After committing to the hidden passageway, the party headed down the natural bedrock corridor. Thorm estimated that they dipped roughly 20' lower into the earth. Fifty feet into the cavern, a ten foot natural bedrock hole blocked the path. Unclear what led to the collapse, the party leaped over the hole then used rope to lower Edhas down the hole. Twenty feet into the hole, it opened into a lower chamber with a forty-fifty foot drop to a rushing water. To the south, a ledge ran along the shore of the river. They pulled her back up the hole then proceeded further down the corridor. Near some rubble fallen from above, they found a dead dwarven body, several years removed from death. They bundled the bones and buried him beneath the rubble for a proper burial. He was adorned with armor that Dora recognized as part of the Glintshield Clan. Further down the corridor, the party found a complete drop down to the ledge that Edhas could see.
They decided to use rope to anchor the party as they made their way down the wall. Edhas led the way followed by Sir Loin. As Sir Loin reached roughly ten feet from the corridor, a giant creature scurried across the wall and cut the rope, dropping Sir Loin and Edhas forty feet to the rocky ledge below. Wyndham leaped from the corridor and used his feather fall ring to safely land below. Meanwhile the creature, a hook horror isolated Thorm and Dora above. From below, three grimlocks emerged from hiding and attacked the fallen characters. The hook horror lashed at Thorm, tossing him out the ledge and isolating Dora even further. Although she turned invisible, the creature used its echolocation to "see" Dora, grabbing her with both claws and tossing her across the chasm to the far wall, from where she fell the full distance to the ledge below, crushing her limbs and insides.
Once all the party was on the ledge below, the hook horror joined the grimlocks in attacking the party. While both Edhas and Sir Loin collapsed in combat, Thorm was able to Lay on Hands and revive each of them while cutting down the Hook Horror. Meanwhile, as the party increasingly was beaten down by the the grimlocks, their beserking attacks pushed them to the limits. As Thorm killed the first grimlock, Sir Loin destroyed the second followed by Wyndham's final lightening strike to drop the last of them.
A quick check of Dora revealed not only her broken remains, which Sir Loin committed to burying properly, but also a substantial amount of hidden treasures, which the party distributed, while diviing up her magic items. Further down the ledge, the party observed that the ledge ended with a small cave mouth on the north wall. Further up river, it seemed the river reached a waterfall about twenty feet further. Additionally a large pile of debris and rock seems to have caved in from above. The debris reaches all the way up the forty feet to a spot on the cavern roof that now seems blocked.
Unsure of their next step, the party decided that rest was sorely needed but wasn't sure if the ledge would provide them with the security they would need to get that rest. With no other immediate option, and no way back up to the hole above, this ledge provided them with their only option for now.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Pursuing the Children
Determined to get to the bottom of the kidnapped drow children, Edhas led the party out of Winterhaven north back towards the Abbey. Several miles south of the mountain, Edhas caught sight of the prints nearby where they encountered the party of Orcs and Drow. They followed the prints several miles until the reached the site of what appeared to be a battle - blood stains, scattered dirt, light armor pieces, arrows. Here the prints were mixed with other bipeds as well as some sort of creature prints that they suspected were large spider legs. They followed these prints several miles to the southeast until the prints turned south towards the mountains. At the base of the mountains, the prints went into a cave mouth.
Traveling deep into the cave opening, Wyndham and Edhas scouted ahead and located a moveable wall to the west. As soon as the wall opened inward, several undead creatures from the north and south end of the cave surrounded the two heroes while the rest of the party was forced to rush down the cave to assist Edhas and Wyndham. While battling the hungering dead, Dora blasted away at the abyssal wights and ghouls until she dropped almost all of them. Confident that the danger was passed, they settled in to decide whether to move further into the cave or through the hidden passageway.
Traveling deep into the cave opening, Wyndham and Edhas scouted ahead and located a moveable wall to the west. As soon as the wall opened inward, several undead creatures from the north and south end of the cave surrounded the two heroes while the rest of the party was forced to rush down the cave to assist Edhas and Wyndham. While battling the hungering dead, Dora blasted away at the abyssal wights and ghouls until she dropped almost all of them. Confident that the danger was passed, they settled in to decide whether to move further into the cave or through the hidden passageway.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Leads everywhere
While quickly securing Pedraig's keep, Sir Loin uncovered a jeweled crown with magical properties in a wardrobe. It was quickly clear that at least one house servant fled through (if you read) the kitchen to escape. Realizing time was not on their side, they slapped Pedraig awake to question him.
Although he was at first resistant to questioning, but eventually under threat of torture revealed that he was seeking to purge the Abbey of evil for his own ends. He had made an arrangement with House Dis of Menzoberranzan to use the Abbey as a staging point for a (this whole blog entry) Drow invasion of the surface world. He sought the Deck and its power to sell to a collector of artifacts in the City of Silver, Sarathel. The contact person was a collector named Xanlannan Waveharp. He insisted that the other adventurers were here working for someone else, and was also seeking the Deck. Pedraig was managing an alliance with them to acquire the Deck but he planned to double cross them. It was during this negotiation that the party interrupted them. Pedraig also indicated that his informants told him about several groups of children being escorted to the Southwest over the past (text me the word)several months but insisted he had nothing to do with it. After learning the information, Edhas ran her sword through Pedraig's chest.
Fleeing out the back door, a group of guards gathered in front of Pedraig's manor. When confronted the guards told the party that Pedraig was in danger and perhaps dead. The party left the scene before being recognized and went instead to Valthrun the Prescient. He greeted them and invited them inside. He returned the Winterbore Codex to them informing them that it details the way to enter the Carceri Plane. The group needs to locate a tome of unspeakable evil, known as the (infinity) Book of Vile Darkness. They also need to locate a portal and the Codex speaks of a thickening agent to assist them in the travel. He hinted that perhaps more information on the agent was contained in the Book of Vile Darkness. He also indicated that he feared that there may be no way back. When learning about Pedraig, he was saddened but indicated he had been behaving strangely recently.
They sneaked into his bedroom at night, located a small diary and learned that he wanted to keep the Codex to keep it safe. He is worried about the preponderance of dangerous beings trapped in Carceri, most notably Magroth the Mad, the last emperor of (and add) Nerath. He also thought that perhaps Therizdun was more than a keeper of the jail but perhaps a prisoner himself.
They returned the next morning, shared a breakfast with Valthrun, returned the Codex to him for safekeeping. They asked him if he had ever heard of Kaius Danitus. He checked his records and it seems that Danitus had corresponded with Pedraig a few years back about something rather official. He mentioned that the information was provided to him by a villager named Wilros.
They party located Wilros, now farming on the outskirts of town. He told them that he used to be a courier of sorts for Valthrun and intercepted and spied on most people in the village. He got out of the business officially after he intercepted a series of small packages being delivered to Pedraig a couple of years past. The messenger was a Summer Islander (two consumables of 10th level or lower) but the packages were being delivered from the Isle of Morgantis in the Arath Sea. He was forced to kill the messenger but the small box he carried contained a small piece of stone - it appeared to be a piece from a miniature statue of a Dragon. After he killed the messenger, no other deliveries of the sort were brought to Pedraig, but either way, Wilros stopped working for Vlathrun but received payment in the form of a love elixer that he used on his now wife.
When returning to learn more from Valthrun, they discovered that the Council of Deputies were planning to recruit a cleric from Fellstar to perform a Speak with (to your sheet) Dead ritual on the body of Pedraig. Rather than linger in the town, the party pleaded with Valthrun for any further help and then left Winterhaven.
Although he was at first resistant to questioning, but eventually under threat of torture revealed that he was seeking to purge the Abbey of evil for his own ends. He had made an arrangement with House Dis of Menzoberranzan to use the Abbey as a staging point for a (this whole blog entry) Drow invasion of the surface world. He sought the Deck and its power to sell to a collector of artifacts in the City of Silver, Sarathel. The contact person was a collector named Xanlannan Waveharp. He insisted that the other adventurers were here working for someone else, and was also seeking the Deck. Pedraig was managing an alliance with them to acquire the Deck but he planned to double cross them. It was during this negotiation that the party interrupted them. Pedraig also indicated that his informants told him about several groups of children being escorted to the Southwest over the past (text me the word)several months but insisted he had nothing to do with it. After learning the information, Edhas ran her sword through Pedraig's chest.
Fleeing out the back door, a group of guards gathered in front of Pedraig's manor. When confronted the guards told the party that Pedraig was in danger and perhaps dead. The party left the scene before being recognized and went instead to Valthrun the Prescient. He greeted them and invited them inside. He returned the Winterbore Codex to them informing them that it details the way to enter the Carceri Plane. The group needs to locate a tome of unspeakable evil, known as the (infinity) Book of Vile Darkness. They also need to locate a portal and the Codex speaks of a thickening agent to assist them in the travel. He hinted that perhaps more information on the agent was contained in the Book of Vile Darkness. He also indicated that he feared that there may be no way back. When learning about Pedraig, he was saddened but indicated he had been behaving strangely recently.
They sneaked into his bedroom at night, located a small diary and learned that he wanted to keep the Codex to keep it safe. He is worried about the preponderance of dangerous beings trapped in Carceri, most notably Magroth the Mad, the last emperor of (and add) Nerath. He also thought that perhaps Therizdun was more than a keeper of the jail but perhaps a prisoner himself.
They returned the next morning, shared a breakfast with Valthrun, returned the Codex to him for safekeeping. They asked him if he had ever heard of Kaius Danitus. He checked his records and it seems that Danitus had corresponded with Pedraig a few years back about something rather official. He mentioned that the information was provided to him by a villager named Wilros.
They party located Wilros, now farming on the outskirts of town. He told them that he used to be a courier of sorts for Valthrun and intercepted and spied on most people in the village. He got out of the business officially after he intercepted a series of small packages being delivered to Pedraig a couple of years past. The messenger was a Summer Islander (two consumables of 10th level or lower) but the packages were being delivered from the Isle of Morgantis in the Arath Sea. He was forced to kill the messenger but the small box he carried contained a small piece of stone - it appeared to be a piece from a miniature statue of a Dragon. After he killed the messenger, no other deliveries of the sort were brought to Pedraig, but either way, Wilros stopped working for Vlathrun but received payment in the form of a love elixer that he used on his now wife.
When returning to learn more from Valthrun, they discovered that the Council of Deputies were planning to recruit a cleric from Fellstar to perform a Speak with (to your sheet) Dead ritual on the body of Pedraig. Rather than linger in the town, the party pleaded with Valthrun for any further help and then left Winterhaven.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Pedraig is not who you think he is
After killing the Orc chief, Bagrosh, the party thought it would be wise to revisit the Eladrin, Berrian and his sister, before returning to Winterhaven. While exiting the keep, they could see further up the village, several dozen orcs bring brought to attention and gathered into ranks - perhaps an invading force. Wisely, the group, feeling overmatched, scattered back through the Feywild to warn the Eladrin at the watchtower. Not long into their trek, Edhas and the others heard the tell tale sound of movement ahead of them, cutting through the forest. Edhas circled around quietly and quickly to avoid being seen. She observed a pair of Hill Giants, Ogres and a half dozen Orcs, all marching in the same direction as them. Fearing the group was a tactical first strike, they lunged ahead to meet the creatures as they emerged from the clearing to attack the watchtower.
While striking from the treeline, the party harried the creatures, while the Eladrin in the tower rained arrows down on the enemies. After a time, the party was able to destroy the creatures, forcing the withdrawal of the larger invading army. Confident that the Feywild and the Abbey were now safe, Berrian and Analastra resolved to return to their plane, with the knowledge of their father's sacrifice. Before leaving, Berrian assured the group of his thanks and handed over control of a card from the deck!
While returning to Winterhaven, the party observed Glue wandering along the road, and they followed the horse to the decrepit and deceased body of Sir Oakley, now aged well beyond reason. Unempathetically, the group moved on, adopting Glue and didn't bury or consecrate the body of Oakley. So much for loyalty.
After reaching Winterhaven, they decided to report back to Lord Pedraig about the tower and the hallowing of the Abbey. When they entered his keep, they found him conversing with the other party of adventurers, Pedraig turned to them and said, "Thank you for securing the missing cards from the Deck, now I must insist on you handing them over." When the party refused, Pedraig and the five antiheroes assaulted the party. While cutting their way through the adventurers, the party focused their attacks on Pedraig, until he was taken unconscious. They quickly realized he was secretly collecting the cards - since he had in his possession the six remaining cards.
While striking from the treeline, the party harried the creatures, while the Eladrin in the tower rained arrows down on the enemies. After a time, the party was able to destroy the creatures, forcing the withdrawal of the larger invading army. Confident that the Feywild and the Abbey were now safe, Berrian and Analastra resolved to return to their plane, with the knowledge of their father's sacrifice. Before leaving, Berrian assured the group of his thanks and handed over control of a card from the deck!
While returning to Winterhaven, the party observed Glue wandering along the road, and they followed the horse to the decrepit and deceased body of Sir Oakley, now aged well beyond reason. Unempathetically, the group moved on, adopting Glue and didn't bury or consecrate the body of Oakley. So much for loyalty.
After reaching Winterhaven, they decided to report back to Lord Pedraig about the tower and the hallowing of the Abbey. When they entered his keep, they found him conversing with the other party of adventurers, Pedraig turned to them and said, "Thank you for securing the missing cards from the Deck, now I must insist on you handing them over." When the party refused, Pedraig and the five antiheroes assaulted the party. While cutting their way through the adventurers, the party focused their attacks on Pedraig, until he was taken unconscious. They quickly realized he was secretly collecting the cards - since he had in his possession the six remaining cards.
Monday, May 7, 2012
After the Dragon
After gathering up the loot from the dragon's lair, and venturing back to the surface, the party decided to do something about the mysterious liquid in the catacombs. After assisting Sir Oakley in the purification ritual, they used the Chalice of the Dragon and the Bowl of Io's Blood to contain the red liquid and traveled back to the plateau.
They decided to take the winch elevator down to the top level of Gardmore Village and retraced their steps along the path to the abandoned wizard's tower, from which they acquired the Winterbore Codex. Several orc bands were amassed about the village but their disguises and bluffs allowed them to proceed all the way to the Orc Chieftain's keep. Bluffing their after you read this way past the Ettin guard, the group faced off against the Chief, Bagrosh as well as several of his Ogre and orc cousins. Defeating the text me "Thrones" and add two potions of healing to your sheet chief released three more cards in his possession.
Having secured the keep by killing Bagrosh, the party could easily reinforce the watch tower in the south end of the Feywild or return to Winterhaven and follow up on one of the several leads.
They decided to take the winch elevator down to the top level of Gardmore Village and retraced their steps along the path to the abandoned wizard's tower, from which they acquired the Winterbore Codex. Several orc bands were amassed about the village but their disguises and bluffs allowed them to proceed all the way to the Orc Chieftain's keep. Bluffing their after you read this way past the Ettin guard, the group faced off against the Chief, Bagrosh as well as several of his Ogre and orc cousins. Defeating the text me "Thrones" and add two potions of healing to your sheet chief released three more cards in his possession.
Having secured the keep by killing Bagrosh, the party could easily reinforce the watch tower in the south end of the Feywild or return to Winterhaven and follow up on one of the several leads.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Story So Far - with leads at the end
Since the campaign has taken us almost into the Paragon tier, I thought it would be good to give a paragraph or two recap of the whole thing with all the leads/plot threads at the end to think about for our next few sessions.
Beginning in Stonehallow, you were sent to Kol Fen by Kor Yeznia to acquire several bodies for a ritual - here you faced undead and uncovered the first piece of the Staff of Chaos - an ornamental skull. Additionally, their exploration located a large meteor like object that emanated negative energy when near the skull. Directed to Fellstar the Temple of Pelor - Uthor informed them of the Staff and that the other pieces were last known in the possession of Urgog the Mighty in the Goblin Hole. After destroying the goblins, they acquired a staff piece and a letter that referenced to bring the Staff of Akmun Sur to Vestapalk. Returned to Uthor - told them perhaps the last piece could be found in the writings of Rogvir Glimmershield. Traveled to Timbervale then into the Stonefang Pass to locate the writings - fought orc tribes. Writings indicated last piece buried with Lord Evard the Black. Headed back to Uthor in Fellstar - stopped some slavers taking captives to the Borderkeep. While at Uthor's a letter from Kor Yeznia sent them to Hampstead. Covered in bone dust and under a curse - located Temple of St. Lucian - arcane portal in hidden shrine to Carceri. At Darien's farmhouse, found a ghoul franticly writing "Asmodeus Walks" - Kor Yeznia turned ghoul - letter indicting Kaius Danitus - councilman of Stonehallow - as evil. Also a map with several locations (Stonehallow, Sarthel and Banethal) with a circle connecting all of them with the word "Iron" written near the circle. Letter also referenced bringing a Balance card to Valthrun the Prescient at Winterhaven.
Traveled to Winterhaven - Valthrun sent them to Lord Padraig - quest to investigate the abbey - fought the orcs, found the Eladrin, located Berrian's sister and their father's fate. Located cards from the Deck. Learned about the fall of the Abbey. Located Winterbore Codex - brought to Valthrun - talked about Carceric Plane and Therizdun. Met Sir Oakley - cleansing ritual. Located Drow pursuing stolen children - located the pieces of the cleansing ritual - found strange liquid of unknown origins in the catacombs - killed Dragon in the vaults - located letter that mentioned Vestapalk and K.D....
Outstanding plot points of interest
1) Locate the final piece of the staff - buried with Lord Evard or in Triton Keep, which is overtaken by giants
2) Complete the cleansing ritual
3) Acquire the last piecs of the Deck - currently have 11 cards
4) Berrian and kin are guarding the Watchtower from the Orcs - Padraig suggested killing the Orc chieftain
5) Strange liquid in the catacombs
6) Valthrun the Prescient has the Winterbore Codex with references to the Carceri Plane
7) Portal in the Tomb of St. Lucian beneath Hampstead
8) Letter from Kor Yeznia and other links to Kaius Danitus
9) Children being kidnapped
10) slavers active near Borderkeep
Beginning in Stonehallow, you were sent to Kol Fen by Kor Yeznia to acquire several bodies for a ritual - here you faced undead and uncovered the first piece of the Staff of Chaos - an ornamental skull. Additionally, their exploration located a large meteor like object that emanated negative energy when near the skull. Directed to Fellstar the Temple of Pelor - Uthor informed them of the Staff and that the other pieces were last known in the possession of Urgog the Mighty in the Goblin Hole. After destroying the goblins, they acquired a staff piece and a letter that referenced to bring the Staff of Akmun Sur to Vestapalk. Returned to Uthor - told them perhaps the last piece could be found in the writings of Rogvir Glimmershield. Traveled to Timbervale then into the Stonefang Pass to locate the writings - fought orc tribes. Writings indicated last piece buried with Lord Evard the Black. Headed back to Uthor in Fellstar - stopped some slavers taking captives to the Borderkeep. While at Uthor's a letter from Kor Yeznia sent them to Hampstead. Covered in bone dust and under a curse - located Temple of St. Lucian - arcane portal in hidden shrine to Carceri. At Darien's farmhouse, found a ghoul franticly writing "Asmodeus Walks" - Kor Yeznia turned ghoul - letter indicting Kaius Danitus - councilman of Stonehallow - as evil. Also a map with several locations (Stonehallow, Sarthel and Banethal) with a circle connecting all of them with the word "Iron" written near the circle. Letter also referenced bringing a Balance card to Valthrun the Prescient at Winterhaven.
Traveled to Winterhaven - Valthrun sent them to Lord Padraig - quest to investigate the abbey - fought the orcs, found the Eladrin, located Berrian's sister and their father's fate. Located cards from the Deck. Learned about the fall of the Abbey. Located Winterbore Codex - brought to Valthrun - talked about Carceric Plane and Therizdun. Met Sir Oakley - cleansing ritual. Located Drow pursuing stolen children - located the pieces of the cleansing ritual - found strange liquid of unknown origins in the catacombs - killed Dragon in the vaults - located letter that mentioned Vestapalk and K.D....
Outstanding plot points of interest
1) Locate the final piece of the staff - buried with Lord Evard or in Triton Keep, which is overtaken by giants
2) Complete the cleansing ritual
3) Acquire the last piecs of the Deck - currently have 11 cards
4) Berrian and kin are guarding the Watchtower from the Orcs - Padraig suggested killing the Orc chieftain
5) Strange liquid in the catacombs
6) Valthrun the Prescient has the Winterbore Codex with references to the Carceri Plane
7) Portal in the Tomb of St. Lucian beneath Hampstead
8) Letter from Kor Yeznia and other links to Kaius Danitus
9) Children being kidnapped
10) slavers active near Borderkeep
Mekkalath the Dragon!
With some degree of caution, the group decided their best option was to enter the room to the west through the large doors in the feast room. The door opened into a large hallway the led forward into a much larger room. The sounds of a large beast breathing dominated the chamber while Edhas was able to see several kobold creatures navigating the inner room. She sneaked to the edge of the entryway and noted several kobolds around the room, and a large red dragon sleeping in the southwestern part of the chamber. A human sized cage was against the wall in the northeast corner, with a ragged looking humanoid inside. Although the attempt at moving quietly failed, their strategic position in the entryway forced the kobolds to attack them in waves. Conveniently, several of them grouped together filling the room with javalins. Edhas blasted them with symphony of misfortune, destroying most of the creatures, while the dragon awoke with the noise. Drawing the party into the room, the dragon blasted them with fire, tore at them with its talons and chewed through their armor but was unable to drop any of the party. While they kept Mekkalath busy, Dora sneaked through the outer chamber to enter through the southern door and filtered through the horde, locating the missing Chalice of the Dragon. As the party gained confidence, the dragon was pushed back until finally felled by an attack from Edhas. In addition to the horde gathered by Mekkalath, the party opened the cage rescuing a ragged, aged human with a stump for his right arm. Among the horde of treasure was a letter that read,
" Almighty Mekkalath - your preseence in the Abbey makes for a fortunate turn of events. It is long rumored that a lost artifact of infinite power is what brought an end to the foolish Paladins of Gardmore. This artifact, if obtained, could turn the tide of power in my struggle with Vestapalk. He pressured me to build his bastion nearby. I am feeble compared to his power and will not be able to refuse his demands much longer but it will force me to compromise my position in Stonehallow.
"I know you hold no love for your emerald lesser cousins, and Vestapalk is no different from the rest of his kin. I will await word of your decision to assist me - contact me through Elcmair - no other way. Our relationship can't become known.
"In Asmodeus's Name,
K.D."
" Almighty Mekkalath - your preseence in the Abbey makes for a fortunate turn of events. It is long rumored that a lost artifact of infinite power is what brought an end to the foolish Paladins of Gardmore. This artifact, if obtained, could turn the tide of power in my struggle with Vestapalk. He pressured me to build his bastion nearby. I am feeble compared to his power and will not be able to refuse his demands much longer but it will force me to compromise my position in Stonehallow.
"I know you hold no love for your emerald lesser cousins, and Vestapalk is no different from the rest of his kin. I will await word of your decision to assist me - contact me through Elcmair - no other way. Our relationship can't become known.
"In Asmodeus's Name,
K.D."
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