Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Episode 141 Gurthos 16th - 18th  1032 C.E.

*Addendum.  The state religion follows Tvorek, said to be the source of the gods.  This being stands outside of Erath’s normal pantheon and has no following outside of Onostia.  Also, I have been misspelling Onostia.

Leaving her room, Leiya went down the stairs to the common room, then up the stairs to the northern balcony.  After joining Enkili and Blaylocke in their room, they quickly decided on their sleeping assignments and their turns of watch.  Taking first watch, Leiya augmented their protection by casting Guardian of Faith, after all they expected the wererats might pay them a visit.  Her watch passed with no interruption.  However, during Enkili’s stint at sentry duty there was a scrabbling at the shuttered windows of their second story room.  Even as the fighter began to glide over to the aperture, the Guardian lashed out with it’s long reach, smashing out the shutters and window both.

Enkili arrived to see an unnaturally proportioned humanoid shape slink away into the nights shadows below.  The concussive report of the spells half spectral weapon woke the entire inn.  The people in the next room were the first to pound on the door, worried for the party, but soon people from the lower common room were demanding explanations.  Enkili was trying to address the mob at their door when the innkeeper arrived.  That man grew apoplectic upon seeing the valuable window naught but twisted shards.

The fighter tried mollifying the man with grandiose assertions that they had saved everyone in the inn from being robbed, but it took the remaining available coins from his Everfull Purse and a platinum piece before the man stopped his ranting.  The morning found the party brainstorming, and it was agreed upon that their first tactic would be to petition the Nazir for the return of Miria, offering to buy the girl.  Meanwhile, while the bureaucratic machine churned away at that request, they would study the kremlin in case a break and enter would be called for.

As the party meandered, pretending to be tourists, they inquired after guards chasing rats.  Word was that this happened quite a bit in Deros Kaden, and the people had no reason why explained to them.  Most of the people wanted to speak of the upcoming execution or of the upcoming marriage in another nearby city.  A man had taken bread and would be hanged, but noble celebrities tying the knot was vastly more interesting it seemed.  What also intrigued the party was the lack of rumor or word on the street on a certain gem.

Near the end of the day they actually learned that the Nazir was away from the city, and his chamberlain (Tyun) was in charge.  So the party sent a second message, informing Tyun Niko that the great bard Blaylocke Anvilarm would like to perform for him.  That night Leiya tried to use Sending to contact Miria, but worryingly, the girl did not respond.  An invitation to meet the Tyun greeted the heroes early the next morning, they would discuss this possible performance.

Deciding to spruce up for this meeting, they chose good clothes and tamed their hair; Enkili even eschewed his armor.  Leiya warned everyone that she would cast Tongues on everyone once they arrived.  No matter their dress, things took a sour turn as they were crossing a courtyard on their way to the kremlin gates.  Bodies rushed into houses, shutters were slammed to as well as doors, until the courtyard and surrounding streets were empty of people.  From every point of the compass rose other people showed up, strange daggers in hand; most of these people were clustered in the south.

What was more notable than their large daggers was the lack of noses or mouths on these individuals, they just had fixated eyes of no discernible hue.  Enkili dipped into his Bag of Holding and pulled forth The Sainted Sword, Blaylocke began to study the advancing creatures, Leiya began to pray, and the dawdling (late to the game) Jolrael unwrapped his headband; in reality his magic sling.  The sorcerer laid a silver bullet in the slings pocket and then made the strap whirl then retort loudly as he sent a missile at the nearest adversary.  The bullet passed through the being spraying what appeared to be a big puff of dust out of it's back; that foe reoriented and began to advance.

A figure from the east ran full out to close with Leiya, a dagger raised to do harm.  Jolly’s target closed with the sorcerer, and a contest of wild slashes versus dexterous dodging ensued; Jolrael kept steel from his flesh with a little help from his spell that acted as armor (Mage Armor but with a unique name).  Even Blaylocke who was still several yards from one of these creatures could smell the linen, myrhh, and cinnomon wafting from them; funerary scents.  Sending a plea in the form of prayer, Leiya upcast a Spiritual Guardians spell and surrounded herself with rending angel/sprites.

One of the southern nigh faceless monsters sprinted to close with Enkili, but moving into Leiya’s spell made the whole thing burst into a cascade of dust; the little guardians gleefully sailing through the cloud and helping it spread.  Another one closed from the north taking up position next to Jolrael; the Spiritual Guardians mauling the figure with merciless abandon without killing it this time.  Another figure from the south stopped well shy of the priestess’ spell and hurled it’s dagger at Jolly, the errant blade did not hit the sorcerer, but the blade curved through the air and flew back to it’s owner’s palm.

Taking it’s cue from the last attacker, another southern creature moved a tad closer and hit Enkili with it’s hurled blade; the fighter growled at the mar this created on his new shirwani.  That dagger also returned to it’s master.  A third figure also stopped short and hurled a blade at Leiya; her shield deflected the dagger making it return unblooded.  Almost seeming to dance, Enkili followed the heft of his heavy sword as he directed it.  One blow killed the creature closest to him, then he flowed up and removed the two threatening Jolly, then killed the one trying to distract Leiya; dust clouds followed in the fighter’s wake.

This prompted another creature to try and close with the spellcasters, but it did not survive the field of protective angel/faeries.  As the bard was just at the edge of the Spiritual Guardian’s radius, the next monster closed with him just outside of the magic, fortunately the stabbing dagger missed.  As the bard started to put two and two together in his mind, another man shaped thing ran to the outer ring of the courtyard’s water fountain.  Blaylocke suddenly shouted “Grimkins!  Lifestealers!”, the bard then played a bit of song to inspire Enkili.

One of the Grimkin’s west of the fountain hurled a blade, and poor Jolrael cried out with pain.  The blade ripped free of the wound and flew to an awaiting hand.  As the only Grimkin’s grouped together, Enkili chose to take out the faceless pair west of the fountain; they were dust clouds before they realized their danger.  Leiya placed a Sacred Flame on the Grimkin threatening Blaylocke, the fire could not consume all the dust.

Enkili gets hit with another thrown dagger, to his annoyance.  Blaylocke tried to avenge the injured fighter, but his arrow only wounded the assailant.  All the heroes eyes shift to that last Grimkin, but it was Blaylocke who was able to act first.  His Eldritch Blast hit center mass, stringing a stream of dust as the energy passed well through the Grimkin (Crit!).  Enkili wondered aloud if the chamberlain (tyun) would be surprised to see them make their appointment.  The fighter was stopped short of picking up one of the Grimkin daggers by Blaylocke, the bard warned them of a danger for touching those daggers, he also told them how Grimkin’s were made….

*This is how the game ended that session.  Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 3rd.  Was this the last of these constructs made from the desiccated dead, or are more waves incoming?  Who sent them, and who made them?  Will our adventurers ever find out?

Episode 142 Gurthos 18th  1032 C.E.

A disturbing sight met the party when they arrived at the destinet.  A well used gallows filled the yard, and dangling from somewhat new ropes were the rat chasing guards the party had made way for on debarking from the Seasprinter.  The Tyun, Niko Vinogradsky, turned out to be a slender middle aged man who dressed well.  Upon learning the heroes had been attacked, the Tyun asked who the assailants had been, but Leiya chose to indicate the dead guards in the courtyard.  Creepy vibes washed off of Tyun Niko as he made it seem as though “justice” had been done, even as he avoided answering the question of who used Grimkins in Deros Kaden.

When the conversation returned to the overarching reason for their trip up north, the Tyun did not seem surprised to hear the name “Miria”.  He informed the party that the Najir was away tending the wedding of Alexi Manikov, and his favorite slave girl was in attendance.  Offers of pay or service were advanced, that is when the Tyun gained a strange intensity.  The man seemed to have a use for the party, but that service would not guarantee Miria’s return, just make Niko inclined to actually take their query to Najir Erbolg.  While Blaylocke’s willingness to perform for the Najir would not be the Najir’s cup of tea, Tyun Niko was fond of the arts.

The interview ended while the offers and payments were still tentative, though the Tyun informed them that their room and board at the Harp and Vine would be taken care of.  On the way back to the inn, they pondered their options while they waited for further contact from the chamberlain.  While their attention was slightly averted the party took the wrong street.  The first clue that they were in the wrong part of town was the issuance of a wailing sound that seemed to come from above.

The wails and feelings of being watched only intensified as the party began to look around.  No one else was about, though expectation of normal traffic kept the party from realizing this for a short time.  Boarded up doors and window, aged timbers, and faded chipping paint created the scene of an abandoned section of town; again this information took a while to trigger in the groups collective consciousness.  A wave of fear accompanied the translucent figures that flew out of second story walls as if they had been open doors.

That dread seemed to infect Blaylocke, who shook as he prepared for the attack, aging about two decades.  Leiya raised her symbol of Melosta high and shouted a castigation.  The vaporous figures wore the visages of the dead, and the two northernmost shied away from the holy power emanating from Leiya.  One of the southern ghosts dropped down and hit Enkili.

The fighter retaliated and let the Sainted Sword swing with verve.  The magic blade made the tattered insubstantial figure seem truly ragged, cutting away at its essence where another blade would have failed to harm at all.

Blaylocke sent a Dissonant Whispers spell at that same ghost, it uttered thwarted wails but did not dis-corporate; it looked far worse off than before.  Maybe it was from his success against that one ghost, but the bard was able to shake the fear sending ice water through his veins.  Hitting the poor ghost square in the center of its being (critical hit), Jolrael’s Firebolt consumed the nigh transparent being completely ending it as a threat to the living… for a time.  The other southern ghost descended but did not close with anyone in the party, instead it turned completely invisible.

Turning his attention to the ghost stationed just outside of a second floor window of a north western building, Blaylocke sent an Eldritch Blast into it.  He then granted Leiya a Bardic Inspiration.  That ghost also faded away so that it was no longer seen.  The last ghost hovering in the north east became Jolrael’s target.  The Firebolt hit true but was not as potent as it would have been against a living target.  In response it turned a baleful gaze downward as it vanished from view.

Trying to access her knowledge of the undead, Leiya tried to recall if these types of undead would flee for self preservation, but the pressure of combat prevented her from gaining any insight.  She also sent Enkili a Healing Word; he still bore wounds from the grimkins met just a few hours before, as well as the one ghost that had hit him.  The fighter grumbled over the lack of his armor, which was stored away in his Bag of Holding.  Thinking that the ghosts would focus on the priestess, Enkili moved to guard Leiya’s left flank. 

Also taking the time for cerebral pursuits, Blalocke mumbles a question out loud; “Will Greater Restoration return the years the ghosts had stolen?”  The bard realized this would indeed work, the insight supported by Leiya’s nod.  He then sent Enkili magical relief with Word of Healing.  One of the ghosts suddenly manifest on Leiya’s unguarded side; it made a diving motion and tried to enter the priestess, but could not overwhelm her will.  Jolrael spun around and injured it with a Firebolt, then he flanked Blaylocke with eyes scanning for new or renewed danger.

Spinning around the priestess Enkili began to flail at the ghost.  Three well placed slashes was almost enough to undo whatever it was that comprised the ghost’s “body”.  Realizing the danger too herself these ghosts represented, Leiya covered herself with a Protection from Evil spell.  Before the lone ghost could determine if the spell would actually protected it’s victim, Enkili was on it again.  All it required was one last hit from the storied sword before this ghost too was no more.

Leiya began to see if any bystanders were being possessed by the ghosts, that is when the group began to realize their surroundings.  This section of town was well and truly abandoned, too many generations of undisturbed cobwebs were apparent.  As a reflex she cast another Healing Word on Enkili.  Lifting the spell from his Ring of Spell Storing, Jolrael cast Greater Restoration on Blaylocke, returning two decades of Dwarven youth on the bard.

Gathering the energy about himself, Blaylocke prepared to shoot Eldritch Blasts at any ghost that showed itself.  Almost back to back, they all waited for the assault to continue.  After a span of time Enkili asked if his friends would help him don his armor, which he began to pull from his magic bag.  The fighter was only able to apply a few bits of armor on himself when the ghosts returned; they had waited for the scourging power of Leiya’s turning attempt to fade.  Peeved, Blaylocke’s hand stabbed out as he launched a Roulothim’s Psychic Lance at one ghost.  While it was mightily hurt, it showed it was proof against being mentally incapacitated from that potent magic.

Bursting with holy light, Leiya’s Word of Radiance encompassed the two ghosts, slaying Blaylocke’s chosen target.  A Firebolt from the sorcerer kept the survivor on it’s heels.  Shedding unsecured bits of armor as he moved, Enkili finished the last ghost with two slashes.  Realizing that more ghosts may be awaiting in this cursed block of Deros Kaden, the party backed out the way they had come; Enkili juggling bits of armor all the way to living streets.  While most of the peasants who noticed their return fled, one woman seemed awestruck.

Unfortunately this woman only spoke Onostian, which precluded everyone but Leiya from understanding the woman’s questions and responses.  The priestess was able to winkle out an old tale of the abandoned neighborhood they had quit; a legend that eventually set the hooks of fear into the peasant woman.  There had been an incident with mass murder and possible suicide that had occurred in that abandoned block.  One boy who had survived was now an old man, who still refused to leave the sanctuary of Tvorek’s cathedral.

The woman began to relate how people who went into that neighborhood would end up going crazy and attempt to kill everyone on their block; attempting to recreate the old massacre.  As the peasant woman spoke of this curse, she remembered this stated danger and looked upon the party with new eyes.  Excusing herself, the woman practically fled from their side, making a bee line to nearby guards.  Leiya warned the party at this point and urged them to leave.  They all managed to slip into the throng of cowed citizens and escape the dubious mercies of the local law enforcement, Leiya filled them in on the horror story as they walked

        Leiya had to stop recounting what she had learned when they returned to the Harp and Vine.  It was evident that the Tyun's hand had already fallen upon the inn.  Not only had the room assignements been rearranged to suit the heroes need better, but the sheer terror in the innkeeper could not be hidden.  Leiya immediately assured the poor man that only good reports would come from them to the Tyun Nikos' ears.  The man's relief was palpable....

*Our next game will be May 10th.  May 17th.  Those of you who still have your mother, hug them hard and show them your heart, before and after Mother's Day.

Episode 143 Gurthos 18th - 19th 1032 C.E.

Arriving safely at the Harp and Vine inn, the party discovered some changes.  Grigori, the innkeeper licked his lips and showed nervousness in every expression.  Room arrangements had been changed, the people who had booked their rooms earlier had been forced to move so that the party now had adjoining accommodations.  Upon questioning, Grigori confessed that Tyun (chamberlain) Niko’s people had strong armed him into making the changes; leaving an implied threat that the party was to receive the best, or else.  Leiya was quick to relieve Grigori’s anxieties by saying that the tyun would only hear good reviews from them.

During the discussion, several party members noticed that the innkeeper wore a necklace that had the Najir’s symbol; he polished the object a lot through the day.  That night, with Leiya taking the southeast room and the guys in the northeast, the priestess cast Guardian of Faith in each room.  Leiya and Blaylocke took first watch, Enkili the second, and Jolrael was to have the final watch.  The sorcerer also used his Immovable Rods to secure their rooms windows.  During the midnight hour, Enkili suddenly felt ill to the stomach due to a sense of dread that washed over him.

Erring on the side of caution he flipped his light source on, then the fighter started pounding on the wall they shared with Leiya while exclaiming that something ill was afoot.  Leiya rolled out of her bed, grabbed her kit, and pelted over to the boy’s room.  Out in the upper north common room she noticed that all the people who had bedded down near the fire were missing.

At the edge of her light the details were grayed out, a fell sepia tinged everything at the edge of vision.  From downstairs she heard a fearful whimper, and it sounded like Grigory the innkeeper.  Belatedly Enkili unlocked the door, but Leiya gestured the guys out, whispering to them what she had heard.  Everyone noticed the anemic sepia tinge to the world and wondered at the absence of all the people they had seen earlier.  Grigori’s whimpers pulled everyone to the banister and stairs; even the larger ground floor common room was empty of life.

Starting down the stairs, trailed by Jolrael (who had taken the time to retrieve his Immovable Rods) they noticed swarms of insects, arthropods, and other creepy crawlies pouring into the inn from under the main double doors.  Those creatures began to stack upon each other unnaturally, quickly building an anthropomorphic shape.  The air shimmered and they beheld a strange robed figure wearing a pale white woman featured mask.  It bore a staff in a hand that dripped the bugs it was made from.

Uncommonly quick for her, Leiya surrounded the creature with a globe shaped Wall of Force.  She then directed the group to locate poor Grigory.  Hastening, Jolrael caught up to his friends on the stairs, then he vaulted over the railing to the west and let Feather Fall ease his landing.  He peeked into the middle door in the north of the room; the inn’s larder, which was empty of any people.

Enkili jumped the last few steps to the ground and ran crouched to the north eastern ground floor door.  He had looked under all the tables in the sepia light, then had found the innkeeper’s aperture locked.  Blaylocke strummed the theme song he had crafted for Enkili, while he rummaged his brain trying to determine what they faced (Bardic Inspiration on the fighter).  His face turned pale as he started issuing a slew of things the Larva Mage was resistant too; he started with resistance to cold, slashing, and non magical attacks.  That was all he could get out for the moment.

Inside it’s bubble, the thing tilted its head to study the Wall of Force surrounding it.  Head still cocked it fired a beam of energy, and surprisingly the spell crumbled freeing the Larval Mage.  Grimly Leiya said that only a Disintegrate spell could do what had just been done; the spellcasters knew what she was talking about.  Trailing dropped bugs, the Larval Mage moved up near the party, it burst into a tidal wave of insects.  Only Enkili was out of range, but Blaylocke, Leiya, and poor Jolrael were all buried under a pile of restraining bugs; they felt their life being extracted even as they were blinded and held in place.

Taking a moment to cast Freedom of Movement on himself, Blaylocke then continued to list the Larval Mage’s attributes.  They could not be restrained, frightened, or charmed.  The bard then began to shed bugs freeing his eyes while  freeing himself from the necrotic drain.  An arm of insects elongated and slammed into Jolrael with a mighty buffet, the poor sorcerer was injected with venom.  Storm wrought lightening shot from the spell caster back at the Larval Mage as an automatic reaction, a cloud of bugs was incinerated as the fell creature was hurled back towards the exit by twenty feet.

Abused to the brink, Jolrael fished out his Potion of Supreme Healing and downed it.  A gray beam lanced out from the Larval Mage’s hand directly at Leiya, the pile of bugs holding her down formed a hole that allowed the force beam to slam into her.  Abandoning Grigori’s door, Enkili moved closer to their foe, he pulled forth a flask of Alchemist Fire and hit the Larval Mage with it.  Crispy bugs began to fall away from the robed form, just not in a volume to stress the thing.  Leiya downed a vial of Greater Healing, then called upon the power of her Coin of Era’s to shake herself free from most of the bugs that had been blinding her and holding her in place….

*There you have it, another fine mess Onostia has put us in!  We will not be meeting May 24th so our next game will be May 31st.  Ramsay Cowlishaw’s band of musical pirates has gigs June 7th and June 28th, Jolrael will not have a chance to save our behinds on those days.  Once again, Ghosttusk’s will not be able to join us as the 24th was his day to be in the group.

Episode 144 Gurthos 19th 1032 C.E.

*Surprisingly fortunate circumstance.  Ghosttusk was able to join us today!

Stomping on her former captors, Leiya’s eyes rose to behold the writhing grub being.  Hoping against hope she sealed the Larval Mage in another Wall of Force, again in an encompassing globe; then she prayed that it would hold this time.  Enkili watched the thing push at its invisible prison, the alchemical fire still crisping the tiny creatures creating it’s form.  The encasing sphere forced the fighter to change his intent; so he moved west, stabbed the Sainted Sword into the inn’s floor, then drew his magic morningstar and posed ready to strike if the bug monster escaped.

Ignoring the world outside of it’s prison, the Larval Mage tried to douse the magic fire still doing it minor damage; it just transferred the flame from its flank to it’s forearm.  Meanwhile the scuttling chaos engulfing Jolrael extracted more of the sorcerers life.  Tired of being held in place and blinded by millions of lesser life forms. Jolrael produced and upended a product made in his bastion; a Potion of Gaseous Form.  As a fog cloud, the insects fell through him.  He had no form they could hold down, nor eyes to scuttle into.

Unlimbering his bow, Blaylocke sang a song that knitted his bug bitten flesh a bit (Healing Word); he then readied to drill their grubby foe with an arrow.  Ransacking his brain, Grynn tried to figure out more information out about their enemy.  Thinking hard did not feed any new information to the cleric.  As vapor the color of stormy skies mixed with frothing ocean water, the sorcerer rose over the dissipating pile of insects and floated up to the top steps of the stairway.  Having gained vantage over his friends that would allow him to rain magic down on the centipede and roach crafted enemy, Jolrael assumed his normal solid state and form.

Singing the same song as before, Blaylocke directed the energy of his upcast Healing Word at Leiya this time, then continued his archer’s vigil.  Thinking that spreading out and coming at the Larval Mage from several directions would be a good tactic, Enkili grabbed his familial blade in his offhand and trotted around to take up station at the rear of the Wall of Force to the west.  All he could do after that was hope for a chance to swing the hefty morningstar.  Grynn tried to read the seething humanoid shaped bug creature’s intentions, however the flow of bugs in the exposed sections of it’s form tugged on his attention, unnerving him (A natural one stole his inspiration away).

Beyond belief, the Larval Mage was again unable to snuff the Alchemist Fire nibbling at it’s being.  While producing a jar of Keogthome’s Ointment to toss to Jolrael, Leiya also intoned a Healing Word to put on the sorcerer.  At last, the Larval Mage was able to douse the bug burning fire, the interior of the Wall of Force was murky with smoke.  Jolrael spent the next several seconds anointing himself with the ointment and drinking a drought of Antitoxin as a preventative measure.

Wanting to ensure that the party would have at least one healer, Grynn cast Death Ward on Leiya.  Realizing that if the Wall of Force was to come down he would still be fifteen feet away, Enkili pulled out another Alchemist’s Fire.  The fighter also copied Jolrael and downed an Antitoxin to give himself an edge in fighting off the obvious neurotoxin their foe used.  Blaylocke remained ready to fire his bow, fingers on the string, pointer and middle fingers lightly pinching the arrows nock.  Taking another step forward, Leiya started trying to get a read on the Larval Mage, she also inquired of her friends if this was a good time to drop the Wall of Force; the writhing form was just too alien for her to read it’s intentions.  She also hit Jolrael with another Word of Healing.

Jolrael wondered aloud if “our enemies knew that we had surrendered the “gem” to the tyun?”, a ruse to try to determine if this thing was intent on the gem they had acquired at the docks.  It did not respond, even though Enkili faked being angered by the sorcerer’s “loose lips”, the fighter also indicated to Leiya that she should hold her spell a bit longer.  No longer smoldering, the creature made of connected bugs tilted its masked face, shimmered, then reappeared midway up the stair steps; right next to Grynn and behind Leiya.  It exploded into a mighty splash of bugs, the arthropodic avalanche trying to smother Jolrael, Grynn, Leiya, and Blaylocke.  Shedding squirming specks and only taking a bit of damage, all four of the affected party members avoided being pinned and blinded this time.

Now that her Wall of Force sphere was moot, Leiya dropped that spell, adjusted her position by five feet, then cast Aura of Purity.  That bit of magic seemed to have answers and remedies against many of the Larval Mage’s displayed abilities.  Again positioned too far away to engage in melee, Enkili ran through where the imprisoning sphere had stood, then because of his friends proximity, thought better of hurling his second flask of Alchemist’s Fire; he stopped fifteen feet short to stay away from the thing’s explosive radius.

Grynn cast his ever trusty Spiritual Guardians spell, then he braced himself behind his shield for the repercussions he knew he would face.  A fist of maggots lashed out at the cleric, but Leiya was close enough to help thwart the attack.  Aiming his spell down the stairs, knowing the downward angle would limit the range of his Aganazaar’s Scorcher (Enkili would have been in the line of fire otherwise), Jolrael upcast that spell for added effectiveness.  Swaths of singed insects fell away from their unnerving foe.  Grynn caught another buffet on his shield as the thing tried to hit him again.

Holding his bow in one hand, Blaylocke raised his other appendage and cast Immolation on the Larval Mage.  Though the fire did not adhere to it, the enemies form began to look truly ragged.  Grynn caught another punch on his shield, his back bouncing off the banister from the power.  Transmuting his next Aganazaar’s Scorcher to do electrical dammage, Jolrael again cast the spell from a higher level spell slot.  Fried bugs were sloughed off the Larval Mage’s form by the thousands.  The sorcerer then flew off the stair to the east; his landing drew criticism from the bard who thought a dramatic set down had been warranted.

Though the Spiritual Guardians were not as efficacious as normal, the Larval Mage did take harm from it.  The masked creature turned to face the distant fighter, words and gestures produced an effect that tugged at Enkili’s mind.  Leiya’s Aura of Purity helped the warrior shake free of the ensorcelment, the bug wrought enemy did not show the frustration that other living spell casters would have felt in that moment.  Grynn cast Spiritual Weapon to produce a strange club that smoldered on one end, while that magic weapon missed it’s attack, Grynn was able to smash his magic mace into their foes side.

Another roach filled fist tried to hammer Melana’s cleric, but again Grynn caught it on his wonderful shield.  This time, Blaylocke’s Immolation spell did settle into the Larval Mages abhorrent form, the resulting greasy smoke was accompanied by the screams of a thousand burning bugs.  Grynn shunted aside another smoking fist attack, this time parrying the fist aside with a jaunty tusk filled grin.  Enkili was finally able to swarm forward and close with their uncanny enemy.

Chopping at the thing’s knees with his first morningstar blow, he swept the Larval Mage off it’s feet.  The fighter then began to rain blows down on the prostrate figure, mashing bugs with every hit.  An action surge continued the fighters bug crushing actions, the fighters companions stomping as the human shaped swarm devolved and began to scatter….  Mid stomp the world changed, and the party found themselves sitting up in their beds.  It seemed the entire episode had been a dream, except they all bore wounds, and lacked the resources they had expended in the odd encounter.

Grigory, the innkeeper turned out to be alright.  Though caught up in the dreamlike sequence as the party had been, the man had never had to face the strange Larval Mage.  The party slept longer than normal, waking closer to noon than morning.  While everyone else was indecisive and lackadaisical, Jolrael got down to business.  The man refilled the spells in his Ring of Spell Storing.

Also unable to sit around and do nothing, Grynn decided that he wanted to know a bit more about the local state religion; the Tvorekyj faith.  As Blaylocke and Grynn were nonhuman visitors they were advised not to travel alone, Leiya suggested that he take company.  The whole party formed up to walk with the cleric.  Enkili suggested that they take the time to dispose of the Grimkin blades he was carrying, so they planned to stop by the local Melostan temple (Melwen) after.
The local priests were wary, yet willing to discuss their religion with Grynn, and even fielded questions that Leiya also interjected.  But as the liturgical sport began to wane, Leiya struck upon the idea of visiting the lone survivor of the ghost haunted neighborhood; Maksim.
(Below is a transcript of the exchange.  Leiya slowly applied Tongues on Grynn, Blaylocke, then on Enkili as the conversation progressed.  This is the entirety of the discussions from Leiya’s point of view.)

(The party enters Maksim's chamber. It's dimly lit, with a single, guttering candle casting long, odd shadows throughout. A few window-slits are stuffed with rags, as if to keep light (?) out.)


Leiya kneels quietly on the floor. She gestures to the others to sit also.

{Enkili leans against the doorframe cleaning his nails with a kanjhar dagger.}

Maksim: You are from south, yes?

Leiya: Yes, sir.

{Maksim seems distracted and distressed by the dagger.}

Leiya: Enkili -- please put that away for now.

{Enkili starts, then complies.}

Leiya: Your pardon, Elder. My companion is young, and rash.

Enkili: Sorry.

Leiya: Thank you.

Leiya: Forgive us -- my companions do not speak your tongue. May we speak in Common, or may I help them to understand?

{Maksim's demeanor shifts suddenly.}

Maksim: You want my memories, don't you? No, I deny you, Sivela!

{Maksim's demeanor shifts again, and he seems to recall again the present moment.}

Maksim: You are not Sivela ... why have you come? Are you of the sisters?

Leiya (to party): He asks about someone I don't know.

Leiya: Elder, I don't believe so. I don't think so.

Leiya (whispering, to party): One named Sivela ...

Leiya: Can these sisters help us? Or should I avoid them?

{Maksim looks upset at the name of Sivela; makes gestures of shushing, warding, etc.}

Enkili: I know of a few elders who live with their pasts within their heads. They know not the true times in which they live.

{Leiya nods at Enkili.}

Leiya (to party): Alright, let's not say this name again here.

Leiya (paraphrase): We banished much of the evil from the tragediya. We seek to heal the place and keep the people safe. How can we do this?

Maksim: You can never banish it. It has left its mark. It leaves it like a scar that ever opens, like a festering wound. The sisters made sure of it. They sealed our fate.

Maksim (to Leiya): Are you ready for the change that will come?

Leiya: By Our Lady's grace, I hope that I will be ready. Pray for me, that I may be made ready.

Maksim (wincing): Tvorek save us all. The worlds will strike each other like a hammer to nail.

Leiya: When, Elder?

Maksim: Soon.

{Enkili looks confused.}

Leiya: What is most important to do first, to be ready?

Maksim (with a steady, mad gleam in his eye): The girl is not a girl!

{Maksim starts shrieking.}

Leiya: We should go.

Leiya stands up to take leave.

Maksim (grabbing at Leiya's arm): The two fight over the gem!

{Blaylocke gasps.}

{Enkili frowns.}

{One of the matrons/clergy enters, indicating that visiting hours are over.}

Leiya (sadly) The poor man ...

Enkili: It was not our intent to stress Maksim.

{The matron's demeanor softens somewhat at our sympathy, but we are still ushered out.}

Leiya: May he be blessed by the Divine, and this House also….

*Thank you Xura for this transcription of your character’s conversation with Maksim.
**That was it for 5/31/2026 game session.  Our next game will be June 7th where we will once again be blessed with Ghosttusk’s (Grynn) presence, yet denied Ramsay Cowlishaw’s.  Our next task will be having the Grimkin blades destroyed for the betterment of Erath.

Episode 145 Gurthos 20th - 21st, 1032 C.E.

Leaving the Tvorekian Church behind, the party discussed how the old man knew of the Ruby Weave Gem (without naming it in public).  Leiya showed her interest in the “sisters” Maksim mentioned, while Enkili found himself contemplating the line “You can never banish it. It has left its mark. It leaves it like a scar that ever opens, like a festering wound. The sisters made sure of it. They sealed our fate”.  Those words made him think of the Elven ruins they had been forced to flee from not so long ago.

Their path to the Melostan temple lead to the outskirts of Deros Kaden, where they could see the undulating tundra and hills of Onostia through a thin screen of shacks.  The temple itself was very humble, unlike the Melwenite churches and shrines they had visited in Sedaria; where there was more devotion to the goddess.  Though Leiya was outranked by a few of the men and women of the local clergy, she was shown a strange deference.  None of the local clergy could manifest the magic and miracles of the deity.

After the initial inquiry, Enkili unrolled the Grimkin knives and made sure no one handled them.  Gasps were heard around the little room before the shrine, and even the party was made to look.  In the light falling through the small stained glass windows, patterns unseen before that moment were clearly visible to all eyes; a language of disturbing script.  The head priest said that it was wise that no one had handled or taken possession of any of these blades.

An ill fate is said to befall those who take a Grimkin dirk, for they become the Grimkin after falling ill and wasting away.  As for disposing of the fell steel, any smithy could do the job.  The magics used to make the cutting instruments would be purged with a forges great heat.  Enkili went to watch the process after their discussions with the Melostans, who were very grateful of the 50 gp donation he left.  When Leiya asked if there was any further aid she could do for her fellow clerics, they looked at one another, then laid a problem at her feet.

The nearby village of Sosnovka had fallen on hard times, harvests had not been good, and deliveries had gone missing.  On top of that, several travelers had also vanished without a trace; including members of their clergy.  Leiya correctly volunteered herself to investigate the problem, then she translated for her friends.  Both Leiya and Grynn were surprised when Blaylocke and Enkili, without blinking, said they were in.  Enkili usually asks for some sort of compensation, or hints strongly for one.  They are told their contact in Sosnovka would be a man named Mikhil, and that the most likely point where the trouble could reside would be a cave very near the village; set off the road by some distance.

After they acquired a hand drawn map, the Melostans allowed the party to borrow horses for the trip.  They did not start out immediately as this was passed midday, new spells would be necessary, plus the Grimkin short swords had to be melted.  Innkeeper Grigory was informed of their trip, and messenger’s were sent to Tyun Niko; a man who was undoubtedly trying to figure out how to use the party for his own purposes.  Our heroes rose early and set out.

The trip was uneventful through the entire day.  In the transition of late afternoon into early evening they came upon what looked like the terrain that had been described to them.  Leaving the road, they entered the wood making their way roughly to the northwest.  Fortunately the underbrush was sparse, and their directions were spot on.  They found the cave without getting lost or having to backtrack.  Before them was an opening into one of the local tall hills, a rill trickling out and bounding down a rough stone channel.

While Enkili was pondering if they should enter the cavern or wait for it’s occupant(s) to come out, Blaylocke caught the sickly sweet scent of decaying flesh.  Grynn, with the light of the explorer in his eyes, expressed his interest in entering the cave at that moment; Leiya, as usual, deferred to the party’s decision though she cast Aid on Grynn, Ekili, and Blaylocke.  She cast Death Ward on herself.  Blaylocke just started forward, and everyone followed, the debate unpursued.  While the cave mouth was wide it was not that tall, even Blaylocke had to bend through the entire entrance.

Soon enough they entered a chamber that made them realize that the entire hill they had seen was possibly hollow.  The stench of decaying people was now unmistakable.  Above the ceiling was mostly lost in shadows that not even their Goggles of Night could pierce, though there were sections where they could see the tips of stalactites or evident raw stone.  The stream divided the southern facing room, the narrower section of the chamber to the east.  Everyone had a hard time telling how deep the water was, what they learned when Enkili dipped the tip of The Sainted Sword into the stream was that the current was deceptively strong.  Though everyone else could not feel the pitch of the floor, Blaylocke let them know that they were walking up a slight grade.

For a while they followed the edge of the stream, whose banks made a natural path in the uneven terrain; and the cavern continued to open up east west and south.  On the far shore the terrain looked like it was climbing precipitously, becoming a cliff face.  Ledges and shelves of earth made up the walls with few actual walls in evidence.  Enkili, who was leading the worthy pack, noticed that the western wall was also rising, as were the ledges and shelves on their side of the cavern.  Rather than face a climb later, he cut left and trod the last visible grade up to the lowest rock shelf, Leiya climbed after while Grynn and Blaylocke continued to follow the subterranean rill.

Enkili’s nose was assailed by the rot stench that only human and humanoid bodies give off as they decay; this was mingled with the noxious odors of decaying horse and oxen as well.  He called this detail down to the Dwarf and Halforc, who reversed their course and moved back to the climbing path.  Leiya and the Fighter inched forward, moving slowly so their friends could catch them up. The shelf they were on widened before them, and at the edge of their night vision they began to make out crates, barrels, wagon parts, and dismembered and half eaten bodies.

Hurrying his pace, Blaylocke caught up with Leiya while Enkili moved forward fifteen feet; Grynn lagged behind to become the rearguard.  Everyone eyed the shelves above them, remaining alert and tense.  Melana’s priest caught a large shadow leaping silently from one ledge to another, his warning also let the hidden thing know it had been caught.  While Enkili and Leiya were able to see a huge bipedal shape drop down behind a rock formation, Blaylocke and Grynn caught an eyeful as they were still behind the cave feature.

Its visage was twisted and warty with a long pointy nose which clued them in to an association with trolls, but it had ram like horns and a thick muscular body and green and blue mottled skin.  Was it some sort of giant as well?  As Grynn gaped trying to comprehend the giant foe, Blaylocke actually delved his mind trying to figure out what it was they faced.  A fuzzing around it’s form made identification hard, but the bard figured it out; it pounced even as Blaylocke called out that it was a Hagborn Troll.  He tapped out Grynn’s theme song on his drums as the creature bore down on the priest (Bardic Inspiration).

Leiya peered around the wall then cast Slow on the beast, but her magic was shrugged off and ignored, she moved a few steps closer.  Enkili ran past Leiya and Blaylocke, but did not go into a full sprint.  He readied an attack seeing that the Hagborn Troll could bypass Grynn if it chose.  Grynn, eyeing the large enemy, chose to cast Shield of Faith on himself.  The speed in which the Hagborn Troll moved was something the party had seen before, it had cast Haste on itself; and the haziness it was shrouded in also hinted at it having a Blur spell as well.  It stopped ten feet away from Grynn and swatted him hard; the priest flickered momentarily as he fought a magical effect.

That one hit really battered Grynn severely (61 hit points in one blow), it then bowled the priest over as it resumed it’s charge.  It then smacked Enkili a stout blow.  Grynn spun about and swung his stout mace, but due to the Blur spell, missed.  He then summoned his Spiritual Weapon called Blunt Force Trauma, which was shaped like Cheech and Chong’s favorite pastime herbal wrap; this weapon also could not hit the beast.  In retaliation the Hagborn Troll tried to back hand Grynn, but the priest ducked.

Perturbed by the magic shown, Blaylocke chose to upcast Dispel Magic on the unfortunate offspring of fell parentage.  The haze vanished, and the hornet like reactions slowed way down.  The Bard then sang out Enkili’s theme song (Bardic Inspiration), then stepped back so that he was behind Leiya.  Snarling its distaste of Blaylocke’s nasty trick, the Hagborn Troll was briefly surrounded in a shimmer before he vanished, only to reappear beyond in the carnage area of the shelf to the southwest (Misty Step).

Leiya spun around and called down a Flame Strike, she was the first in the party to do the mommy-issue monster any damage; though not as much as she would have liked.  Uttering a series of words using a fell tongue, the Hagborn Troll made it’s shape indistinct again (Blur), then it moved closer to Blaylocke.  Seeing its fixation on the Dwarf, Enkili blew by the bard and Leiya and laid into the Hagborn Troll with his sword.  Though he missed with his first and third attack, his second attack landed with such ferocity that he completely occupied the unwanted offspring’s attention fully for a few seconds (Maneuvering Attack); Blaylock was able to stumble several feet away without drawing an attack from the Hagborn Troll.

Before the party’s eyes, the Hagborn Troll’s wounds began to knit back together again.  While it did not heal completely, they did notice that a bit of each wound closed a little; except for the burns caused by Leiya’s Flame Strike, the fire burns healed some, but the radiant burns remained a scar.  Turning its attention on to Enkili, the Hagborn Troll swung and missed.  The Fighter tried to riposte but cut only air.  A left and right from the monster both flew wide as well, two agile foes bobbing and weaving.

Leiya tried to sear it with a Guiding Bolt cantrip, but the hurled bolt of light was off because of the magic haze protecting the giant.  Enkili had to dodge another fist attack.  Grynn also hurled a Guiding Bolt at the Hagborn Troll, the Blur spell also made this attack ineffective.  The cleric then closed some of the distance, moving himself and Blunt Force Trauma closer.  A giant fist hammered Enkili back several steps.  Snarling the fighter rained down three successful attacks, his Menacing Attack Maneuver failed two times to intimidate the creature.

Hoping his trick would work twice, Blaylocke cast another Dispel Magic on the Haggish offspring.  The blurriness was removed from the Hagborn Troll.  Again he moved behind his friends, almost as a taunting gesture.  Again they could see some of the wounds they had caused heal up, though the Hagborn Troll still looked hacked and haggard.  A Sacred Flame from Grynn flared up but failed to adhere to the Troll gits being, but Blunt Force Trauma smacked the big figure soundly.

Turning all its focus on the fighter, it hit the man hard, making Enkili flicker for a moment.  Blaylocke shared with them later that it could send a person a few seconds into the future, an ability meant to rob people of their ability to participate for that six second span of time.  It was fortunate that Grynn and Enkili were able to stave off that effect (Enkili had to use Bardic Inspiration to succeed).

Enkili also narrowed his focus.  His first attack missed, but the following two blade strikes drew blood.  The fighter then Action Surged and repeated with three more attacks, miss, hit, then hit again.  The Hagborn Troll dropped with blood gushing from a gashed throat.  Blaylocke rushed up and upended an Alchemist Fire on the beast, but those fires only seemed to do superficial damage.  The blood geyser became a trickle, proving that the Hagborn Troll was on the mend.  Leiya set a Word of Radiance to the thing’s tortured flesh, which proved to be the ingredient necessary to halt the regeneration.  Leiya moved to cast Cure Wounds spells on Grynn and Enkili, the two who had suffered the worst during the fight, but a suggestion of resting for some period was advanced....

* The decision to use up spells or set up a camp is where we leave off this week, and a suggestion was advanced for looting the Hagborn Trolls junk pile was spoken of by the character frenzied67 controls.  6/14/26 will be our next game.  Ghosttusk may be back on his schedule so we will miss his great company.  Ramsay Cowlishaw, however will be returning to bring his brand of mayhem to our virtual table.

Long John Offline
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#333 minutes ago
Blaylocke is in concordance with frenzied67's character, concerning looting the Hagtroll's junkpile. Albeit likely for conflicting reasons. Blaylocke would like to find any tokens or identification that would confirm that this is the fate(s) that befell the merchants and clergy that had gone missing. And if any clerical items are to be found, he would like to discuss collecting them for proper return with Leiya.
Blaylocke would also like to do a quick search of the rest of the cavern for any other possible resources and/or victims.