Tales of Inolba Chronicle II: Quest for the Skystones

An Uneasy Calm

The drums of war have grown silent. The fires of battle dwindle. And the victorious begin the long march home, never the same again.

Felorian, the beholder manipulating the mad king Aldurnus has been defeated and the Althyiran invaders scattered to the four winds. Beltigost has won a hard fought victory, and though stragglers of Althyria remain, the new Queen of the Frost Giants, Brunhilde, is keeping the borderlands around Caer Termax safe. As the duke and his army return to Perrinwall, the lands of man are once again at peace. But within the shadows of the duchy other, more malevolent beings plot the downfall of man. To the east the poisonous fumes of Felgoth Forest creep steadily closer to Vodymsira. In the west humanoids assemble in the Crimson Steppes ready to once again invade. In the south, the dwarves wage a desperate war to reclaim the lost knowledge of binding magic. Vodymsira is still reeling from the revelation of a demonic presence within the ducal palace. And in the Temple of the Three Faces, dire portents claim that fey beings seek to shatter the veil that separates Inolba from the mystic realms of Tir-na-Nog and lay waste to the mortal world.

All the while, a renegade elf seeks to assemble the Skystones of Power for some unknown purpose. If he does it could mean Inolba's salvation. Or ensure its destruction. Adventure calls again. Those that answer must be prepared, for Death travels on the wind.

Grungir's Decision

SESSION 17 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 7th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 5th/6th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/6th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 6th level Ranger (Justifier)
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

 

NPCs

Brundhilde, a Frost Giant Princess

From the Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

With the Stone of A Thousand Winters Destroyed and the unnatural blizzard at an end, King Leonis' army began preparations to march on Caer Terma and end Althyria's invasion of Beltigost. Having warned the king of the prophecy given to them by the Three Sisters of Fate and the Mad King's secret alliance with the Frost Giant King Grungir, it was decided that the companions would travel ahead of the army into the northern mountains to return the Grungir's daughter Brunhilde to him and hopefully break the alliance. Leonis' army would split into two and follow a day behind. The main force would march straight on Caer Terma, while the smaller force would circle through the mountains and flank the Althyrian force.

It was decided that Lady Tyra and the druid Kieren would stay behind at Northax while the others pushed ahead. A troupe of rangers had gone into the mountains three days prior to scout out the pass, but had not returned. The companions were tasked with finding out what happened to the Rangers and then somehow making contact with Grungir.

About a day into their march, they discovered the slaughtered remains of the rangers and their horses. As Eswin went up to investigate the scene, the snow exploded around him and ten Yetis ambushed the party. After recovering from their initial surprise, the companions made quick work of the savage brutes however and they were once again on their way.

Grungir, King of the Frost Giants

After that, it was not long before they located the mountain pass. As they traversed the pass, they were once again ambushed, this time by a band of mercenaries sent by Ragan Doon to prevent them from  making contact with Grungir. The leader of the mercenaries, an Iskal berserker by the name of Rolf Greybeard, was accompanied by two ice bears, and shadow mage, two archers and a winter elf assassin. The battle was treacherous along the narrow moutain pass and Rolf's savage attacks reined down on the dwarf champion Dubner, as the Icebears tore into Shaw and his new winter wolf companion. Talos squared off with the shadow mage, while Brendel made short work of the archers and then set to battle with the elusive winter elf who had a cloak that allowed him to turn into a gust of whirling snow to escape attack. In the end however, the wild Rolf, despite his savage prowess, fell to the ancient hammer of Dubner, as Shaw severed the limbs off of the ice bears. Once again, the companions proved vicorious.

With the assassination attempt foiled, Brunhilde then led them to her father's camp. A tense negotiation ensued. Grungir agreed to quit the field of battle while the companions tried to convince him to join their cause. In the end, Grungir decided it would be settled by combat. If the heroes could defeat his champions, he would agree to aid them.

In a large icy chamber, the heroes faced off against Hakon, a Frost Giant champion and his mate, Sheldira, a Frost Giant Witch Doctor. The battle proved to be less climactic than anticipated, as Talos summoned black tentacles to wrap up the Witch Doctor, while the remaining companions reined blow after blow upon Hakon, felling him without too much trouble, Though once again the sturdy dwarf Dubner took quite a beating. With the companions victorious, Grungir severed the heads of his champions and declared that he would aid them in the coming battle. Together they would make a desperate assualt on the Mad King himself at Caer Tema, the Fortress of Endings.

 

The Stone of a Thousand Winters

SESSION 16 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 6th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 4th/5th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/5th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 5th level Ranger (Justifier)
Kieren, 7th level Druid
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

NPCs

Lady Tyra, a noble from Samarra with a mysterious past
Brundhilde, a Frost Giant Princess

 

From the Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

Having secured the release of the Frost Giant Princess Brunhilde and a new mysterious ally in Lady Tyra of Samarra, the companions made haste to the castle of Northax where King Leonis and his army were camped out. A Thulian elder informed them that the mad king and his army had taken control of the northern border fort of Caer Terma and that his armies were laying in wait for Leonis' troops. To make matters worse an unnatural blizzard had arisen making troop movement all but impossible for the time being.

Movement was slowed by the blizzard and the companions were forced to march at a snail's pace. On the way to Northax, they were accosted by a Grueshach savant and several snow wraiths, which they easily overcame. The next night, they were attacked by a force of Blood Knight scouts mounted on Basilisks. The battle with the Blood Knights was only slightly more difficult, as Eswin used his medallion to charm six of the basilisks and a well timed slow spell by Talos made the Blood Knights easy pickings for the other heavy hitters of the group.

After two and a half days of hard travel, the companions finally reached Northax. There, they apprised the king of the prophecy of his death and of the secret alliance between the Frost Giants and the mad king. From there, it was determined that the unnatural blizzard needed to end before any troop movement could be made. Leonis' scouts and wizards had picked up a magical flux to the east and guessed that the source of the blizzard was in that direction.

 

Leaving Bunhilde and Tyra at Northax, the companions set out to end the blizzard. A day's travel north and east brought them to an old crag, atop which stood a rune-carved obelisk pulsing with frigid magic. Around the obelisk, five Grueshach savants and a Grueshach elder savant were chanting magical spells. The base of the hillock was guarded by two winter wolves. The battle was met, and Dubner charged into the midst of the Grueshachs around the spire swinging his mighty hammer. Eswin, with his basilisks, managed to turn two of the Grueshachs, to stone, but the rest remained unharmed. While most of the companions dealt with the remaining Grueshach savants, Shaw managed to tame one of the winter wolves, as Dubner went toe-to-toe with the Grueshach elder, supported by the magical arrows from Brendel's mighty bow.

The Remorhaz Emerges from the Snow

Just when it seemed as though the battle would be a cakewalk, the Grueshach elder summoned a Remorhaz from below the frozen ground. It burst forth behind Brendel and immediately tried to swallow the half-elf whole. Eswin sent his basilisks in to turn it to stone, to no avail. The mighty Remorhaz continued pounding merciliessly on the back ranks of the companions, and the fear of defeat began to creep into their minds. Just then, Kieren summoned mighty bolts of lightning from the sky, severely wounding the Remorhaz, but in the process killing all of Eswin's new basilisks. As lightning bolts continued to rain down on the Remorhaz, it finally fell. Moments later, Dubner put his hammer upside the head of the Grueshach elder and the day was won. After defeating the Grueshachs, the companions easily destroyed the Stone of a Thousand Winters and the magical blizzard came to an end. With their quest complete, the companions headed back to Northax to discuss their next steps with the king.

A Brief Interlude V

The Tale of the Emir and Iblis

As told by Lady Tyra al Razier

My tale is a sad one, filled with jealousy, avariciousness, and human pride. It does not suffer from the fatal flaw of your western tales, which is to say, it does not end happily and all is not made right simply to please an audience starved for something better than their own miserable lives.

Lady Tyra al Razier

Long ago my father, Zulkar al Razier, Emir of Razier, that beautiful jewel of a city in the heart of the faraway land of Samarra, was known far and wide as the greatest player of Dragon Chess in all the land. He was host to dignitaries from the exotic lands of the west, the north, and even the eastern lands of the necromancer kings; and he bested them all. For many years he found no equal from any mortal realm and his pride grew. But there are creatures of darkness and flame in worlds beyond ours that watch us, Demons and Devils of all kinds that plot to corrupt and dominate the mortal races. For though they know that the mortal races have not their inborn power, they were gifted with cleverness - something that these creatures greatly admire, hate and yes, even fear.

It came to pass that a great demon known as Iblis, the Prince of All Flame, sought to test the cleverness of my father and teach him a lesson. Using powerful magics, Iblis whisked my father away from his throne room to the heart of his fiery domain and challenged him to a game of Dragon Chess. If my father won, the great Iblis would grant him a wish. If Iblis won, then my father would grant the demon lord's desire.

Now my father, being a wise and clever man as any I have ever known, knew that demons are deceitful creatures. He expected Iblis to cheat, and so the demon lord did. Despite this, my father, in his pride, still believed he could best the fiery Iblis. Sadly, he was wrong. When the match was over and the demon lord stood triumphant, he demanded his prize: Me. My father begged the demon lord to reconsider -  to take his wealth, his lands, his own life; but not his beloved Tyra. But Iblis would take no other prize.

I was taken that night from my home to dwell in Iblis' fiery realm. Before I left, my father's vizier informed me that Iblis - though powerful - could not take me by force for his bride. I must willingly submit to him or fall victim to his deceitful tricks in order for him to succeed in wooing me. Armed with this knowledge, I was determined not to by charmed by his wiles, nor to offer myself up to him, no matter the cost. This infuriated Iblis. He tried all of his tricks, but he found - as he feared - that ultimately, demons are no match for the cleverness and recoursefulness of mortals. Years passed and Iblis resorted to more desperate measures. He showed me through a magical mirror the deaths of my parents and my brothers, the ruin of my father's city, and the passage of years. He argued that I had no one left in the world save him and that I should give up my stubborn fight against him. But still I refused. So he had me imprisoned in the fiery mountain of Zatal until I came to my senses.



Iblis, the Prince of All Flame

Now Iblis, though he is powerful, is not without his enemies. The politics of the Brass City are intricate and complicated affairs, and through many brokering of deals and acquisitions of magic, many creatures rise and fall in power over the roll of years. One such creature, was the Efreet pasha, Imladris. He and Iblis were bitter enemies (though I confess that I do not know whence the rivalry began). Each sought to overthrow the other and beget the other's ruin. After many centuries, Iblis was able to secure the magic to bind Imladris to a magical sword and then had him exiled to the mortal realm. There he dwelt inside the sword, unbeknowst to those who wielded him.

When the mortal men carrying the sword passed over from the mortal realm and assaulted Zatal, Imaldris saw his chance to get back at Iblis. Using his influence, he communicated to the mortal druid Kieren to release me from Zatal and take me back to the mortal realm, where Iblis could not find me. Thus, Imladris struck a blow against his old enemy and I was set free.

My family and my lands are all gone now; I wish only to live out my life in peace and find love and happiness in the years remaining to me.

An Infernal Debt

SESSION 15 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 6th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 4th/5th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/5th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 5th level Ranger (Justifier)
Kieren, 7th level Druid
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

NPCs
Snot Gristlebeard, dwarf slave

From The Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

While resting up in the Forgeworks of the Tower of Kel-Arath, the party was re-joined by the druid Kieren and the Half-Elf archer Brendel, who had followed their trail from the ruined village of the Thulians. After speaking with the free-slave dwarf Snot Gristlebeard, they learned that Wyrlish, the Fire Elementalist held the other crystal needed to activate the portal to the elemental plane of fire where Brunhilde was being kept captive.

The ascended the tower and after easily defeating some Blood Knights and recovering some magical gear, including a ring, an earring, a medallion, several potions and an iron flask of some sort, they by-passed a riddling door to gain access to Wyrlish’s sanctuary.

The bald fire elementalist was ready for them however, being alerted to their presence by a floating eye in the previous chamber. He was ensconced behind a wall of fire and had several hell hounds and fire mephits protecting him. A battle ensued where the bulk of the heroes whittled down the hounds and mephits, while Dubner the dwarf and Shaw the ranger jumped through the wall of fire to engage the fire wizard. The wizard scorched them with his flame spells, but their recently recovered rings of fire resistance made his attacks less formidable. Once they managed to batter down the wizard’s mirror images, they made quick work of him.

Salamander Turn Keys

After healing themselves, the party activated the portal and entered the plane of fire on the side of a volcano. The lavanous mountain was riddled with cave entrances which Snot informed the party were prison cells. The prison, Zatal, was lorded over by an Efreet Pasha and garrisoned by Fire Salamanders. As the party entered the chamber which housed the cell of the Frost Giant Princess Brunhilde, their presence was uncovered by a laughing demon face carved into the cell door. Once the alarm was raised, four Fire Slamanders, two Flaming Skulls and a Fire Giant emerged from a nearby passageway and began assaulting the party.

The melee was a vicious affair and the party found themselves quickly overwhelmed by the reflecting magic resistance of the Flaming Skulls and the mighty blows of the Fire Giant. Eswin the elf backstabbed the giant, but that only proved to enrage the beast who chased him down a hallway and with one mighty blow nearly took off the poor elf’s head. Quick thinking by Dubner saved him however; using his earth ring, Dubner managed to raise a stone wall between the giant and the elf.

While the giant was distracted by the wall, Kieren turned himself into a bear and tore into the giant’s leg. The other companions were tied up with the Salamanders and the Flaming Skulls. The conjurer Talos was having a terrible time scoring blows, as the skulls continually reflected his spells back on the party, but he did manage to conjure some hobgoblins to prolong the battle and tie up some of the Slamanders. Dubner stepped up to the giant and began reigning blows upon the brute, but it seemed the beast was too hardy for even that. Having been sorely wounded himself, the dwarf used the magic of his ring to descend into the rock for sanctuary.



The Fire Giant Prison Guard

In a desperate attempt to save the party, Kieren the druid called upon Imladris, the Efreet Prince spirit bound to his scimitar. The spirit of the Efreet froze time and offered Kieren a bargain. He would summon the power to defeat their foes, but the druid would owe him a debt. With no other recourse, the druid accepted the Efreet’s offer. Once time was unfrozen, the group dashed behind the stone wall created by Dubner while some terrible entity was called forth and ripped their enemies to shreds.

In the ensuing chaos, the door to Brunhilde’s cell was torn off its hinges and the Frost Giant was freed. The company limped back to the portal from which they came and returned to the prime material plane, battered and half-dead. Their inability to defeat the might of the Fire Giant and has lackeys stung them sorely, but they resolutely began to march across the frozen tundra of Galibur towards the encampment of the King of Beltigost to join the battle against Old Althyria. With the Frost Giant Princess in their possession, perhaps the alliance between Althyria and the Frost Giant King Grungir could be broken and the tide of battle turned in favour of Beltigost.

 

The Tower of Kel-Arath

SESSION 13 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 6th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 4th/4th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/4th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 5th level Ranger (Justifier)
NPCs
Sulla, Osmir, Hafren, and Rhovar, 2nd level Thulian Warriors

From The Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

The fate of the Battle of the Plains of Galibur rested not in the camps of the two monarchs who stood across from each other on that frozen plain in the winter of 606AT, but with a band of mercenaries in Perrinwall.

Having secured passage through a Godain Way Gate, these sellswords found themselves in a ruined village hundreds of miles from home. Their task: to rescue the daughter of the Frost Giant King Grungnir and break the alliance between the Giants and the mad king who had taken her hostage, in hopes that the Giants would quit the field of battle and tip the scales towards Beltigost. But freeing the Frost Giant Princess Brunhilde would be no easy task. The mad king's vizier Ragan Doon had secreted her away in the Tower of Kel-Arath and the heroes would have to storm the tower to free her.

After stepping through the Way Gate, the travelers found themselves in unfamiliar territory. The ruined village was home to a tribe of freemen who called themselves the Thulians. The travelers treated with the Thulian elders and secured guides who would take them to Steamcloud Vale, where the Tower of Kel-Arath stood. Four of the travelers, along with four Thulian warriors made the trek. The remaining two companions, the Druid Kieren and the Archer Brendel stayed behind to broker a further alliance with the Thulians, in the hopes that they would join the battle on the side of Beltigost.

Bitterwind the White Dragon

The trek across the frozen plains was uncomfortable, but within a day, the travelers found themselves in Steamcloud Vale, where the winds of winter never touched. A mile distant they could see the great stone tower rising 500 feet into the air, its summit carved into the likeness of a dragon's head. The made their way to a ruined chapel at the southern end of the vale under cover of darkness and were set upon by a creature of legend, they thought no longer existed. A white dragon crawled out of a underground cavern ready to devour them whole. Two of the Thulians immediately quit the field and fled, so great was the dragonfear, but the others stood their ground. The mighty ranger Shaw hit the dragon with a blow that wounded it sorely as the wizard Talos used his magics to slow the great beast. The dragon, caught by surprise at the resourcefulness of the companions took to the air and tried to escape, but was brought low by their arrows.

As the companions skinned the dragon for valuable resources, riders came out of the tower to see what the commotion was about. But darkness proved to help the companions as they ambushed six blood knights and made quick work of them.

They then set out for the tower itself, which proved more difficult than anticipated. As they closed in on it, they were beset by giant bolts shot from ballistae mounted on the tower. Two of the shots made quick work of Hafren and Sulla along with their mounts. Eight became Six as they entered the tower.

Azer Forgemaster

Inside the tower they surprised a blood knight guard and made quick work of him. They then descended to the forges in the bowels of the tower where they met with two blood knights, eight dwarves with flaming beards wielding fiery hammers, and a snivelling little dwarf - who they later learned was named Snot Gristlebeard.

The fighting was ferocious, with the blood knights cutting bloody swaths into Shaw and Dubner, bringing them close to death, and the flame-bearded dwarves (Azers) taking care of the final two Thulians and pressing Eswin and Talos to the limit. Talos magicked some fire beetles,  which distracted some of the Azers and Eswin darted in and out of their attacks, striking home when the opportunity presented itself. In the end, though badly wounded, the four companions proved victorious and rescued the snivelling dwarf slave Snot who informed them that the Giantess they sought was not in the tower, but kept in a fiery place beyond this world. The only way to get there was to ascend to the top of the tower and use a magical gate there. The problem was, the gate was guarded by a fire elementalist named Wyrlish and his pack of Hell Hounds. Believing themselves to be too sorely wounded to take the fight to the elementalist right away, the group decided to rest in the forges, regain their strength and pan their next move.

The Mound of Mourning

SESSION 13 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 4th/4th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/2nd level elven Thief/Fighter
Brendel, 5th level half-elven Fighter (Archer)
Kieren, 6th level Druid

NPCs
Cullwch the Strong, 5th level Fighter

The newest member of the party, Dubner Ogrebane, Dwarven Chamion,
and his War Pony Thunderfoot

The Godain Village of Ynys Gwyn

Gaius the druid sat cross-legged amid a bundle of straw. The twigs and dead leaves that hung in his white beard made him look at bit foolish, yet the expression he wore was grim. He eyed the tattooed warrior Cullwch who stood across from him in his hut.

I sense that a great evil has awoken. What have you done?

Cullwch looked displeased with himself. He had done as the old druid requested and accompanied the strange travelers on their quest, but things did not turn out as they had hoped. The five strangers entered the village three days previous, asking for permission to use the Well of Souls so that they might travel to Galibur and prevent a great calamity they said would befall the king of Beltigost. While the Godain had no love for Beltigost, they hated the Old Althyrians and their mad king even more, so the druids had acquiesced. But the well had been closed and the only way to open it was with demonic blood. Gaius had sent Cullwch with the travelers to the Whisperwood where the evil demon Yogga-Norn had been bound in ages past. They were to slay the demon and obtain its blood if they hoped to activate the well.

We were deceived, Cullwch responded. At first the travel through the Whisperwood was easy. After a time we came across some of our kin sitting motionless by a small pond. A Hamadryad appeared out of a nearby tree and ensorcelled some of us. With careful negotiation we managed to get the information from her as to where the Mound of Yogga-Norn was located. The druid in our company mated with the Hamadryad and she begat an acorn, which she made us promise to plant in the be-fouled ground where the demon lurked to bring life back to the area.

The Hamadryad

After treating with the Hamadryad, we made our way to that desolate mound where the demon lay. It had been well guarded with magics of old and inscribed with runes. We were approached by several Centaurs who demanded that we not break the seal. Our only way to gain entrance was to pass through the earth itself. Only the Hamadryad could help us with that, so we sent the druid back to her to get her aid. When she returned, she took us one by one through the earth into the steam infested underground prison of the demon.

As we made our way through the chambers, we came across the remains of the heroes who had first bound the demon to this prison and we managed to obtain several powerful magical weapons to help us in our quest. When we entered the demon's chamber, he laughed at us from the darkness and summoned a horde of lesser fleshy demons who attacked us. These lesser demons were no match for our battle prowess, but once slain they would rise again and renew their attack.

Yogga-Norn

Yogga-Norn finally showed himself and hovered far above us in the chamber. He attacked viciously, but cowardly, flying about the room to stay away from our blood-drenched swords. The archer Brendel managed to hurt the beast sorely with several magical arrows he had acquired.

Then the beast summoned a wall of fire against us and our wizard was brought low. Thanks to the quick thinking of our dwarven cleric he was saved, but he was no longer of any use in the battle. After a long on bloody battle, where the elf, the dwarf and the druid pounded on the demon, it finally fell to the ground below, seemingly dead. We gathered up some of its blood and limped our way back through the caverns.

On the way back to our rendezvous point with the hamadryad, we were accosted by a swarm of steam devils and in our wounded state were forced to flee with all haste.

The Hamadryad was awaiting us - which was strange - since we had not called to her yet. But seeing as how time was against us and a swarm of devils were on our tails, we thought little of it. The hamadryad explained that she could only take one of us at a time up through the earth and that it would be quicker to simply climb the steps and open the door to the tomb. No longer fearing that we would unleash the demon, we climbed the steps and broke the seal on the entrance to the tomb, finding the centaurs awaiting us.

The Hamadryad sat on the top of the mound. Yet she was also with us. There were two of her. Too late we realized our error. The demon Yogga-Norn was not dead. He had used powerful illusions to let us believe we had slain him and then again to make us believe he was the hamadryad. In our haste we did not see the signs and inadvertently broke the seal, freeing him. Once out in the open again, Yogga-Norn disappeared in a flash of smokey light. Though the steam devils did not pursue us out of the mound, we had unleashed the demon. I fear Yogga-Norn will cause trouble for us now.

Gaius was silent for a moment. This news that Cullwch had brought was dire indeed. A demon had been freed by outsiders. The world was cracking again and darkness was slipping through.

We must organize a war-band and hunt this creature down before it can do more damage. Send word to the chieftain of the Centaurs. They are no doubt displeased with us. We must make amends. And gather the elders. We must descend to the library of skulls for further guidance from the ancestors. 

Cullwch stood where he was a moment longer.

And what of the travelers who unleashed this horror? How will they pay for this?

Gaius  felt responsible, for it was he who had given them permission to seek out Yogga-Norn's mound. He may very well pay for his folly with his own life. That was for the council to decide. But as for the strangers, they were already gone and on their way. The damage had been done.

They are gone. Leave them to their task. But let it be known that Kieren the Godain is banished from Ynys Gyn and he and his companions will meet a swift death should they ever return.