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Aphonion Tales: Adventures in the Spice Lands and the War in Hanal, a tween and teen D&D game (edited notes, posts Tuesdays, most recent 3/7/23)
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<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8393586" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 21 (February 28, 2021)</p><p>26 Ghast</p><p></p><p>Noah asks Sister Agnes to cast speak with dead on the werebear.</p><p></p><p>“What do you know of the people involved with the Blue Flame?”</p><p></p><p>His eyes spring open and he sits up. “They walk among us. They give us plenty and gifts for our service.”</p><p></p><p>“What is the purpose of your belt of bear hide?”</p><p></p><p>“I am a skinwalker. It allows me to take the shape of a bear.”</p><p></p><p>“What is the cult’s relationship to the Queen-Empress?”</p><p></p><p>“Both serve the same master.”</p><p></p><p>“Who is the master who this cult serves, who has agents among all peoples?”</p><p></p><p>“The eldritch walk again among us. We serve the eldritch that they may return and consume the world.”</p><p></p><p>Noah sputters about the madness of serving a master that wants to consume the world, then asks, “What does the cult plan to do in the near future?”</p><p></p><p>“Stop the invasion until the ascension of the One.”</p><p></p><p>Noah asserts that the group should travel directly to the camp of the Inquisitor General, to give this information to them, but they all agree that stopping in at the family castle makes sense, since it is en route.</p><p></p><p>The group is shown in to meet with Noah’s mother.</p><p></p><p>Noah begins, “We need to talk.”</p><p></p><p>“Welcome back. Of course.”</p><p></p><p>Noah asks the servants to leave.</p><p></p><p>“Firstly, I know that you and my father have leanings towards supporting the Inquisition over the Queen-Empress if they invade. I respect and support that, as the faith of the people is more important than their allegiance to the Queen-Empress.”</p><p></p><p>“I agree—we certainly favor the Inquisition over the Queen-Empress’s forces.”</p><p></p><p>Noah explains about the fallen village, and about having routed out the cult in Windermere.</p><p></p><p>“We spoke with dead with one of the cultists, and it turns out that the Queen-Empress is working in cooperation with the cult. Also, they seek to slow the invasion of the Inquisition to allow for the ascension of one called the One.”</p><p></p><p>“An ascension? That usually means a mortal ascending into the immortal realm. I’m no theologian, but I think that at this point that would require a massive sacrifice.”</p><p></p><p>Noah says that he plans to go to meet with the Inquisitor General.</p><p></p><p>They also make sure that the Strom knows of Urnkirkey’s corruption; she says that she might be able to raise a large enough militia to retake the village.</p><p></p><p>They mount up and begin riding hard for the Inquisition lines.</p><p></p><p>They see fire a few times off in the distance, but they have no difficulties whatsoever reaching the Inquisition on the evening of the 29th of Ghast.</p><p></p><p>Noah turns over the fragments of the altar. A priest in a different outfit that they haven’t seen before appears almost out of nowhere and asks them to place the pieces into a lead coffer. Sister Agnes identifies the priest as a monk of Haggaratha, who specialize in learning about the old enemies of the church.</p><p></p><p>They quickly enter the presence of the Inquisitor General.</p><p></p><p>“Firstly the cult is trying to stall the Inquisition invasion of Hanal to prepare for the ascension of someone they call the One. They’re working on behalf of something they call the eldritch. And perhaps most disturbingly, the Queen-Empress is working with them.”</p><p></p><p>The Inquisitor General shows where he has many written notes saying “The Queen-Empress is part of the enemy.” Even with his training, he finds it hard to remember, and the common troops cannot at all.</p><p></p><p>“We face a particular problem with a frontal assault. Even with the support of the faithful nobles… most people are unaware of this, and we would prefer it to stay that way. The reason we have not attempted any further intrusion, despite being badly outnumbered, is that we have managed to trace several years’ output of bone dust, several ounces. It was either purchased or seized from the Enclave until recently known as Zorplona-Argoni. If we concentrated our forces, they will use the bone dust. Whichever force makes it close to the capital first—us or the Cov of Snannerkaz, who is chief among the rebels—will have it used on them anyway.”</p><p></p><p>“With all due respect, if we just let them get away with it…”</p><p></p><p>“We cannot let them get away with it.”</p><p></p><p>“But that could buy them the time we need.”</p><p></p><p>“What we need is a brave group, with some experience working behind their lines, that are willing to enter the citadel of the Queen-Empress and neutralize the bone dust. I have tried, and my agents’ heads are now displayed on the walls of the citadel.”</p><p></p><p>The group discusses this, and while nervous, accepts the mission.</p><p></p><p>Sister Agnes also tells the Inquisitor General about the corruption of the Bishop of Zendiker’s privy secretary. He says that that’s behind enemy lines, but he may be able to arrange an accident for the privy secretary.</p><p></p><p>The Inquisitor General calls for the Master, who is in all black robes that do not look clerical. The Inquisitor General asks him to provide them with a communication token. He takes a psionic reading of the na-Strom. “May I have another volunteer? The Society of the Hands of Hell does not like taking psionic readings without volunteers.”</p><p></p><p>Noah suggests Elyn is perhaps the most likely to survive, but there are no volunteers.</p><p></p><p>“Is there a known way to neutralize bone dust?”</p><p></p><p>“An enormous quantity of water. A small lake, say, to neutralize two ounces, and that lake would not be suitable for life for some time. You must not even touch a grain of bone dust with your bare skin—it would suck all the water out of your body, causing even your bones to crumble away.”</p><p></p><p>The citadel is about 700 miles away, so about 17 days’ ride.</p><p></p><p>Noah asks the Inquisitor-General if he can have some information that is true, but not helpful, that they could use the token from the Queen-Empress’s army to make themselves seem useful.</p><p></p><p>“I can think of something that they will learn soon enough. Tell them that the voller being flown by the Moriquendarim with an Aufaulgatharim officer is a man-of-war, and that the man-of-war has a contingent of drow marines onboard—perhaps planning on doing more than simply bombarding, though in fact they are there to repel boarders.”</p><p></p><p>They head off.</p><p></p><p>After a day of travel, they make their way into imperial held territory.</p><p></p><p>That evening, the Violet Moon is full. For the first third of the night, while in mouse form, Noah is resisting the cheese.</p><p></p><p>Wild field mice by the dozens are gathering and watching the cheese. Noah turns his back to the cheese, and the field mice charge in.</p><p></p><p>Noah runs off with the cheese, fleeing the field mice and losing control. Sister Agnes follows him. He stops as he charges into a perfect circle of mushrooms in a clearing. Out of the corner of Noah’s eyes, he sees little tiny elves surrounding him.</p><p></p><p>In the morning, Noah finds himself exhausted, laying in a circle in a forest.</p><p></p><p>They mount up and head on.</p><p></p><p>Two days later, Elyn notices something towering over the nearby trees. It’s the right color, but it doesn’t have leaves, and it’s moving. A very long, long limb spikes down on Noah. It does 13 damage and starts picking him up.</p><p></p><p>Elyn identifies it as a giant praying mantis, the largest giant mantis she’s ever seen. She then shoots it with her bow, doing 10 damage.</p><p></p><p>Iados’s rapier bounces off, but Ravokris burns it with a burning hands spell.</p><p></p><p>Noah rages and starts hacking at it with his axe.</p><p></p><p>The mantis bites Noah.</p><p></p><p>Sister Agnes summons a spiritual cat-of-nine-tails which misses.</p><p></p><p>Elyn shoots it again with her bow, while Iados misses again.</p><p></p><p>Then Ravokris casts an Agganazar’s Scorcher, which transforms into a tiny attacking fire elemental. The fire elemental attacks it twice, hitting each time. The insect collapses limply to the ground.</p><p></p><p>Noah tries to harvest the gland that makes its shell. He fails, but does harvest plenty of meat.</p><p>[End session 21]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8393586, member: 7030144"] Session 21 (February 28, 2021) 26 Ghast Noah asks Sister Agnes to cast speak with dead on the werebear. “What do you know of the people involved with the Blue Flame?” His eyes spring open and he sits up. “They walk among us. They give us plenty and gifts for our service.” “What is the purpose of your belt of bear hide?” “I am a skinwalker. It allows me to take the shape of a bear.” “What is the cult’s relationship to the Queen-Empress?” “Both serve the same master.” “Who is the master who this cult serves, who has agents among all peoples?” “The eldritch walk again among us. We serve the eldritch that they may return and consume the world.” Noah sputters about the madness of serving a master that wants to consume the world, then asks, “What does the cult plan to do in the near future?” “Stop the invasion until the ascension of the One.” Noah asserts that the group should travel directly to the camp of the Inquisitor General, to give this information to them, but they all agree that stopping in at the family castle makes sense, since it is en route. The group is shown in to meet with Noah’s mother. Noah begins, “We need to talk.” “Welcome back. Of course.” Noah asks the servants to leave. “Firstly, I know that you and my father have leanings towards supporting the Inquisition over the Queen-Empress if they invade. I respect and support that, as the faith of the people is more important than their allegiance to the Queen-Empress.” “I agree—we certainly favor the Inquisition over the Queen-Empress’s forces.” Noah explains about the fallen village, and about having routed out the cult in Windermere. “We spoke with dead with one of the cultists, and it turns out that the Queen-Empress is working in cooperation with the cult. Also, they seek to slow the invasion of the Inquisition to allow for the ascension of one called the One.” “An ascension? That usually means a mortal ascending into the immortal realm. I’m no theologian, but I think that at this point that would require a massive sacrifice.” Noah says that he plans to go to meet with the Inquisitor General. They also make sure that the Strom knows of Urnkirkey’s corruption; she says that she might be able to raise a large enough militia to retake the village. They mount up and begin riding hard for the Inquisition lines. They see fire a few times off in the distance, but they have no difficulties whatsoever reaching the Inquisition on the evening of the 29th of Ghast. Noah turns over the fragments of the altar. A priest in a different outfit that they haven’t seen before appears almost out of nowhere and asks them to place the pieces into a lead coffer. Sister Agnes identifies the priest as a monk of Haggaratha, who specialize in learning about the old enemies of the church. They quickly enter the presence of the Inquisitor General. “Firstly the cult is trying to stall the Inquisition invasion of Hanal to prepare for the ascension of someone they call the One. They’re working on behalf of something they call the eldritch. And perhaps most disturbingly, the Queen-Empress is working with them.” The Inquisitor General shows where he has many written notes saying “The Queen-Empress is part of the enemy.” Even with his training, he finds it hard to remember, and the common troops cannot at all. “We face a particular problem with a frontal assault. Even with the support of the faithful nobles… most people are unaware of this, and we would prefer it to stay that way. The reason we have not attempted any further intrusion, despite being badly outnumbered, is that we have managed to trace several years’ output of bone dust, several ounces. It was either purchased or seized from the Enclave until recently known as Zorplona-Argoni. If we concentrated our forces, they will use the bone dust. Whichever force makes it close to the capital first—us or the Cov of Snannerkaz, who is chief among the rebels—will have it used on them anyway.” “With all due respect, if we just let them get away with it…” “We cannot let them get away with it.” “But that could buy them the time we need.” “What we need is a brave group, with some experience working behind their lines, that are willing to enter the citadel of the Queen-Empress and neutralize the bone dust. I have tried, and my agents’ heads are now displayed on the walls of the citadel.” The group discusses this, and while nervous, accepts the mission. Sister Agnes also tells the Inquisitor General about the corruption of the Bishop of Zendiker’s privy secretary. He says that that’s behind enemy lines, but he may be able to arrange an accident for the privy secretary. The Inquisitor General calls for the Master, who is in all black robes that do not look clerical. The Inquisitor General asks him to provide them with a communication token. He takes a psionic reading of the na-Strom. “May I have another volunteer? The Society of the Hands of Hell does not like taking psionic readings without volunteers.” Noah suggests Elyn is perhaps the most likely to survive, but there are no volunteers. “Is there a known way to neutralize bone dust?” “An enormous quantity of water. A small lake, say, to neutralize two ounces, and that lake would not be suitable for life for some time. You must not even touch a grain of bone dust with your bare skin—it would suck all the water out of your body, causing even your bones to crumble away.” The citadel is about 700 miles away, so about 17 days’ ride. Noah asks the Inquisitor-General if he can have some information that is true, but not helpful, that they could use the token from the Queen-Empress’s army to make themselves seem useful. “I can think of something that they will learn soon enough. Tell them that the voller being flown by the Moriquendarim with an Aufaulgatharim officer is a man-of-war, and that the man-of-war has a contingent of drow marines onboard—perhaps planning on doing more than simply bombarding, though in fact they are there to repel boarders.” They head off. After a day of travel, they make their way into imperial held territory. That evening, the Violet Moon is full. For the first third of the night, while in mouse form, Noah is resisting the cheese. Wild field mice by the dozens are gathering and watching the cheese. Noah turns his back to the cheese, and the field mice charge in. Noah runs off with the cheese, fleeing the field mice and losing control. Sister Agnes follows him. He stops as he charges into a perfect circle of mushrooms in a clearing. Out of the corner of Noah’s eyes, he sees little tiny elves surrounding him. In the morning, Noah finds himself exhausted, laying in a circle in a forest. They mount up and head on. Two days later, Elyn notices something towering over the nearby trees. It’s the right color, but it doesn’t have leaves, and it’s moving. A very long, long limb spikes down on Noah. It does 13 damage and starts picking him up. Elyn identifies it as a giant praying mantis, the largest giant mantis she’s ever seen. She then shoots it with her bow, doing 10 damage. Iados’s rapier bounces off, but Ravokris burns it with a burning hands spell. Noah rages and starts hacking at it with his axe. The mantis bites Noah. Sister Agnes summons a spiritual cat-of-nine-tails which misses. Elyn shoots it again with her bow, while Iados misses again. Then Ravokris casts an Agganazar’s Scorcher, which transforms into a tiny attacking fire elemental. The fire elemental attacks it twice, hitting each time. The insect collapses limply to the ground. Noah tries to harvest the gland that makes its shell. He fails, but does harvest plenty of meat. [End session 21] [/QUOTE]
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