Catacombs cleared... and a new quest.

We found a treasure chest containing 2260 gold, 400 silver, and two potions. As we walked through the ruins of the catacombs, in one room we walked past a defaced and broken altar, and saw some movement from behind it. I saw Treble reach for his dagger, but fortunately before he threw it he noticed that the shadow there was a warforged, lying with his back against the massive throne in the room. We could see the gears moving in the poor soul's head, and it was clear that something was not right. Some of the gears were missing teeth; obviously he had met with a match greater than he could face alone.

He spoke in a weak voice, telling us he was beyond help. As he spoke, Elaira healed him, and we could hear more strength in his voice. He said that he was from House Sivis, and that his name was Reader Thrane. He said he was from the House of Scribing, brought here to help decipher the dragonmarks detailling the Prophecy of the world. When we inquired about what he had learned from the dragonmarks, he looked a little confused for a moment, as he tried to regain his bearings. He said that he didn't know what the dragonmarks said; that he was acting as a servant of the gnomes of the same House; and that when he quit helping them, they took the information card from him and hurt him.

I wish we had gotten here sooner so that we could help him fight against those who attacked him, but the only thing we can help him for now is to ensure that justice is served. Reader told us that he quit helping because of Nym, the leader of the group deciphering the dragonmarks. He said he saw Nym consorting with goblins and talking to a known enemy of House Sivis, and a member of House Thuranni--an assassin. From this he learned that the assassin's mission was sanctioned by his House, and he decided not to aid the perpetrator of the treachery any longer.

At that point, he looked around, and focused his gaze on Keh'r with surprise evident on his face. He said that he remembered seeing another man of fire like Keh'r... one of Keh'r's kind... in his vision of the dragonmark. This comment really spurred Keh'r into action, and he said he wanted to start by finding the gnome that had gotten away, in case he had been among the group that took the information from Reader. Reader found a wand, and volunteered to join us. He said if he could make it to his main House, that they would take him back and he could relay to them the information about Nym's betrayal.

So we scouted the rest of the catacombs, looking for the gnome and the rest of the treasures we were to find, and of course to find Adronsias as well. In the whirlpool room, we saw a picture of the symbol of the Silver Flame on the floor, and there was a mechanism that activated the emblem to glow with radiant energy. Horadric just wandered right into it, but nothing happened. It was a trap, but not one meant for us, and Keh'r and Elaira ascertained that it affected only undead.

We entered another room, with a deep scrying pool and a(n apparently nonmagical) face carved into the wall. As Keh'r approached the middle of the room, he felt the floor shift, and all the doors closed, trapping us in there. There was no response when Elaira talked to the face (and while I'm sure she felt silly talking to a stone face, you just never know with those arcane arts what might happen). Keh'r waded into the water, and as the pool rippled we could see a picture of the throne room we had just left, and it was empty. Apparently, however, he had stood on a pressure plate and the mouth on the face dropped down and water came pouring out, fast. Treble worked double-time trying to unlock the three locks on the door behind him, and Shamash helped; meanwhile Rhogar and I had gone to use brute force on the other door in the room and succeeded in making only a small hole in it. As we worked, waist-deep in water, we could see the picture in the scrying pool change to display the room with the silver flame emblem. We were able to see then that the pool's scrying was activated by ripples in the water. Keh'r saw a chest in the water, with chains on it, 30 feet down. He swam down to try to get it, but found it chained to the floor at the bottom of the pool. Elaira was studying the scrying pool, and she saw a gnome go into the flame room. She pointed him out to us, and Reader told us that it was Nym, as we watched him cross the room and go out the opposite door. Shortly thereafter, Rhogar could see him through the hole we had punched in the door where we were, and Nym looked more than a little surprised to be suddenly covered with acidic dragonborn bile... that is, until he disappeared at least. This time we had lost him for sure.

Meanwhile, the room was still filling with water. I checked out the drains and noticed that they had been sealed by the trap when it was activated and were now covered by a metal sheet. I'm not much for finesse so I just started whacking on it with my flail. Elaira told us she could see in the scrying pool a shadowy figure looting all the recesses along the walls in one of the rooms of their treasure. With renewed vigor, Rhogar burst through the door. By now the water had risen enough that it began pouring out of the doors. As Rhogar got out, he saw a goblin who froze upon seeing him. Shamash used his wand to kill it.

Finally I busted the drain and the water started to subside. In the meanwhile, Keh'r was still struggling with the treasure, and enlisted Treble's help to teleport it out of the water. As they managed to bring the chest up, I smashed the rest of the drains so that the water all drained out more quickly. Rhogar and Shamash had managed to find a blanket--a protective shroud--among the recesses. Inside the chest, we found 14 platinum pieces, and about 5000 silver. The scrying pool then showed an image of a dwarf tied up... almost certainly Adronsias, and he was still alive!

I used my tracking skills to follow Nym's blood trail to the entrance of the catacombs, but after that the trail ended again. We listened carefully, but could not hear him, either. Definitely lost him. Rhogar placed the shroud over Kartenix's body, and carried it to the foyer, where we left it as we went to search for Adronsias. We entered the van Jallach tombs, where we found a room with a square of runes on the floor. Horadric examined the runes, proclaiming that they spelled "van Jallach" in wizard's script. Keh'r touched them, and said he felt a little lightning jolt. Otherwise, they seemed to be harmless and we avoided them anyway as we proceeded to the next area, where we encountered Adronsias. Immediately I untied him and Rhogar healed him, and we gave him a moment to collect himself before we asked him about the things he had seen. He said he had seen some gnomes a few days ago, but none since then. He said he did know of a fancy-type stone of some sort that Reader could use to call his House. He said he would show us a speaking rock in the woods after we were finished with our business in Brindol.

We found the rest of the treasures from the Hall of Great Valor, so we took them back to Brindol and took Kartenix's body to the Temple of the Silver Flame. Councillor Troyas seemed very pleased with the resolution we provided, and gave us 500 gold for completion, as promised. (But the best part was the meal he provided to us. I could eat there every day. We sure never had food like that back home.) We also examined our shroud, and found it to be a Shroud of Revival. The others agreed that I should be the one to carry it for now. We went back to Derrick's shop to buy potions of healing to stock us up for the journey ahead.

After that, we followed Adronsias to the woods, and he led the way to the speaking stone. He showed Reader how to use it to call his House in Korranberg, in Zilargo. Reader used the rock, and it was really somewhat amazing to see how he could use a rock to talk to someone so far away. I can see how something like that would be useful. After he was finished, Reader told us that he made us an appointment with his House, and that he learned that Nym was not there.

We rested and went to board the lightning rail to take us to Zilargo. I will have to check the map to see if Warden Keep is along the way, so that I might deliver the message I have for Aelwyn if time permits.

Success on the second attempt

We returned to the catacombs, to the place from which we had been forced to retreat the day prior, this time determined to be victorious. This time we were better prepared, with the potions we had bought from Derrick's shop and a new set of magic items surreptitiously provided to us by Agathor and Balthazar of the Silver Flame. Those two agreed to come with us as well, to reinforce our ranks, and this time we were ready; as soon as we entered, Elaira bolstered my defenses and I drew upon the power of winter.

Our foes again put forth a good showing, but this time they would not drive us back. The wight summoned some archer skeletons and we also found ourselves fighting a runespiral demon, two wererats, and two evistros, as well as the bone shard skeleton and some of the blazing skeletons from last time. Not only did I find myself immobilized for part of the battle, but I had the most difficult time making my hits connect as I thought they should. Fortunately the others were up to the task, and I was still useful tactically speaking. Perhaps I was somewhat unrattled by the wight's horrific visage, or perhaps I lost my resolve somewhat when I found myself struggling to stay in the fray after taking a bunch of hits. Either way, I think the turning point in this battle for me was when Elaira encouraged me to attack one of the guys and I heard my flail connect with a resounding "whack." One last thing worth mentioning: a gnome appeared during the battle and shot some pot-shots at us before running away before we could stop him. After this we went deeper into the temple to try to rescue Adronsias.

XP for Slaves of the Old Empire Session #11

Each player gained 800 experience for the final session.

Total XP: 9550 (level 7 at 10000xp)

Thorn returns

So Aurora's hidin' on the barge, and I'm crackin' the whip an' shoutin' at the slaves, when we all see the airship appear on the far opposite side of the courtyard. There were too many enemies between me an' them, so there wasn't much we could do for 'em, and Aurora and I decided to hold our cover. I could see that our guys on the airship disembarked and were met with somethin' of a welcoming committee, as a whipmaster, a zombie, and a ghoul greeted them. A skirmish ensued and they managed to not die, which was about all I was hopin' for.

After, they freed 35 of the slaves as they ran around the cathedral. When they were upon us, chaos ensued at our camp. Brogar took 35 slaves they freed on the way (now armed, thanks to the armaments we'd hidden on the ship) and another five from our loggers, and headed to the east to liberate more slaves. Aurora came out from hiding, and some of our slaves armed themselves too, and we found ourselves setting upon a whipmaster, a cultist, and two zombies. As the battle was underway, a ghoul came from behind and began eating the slaves. It was a scuffle, that's for sure, as I shot at the ghoul before running up onto the scaffolding so he couldn't charge at me. The slaves fought bravely although several of them lost their lives. After we had taken care of the foes in our immediate mist, Colvin pointed out that we could shoot at the death priests guarding the doors of the inner sanctum of the cathedral. He must've shouted it out loud or something, because as soon as he said so, they shot at us instead. Colvin maneuvered forward so he could attack 'em both, and when the double doors burst open, he found himself uncomfortably close to a newly-undead Thorn, who immediately started swinging at him. Colvin barely managed to stay standing, being the only one of us close enough to take the full brunt of Thorn's rage. So we found ourselves set upon by Thorn and two death priests.

The death priests in particular tried to curse us in an attempt to make Colvin & me fall from the scaffolding, but in this they were unsuccessful. Thorn, having lost Colvin as a target, raced into melee combat with Aurora. Morangan managed to inflict a very devastating blow on one of the death priests, while Treble in the end was the one who finished Thorn off (and kill-thiefed the death priest that Colvin, Morangan, and I had been attacking).

In the end, from this we had gained the following: mundane hide armor, a greataxe, Thorn's Ring of Orkus, some magical Gauntlets of the Ram (which Colvin snatched up and put on before hardly anyone'd gotten a chance to look at 'em), a set of Iron Armbands of Power (likewise which Aurora quickly claimed) and two amulets from the death priests: an Amulet of Mental Resolve and an Amulet of Physical Resolve, which Aurora volunteered to hold in the meantime in case they may come in handy. Brogar rejoined us, along with the slaves, saying they had cleared out the remainder of the enemies from the courtyard. Several of the slaves seemed to recognize Morangan, but I don't know the whole story there.

Now we're tryin' ta decide whether or not to rest up before confronting Alhunder. I have plenty of resources left, myself, but some of the others don't, as they used some against Thorn. Either way, I'd quite enjoy Alhunder believing he was betrayed by Leshna, and this might be my last chance to pose as her, so I might see if Phelaia still has that dress handy........

XP for Slaves of the Old Empire Session #10

Each player gained 700 experience for the session.

Total XP: 8750 (level 7 at 10000xp)

Ghouls, ghouls everywhere

We had a few moments to retreat and prepare for the onslaught of ghouls that we saw advancing on us. About fifteen it was, and we all did various preparations to be sure that we wouldn't be caught unawares by 'em. In the distance we could see another group of slaves taking on a whipmaster and a cultist, and as our own battle waged on, we could see them winning the fight. Fortunately for us, the ghouls didn't all arrive at once, and rather were spread out in four waves. The ones that did arrive, we did our best to hit swiftly and hard to increase our chances of success. A bunch of ours in the front line were caught immobilized by 'em, but that didn't hinder 'em from holdin' the line so that those of us in the back could keep doin' our jobs. Somehow Aurora seemed to take on most of the attacks, but she didn't do too bad for herself.

After the battle was over, a quick search of the battlefield yielded some nonmagical weapons. Some of the slaves agreed to come with us and help free those who were being held at the cathedral. The group told us that we should expect to find some whipmasters at the cathedral and some undead as guards of the approximately 100 slaves remaining; as well as some death priests ad zombies. Like the others, they suggested that Alhunder could be found in the inner chamber. They told us that the town contains about 200 citizens, mostly farmers and hunters, who are forced to worship Orkus under the looming threat of the undead. After a bunch of discussion, a plan started to form: I would pose as a whipmaster, with Aurora hiding aboard my ship. The slaves were willing to spend the day loading one boat full of lumber so that we could all get down there safely. I would take about ten of them aboard my ship, and another ten or so would go with the others, followin' behind in the airship. Three on our ship were willing to man the ballista, at Brogar's suggestion. They would arrive a bit behind, and then Aurora, myself, and the slaves would be in position to flank from the other side. Let's hope it works out for us.

Before we rested, we finished analyzing the journal we had found on the death priest at the excavation camp. The journal contained a bunch of prayers, death poetry, and much expounding on his personal beliefs and convictions about his commitment to Orkus. It only mentioned Alhunder briefly, and we didn't find anything of tactical use. We did find three rituals in the book: one ritual for desecrating ground, and two ways to raise the undead (one to be used on helpless living people to turn them into ghouls like those we faced earlier, and one to be used on ancient skeletons to turn them into a weaker zombie-like version). Upon reading the rituals, Colvin became somewhat agitated and enraged, and insisted vehemently that the book be immediately burned. He was probably even too fired up to hear Phelaia's faint protestations, for before we knew it, he had set it aflame in a trash can aboard the ship, with him muttering about "unholy rituals" and "vile, evil magics." I had no use for the rituals myself, and don't sell things of the sort in the shop, so I had no objections.

Anyhow, we all slept through the night, in shifts, and the next day started implementing the rudiments of our plan after dawn approached. We had plenty of time during the journey down for me to ask the slaves to give me clear detail about the best way to fit in, so I've been updated on the usual routine, schedule, mannerisms of the whipmasters, and so on. Wearing the chainmail and clothing of the deceased, and brandishing a whip, I feel prepared to do the part. As we sailed down toward the dock, I could see about 20 slaves and 1 whipmaster near the docks; and another 35 slaves, a whipmaster, and a couple of zombies towards the back of the cathedral. As we docked, I could see two death priests standing guard outside the inner sanctum where Alhunder more than likely is (for if he was not there, why would it be guarded?). I hailed those on shore and shouted at my slaves, every once in awhile covertly looking skyward for signs of an airship. My guess is that we have another couple of hours before Aurora's hiding place will be revealed to the others on land, so hopefully we can find a good tactical time to get this party started before we find ourselves in trouble.

XP for Slaves of the Old Empire Session #9

Each player gained 450 experience for the session.

Total XP: 8050 (level 7 at 10000xp)