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
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
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."
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Minotaurs and Gnolls
Looking over the remains of the defeated enemies, Edhas, Thorm, Dora and Wyndham all began to argue about the origins of the strange bloodlike substance. While each of them professed to know its origins, Edhas quietly began to bottle a few vials of the liquid, only to feel its pull to bottle more. Dora argued that the liquid was known as the Sap of Life and could potentially unlock the prison of Carceri, while Wyndham insisted it was the very substance of what makes a Changeling unique. Meanwhile, Thorm argued that it was a substance called The Voidharrow and was unstable and dangerous. All agreed its origins traced to Therizdun and the Carceric Plane. Unwilling to compromise, they settled on talking again after a rest. Although most of hte party slept surprisingly well, Dora and Edhas, both of whom possessed vials of the substance, slept restlessly, filled with nightmares of demonic origin. Rather than carry the burden they agreed to leave the substance in the basin for later.
convinced they had cleared the catacombs, they returned to the surface to investigate the other buildings before deciding on a path. Although they cleared the stairwell in the barracks building they found themselves in another building - identified by Sir Oakley as the Heroes Gate. Here they faced off against a series of threats including a rust monster, the only casualty of which was Sir Loin's weapon. From there, they went to the last unchecked building where statues and and other vestiges of Bahamut's glory were intact. Although evidence of spiders residing here was present, they were able to move unmolested to the rear of the building to a stairwell headed down.
Rather than backtrack to the barracks, they chose to head down here. The stairwell leveled out several times, plunging deeper and deeper into the mountain. When they finally emerged into a room with a vaulted ceiling - a set of large brass double doors dominated the northern wall while a smaller door was directly across from the stairs. Although the room was unoccupied, the splendor of the frescoes of the wall were indicative of the great Minotaur city, Saruun Khel. Images of bloodthirsty minotaurs dining with Baphomet dominated the interior. Rather than head to the double doors, they entered the eastern door to find themselves face to face with a ten foot minotaur, axe in hand. One look at one another and the creature barked, "Begon - this doesn't have to get ugly"
Choosing to investigate further they learned that the Minotaurs have been living here for hundreds of years in the vaults of Gardmore. Decades ago a tribe of gnolls arrived and both races began to struggle for position until a creature that calls himself Kashtari appeared. The Minotaur explained that Kashtari was also a minotaur but that he also worked to forge an uneasy peace with the gnolls. They have been at peace for years but several minotaurs do not trust the motivation of Kashtari and suspect he is working with the dragon that arrived shortly after him. They made a deal with the minotaur to move against Kashtari, so they could annihilate the gnolls. They were permitted to keep anything they obtained through this confrontation. Once removed, the minotaurs planned to move against the gnolls but are unwilling to go near the dragon who is unable to leave the large chamber to the north to threaten them.
With an agreement in place, the minotaur directed them to the feast hall of Baphomet to the North where they party found a waiting Kashtari and several demonic minions. "you aren't the first" was its only response. Over the course of the battle, it was clear that Kashtari was not a minotaur but an Oni Night Haunter, a shape changer capable of both brutal strength and devious magic. After nearly falling to the Oni, the party destroyed him and his minions and found themselves in the feast hall awaiting their next move. Oakley is convinced the final piece of the ritual will be with the Dragon.
convinced they had cleared the catacombs, they returned to the surface to investigate the other buildings before deciding on a path. Although they cleared the stairwell in the barracks building they found themselves in another building - identified by Sir Oakley as the Heroes Gate. Here they faced off against a series of threats including a rust monster, the only casualty of which was Sir Loin's weapon. From there, they went to the last unchecked building where statues and and other vestiges of Bahamut's glory were intact. Although evidence of spiders residing here was present, they were able to move unmolested to the rear of the building to a stairwell headed down.
Rather than backtrack to the barracks, they chose to head down here. The stairwell leveled out several times, plunging deeper and deeper into the mountain. When they finally emerged into a room with a vaulted ceiling - a set of large brass double doors dominated the northern wall while a smaller door was directly across from the stairs. Although the room was unoccupied, the splendor of the frescoes of the wall were indicative of the great Minotaur city, Saruun Khel. Images of bloodthirsty minotaurs dining with Baphomet dominated the interior. Rather than head to the double doors, they entered the eastern door to find themselves face to face with a ten foot minotaur, axe in hand. One look at one another and the creature barked, "Begon - this doesn't have to get ugly"
Choosing to investigate further they learned that the Minotaurs have been living here for hundreds of years in the vaults of Gardmore. Decades ago a tribe of gnolls arrived and both races began to struggle for position until a creature that calls himself Kashtari appeared. The Minotaur explained that Kashtari was also a minotaur but that he also worked to forge an uneasy peace with the gnolls. They have been at peace for years but several minotaurs do not trust the motivation of Kashtari and suspect he is working with the dragon that arrived shortly after him. They made a deal with the minotaur to move against Kashtari, so they could annihilate the gnolls. They were permitted to keep anything they obtained through this confrontation. Once removed, the minotaurs planned to move against the gnolls but are unwilling to go near the dragon who is unable to leave the large chamber to the north to threaten them.
With an agreement in place, the minotaur directed them to the feast hall of Baphomet to the North where they party found a waiting Kashtari and several demonic minions. "you aren't the first" was its only response. Over the course of the battle, it was clear that Kashtari was not a minotaur but an Oni Night Haunter, a shape changer capable of both brutal strength and devious magic. After nearly falling to the Oni, the party destroyed him and his minions and found themselves in the feast hall awaiting their next move. Oakley is convinced the final piece of the ritual will be with the Dragon.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Therizdun and a Strange Substance
After inspecting the Bowl of Io's Blood, Sir Oakley insisted that the final piece of the ritual needed was the Chalice of the Dragon. His enthusiasm for the item seemed excessive but the party moved on from the Dragonslayer's Burial Chamber through the curtain to the Northwest. The small area contained the backside of the secret door found earlier and a Iron door to the North. Wyndham's efforts to listen at the door indicated movement from the inside consistent with the sound of chainmail armor. After reading Not wanting to waste time, he and Soveliss burst into the very large burial room dominated by dozens of sarcophagi and stone pillars. The room was mostly dark, with an ambient light emanating from the eastern part of the room and northern part of the room. The pillars provided difficult sight lines to the rest of the room. Soveliss quickly moved to the western edge of the room as several elder spawn vampires lurked towards him. Wyndham banked several lightening blasts off the walls to strike at the vampire spawn the blog while Sir Loin and Thorn charged into the room behind the lightly armored casters. Distracted by the spawn, Soveliss was surprised at the sight of a reptilian skinned female vampire looming down on him. Meanwhile the fighters found themselves grappled by the spawn and beset upon by a large venomous basilisk. Sir Oakley joined the fray to provide additional support, cutting through enemies to make his way into the chamber.
From the north, the sound of chainmail armor loomed down upon them as a babbling, heavily armored, lightskinned soldier burst through the fray, giving off an aura that affected many of the party members. While Wyndham tried to summon the power of the Deck, he found access blocked. It was obvious quickly that this new threat also held onto cards from the Deck and text or email me was using them to his advantage. The soldier powered through the party, swinging its mace wildly and on two occasions reached to his belt and tossed a small vial of reddish liquid at Thorm and Sir Loin, missing both. The reddish liquid seemed to have the consistency of blood but was undulating and pulsing like a living organism! When the soldier became bloodied, one glob of the liquid leapt at Sir Loin, spreading over his body and seeping into his skin. Although it was causing no pain, the alarmed Sir Loin began to look for ways to remove the substance.
After Sir Oakley dispatched the crazed soldier, the vampire woman turned gaseous and sped away to recover. The group quickly treated Sir Loin and removed the reddish liquid, which slipped down to the surface of the floor. The room was clearly designed as a burial the word chamber to honor the most distinguished founders of the Abbey, including the hero, Gardrin the Hammer. The fallen soldier held a magical mace as well as a holy symbol that Soveliss and Thorm identified as belonging to Therizdun, the Chained God. Thorm recalled the earlier reference by the Winterbore Codex that He oversees the Plane of Carceri, where several souls are imprisoned. These souls include bacon Magroth the Mad, the last Nerathi Emperor. Valthrun the Prescient had asserted that many have tried to learn ways to free souls from Carceri but none have found the way.
Further into the room, there was a statue paying homage to Gardrin. Around the base of the statue was a large coin purse, a magical longsword called Moonblade and a large bowl with much more of the strange liquid from earlier in the battle. Unable to identify the liquid, and add an armor upgrade of your choice up to level 13 Thorm was sure he had read something about it but was unable to recall its purpose. He was only sure it was not mundane. Intent on finding more valuable items, Thorm and Sir Loin uncharacteristically began to open the sarcophagi, invoking the Ire of Bahamut. Unfortunately, nothing of significant value was inside but all the bodies were defiled by the search.
Securing the room against threats, the party decided resting here was a wise idea.
From the north, the sound of chainmail armor loomed down upon them as a babbling, heavily armored, lightskinned soldier burst through the fray, giving off an aura that affected many of the party members. While Wyndham tried to summon the power of the Deck, he found access blocked. It was obvious quickly that this new threat also held onto cards from the Deck and text or email me was using them to his advantage. The soldier powered through the party, swinging its mace wildly and on two occasions reached to his belt and tossed a small vial of reddish liquid at Thorm and Sir Loin, missing both. The reddish liquid seemed to have the consistency of blood but was undulating and pulsing like a living organism! When the soldier became bloodied, one glob of the liquid leapt at Sir Loin, spreading over his body and seeping into his skin. Although it was causing no pain, the alarmed Sir Loin began to look for ways to remove the substance.
After Sir Oakley dispatched the crazed soldier, the vampire woman turned gaseous and sped away to recover. The group quickly treated Sir Loin and removed the reddish liquid, which slipped down to the surface of the floor. The room was clearly designed as a burial the word chamber to honor the most distinguished founders of the Abbey, including the hero, Gardrin the Hammer. The fallen soldier held a magical mace as well as a holy symbol that Soveliss and Thorm identified as belonging to Therizdun, the Chained God. Thorm recalled the earlier reference by the Winterbore Codex that He oversees the Plane of Carceri, where several souls are imprisoned. These souls include bacon Magroth the Mad, the last Nerathi Emperor. Valthrun the Prescient had asserted that many have tried to learn ways to free souls from Carceri but none have found the way.
Further into the room, there was a statue paying homage to Gardrin. Around the base of the statue was a large coin purse, a magical longsword called Moonblade and a large bowl with much more of the strange liquid from earlier in the battle. Unable to identify the liquid, and add an armor upgrade of your choice up to level 13 Thorm was sure he had read something about it but was unable to recall its purpose. He was only sure it was not mundane. Intent on finding more valuable items, Thorm and Sir Loin uncharacteristically began to open the sarcophagi, invoking the Ire of Bahamut. Unfortunately, nothing of significant value was inside but all the bodies were defiled by the search.
Securing the room against threats, the party decided resting here was a wise idea.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Dragonslayer's Tomb and the Bowl of Io's Blood
Other than the other dragon scale curtain, the room contained no obvious exits.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Catacombs, Sarcophagi and the Four Crusades
Choosing to take the stairs revealed in the temple, the party descended into the darkness nearly 100' until a light chanting was audible down below. Edhas and Monk scouted ahead nearly 30' into room. The lower chamber was dominated by four stone sarcophagi - three closed and one open with the cover shattered. Further into the room, 5 armored figured were kneeling before an alter of some sort. Attempting to amke their way quietly across the room, Edhas stumbled a bit near one of the sarcophagi and they were surprised to hear the booming voice from one of the knights, soliciting them to come and pay homage to Bahamut. Going along with the ruse, Monk moved forward to kneel before the alter. A closer look at the figures revealed older looking humans dressed similarly to paladins. They (when you read this) appeared to be chanting a prayer but something was off. Unclear how to interpret, Monk decided to join them in prayer. Shortly after he knelt, a surge of creatures tore forward from his right and the knights turned on him. Surrounded and imperiled, Monk and Edhas were forced to deal with the threat alone until the rest of the party could get to the room from further up the stairs.
Once joined, Thorm noticed a look of horror and confusion on Sir Oakley's face. When asked, Oakley insisted that he recognized the form of the largest paladin - Captain Havarr of Nenlast. Oakley then explained that he was the knight whose fateful draw from the Deck doomed the Abbey and its paladins. A hard-fought victory by the party threatened to turn them back. The sarcophagi (text me the word) were each etched with carvings venerating Moradin, Pelor, Ioun and Erathis and bore the names of knights - Rombert, Toren, Fror and Sefgar. The opened sarcophagus of Rombert contained the tattered remains of a skeleton long dead but missing its head. Oakley prayed before the alter, consecrated it and a beam of fire connected to the two dragon heads across the top. From this room, a door to the east and a door to the north were visible. They party chose to listen and open the door to the north.
The inside of this room contained four animated armored skeletons with javalins flanking another two closed sarcophagi. Rather than fight, the group quickly closed the door and devised a plan to lure them into the other altered burial chamber. Closing the door and anticipating their arrival seemed to be failing when Wyndham decided to reopen the door and bravely bring the fight to them directly. The armored skeletons were joined by two skeletons blazing with fire and two heavily (dumptruck) armored, four-armed skeletons. Outmatched and overwhelmed, Wyndham was forced to teleport back to the other room. Only then did the skeletons, smelling blood, surge into the room with the heroes. Facing the undead on ground of their choosing they were able to defeat them but nearly lost Edhas in the process. After the battle, they cautiously inspected the antechamber and found a small fountain of water in the northern hall of the room. Drinking the fountain water was both refreshing and fortifying. The eastern part of the chamber contained a brilliantly detailed mosaic of the silver dragon of Bahamut. Two doors both in the eastern part of the chamber - one facing east and one facing south allowed egress from the room, but they decided to fortify the area and rest.
The next morning, while the party began to recover their bedrolls and eat, Thorm located a secret door activated by a hidden latch. The door opened on the eastern wall behind the mosaic. This small antechamber was clearly a shrine to Bahamut depicted in here as a dracolich. Alarmed by the sight, Oakley assured the group that often Bahamut is shown this way as a (and add an "arm slot item" of any level up to 13) fortifying message that even in death, Bahamut will be there. No other exit seemed obvious, but similar hidden latches were identified on the eastern and southern walls. The eastern hidden door swung open and revealed a 10' x 10' chamber/foyer with a door set to the north and a heavy curtail strung across the east. They closed this door and instead went through the southern door.
This dark chamber was filled with a thick coating of moss on four sarcophagi in the lower part of the the room. A mass of thick, fibrous roots hung down from the ceiling rife with wide cracks. The far wall seemed to be covered in a elaborate mosaic but a thick coat of green moss made it difficult to discern the contents. The eastern part of the room seemed to be a barely illuminated hallway with small recessed openings on the wall. After tossing in a sunrod, the party was attacked by two shambling mummies as well as a swarm of scarab beetles. During the battle, a flying flameskull stayed close to the ceiling, using the vines as cover and launched a series of fireballs at the party. After destroying the restless undead, they cleared the mosaic and revealed four separate stories of the great Crusades of the knights of Gardmore Abbey: The Crusade of Conquest, the Stonemarch Crusade, the Serpent Crusade and the War of the Infernal Bastion. OF NOTE to our campaign, the stories included the founder of the Abbey - Gardrin the Hammer and the story of the conquest of the Minotaur city of Saruun Khel, and the War of the Infernal Bastion involved the knights joining the forces of the Nerathi empire to destroy the forces of the hobgoblin warlord, Hur-Tharak and his alliance with infernal guardians of Asmodeus in the southern lands of the empire.
Each of the recessed burial slots seemed dedicated to one of the great crusades. Behind one of the recessed burial chambers (to the Serpent Crusade) in the eastern part of the room, a secret door led to a smaller tomb area containing only one sarcophagus. More ominous, the natural sources of light seemed repelled by a powerful force of darkness inside tomb chamber. The inside of the sarcophagus contained only dirt, but the engraving contained the name Zarel Gardrin - which, to Oakley's horror - is the name of Gardrin the Hammer's daughter - long dead since the Serpent Crusade. But the sarcophagus was such that indicated Zarel was a vampire! Oakley was saddened for the fate of Zarel but angered as it revealed that Zarel was likely part of the treachery during the Serpent Crusade.
Leaving the tomb chamber back to the Crusade mosaic room, they decided to investigate the door on the eastern wall in the northeast part of the chamber. It revealed another small 10 x 10 foyer with only a heavy chromatic curtain blocking access to the east. The (oh yea - and text the word - "pizza" or the item is cursed) curtains are formed by red, blue, black, green and white dragon scales, heavy and dusty with several small areas of dust smudged or wiped off the curtains. No audible noise came from the other side of the curtain.
Once joined, Thorm noticed a look of horror and confusion on Sir Oakley's face. When asked, Oakley insisted that he recognized the form of the largest paladin - Captain Havarr of Nenlast. Oakley then explained that he was the knight whose fateful draw from the Deck doomed the Abbey and its paladins. A hard-fought victory by the party threatened to turn them back. The sarcophagi (text me the word) were each etched with carvings venerating Moradin, Pelor, Ioun and Erathis and bore the names of knights - Rombert, Toren, Fror and Sefgar. The opened sarcophagus of Rombert contained the tattered remains of a skeleton long dead but missing its head. Oakley prayed before the alter, consecrated it and a beam of fire connected to the two dragon heads across the top. From this room, a door to the east and a door to the north were visible. They party chose to listen and open the door to the north.
The inside of this room contained four animated armored skeletons with javalins flanking another two closed sarcophagi. Rather than fight, the group quickly closed the door and devised a plan to lure them into the other altered burial chamber. Closing the door and anticipating their arrival seemed to be failing when Wyndham decided to reopen the door and bravely bring the fight to them directly. The armored skeletons were joined by two skeletons blazing with fire and two heavily (dumptruck) armored, four-armed skeletons. Outmatched and overwhelmed, Wyndham was forced to teleport back to the other room. Only then did the skeletons, smelling blood, surge into the room with the heroes. Facing the undead on ground of their choosing they were able to defeat them but nearly lost Edhas in the process. After the battle, they cautiously inspected the antechamber and found a small fountain of water in the northern hall of the room. Drinking the fountain water was both refreshing and fortifying. The eastern part of the chamber contained a brilliantly detailed mosaic of the silver dragon of Bahamut. Two doors both in the eastern part of the chamber - one facing east and one facing south allowed egress from the room, but they decided to fortify the area and rest.
The next morning, while the party began to recover their bedrolls and eat, Thorm located a secret door activated by a hidden latch. The door opened on the eastern wall behind the mosaic. This small antechamber was clearly a shrine to Bahamut depicted in here as a dracolich. Alarmed by the sight, Oakley assured the group that often Bahamut is shown this way as a (and add an "arm slot item" of any level up to 13) fortifying message that even in death, Bahamut will be there. No other exit seemed obvious, but similar hidden latches were identified on the eastern and southern walls. The eastern hidden door swung open and revealed a 10' x 10' chamber/foyer with a door set to the north and a heavy curtail strung across the east. They closed this door and instead went through the southern door.
This dark chamber was filled with a thick coating of moss on four sarcophagi in the lower part of the the room. A mass of thick, fibrous roots hung down from the ceiling rife with wide cracks. The far wall seemed to be covered in a elaborate mosaic but a thick coat of green moss made it difficult to discern the contents. The eastern part of the room seemed to be a barely illuminated hallway with small recessed openings on the wall. After tossing in a sunrod, the party was attacked by two shambling mummies as well as a swarm of scarab beetles. During the battle, a flying flameskull stayed close to the ceiling, using the vines as cover and launched a series of fireballs at the party. After destroying the restless undead, they cleared the mosaic and revealed four separate stories of the great Crusades of the knights of Gardmore Abbey: The Crusade of Conquest, the Stonemarch Crusade, the Serpent Crusade and the War of the Infernal Bastion. OF NOTE to our campaign, the stories included the founder of the Abbey - Gardrin the Hammer and the story of the conquest of the Minotaur city of Saruun Khel, and the War of the Infernal Bastion involved the knights joining the forces of the Nerathi empire to destroy the forces of the hobgoblin warlord, Hur-Tharak and his alliance with infernal guardians of Asmodeus in the southern lands of the empire.
Each of the recessed burial slots seemed dedicated to one of the great crusades. Behind one of the recessed burial chambers (to the Serpent Crusade) in the eastern part of the room, a secret door led to a smaller tomb area containing only one sarcophagus. More ominous, the natural sources of light seemed repelled by a powerful force of darkness inside tomb chamber. The inside of the sarcophagus contained only dirt, but the engraving contained the name Zarel Gardrin - which, to Oakley's horror - is the name of Gardrin the Hammer's daughter - long dead since the Serpent Crusade. But the sarcophagus was such that indicated Zarel was a vampire! Oakley was saddened for the fate of Zarel but angered as it revealed that Zarel was likely part of the treachery during the Serpent Crusade.
Leaving the tomb chamber back to the Crusade mosaic room, they decided to investigate the door on the eastern wall in the northeast part of the chamber. It revealed another small 10 x 10 foyer with only a heavy chromatic curtain blocking access to the east. The (oh yea - and text the word - "pizza" or the item is cursed) curtains are formed by red, blue, black, green and white dragon scales, heavy and dusty with several small areas of dust smudged or wiped off the curtains. No audible noise came from the other side of the curtain.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Temple to Bahamut and Stairs everywhere
After an extended rest to regroup and recover from the trek up the mountainside, Thorm located a stairwell behind collapsed rubble from the roof in the southeast corner of the barracks building. While Edhas went to scout the large temple on the plateau, Thorm and Sir Loin began clearing out the rubble to access the stairs. Edhas skirted the area around the temple and noted a curtain wall that surrounded the back of the temple while a pair of double doors dominated the front of the building. Unwilling to enter the building alone, she returned to the barracks to fill in the rest of the group.
Meanwhile, aware of the seeming contradictions in Sir Oakley's story, Wyndham, Soveliss and Dora questioned him. He asserted that long ago he visited the Nerathi capital city, Nera. The lost capital is shrouded in gloomwrought darkness and most people avoid it, but Oakley insists he visited the city some 300 years ago after the fall of the temple. He was lost in time and when he found his way out of the Gloom, it was ten years ago and the world had moved on. Unsure whether to believe his story, the party continued to proceed with clearing the stairs and awaiting Edhas' return.
Moments later, Edhas returned and gathered the party to advance on the temple. Although a good amount of the stairs had been cleared from the barracks, they insisted on joining her to visit the temple. Oakley was particularly excited about the prospect of purging the temple to locate the final two pieces needed for the purification ritual.
Entering through a breach in the curtain wall, they entered through a rear door, followed a corridor to the temple proper. They were greeted by screeching voices, entreating them to pray to Bahamut. Not long after entering the polytheistic temple they were attacked by a pair of bloodlust harpies. Swooping around the temple, the harpies used their alluring song to lure the party together and strike with sonic attacks. Meanwhile several bloodtouched Angels emerged from side passages in the temple and joined the fray. Through the ripping and slashing of the harpies and double strikes of the party, their efforts paid off and they defeated the foul creatures. Although they did discover another card from the fabled Deck of Many Things, evidence of the final two ritual components was lacking. Several rooms were falsely illuminated with gold coins edged between stone in lieu of mortar. Unwilling to take from the temple in case the coins were an offering to Bahamut, several party members refused while others took piles of gold from the rooms. When you finish reading this, text me the word entrails and add two vials of alchemist fire. Deep in the rear of the temple, a stairwell descended into the darkness.
Meanwhile, aware of the seeming contradictions in Sir Oakley's story, Wyndham, Soveliss and Dora questioned him. He asserted that long ago he visited the Nerathi capital city, Nera. The lost capital is shrouded in gloomwrought darkness and most people avoid it, but Oakley insists he visited the city some 300 years ago after the fall of the temple. He was lost in time and when he found his way out of the Gloom, it was ten years ago and the world had moved on. Unsure whether to believe his story, the party continued to proceed with clearing the stairs and awaiting Edhas' return.
Moments later, Edhas returned and gathered the party to advance on the temple. Although a good amount of the stairs had been cleared from the barracks, they insisted on joining her to visit the temple. Oakley was particularly excited about the prospect of purging the temple to locate the final two pieces needed for the purification ritual.
Entering through a breach in the curtain wall, they entered through a rear door, followed a corridor to the temple proper. They were greeted by screeching voices, entreating them to pray to Bahamut. Not long after entering the polytheistic temple they were attacked by a pair of bloodlust harpies. Swooping around the temple, the harpies used their alluring song to lure the party together and strike with sonic attacks. Meanwhile several bloodtouched Angels emerged from side passages in the temple and joined the fray. Through the ripping and slashing of the harpies and double strikes of the party, their efforts paid off and they defeated the foul creatures. Although they did discover another card from the fabled Deck of Many Things, evidence of the final two ritual components was lacking. Several rooms were falsely illuminated with gold coins edged between stone in lieu of mortar. Unwilling to take from the temple in case the coins were an offering to Bahamut, several party members refused while others took piles of gold from the rooms. When you finish reading this, text me the word entrails and add two vials of alchemist fire. Deep in the rear of the temple, a stairwell descended into the darkness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)