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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pour" data-source="post: 4761340" data-attributes="member: 59411">At this point I considered buying Thunderspire Labyrinth, but with a subscription to DDI I decided to hop into The Scales of War adventure path with an Orcus/Death Cult bent. I've also changed Overlook to Greyhawk. Needless to say it's been interesting adapting and altering things.We begin with the level 4 SoW adventure, Shadow Rift of the Umbra Forge, and add on three new characters: Hossler, Human Sellsword Fighter from the end of our last adventure; Brugagh, Half-Orc Barbarian [Draxis's Player]; and Velasong, Shifter Bard and our first girl player and character [Solux's player's girlfriend]. Tack onto the huge shifts in story the added carnage of 8 players. However this 7th session was played without Mike the Mystic and Nahte the Ranger, who couldn't attend.)Session 7: A Darkening FutureThe MissionUnder the breathtaking vaults of The Cathedral of the Ten, in the offices of High Father Ohgma, old friend and new Inquisitors gathered for a mission of utmost importance to The Great Church. Kalarel was only the beginning, one of many cult leaders spread across the frontiers of the Nentir Vale and regions of Greyhawk. Though the group managed to close the shadow rift beneath the ancient Keep near Winterhaven, others are being opened across the map.This puzzles the church since the group made sure to spread the Three Scriptures of Orcus, which are needed to pull the dark demon god into the world. Rumor spread of other dark lords attempting to breech the veil of worlds, or discover some other way in which to bring about Orcus's apocalyptic arrival.The only lead the church has is a brass key found on the intercepted and slain body of a dark creeper, a foul and twisted halfling native to Orcus's throneplane known as the Shadowfell. Father Ohgma gave the key to the group and charged them with finding the importance of the key, for surely it would unlock the larger plots now working in Greyhawk.In Search of TruthThe group departed the cathedral and struck out into the vast city of Greyhawk, largest and most powerful in all the continent of Flanaess. A daunting task, to be sure, Solux decided to begin at the inns, rumor mills and hubs of information about anything and everything.The first inn, The Hairy Ape, was a seedy joint run by a greasy man named Quegod. Quite willing to talk, all he seemed to know about was the exploits of Magnificent Mike the Mystic, Crusher of Death Cults and Savior of Winterhaven... and friends... who defeated Kalarel far to the northwest. Some in the group who were present during Mike's heroic exploits thought to set the story straight, but Quegod wouldn't hear it. How twisted truth can become when passed across a few hundred miles...The next inn tried was The Aloof Puffin, a much finer establishment of rich woods and deep, purple velvets, with a decidedly Wuxian (Chinese) style. Though many in the group were outwardly frowned upon, enough flashed coin purses and mention of knowing Mike the Mystic had the Puffin's owner, Madame Wu, quite willing to serve them. However before she was willing to part with any information, she insisted on a fifty gold coin downpayment, which Hossler gave without much thought.Next she invited them to a large table and went to fetch some fine wine, a tall red. Pouring everyone a glass, they said a toast to Mike the Mystic (knowing Madame Wu was in love with the local celebrity) and drank. The warlord nearly choked. Another round was poured, this one apparently hitting home as it knocked Ruhiel and Kildain out cold. Madame Wu stared dumbfounded before fetching something stronger, looking black and syrupy in a bottle like a squatting dwarf. She poured another round, asking 5gp from everyone for the rare spirits, and drank. This time the shifter was sent diving into drunkeness. Another round later and the half-orc was babbling nonsense. The slurring warlock and sellsword were all that was left.Before Hossler forgot how to speak, he pulled out the brass key and asked if she knew anything about it. The middle-aged Wuxian shook examined it a moment and got up, saying she'd be back and taking their only clue into the kitchen. Hossler leaped up to follow, but tripped on the dwarf and fell into the table, breaking it in half. The well-to-do customers at other tables gave their looks, to which the drunk sellsword gave them his. They quickly went back to hiding behind their drinks and menus.The stumbling warlock managed to follow Madame Wu despite the ruckus, watching as she gave the key to her chef. He gave it a once over and left through the back door! The warlock ran to the group and explained what had happened. Hossler leaped up, even as Madame Wu entered to intercept him. Demanding to know why she'd given the key away, she crumpled and began to cry, saying she was sorry over and over again.Serving Up an Order of PAINVelasong went about detoxifying the group, while Hossler barreled out the back door and down the alleyway after this fleeing chef. In a burst of athletic prowess, he soared through the air and tackled the measily cook. The key leapt from his hands and bounced, bounced, bounced around the corner...Hossler walked around and picked it up. Then he broke the chef's face, knocking him clean out. The rest of the group caught up and the shifter's majestic word healed him in full. Waking slowly, he let out a scream as the half-orc's ugly mug was pressed close and growling. He stammered his name, Biol. Between Hossler, a broken finger, Brugagh, and another broken finger, Biol divulged someone named Modra was also looking for the key and they he'd pay handsomely down at the wharfs, warehouse 32.Hossler crushed the man's face a second time and stripped him (minus the crapped pants). Dawning the effects of a chef, he handed over his fullblade to Brugagh and decided to go undercover. The rest followed at far enough a distance to see him, but not so close as to draw suspicion, and so they went down to the wharfs and warehouse 32.However it seemd Brugagh, Ruhiel and especially Velasong were still drunk, kicking up enough noise and even waving so as to perfectly blow Hossler's cover. He examined the open street only to find a multitude of crates, sacks and barrels... and one horse. He stole the rations from its saddlebags and wandered for the warehouse door.Revenge!Disguise seemed not to matter, though, as a familiar voice demanded the key from behind the majority of the group. It was the Vengeful Pirate! The only survivor of the Burial Site battle, he'd vowed revenge, and so it was that vengeance was nye. He and a hulking human berzerker charged, even as the pirate whistled up for a few of his mates that had been waiting in ambush at the other end of the alleyway. A pirate, a berzerker, three bodyguards and a mage. Easy as goblin pie... right?Not so much. The stunning prowess of the berzerker, coupled with the force of numbers coming from behind the group, sandwiched them into a tight and desperate spot. Ruhiel nearly died if not for the healing power of Kildain, only to die not long after thanks to the twain-cleaving axe of the berzerker, who roared his name with every kill, the name of Greevang. Poor Solux was the next to die, knocked unconscious thanks to the charging wall of guarded. Once helpless, one of them dragged his halberd over the cobblestone, drawing up sparks and severing the tieflings head! Not long after Brugagh met his maker, Greevang cutting the barbarian in half at the waist. Hossler was barely standing and it was looking grim.Though they did manage to kill the damned Pirate, they also decided their best option was retreat. Picking pieces of their fallen friends enough to raise dead, Velasong, Kildain and Hossler ran from the roars of Greevang and the commands of the backline mage, who instructed them to clean up the bodies before the watch came and to get that key!Raising DeadFearing going back to The Cathedral of the Ten in such ruinous defeat, having gotten the vibe from High Father Ohgma that failure was unacceptable, the bard and cleric racked their brains for another solution. Their combined knowledge revealed two other alternative religious outlets in the city, The Cult of Tiamat (which the dwarf would be welcomed with open arms) and The Church of the Nine Hells. Though Velasong was certain she could trace her way to either hidden locale with minimal effort, the three ultimately decided to have Hossler, an observer of Kord, take the bodies to the High Father of Kord and hope Ohgma didn't find out. Such rituals for three people would take a full twenty-four hours...And so Velasong and Kildain decided to continue their investigation of the key and the one called Modra, pressing on to The Inn of the Impromptu Penguin. The shifter innkeeper took a shine to Velasong and ended up revealing some very juicy information, that the dark creepers were in fact arms dealers, pushing high-quality and even magic weapons and armor around the city. Yet no one knew where they were getting their wares from, who they were selling them to or how they were dealing them under the noses of the competant authorities of Greyhawk.The Warrior's GuildKildain decided them needed more help and went to The Warrior's Guild of Greyhawk, having respected Captain Ron back in Winterhaven (who was a member of this continental guild of warriors). It was wellknown the Greyhawk Regulars were the premiere fighting force of Flanaess, without doubt the best soldiers. Their headquarters were situated in The Grand Collesium, one of the largest buildings in the city. In the open pit dozens and dozens of warriors sparred, and below even more slept, ate and went about the inner workings of their order. Kildain made his way through the shallow rings of the guild until he came to a dwarf drinking by his lonesome amidst the weapon racks.Hud was his name, and beastmaster ranger his calling. Missing an ear, he fit perfectly the image of his stout, grizzled people. He and Kildain went back and forth, swapping information and some rather awkward banter (Kildain accidentally propositioned Hud for sex about three different times during the conversation), until which point Hud offered his services for a mere 10 gold a day. The cleric agreed, despite the ranger's sudden thought to increase the easily-achieved price. He promised he and his pet would be ready to work tomorrow.The Gold DragonThat night, Kildain and Velasong slept at the most famous inn in Greyhawk. The Gold Dragon was legendary for launching the most famouse adventuring parties on quests that fast became legend. The owner and innkeeper was one such legend, Bigby, who had long-since retired from certain death and realm-wide politics to live a simple life as master of the house. For a mere 5 sp, he allowed Velasong and Kildain room and board, amidst a large quantity of other adventurers, mostly independents without the mission or resources of something like The Great Church backing them.RegroupedTwenty-four hours later, in the afternoon, Hud and his trike hatchling pet in tow, Kildain and Velasong returned to the cathedral and met Hossler with the revived warlock, barbarian and warlord. However, Ohgma was all too well aware of what had transpired and demanded to see them. The group was in for a real reeming as the High Father angrily expressed his shame, embarassment and fury over his Inquisitors fairing so poorly. He kicked them out of the cathedral with a cruel ultimatum, uncover the meaning of the key and prevent whatever evil its linked to, or they'd all end up wishing they were dead.Experience: 200 xp (3950 total)Money: -55 gp (Hossler), -5gp from everyone, -5sp (Velasong and Kildain), -10gp/day (Kildain)Loot: The Brass Key (given by Father Ohgma and "key" to the hidden plots of the Shadowfell in Greyhawk), chef's outfit and utensils (Hossler)Magic: NoneNPCs:High Father Ohgma, Head Priest of Melora at The Catherdral of the Ten (HQ for Great Church)Quegod, Human Innkeeper of The Hairy ApeMadame Wu, Human Owner of The Aloof PuffinChef Biol, Human Chef of The Aloof PenguinVengeful Pirate, Human Pirate from the Burial Site back near Winterhaven (dead)Greevang , Human Berzerker that killed Ruhiel and BrugaghHigh Father Hextor, Head Priest of Kord at The Cathedral of the TenTergander, Shifter Innkeeper of The Impromptu PenguinBigby, Human Innkeeper of The Gold DragonOpen Quests:1. Uncover the importance of The Brass Key (who wants it and why, given by Father Ohgma)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The key is sought after by someone called Modra, willing to pay a high price to anyone who brings it to the wharfs, specifically warehouse 32. (Chef Biol)</li> </ul>2. How are dark creepers forging, dealing and transporting weapons and armor under the notice of normal city security (followup quest, important to The Great Church)Completed Quests1. Uncover why dark creepers are out of the Shadowfell (important to The Great Church)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dark creepers are dealing high-quality and magical arms and equipment to the darker organizations of Greyhawk and the surrounding regions. It is unknown where these weapons and armor come from, who makes them, or how they're transporting them in and out of the highly-secure city and region. (Tergander)</li> </ul></blockquote>

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