Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Highlights of Episode Fifty
Iiyoltan the 8-9th, CY1031

Trying to retrace their way back to a safe room to rest the night away, the party accidentally found a chamber they had not explored before.  Fortunately Riardon spotted the armored air elementals from a distance.  Out in the corridor, Jolrael heard the Elven man’s exclamation and ran back to a doorway and prepared himself to trigger the opening mechanism; that door was just north of the entry the rogue had taken.  When Riardon flew through the chambers doors, the sorcerer opened his door, which caused the southern door to automatically close.  From there the party dashed west.

At the first north south intersection Enkili chose to run south, thinking that he could lead his friends back to explored territory.  However when the hallway ended their choice was a flooded room to the west or a closed door to the east.  Riardon chose to open the mystery door and when when it slid up they faced one of the Air Elemental Myrmidons.  The Rogue spent his turn slapping the mechanism that closed the door back up.  The three in the outer chamber heard something slam into that door.

Sure that they were being chased by their doom the party raced to the north, then they were forced east all the way back to the three adjoining octagon rooms the Earth Elemental Myrmidons had lived in.  Their mad fearful career took a minute and a half, before they started to realize both that they were not being chased at all, and they were cornered.  Riardon crept back to the northern door they had triggered to reveal the Air Elementals; that door was still sealed shut.  Enkili offered a long prayer in his native tongue, the only words the other members might have understood was the two names Mahkim and Ahme, then the name of the ruins they were in, Darsta.  The fighting man acknowledged that he was not pure enough to search for the lost heirloom and all he wanted was a way out of the fallen city for his friends.

Tired from all the fighting and running they camped in the middle octagon room because it had the most exits for them.  They remained unmolested through the full day and night they camped.  In the morning the adventurers decided that they would rather go through the elementals than take the one north western hall they had not explored.  They devised a plan at the northern door to send Riardon in first to lure a Myrmidon out, and then they were going to shut the door blocking off the second air elemental.  Spells like Aid, Bardic Inspiration, and Spiritual Guardians were cast before the plan was implemented.  Then Riardon crept in, and let the elementals know he was there, then he ran back as he had the day before.  When the Air Elemental Mymidon’s arrived they were one before the other, their turn ending just before any of them stepped all the way through the door's frame.  The Sorcerer also adressed them in Primordial, invoking the name of the ancient Storm King Alutha (based upon a legend someone recalled about King Alutha and his super fast invulnerable Air Elemental Myrmidon soldier/servants).  As had been the habit with all the elementals before, these creatures of air ignored Jolly's words.

Jolly hit the lead creature with an ice spell that would cause it hardship in hitting any of his friends for a moment.  So as not to have the door frame provide his victim any cover, Enkili stepped out from beside the door, hit with a Distracting Strike, then missed with a quick follow up shot.  He then stepped aside to allow Jolly another spell attempt. The sorcerer hit with an ice cantrip that slowed the same elemental’s movement, then Hubert stepped around and immitated Enkili with his pair of attacks then stepped back aside. After that, Leiya stepped up to the creature and hit with a Word of Radiance which did no damage (unlike the Spirit Guardians spell in effect, the Myrmidon's speed is reduced by half in addition to the damage); she then was struck as she glided away.  His eyes going strange, Blaylocke cast Dissonant Whispers on the lead Elemental causing it to react in pain.

*This fight just got started as our game day drew to a close.  We had spent a lot of time and party cleverness avoiding a pursuit that never manifested.  Our next game will be October 2nd.  We have just learned that our October 30th game will be a horror themed one shot, details coming….

Highlights of Episode Fifty One
Iiyoltan the 9th, CY1031

Seeing the two air elemental Myrmidons lined up in a row just outside of the room, Jolrael upcast Aganazaar’s Scorcher; his fire catching both creatures.  Hubert then stepped around and cut the lead myrmidon with two slashes, before stepping back.  Choosing his time with precision, Blaylocke sent a Dissonant Whispers spell into the lead elemental.  It turned and fled heading back the way it had come.  The other being of air slid into the room and zeroed in on Leiya, whose continuing Spiritual Guardian spell was effecting it and its friend to a great extent.  Lightning and sparks arched off the myrmidon’s flail as it caused a lot of harm to the priestess.

On her turn, Leiya cast Healing Word on herself, then Word of Radiance on her tormentor.  The second air elemental returned to the rooms doorway, and tried to flail Enkili and Hubert but only managed to strike the door frame.  Knowing the myrmidon would be displaced with the closing of the door, Enkili filled the doorway with his bulk before hitting the trigger to close the door, forcing the myrmidon to retreat away from the party.  He then moved behind the first elemental and distracted it so that Leiya could safely disengage and scamper off to a safer position.  After Riardon missed with his Flaming Sphere cantrip, the second air elemental proved it could open the door.  It did so then moved through the room attacking and missing Hubert then Enkili.  It did hit Leiya though, bringing her to a desperate position health wise.

Singing an upcast Word of Healing on Leiya, Blaylocke’s next move was to draw and ply his short bow.  Trying to put some oomph into his blow, Enkili tried to be fancy with his first attack but was humbled by a miss.  Though his second attack hit, he did not try that attack with anything special.  The second air elemental Myrmidon began to move deeper into the room, focusing all of its attacks on Enkili; missing the first two swings but catching the fighter with its third flail assault.

After Hubert only hit with one of his scimitar attacks, Jolrael split a Flaming Sphere attack.  He hit the first creature but missed the one that had hurt Leiya.  Avoiding being drawn into melee with the second elemental, Blaylocke disengaged but still gifted the priestess with a healing spell.  For her part, Leiya killed the second myrmidon with her Word of Radiance spell.  The surviving air elemental myrmidon flailed at Enkili.  Electricity crackled and made the big man whimper from the damage delivered.  An upcast Chromatic Orb met that creature before it could gloat at the damaged it had done.  Riardon finally hit with a Flaming Sphere and slew the last air elemental myrmidon.

Just as the last creature imploded and winked out of existence, the entire underground facility began to shake.  Nearby doors whisked open, and from sounds deeper in the dungeon the sound of all nearby apertures grinding open met the players hearing.  Before the stone on stone noise of the doors rumbled to a halt the cries and calls of beasts and monsters from afar started up; in less than a minute the sound of roaring flame was added to the bestial tumult.  With some of the party fearing the imminent collapse of Darsta’s ruins, the group dashed into the room where the last elemental enemies had lived.  Passing into an eastern running hallway through the southern door, the party passed a set of open double doors facing south then came upon a dead end room at the end of that run.

Pushing passed his friends, Enkili made it back to the open double doors to the fire trapped room where they had fought the shadow demons on their first day in Darsta.  Three cadaverously thin creatures with glowing eyes and pronounced canines were slinking toward them in that room.  Wanting to run, Enkili placed himself one step down in front of his friends and set himself as a guard.  Though Jolly had encouraged everyone to run, he moved to the Mandagan’s side on the steps and hit the undead beings with a Tidal Wave spell.  Two of the benighted creatures were swept off their feet, the water spell seeming to do great harm even to the one who remained upright.  All three creatures surround Enkili.  Leiya pulled upon the power of her goddess and made two of the three flee in terror.  Blaylocke shot the one that stayed.  Before the vampire like adversary had a chance to maul Enkili, Riardon cast a Protection From Evil spell on the fighting man.  This caused the hissing creature to miss every attack.  It then scuttled up the wall to cling to the ceiling, it then moved over the top of Jolly and Blaylocke to go after Leiya.

Damaging spells whipped up at the undead being from the party to varying degrees of success, but it took Enkili barging through Jolly and Blaylocke to close with his sword before the creature was undone.  Not wanting to go into the room that had demonstrated all its fire hurling traps reset after a few seconds, the party decided to head back to a west running hallway near the air elemental’s room.  They circumvented the trapped chamber and returned to the pool room.  To the south east was the door that led to their way out.  In the west and southwest were doors to halls and chambers the group had already explored.  On the eastern wall was a doorway into unexplored territory.

Though he had been excoriating Enkili with barbs every since the door out had locked them in, it was Riardon who seemed the most reluctant to leave without Enkili finding his Family sword.  The Elven man led the way to the east door and his keen sight noticed the glittering of undead eyes deep in the shadows down the north directed stairway they had discovered….

*We had to end this session before disposing of the last two lesser vampire creatures.  We will conclude that fight on October 16th, and with luck, maybe a few other bouts as well.  We will be voting on the genre of our Halloween game during the lull between sessions.
**The vote is in!  We are going to visit the wierd west in a game of Deadlands for our Halloween game.  In the hopes that my efforts help my fellow gamers here is the URL for the test drive rules.  These rules will not help with character creation, Irik will, as usual, be all over that.
https://peg-swade.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws...e_2020.pdf?

Highlights of Episode Fifty Two
Iiyoltan the 9th, CY1031

As the party watched, Riardon tossed a fire bolt down the stair’s steps to have a hissing scream float up in response.  Blaylocke began to unlimber his bow, even as he sang a snippet praising Riardon (bardic inspiration); he then prepared to shoot anything that came up from below.  Enkili just darted over and put himself before Riardon, and just a little left of the rogue so as not to block any shots.  He also prepared to strike out at any attackers.  The two vampire spawn flowed up out of the dark and hid just around the corners of the room below, giving themselves cover since they could not close with the party.  Interposing himself in front of Riardon, Jolrael flung a frostbite spell hitting the right hand vampire spawn.  On her turn, Leiya moved up behind Enkili and bound wounds he had derived from their first altercation with the vampire spawn.

Moving rapidly, Jolrael hit the same vampire with another frostbite cantrip and challenge them to “Come out and play”.  His words came just as Hubert pushed passed the sorcerer and set himself defensively in front of everyone.  Hungrily the vampire spawn on the left raced up the steps, grabbed Hubert, and tried to sink fangs into vulnerable neck flesh.  Blaylocke hit that first spawn with an arrow, helping to throw its bite off target.  Riardon used his favorite cantrip to add more punishment onto the over bold creature.  Before the second spawn could move from its cover, Enkili danced down the steps and attacked the first vampire creature with two slashes; one of which hit with authority.  The big man then moved a couple of steps back so he would not get flanked in turn.  Leiya cast Word of Radiance on the first spawn, but it saved and took no damage.  The second vampire spawn then moved to successfully grapple and bite Enkili.  The party could visibly see the Mandagar fighter wither a little as vitality was taken from him to boost the spawn’s unlife.

With a dexterous twist, Hubert wriggled free of the first spawn's grip and put a great cut on the vile thing (critical).  Even as Leiya’s Spirit Guardians chewed at the vampire spawns essence, it tried to place a grip on Hubert again but missed.  It’s following bite hit however and new strength flowed from Hubert into the tattered undead.  Remembering how potent his last Tidal Wave spell had been, Jolly cast it again, dousing Enkili as he severely damaged both spawn; even though they all saved; Enkili fared better than the vimpiric entities.  Delving back into his trick bag, Blaylocke attempted to Charm Person both vampire spawn.  Neither creature fell under the bard’s control.  With unerring precision, Riardon hit the first spawn with his fire bolt magic, but he had to move to gain a better angle before hand.  He abandoned that position so others could move up to get an open shot.  Still clutched by the second vampire spawn, Enkili was hit by a claw attack, but the monster’s bite missed flesh.  Much of the fighting man’s luck stemmed from the continuing Protection from Evil spell Riardon had laid over him minutes before (last session).  It took two tries for Enkili to break free of his captor, but he Action Surged and cut down the first vampire spawn.

Still protected by Riardon’s magic, the second vampire spawn tried to grapple and bite Enkili again, but both attacks missed.  Hubert stalked by the second undead creature and carved two big slices out of it.  Jolrael grinned happily as his flaming Chromatic Orb wrought painful wounds.  At the same moment Leiya poured magical healing upon Enkili.  Following her example, Blaylocke sent some healing to the fighter, then shot and killed the last vampire spawn with an arrow.  As the last undead fell, the air pressure assailed the party.  Distantly groans and the sound of wildfire flared up briefly, an all pervading hum issued from the west in the ruins.

While they debated on whether to go on or rest, the adventurers discovered a jeweled key around the second vampire spawn’s neck.  Among bones and debris in the chamber below they also found an electrum dagger inset with a black pearl.  A comb set was found that was made in a dragon motif and made of gold and gem stones.  There was also a flask with a boiling blue potion inside, it was later identified as a Potion of Heroism.  8 platinum, 33 gold, 57 electrum, 74 silver, and 92 copper coins also made it into the parties pouches.

Even though there were members who wanted to continue on, those who had few resources left prevailed so the party rested in the empty wading pool room.  This allowed Hubert and Enkili to recover from the draining effect the vampire spawn had inflicted upon them.  Surprisingly nothing afflicted the party through the night, though there were no doors to shelter behind.

Riardon and Blaylocke both decided to find out where the distant humming sound was coming from, and that meant the party found themselves retracing their steps west.  They wound through the halls until they came to the first water filled room they had discovered.  This time they skirted around the ledge to get on the far side of the deep pool where they found an unexplored set of hallways north.  At an intersection that had a chamber to the west and one to the east, both with stairs down, Riardon first moved west.  That room was empty, but in the eastern room he found a skeleton with staved in ribs and a broken sword.  He discovered old coins 10 of gold and 16 of silver.  He also recovered a raw diamond that he speculated must be around 500 gold coins in value.

Eventually the party made it passed the room where they had faced the Water Elemental Myrmidons, just north of that water filled chamber was a room that had four pillars built on raised beds.  Riardon had been in that room before during the elemental fight, but there were changes this time.  Before the room had been completely dark, now red sigils glowed within the chamber on the rounded uprights.  Each pillar seemed to have magical representations of the four elements lit in red.  Guessing that they had to touch each pillar in the order of the party’s encounters with the various elemental myrmidons, the sorcerer made his rounds from pillar to pillar touching them as he remembered.

When the first pillar was touched (water) the ceiling of the eastern passage ground down to be block off the hall.  The southern passage also closed off their last egress from the pillar room when the second (earth) pillar was touched.  The fire pillar saw all torches, candles, lanterns, and items with Continual Flame enchantments snuffed out; the only illumination came from the blood red pillars.  When the air pillar was touched a huge Efreet appeared in the room.  It first glared at Jolrael, then caught sight of Enkili.  “Seed of Harbhamit, you shall die!” it declared.  Enkili replied, “ Of all the Djin, Efreet reek the most.”  While the oversized Djini stomped on the ground Enkili named it, Amir Mareib (Mandagan for Terror).

Its stomp made the whole room jump (lair action).  Everyone but Riardon was knocked off their feet.  Just before dodging behind a pillar the Elf pulled his bow and sunk an arrow into the Efreet lord.  In retaliation it threw a globe of fire that hit Riardon (legendary action).  On its turn it stabbed Enkili on the floor as he had fallen at it’s feet, then tossed another globe of fire, this time at Jolrael (action).  A hurled Guiding Bolt from Leiya missed but caused Mareib to blast fire around it’s person, burning Enkili (legendary action).  Putting extra power behind his Dissonant Whisper spell, Blaylocke hurled true, but the Amir of Terror used special powers to shake the spell effects off (legendary save).  Knowing that he wouldn’t hit Enkili this time, Jolrael attempted his patented Tidal Wave.  The Efreeti again called upon special powers to mitigate harm to itself (second legendary save).
Rolling to his feet, the mauled and singed fighter moved around and tried to strike his familial foe with his sword.  His first attack missed, so he used a Distracting Strike attack to give himself advantage.  That second swing hit and did damage….

*This cliff hanger is a doozy as it is the culmination of a character’s motivating quest, and a face off against a supernatural foe of Enkili's entire clan.  Also, we have a Halloween one shot coming up next game so the Dungeon of Dharsta will have to resume in one month's time.  We have all chosen our archetypes for this horror western Deadlands game.

Highlights of Episode Fifty Three
Iiyoltan the 10th through Drindos the 10th CY1031

Pivoting around his cover behind a southern pillar, Blaylocke hurled a Healing Word at Enkili, then he lofted an errant arrow in the vicinity of Murieb.  In retribution Murieb took two swings at the fighter delivering one more injury.  Inexplicably, the Efreet Pasha scanned the room looking for invisible enemies.  Mentally altering his magic, Jolrael turned Aganazaar’s Scorcher into Aganazaar’s Chiller.  The ice seemed to do full damage.  Breaking from cover, Leiya dashed from her southern pillar in order to cast Cure Light Wounds on Enkili.  Taking advantage of having two enemies close, the Efreet noble generated a concussive fiery burst.  Blaylocke interrupted Murieb with Cutting Words, stealing his mojo so that his spell burst was restrained in the damage it dealt (Blaylocke earned experience for his stinging diatribe).

Hubert also left his concealment from behind the same column Leiya had hidden, he hit twice, the first cut much deeper than the second (critical).  Piqued, Murieb hit the loyal retainer with a big bolt of fire, which severely hurt the lad.  Being young and quick, Hubert acted next by first flanking the Efreet and striking him twice.  Opposite Hubert, Enkili missed with an attack then hit especially solid with a second swing (critical).  Muttering a vile curse, Murieb tried to summon forth a poisonous cloud.  Blaylocke countered this using a Dispel Magic spell, keeping his friends from having to inhale noxious volcanic fumes.  Another Tidal Wave manifested by Jolrael slammed into Murieb, who had to use another dwindling Legendary Save to keep his feet.

When Leiya invoked her Spirit Guardians spell, the fearsome Efreet attempted to Counterspell that magic.  Clever Blaylocke negated that Counterspell with one of his own; a quick magical duel that robbed Murieb of the chance to be obnoxious.  The Efreet was able to partially fend off the sprite shaped positive energy projections, then it bowled Leiya over with a quick savage overrunning charge.  When it moved Hubert thwacked the Efreet with his scimitar, but Enkili missed his opportunity.  Next Murieb rained fire upon the prone priestess but could not shake her concentration upon her continuing spell.  From behind his northern pillar Riardon sped an arrow strait into the noble Efreet’s kidneys.

Responding negatively to the rogue’s attack from concealment, Murieb flung another blob of fire at Leiya; she again kept her concentration on her Spiritual Guardians.  Seeing another opportunity to shoot the Pasha in the back, Riardon tried another shot but the Efreet stepped left instead of right.  Not to be outdone, Murieb succeeded in producing a noxious gas cloud that covered Leiya, Enkili, Jolrael, and Riardon.  Holding his breath to keep from getting poisonous fumes in his lungs, Enkili closed with the Efreet lord.  Smoke stung eyes prevented the Mandagan fighter from connecting with his cuts.  In a blast of fire and violent noise, Murieb pulsed a concussive blast that knocked Leiya out and blasted Enkili and Hubert off their feet.  Scrambling from prone, while producing a Potion of Healing, young Hubert administered aid to the senseless priestess.

Sensing Enkili’s weakness, Murieb cut at the fighter and brought him down, broken and bleeding out.  Jolrael gasped as hot gasses filled his lungs.  He was instantly sickened but forced himself to cast Aganazaar’s Chiller again.  Murieb’s retributive fire followed the sorcerer as he moved around a corner outside of the poisonous clouds radius, hurting the former sailor badly.  Newly revived and having the presence of mind to hold her breath, Leiya stood and cast Mass Healing Word.  She was hit by a fiery orb but maintained her feet.  From the south, Blaylocke missed with his arrow but further bolstered the freshly risen Enkili with a Healing Word.  A geyser of magma was fired at Jolrael.  The sorcerer spun mostly out of harms way, so the damage he took was not enough to take him down.  Sensing her own weakness, Leiya chugged a Potion of Healing, then improved Enkili’s condition with some healing magic as a bonus action.

Once again Murieb pulsed out a concussive burst of flame.  Hubert and Enkili absorbed the damage and kept their feet, Leiya slammed to the ground much worse for wear.  Hiding his despair behind a mask of fury, Enkili used his acid weakened sword to strike his ancient family foe.  His second shot was a critical, which cut Murieb down.  Before the Efreet burst into flame and vanished he cursed Enkili, basically informing the young man that he would never return home to Mandagar, never see his family again, nor fulfill his quest to return the Sainted Sword to his loved ones; or words to that effect.  The huge scimitar that Murieb had been wielding lost its illusion enchantment, revealing itself to have seven bulls engraved upon the blade, between their horns were seven moons that each held a pentagram.  The Sainted Sword.

Stone ground on stone as the sealed doors began to open.  At the same moment the raised dais in the middle of the room rose up to fill a recess in the ceiling.  Below the dias was revealed three lock boxes and a locked chest.  After numerous adventures without gaining treasure, our adventurers gained fifty five pounds of coin, a plethora of gems and jewelry, and several magic items other than the coveted sword.  Laden down, the troop left Dharsta and retrieved their mounts from Llain the Hunter.  They turned their steps towards Anstarre where they would spend the next twenty days training and selling their plunder, as well as replacing their damaged arms and armor.  Training and guild fees have been paid.  Their first night was spent in a wood and thatch inn called the Blushing Ivy, whose owner/proprietor was Peg.  Peg proved to be high strung and easily distracted, but she took pride in her stone fireplace.

Here is the party’s list of treasure: Bracers of Defense (+1?), Hewards Handy Haversack, Horn of Silent Alarm (4charges), Potion of Supreme Healing, Elemental Gem (fire), Serpent Scale Armor.  The Sainted Sword is currently a +1 weapon and is considered a legendary magic item, it will grow as its wielder grows.  280 platinum pieces, 260 gold, 573 electrum, 740 silver coins, and 924 copper were found.  On top of that 3 blood stone gems, 1 box of turquoise animal figurines, brass mug with jade inlays, bronze crown, 2 carnelians, 3 chalcedony, 2 chrysoprase, 4 citrine, a large gold bracelet, 2 moonstones, 2 onyx, 1 quartz, 3 sardonyx, a silver necklace with a gemstone pendant, star rose quartz, and 4 zircon gems swelled the groups coffers.

Highlights of Episode Fifty Four
Drindos the 10th-18th CY1031

For twenty days each member of the party trained during the day, and worked on projects at night (this lasted until Drindos the 10th).  They would continue their extracurricular activities for another week after that (Drindos 11th-18th).

For her part, Leiya attempted to contact certain benefactors and friends with divine messaging means.  The orphan girl Miria did not respond to the priestess’ hails.  The girl could have been asleep, unconscious, unwilling to respond, or dead.  High Priestess Jonella of Solare wondered if the party would be returning to the area.  Maraudering trolls between Wizard’s Peak and the capitol have been making life miserable for many people in and about Solare.  Wellborne Huxley informed Leiya that preparations for war continue though no wars have been declared yet.  He also warned her that the party has captured the interest of unknown individuals who may be scrying upon the party’s progress.

Other than learning new songs and a smattering of lore, Blaylocke spent his available hours repairing the plate armor the group captured in the catacombs below Anstare.  By the end of training he found himself a mere week from completing this project.  He requested the time to finish this errand before the party made a decision on a direction to set their feet.

Learning how to turn himself invisible by arcane means, Riardon decided to spend his free time planning then implementing a break-and-enter caper.  He succeeded with little problem, coming away with coin and a wand of some sort.  Of course he paid dues to the local underground element and was allowed to keep his new wand.  Unfortunately, on Drindos the 11th, he learned that a person knowing of his theft had been captured by the law.  The underground element did not think their man would be able to remain silent on Riardon’s involvement, and the Elven rogue had chosen not to share this wrinkle with his friends.

Near the end of harnessing more powerful spells, Jolrael Symara discovered someone had slipped a note into his pocket.  This forced the sorcerer to reveal a bit of backstory to the whole party, information that he had only shared with Leiya before then.  Jolly had been an ordinary sailor until one day he woke up with a brand upon his upper back/shoulder area and arcane powers buzzing in his cranium.  He thinks (with Blaylocke agreeing with him) that the strange mark may be a map.  The note he found claimed that he could learn more about his brand if he will show up at a ruined lighthouse along the coast of the Inland Sea.

Enkili bought a wagon, a team of 4 horses, and extra adventuring gear for the party, and a composite longbow for himself.  At night he researched the Sainted Sword taken from Murieb and discovered many things lost to his family.  From four excerpts the fighter gleaned that three people conspired to craft the sword.  Harbhamit (his ancestor) had an Efreet named Haqim and a Djinni named Malaq forge his sword using earth from the elemental plane of earth and a forge from the elemental plane of fire.  The Djin folk infused the blade with powers, the Djinni layed spells of protection (against otherworldly beings) while the Efreet infused eldritch powers that harmed as much as they helped.  Evidently the Sainted Sword would not become completed until joined with “a coin made from stone, a song stolen from dirt, and a knife from under the hills” were acquired.
After agreeing to let Blaylocke have his week to smith on the armor, the party is considering on traveling back to Solare to check on Miria and kill trolls.  In the meantime everyone else is planning on shopping for specific items and researching trolls.  Riardon was acting as though he resented this delay in the party’s departure.

*Our next game is scheduled for January 22, 2023.

Highlights of Episode Fifty Five
Drindos the 18th – Kemen the 7th CY1031

After having Enkili finance the last stretch of repairing the black plate and mail, Blaylocke presented the armor to the fighter.  Enkili let the bard have his splint mail to sell just to replenish his coin purse.  During that week the party learned that trolls quickly regenerate unless acid or fire was used to damage them, which hampers their ability to heal.  They come in many kinds depending on their place in the world, and they are related to the various families of giant kind.  In the mean time the party discussed returning to Solare in order to learn the fate of Miria and hunt down the trolls ravaging near the capitol.

They arrive at the Pilgrim’s Rest near Elvton on the 25th of Drindos.  This is the sanctuary for Wizard’s Peak guild members.  After talking to Iriel and Renela, Jolrael turned over the Waverly Plate to the caretakers and got a writ granting the sorcerer permission to read “Whispers of the Pale Lady”.  This also placed Jolrael into the member-in-good-standing category as far as his guild dues.  Enkili used the pretext of gathering information to ride off to Elvton to visit the ladies of the night and smoke hashish with them.  Everyone who stayed at the Rest ate off of a now full set of Waverly Crockery, and were enervated by the dining experience.

Continuing an uneventful journey, the party arrived in Solare in the early evening (6th of Kemen).  They set off to lodge in the Rusty Bedpan, only to find the place burned to a husk.  Riardon and Blaylocke entered the remains of the inn and poked around.  Blaylocke discovered the sign of the Chained Wings carved into the bar top and called the Elven man over to look.  Discovering that the emblazoned board was loose, Riardon made sure it was safe before he recovered a paper written to him by his old contact Sess.  Sess wrote the names of Borman, his daughter, the cook, and Miria and a few others that had been taken by the slavers to the slave pits of Nemsh via an overland route to The Freehold and then a stop in Yri, which is not a direct path at all  (most definitely was way out of the slaver's way to go to Yri).  This was all done to punish us for sinking their ship The Torrent when we had last been in Solare.

Seething inside, the party found another inn, The Kings Vine; which was a few steps up on The Rusty Bedpan.  Brenson was the innkeeper, a man with long hair fading to gray.  The man was festooned with tattos that shared Nautical symbolism and fish.  After a rest they rose and set out to gain more information.  Leiya attempted to contact the High Priestess at Milosta’s temple, but learned that the exalted lady had gone to Clearbrook to minister and grant aid.  So she canvassed her fellow clergy to see if they knew anything.  They were unaware of the true happenings in their city.  Finding an old beggar the party cajoled a few bits of information from him.  His name was Nieman and he had seen the fire “They were took to the docks, put on a ship with red and blue sails”, “Twer others as sure, that were took the nigh(t) before”, “Since the sinkin’ they (the Chained Wings) hide their marks, but are in league with some muckity mucks with pull.  Geld is a great incentive.”.

Enkili found a man that had some knowledge.  With the threat of angered Tazenite followers hunting the man down, just for displeasing a Mandagan diplomat, Enkili coerced some information loose.  He was given the name of a Chained Wings middleman who worked the docks in The Freehold, a man who could be either a pilot or a dock official….

***The name and the information Enkili squeezed from his man will be fleshed out and delivered in full by our next game on February 5th.

Highlights of Episode Fifty Six
Kemen the 8th CY1031

***Note-  Failed to get the name and extra information from Enkili’s threats because we forgot to remind the DM before our fifty sixth game.  Maybe we will get that info in game fifty seven.

At first the party was pondering setting off for The Freehold to rescue their friends, but Riardon pointed out how many months (8 1/2 roughly) had passed since the abductions.  So they committed themselves to hunting down the trolls in the countryside.  Melwen’s church was relieved to have Leiya and her friends agree to help, however the church was always “poor” from all their charity work.  All they could do was offer three flasks of alchemical fire, ten flasks of regular oil, top off Leiya’s healer’s kit, and grant an extra healer’s kit.  They also told the group that a local farmer had agreed to help, but he had failed to arrive to lead the group to the trolls lair that was a seven hour trek away.

They were also told that the trolls marauded during rainy and wet weather.  Using Druidcraft to foretell the next day’s forcast, Jolrael determined that it would be cloudy with rain in the evening.  After leaving the city (Solare) the party drove or rode into the countryside, eventually finding the farmers hut.  The door had been kicked in, the people were missing, and the livestock had vanished.  Jolrael and Blaylocke put their heads together to read the sign and discovered that folks had been dragged away, heading towards the mountain where Wizard’s Peak resided.  In the hut Riardon and Enkili discovered a rag doll and drag marks, the thatch in the ceiling had been disordered by tall villains.

Since they had arrived in the late afternoon/ early evening, and it was now raining and misty, the party made the decision not to tromp out into the wilderness.  Instead they set a fire in the fireplace and stabled their ten horses, hoping the signs of habitation would draw their prey to them.  In the middle of their second watch, in the middle of the night, the three trolls came.

Riardon and Blaylocke were up and doing their best to be vigilant when they heard tree limbs being ripped off of wooden trunks.  They hurriedly woke Enkili who rose and began to don his newly repaired plate armor.  Enkili woke Hubert, Hubert woke Leiya and Blaylocke woke Jolly.  Blaylocke helped Enkili put his armor on, while Hubert and Leiya helped each other.  Just as they finished they noticed a troll looking at them through a west facing window.  Enkili raised a middle finger at the giant then drew the Sainted Sword.  Moving over to the window to make his attack, Jolrael discovered a second troll who was closer to them than the first troll was.  He hit that creature with a Ray of Frost cantrip which caused it to temporarily slow down, he then moved out of the way.

Hubert chose to move out through the northern wall which was where the main door would have been, moving through the rubble slowed the young man down so he was unable to close with any foes.  The troll that Jolly had froze spent it’s turn ripping the western window and wall away, creating another ten foot gap in the hut (the first gap was where the north facing door had once stood).  The second troll charged towards Hubert but could not reach him, the NPC was visibly shaken from seeing the big creature bear down on him.  A third troll was spotted following behind the first two.

Enkili flowed up to the new western wall gap and tried to intimidate the first troll with his attacks, and even though he critically hit the creature, it found the small human lacking in ferocity; still the troll took a lot of damage with the Sainted Sword doing some fire damage with the deep slashes.  Quartering around the rubble in the north of the hut, Riardon moved to support Hubert, his Fire Bolt did not hit troll flesh.  Uttering a Dwarven chant aimed at Enkili, Blaylocke sent the fighter an inspiration, yet his arrow did not hit the first troll in the new made gap.  Ducking under the bard's flying missile, Leiya moved over to get behind Enkili, she cast Spirit Guardians ensuring the first troll was engulfed by the swarm of glowing angelic sprites she produced.

Blaylocke fired again and hit this time, making the first troll look thoroughly mauled.  At the same time the second troll took Riardon’s Fire Bolt straight into the chest, just a second before Hubert hit it with an unlit flask of oil.  Unnerved still, the young fighter fell back a few steps trying to get out of the second troll’s line of sight.  Sensing that her efforts would be better used with the second troll, Leiya hit the first troll with a Guiding Bolt then moved trying to meet up with Hubert.  The second troll arrived before she did, engaging both of them.  Hubert blocked that troll from clawing Leiya, but Leiya was too far away to prevent the troll from biting him.  The first troll disengaged and fell back to meet the third troll, but could not move fast enough.

Jolrael chased after the first troll and tried to hit it and the third troll with an Aganazaar’s Scorcher.  The third troll was too far away to be in range, but the first troll fell, magic fire crackled in the dead giant kin almost merrily.  Even though he had killed the first troll, Jolly was exposed to the third troll, so Enkili chose not to go after the second troll, moving to intervene himself between the last troll and the unarmored sorcerer.  He then remembered he could action surge and act twice in his turn.  So he closed some distance, shouted “Na'adri Haqim (Haqim roars)” slashed the Sainted Sword through the air and a searing cone of fire launched from the blade (as a Burning Hands spell); he then closed and hit with a weapon master heavy attack then a regular attack.

Acting faster this next round Enkili again attacked with his ancestral sword, missing massively the first swing (natural 1), then connected with a critical hit.  The third troll was severely singed and had gashes that were frightful to behold.  Meanwhile, Riardon hit the second troll with his Fire Bolt cantrip, getting his sneak attack damage, and igniting the oil dripping off it’s body from Hubert’s earlier efforts.  Leiya hitting it in the face with a Guiding Bolt was too much for the second troll, it disengaged and began to run away taking more damage from the little fey angels of the Spirit Guardian spell.  The third troll also broke free of Enkili and began to hoof it back towards the mountains.

Hubert chased after the second troll but only hit it once, but not hard enough to finish it off.  Moving at an angle to put both trolls in range, Jolrael twin cast a Chromatic Orb spell.  He hit both trolls with his magic balls, which killed the second troll, but failed to drop the third.  Blaylocke also did not like seeing his prey getting away.  He cast Haste upon himself and zipped out of the hut.  He then fired two shots at the third and final troll and killed it.

*This is where we ended this game.  Enkili is going to vote for seeking out the troll’s lair to see if there were survivors and treasure, but his vote has little value after forcing everyone to go to Dharsta for his sword.  Our fun should resume on the 19th of February!

Highlights of Episode Fifty Seven
Kemen the 8th CY1031

***The man that Enkili threatened into cooperation two sessions ago informed the fighter that a man named Gaervan Plithy worked for the Chained Wings slavers.  He acts as an official on The Freehold’s docks.

After ensuring that the three trolls were indeed dead, the party returned to the hut and partook in a long rest.  In the morning they debated on whether they should return to Solare to hire a tracker, head to Solare for the week long market, or try to find the troll’s lair on their own.  Feigning to converse with his sword, Enkili voted to try and follow the rain washed tracks towards the mountains; which is the course everyone chose (despite the theatrics, not because of it).  As the party traveled, the fighting man mimed having conversations with the Sainted Sword as a joke on the rest of the party.  When the rest of the group began to become alarmed, they found the trolls cave in the foothills.

After following a short passage into a large chamber, Enkili acted like the sword had told him to shout into this cavern.  There was no reply so he walked in.  There was naught but natural detritus inside this large chamber, the only indication that this was where they wanted to go was the troll stench that pervaded the cavern air.  Another narrow cave system in the north west corner of the chamber was found, so the party took it.

Riardon took the lead stealthily advancing ahead of the party.  No matter how slow he moved, Enkili’s armor rattled and echoed.  After a short advance another cavern opened before them.  The rogue grew tired of the metallic rattle, so he made everyone stay behind as he moved deeper into the large cavern; his course took him to the east.  After several tense and silent moments Riardon ran into a waking nightmare.  The creature was truly giant in stature, larger than the trolls they had fought the night before, and it had several arms and heads sprouting from neck and shoulders.  There were even trollish faces among the bubo's growing on the things abdomen.  A dire troll!  It performed a double move to close with the Elven rogue.

Hearing the troll’s roar the rest of the party hastened to close with their friend; making double moves just to barely come within visual range.  Riardon slipped away from the greedy reach of the abomination, he darted to hide behind Enkili and hurled a Fire Bolt at the creature, doing a small bit of damage.  Blaylocke made his double move and granted Riardon a bardic inspiration.  Leiya attempted to cast Slow on the Dire Troll, but it saved.

Acting first the next round, Blaylocke attempted to inflict the troll to a Confusion spell.  Again the monstrosity saved.  Casting Spirit Guardians, Leiya surrounded herself with the tiny faery angels then moved up next to the fighter so her spell plugged the narrow section of cavern the troll was in.  Dancing up til he had his range, Jolrael cast Aganazaar’s Scorcher on the troll.  It saved and only took partial damage.  Trying to get the Elven morsel it had initially chased after, the dim creature squeezed itself against the wall to squeeze by the fighter.  Realizing it had many snacks nearby, it erupted into a whirlwind of claws and teeth that hit Riardon, Leiya, and Enkili.  Each of them took a large amount of damage, however, the Spirit Guardian spell took a few bites out of the giant.  Enkili attacked twice, once with a heavy weapon master attack then a regular attack.  He left his mark on the Dire Troll.

Jolly tried his Aganazaar’s Scorcher again.  Again the Dire Troll shrugged off most of the damage, so the sorcerer moved to create space.  Not liking being scrunched up against the wall, the troll brushed Enkili, Leiya, and Riardon aside, it’s savagery made the fighting man miss his opportunity attack.  Riardon moved south away from the troll then attempted to Fire Bolt their massive foe, his bolt flew wide.  On his turn, Blaylocke cast Haste on Enkili.  Leiya spent her turn healing herself.  When the fighter went, he used his bonus action to bolster his health (Second Wind), then he darted all the way around the troll so he could flank the beast.  He did a heavy hit then three other ‘regular’ hits.

Seeing an opportunity to slip a Fire Bolt into the twisted giant, Riardon managed to get his sneak attack in.  After the Spirit Guardians mauled it further, the Dire Troll erupted into another whirlwind attack.  Leiya, Enkili, and Jolrael all fell unconscious from the battering they took (47 points each).  Enkili rolled a 20 on his death save, and Leiya made her save, but poor Jolrael failed his first death save.

Blaylocke sensed that the grotesque creature was on its last legs, so he attempted to finish it with a Dissonant Whispers spell.  It shrugged off most of the damage.  Trampling the sorcerer under gigantic feet, the troll closed with the bard and erupted into another whirlwind assault.  Blaylocke was severely hurt, and Jolrael took more damage (equal to another failed death save).  Again the bard tried to finish the creature with his Dissonant Whispers magic, and again a save reduced the spell’s damage.  Jolrael tossed his dice and shockingly rolled poorly.  He died at the feet of the Dire Troll, broken and bleeding.

As the sorcerer perished, the troll was hit with a well placed Fire Bolt.  This time the sneak attack and fire damage was more than the twisted perversion of a troll could take (crit!).  It’s body smoldered next to Jolrael Symara’s.  Enkili rolled another twenty on his next Death save and came too.  Staggering to his feet, the fighter stumbled over to Leiya and bound her wounds with the healer’s kit he carried for the priestess.  Riardon pulled forth a potion of healing and revived her.

Seeing all her companions either down or so bloodied that it was a miracle they stood at all, Leiya centered herself and cast a Mass Healing Word on the party.  She flinched when her magic did not revive the sorcerer.  It took Enkili a little longer to understand their friend’s finality, reading it in Lieya’s face when she refused to stop healing him instead of tending to Jolrael.

Stunned by their friend’s passing, the party rounded up the farmers, father, wife, and daughter, who were stored in the troll’s larder (the only survivors).  They also located a large gold bracelet, 7 pp, 13gp, 16 ep, 25sp, and 57 cp.  A Death Ward scroll was also located, rubbing salt into the groups wounds.  Also, a Potion of Supreme Healing and 3 other potions were located.  Leiya states that after a long rest she would like to cast Gentle Repose on Jolly's body.

**This is where we ended the game.  The party has gained enough experience to go to eighth level, but they plan on petitioning the church of Melwen to help them return Jolrael to the land of the living.  This may not be a realistic endeavor as the party is not of a high enough level to be useful to the church for such a costly spell.  The player running Jolly is also seriously considering coming in with another character.  The training and revival will be discussed through the next two weeks when we resume our game March 5th.

What will the party do when they notice that Enkili is not pretending to consult his sword anymore?  Will they be mad?  Will they not say anything at all since their hearts all ache for the loss of their friend?  Or will a lynching come about?

Jolrael's Untimely End

Jolrael Symara was a man from the Endelian highlands.  We know he was drawn to the sea and offered his prayers to Quendi the god of sea and storm.  It is assumed that Jolly spent several years serving as a sailor aboard ocean going vessels.  At some point mystery snuck up on the young Endelian man, and he woke to find a brand on his back.  It looked like a burn brand of a map, but he had no pain associated with this mark.

This event also seemed to bring forth his sorcerous abilities, as he became a wellspring of arcane energy.  Though he never confessed the origin of his distinctive attire, Jolrael wore a head wrap that was multipurpose and double sided.  If he reversed the head wrap it glowed with some form of permanent magical light.  He also whipped the wrap off his noggin and used it as his personal weapon, a sling for which he was quite adept.  His magic seemed a gift from Quendi as wind, thunder, wave, and lightening seemed to be the manifestation of his spells (Storm Sorcerer).

Jolrael Symara met his end facing danger on the behalf of those unable to defend themselves.  He was clawed and trampled by a dire troll, a monster of true giant size, unlike the trollish minions he had helped slay the night before.  His lilting accent will be missed from the party.  He had just learned of a locale that may have held clues as to the origin of his mysterious branding, which drives the tragedy of his early demise home to the rest of us.

**As of 3/4/2023 we learned that Jolrael's player wishes us to return him to life.  An excellent idea, as his story arch was coming around to some sort of inciting event.  The obituary will stand though, just to remind us that this story is not kind.
   

Highlights of Episode Fifty Eight
Kemen the 9th - Kirrid the 25th CY1031

Finding the Melwenite church amenable to raising our dead companion, the party learned that twelve hundred and fifty gold was required.  Leiya supplied a five hundred gold piece diamond the party had gleaned in a previous adventure, which left the party to come up with seven hundred fifty gold to make up the difference.  Riardon remembered a ceremonial dagger that Jolrael had taken as his share of loot, and professed his interest in it.  Believing the platinum dagger was worth the remainder, he purchased the dagger for seven hundred fifty which they applied immediately toward the spell.  Leiya and a Melwenite priest of high stature retired to a chamber where the long ritual was conducted.

Jolrael Symara walked out of that room with the Onastian priestess.  The next act was to spend 13 days attempting to sell the Potion of Longevity.  They found a buyer willing to pay 50,000 gp for the draught.

Hard training then ensued, and for the next 24 days, the party crunched to earn new skills and improve themselves.  New feats were learned by some, and others improved physical or mental attributes.  Although they studied hard, the group could not help but notice the introspective state Hubert had fallen into.  At the end of their training they gathered together to deal with their companions musings.  As they had thought, the dangers the group were now facing was proving too much for the former urchin.  They offered to hire him as a camp guard until he decided what he wished to do.

The next topic the party discussed was what to do about the slavers.  Everyone seemed to realize that a counter network would be the best way to combat the established slave network.  Hubert expressed an interest in posing as a business owner for an establishment that would network former slaves towards their new free lives; he seemed eager to work an inn, trading post, or warehouse if the party would buy it for him.

This, of course, led the party into a discussion on which people they should approach to join their cause.  Lady Adelien, Lord Cromley, Wellborne Huxeley were all discussed, but every body agreed that Lord Caer Bercel of The Freehold was perfect as he had prior grievances with the slavers.  Leiya cast a Sending spell to ask if Lord Bercel would be receptive to a meeting and an exchange of ideas.

Since Jolrael’s mysterious Black Lighthouse was near, Enkili’s dock official was there, so the troop loaded up on their horses or on the wagon and set out for The Freehold.  Along the way, Leiya proposed they buy the warehouse the party had cleared of slavers their last visit to that city.  Also, Jolly seemed convinced that his back markings had changed since his death.  They took the time to have Enkili sketch his markings over the span of several days.  Indeed, subtle changes were happening to those markings, though no discernable pattern was gleaned.

Winter was well established by the time the party arrived on Lord Bercels doorstep….

This is where the game ended.  With frigid weather being an almost constant, and winter storms stirring the great Inland sea, as well as the time of The Wild Hunt being upon them, the group believes they will have to “winter” for a time.  They will discuss visiting the mysterious lighthouse, buying a property (possibly the warehouse), and meeting the slaver agent Gaervin Plithy in some fashion.  Hopefully, we will be able to settle these talks into a plan of action before March 19th.

Highlights of Episode Fifty Nine
Kirrid the 25th, Midweek – Naza the 1st CY1031

After setting up at Lord Bercel’s fine estate, Leiya attempted to contact Lukoff the Sverfneblinn who lived atop the cliff overlooking The Freehold’s port with a Sending spell.  That cantankerous worthy did not respond and a visit to his house showed the adventurers that he had taken all his stuff and moved out.  Later it was learned that the residence was up for sale.  Their next step was to ponder a business to set Hubert up in.

Lord Bercel notified them that Phirian Lesta was The Freehold’s magistrate (similar to a mayor in her power).  However the second name the noble dropped was of more import.  Garena Findel was the minister of Lands and Titles, and her office could guide the groups decisions.  To help the party out, Lord Bercel gave them a letter of introduction, to show the group had connections within the city.

It was decided that Leiya and Enkili would travel to the coloseum to tap the knowledge of the Tazenite’s, while the rest of the group would go to the Land and Titles office to see what was available.  On arrival, all Enkili and Leiya could do was show devotion at the shrine of Tazen, the local brotherhood had departed for some battle somewhere.

The Freehold’s available real estate boiled down to:
The Copper Pot- an inn just outside the north gate, a fixer upper.
The Busted Bottle- the inn where Riardon’s contacts had been slaughtered.  It was in a bad section of town and also required repairs.
A tavern with no name- this establishment was in the poor section of town and required a lot of restoration.
A smithy outside the western gate- this establishment also came with stables.
Warehouse- the sight of the party’s battle with the Chained Wings their last visit.
And the last listing- Lukoff’s former two story home that tilted over the cliffs near the docks.

After some serious deliberation, our heroes decided to invest in two properties.  Lukoff’s former house and the dock side warehouse.  Between the two properties, the party had to pay 10,000 gp, and that included taxes and other mandated fees and licenses.  That night Enkili donned a disguise and meandered to the docks where he located Gaervin Plithy.  The fighter was able to judge that the man was not dangerous.  The next day, and also wearing disguises, Hubert, Leiya, and Enkili met Gaervin.  After Hubert interviewed the dock master on what was needed to get the warehouse operational, Leiya cast Detect Thoughts. 

Gaervin realized what had happened and hastened to leave, still Lieya learned that the dock master was distraught and worried about someone dear to him.  Riardon was sent to follow the dock master who went home.  While pondering his next act, the rogue noticed several rough looking character arrive at Gaervin’s house.  They forced their way in, so Riardon slipped closer.  The bad guys roughly grilled Gaervin on where some of their companions were.  Claiming ignorance the dock master pleaded “The deal is still on, is she still safe?”.  This seemed to satisfy the slaver’s who left.  Riardon reported what he had learned.

Hoping that they could convince Gaervin that they would help him, the party went to his home in the morning.  After no response to knocking they discovered that the door was unlocked.  Riardon slipped inside and found the man had hung himself after writing a confession.  His letter explained that he thought his abducted daughter had been slain by the Chained Wings and that he could not live with that result and his guilt in helping the slaver murderer's.  A quick search of his house lead to the discovery of a false bottomed drawer with several documents.

Some of these documents were forged manifests that named four ships that smuggled sentient cargo.  He had orders to spread a rumor that claimeed there were clues to the genesis of Jolrael’s mysterious marking to be found in the Dark Lighthouse.  It was reasoned that the missing slavers that the rough men had queried Gaervin about had set an ambush at the lighthouse and had since gone missing.  The party also found a note that had threatened Gaervin to cooperate with the slaver’s or his daughter would be killed.

The four revealed slaver ships are= The Zephyr’s Wind, The Wave’s Charm, The Blue Water, and the Stormcutter.  Jolrael expressed an interest in owning the last ship named.  The destinations of these ship’s living cargo were, Yri, Lur, and Blackshore.  Yri and Lur are islands in the Inland Sea, but no one had ever heard of Blackshore, but it was surmised that this place was along the Bhelian coast along the southern shores of The Inland Sea.

After informing the city guards (occupying Sedaran troops), the party took their information to Lord Bercel.  He asked the party if they could deliver these slaver’s to justice.  He has the belief that seeing the law meting out justice will strip some of the Chained Wings and other slaver’s influence.  The Lord also wished the party to go to the Dark Lighthouse in an attempt to save Gaervin’s daughter.  This was agreed to.

Then it was time for the celebration Lord Bercel had set up for the Night of the Wild Hunt.  He introduced the party to Gelaina Sandek who was the Minister of commerce and Trade; a person who could help facilitate the new business Hubert would be starting at the warehouse.  Lord Bercel also had the group meet Nilgar Holmut, a Branti lord.  Lord Holmut was also interested in bringing pain to the slavers.  Another face at the party stood out to Riardon, a man who had been an archer in the warehouse fight on the adventurer’s last visit.  Xander Holdarian was a Guardsman posing as muscle for the slaver’s, but he was actually a spy for Lord Bercel.  This man had also slain the archer who had almost killed Riardon, he had then rendered aid to the rogue that distant night.

The next morning, as plans were laid to travel overland to the Dark Lighthouse, they learned the legend of the coastal building.  In times past, the keeper of the lighthouse had put out the life saving light for some unknown reason, then had ran off.  This had caused many vessels to pile up and their crews had drowned.  It is reputed that the keeper and the ghosts of all the slain sailors haunt the building still.

**This is where our game ended for the night.  Enkili wants to transfer the wagon’s contents to Lukoff’s home, which is now the party’s property.  Hubert can use the wagon and the draft horses to help set up the warehouse while they travel to the Dark Lighthouse.  Our next game will be April 2nd, may the gods have mercy on us ‘til then.