Wizardru's Story Hour (updated 11/21)

[Valanthe the Sleepless]

I am a bit overdue...

Excepts from Valanthe’s journal

Well, a fine mess this still is. While we found out some important info and did what we needed to do, we are still pretty much in the dark. And we have lost Rackhir, too.

Had I mentioned the extraplanar war we avoided? Or watching Rackhir banish Fraz Urb Luu (what’s up with that name, anyways? You’d think a demon prince could afford a better name!)? Or seeing his wife (someone actually married Rackhir, can you imagine it?) act as an Avatar of Beory? How about the suddenly warm sub-tropical forests where the black ice was? I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s been a hell of a week. Get it? Hell? Demon Prince? Never mind.

It’s bad enough we seem to be some sort of sounding board for half the deities in the Flanaess…the problem is that half the organizations in the Flanaess are out to kill us, too. The list of deities and groups involved is staggering. I also have a few of my own to add, but not that I’ll mention to my comrades-in-arms yet. I’d best let the dust settle. I mean, Dravot’s looking so….well, content. I’d hate to ruin that so soon. Far be it from me to be a name dropper, anyways.

While Trithereon kept to the normal fashion of answering in riddles, Ralishaz has been suprisingly straight forward, for now. Once, when we were outside the Coot’s compound waiting to attack, I heard the sound of dice once again. But this time there was a definite feeling of dread – like they’d be rolling 1’s. I had a bad feeling and we backed off for the time being. I’m having a hard time finding a way to explain that one. Kayleigh seemed willing to take me at my word…but Dravot…he knew something was up. I don’t know how he knew, but he did. He had ‘the look’. I think all clerics must get trained in that. Maybe that’s where Ardestor gets it from, I dunno. Maybe a year spent in learning prayers here, a year learning the ‘what are you up to, young lady?’ expression. I could see it.

Heh, Ol’ Ralishaz needs me alive anyway so I can pay back my debt. Once, in a moment of frustration I looked up and said to no one in particular “How can I pay back my debt if this whole place goes to Mechanus?” To my amazement I heard a voice say “who said you couldn’t?”. It was a freaky voice…but I don’t think it was Ral, somehow. That answer doesn’t irk me, it worries me. Not that I’m planning on cheating on a promise, you understand. As long as it doesn’t make my do something morally wrong, or go against my friends or comrades, I’ll do it. Risk, I don’t mind. Breaking the law? No problem. Harming others for no good reason? I’m cashing out the chips on that one.

Mind you, I’ve got no idea what Tritherion thinks of all this. I’m not exactly religious, but I ain’t planning on worshipping Ralishaz any time soon. I still drop of few coppers (well, platinums, these days) in the collection box for Tritherion, if you know what I mean. I’d like to say we’re still on speaking terms…but until last week, we never were. So I guess we are now. Sort of. Stupid gods.

 

[Tantra]

Excert from Aethramyr's Journal

It has been some time since I've written anything in my Journal. After the
Debacle at Nightfang Spire, and the Loss of two of my companions, My heart
was not into writing. Even their subsequient re-birth, though a cause of
rejoycing, was still not enough to inspire me to put Quill to parchment.

But now, After the defeat of the Egg and the Rebirth of the land through
Revenna, I am in a frame of mind to write some more.
This re-birth is truly amazing. Grass has grown, trees have
sprung from nothing, and the weather is Quite warm now. A weight seems to
have been lifted from our Troop, and although the Rackhir's Disappearance
weighs on us, it's hard not to simply enjoy the new beauty that has come
this far north. I write leaning against a tree, watching Crescent stretching
his legs and playing catch with Meepo. Crescent seems to be glad to not have
to walk through snow anymore, and also to not have his fur caked in ice.
Meepo's Reptillian aspect didn't deal with the cold well at all, and he's
also a lot happier now that the weather has turned.

But all this started back at the begining of winter, after we left Nightfang
Spire and Gulthius. The comming winter put a halt on Campaigning, and we had
a few months of downtime comming. I needed to return to my task of
Sehanine's revenge on whoever organized the destruction of my village many
years ago, and my employment with Gelban does slow that down. Elves Age
Slowly, and Goddesses even more so, but My Task is always with me, and the
downtime seems like a good time to advance on my quest.

The only problem being, I wasn't sure where to start. Kayleigh was going to
Celene, and I thought that was as good a place as any. Find out who the
enemies of elves were at that time, and go from there. Kayleigh Wisely
points out that while a direwolf might not be a problem in Celene, Unless I
was prepared to watch Meepo the entire time, he would likely be turned into a pincusion
by the guards in a hurry. I make arraingements with Valenthe to...keep an
eye on him. Greyhawk is starting to get used to his presense, But there will
always be people trying to take advantage of him. Valenthe does seem oddly
eager about watching him, though. After having fought with her for sometime,
I see several elements of her style in Meepo's.

Celene was an adventure. I learned several things there, including I have
FAMILY! uh...sort of. Verilunda, Valenth's Shadow cohort, is my AUNT! or was
my aunt. or something. She was my advocate before the Queen, and said that I
deserved to Participate in a naming ceremony, a celebration of passage to
Elven adulthood. My Upbringing at a monestary had denied me this honor, and
while mostly Symbollic, there are some resources that are denied to elven
children, Access to some libraryies included.

I choose the name "Aethramyr", and during the ceremoney I recieve a Vision
from Pellor, reguarding the suffering of some of his faithful in the north.
I owe a Debt to Pellor on behalf of Sehanine, so shortly after Kayleigh and
I ride out to meet Dravot and Thorkheld, and presumably the rest of the
party. I had had a dream some time ago, and I mention it to Kayleigh because
it seems some of the aspects of the dream and the Vision are eerily similar.
My description of the girl in the Cylander ignights some recognition in her,
and says it sounds like the Black Archer who we had dealings with. Since it was
Rackhir's wife (we thought at the time) I would mention it to him when we
met up later.

(ooc: /<snip portion that's documented better elsewhere>. see most of
Kayleigh's journals)

Now the Great battle with the egg is finished, and we relax in the warmth of
the new-formed land. I spend my time healing the malnurished slaves and
those sick from contact with the strange metal that has been the focus of
all this. We will soon be travelling back to Greyhawk, and with the barrier
destroyed it should easy to teleport. I negotiate with the Owl and Ravena
for a decent stock of the isometril. I intend to try and revive the Art of
making the Paladin blades that was lost in the ages. Even if I never figure
it out, It will keep me occupied when my arms can no longer swing a sword in
Her name. That, Sehanine willing, should be a long time from now.

Another thought strikes me as I watch Meepo: He's been journeying with us,
and learning skills as we have. Soon, it will not be fair to call him a
squire. If it were simple enough he would be knighted if that is his wish.
It's not fair to him to spend the rest of his life as my squire, but what to
do with him is one more puzzle. Of course, if my hunch is right and Valenthe has been training him, I might need to find one of the rogue guilds to enroll him in.

The Downside of this all this is still the Loss of Rackhir. We don't always agree on...well, most everything. but that doesn't make him any less of a friend, and more importantly, What was drilled into me during the hate wars was you don't leave your comrades behind. Granted, on a nother plane means calling in resources best found in Greyhawk. But, and I think my comrades are of a like mind in this, we will find him and if there is a possibility of rescue, then we will re-unite him with his wife and children.

 

[Valanthe the Sleepless]

There are two key events that everything swirls around, and that have set everything you've discovered into motion. Ravenna gave you some very big clues about it when she told you what she knew.

??? Okay here's what we had learned from Ravenna.

We asked Ravenna to please explain some of what had happened to us, from the beginning. She explained that there is a chosen of Beory born each generation. She did not know she was Beory’s chosen when she married Rackhir however. Then she was captured and imprisoned by Iuz. The Egg of Coot somehow attacked and killed one of the lesser boneheart, and captured her. She had been shuttled back and forth between somewhere (Mechanus perhaps) and was a connection to Beory. She was used to spread the black ice further south than it would have come. For a time the Egg hid her on Mechanus when Chavram attacked, but that did not work as the Egg had intended – on Mechanus she was a mortal woman, and conditions rapidly worsened here.

Over time the Egg grew more erratic and splintered. It started acting as two distinct personalities, depending on when you talked to it. It made deals and had discussions with various beings. At one point, strangers came in brown robes with masks and talked to it, but it was always in one particular personality for this. Apparently they were very angry at Chavram. Ravenna had the feeling that the robed men did not speak for their entire group though. They mentioned something about Chavram having an ulterior motive to facing down Iuz, and whatever it was, it scared them.

Okay, it seems choices are...

1) The Egg attacked and killed one of the lesser BoneHeart (one of Iuz's inner circle)

2) Chavram attacked the Egg at one point. Meanwhile he also moved Ravenna to Mechanus.

3) The Egg had at one point been visited by the Horned Society, who were not happy with Chavram. (but they seem to be a splinter group of the Horned Soc.)

Okay, I am still not seeing the big picture as to which ones are the events in question and what it all means. And we still have the question of why Fraz would want to start an extra-planar war.

*Sigh*, I suppose everyone else sees something we are missing.

Dravot, have you communed with your sun-shiney god yet?

Well, I hurt my brain enough, I'm outta here for now. And to think I'm married to the Rat Bastard DM

 

[dravot]

1-800-UPTHESUN

Dravot’s Journal – Interlude after Lands of Black Ice

I have just communed with Pelor for the first time. It was a terrifying experience to be so closely tied with the deity, and yet I knew I was safe at the same time. Kayleigh helped write down the responses, so I could concentrate on the link with Pelor.

Here is what I learned:

Is Rackhir alive and safe?
Yes, relatively speaking.

Has Fraz interfered with me or my friends before he messed with the brand and the mark?
No.

We prevented the war between Acheron and Mechanus. Did Fraz intend for us to prevent it?
No.

Did Chavram attack the Egg's army in an attempt to gain the Isometril?
Yes.

Did Chavram attack the Egg's army in an attempt to capture Ravenna?
No.

Is Fraz attempting to stop Chavram's plans?
Yes.

Will Beory, Ravenna and Agner be able to defend the Isometril from other
attempts to steal it?
Yes.

Has Chavram removed any other binders?
No.

Will the lack of isometril affect Chavram's plans?
Yes

Are my father and brother too far gone toward undeath to be saved?
No

Can I help break the curse that afflicts Zira and her brother?
Yes

 

[dravot]

Dravot's Journal (2 Entries)

Dravot's Journal - Interlude after Land of Black Ice

Apparently, I am a hero within the church. Pelor saw my actions against the Coot and thought them worthy enough to send a vision of them to all of His clerics. I found this out when I returned to Greyhawk to pick up the missionaries that Prestwick had for me.

We were chatting and enjoying tea before I retired for the night. I realized that Prestwick's offices were receiving much more traffic than they normally do at a regular hour, much less a late evening such as this.

I asked Prestwick what was going on. He expressed surprise at my question, and informed me of my newfound status. Indeed, there is to be a celebration in my honor in a day and a half.

I confess that I don't know what to think. I'm used to a certain level of deferential treatment at home, but I've grown used to being one of the little people within the church. To suddenly be elevated to a high status is somewhat uncomfortable, but I guess it's just the context. It shouldn’t take too long to get used to. It’s kind of funny that one reason father approved of my avocation was that it would teach me humility. Oh well.

Prestwick has agreed to ask our clergy throughout the Flaeness to keep an eye out for Chavram's minions, or Chavram himself, in an effort to gather more information on his actions and whereabouts. I am most greatful. He also informed me that Pelor has granted us free resurrections as a thank you for our service.

I had 2 notes waiting for me when I came back to these chambers. Thora says that the temple of Wee Jas has requested to purchase some lands near Brindinford. I am considering a counteroffer of a long term lease instead. Rel Astra is continuing to pester me about a possible betrothal to his granddaughter. I hope something else comes up soon, as this is becoming embarrassing.

Jasmine left a quick note. More books are coming into the library. I hope that she hasn't disturbed my filing system. Sounds like things are going well at the house, but I'll see for myself soon enough.

Dravot's Journal Cont'd

We have narrowly averted disaster at today's festivities. We were attacked by two awakened, enlarged dire tygers, directed by some hobgoblin. I wonder what made our enemies think that attacking us in the middle of a celebration of Pelor’s faithful would be a good idea?

Pelor's will was certainly with us, as Thorkeld was inspired to do great damage to one tiger, and I was able to use His searing light to destroy the other. I am happy to report that for the first time I managed to dispel magic in combat, reducing one tyger’s combat effectiveness. That and a recitation surely made a huge difference in our ability to dispatch the foe. Everyone pitched in, using their own specialties, but I get the feeling that the local version of what happened will once again highlight my actions in this fight.

Unfortunately the hobgoblin committed suicide rather than be taken alive. We will speak with his corpse in the morning and try to learn something of what happened. He carried the mark of Kargoth on him, meaning that he was most likely sent by Chavram. My little message to Sebastian must have made him nervous. Good. I'm glad to see others nervous for a change.

Other disturbing news: Kayleigh handed me a sketch of Brontal, or someone impersonating him. Gelban claims that he was spotted in Brindinford 6 weeks ago, and has reappeared in Hexpools. Yet more stuff to take care of. Never a moment's rest. Now that I have the knowledge to make the Chalice, will I ever find the time? I will try to learn more from here first before I go to investigate.

Kayleigh made use of some divine magics at home and told me that Chavram is basing his operations out of Raux. I am a fool; I should have seen that, given the increase in undead activities in that area. No matter, now that we know where he is, we can take steps to deal with him. I am beginning to formulate some plans.

 

[Zad]

Divine Wrath - Epilogue

Divine Wrath

Epilogue


OOC Notes:

2200 xp for everyone. Thank Scorch and his puppy eyes for the extra 200 points.

This Week's Adventure:

As the day wore on, more of the former slaves arrived along with the Owl’s people. Things were very hectic and there was a general sense of confusion. Dravot, Thorkeld, and Aethramyr were kept busy tending to the injured or those with isometril sickness. Ravenna was looking to us to somehow provide shelter for all these people. If you want an evil dictator deposed, we’re up to the task. If you want houses built… well, our talents don’t run in those directions. Then I asked “What about the caves the Owl and the other freed slaves were living in?” Apparently the Avatar of Beory was unaware there was a vast cave network a few miles away. This solved the shelter issue handily.

Even still, Ravenna was never grateful or thankful. She looked to us as though we were supposed to have houses prepared already, and was always somewhat cold. I was beginning to find her attitude towards us to be somewhat annoying. Fortunately however the Owl arrived on the scene finally. She had the experience and organizational skills that most of these folks lacked. Thanks to her, some of the chaos finally subsided and everyone started working together.

Dravot is planning to make arrangements for missionaries of Pelor to come here and help the people as they rebuild their lives. In the morning he’ll return to Greyhawk and then return here the next day with priests from the temple.

It wasn’t difficult to stay busy, and Dravot returned with the missionaries and a few bits of information as well. Apparently Pelor had seen the final moment when Dravot shattered the Egg of Coot with the Sunhammer and sent this vision to every priest of Pelor in the Flaness. He and Thorkeld are now quite famous, and there is to be a celebration in Greyhawk soon in his honor. In addition he told us that as a token of gratutide, the church has offered each of us a resurrection to be used at our time of need. Dravot pointed out that while he now has, by Pelor’s grace, the power to raise the dead, this resurrection would not even require the body, and comes without the trauma normally experienced in such an event.

Since things were well in hand here, we took our leave from the Land of Black Ice. For all the good and ill that’s come over the last year, one thing is for sure: travel is much easier. I needed to stop in Celene briefly and used the helm of teleportation to do so. Fortunately I was able to see Onselven rather quickly and explained my situation.

First I was hoping to reverse the divination block on my Archers Nock, since it seemed to be no longer needed for the time being. Secondly, I was hoping that by use of the divination binder, the Queen might be able to make some sense of recent events. Onselven was receptive to my request and we went to see the Queen in Court. While we went through the various candle lightings, bell ringings, and so on of the Elven Mysteries, we exchanged information on recent events.

He was intrigued to learn of the origins of isometril and the recently averted planar war. He told me that the battle against the Gulthias Horrors and the orcs had been going well since I had provided them information and the alchemical concoction of Scorch’s. But suddenly, a day and a half ago, during a pitched battle, the enemy retreated rapidly. Since then there have been no incursions and no druids or gulthias horrors sighted. Some Champions have been dispatched to hunt what they could find, but most are being held close to the kingdom.

As we enter court, the conversation stopped, then started again with new fervor. I was getting used to this and just ignored it. The Queen was reading an ancient tome with a Sule marking on the cover but set it aside as I approached. Onselven spoke with her briefly about my request and she said she would try to help. She bade me return in a few hours and we would begin. With the binder she could attempt to answer several questions and I could use the time to think of what I wished to ask.

I took the time to bathe and change, and pondered what would serve us best. When I returned, I was lead once again to the chamber below the ground, where the first binder waited. The Queen restored my mark to normal and it was the trivial thing she promised it would be. Then we proceeded on to the questions.

Is Chavram’s next objective a greater binder? Yes.

Is Rackhir out of Chavram’s reach for the time being? Yes

Is Rackhir out of our reach for the time being? Yes

Is the Adjutant with Rackhir? Yes

Are the orcs working with Chavram? No

Would it be wise for us to try and learn of Chavram’s plans and ulterior motive through the Horned Society? There are some avenues that could be followed but it is a dangerous path. Choose the wrong person to question and it could be great danger.

[OOC: This ulterior motive of Chavram’s has been of interest to us and we’ve been trying to zero in on it.]

Should we try to get to the lost binders before Chavram does? Failure to gather at least one of the contested greater binders would be disasterous. However the time is not yet right. (The Queen indicated she could foresee us pursuing a bonder, concealed and under guardianship for 500 years. We will seek it under the earth. She could see the symbol of Therizdun, and saw us in a maze. The elven symbol for stone was also prominent, but she did not know the significance. This bore a great similarity to the vision Aethramyr and I shared while riding Tongs.)

Does Chavram have a fixed base of operations? Yes

Does Iuz know the ulterior motive that Chavram has? No

Will the messages Dravot sent cause inconvenience for our enemies? Yes

[OOC: Ok, so I was running out of ideas. Gimme a break.]

I thanked the Queen deeply for her help. She dismissed me and said that she would contact me at need but until then I should do what I think best.

Since we know that Chavram has one greater binder, and that one is here, that only leaves one more – the evocation binder. That will be Chavram’s next target and the one we must find first. But that would come later.

For now, I needed to return to Greyhawk. But first I realized that Aran’gel would likely be worried and decided to pop in on him on my way. I arrived easily in Highfolk, but he was not there. One of the junior wardens told me he was with a patrol, chasing down a group of gnolls. Apparently several small groups had been in the area of late. Of course this made perfect sense – it was the remains of Chavram’s army, returning after their defeat at the hands of the Coot. I told him to tell Aran’gel that instead of killing them all, to have some of them followed to see where they went. It might lead us to Chavram.

And so I returned to Greyhawk. We each had matters to attend to and went separate directions. However I would check in with Lord Gelban and advise him of our return. I found him with The Brazen, and the three of us exchanged a great deal of information.

First, Nightfang Spire has been destroyed, and the best information they can obtain indicates that the Heart has been destroyed with it.

Second, they believe that Chavram has a stronghold somewhere in Rauxes. He has not been seen but several bearing Cargoth’s insignia have. They believe Cargoth is working with Chavram.

Also the Brazen has a sketch for Dravot to look at. The man was in Brindinford six weeks ago but is not there now. They believe he is in Hexpools right now. If it is who they think it is, we may need to investigate further.

They also told me that a major temple of Vecna was rooted out and destroyed in the southern Yatls. It seemed as if they had been massing for some kind of movement but they are unsure what the target was. Also they had no Gulthias horrors, and by all indications, had no idea what they even were. It was a very sizable temple, and so if they had no idea about the horrors, it implies that the entire cult does not. Puzzling indeed.

I wanted to ask Lord Gelban about the symbol of stone, and said that I had received some information by means of the divination binder.

Lord Gelban said “The Queen has the binder of divination then?”

I stopped dead, horrified that I had said something to betray my people. Lord Gelban knew that there was a binder in Celene so that was no surprise. Obviously he did not know which one until now. I could only hope that I had not betrayed a vital secret or that Lord Gelban would not harm my people with this knowledge. Before I visited home, I assured Lord Gelban that I would keep his secrets unless directly questioned. I can only hope that he will now keep mine.

As to the symbol itself, it relates to the people of The Testing in the Lendore Isles. What they might have to do with all this is puzzling and of some concern to Lord Gelban. He said that he would investigate.

They were both very interested in the note we had recovered from the frost giants and how it came to be in their possession. The problem that we knew virtually nothing of how they came to have this message or who were the parties involved. Lord Gelban resolved to have the matter investigated and perhaps they could find and question the one giant who got away.

After I left, I made sure to stop in and see Ariadne. She was quite worried about us, and me in particular and my visit assured her that we had returned unharmed.

At my next opportunity I talked to Dravot. I had to get through some of the priests who did not want to allow me access to “The Holy Brother Dravot” but I was able to get past them easily enough. I showed Dravot the sketch and he said it was Brontal, the smith who made the brand. The murdered one. We would likely need to look into this further.

However first was the celebration. It was a huge affair with plenty of ceremonies and what not. Thorkeld and Dravot were the center of it all, and Aethramyr saw no small amount of attention either. Valanthe and I were not of great interest to most, and personally I didn’t mind. It was their moment in the sun (pardon the pun) with their brothers, and I could not begrudge them that. In fact, the attention here would have likely made me uncomfortable anyway.

After various ceremonies and rituals at dawn, things became more like a celebration. There were something like three thousand people in the area, and I was stunned by the whole thing. Around mid morning, we were all scattered in a large indoor marketplace that had been turned into a bazaar with games and assorted wares for sale.

But of course, nothing this festive can go undisturbed. The first thing that happened was someone shot an arrow at Scorch, but he couldn’t tell where it came from. This was minor in comparison to the next thing that happened. Suddenly, two large tigers grew up out of nowhere. Large…larger…now gigantic tigers, forty feet long if they were an inch. Tents were crushed and people dashed aside as they exploded in size.

Truly the sort of thing that doesn’t happen every day… unless you’re us.

We started moving into positions – I pulled back to cast a few spells, and was only slightly surprised to see one tiger look square at me and say “Run while you still can.”

I just smirked and raised an eyebrow.

Scorch had limited options will all these innocent people around but a mass haste is always a good thing. In no time I had my shield and flight ready and was moving into position. Meanwhile Dravot was invoking a recitation and Thorkeld and Aethramyr moved up. Valanthe was trying to locate the archer who shot Scorch, and likely the man controlling the tigers.

Thorkeld swung his hammer over and over and each time the sound of crushing bone followed. His ferocious attack tore into the beast with a fervor I’d never seen in him. Aethramyr followed and between them they had badly wounded the beast. Scorch by now had managed to get some height himself and what with the beasts so tall was able to put a lightning bolt across both of them without injuring the people below.

[OOC: Thorkeld is a cohort and as such is not a real combat machine. However we had a visitor tonight and he was playing Thorkeld, and ripped up the tiger like we’d never seen Thorkeld do. Part of the problem is that Thorkeld can’t hit the broad side of a barn, but these were bigger than that. Add a nice crit and he did 65 points of damage in one round. We were stunned.]

Valanthe had located the archer – a hobgoblin who was ducking around the tents. She had managed to close and was keeping him busy while we dealt with the big threat.

The wounded tiger was not doing well, and two arrows from me finished it. It went crashing to the ground, crushing tents and a few people.

I still had several shots left to fire, and I turned to the other tiger, the one who had spoke, and told him “Run. While you still can,” and opened fire on him, burying three arrows into him.

Those would be my last on him though – he did not survive much longer under our full attention. Between Aethramyr, Thorkeld, and Dravot using two searing lights, the beast crashed to the ground like his counterpart.

That left the hobgoblin. As I turned my attention to him, we were already preparing to try to take him alive. Even from overhead I could make out the insignia of Cargoth on his gorget. [OOC: Kayleigh has a spot check from hell] Of course, arrows are not well suited for subduing someone. But I had a spell I’d learned from Aran’gel for just such an occasion and never had a chance to use it. A few words and gestures enchanted my arrows to pummel rather than pierce, and I opened fire. My companions closed in and the hobgoblin was badly pressed. He jumped back and tried to activate a scroll he had, but in pulling it out, he tore it in half and the terror set in as he knew his fate was sealed. He was soon unconscious and disarmed.

[OOC: He botched his use-magic-device roll.]

We tied him up and were ready to revive him. However no sooner was he conscious then a green gas came from his mouth and he died with a gurgle and a single convulsion. Dravot ordered the arriving priests to take his body to the temple so that we might Speak with the Dead in the morning.

Loot
Take from all the stuff from Divine Wrath is 8724gp each.

Items went as follows

Sold: the mithril, the ring of alarm
Dravot got the green prism ioun stone and the ring of fire resistance, the rod of blessed rest
Valanthe got the wand of cure moderate, to leverage healing abilities.
Scorch got the spell book of course
Kayleigh got the ring of the chameleon (her cloak of elvenkind went to Dravot I believe)

From the hobgoblin ranger:
Chain shirt +2 (book value 4250gp - sell)
Battleaxe +2 (8310gp - sell)
Mighty Composite Longbow +1, +3str mod (2700gp)
Boots of Speed (like we’re gonna sell those? Sheesh)
Cloak of Elvenkind (2000gp)
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Arrow of Slaying: Lawful Outsiders (Kayleigh)
Necklace of the wild beast (3750gp - sell)

Selling off the shirt, axe, bow, and necklace yields an additional 3,591gp each

 

[WizarDru]

Quick point: The hobgoblin hunter, Mundroot, was NOT conscious when he 'self-destructed'. Whatever killed him, he wasn't in control when it did.

 

[Zad]

The Grand Tour - Chapter 1

The Grand Tour

Chapter 1 – When dead things attack

OOC Notes:

Exp this session is 4300. Loot is a +2 kama and +2 bracers of armor.

Notes for Next Time:

The implications from these events are massive. I’ll come back to this.

This Week’s Adventure:

The attack had mostly dampened people’s spirits for the celebration, and the crowds started to disperse. Miraculously, no one was killed in the whole affair aside from those attacking. The hobgoblin’s body was carried away to the temple for examination and the scene outside cleaned up.

While they examined the body, Scorch and I started heading for Lord Gelban’s estate to fill him in. We hadn’t gotten too far away when Dravot said that the body was still under some kind of enchantment and asked Scorch to return. Scorch, either too lazy to walk back, or just feeling like he didn’t need to, teleported us both back to the temple. The hobgoblin’s body seemed to be filling up with some kind of green fluid and was clearly bigger than it had been before. At that rate it would probably explode soon. Of course the temple was still packed with people and there now seemed to be some danger so Valanthe and Dravot did their best to herd the people out of the temple, with mixed results.

Meanwhile Scorch was able to contain the body in a wall of force. Once there we were fairly confident that it would be safe, and waited. Shortly the body exploded into a spray of green acidic poison, blasting the corpse apart. The toxin would surely have been a danger to whoever had been nearby.

After the explosion, there wasn’t enough left of the corpse to question with via speak with the dead so that line of investigation was closed. We just wrote it off as a half hearted attempt to kill us by Chavram and moved on.

Valanthe went off on some personal errand, while Scorch and I resumed our walk towards the estate, and Aethramyr went off towards the grove.

I’m sure the assassins watching us couldn’t have been more pleased.

Scorch and I were in the High Garden district about half way to the estate when a loud popping sound broke the calm. Unless you are the one making it, a loud popping sound is never good. Scorch was slower to realize what was going on but I quickly turned ready to deal with whatever was waiting.

Of anything I might have expected, one of the last would probably have been Aeoket. The mummy that killed me, and was subsequently killed by the group. Well obviously I had recovered, but so had he. With him was a towering monstrosity of a flesh golem. If Aeoket thought he would simply stupify me by his mere presence, he was sadly mistaken. It just made me all the angrier.

I didn’t waste time wondering why they were here – I got a shield spell back up. Fortunately my fly spell was still running from the earlier battle. They had appeared about forty feet away and Aeoket charged at me, but was unable to lay a hand on me.

Scorch, recognizing the flesh golem and that his spells would have virtually no effect, told me on the link to take out the golem and he would deal with Aeoket. Of course my first impulse was to send Aeoket to a firey, arrow ridden death but I resisted the urge.

I sent out over the link that we were under attack. Valanthe responded with something short, curt, and punctuated with a few choice obscenities and Aethramyr added he too was being attacked. That left us each to deal with our own threat.

I started gaining altitude and filling the flesh golem with arrows. Fortunately they stuck well, and the fire slowed him down a bit. Given his monstrous arms and reach, this was a good thing. Aeoket meanwhile kept leaping about trying to stun me, and while he did wound me a bit he was unable to score any substantial blow.

Scorch made himself invisible and got some space to work. The golem fumbled about for him while I poured more arrows into his hide, and Aeoket kept bouncing around. Scorch finally had what he wanted and dropped a vicious fireball on Aeoket. Even the mummy’s amazing reflexes failed him and he was badly burned by the blast, some of his wrappings still aflame.

[OOC Note: A maximized fireball. Aeoket has monk levels and would have taken no damage had he made his save, but he blew it. He took half damage of 30 points, but it’s fire on a mummy, so double to 60.]

The golem and Aeoket were both badly hurt. The golem was staggering and coming apart from the hail of arrows tearing it apart, and Aeoket had suffered badly in the fire. The golem then either showed a glimmer of intelligence or perhaps was ordered out. He reached to a glyph drawn on his massive chest, and in a shimmer was suddenly gone.

Unfortunate since had he stayed, he’d have been “gone” in an altogether different way. That left Aeoket alone and my only target. I fired with a vengeance and the arrows tore into him even as the flaming arrows re-ignited his fragile wrappings. I fired an extra shot or two just for all the pain he had put me through and watched as he crumbled into pieces on the ground.

Meanwhile my friends were in similar fights for their lives. Aethramyr was suddenly confronted by a fiendish rhinoceros. While dealing with the beast he was also on the receiving end of a flame strike. He never saw his attacker or where they were.

Valanthe meanwhile was ambushed by Redbone. Redbone is a threat to be taken seriously when encountered by our entire group. I think Valanthe was lucky to escape the encounter alive. When we regrouped at the temple, we were all injured to some extent but Valanthe was badly hurt, poisoned, and had been drained of energy. When she saw things were going badly she was able to evade Redbone and escape but surely luck played as much a factor as anything. Fortunately the priests were able to help her, but she could easily have suffered much worse.

Scorch and I had gathered up the remains of Aeoket, and while I had several ideas for satisfying things I would have liked to do with them, we handed them over to the temple and they assured me they could arrange it so that he could not return from undeath again.

Of course now the attack at the festival makes sense – it wasn’t intended to actually kill us, but to drain us of spells and soften us up for the real attack.

While we were licking our wounds, a runner showed up looking for Lord Dravot. He had been sent by Jasmine at his house, and there was a messenger there and it was imperative Dravot return quickly.

Dravot made to leave but I insisted we all go. Exposing ourselves to another attack seems senseless given the day’s events.

We slipped through the streets quickly and on our guards. Even in a city like Greyhawk where the strange is common, people were careful to stay out of our path. We arrived at Dravot’s house and Jasmine quickly informed him that a messenger had arrived but there was something wrong with him. He would not let her tend to him though.

In the study was a human in his thirties. There was a huge hole in his chest, sucking in all the light, as if a hunk of blackness was devouring him. He was pale and fatigued. Aethramyr said the man was good but the wound was unspeakably evil. When I tried to detect magic, the level stunned me it was so powerful.

He spoke hoarsely and said he brought a message. On his way he was attacked. He urged us not to touch the wound lest we become sucked in. It was The Brotherhood that attacked him. “They have the part” he said. They used a fragment on him but he got away. He offered Dravot a message.

It was from his brother Gerrin.

Brother

I pray this message reaches you in time. For two months I have searched in vain for news of missing family. At the cost of several lives, I have. Or rather, our brother found me. He and father are bound to grandfather’s will but as of late they have grown stronger, and he more distracted.

While ranging east of Hexpools, I was beset by warriors reeking of undeath and bearing skulls of green flame upon their devices. Were it not for intervention of our eldest, I would most surely be dead.

He told me of Chavram’s goal and what his need for the binders is fueled for.

Apotheosis

He means to destroy Iuz, and has from the beginning. He fears something and he sees this as the way to obtain a victory. But what he fears they do not know. Chavram has plans to have your friends killed and has dispatched assassins to do the deed. Be on your guard! I return home on the morrow.

Be safe.
Gerrin

The messenger was delayed by the attack of course, and his warning too late. Still it was an incredible act that he had gotten here at all. There was nothing that could be done for him – he had been touched by something very powerful and there was nothing available to reverse it. His body and soul was being quickly consumed. We could not save him, but we could at least save his soul and release him. I thought we owed him at least that much. A single arrow ended his life quickly and without pain. Without the man’s will to resist it, the blackness swallowed up his body in seconds, vanished as if he had never been.

[OOC Note: Apotheosis = ascension to godhood]

So the Brotherhood has one of the Theoparts. Likely the Black Brotherhood – the faction that has split away from the main group.

So for the fourth time, I suggested we speak to Lord Gelban. But we should remain together to be ready for any more attacks. Dravot was being uncharacteristically fussy about this and wanted to remain at his house, mentioning some project. I was of the firm opinion that we should all remain together since we were all clearly still targets. He finally relented and said he would begin work the next day.

I was puzzled at his stubbornness – we have multiple attacks, dire warnings, waylaid messengers, and he was being stodgy about a ‘project’. But I was to understand soon enough. It was likely Pelor’s wish that he remain, and he was subconsciously grating at defying it. Before we left he went into his workroom, and after some moments emerged with a golden chalice. It was a beautiful vessel, and surely enchanted. He said that this was the project he wished to begin, but that Pelor had just granted him the vessel completed. He seemed fulfilled and rewarded by this, and said it would serve to cure those who drank from it of injuries.

A handy thing indeed.

With that objection removed, we made for Lord Gelban’s estate. At the gate, Scorch was hailed specifically and the guards indicated that his guest was waiting in the moon tower. Scorch knew nothing of this and was dismissive but the guards insisted and described the woman, with no small level of nodding and winking.

Scorch started to get a look of what could only be called “Dread” on his face and said he would go see to it while we spoke to Lord Gelban.

Lord Gelban was in his study with a great many papers strewn about. With him was a halfling in brown robes. Having been pushed fairly hard today, I set the tone for the meeting by first pouring myself a drink, then sitting down, and then saying my hello’s.

Lord Gelban first introduced Bolo. The Scaled Council felt the need to add someone to help compensate for the loss of Rackhir and Bolo has been sent by the Druidic Council to join us. Apparently the discussion in the Scaled Council was rather heated and the arguments long, but this was the end result. I asked if we were being given a choice in this matter. Lord Gelban paused before answering saying that as always, our opinions would be given “consideration.”

I shrugged, thinking that was fairly reasonable, and said that we would be happy to let Bolo’s actions speak for him as time went on.

We then proceeded about the business of reciting in the most recent developments. At one moment there was a bear in the room, then not. I confess I wasn’t watching closely enough to follow the whys. At another time, a guard came in and reported the moon tower was on fire. Lord Gelban did not know what to make of this, and asked if we were under attack. The guard said that we were not.

Lord Gelban could only nod dazedly and say “Carry on then.”

By now we were getting to the heart of matters and Lord Gelban asked Scorch to join us, which he did. Lord Gelban requested that he be informed of guests in the future and Scorch then said it wasn’t what it seemed, and that the young woman was his sister. He did this in the way that most brothers refer to their sister, and in Scorch’s case it seemed punctuated with even more embarrassment.

Lord Gelban mentioned reports of a mercenary company called the Pale Grin, but would not have expected Aeoket and Redbone to be involved. But he suspects they were the ones sent to assassinate us.

I inquired as to whether any word had arrived from Aran’gel who I had asked to follow the gnolls back to Chavram, but he told me that Aran’gel was missing. I tensed at this and he clarified that they have not heard from him in some time but it is unknown if Aran’gel is keeping himself hidden as part of his current activities, or if something has gone wrong.

As we were talking there was a series of muffled explosions. Most of us barely noticed but Valanthe was concerned. From the balcony she could see that the doors to the estate had been blown inward. Through the gate came a man wearing bright red velvets, his face scarred on both sides.

Gelban blanched and simply said “Infernus.”

I forget where I had heard it, but Infernus was a red dragon, a power akin to Lord Gelban and on the Scaled Council.

Several guards charged towards Infernus but he brushed them aside with an absent wave. Lord Gelban turned to us and quickly said “The council is shattered. The chromatics have broken and it will be open war among the dragons for now. Get my daughter and get out.” And he went to face Infernus.

We wasted no time and searched out Ariadne. Scorch quickly retrieved his sister from the moon tower and we all met at the back of the estate and quickly got ourselves over the wall and away.

Throughout all of Greyhawk, armed bands of men were moving. Some had the standards of noble houses, while others were the town guards. Many of the men from noble houses were wearing a red armband, and some carried wands.

Open warfare. Among the dragons, and among men.

We quickly made our way out of town avoiding any confrontations. It was unlikely that a band of guards would pose too much threat to us, but we had Ariadne and Ember in our care, and it would be irresponsible to risk them. We made our way out of town quickly and once in the woods, had only one question.

What now?

 

[dravot]

Exerpt from Dravot's Journal

Exerpt from Dravot's Journal

...
Kayleigh wanted to go to Gelban. I bid her safe journey and said that I would not go with the group. She was being as stubborn as I was however, and finally I relented. Mostly I was tired of hearing her nag. I did put her off long enough to go to my lab and make sure that everything was ready. As I entered the room, I went to the cup that was to become the Chalice. It is of fine craftsmanship and is beautiful to behold. I sighed as I picked it up, and told myself that it’d only be one more day and then I would start. As I picked it up, the dream-vision that I had about Belline occurred again, only this time it took about half a second to do so. I heard a voice, warm and fatherly, “It is done.” I felt, a bit cold, as if life force were draining from my very being, yet I was not alarmed by this.

There was a brilliant light…surely I thought it would blind me, but it did not. At once I realized that the Chalice was complete. I packed it up and brought it along, that I might revel in it’s beauty once at Gelban’s.

...

[Out of Character: The chalice can cure light wounds, moderate wounds and serious wounds 3x/day. One pours in a potable drink, utters the appropriate command word and the drink is now a healing draught, but only as long as the draught is taken directly from the chalice. If it is poured into another container, it reverts to it's original form.

Holy water can be similarly turned into a draught that removes curse 1x/day. Dravot still expended xp for it, and incurred some of the cost of it's construction, and plans to donate to the temple in gratitude.]

 

[Argent Silvermage]

A Halfling's View

Bolo had been asked by the Druidic Council to aid the champions of the Dragon Lord. He had no sooner met his new comrads when the Elven woman questioned his worthieness to be a part of thier group due to his SIZE of all things. They asked Bolo nothing about himself.... Just automaticly judged him by his hight.
Bolo was less than impressed.
The only companion he seems to have with them is the Mage who treated him as an equil at first meeting and the Dire wolf partner of the Paladin.