She asked me to be his/her champion. And I said yes.” As Skovald said yes, two metal bracers began to materialize on his arms. The one on his right was of gold and the other of silver. On the Silver bracer was an image of the Female aspect of Gozreh rising up out of the ocean. On the golden bracer was an image of the man aspect of Gozreh raining down fire from the mountains. Everyone then saw Skovald glow with holy light which made it so everyone could now see he was now a Paladin of Gozreh. Sais then asked, “You died and came back as a Paladin. What is going on? how is this possible?” The rogue had finally hit information overload and was just lost in his own mind now. Everyone then decided to give Sais some time so Skovald then looked around as he said outload, “I need a Sword.” As he said this, Shadowmist seem to hear him and the horse moved over from behind Lamatar to stop next to Skovald. Zheda then said from within Skovald’s arms, “I put all your gear on Shadowmist, I didn’t let any of it burn up in the pyre.” Skovald then put her down and excitedly looked for his gear. However, as soon as he touched Shadowmist he could feel it, while Cereliona and Alaina could see the magical divine connection from between a Paladin and his mount. Moments after this, everyone saw lights appear around Skovald that looked like a large swarm of glowing gnats. They flew around him for only a few seconds before they flew into Shadowmist, as they did the horse glowed with magical energy and it transformed into a Black Feathered Griffin. At this point Sais just could take anymore so he shouted outload, “Come on, he dies and gets a Griffin and all I got was this Mug.” He pulled out his Cayden mug as he spoke and when he looked into it he saw it was now filled with a very strong-smelling alcohol (Tequila). Sais took a big slug and turned to toast Zheda. The monk then pulled out her own Cayden mug and toasted Sais. When her mug filled with the same strong-smelling alcohol, the two both took big drinks, Zheda taking a larger one, trying to catch up. Skovald then, looked for his sword again, this time finding it. But as he started to pull it out of it’s sheaths he could feel a different kind of magic, this was not good or evil, but it was wild and powerful. He did not know what it was, or it’s cause so he quickly pulled his sword out. As he did, the Adamantine Katana he got from Das Korvut back in Sandpoint, was transformed into an Adamantine Greatsword and while he did not know its powers, Skovald could feel magic in it. Sais and Zheda then both looked at each other and said, “Seriously.” After a pause where they stared at each other the two Cayden followers then finished their mugs in one go. Only to have them refill by the time they looked in it. Skovald then pulled out his and gear and went about adjust his arm and other gear to fit his new size. One an item was ready, he would put it on. He continued this for a while. Sais then got up and moved over by Cereliona. The two then looked at Lamatar as Cereliona asked, “Do you understand what has happened to you?” He continued to stare at the ground nas he told them his love, had given him the information when he was reincarnated. He knew he had been killed by ogres and turned into an undead. But he did not remember his time as an undead. And that he hs now the new protector of White Willow like Myraina was before him. As he said this he continued to look at the ground but he slowly moved his attention in their direction. As he finishes telling them his story, he looks at Sais’s feet and says, “Those are my boots.” This surprise the Rogue, out of instinct he started to take them off, saying, “Sorry I was only borrowing them.” Lamatar took both boots from Sais and puts them on his hooves. Once they magically adjusted to fit his feet, he looks at Sais and says, “I have a thank you for these.” He then waves to the forest and a small bulls eye lantern floated out of the forest and stopped hovering over Lamatar’s right shoulder. Lamatar then said, “This is for you.” And as he did the lantern flew to float next to Sais. Now closer to it, he could see that it was a fine, silver bulls-eye lantern that was embossed with the images of 2 Lyrakien Azatas, one on each of the front panels. Lamatar then explained that it would burn and never need oil, it would float alongside him whenever he asked to, its light could reveal invisible beings, and that if he asked it to, it would guard him. Looking at the clearly magical Lantern, Sais then said, “Thanks” with true enthusiasm. Now that everyone’s questions that could be answered had been answered, Cereliona said now that they would have to teleport from here, she wanted to send a message to the Fort with her last Raven so they would know what happened. Everyone liked this and Lamatar even asked if she would let the Ranger’s know that now that he was the protector of White Willow that had to come first but that he would always be a Black Arrow so if they needed help they could ask for it. The Rangers would now belong to Jakardros and Vale. Sais then asked Lamatar if he knew anything about the stone giants attacking Sandpoint or the Dragon but he did not. However, he did know that Barl had a boss and that boss was powerful. Sais thanked Lamatar for the information before he said, “Speaking of that, we need to go. Dragons to slay, giants to stop, town to save, all that.” Skovald then walked up to Alaina and asked if she would identify his new sword so she looked at it and told him it was now an Adamantine golem bane great sword. Alaina then pointed out that they had a Teleport issue. She could not bring Skovald and Shadowmist in one teleport and she did not want to use up her spells. However, Skovald told her that he could now summon Shadowmist from anywhere with the power of his god, so she did not need to bring him. Skovald suggested that he could fly his Griffin back to Sandpoint but that was estimated to take at least two days so was quickly shot down. Xavian then volunteered to ride out the trip in Cereliona’s bag, like when they Dimensional doored into the fort. Everyone thought that was a great idea, so they quickly said goodbye to Lamatar and Yap. Cereliona then released her Raven with their message on its leg. After that everyone came together around Alaina, Xavian jumped in the bag and Alaina casted her Teleport.
Treasure
GM Bonuses
[End of Book 3: The Hook Mountain Massacre]
[Start of Book 3.5: The League of Ordinary Adventurers]
Day 74 [continued] (Wealday the 5th of Kuthona, Wednesday 12/05/2047)
The League of Ordinary Adventurers
Entrance
As they were moving through the void, their trip was interrupted. They were not pulled out of the void, instead it was like a building materialized around them as they moved. When the area around them was done taking shape, the floor just became solid and something to walk on with no initial impact. They then looked around and saw that they were in a wooden structure. The room they were in was rectangular shaped with a set of double doors behind them, a set of barrels to their right, and then at the far end of the rectangle was a set of large stairs going up on their left, a door going to their right and in between those was a counter. Behind the counter sitting on a Clawfoot, but they did not know what that it was, so they thought it was just a Velociraptor, was a halfling. He was working on something. He paused from his work just long enough to look up at them and say, “Hello” before he went back to his work. Alaina then asked, “Where are we?” The halfling then stopped what he was doing, before he gave Alaina his full attention. He said, “I am Anamis and this is the League of Ordinary Adventures.” He then looked at them for a moment before saying, “Let me guess you are on your way to save a princess? No, no, no, wait too many of you for that. Maybe to slay a demon??” Cereliona then jumped in and said, “We are on our way to save our home, Sandpoint.” Anamis then said, “Aaa, it is usually something like that.” Zheda then asked “Alaina, where have you brought us?” Anamis then jumped in and told them that they were here because the League picked them up as they traveled and not to blame their caster. He explained that whenever people with destinies were going to reach a point where things changed in their path, the league will sometimes show up and give them a respite just before that crucial moment. Also, that they need not worry about hurrying because time has no meaning in this place. As long as they stayed in the bar, no time would pass for their home world. If they wanted to, they could leave through the double doors behind them at any time and they would be returned home. However, if they chose to stay they would get free room and board. Also, they would be welcome to use the upstairs rooms which have their own features. Namely, training and craft rooms were time spent in them has no meaning to the bar, so they could do whatever they wanted or needed to do for as long as they wanted or needed without wasting time even in the bar. They could also go into the main bar where they could eat and drink anything for free; and if they waited for them there would also be an occasional bar fight or two. Finally, they had another room beyond that where all the merchants of Sharn, the city of Towers, would be at their disposal so they could buy and sell anything they wanted with no limits. Anamis ended all this by saying, “My new friends you may wonder why our bar is this way. Well, myself and my fellow owners of this tavern, were once heroes like you. And we succeeded in our task, but when we where done we did not want to be asked to do it again. So, we built this placed to hide us and help the next set of Heroes, complete the missions we did not want to do. Consider this place a respite before an important moment.” Everyone then smile and thought that maybe this might be true. As they smiled, Anamis could tell they did understand what was going on so he added, “Now if you would like to get started, to your right. Those Barrels…. That is our leave a scroll takes a scroll.” Alaina quickly moved over and looked at the barrels. Her magical sight showed her that If someone put as scroll in one, the barrel would allow them to pull another scroll of a spell that was an equal power level out. Alaina then commented, “I bet Wizards love this place.” At that everyone looked at each other and with a node they agreed to stay.
Exploring the bar
They then let Xavian out of the bag as Zheda moved up to Anamis and asked, “Do you have anyone with magical knowledge?” Anamis thought for a second and then said “You should go talk to Kanatash in the back. He is the magic dealer and our resident knowledge buff.” Zheda thank him and started to head that way, only to find that Sais was already taking their treasure that way. As those two went straight to the magic dealer, the others moved into the bar proper and looked around a little. On one of the walls, they found a map of the city of Sharn. It was a city of thousands of feet tall stone towers with beings and people living on all levels from under the city, in the many tower levels, to island of stone floating in the sky above it. Cereliona then ran back to Anamis and showed her the map they got off the ghost ship in the Shimerglains and asked if she known what It was. Anamis looked at it for a moment, smiled and said “That is Khorvaire.” He then pointed to a spot on the South west coast of the continent and said, “We are there. Sharn the City of towers.” He then happily went back to his work. Cereliona then wandered back into the bar. While Cereliona was back with the halfling, Alaina and Skovald wandered out onto the open-air patio and looked at the 4000-foot high view. However, unlike other mountain tops that had seen there was numerous creatures, beings, and vessels large and small flying through the air; as well as dozens of other towers like this. This surprised them, so they decided to return and find the others to tell them about it.
Magic Item Dealer
When they got to the dealer, Zheda when first and Sais stayed back to give her space. Zheda walked up, opened her shirt a little to show the man the mark she got in Foxglove Manor that recently changed and said, “Do you know what this is.” He said, “I am Kanata’s, and I do not know right now but let me take a look at it.” He then immediately got up and moved closer to Zheda, so he could see the mark. Without asking he just reached and grabbed her by the shoulder and boob, so she could flatten and see the mark better. Zheda was used to this, having been trained by Chied after all so she let it go. The man casted several spells and looked at the mark through several lens before he looked up at Zheda. He then told her he had not seen anything like this before, but from what he could tell it is some come of mark that is the symbol of a force inside her that is powered by her own sin, whatever one that may be. Zheda asked him, “is it dangerous. Will it hurt me.” He told her, “No, it might grow in power, but it is not meant to hurt you. It does not work that way, it is symbiotic, not parasitic.” Zheda was then immediately calmed since it would not harm her directly at least, and that she did not need to worry about it so much. She then returned the bar. Sais the went in behind Zheda, to sell off the many treasures they had acquired since leaving Magnimar. The dealer was in such a good mood from his time with Zheda, he gave Sais a deal on the items he sold. After getting all the loot, Sais took the treasure back to the main bar where everyone met up at a table. The loot was then divided up among the five group members. Once everyone got their share they told Alaina what they wanted crafted, gave her the items and gold she would need and then everyone went out to the bar to either shop, craft, retrain, and/or just have a good meal. During this time, Xavian helped Alaina get some crafting supplies by giving her a diamond worth 5000 gold and even talking to the dealer and helping her to purchase the supplies she needed to make better “camping gear” at a discount. Cereliona used her new bag and one of her purchases to give her Chakram a new ability. Also, Zheda decided to sell her handy haversack and put all of her stuff including her booze in Cereliona’s large fey bag, after getting the ranger’s permission. The group ended up having a total of 3 meals in the bar before everyone was done with all they wanted to do, fully rested mentally and physically, as well as ready to take the fight to the giants so they then readied to leave. They returned to the main room, had Xavian jump in the bag, said goodbye to Anamis, who waved at them, and then they all walked out the double doors, returning to the path destiny had laid out in front of them.
Gm Note
· Zheda Trait Favorite Daughter bonus applied to the selling off of this treasure, allowing them to sell everything at 60% it’s value instead of 50%.
· 195930 gold total value at 60% so each player got 39,186 gold from the selling off all the hook mountain treasure.
League stuff features.
· Time stop
o Time does not pass in the character’s home world, while the players are in the bar.
o Time does not effectively pass for character’s in the bar compare to character’s in crafting and training rooms. Allowing anyone to craft anything in seconds or take any training in a moment.
· Take a Scroll leave a Scroll
o A scroll may be place in the barrel and a scroll of an equal spell level may be removed unless the second spell has a special extra material cost such as Restoration, then gold in the same value must be added to the barrel first. Does not have to be the correct material added, only an equal gold value.
· Merchant
o The Bar store is considered a Metropolis and if a player has the Black Market connections ability such as Sais, they are consider to have automatically passed that check. Making it so all magic items are for sale in this case.
· Other
o All food and drink for anywhere, anytime, any country, any universe, available.
Treasure
§ Alaina Sold
o Bracers of Armor +1: 500 gp (1000gp)
o Scrolls
§ Cone of Cold: 1,125 gp
§ Hold Monster: 1,125 gp
§ Telekinesis: 1,125 gp
§ Lightning Bolt CL 6: 375 gp
§ Keen Edge: 375 gp
o Metamagic Toppling Rod: 3000 gp
o Wand of Enervation: 5040 gp
o Silent metamagic Rod: 3000 gp
o Amulet of Natural Armor +1: 2000 gp
o Cloak of Resistance +1: 1000 gp
· Aliana Bought or Crafted for Self
o Headband of Alluring Charisma +6: 32,000 gp
§ Upgraded from +2 to +6
§ Crafted at ½ cost
o Orange Prism Ioun Stone: 30,000 gp
§ Crafted at ½ cost
o Instant Fortress: 55,000 gp
§ Received special deal because of Xavian and GM giving style points for this. Allowed to purchase at less than 50% so she could afford it.
§ Effectively Crafted at less than ½ cost
· Sais Sold
o ring of jumping: 2,500 gp
o +1 shortsword: 2,310 gp
o SkinSaw Mask: 1500 gp
· Sais Bought or had crafted by Alaina.
o +1 Amorphous, Shadow, Defiant(Giant) Darkleaf Leather Tunic 13,000 gp
o +1 Debilitating, Adamantine, Black Short Sword: 8000 gp
§ Upgraded from Das Adamantine short sword
o +1 Menacing, Adamantine Short Sword: 9000 gp
o Belt of Dexterity increased to +4 – 8000
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
§ Upgraded from +2 belt.
§ Also sacrificing an +2 dex belt allowing them to gain that similar item’s full value in crafting cost, rather than effective have from selling.
o Headband of Alluring Charisma increased to +4 – 12000
§ Upgraded from +2
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o Cloak of Resistance increased to +4 – 15000
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
§ Upgraded from +1 Cloak.
· Sais Alchemy Crafting: All items crafted for ½ price by Sais
o 2 Vicious Caltrops [100 each]: 200 gp
o 5 Acid Flask [10 each]: 50
o 5 Alchemist's Fire Flask [20 each]: 100 gp
o 5 Alkali Flask [15 each]: 75 gp
o 5 Holy Weapon Balm [30 each]: 150 gp
o 5 Smog Pellet [40 each]: 200 gp
o 3 Smoke Pellet [25 each]: 75 gp
o 3 Flash Powder [50 each]: 150 gp
o 5 Vermine Repellent [5 each]: 25 gp
o 5 Tanglefoot Bag [50 each]: 250 gp
o 9 Antiplauge [50 each]: 450 gp
o 10 Antitoxix [50 each]: 500
o 10 Bloodblock [25 each]: 250 gp
o 10 Smelling Salts [25 each]: 250 gp
o 10 Stillgut[50 each]: 500
o 10 Troll Styptic [100 each]: 1000
o 10 Twitch Tonic [45 each]: 450
· Sold by Zheda
o gloves of arrow snaring: 9000 gp
· Bought or Craft By Alaina for Zheda
o Monk’s robe: 13000 gp
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o gauntlet of skilled maneuver (trip): 4000
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o headband of mental prowess (int,wis, knowledge history) - 6000
§ upgraded from headband of inspired wisdom +2
§ sacrificed Head band of vast intelligence +2, to gain full item value in crafting cost.
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o boots of springing and striding - 5500
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o dark blue rhomboid ioun stone - 10000
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o amulet of mighty fist +1 and Impact [+2] – 32000
§ Upgraded from a +1
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o 10 baiju [10 gp each]: 100 gp
o 10 dragon punch whiskey [10 gp each]: 100 gp
· Zheda Retraining
o Removed enforcer and Intimidating Prowess feats: 600 gp each
§ Replaced with Dimensional Agility and Dimensional Assault
· Cereliona Sold
o Studded Leather +1: 1025gp
· Cereliona purchases or Crafted by Alaina for Cereliona
o Designating, Lesser Chakram: 18,000 gp
§ Sacrificed in Fey forge bag.
§ Used to added Designating to her Golden Chakram
o Celestial Armor: 22,400 gp
o Vest of Surgery: 3000 gp
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
o Healer's Gloves: 2500 gp
§ Crafted at ½ cost by Alaina
· Cereliona Retraining
o Changed Favorite Enemy Humanoid(goblinoids) to Favorite Enemy Dragon: 600 gp
· Skovald Purchases or Crafted by Alaina for Skovald
o +1 Huge Impact Greatsword: 18,350 gp
o Effortless Lace: 2500 gp
§ Crafted by Alaina for 1/2
o Ring of Protection +4: 12,000 gp
§ Upgraded from +2 to +4
§ Crafted by Alaina for ½ cost
o Vestments of Natural Armor +3: 16,000 gp
§ Upgraded from +1 to +3
§ Crafted by Alaina for ½ cost
o Belt of Physical Might (STR, DEX) +2: 12,000
§ Crafted by Alaina for ½ cost
§ Upgraded from Belt of Giant's Strength +2
Skovlad's goodbye
After dying and coming back as a new man in a new body, Skovald did not want to return to their world. Instead he decided to stay in the world of the bar and see what he could could do there. Everyone was upset to see him go but they did not stop him. When he told Anamis the halfling casted a spell the would allow him to leave through the double doors and not return home. With that done, everyone said a final good bye to Skovald before the now half giant walked out the doors into his new destiny.
Player Update: Skovald[Kane] was removed from the game as of the end of this session.
The Last thing that happened
The group left The League of Ordinary Adventures and returned to the void of their teleport spell.
GM Favorite moment
The rebirth of Skovald. I feel that I truly surprised the group when Skovald was returned to them, I believe that no figured it out one in or out of character that it was going to happen.
Experience
Each Player received 2500 experience points (Total: 178,030 [12th level]) for Role-playing.
[End of Book 3.5: Mini Adventure: The League of Ordinary Adventurers]
[Start of Book 4: Fortress of the Stone Giants]
Day 74 [continued] (Wealday the 5th of Kuthona, Wednesday 12/05/2047)
Leaving the League
Each of the group members had just put one foot through the door and they were just starting to feel the magic of Alaina’s teleport spell take hold of them again; when Anamis said, “Thank you for visiting and enjoy the view.” No one had any time to react to his words but everyone thought “Enjoy the View?” because the magic took them. However, this time when they teleported, instead of the Black void as usual, they all were given a vision of Magnimar from about 200 feet up in the air. They only stayed still for a few seconds before the vision started to move.
They left Magnimar and flew north along the rocky coastline. They quickly found themselves in a peculiar country. Fog draped the rolling landscape, floating spectrally along damp and lonely moors. Small woodlands graced the region, their tangled depths redolent of nettles and pepperwood and pine sap, while further inland, river valleys were lined by majestic redwoods that winded between ragged tors and limestone escarpments. They could feel the region’s vastness and sense of isolation that earned it the name they all knew,” The Lost Coast.”
As the vision moved them, they could see pockets of civilization along the lost coast. Traditional varisian campsites were seen in nearly every gulch and hollow along the cliff-lined reaches, with lonely houses that sat upon bluffs now and then—domiciles for eccentrics or the rich seeking a bit of peace far from the bustle of magnimar’s streets. Roadside inns graced the lost coast road every 24 miles or so, they guessed placed by virtue of the distance most travelers could walk in a given day. Low stone shrines to Desna, goddess of wanderers and patron of the varisians, gave further opportunities for shelter should one of the all-too-common rainstorms catch travelers unaware. The footprint of civilization upon the lost coast then grew more clear and common. Farmlands in the outlying moors and river valleys grew more numerous, and the blue-green waters of the Varisian gulf bared more and more fishing vessels upon its waves. Passage over creeks and rivers was more often accomplished by wooden bridge than ford, and the lost coast road itself grew wider and better kept.
They next approached a the large up thrust limestone pavements known as the devil’s platter. The arc of rocky outcropping was near a lightly forested hilltop that rose up by a bend in the road. As they turned this final bend in the road, Sandpoint’s smoking chimneys and bustling streets greeted these travelers with open arms and the promise of warm beds, a welcome sight indeed for those who had spent the weeks in the hook dealing with the rain.
The vision then ended, returning them to the normal world.
Sandpoint
Arriving Home
When the vision ended, the teleport spell placed them at the edge of town, in front of Sandpoint Bridge and it was about 2 in the afternoon. The first thing everyone noticed was a post next the bridge and hung on it from a bent nail was a sign and a mirror; painted on the sign was the message: “Welcome to Sandpoint! Please stop to see yourself as we see you!” Seeing this sign reminded them when they returned to Sandpoint from Thistletop. Then they had looked into the mirror and saw how that short adventure had changed them. Now they looked into this mirror, amazed by the differences yet again. They were all geared up, tougher looking, and stronger as well as the fact the Alaina had different eyes since last time. The sign also reminded them of the seven stones in the center of the church they had seen shortly after returning, but no one focused on this or brought it up right now. Instead they were focused on Sandpoint itself. Much to their surprise, the town looked to be having a fairly normal day. Smoke was coming from the chimneys, the sound of the log splitter could be heard, and from what they could see everyone was going about their daily lives like all was normal. This surprised everyone, as they had expected to find giants destroying the city. Alaina told the group she was going to give the town a fly over and everyone watched her take off. Sais and Cereliona then headed into town to the guard house, hoping to find the Mayor and/or Belor. Zheda traveled with them but she was headed to Turandarok Academy to check on her orphans. Just as they entered town they passed the two knights brewery and Gavin Deverin saw Zheda. He yelled her name to get her attention which worked. However, Zheda did not stop moving but she did slow down and turn to look at him. Once she saw him she signaled that she had to run but that she would be back. He understood and waved her on. The monk then turned and ran to catch back up with the other two.
Turandarok Academy
Zheda caught up with the other two, just outside the Turandarok Academy. Once there, Zheda wasted no time and went straight in the front door. Seeing this, Sais thought he would check on Illsoari as well and Cereliona did not want to separate the group up any more, so she joined them as well. Inside the front doors, they found the building mostly empty, there were no student or children around. However, in the two chairs by the front entrance sat Illsoari and a gnome both with their noise in a book. As soon as she saw Illsoari, Zheda asked, “What is going on? Is the town ok? Are ‘My Orphans’ ok?” Seeing her franticness, Illsoair quickly stood up and joined Zheda. He told her that everything was ok for now and that the children were all out of school at the moment. Seeing that everything seemed to be OK, Zheda calmed down. However, Cereliona was surprised that everyone was calm about all this, so she asked “What happened with our message?” He explained that the Mayor had just gotten their message through Sabyl this morning. She told the town that she would contact Magnimar to see if they would send assistance. He also added that at first everyone started to panic but once she told them that the Heroes of Sandpoint were returning home to save them again, everyone felt safer. Hearing all this Cereliona worried that the town may be depending on them too much or taking them for granted. However, she looked at the books the two were reading, Illsoair had one on Dragons while the Gnome had one on stone Giants. This made the ranger feel better because it was now obvious to her that they were doing what they could, they just were not terrified of the attack. Sais on the other hand, moved over to the Gnome and introduced himself. The gnome said his name was Veznutt Parooh the town Mapmaker and an Amateur Historian. Hearing his name, Sais remebered the magical map located in the guard house and that this town local was the official owner of it. Smiling at this, Sais asked if he had any ideas on the giants. Veznutt then picked up his Stone giant book and flipped a few pages back. And then he pointed out that this book, said that Stone giants are particularly good at hiding in stony mountains, so he suspected that they would use either the Fogscar or the Malgorian mountain as blinds to get all the way to Sandpoint. Sais then ask if anyone was watching those mountains, but Veznutt pulled out a map and showed him that the edges of these mountains stretched over several hundreds of miles so there was no real good way to do that, but that if something was being done, only the mayor would know for sure. Hearing about the mayor reminded them of their original destination and since everything was safe here, everyone quickly said goodbyes so they could head to the guard house.
Aliana’s fly over
As Alaina flew over the roof tops of the buildings of Sandpoint, she could easily make out the Cathedral, the Sandpoint Theater, the Turandarok Academy, the Glassworks, and even the Rusty Dragon. Nothing looked out of place to her and none of the buildings look damaged. She could see people in the town going about their business, but as she looked carefully she could tell that everyone was acting nervous; looking around corners and into the forest; jumping at loud noises; etc. However, at the same time no one looked as panicked as she thought they should be. She finished her fly by near the guard house, were she saw the group approaching so she landed outside the guardhouse to join them.
Guard house
Everyone on the ground reach the guard house just in time for Alaina to come down next to them. Alaina did not land, instead she stayed hovering just a few inches off the ground. They turned out to have perfect timing because coming out of the guard house was Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Belor, and Sabyl Soren. Then for the first time ever, Xavian pushed to the front of the group and made his way to Sabyl. Seeing him she did the same. When the two met they embraced and shared a deep and long kiss. Sais joked about losing his lunch at the sight of those two kissing, but it was meant in good fun. Seeing the Dwarf kiss the female monk, everyone remembered that they had only seen Sabyl once. It was when they were leaving the glassworks after clearing out the goblins and that she had offered them a room or help if they needed it. Alaina also remembered that Xavian had let her borrow a few of this lady’s books. Xavian and Sabyl separated after a little while and when they did, the Dwarf and the human both return to the rear of their respective groups. With the lovers out of the way, the three townsfolk looked at their Heroes and the first thing they noticed was Alaina’s eyes. The Mayor and Sabyl did not do anything other than stair but Belor said, “What the F…, happened to your eyes?” Alaina simply replied that she had been affected by some powerful magic. Belor and Sabyl seemed to understand but the Mayor was obviously still a little confused, but she did not press the issue. Instead she thanked them all for coming home so quickly. They had just gotten their message this morning and even though the message said they would be traveling by magic she had not expected them so soon; but she was very thankful. From the looks on their faces as Belor and Sabyl watched the Mayor talk to the group, they too felt the same way. Sais told the sheriff that he had to return to mess with him. He then started to walk up to the sheriff while holding his hands out as if he was going in for a hug. Belor watched as he approached, knowing that it was all a trick, so Sais could attempt to steal something from him, so he said with a smile in his voice, “Try it.” And as he said this did, Anen and Cenbert join Belor. Sais stopped shy of the sheriff and waved and said “Hi” to both guards. Sais then turned the mayor and asked, “So what have you done so far?” then he returned to the group. As he did he overheard Zheda quietly tell Cereliona “Bet you 5 gold he is in jail within a week.” And he also heard Cereliona’s response of “No, I don’t take bets I cannot win.” The Mayor then told them that she informed the major members of the community who in turn had notified the rest of the town that giants were coming to attack the town but that the Heroes of Sandpoint were returning to save us. As she finished this, Sais whispered to Cereliona and Zheda “3 days?” The three held in their laughter at this as the Mayor added, that she sent a letter to Magnimar to request help and that she had used the Heroes of Sandpoint’s name to hopefully get help sooner. Belor then added that signs of giants were everywhere now. The growing number of sightings at the fringes of civilization had even been enough to cause Magnimar’s standing army to take notice so he hopped it would speed things up, but he admitted that the logistics of organizing a army, even a small one, are such that he did not expect Magnimar’s reinforcements for at least several weeks. The group then looked at the gathered crowd and told them that they are all going to have to come up with a plan then.
Planning
Guardhouse
The group’s first idea was to evacuate the town until the giant attack was over. But the Mayor and the sheriff explained that while a short-term evacuation could be done, this town, these buildings and business were the people’s livelihood. It is how they survive, quiet latterly how they got food to eat, so the town could not be evacuated for any long term. Alaina then thought of a short term, quick evacuations and asked if the smuggler’s tunnels under town were still safe. Belor explained that he still has a guard regularly watch it, but nothing has ever come out of there. Alaina then suggested that they use the tunnel as a hiding place for the townsfolk. They could enter through the glassworks, close up the doors and hide until it was all over. Everyone thought this was a good idea, so they decided to go and ask Ameiko right now if they could use the glass works as an entrance. As they walked they asked the Mayor if there was anything new in town they should be aware off. The Mayor said, “Ironically, Yes.” A week or so after you left a deal with struck with the remnants of the goblin tribes you attacked. They now regularly come to junker’s edge and collect the garbage they like. Daviren Hosk was and still is set against it, but the followers of Gozreh, particularly Hanna, did and are continuing to make a good case for it. But, the fact that the garage was clearly piling up faster than the ocean would take it lately ultimately sealed the deal. The farmers in the area can also dumb their garbage in shanks woods as well for the same reason. Everyone was shocked by this turn of events, but they had little time to think about it as they were trying to stay focused on the task at hand which was reaching the Rusty Dragon and saving the town.
Rusty dragon
When they entered the tavern, it was mostly empty with only a few patrons and all of those drinking or eating alone. The halfling Bethana was behind the bar on the right and upon seeing the mayor and the group she immediately called Ameiko out of the kitchen. As soon as the group saw Ameiko all four of them came in for a big group hug. As they did this, Ameiko asked, “Where the fuck have you been? Shit you got all new stuff, what you been up to?” Cereliona then added that they all had a lot of stories to tell her. Ameiko thanked them but she also the saw the mayor at the door and the look on her face so she said, “That will have to wait though, looks like the mayor has more important shit for us to talk about.” The group, Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Hemlock, and Ameiko then all moved to a large table and sat down. First, they filled her in their beginnings of a plan and that they would like to use the glassworks to reach the tunnel. As they had expected she agreed to let them use her building. Alaina then asked how power Father Zantus was with magic because she wanted to know if he could cast a divine spell she had heard of in her research that would allow him to shape the stone of the caves. The mayor said that she believed he was powerful enough, but they would have to ask him to find out. Alaina said it is not required but if he could cast that spell twice that he could close up both ends of the cave, sealing them in were it would be safe. Zheda then first started to talk about the limited air and worried about how long they could last but then they entire group including Zheda remembered that the catacombs connected tunnels had a set of old stairs were air could get in and out, so the people would be fine. With that taken care of they moved on to the defense of the city itself. They did not worry about the north lost coast road entrance, it had the wall and gate, so it was already well defended. However, the entire east side of the town only had the slow-moving waters of the Turandarok river to protect it. At first Alaina wanted to cut down trees and use them to make a wall along the east side. But it was quickly realized that to make anything tall enough and strong enough to hold back a giant would take months to build over an area that large so instead they decided to make the water harder to cross. Sais came up with the idea of putting tree stump sized spears in the water. They hoped that this would funnel the giants to the two bridges. At the bridges they plan to set up trap to spring on the giants. Sais came up with the idea of setting the bridges up with Alchemist fire and then using a flaming arrow to detonate it. That covered the east area of the town. The south had the harbor and the west the ocean, so they were safe from those directions. Next, Zheda asked about sending out scouts to look for and send warning when the giants are approaching. Sais suggested the sneaky goblins, but Cereliona was concerned about what they could use to motivate the green monsters. Sais said they would explain to the goblins no town means no garbage. Cereliona picked up on Sais’s line of thought and said they should also explain that no town also means no food either. Alaina then added that she would happy threaten the goblins if it was needed. They next moved on to the dragon. Alaina then asked what they could do about dragon fire. The group was then glad they saved the Rod of Flame Extinguishing from the Kreeg clan’s treasure. It was decided since Zheda was the most mobile of the group she would carry it which meant she also had the job of putting out fires in this battle. Alaina added that she will fly around and help with the dragon and its fires as she could. Zheda pointed out that the worst part about the dragon was that it could fly fast so it would be hard to control. Cereliona then said that she would use her anchoring javelin, but she worried that it would most likely only slow the dragon down, but not stop it. Alaina added that she thought they should focus on bringing it down to them. Cereliona said that all dragons have egos so they are usually easy to taunt. Hearing this Alaina added that because this dragon worked for stone giants it would have to be young or else it would just eat all the giants. And since it was young, it would have an even bigger ego so be even easier to taunt. Zheda and Sais then smiled at one another as they said that they felt they could easily taunt the dragon. Sais added that once it was on the ground, they could have guards with net throw them on the dragon if it made it to the ground. And Sais said he would use one of his tangle foot bags on its wings, hoping that it would stop it from flying. Alaina added that she planned to use her powerful area effect spells while the dragon was still in the air but close to the ground because she was worried about the collateral damage to the town. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea. Next Cereliona ask, “Where is the Ginfaxi, isn’t this what that group claimed it was here to fight and stop?” Everyone silently agreed with her. Sais then looked over at the Rusty Dragon’s help wanted board for the note he left for the Ginfaxi. He found the note just were he left it and as far as he could tell no one had responded to it or even touched it. He then turned to Bethana and asked her if she had seen anyone looking at this note. Bethana apologized but as people were always reading and posting things on the board, she could not say if some had or not because she did not watch it that closely. When Sais returned to the group, everyone agreed to look into the Ginfaxi around town as best they could, later. Alaina then circled back around to her main concern, the dragon. Alaina told the group, “I have a bad idea.” Hearing this everyone expected the worst, but they were willing to listen to her idea. Alaina said that because she could fly, she could focus on handling the dragon, while the rest of the group took care of the giants. Zheda immediately jumped in and told everyone that she felt splitting the group was a bad idea, because last time they had tried it someone died. Alaina said that she understood but that she did not know what else they could do. Cereliona added that she thought it would work as a last resort but not as their main plan. Xavian then joined the conversation and told everyone that if Alaina went after the dragon, he would be willing to join her in the air, if she casted fly on him. Xavian explained that he would not fight the dragon, but that he would do his best to keep Alaina alive while she did. Zheda still felt separating the group was a bad idea and said a hard no to that. However, this gave everyone else ideas, so they decided to think on Alaina’s offer rather than dismissing it out of hand. While they did that, Cereliona broached another subject. She asked everyone that with all things being equal who should they focus on the Giants or the Dragon. It took a while, but everyone agreed that the giants were the greater threat simply because of their greater numbers so they all agreed that if push came to shove, the giants would be the priority. Alaina then added that she did agree that they be would much more effect against either group if they could stay together, but that they would need a backup plan.
Plan A
Using all the ideas they had just discussed they came up with Plan A. They would put spears and pikes in the river along the east side of town to try and funnel the giants onto the bridges. They would also trap the bridges with Alchemist fire. In addition, Sais would also give each bridge a Tangle foot bag, so they could slow the giants even more. The group would leave this to the town’s defenders as much as they could while they focused on the dragon. If they could they would taunt it to come down low and when it got close Alaina would do her best to hit it with spells. When it landed the guards would then use nets to try to slow the dragon for the group to slay. It was their hope they could take care of the dragon and come to the aid of the town’s defenders before the giants overwhelmed them.
Plan B
They then moved on to their back up plan. If plan A failed because the dragon was too strong, the giant’s moved to fast, or something else ruined plan A then they would separate. Alaina would go after the dragon while the rest of the group would to deal with the giants.
Errands around town
With planning done it was now 3 pm and everyone now had errands to run around town, so they decide to split up. As everyone was separating, Alaina asked the Mayor if there were any powerful wizards in town. However, the most powerful one that she knew of was Broderick, and he was more of a scholar than a fighter (Level 4 Wizard). Alaina thanked the mayor, but she needed someone a little stronger than that for her idea. Everyone then left the Rusty Dragon and headed out into Sandpoint.
Sais at Bottled Solutions
Sais first stop was Bottled Solutions to see Nisk Tander. When Sais arrived at the shop, it had not changed much since last time he was here. It still had 5 rows of items up front and the counter in the back with Nisk behind it, crafting. As Sais made his way to the back, he could smell the distinct odor of failed Alchemy in the air as the item Nisk was working on, started to smoke a little. As Sais reached him, he asked “What you workin’ on?” Nisk was clearly surprised by Sais’s appearance in his shop so he quickly hid his work saying, “This is something new I am coming up with, but it is not ready yet.” Sais’s knowledge of Alchemy told him that Nisk was working on a simple Tindertwig. Rather than pointing this out, Sais asked if Nisk had any contact with the Ginfaxi. Nisk said that he spoke with Das and Cracktooth so he knew that they were members but other than them and the initial contact from Sais, he had not heard from anyone. He added that he even asked around town a little, but no one knew anything about them. Sais thanked him and asked Nisk to report back to him if he did hear anything which Nisk agreed to. Sais then moved on to his other reason for coming. He wanted Nisk to make up several bottles of Alchemist fire, so they could use them as traps on the bridges. This excited Nisk and he started to describe how the big the fire would be from his products would make, when he started to look worried. He then explained to Sais that Alchemist fire was very unstable, especially the ones that he made, so they would want to wait and trap the bridges right before the attack. If they did it now, most likely it would get set off early. Consider the hit or miss luck he has have had Nisk products, he agreed and asked Nisk to get everything ready as soon as possible. Then when they were needed, someone would come and get the traps. Nisk smiled at this and he then immediately started to get to work. Looking at what he was doing, Sais offered to help. When he did, Nisk looked conflicted. Sais figured he was internally weighing his pride verse the help Sais would be. In the end, he accepted Sais’s help but he would only let Sais inform him on crafting techniques, he would not let Sais show him anything or do any of the work. After talking Alchemy crafting with Nisk for a while Sais said good bye and left. Next, he headed to Cracktooth’s tavern.
Alaina at the Fatman’s Feedbag
As Alaina was leaving the Rusty Dragon, she heard Ameiko shout to her, “Come back here when you are done, I have a surprise for you.” Hearing this put Alaina in a good mood and she wondered what Ameiko could have for her as she made her way south to the Fatman’s feedbag. Alaina did not walk, she flew and when she arrived at the tavern by the docks, she did not fully land either. Instead she stayed floating a few inches off the ground again. She entered the building this way. Inside she saw a few patrons at the side tables but in the middle of the room at a round table was Gressell, Nico, Jubrayl, and a heavily scared man with only one eye(Squigo Serman), she did not know. These four were all talking quietly to one another. Seeing Jubrayl, the person she came here to see, Alaina floated up closer to him. As soon as she got within about 10 feet of the table, all conversations stopped, and they watched her approach. Noticing the change, Alaina took that as her que to speak so she asked Jubrayl about the item she asked him to help her sell. This caused Jubrayl to take on a very professional tone as he told that her needed to change their agreement. He explained that selling that item was taking a lot more work than he planned so he was going to have to change his percentage to 15% so he could break even (GM note: Alaina failed to notice his lie here). He also added that he currently had Magnimar and Korvosa bidders, so he was close to sealing the deal. Alaina then ask to change the deal as well, she wanted Jubrayl to get her a magical spell page of Explosive runes as part of her payment. Jubrayl agreed and told her he would get it for her, take the cost of it out of her share, and if there was any left over he would give her the rest of her share. Alaina also asked when the deal would be completed. Jubrayl then told her that his top bidder was in Korvas and he need the rest of Alaina’s lichdom notes and the box, so it could be examined by the buyer, to close the deal. If the buyer liked it then he would pay them, but that getting him the items and the getting the funds back to Sandpoint could take a couple weeks. Alaina explained that she wanted this item to help her with the giant attack on the town, so she would most likely needed sooner so she asked if there was any buyers in Magnimar, which Jubrayl confirmed that was, but none were close to the top bidder, Korvas was significantly higher. Alaina did not argue with him when it came to gold, so she simply asked Jubrayl if he would do all he could to speed up the trade. Jubrayl said he would do all he could. With that done, Alaina then moved on to her next order of business. She asked Jubrayl if he would use his boys to scout the area around town, keeping an eye out for the incoming giant raiding party. Jubrayl and Alaina talked about price with Jubrayl skill clearly better in this area. It was negotiated that Alaina would pay 5 gold a day for each man and that Jubrayl would send out 4 of his men each day. Alaina gave him a payment of 100 gold to start. Jubrayl accepted it and told her, “You just bought 5 days’ worth of scouts, if you want more after that then you will need to bring me more gold.” With that understood and the deal struck, Alaina then made her way out of the tavern. Once outside, she headed north to the Cathedral, she wanted to investigate the stones at the church again.
Cereliona trip to and time at the Red Dog Smithy
Cereliona decided to go and check on Das and the Red Dog Smithy. However, as she left the Rusty Dragon, her boyfriend, Daviren Hosk, caught sight of her and called her over. Cereliona joined him and the two then greeted each other as the couple they were. Cereliona then told him she was sorry she had not come by sooner, she had been busy dealing with the incoming giant raid. Daviern understood but he also asked if he could join her for the rest of the day. Cereliona was little worried about how Das would take Daviern company but she decided she want Daviern’s company, so she told Daviern, he could join her. As she headed north to the Red Dog Smithy, Cereliona was flagged down by Rynshynn Povalli. Rynshynn then asked Cereliona if she would bring all of the Heroes back to her shop when they were together because she had a gift for each of them. Cereliona happy agreed and said she would try to bring them as soon as she could. Cereliona and Daviern then continued north, walking by the Carpenter’s guild as they did. This reminded Cereliona of when she hired Aesrick to fix the doors at Habe’s Sanatorium that Skovald had “opened”. This thought stayed with her until the Das’s Smithy came into sight. As soon as it was, Cereliona could see the 3 large Red Mastiffs and the puppy. However, the puppy had grown. Last time she had seen it, the puppy was barely 1/8th the size of the other Mastiffs but now it was about 1/4th the larger dogs’ size. Cereliona and Daviern were not the only ones to notice the dogs. Barkenstien’s tail started to wag and he jumped and bounced excited as they moved closer. Seeing this Cereliona looked at the dog and said, “Go play.” That one command was all it took, Barkenstien then ran at full speed at the other dogs. The 5 dogs collided and turned into a pile of happy dogs near the front of the Red Dog Smithy. The other two continued their walk to the door but as they did Cereliona warned Daviern that Das may not like having him there and Daviern may be required to leave them alone so Das could talk freely. But this was unneeded because Daviern said with a smile on his face, “I understand, that is just how Das is. Sometimes.” As he finished the sentence, they reached the door and Daviern opened for Cereliona to enter the shop. She entered and Daviern followed. Inside the shop they found Das at his work bench using a stone to sharpen a nearly completed sword. While not a master of weapons, Cereliona could clearly tell this was one of Das’s finer works (GM Note: Masterwork Longsword) so when she got closer to him she said, “Good work.” At hearing her voice Das looked up at her but he did not react to the compliment instead he said, “I must say seeing you here and now; ready to protect Sandpoint. You continue to reward my faith in you as a hero.” He then looked back at his work and continued sharpening the sword. Cereliona felt some pride at his comment as she asked him if the Ginfaxi had contacted him lately. Das continued to work as he spoke, he told her that he had not heard from the Ginfaxi other than when she recruited him. Others had seen the symbol so he told them about it, and he knew that Cracktooth talked about the Ginfaxi in his tavern but that was it. Cereliona was a little disappointed in Das answers but she was not upset at him. She then thanked him for his help and then made sure that the town would be able to use his weapons in the upcoming giant attack which he nodded his agreement too. With that Cereliona said goodbye and left the man to continued with his work. Das did just that, returning to focusing solely on his work so much that he did not even say goodbye as Cereliona and Daviern made their way outside. Once outside, Cereliona and Daviern decided to head to the church and as they started north Cereliona whistled for Barkenstien to follow, which he did.
Zheda goes to the Two Knight’s brewery
After leaving the Rusty Dragon, Zheda headed straight to the Two Knight’s brewery to find Gavin. When she got close to the brewery, she saw Gavin working outside so she waved at him as she approached. Looking at him as she moved closer, she noticed that he looked better than last time she was in town. His clothing was recently washed, and the tears had been mended. He is face was shaved and he looked like as thought regularly bathed now as well. When she got closer to him she said, “You look better.” He thanked her for that and said, “I have been doing better since the Heroes of Sandpoint came to town. The Heroes and you [Zheda] in particular have helped me to see the good that still exist after the death of my brother.” At being reminded of the Wade Deverin’s death at the hands of the chopper, Zheda told him she understood how he felt. She then explained about Skovald’s death. At hearing this Gavin invited her inside for a drink, which the monk happily accepted. Zheda was oblivious of his intentions to court her at first. However, once eventually Gavin made it clear that he wanted to be in a relationship with her, Zheda was happy to tell him she wanted one too. The two then sat around drinking for a while, having their first date as a couple. While they did this, Gavin restocked Zheda’s Deverin 8 pack, replacing her shock to the system she gave Cheid in Magnimar and the bar fight ales she gave to the Black Arrows. After their time together, Zheda told Gavin she was going to head to the church to talk a few things over with the priests. Gavin said he would stay and work on his brews for now but that she should go without him so the two said good bye and Zheda headed to the church.
Treasure
· Deverin 8-pack [restocked]
o 3 Gaven’s Bar Fight Ale
o 1 Deverin Shock to the system
