Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Episode 150 Gurthos 22nd 1032 C.E.

Grynn darted to the west then cast Spiritual Weapon right in front of Zlobniya, when her eyes turned to witness the manifestation, he used the distraction to pelt her with a Sacred Flame cantrip.  The burns did not seem like much on the Hag’s huge frame; the Spiritual Weapon also connected when it swung.  Zlobniya marched forward til she could see everyone.  With mad glee she made her voice sound in everyone’s heads.  “Home is where the Head is!”  This presaged a sensation of being grabbed up by Leiya, Enkili, and Grynn.  The Telekenetic grasp did not catch on the priestess or fighter, but poor Grynn was flung thirty foot into a shack near Leiya and the Invisible Blaylocke.

Jolrael had been prepared for such a situation, he cast the Feather Fall spell from his ring as the priest flew; however Grynn was being propelled by a spell and was not free falling, so the fast flung magic did not halt the flailing career.  Slamming into the toolshed must have knocked Grynn out for half a second, because his Spiritual Weapon blinked out.  The hag then turned on Enkili and cast a spell on the fighter that made the man sink to the ground and begin to snore, the Hag then moved north and a little west.  Letting the concealment spell fall away, Blaylocke hit Zlobniya with Vicious Mockery.  A Ray of Enfeeblement was flung almost faster than thought, but the bard ducked the retaliatory magic.

Jolly closed with the hag, charging in as if he were about to tackle the monster.  Instead of grappling her about the knees, the sorcerer cast Thunder Step.  While the sonic blast did not do as much harm as the party wished, Jolrael did appear right next to Enkili, but shaking the fighter did not rouse the man.  Hobbling with the speed of a giant, Zlobniya closed within ten feet of both Leiya and Blaylocke; reaching distance for the overlarge Hag.  Despite being within smelling distance of Zlobniya, Leiya hurled a Sacred Flame onto Enkili.  Pain roused the fighter, who thanked the apologetic cleric.

Nails harder than horn lashed out at Leiya, Melwen’s vicar staggered with the blow and resulting pain.  Using a gymnastic trick, Enkili vaulted to his feet and closed on the Hag.  He swung and critical hit, hit, miss, then hit again, then he Action Surged, missed, missed and critical hit; each hit saw him attempt a Tripping Attack.  Zlobniya was very strong and did not succumb to the fighters tricks even though he was Enlarged and Hasted, until the man actually caught her heel and upended her a part of his last attack.  While the fighter was cutting the Hag to nigh ribbons, Grynn got up and stumbled into the fight.  He grabbed at her shoulder and cast Dispel Evil/Good, trying to dismiss the vile creature.

His spell glimmered all over Zlobniya but she fought the magic successfully.  Oh but the glare she had for Grynn after that.  Still she had another target in mind for spiteful retaliation.  The fluctuating lenses of time dilation formed around Enkili, but the fighter clung to the here and now with quiet desperation.  Vexed that her spell failed, and that her foes were super tenacious, Zlobniya quickly cast another spell from her back and vanished in a cloud of sulfur and brimstone.

As the night before when Taga fled, Enkili spent the next several moments spinning about wondering if Zlobniya had used a short teleportation spell.  Building up a charge for his Joltbolt (Firebolt variant), Jolrael also looked around.  Breathing a sigh of relief, Blaylocke laid arrow to string and also waited for a target.  Practical Leiya magically changed her eyes with a True Seeing spell, as that magic began to set on her she moved over to the set of doors of The Temple of the Gods.  Her eyes instantly beheld the marks of Old Onostian writing over the people inside when she peaked in (later speculations made the party think this was the old bargain the Sosnovan’s had with the Hag).

Time ran out on Jolrael’s cantrip, but the sorcerer built up another as he hopped up on a wood bin to extend his vision.  Enkili displaced and moved a bit west, holding the Sainted Sword ready in case Zlobniya would reappear.  The Hag chose that moment to reappear in the same spot she had vanished from, startled, Blaylocke’s hasty shot flew wide.  Again the Hag made a statement in Onostian, she looked healthier than when she had left.  Blaylocke sang out again, casting Roalothim’s Psychic Lance at Zlobniya.  That magic did not seem to be as effective as it had on past opponents, though it still stung the Hag.

Again Zlobniya’s creaky voice uttered statements in Onostian, she then created a green cloud the color of illness and corruption (Death Sphere).  Blaylocke had a Coin of Fate vanish to protect himself, unfortunately Leiya was fully effective by the fell magic.  Safely outside the grim colored cloud, Grynn once again grabbed Zlobniya from behind.  His Dispel Evil/Good did not take effect on the giant witch again.  He tried to create distance from Zlobniya, but he took a mighty swipe from the Hag’s claws as he moved away.

Ignoring the priest, Zlobniya scuttled over to Jolrael to threaten the spell caster.  Leiya slammed the door closed then stumbled out of the Death Sphere.  She cast Healing Word on Grynn, then hit Zlobniya with a Sacred Flame; this time it seemed the spell did full damage.  As the Hag hissed in pain, Jolrael hit her with a Tidal Wave spell.  He used Tempestuous Magic to carry himself off the wood bin and onto the roof of the house next to him.  Though staggered a bit, Zlobniya was not swept off her feet.

Again the Hag tried to hurl Ekili, Leiya, and Jolrael with Telekinesis, but she wove too hurriedly and failed to grasp any of the three.  Again she spoke in Onostian and her word were not translated, the translator was too busy trying to make Zlobniya feel persecuted.  Grynn drew himself up and cast Banish on Zlobniya, but the Hag refused to vanish.  The priest pulled out a Potion of Greater Healing and prepared to drink it.  Blaylocke ran out of the Death Sphere and hurled another Roalothim’s Psychic Lance, again the spell did not meet expectations with it’s damage; Enkili’s theme song issued from the bard.

A Guiding Bolt from Leiya failed to take, so the priestess stepped back.  Again Zlobniya seemed to mock them in Onostian, she hurled a Dispel Magic on Enkili.  The fighter shrank to normal size and staggered, the lethargy of losing Haste leaving him weak and drained.  The Hag then lifted into the air and flew a ways away.  It took several seconds before Enkili felt his knees firm up and bear his weight.  From her new eastern vantage, Zlobniya moved the Death Sphere a bit south, catching Blaylocke and Leiya in it’s tainted radius.

But the Hag was not done.  Once again she tried to snare Enkili in temporal magic; the fighter growled and clung to his Now like a lion holding her kill against circling hyenas.  Grynn manifested an upcast Spiritual Weapon near the Hag, but the spell missed hitting her.  He moved east drinking his potion.  Again Blaylocke’s stout legs brought him out of the Death Sphere, he up cast a Healing Word on Leiya.  From on high, Jolrael cast Whirlwind on the Hag’s position, but as the winds began to swirl, Zlobniya Counterspelled the man.  She taunted in Onostian as Jolrael dropped off the building’s west side.

Stumbling up the wood bin, then onto the same roof Jolrael had quit, Enkili brandished his sword at the still distant Hag.  Zlobniya made sickening green energy pulse out of the Death Sphere to sting the Sorcerer.  She then opened up a human skin bag and pulled out a blue glowing orb…. No, it was a face, a human face.  The Hag swallowed the soul stuff of Oleg the witch hunter and healed herself; she then flew further east, too far for the fighter to catch her.  Leiya jogged south to get out of the Death Sphere, she then tried to catch the Hag in a Force Wall sphere.  Zlobniya also Counterspelled this magic.

The Hag then moved her Death Sphere so that Blaylocke, Leiya, Jolrael, and Grynn were inside.  Moving west some more, Blaylocke exited the magic zone, then upcast another Raulothim’s Psychic Lance; again the Hag did not take as much damage as hoped for.  The Hag then tried to hurl Grynn, Leiya, Jolrael, and Enkili with some form of Telekinetic force.  Grynn was the only one the spell caught up; again the priest was slammed against a building thirty feet away.  Enkili had to dash to get within melee distance of Zlobniya.  As a reward, she clawed the fighter which ignited the Radiant Defense Leiya had put on Enkili; the man took more damage between the two.

Grynn tried to hit the Hag with his Spiritual Weapon, but she may well have been wearing plate mail.  He then cast Mass Healing Word on Leiya, Enkili, and himself.  Enkili ducked under another claw attack from Zlobniya, she was not expecting his Riposte.  Her second swing did not miss; she even sent another pulse from her Death Sphere to do the fighter additional damage.  Upcasting Healing Word on the fighter, Leiya moved south and east before also casting Sacred Flame on Zlobniya.  Again the Hag proved too potent for that cantrip.

Cackling crazily, the Hag then flew away from Enkili and landed near the rest of the party.  Jaw muscles clenching, Jolrael upcast Lightening Storm (Ice Storm variant).  Zlobniya failed to Counterspell, but did make her saving throw.  The sorcerer then moved south out of the Death Sphere.  The Hag tried to punish Jolrael with some Will directed spell, but his natural twenty saved him from all harm….

*That was the last game of July.  We will meet again on August 2nd sans Ramsay Cowlishaw.  He has given us license to run Jolrael in his absence.

Episode 151 Gurthos 22nd - 23rd 1032 C.E.

In a hunched back spindly limb-ed parody of dance, Zlobniya capered over to Grynn and raked him with her bone like nails.  She then swayed as if grace was what she truly mocked, and headed west to paw at Blaylocke; the bard did pay proper homage to grace in the way he avoided those finger spurs.  The Hag kicked up her heels until she was back where she had started.  Spite and glee writhed on Zlobniya’s features as she then wriggled her knobby knuckled finger at Enkili.  The Fighter felt the world become capriciously non-firm, as his eyes saw a world beyond his normal reality.  Willing his brain and body not to obey, he avoided some sort of banishing effect with the help of the Bardic Inspiration he had received.

Knowing that their foe was highly resistant to both fire and ice, Jolrael converted a Ray of Frost to a Ray of Lightening; despite Zlobniya’s great size, her deceptive quickness cause the beam to miss.  For her part, the Hag moved her Sphere of Death so that it covered Grynn.  Knowing the spell would drain his life if he stayed, Grynn first moved his Spiritual Weapon from the east, then he charged through her spell and tried to grab her.  Though the priest got a grip, his upcast Dispel Evil/Good could not overcome Zlobniya’s magical nature.

Feeling desperation eroding his normal confidence, since his bag of tricks was nigh expired, Blaylocke resorted to hurling Eldritch Blasts at the Hag.  His spirits lifted a bit as the first shot slammed into her throat (critical), his next shot hit, but the third missed.  Some of her vile glee gone, Zlobniya took to the sky and made a short flight to the west, maintaining as much distance from herself and the mad fighter who was trying to end her.  Thwarted yet again, Enkili did run through the top part of the Death Sphere hoping the Hag would make that one slip he craved.  He pressed and rubbed some dirt into some of his wounds, pulling on inner strength to bolster his physicality (Second Wind)

Leiya cast Mass Healing Word on both Enkili and Grynn, that spell reaching clear across the field of battle.  The priestess then charged west, clambering over the well used wood bin just so she could try to pelt Zlobniya with a Sacred Flame.  The holy light flared then fizzled on the witch without actually touching her flesh.  Still too far to close with Zlobniya, Enkili stood his ground, pulling his bow.  The first two shots missed (one arrow a natural one), but the last arrow struck warty hide; the Hag barely noticed the shaft.  Zlobniya used her Telekenetic ability to try and throw Blaylocke, Leiya, and Jolrael.  Leiya and the sorcerer resisted being plucked from their feet, but poor Blaylocke was thrown north into the shack that was the Hag’s favorite target.

The Hag then scuttled closer by twenty five feet, she snared Enkili in a Hold Person spell.  Blaylocke stood up and hurled three more Eldritch Blasts Zlobniya’s way; only the last bolt hit.  As she glared at the bard, Grynn found an opening to throw an upcast Guiding Bolt.  The spell splashed against the side of the Hags head (critical) and she was limned in holy light which made her temporarily easier to hit.  He then moved his Spiritual Weapon west, slowly bringing it into the new theater of conflict.

Her mocking grin growing again, Zlobniya moved her Death Sphere over Grynn and Enkili; she threw a wink at the fighter who was frozen in place.  That malicious twinkle in her eyes was short lived.  Jolrael made a Lightening Storm (Ice Storm varient) open up directly over the Hag.  The sorcerer tried to ride his Tempestuous Magic up and grab onto the shack’s roof.  Though he scrabbled against the wall mightily, Jolly sank back to the ground failing to catch the roof’s ledge.  Flying again, Zlobniya landed near Jolrael, Blaylocke, and Leiya who were all against the shack in the southern region of the fight.

Ignoring the Hag’s proximity, Leiya hit Enkili with a Healing Word, then turned another Sacred Flame on their foe, after that she placed herself between the bard and sorcerer.  Zlobniya had to use a Legendary Save to prevent herself from taking damage from the priestess' cantrip.  Grynn danced west to exit the Hag’s sphere, pulling his Spiritual Weapon after himself.  Even though she was still an easy target from his last use of the spell, Grynn had to use his Coin of Birthright in order to hit Zlobniya with another Guiding Bolt; she remained lit up and easy to hit.  A pinky finger twitched, then with a roar of effort, Enkili broke the grip of the Hold Person spell freezing him in the Death Sphere which was slowly draining his life force.

Zlobniya instantly hurled another spell onto the fighter.  Enkili vanished from his friends sight; he found himself in a dim twilight world populated with dead figures who did not seem to see him.  The Hag then turned on Grynn and hurled a Lightening Bolt on him, then followed that with a pulse from the Death Sphere.  The cleric staggered barely attenuated with life.  As further insult, Zlobniya then flew west.  Suffering the same desperation her friends felt, Leiya ran west for about ten feet.  She then cast Dawn over the Hag, holy light burning the giant witch.  Leiya then stepped back five feet so she could cover her two friends.  What had happened to Enkili?

Flying out of the light of the Dawn spell, Zlobniya landed near Grynn; her leering visaged bored in on the cleric with the promise of mayhem.  Plucking a silver arrow from his quiver, Blaylocke fired it in a shallow arch then cast Conjure Volley.  Still, the Hag was resistant to magic, and the shower of arrows was not as devastating as prior uses of the spell had been on other enemies.  Yet the bard did receive a glare absent of the taunting glee the Hag usually gave.  Was she tiring like the party was?

Dirty claws lashed out and Grynn staggered back, the priest refusing to fall from a blow that would have leveled stout Enkili (Relentless Endurance).  Trying to fly to the roof again, Jolrael cast another Lightening Storm on the Hag.  Zlobniya’s eyes no longer shone with manic glee, just the promise of death remained in those drab orbs.  Again the sorcerer failed to catch the roof’s edge.  Three bolts issued from Zlobniya’s hand as she cast Magic Missile.  One bolt was for Grynn, who did fall this time, while the other two arrow-ed into Jolrael.

This time Zlobniya tried to catch Jolrael, Blaylocke, and Leiya with her innate Telekenisis.  Only Jolly flew, flung into a nearby tool shed, or outhouse.  Enkili returned, blinking in incomprehension at the sudden change.  Struggling to his feet, the sorcerer found that his plans were almost awry, if not for his Tempestuous Magic he might not have been able to close with Zlobniya enough for the spell he chose.  Running then flying close to the Hag, he unleashed an altered Aganazaar’s Scorcher (an Aganazaar’s Zapper).  Though Grynn made his first Death Save, Zlobniya’s next despicable act put the cleric more firmly on Gurthen’s door.  She clawed his body then studied him for a few seconds, like a burgeoning psychopath watching the bugs he had de-limbed.

Certain the priest was about to expire in pain, the hag then flew a few yards to the north.  She then pulsed the Death Sphere and hurt Enkili.  Though still too far to close with the Hag for melee, she was now close enough for the fighter to enact a plan he had been considering from before being shunted into a pocket dimension.  He dropped his bow then sprinted out of the Death Sphere till he was standing over Grynn.  A flask of Holy Water appeared within the mouth of his Bag of Holding.  The vial flew true.  Enkili used his only Coin of Birthrights to ensure the flask hit the Hag’s head, a critical hit.

Shrieking in utmost pain, Zlobniyas skin burned and peeled away, her eyes popped and oozed, then her form toppled to the ground and writhed until her voice grew too hoarse to make the screams carry.  As she died the heroes all received a vision, even in death the Hag had one more wickedness to play.  She showed them the original contract with the villagers of Slovnoska.  They had bartered for eternal youth, not for protection.  All around the weary heroes the houses and building aged, boards shed paint as they grayed and warped.  Animals fell in their pens, withered, and turned to powder their bones bleached by centuries.

A glance into The Temple of the Gods revealed every Slovnoskan a mummified husk.  Healing spells restored Grynn from the brink, then bolstered his health.  As the bodies were gathered and moved to a central building, the party managed to acquire 3PP, 70GP, 5Ep, 130SP, and 180CP; as well as 3 Citrines, 2 Sardonyx, and 1 Moonstone.  Leiya led the funerary rites over her fellow Onostians before the building was set alight, their pyre burning long into the night….

*One hell of a series of fights!!!  All in all we were told to level up our characters, though the benefits of leveling up won’t take effect until we train.  Our next game will be August 9th sans Ghosttusk.  We were forewarned that Long John will be absent August 23rd.  My fellow adventurers, please remember to level up your characters this week to minimize the Papers and Paychecks aspect of the game.  See everyone next week!

**Addendum.  Ramsay Cowlishaw has just contacted us about a show he and his band have on the 9th.  Alas, we will be down 2

Episode 152 Gurthos 24th – Quenid 26th 1032 C.E. – 1033 C.E.

When several root cellars were discovered the plan for Slovnoska’s dead was changed from cremation to interment.  After resting in The Temple of the Gods for the night, bodies were hauled, rocks were heaped over the doors after, then last rites were administered.  Another night was spent in the ruined village.  On Gurthos 26th the group set out to return to Deros Kaden, arriving early morning on the 27th.  At Milosta’s temple Leiya made a thorough report, revealing the stain of Slovnoska’s deal with the Hag Zlobniya so long ago.  Priests warn us that many powers fair and foul seems to have become active around the same time the heroes had arrived in Onostia.

We find an invitation at the Harp and Vine for a dinner and meeting with the Knjazir scheduled a days hence.  Delving into the clutter they have been hauling for awhile they put together gifts for the Tyun and the Knjazir.  For Tyun Niko Leiya supplied two sardonyx gemstones.  The gift for Onostia’s most likely royal successor, Leiya produced a silver bejeweled chalice taken from the dragon’s hord, Enkili added an Alexandrite to that gift.  After those gifts were put aside Leiya and Blaylocke agreed to help Enkili research how to destroy Noshuul’s heartstone.  To facilitate this quest Understand Languages was cast on the non-Onostians.

After hours of perusing books a picture did come together.  They learned that any spell cast through the Heart, in its guise as a Ruby Weave Gem, would be corrupted in some form.  Which stood to reason as it was rife with the chaotic energies of the abyss.  Later they discovered that there were two ways to destroy Noshuul’s Heart.  At first it was unclear, but another hour of reading brought those means to light; and the crater where the Heart landed was key to both danger fraught ways to unravel this artifact.

Evidently the souls of the villagers eradicated when the meteor hit could be gathered into Noshuul’s Heart and that would denature the artifact and allow an adamantine hammer to crush it.  Yet it was not stated what would become of those souls if this means was used, and that struck everyone as wrong.  The journey after death was as important as the journey through life was, any interruption in that path was a vile act.  The second means also sounded corrupting in its way.
Noshuul’s vessel, made of exotic alloys, could also be key to the Heart’s destruction, yet it required that the Heart be united with the vessel.  This is supposed to prompt the promised reward from the demon, and would be a vile act.  This also made the empowered vessel subject to harm.  The vessel could be attacked and possibly destroyed if victory was achieved.  The nature of the vessel was not supplied, but Enkili envisioned a demonic being made of star metal, mithril, or even adamantium.  Failure to destroy Noshuul’s new form would leave the world open to the demon lord’s corrupting rampage.  Noshuul was supposed to kill with fire and light.

The party dressed for the dinner, and hoped that they would at least be introduced to the Knjazir Erbolg Maronovich.  As they neared the entrance to the kremlin, Leiya cast Tongues on everyone, Blaylocke pulled out his magic lyre and began to play a famous Onostian song.  He held the tune til they neared the anteroom.  Many heads were turned their way when a servant introduced them to the hall.  Being on unfamiliar ground prompted the habits of observation from our heroes, even when their gifts for the knjazir were collected from them.  One of the standout features of all the guests were that they were attractive.  Man, woman, young and old, they were all healthy and eye catching.

Conversation was sparse and hushed among the guests.  Just like the group, everyone spent their time observing all around them, yet it was unlikely that these people were on unfamiliar territory.  No one initiated contact with the foreigners in the room, nor did new conversations start.  Were all these people too cowed to even jockey for political position, or seek commonality of purpose with anyone?  Another servant announced that dinner was about to be served, and led the way to the hall.  The whole castle seemed one big ostentatious display, without gauche overproduction or clashing themes.

An army of servants ushered the nobles and notables to their seats, and the party found themselves seated together close to the head of the table.  Nearest the Knjazir was a beautiful young woman who sat on the nobles right side; a powerful placement given Erbolg’s station.  Later the heroes learned this woman was the Knjazir’s sister, Jelena Maronovich.  Erbolg Maronovich was a big man, built like a wrestler, with a dangerous air; bigger and taller than Enkili by several inches and muscular pounds.

The noble had a notable, possible, duelling scar on his chin; a few more scars could be found on the Knjazir’s hands.  Eveyone seated at the head table were introduce by title and name to Erbolg; Leiyas religious titles actually made the man shift in his chair and narrow his eyes a bit.  Even white haired, gray eyed Jelena Maranovich was introduced, the woman to the noblemans right.  The feast presented to one and all was sumptuous and came in many courses that could vie as art pieces rather than food items.

Through dining Erbolg would take a moment to address the some of the people seated at his table, even making an inquiry of the party.  Those the Knjazir ignored were also snubbed by the other guests henceforth.  Conversations were more abundant through the dining experience, but after the dishes were cleared, people actually stood and mingled.  A servant informed the party that they were to have an audience with Knjazir Erbolg Maronovich and are led to a nearby parlour.  After a few minutes Tyun Niko arrived and led the party to yet another well appointed and decorated room.  Niko bowed them into the parlour then departed.

Sculptures, paintings, tapestries, hunting trophies, and war trophies filled this vast room, and even the imposing figure of Deros Kaden’s leader seemed small near the fireplace.  With a gesture a servant appeared with a tray of filled goblets, Erbolg held the goblet they had gifted to him.  When offered, everyone but Enkili accepts a goblet.  The fighter feigned that his religion had an intolerance for alcoholic beverages and begged for tea instead.  After the servant left to fetch the tea, Jolrael used his Subtle Magic feature to cast Detect Magic.  Several items on the Knjazir’s person light up as do many weapons displayed through the room.  Jolrael dropped the spell after that initial reading.

The glance the sorcerer earned may have been a happenstance thing, or Erbolg knew and chose not to say anything.  Leiya opened up the bartering, offering to recompense the Onostian noble for the child, Miria.  Enkili had been studying the Knjazir with his soldier eye and realized that Erbolg would be harder to kill than he himself was, the man was also more experienced.  After hearing her pitch, Erbolg simply stated that what he wanted was the Heart of Noshuul.  Feigning ignorance, they asked questions about the artifact to sell their lie.  While discussing how the demon’s heart was imitating a potent but uncommon magic item (Ruby Weave Gem), the Knjazir also admitted that he wished to destroy the artifact.

This stated intention caused everyone to focus on the man, and try to read him.  Either Erbolg was the best liar in the world, or he was in ernest.  He even listed the same two ways to destroy Noshuul’s Heart they had learned earlier in the day.  Still the heroes refused to admit they had it, which helped make Erbolg confess that it may be in the hands of a criminal organization of wererats, who were working for a group of cultists dedicated to Noshuul; not to mention a coven or two of Hags who would love to get their claws on the artifact for unknown but chilling reasons.  However, the party did agree to search for it under the condition that they be allowed to join the group bent on destroying it.

Erbolg Maronovich countered by stating he wished them to do the deed themselves, showing disdain for their goody twoshoe meddling while waiting for them to take the onous onto themselves.  This seemed like the best and obvious way to have Miria returned to them, though they would not be allowed to see the girl until the deed was done.  They would also be given an adamantine hammer once the Heart was found.  After making the agreement they were ushered out of the kremlin to begin planning.  With most of the party wanting to train up, a plan was advanced that would see the party use Word of Recall to return to The Freehold.  All they would need is for one of their priests to set a return to Deros Kaden by the same means after their training and research.  This ruse was hoped to confuse the other seekers of the demon’s Heart, while granting the heroes the 60 days time they felt they needed….

*That is roughly how it went down this game.  Fortunately Ramsay Cowlishaw was able to join us for the later half of the game.  We will have Ghosttusk next week, and it will be his character who determines whether our plan will proceed or not.  His character has a Word of Recall set for Anstarre, while Xura’s character has her Word of Recall set for the party’s bastion in The Freehold.  Our next game will be August 16th; Long John is still set to miss our game on August 23rd.  Reminder, updating Fantasy Grounds creates dropped extensions.  Have to warn the DM about this so he’s not caught again….

**Omissions and missing details are a hazard of keeping this synopsis.  Fortunately the whole gaming group know that they can point out these flaws.  Today's eagle eyed editor is Xura, who discovered so many lapses that it would take me another two days to rewrite this missive.  To show how lazy of a writer I am, I will just list those details here, so I can get back to rewatching the 90's historical fiction show Sharpe (with Sean Bean) .
1) We (as a party) asked if we could see Miria while we were negotiating with Knjazir Erbolg.  Out of the nobles sense of sadism chose to deny us that pleasure, but when asked to send a message, the man agreed.  So Leiya conveyed to Miria that we were near and sent our love. 
2) She also told the baron/count/duke/knjazir that we had tried to contact Miria with magic, but had been thwarted in that endeavor.
3) (This bit of information completely eluded my notes) Erbolg had given us a map to Deros Delnoc, the location where the artifact, Noshuul's Heart, fell as a comet.
4)We had made the Kjnazir promise to return Miria sound in mind, body, and soul.  Let's see how that goes.
5)When being escorted out of the castle/kremlin, Tyun Niko had inquired about how our visit with his boss had gone.  The man had looked troubled, disturbed, or wistful at that news, though we know not why as he refused to answer when questioned.
***Those 5 items are important details that would surely have come back to haunt my writings.  Writing these missing clues and details are so hard to drop in a few episodes down the line, and make it seem justified.

Episode 153 Gurthos 24th – Quenid 26th 1032 C.E. – 1033 C.E.

*This is a short episode as we got caught in papers and paychecks mode.  We may have leveled up our characters, but training took two whole game months.  We had to issue orders to our bastion facilities for 10-11 weeks of work, and that took up the bulk of our game. 

Though willing to adjust his Word of Recall to somewhere in Onostia, specifically in Deros Kaden.  Though there were temples dedicated to big sister Melwen/Milosta, there were no temples dedicated to the goddess of love, Melana; not even with an Onostian name.  He was unable to set up the magic, but Leiya was.  She sought and gained permission from the Restorate leader Caslav (head priest of Milosta’s temple), and re-tuned her Word of Recall. 

Blaylocke spent the last night in Deros Kaden doing a lackluster performance in the Harp and Vine Inn.  The next morning they used Grynn’s Word of Recall to get to Anstarre.  Instead of hiring horses or taking a wagon, the heroes chose to go by boat, barge, and ship to get to The Freehold.  Once home Blaylocke learned that destroying the evil Cubic Gate he had set his facilities researching before leaving for Onostia.  The process would be tricky, maybe more tricky than destroying Noshuul’s Heart, but it required several more weeks of research to uncover the whole process.

1) “Travel to the Edge of Eternity, then cast the Cubic Gate into the Far Realm.”
2) “The order of the sun and moon is clockwise.  Sunwise starting with Rhial across the light planes to Sciath.”
3) “Moon wise from Lhirianoht through the dark planes back to Rhial.”

Blaylocke set his researches on Noshuul’s Heart, the dead souls that could help destroy the Heart, and then the vessel the Heart was supposed to be placed in.  (Those clues will be forthcoming.)  He also had his smithy continue producing weapons and armor for sale, bringing in quit a nice profit for the two months of training.

Enkili’s stables also raked in the money with 4 batches of horses trained and then sold.  The fighter also had his training area expert changed to a Battle Expert.  His pub’s spies were sent out to find people of interest.  The Freehold must have been napping because no one drew notice in ten weeks. 

Jolrael’s facilities started pumping out magic items.  The first four weeks saw four Stones of Sending produced and handed out to Jolly, Blaylocke, Grynn, and Enkili.  A Robe of Useful Item’s was then started, then a  Lantern of Revealing, which was given to Leiya.  The project his facilities were working on at the end of training was a Saddle of the Cavalier.  His gardens pumped out Healing Potions, paper, and several (5) Cap of Water Breathing.

Leiya’s facilities make 2 Kheogtom’s Ointment.  Another week of producing iron rations brings 1900 weeks of food (for 1 person).  50 healer’s kits are placed in storage, the excess food and healer’s kits are supposed to go to the poor or Melwen’s church.  5 Potions of Healing and 10 Potions of Greater Healing are made as well.  She then has another Periapt of Wound Closure made, then 3 Rings of Water Walking which were handed out to her friends.  Ten more Holy Symbols were also created and distributed to the church.

Grynn has ten Potions of Healing made, a scroll of Mass Healing Word, and he attempted several Sanctum Charm attempts.  One attempt a week produced only 3 charms; a Charm of Vitality for Enkili, and 2 Charms of Heroism for Leiya and Blaylocke.  Grynn also granted himself a Healing Word Charm; giving him 7 days to use the charm before the magic fades.

*Long John and Ghosttusk will both be gone August 23rd.  Ramsay Cowlishaw has also let us know that he will not be around for our August 30th game.
**With all the data we had to move today, not every wish had been addressed.  I am going to start a thread where everyone can state what else their characters want to do.  That thread will be another addendum to this synopsis.
*** Level 15 Extras in Erath Miscellany is where the players can list all the things we never got to today.

Episode 154 Quenid 26th – Melnid 5th 1033 C.E.

*That Frenzied67 ruined our chances to game on August 26th, he was one too many cancellations for us to have a game. But enough of putting myself down, let us get to the highlights of our August 30th adventures.

Riardon’s old Solare underworld contact, Sess, finally sent a note, though he still avoided direct contact. The utility of the man’s writing made it seem like Sess was demanding to know where Riardon was, but Enkili’s first drafts were also utilitarian, needing many revisions before they lost terseness. The fighter sent word through his spy network telling Sess of their last contact with their old rogue friend Riardon. Enkili sent letters to his Uncle Mardus and his boyfriend (the two men who had raised the fighter), then another letter to his hard ass grandfather, the High Harbhamit; this was near the beginning of their training cycle.

Not their bastion library, nor any bibliotheca they visited in The Freehold held any information about Noshuul, his heart, nor methods of his destruction. They would have to wait until Blaylockes people come through, when they were done with the research they were in the middle of. Near the end of the two month training, a letter arrived from General Mardus of Al’Madii. The man who had used a djinni to rescue little Enkili was working on clearing the false accusations from the now grown fighter’s name. Yet the silence from the High Harbhamit was deafening. The old man had been party to falsifying the charges that had allowed Enkili to leave the Jewel of the Whispering Wastes.

Jolrael also received a letter from a Gerald Templeton. The note was an invitation for the sorcerer to team up with Gerald and “other” spell casters and help found another Mage Guild chantry. Something about the phrasing in the note was off, it was too open with mention of magic perhaps, or failed to hail Jolrael correctly. Though he intended to ignore the letter, Jolly did want to try contacting the Pilgrim’s Rest; to both find out if they were okay, and to warn them of the offer he had received. They tried Sending, but there was no answer, which spurred the party to actually visit in person.

A week cross country brought the party back through Elvold to The Pilgrim’s Rest. There they found the Mage Guild safe house freshly warded and thriving. The government scrutiny brought about during their last visit, a quickly forgotten footnote in the ranch’s history. The caretakers were well and thriving, as were the handful of visitors. Two visiting druids had come to help set up the wards and blessings in the woods that helped prevent strangers from locating Pilgrim’s Rest through happenstance. They were Daesana and Baildron, two people who may have been helping to restore the Sedar Circle of druids.

In an odd coincidence there were several low level wizards there as well, also casting warding spells on the Pilgrim’s Rest. One of them was Gerald Templeton, the person behind Jolrael’s hinky letter. Gerald was just as confused as the sorcerer, he claimed he never wrote the team up request. The wizard was with two friends, Hestia Lecolm and Eloise Warrington, and they had been warding the sanctuary. After learning of the letter the three spell casters agreed to go their separate ways away from Pilgrim’s Rest; most of them vowing to depart Sedaria. Daesana and Baildron became excited upon learning who the party was.

News of who had slain Nahsheera had passed from druid circle to druid circle. Evidently a conclave or two had named the party “Druis-Friend” (not a misspelling), an old, old bestowal upon those who have distinguished themselves to the nature lovers.

On the morning of Melwid 5th the party used a Word of Recall to return to the Temple of Melosta (Melwen) in Deros Kaden, Onostia. The party discovered that their rooms had been reserved for them at the Harp and Vine. The proprietor was unchanged, both proud to be hosting the strange foreigners, and terrified of the people in power they met with. While unpacking in their rooms, the innkeeper knocked on their door. He told them there was a man named Silas Gimble who wished to see them.

Silas turned out to not be a native of Onostia, and since Grigori the Innkeeper had not liked the visitor’s looks, the party was on their guard. Enkili frisked the guy exposing a small utility knife, the fighter let the man keep his weapon after showing his friends the blade. As Enkili was patting Silas down, Jolrael used Subtle Magic to cast Detect Magic. Silas has a few magic aura’s, but the dagger was not enchanted. The way Silas looked to the Sorcerer as this was being done implied that despite Jolrael’s efforts at subterfuge he had been detected; the visitor also narrowed his eyes at Blaylocke.

The Bard was using Telepathy to point out a spiraling tentacle symbol that had been on the knife, contacting his friends one by one. The man claimed to be representing a person calling themselves Lord Korvath. Before the man concluded his introduction Jolrael demanded that Silas drop his Glamour. The man was only nonplussed for a second, he recovered quickly and dropped the spell concealing his true nature. He was still a man with the same visage, however Silas’s skin was gray and course yet still living, his wrinkles deeper and more numerous.

He seemed a being who had been the recipient of many foul sorceries. He “knew” the party had Noshuul’s heart and said that Lord Korvath would pay them well, even intimating that they could have their own kingdoms if they sold the demon heart to his master. Enkili demanded half the kingdoms as a down payment right then and there, which were not manifested. They were asked to think about the offer, then were told that they could find answers to Shol’s Hollow (the crater where the Heart had fallen to earth) at the Krug Mertvogo Duba.

No sooner had Silas left empty handed, than Grigori was back, scared as hell. They had another visitor, a woman claiming the name Baba. A twisted old woman with an equally twisted walking stick made her way up the stair, in her hood her eyes shone like those of a wolf if that wolf were also undead. Clear evidence of a Hag. Though she pulled up a seat and agreed to tea, the being did not allow the tea to be poured. She told the party that she wanted them to destroy Noshuul’s heart, then leave Onostia. Baba Yaga soon realized that this had been the party’s intention all along.

This was the riddle she left the party before departing: A prophecy for each, a loved one is dead. The Vast awaits hungry with a terrible choice. Kin will lie in wait with murder in their eyes. A tragedy waits to be written and will bring further tragedy to many lands. After the Queen of Hags left the inn felt cleaner, but it was not long before poor Grigory climbed the stairs to announce yet another visitor.

The woman who came up the steps was a breath of fresh air both literally and figuratively. The scent of rain on fresh greenery wafted before the lovely figure of the woman, her delight at seeing them evident in her eyes. Lady Aora (Oh-Ruh) did accept the invitation to drink tea with the party. She also claimed to be a druid of the First Circle of Blue Lake (a druid grove); she also referred to the heroes as Druis Friend. She had been on their trail for many months, setting out soon after Nahsheera’s (the green dragon) death.

A dark druid called Morvath Nurll has become a peril to the Blue Lake circle, and maybe other groves. This Morvath had 3 of 5 parts of an artifact that could be used to destroy the Golden Oaks of Shandeer. Morvath is planning to seek another part of the weapon by going through The Vast. Lady Aora said that Wizard Peak begets worlds, The Vast consumes them. She offers the party a Teleportation Stone that will take them to Druid Isle. Everyone in the party had looked to Jolrael, letting the sorcerer know that they would follow him to The Vast; he felt beholden to the druids who had taken him in in his youth….

*These heroes have achieved quite the reputation it seems. Eyes fell and fair look their way. Our next game is scheduled September 6th. Not sure if Ghosttusk is supposed to join us or not, hope he does as we need to figure out our next move. Is this Krug Mertvogo Duba a safe source of the information we need, or just a convenient ambush site for Lord Korvath? Do we just head to Shol’s Hollow and make our choice of scooping up souls or placing the heart in the “vessel”?