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.

Sacred Waters

SESSION 12 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Eswin, 6th/1st level elven Thief/Fighter
Brendel, 5th level half-elven Fighter (Archer)
Kieren, 6th level Druid

NPCs
Oliver, Man-at-Arms

From the Journal of Oliver, Initiate of the Three-Faced Goddess

I was lost, but now have found my path.

I had been a drunken lout and ne'er-do-well in the teeming city of Vodymsira. I knew I needed a change in my life or I'd end up in an alley with my throat slit. When the travelers came looking for men-at-arms to bolster their company, I was glad to accept. We fled the city and made our way west to the village of Brysgod. I was told only that we were in search of Mo Ander, the great druid.

From Brysgod we made our way into the Greycloak mountains and found a cave complex that the druid Kieren said would lead us to Mo Ander's sacred grove and the heart of the Unicorn Run. My employer, one Talos Redwand told me that we were in search of the Sacred Waters there, as only they could lift a curse on the Three-Faced Goddess that they were bound to complete.

Grell

Within the caves we found ourselves attacked by deep horrors known as Grell. Their tentacled arms lashed out at us paralyzing our number and we quickly succumbed. But the elven thief had a trick up his sleeve. Using a magic card he had secreted away, he was able to reverse time and save us. Armed with the knowledge of the Grell, we decided to attack them once again. Better prepared for the danger that awaited us, we made quick work of them.

After we defeated the Grell, we came out into a grove of natural beauty. Following a river we soon came to the fabled Unicorn Run and were met by Mo Ander and his druidess servants. The great druid agreed to give us the sacred waters we sought so long as we proved ourselves worthy. We were taken to a clearing where stood a huge oak tree and told to await our test. Some time passed, and eventually the tree in the centre of the clearing came to life, an 18ft tall monstrosity that threatened to squash us all into a pulp. With hard work and not a few scrapes, we managed to bring the behemoth low, mostly due to the lightning spells of Kieren.

With our test successfully completed, we were given the waters we sought. Amberle, one of the great druid's apprentices accompanied us to see our task of lifting the curse of Eurayle done. Mo Ander created a mystical pathway through one of his trees and upon entering we found ourselves in a stone-cracked courtyard of a ruined monastery. I later found out that this was the forgotten temple of the Three-Faced Goddess, Phaetus. My companions told me to be on guard, for there was a deadly woman in the courtyard who could turn us to stone with a mere glance.

Brendel the Archer

Three giant sword spiders crept over the walls and assaulted us, taking us by surprise. A little welcoming gift from the cursed lady. While the spiders dealt wicked blows to us on our flank, the cursed lady appeared in all her horrible magnificence. Lutien the fighter and myself could not look away from her deadly beauty and were turned to stone. I know little of the battle after that.

When I came to, we had defeated the lady and her spiders. Talos informed me that once the lady was defeated, the sacred waters were poured upon her body and Amberle, our druidess companion became the new vessel for the goddess. I was told that the two other goddesses, along with their cured sister were the ones who restored me to the flesh. I owe them my life, and so I dedicated myself to their cause.

The travelers have left with their reward and are on their way to Beltigost, in hopes of preventing the king of that fair country from being slain in battle with the mad king of Old Althyria. There is much work to be done here and many have been called to serve the Three Sisters. I have stayed behind, pledged to become a cleric in the service of the Ladies of Fate. I look forward to the challenge of rebuilding the Order of Fate and the Temple of the Three Faces, and wish my benefactors much luck in their travels and success in their efforts, for if the king of Beltigost falls, my new-found purpose may not survive long.

Vampires, Devils and Death

Session 11 Recap

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Eswin, 6th/1st level elven Thief/Fighter
Kieren, 6th level Druid

NPCs
Hourmaster Orlock, Priest of Troentad

From the Private Journal of Timefather Horatio, High Priest of Troentad

Thursday, 19th Eleventhmonth 606AT

Tragedy has struck our fair temple. Late last night a band of rag-tag travelers brought in the body of Hourmaster Orlock, who it seems, has met his end through some mis-adventure. I questioned the travelers on the events that led up to Orlock’s death and their tale troubles me greatly.

Kieren of the Godain

The druid in the party, one Kieren of the Godain, informed me that they were investigating the death of the Redwand and Orlock was going to help them by speaking with the shade of the Duke’s Advisor. After traveling through the bowels of the city, they made their way to the Ducal Palace and the Tomb of the Five. There, they found the body of the slain Redwand, but his soul could not be coaxed forth to answer their questions. Orlock suspected that his soul was imprisoned somewhere. Since the clergy of the Nightlady had laid his body to rest, it was surmised that they somehow had trapped his soul. Why they have done this vexes me greatly. What’s worse, the priesthood in the undercrypt – if I’m to believe these travelers – are all vampires. These vampires attacked the group during their investigation and they were forced to flee.

With more questions and mysteries emerging, the group – along with an ailing Orlock (who had been bitten by a vampire) made their way into the palace proper. They found it to be swarming with cultists from the Cult of Felorian. Their emergence as a power-player in Perrinwall’s spiritual battle is another cause for concern.

The group then made their way to the site of the Redwand’s murder – his study – only to find two infernal creatures guarding its interior. From the companions’ descriptions, I’m to believe that these were bone devils – hideous creatures from the under-realm. Their presence in our world is bad enough, but the fact that they are freely roaming through the Ducal Palace is even more a cause for concern. Something rotten festers within our fair realm. The companions believe the Minister of Coin, Rialtan de Montefort is somehow involved. But due to his position, one cannot simply accuse the Minister. He now wields far too much power to so easily be displaced.

The bone devils proved to be more than a handful for the companions – and rightly so – for their infernal nature grants them powers no mere mortal can match. It was here that Orlock met his end. One of the bone devils magicked an ice wall and dropped in onto him, crushing him in the process. The companions all feared that this would be their end, but with staunch determination they managed to expel the beasts back to their native realm.

Inside the study they found evidence pointing to Davin de Montefort, the Minister’s son, as the murderer – but he has been dead for several months. What fell power has brought him back is unclear, but things in the capital seem more dangerous than ever now.

Fearing for their lives, the group has decided to leave the city for a time – citing that they have business elsewhere that pertains to the safety of the Duke himself. I pray to the Father of Time that they can help restore order to our beleaguered realm.

Once the business of laying poor Orlock to rest is complete, I will send word to the Duke’s son in Westguard. Hopefully he can do something to alleviate this darkness within our midst.

Murder in Vodymsira

Session 10 Part 2

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Brendel, 5th level half-elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)
Eswin, 6th level elven Thief
Kieren, 6th level Druid
Shaw Ashcroft, 5th level Ranger (Justifier)

NPCs
Klaus, a wererat
Hourmaster Orlock, Priest of Troentad

From the Private Journal of Hourmaster Orlock

 

Monday, 16^th Eleventhmonth 606AT

Hourmaster Orlock

The city is in turmoil. Reaction to Valthun Redwand’s murder was swift and brutal. Rialtan de Montefort, regent of Perrinwall has outlawed sorcerous magic within the city and has begun rounding up known wizards. The archwizard Amathor however, will not be so easily secured. All guardsmen sent to his tower to arrest him have been turned to stone! Priests of Ysma have been traveling to Amathor’s tower with blindfolds to try and return the guardsmen to their fleshly state, but many of the stone statues of the former guardsmen have been smashed to bits. The Thieves’ Guild has also been targeted and known associates of Cornelius Flynn have been hung by the score in gibbets daily. Those who call the city home – the ordinary folk – are living under a dark shroud of fear. The priests of the Cult of Felorian have risen in power swiftly, their mysterious protector god offering succor to those most vulnerable. Word comes that the Duke’s son may yet march on the city from Westguard. I fear civil war looms on the horizon. I pray to Troentad that the Duke gets wind of events here and returns to restore order, but I fear that his overwhelming sense of duty to the King of Beltigost will keep him away for many a moon.

 

 

Wednesday, 18^th Eleventhmonth 606AT

 

Was approached by a most motley crew of scallywags and ruffians today. One identified himself as the Redwand’s son; de Montefort has made it clear that this one, Talos by name, is under suspicion, but I sense no malice in him. The group claims to want to solve the mystery of who murdered the Redwand. They have planned to find his body and speak with his spirit so that he may name his killer. That’s where I come in. They need a priest capable of casting such a spell. Though my eyes would tell me not to trust these grim travelers, in my soul I believe that they seek to do good, so I have agreed to accompany them.

 

Night has fallen. We met some seedy looking chap by the name of Klaus at a tavern by the docks. The companions showed him a strange symbol and he reluctantly agreed to help us. He led us to an entrance to the sewers and then promptly turned into a wererat! What evil have we gotten into bed with? Once in the sewers however, we were at Klaus’ mercy, for none of us knew the way to the secret entrance to the Ducal Palace. The path was long, narrow and smelt so awful I had to cover my face with a cloth. At one point we were assaulted by a pair of shambling creatures comprised of vegetation and refuse. They were nearly the end of me, as one of them enveloped me whole and began suffocating me. With the help of the warriors Shaw and Lutien and Troentand’s blessing, I was pulled free. We knew we were outmatched, so once I was free of the creature, we escaped. They were too slow to follow. There are many more rumours about those how dwell in the sewers beneath the city like Father Nightmare, and the half-men, and serpents large enough to swallow a family whole; I pray that we don’t come across any of these other foul creatures.

 

After another hour of fumbling about in the fetid sewers, we finally reached the secret entrance. Klaus claimed that he had fulfilled his bargain and quickly left. I hope that when our task is done in the palace we can find some other means of egress.

From a History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Session 10 Part 1

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Brendel, 4th level half-elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)
Eswin, 6th level elven Thief
Kieren, 6th level Druid
Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

NPCs

Skiznit, the Wererat Priest and his two henchmen

 

By Lady Myrs Kratys

After resting up in the extra-dimensional prison and preparing themselves for their assault on Mullahey, the heroes returned to the lower chambers of Malgen’s Keep. Awaiting them in the circular chamber, hiding behind the pillars in the room were 12 diseased gnolls and their Grueshach leader. Their ambush proved little more than a nuisance for the companions however, and they were dealt with in quick order.

The companions then found Skiznit and his wererat associates waiting for them on the spiral staircase. Brand went to the stables to await the heroes, while the wererats showed them the secret passage into Mullahey’s audience hall. Lutien, Talos and Eswin formed a distraction and agreed to assault Mullahey and his cronies head on through the front doors of the chamber, while the others waited in the secret passage to attack from the flank. Before entering, Talos summoned his Hell Hound companion using his staff and sent it to hide in the secret passage with the others.

Talos Summons his Hell Hound

Lutien kicked down the doors to the main chamber with one of his armoured boots and screamed a challenge at the huge half-orc priest, who was seated on his throne. Talos under cover of an invisibility spell, and Eswin using his elven cloak, slunk into the chamber unnoticed. Ten diseased gnolls, two Grueshachs, a human noble and the carcass of Mullahey’s bride stood defiantly, waiting for Lutien to act. The burley armoured warrior unslung his great musket and fired it at Mullahey. So true was his aim that it blew off half of the corpulent half-orc’s face. The priest screamed in pain and the battle was joined.

At that moment, those waiting in the secret tunnel emerged off to the gnolls’ left, taking them by surprise. The Grueshachs tried to move to intercept as well, using their fell magic. Eswin used his newly won gauntlet to cast a fear spell over half of the gnolls and the human noble, effectively taking them out of the fight. Mullahey responded by casting a stinking cloud spell centred on Lutien, who was immobilized by retching fits for a while. Talos tried to creep up unseen, but tripped a latch for a pit which opened up revealing a greenish slime that attacked him, disintegrating one of his daggers.

The battle on the right flank was furious, as Shaw, Brendel, the Hellhound, the dread wolf, and the wererats struggled in hand-to-hand combat with the gnolls and one of the Grueshachs. Shaw, Brendel and the wererats were caught in an icy cone of cold summoned by one of the Grueshachs and Skiznit’s two companions were frozen to death. Kieren cut a swath through the Grueshach with his flame tongue scimitar and Talos managed to summon six goblins to distract Mullahey. It was touch and go for a while and several of the heroes were nearly slain. Talos threw his last ice bomb severely wounding Mullahey, but destroying his Hell Hound and sending it back to the elemental plane of fire. The battle itself was in doubt, but in the end Lutien recovered from the stinking cloud and used his magical batte axe to slice open Mullahey’s throat, toppling the huge half-orc from his pedestal and sending his carcass to the ground. Once that was done, mopping up the others was easy. One of the Grueshachs managed to escape however, using his magic to turn himself into gaseous form. And with that, the reign of Mullahey came to an end, and the men of the Westmarch retook Malgen’s Keep, something they had been unable to do for 500 years.

 

In the aftermath of the battle, the companions managed to interrogate the human noble, one Lord Draven, a disgraced nobleman from Vodymsira who hadn't been seen in the capital in years. Unfortunately, they could discern precious little more from the noble, who had been the victim of a forget spell.

After gathering up Brand and three war horses in the stables, the heroes returned to Kratys’ Keep to report on their success and hand over the outlaw Lord Draven.

From A History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Session 9 Part 2

PCs

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Brendel, 4th level half-elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)
Eswin, 5th level elven Thief
Kieren, 5th level Druid

NPCs

Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

By Lady Myrs Kratys

Skiznit and his kin agreed to wait for the heroes in the lower level and guide them through the secret passage to Mullahey's Audience Hall when they were ready. Once again, the companions ascended the spiral staircase and once again, luck was on their side as they encountered no resistance.

The Dread Wolves of Mullahey

On the fourth floor of the castle the companions entered a room which contained several raised platforms. On three of these platforms, secured in cages, were large wolves. Green saliva dripped from their toothy maws as they paced back and forth. On the fourth platform stood Mullahey's bride, a corpulent half-orc, preparing a cauldron of troll stew. Eswin tried to creep up behind her and stab her in the back, but she caught wind of his approach and roared defiantly. Brendel let fly with his daggers, trying to prevent her from opening the cages with the wolves in them, but his aim was off and they clattered against the stone wall of the chamber and she managed to release the ravenous beasts. Brendel and Eswin engaged the half-orc while the others prepared to deal with the wolves.

Lutien used his magic ring to try and tame the wolves, but he only managed to charm one of them. Kieren used his magic cloak to fly towards the half-orc, but she beat him from the air with her massive clawed hands and then tossed him bodily to the floor below where the two remaining wolves waited. Using his new wolf ally, Lutien took on the alpha male and managed to cleave it in two with his mighty ax.  As Eswin and Brendel sliced up the half-orc, Talos and Kieren made quick work of the remaining she-wolf.

When the battle was done, the group made their way to Mullahey's private chamber. Within the priest's quarters they found the key to Brand's extra-dimensional prison as well as a note addressed to Mullahey from a certain RDM in the capital city of Vodymsira. The note spoke of a coup about to take place in the capital of the Duchy and encouraged Mullahey to make war on the Westmarch during this time. In exchange for his cooperation, Mullahey would be granted rulership of the Westmarch when the capital fell. Eswin guessed that the RDM in the note referred to Rialtan de Montefort, the Duke's Minister of Coin. The companions quickly decided that once their adventures in the keep were at an end, that a trip to the capital was in order to confront the Minister of Coin.

Lutien Arrives in the Extra-Dimensional
Prison

With the key to the extra-dimensional prison in hand, the companions once again descend the staircase to the lower levels of the keep. Using the key, they passed through the portal and into the prison. They found themselves in a darkened chamber lined with cell doors. Two huge, ugly guards awaited them. A giant-two headed troll wearing a black gauntlet and his companion, a smaller one-headed troll. A furious battle ensued in the tightly packed chamber. The companions hacked away at the trolls, but the beasts seemed to recover quickly from their wounds, dealing several blows back at the heroes in turn. Having heard of the weaknesses of trolls from a tome he had read, Talos related to his companions that they needed to burn the foul beasts in order to defeat them. With spell and oil, the companions managed to light the trolls aflame. Just before the giant two-headed troll fell however, he unleashed a powerful spell from his gauntlet. Bolts of lightning issued forth, searing the companions each in turn. Kieren fell motionless from the attack and was brought close to Troentad's doorstep. If not for his quick thinking, Brendel too would have been laid low, but at he last moment, he managed to block the bolt with his main gauche, frying it in the process. Using Ysma's Rod, Talos managed to revive Kieren and the group put an end to the trolls, burning their remains.

After the battle, they freed Brand from his prison. The lord's son was in bad shape however; his hand had been severed and he had lost much blood. The companions bound his wounds as best they could and settled down to recover from their own recent travails. As they huddled closely together in the safety of the prison chamber, they hatched their plans to put an end to Mullahey for good. Talos wanted to claim the magical black gauntlet for his own, but Eswin contested him and in the end the glove went to the sly elf.

From a History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Session 9 Part 1

PCS

Talos Redwand, 5th level Conjurer
Lutien, 5th level Fighter (Myrmidon)
Brendel, 4th level half-elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)
Eswin, 5th level elven Thief
Kieren, 5th level Druid

NPCs

Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

By Lady Myrs Kratys

The companions awoke from some strange shared dream within the armoury of Malgen’s Keep. Eswin, who had been wasting away from some sickness was standing watch and awoke the others when the door to the room came under attack. The travelers quickly roused and armed themselves as the door was splintered from its hinges by a group of patrolling gnolls. Once the confusion died down, they made quick work of the guards.

 
Having gleaned information from the shade of Malgen himself as to the whereabouts of certain magic items in the keep, the companions then descended back down to the dungeon level. Luckily they encountered no resistance on their way, but they did hear the cackling war cries of bands of gnolls who were scouring the keep in search of them.
 
The first place they went was the Chapel of Ysma, where in a small recess at the base of a statue they found a minor artefact known as the Rod of Ysma. They were able to use this device to cure Eswin of his poisoning and to relieve the madness which had recently afflicted some of those who had experienced the shared dream.
 
After that, they headed to Malgen’s Feasthall. Inside was an ornate table with carved oaken chairs and silverware set for twenty six. On the walls hung some of the magic they sought, including a shield, a helm and a shortsword. At the southern end of the room stood two stone guardians, fashioned like large twelve foot tall dwarves with hammers and picks for hands. Having been warned that the guardians had thus far prevented Mullahey and his cronies from absconding with the magical gear, the companions were wary. They were busy thinking of ways the extricate the treasure when Talos the Conjurer grew impatient and started loading the silverware from the table into his magical bag of holding.  As soon as he did this however, the stone guardians came to life and began moving towards the group.  Eswin deftly grabbed the shortsword and Lutien managed to free the shield from the wall, but not before the big warrior was hit savagely by the hammer arm of one of the guardians. Brendel slid down the table between the two guardians and grabbed the helm. Unfortunately, he was also on the receiving end of a vicious blow from one of the guardians. Not wanting to stay and fight these terrible constructs, the group quickly exited the room.

Next up was Malgen’s bedchamber. The room was adorned with statues of the great warrior and put the companions on edge. They were worried that the statues would come to life and attack them, but in the end they were simple statues. Floating on a pedestal in the room was a scimitar. Having heard of this mighty weapon from his mentor Goran Shae, Kieren the druid claimed it as his prize. The moment he touched the weapon however, he was aware that it was imbued with the spirit of an Efreet Pasha from the Elemental Plane of Fire. The Pasha agreed to let Kieren use the weapon for now and claimed that if he proved himself worthy, the Efreet would unveil further powers to him.
 
On their way from Malgen’s chambers to Zelligar’s, the group was ambushed by a gnoll patrol led by a Grueshach sorcerer. They made quick work of the pack however, but not before the Grueshach managed to teleport himself to safety. Inside Zelligar’s room they found two spellbooks and a magical ring which Talos claimed.

Further searching of the dungeon brought them to Carmella’s bedchamber, which was now overrun with refuse. Behind the large piles of trash they encountered three wererats who had been summoned to the keep to aid Mullahey. Their leader, one Skiznit, was not happy with this arrangement and agreed to show the companions a secret passage into Mullahey’s grand audience chamber and help them defeat him. All they required in return was Mullahey’s sceptre. Eswin was suspicious and didn’t like the idea of partnering up with such foul creatures, but in the end the group decided it was their best option for defeating the diseased half-orc priest. Before they confronted him however, they wanted to find and free Brand Kratys. Skiznit told them the key to the extra-dimensional prison was in Mullahey’s chamber at the top of one of the towers of the keep. It was there that the companions headed next.

Continued…

The Madness of Bedla-Ra Concluded

SESSION 8 PART III

PCS

Talos Redwand, 4th level Conjurer

Kieren, 5th level Druid

Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

Lutien, 4th level Fighter (Myrmidon)

Brendel, 4th level Half-Elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)

A Tale Told by Lady Carmella

Upon stepping through the door, the travelers found themselves on a small precipice, with an endless abyss before them. Dangling high above the floor, supported by thick webbing the width of a grown man's leg was a pale orange egg about twenty feet in diameter. The shades of lunacy informed the group that their power ended here and that they could go no further. The companions began the slow trek across the webs, careful not to lose their grip and fall into unending nothingness. Kieren used his magical cloak to fly alongside the group.

Spider Creature

As soon as they reached the halfway point between the precipice and the egg, sixteen spider-like creatures descended down the webbing from the ceiling and tried to knock the companions off of the web. They scored several telling blows against the group with their many arms, but the travelers continued on in an effort to reach the egg as soon as possible. Kieren tried to swipe at one of them with his sword, but as soon as he let go of the edge of his cloak he began to plummet into the abyss. Eventually, he regained control of his flight and made his way back up to the egg. More spider creatures swarmed towards the group, but they finally reached the egg and with two mighty blows, Lutein was able to crack it open. A yellowish puss issued forth almost causing several members of the group to lose their footing, but in the end they managed to crawl inside the egg.

Insane Aspect of
Carmella

What they found therein was not what they expected. They were in a vast chamber with darkened corners, In the centre of the room was a large, plush bed with carved bedposts. My broken mind reached out to the brutish warrior Lutein and I uncovered a deep guilt there within. Using this guilt, I manifested a creature resembling his lost beloved, yet twisted in my own fashion. She and I sat on the bed in front of the group half naked and seductive. I slid off the bed and made my way to the half-elf seeking to envelope him in an embrace. He recoiled at my touch however. Using my feminine wiles, I managed to charm him and forced him to attack his friends. Ilsa the vampire, my creation slunk off the bed as well and confronted Lutein, blaming him for her death and her existence as a vampire. Lutein stood protectively in front of the slip of a girl and warned his companions that if they attacked her, he would kill them all.

The Ranger Shaw strode forward to attack me, but I used my charmed servant Brendel to block his path and vicious stab him. The wizard tried to stop me from advancing upon the rest of the group by ensnaring me in a magical web, but I passed into the etheral plane and easily side-stepped the spell. I then strode toward the mage and used my wiles on him, forcing him to be my servant as well. Luck was against me however, as the druid Kieren cast a dispelling magic over the two charmed companions and they came to their senses.

Lutein fell to his knees before the manifestation of his guilt, offering his life up to her. His offered sacrifice made me lose control over my creation and she fell to the ground crying before crumbling to dust. I was not beaten however. I managed to pick the wizard up and flew into the air, sucking the very life out of him and gaining strength for myself. But as I felt life and power flow back into me, I was struck from behind by an arrow loosed by the ranger, sapping what power I had left. My shell of insanity cracked and broke and I was finally free. As I ascended from that plane of madness, I bade the travelers hurry, for my demesne began to crumble about them.

The sped through the crumbling chambers of my mind and emerged once again on the desolate plain of Bedla-Ra. My liberation cost them however; as St. Tisha had become aware of their presence. In the distance, thousands of Bone Bats and Gibberlings emerged from her manor and began closing in on the companions. As they made their way back to the cliffs of Othon, the passed the crazed gnome once again. The gnome told them to go to the rear of his cottage and look in the stables. There they found four nightmares to carry them back to the portal. Kieren, without a mount jumped on the back of Paltros the centaur.

The race was on. At first the companions seemed to be easily outdistancing their pursuers, but eventually the maddening horde reached them. Bone Bats slashed at them with their claws, trying to tear them from their mounts and paralyze them. Lutein had seen enough. He slew himself right away so that he could wake up again within the keep. The others continued on for another hundred yards or so. Kieren was torn from Paltros' back by the razored claw of a Bone Bat and though he fought off the paralyzing poison, he tumbled to the ashen ground. Gibberlings swarmed about him and threatened to overwhelm him. At that point, one by one, the companions slew themselves to prevent capture and each awoke within the musty confines of the tower which they had fallen asleep in.

That is how I came to be rescued from that dread realm and how the travelers made it back to the mortal realm, dear brother.

The Madness of Bedla-Ra Continued

SESSION 8 PART II

PCS

Talos Redwand, 4th level Conjurer

Kieren, 5th level Druid

Shaw Ashcroft, 4th level Ranger (Justifier)

Lutien, 4th level Fighter (Myrmidon)

Brendel, 4th level Half-Elven Fighter (Swashbuckler)

A Tale Told by Lady Carmella

At last brother, they had gained access to my mind. There in the first chamber, they confronted my own insecurities about how I was viewed by those closest to me. You were there and so was Zelligar. Four times over you two stood in various conversations about me. Two of you thought I was a useless lay-about and were plotting to kill me. Two more saw me as some brazen strumpet and were making plans to steal my virtue together. Others argued over who loved me more. When the travelers entered, one of the Zelligar's confronted them and asked them their opinion of me. One of the travelers began to reply - even though they were warned not to interact with anyone unless absolutely necessary. Their interference drove the Zelligars and Malgens into a fit of rage and the eight assaulted as one. Not wanting to be bogged down by useless combat, the travelers made quick their escape, up a flight of stairs where they were confronted by two doors. Behind one they heard the painful cries of a solitary woman. Behind the other was a chorus of terrified screams. They chose to enter the door with only one scream.

Thus they entered the birthing chamber, where all my pain at the hands of the orcs who captured me was manifested. I lay in a pool of my own juices, bloated beyond comprehension and swelled with the progeny of my captors. Around me stood four orc attendants. As the moments passed I gave birth to half-orcs, scores at a time. Fully grown they emerged from my swollen womb, mad with thoughts of slaughter. Horrified, the travelers defended themselves, cutting down the orcs as the emerged. Several of the cursed brood surrounded one of the shades of lunacy and savaged it. Worried that they death of the shades would dispel the power which cloaked them, the companions ordered the shades to the rear of the line for protection.

As the bodies of my children began to mount and still more issued forth from me, the companions realized the only way to stop the deluge of half-orc flesh was to slay the source. Lutein the mercenary barreled through a pack of half-orcs and mounted my prostrate form. Using his mighty ax he slew me and put an end to the torrent of bastards. A little shocked and horrified, the companions moved on. The passed through another door, where they were about to face their own greatest fears.

In the grand ballroom, they were confronted by four portraits; one of each of them. As they moved closer, the pain began to run down the pictures, transforming them into those closest to them. Kieren the druid was confronted with his mentor Goran Shae. The wizard Talos was confronted with his own father. Shaw the Ranger was confronted by his commander who had been slain years ago. Brendel the half-elf was confronted by his friend, who had caught the wrong end of a lightning bolt which he himself had avoided. And Lutein was confronted by his childhood friend, the son of the Duke. Each stepped out of their frame and advanced upon the party.

Goran Shae the Treant

A desperate melee ensued wherein the companions were sorely tested and nearly bested. Brendel was the first to slay his demon, the two fencing high above on a chandelier. He managed to land the killing blow, which sent his friend tumbling to the floor sixty feet below, wherein he exploded in a writing mass of black tentacles. Kieren saw his master Goran Shae transform himself into a giant Treant and begin pummelling him with huge fist of solid wood. Thankfully, Kieren was able to summon the power of lightning to him and in the end blasted his mentor into a shower of splintered wood. Talos tried hiding from his father by turning invisible, but the crafty old man dispelled the illusion. Old Valthun Redwand then hammered his son with a fist of stone. Talos dug deep within himself and managed to immolate his father with a clever combination of a spell of grease and burning hands. Shaw was beset by his old commander and two dire wolves. The wolves flanked him and savaged him several times with their vicious fangs, but in the end Shaw managed to break away from them and slay his commander. Lutein was assaulted physically and emotionally, as the Duke's son hurled insults upon him about indiscretions with his late wife. Lutein traded several vicious blows with the cocky noble, but in the end decided to back off and disbelieve the apparition. Without a willing foe, the Duke's son simply melted from existence.

Weary and battered from their ordeal, the companions made their way up the winding staircase toward my innermost mind. Thinking the worst behind them, they opened the door into the inner sanctum, where the most tortured part of my mind dwelt. I was there where they would make their last desperate attempt to free me from my curse...

Continued...