Location: Mount Lavanor

Date: Summer, 1333 Avard

Characters: Este, Halite, Nalani, Galadriel, Isaac, Xydeco

The team let the undead knight Rex and his small army file out of Mount Lavanor, preventing further deaths in exchange for mutual information to capture the Traitor. Halite and Nalani went to talk with the higher powers in the temples, and both had good learned how the protection wards had failed – undead insects took the brunt of the attack, triggering the wards and letting the bigger undead enemies through. Nalani and Halite offered suggestions and insights into strengthening the wards, and then Estella Battleheart's enchanted hammer Fireheart was directed to accompany Halite. Halite's first task was to find the Traitor, and his second task was to destroy the undead knight. If both could be accomplished at once, then so be it. Este, meanwhile, left to find Ed'year'd – and Ed'year'd returned later without Este. The dragonet willingly told the dwarf the location of the Traitor: Hammer Isle. The team rested up, waiting for Este while Onwynn searched for him. The raven familiar found the Baron of Gray Lakes, only to see him bludgeoned and kidnapped in front of the bird. Onwynn reported that it was Este that kidnapped himself. Using a ring of Estella Battleheart's, they invoked a ritual that took half a mark to prepare. The ring would lead Xydeco to Este, while the rest of the team went to meet with the undead knight Rex – who might be Doom Rex, Guildmaster of the Marksmen Mercenaries, according to the Bishop. Thinking to have some backup from the roc hawkes, the team makes their way to the aviary set up for the orcish flying beasts. Two roc-hawkes – a juvenile and an adult – were on the aviary platform. They had their heads under their wings for the night, though each had a pair of orc rangers nearby to tend to them. There were other figures on the aviary platform as well. A tall human with dark hair and pale skin and jewelry about his neck and fingers approached the team. His deep voice informed them that Rex wanted the dragonet. The team went back and forth for a bit, refusing to go with Rex. The tall, pale fellow indicated otherwise; there was a shimmering in the air above the team, and a heavy woven net dropped on the team. Galadriel let loose a blast of multiarcing witch bolts that burned through the net near her. She dropped free, showing the others the way out of the net. The tall fellow pulled a crossbow from his robes and fired it up into the air, and as the shimmering, flying ship leapt up into the sky, he left with it – and with the information that the Traitor was on Hammer Isle. Xydeco burst out onto the platform, tracking Este. In the chaos of the fight, even as the roc hawkes had been roused by Halite to join with the team, one of the orcish ranger crews had been slain – seemingly by Este. The larger roc hawke took flight into the night in the opposite direction from the flying ship, the Baron of Gray Lakes securely strapped to it.

Date: THU02MAR2016

DM's Notes: Splitting the party is usually something that an evil game master has to work hard to make happen. This party seems to work hard at not staying together. The party also had to deal with the brutal cold, taking disadvantage on all rolls. Too bad the undead aren't affected by the cold.

Reference: Campaign IX
Previous: IX-11-17
Next: IX-11-19

No comment.

Date: 28 Davor

The crowd is in shock. They're a powderkeg ready to turn on Este. There are a LOT of questions that need to be answered. Halite picks up the paladin's hammer. The big undead guy isn't fitting into any of the known norms of what Nalani is familiar with as a necromancer - which she still has not disclosed to the party. Este has disappeared; he's gone after Edyeard. The big guy - Rex - is taken into custody (or goes with the guard). Nalani and Halite go confer wit the dwarf cleric supervisors; Xydeco goes back to his room; Isaac stays in the tavern to help get the crowd under control. The tomanths aren't with Este. The clerics, monks and priests are re-setting the wards; we need to know why. They were already tripped when the undead came through (they weren't immune). Nalani realizes just how many wards are in place (and types); resolves to keep her particular profession and practice a secret.

A horde of undead insects/shells came in before the undead soldiers to trip the wards, which are designed to detect mass, intellect, etc. Halite suggests an additional type of alarm to alert that the wards have been tripped, and Nalani has some suggestions for improvements as well. All of the warriors who fought in this battle are healed and ready to fight if necessary. The Bishop recognizes the paladin's hammer and asks about her. Halite explains what happened and is granted authorization of use the hammer (Fire Heart); are also told to find her ring to locate Este. Bishop gives Halite a clay token with Galgiran on one side and the Bishop on the other with instructions to break it if they need help - the 'Eye of Galgiran' will open and they will come.

Halite and Nalani go back to the tavern to look for the paladin's ring. It's gone; the party reconvenes in our room and relate their sides of the story. Isaac recounts the death toll; 50 people killed in this attack. We rest; Xydeco gives up the ring of tracking he took off the paladin's body and Nalani studies her spell book and journal; the phrase from her dream continues to haunt her withough translation or resolution, 'elbis rever era slleps lla'. The party, save Nalani, sleeps. Edyeard returns; Este is still out looking for him. Edyeard communicates with Nalani and tells her that he outran the undead; he hoped Este was in the room; and asks for a treat which Nalani provides. Nalani talks more with Edyeard, and finds out that the Traitor is on Hammer Isle, per Edyeard. Then she sends Onwynn to scout for Este with a message in the scroll case. When Onwynn returns, he's projecting 'alarm' and sends Nalani a confusing message. 'Este' has kidnapped 'Este'. Nalani rouses the party and we decide to bring Edyeard to talk to the Bishop. We tell him what we know, and are told that there was once a mercenary group known as The Marksmen & Doom Rex - an ogre title; our big guy is apparently this Rex. We drop Edyeard off at the room with Xydeco, and Isaac, Nalani, Halite & Galadriel go to talk with Rex.

We go to the roost; where the rock-hawks nest (tended by orcs; main doors of the caves). We are alone save for 2 sleeping hawks and their tending orcs. The temperature has dropped dramatically; it is bone-chillingly cold. It's the beginning of Freeze - 2 days of dark begin tonight. Everyone, including Onwynn, is affected by the dark. He reports seeing something impossible - a sailing ship in mid-air…aaaannnd we're kidnapped.

Onwynn is right; somehow, a large pirate-looking sailing ship is flying. A fair-skinned, human man with dark, long hair wearing with lots of rings and jewelry greets us from the ship, and after a tense negotiation, tells us that we must go with them & Rex to Hammer Island. We decline, and are trapped when they drop a net down on us & start hauling us up. Galadriel blasts a hole in it with a lightning bolt. Nalani hits the ground and lands on her feet and manages to fire a crossbow bolt, but misses the guy she was aiming at. Galadriel, Isaac and Halite fall out of the net and suffer fall damage.

*end of game*

No comment.

No comment.

No comment.

No comment.

None to date.