Research & Divinations (Year 14)

Following on from the previous session, the party returned to the capital city of Wyvernshore, to undertake some research, divinations and shopping, in order to prepare for a gruelling expedition to the summit of Talon Peak and combat the powerful undead centaur who outclassed them in their previous encounter.  The below is a result of a week's worth of divination and research:

Nomen Heights

Prior to the cataclysmic event known as Earthfall, which took place six thousand years ago, an ancient civilisation had colonised the area that is now known as Nomen Heights (wherein Varnhold has been built).  Unfortunately Earthfall wiped out whole civilisations and decimated the beings that dominated the landscape (except in exceptional cases where very powerful individuals found ways to hibernate and survive the mass-scale destruction that befell the world from above), it also destroyed all records pertaining to this time.
Five thousand years ago it was Rashalka centaur who roamed these lands and settled here, calling it home, until 2,00 years ago when the Human Empire of Taldor repeatedly launched expansionist military campaigns into the region in order to increase its territory and wealth.  In trying to gain a foothold in this region, Taldor clashed repeatedly with the Rashalka, resulting in mass casualties on both sides.  In the end a portion of Taldor (who would become House Surtova) had to be content in claiming land that would become known as Issia (northern Brevoy), whilst the centaurs eventually migrated or dwindled in size due to the aggressive nature of expansionist humans, leaving behind an offshoot tribe of centaur: the Nomen tribe.  Though they have lost much of their knowledge and heritage, the Nomen believe that it was Cyclops who once held dominion in this land up until the events of Earthfall.

Ley-Lines of Energy

There are several documented cases of druids and nature clerics researching the strange nature-based energy that run through the lands of Dragonmere and Varnhold.  They all concluded that mortals are unable to tap into this energy, but speculate that the energy is either a result of, or has resulted in, a number of locations where the boundaries between this world and others (in particular ones related to nature, fey and elemental forces) run thin, with effects (and denizens) bleeding through and affecting the environs in strange ways.
Three documented locations include:
·         The elven-built watchpost to the West of Wyvernshore, where the boundaries between the material plane and the fey first world allows powerful fey to manifest once or twice a year for limited periods.
·         The weather of Talon Peak is known to change very quickly due to the thin boundaries between the material and elemental planes, working against those that use magic to try and reach the mountain’s  summit - elementals and other unexpected creatures have been reported to reside in the vicinity of the mountain in years past.
·         To the East of Talon Peak is a small strange monolith that marks a weakness in the boundary between the material and ethereal planes and often plays host to weird beasts with unnatural anatomies and unfathomable agendas.

 

Yetis

Fierce, loyal, stealthy and strong, Yetis are denizens of mountain peaks that occasionally come down from the heights to make raids and take livestock or human prey for food.  They do not display murderous or cruel intent, unless their lairs are situated close to where the boundaries between planes are weakened, in which case they become filled with a cruel madness and seek prey to stalk, torment and toy with.
Yetis are very strong and their attacks can deal cold damage.  Their eyes are known to instil fright into the bravest of mortals. They are very stealthy in snow and at night.  They always have a lair and are very susceptible to fire damage but are naturally immune to all cold damage.

Mudmen

Mudmen are weak elementals composed when the planes of earth and water mingle with magic from the material plane; evidently the strange energies in the Varnhold region and the right conditions within Lake Silverstep were the perfect confluence of conditions that spawned these creatures.  They are unable to leave their muddy habitat and are hostile towards any that  trespass into their ‘mud’.  There are no documented cases of them communicating with humanoids nor do they seem to understand conventional attempts at communication.
Being elemental, Mudmen are immune to mind-affecting effects and certain conventional attacks, but are susceptible to Dispel Magic and Transmute Mud to Rock spells.  They can sling mud over great distances that can immobilise their enemies and are able to engulf nearby foes with the mud that they are made from.

 

Crystal Tree

Somehow a sentient being has used very powerful necromantic energy to tap into the strange nature-based energy that runs through the Varnhold region and has created blooms of necromantic power at key locations.  These blooms resemble trees that are scarlet in colour and look crystal in composition.  Divinations conclude that they are less than a fortnight old and if left unchecked they can give life to the dead and mutate the living, allowing the root cause to gain control over all those that are effected.  Blooms are easily destroyed by cold iron weapons due to the nature energy that the necromancy has tapped into, but because it is formed from necromancy it can also be destroyed by potent positive energy.  The undead centaur knight is known to respond to attacks on these blooms and works for ‘Vordakai’.  Both the centaur and the root cause are shielded from divination.
It would appear that five of these blooms were created, four have been determined to be:
·         within the centuar burial grounds, north-east of Varnhold.
·         based at the linnorm’s grave, hidden within the skull of the long-dead beast, south-east of Varnhold.
·         atop Talon Peak, the tallest mountain for hundreds of miles, west of Varnhold.
·         harboured in the deepest depths of Lake Silverstep, south of Varnhold.

Undead Centaur Knight

The party have encountered a black-armour clad centaur who is linked to the blooms and responds with violence when they are destroyed.  S/He deals fire damage, is immune to both fire and electricity as well as non-magical weapons and can intimidate opponents with ease.  Attempts to discern the location of this being are being shielded against, but they have yielded the name ‘Kerezar’.  However this name does not correlate to any documented texts in Dragonmere.  Presumed to be some sort of undead, the knight could be a:
·         DeathKnight - a 'Paladin' that either serves the gods of death or a powerful necromantic being that  brought it back to unlife - they believe that being dead is the perfect state of existence (no hunger or pain) and that in killing someone they are in fact bringing it the greatest gift of all.  They usually ride an undead mount, can infuse their weapon with necromantic energy and have a corrupting aura that can instil fear into the bravest of souls.
·         GraveKnight - a disgraced hero or nefarious warlord, killed and raised with a strong battle lust - they seek to challenge themselves and others in battle and claim that anyone slain by their hand dies out of the sight of the gods.  They are said to have an affinity to a particular element which is based on the moment that they died.
·         HellKnight - a devil-tainted undead knight that follows its own black-or-white philosophy which varies based on how it lived.  Whilst alive, a Hell Knight sold part of their soul to infernal powers in order to gain more martial power, eventually becoming a dark-armoured knight who values intimidation and might and is able to imbue their weapon with flame, chaos or unholy energy.

Vordakai

One of the few pieces of text that mentions the name Vordakai reads:
And so it was, high upon the Torres and well above the Vale’s Stairs, where rises from the high water a stony isle of dire report.  Known as Vordakai’s Island to those that do live thereabout, some legend of its name doth come down through the locals.  For they speak of a guardian that doth destroy all who would set foot upon its accursed shores.  They did name no fewer than a twelvecount of their hero-knights who had left their bones upon its rocky shores over the years after having tested their mettle against its dread warden, ’til none would any longer go there for fear of its hidden terrors.  And the name of this terror was given unto this Island.
Vordakai could either be a “Nomen Centaur God” or a “Slumbering Warlord of Immense Power” – in either case this being would be over 5,000 years old.  The Nomen centaur do not have any information regarding the nature of this being and whilst divinations pertaining to Vordakai’s location and exact nature are being blocked, as is Scrying (due to a permanent ancient spell akin to Mage's Private Sanctum) spells have revealed that this being has recently awoken due to a trespass and is not yet at full strength due to its atrophied state.

 

Jade Bracelet

On their return to Wyvernshore, the party discovered a parcel awaiting them containing a jade bracelet which was sent by Varnhold’s Willas Gundarson several months ago.  The ‘bracelet’ is in fact a ring for something larger than a human, made from jade and is quite old.  It can be sold quickly for 300gp, but a specialised academy of learning may purchase it for more.

Ring of Friend Shield

Whilst one of these rings was found in Varnhold, the location of it’s other half cannot be determined – it is shielded in the same manner that ‘Vordakai’ is, leading one to speculate that it is in close proximity to this being.

Arodus 5th 02 - Lamashan 31st 03 - Travelling faster than the speed of Time

The group eventually arrive back into Wyvernshore.

What happens below is brief note of events that happen in the months that pass.


Arodus (August)

Miro engages in an army training montage whilst the rest of the group help the city with their own rebuilding montage.

Eventually the council calls a meeting with the group over the future of owlbears as the council are worried that the creatures may be more to handle then the group had first thought.

After discussions it is discovered that it would cost the city around 2,000gp to train each of the young owlbears and even after that this would mean that the creatures would still only just be able to take basic commands.

The other option is that a group of druids had recently heard about the cities latest addition and are looking for some guardians for their grove and have offered to take the creatures off the city's hands for 3,000gp each.

The council soon decides that the best option for all would be to take the druids offer and sell the young owlbears so the money could be used to fund repairs for the city.

Rova (September) - Kuthona (December)
Even more training/rebuilding montages!

Abadius (January)
The kingdom's fey allies report that something strange happened near the dancing lady’s castle.  The report read that just for just one second a strange land suddenly appeared inside the forest and then disappeared, but they could sense a large number of other fey creatures within the land.

The group head to the old castle to find nothing is out of place and ask that their allies and travelling wardens keep them and the council informed of any further developments.

The Straw Owlbear festival ends with Miro setting a quarter of the city on fire with his drunken celebrations.


Pharast (March)

Winters pass festival turns out to be uneventful.

Desnus (May)
Wyvernshore become the proud owners of a new multi functioning  waterfront which suffers heavy damage from the  Mardegrar madness

Sarenith (June)

OMG! Queen Margo falls pregnant!! Apparently she's 4 months gone already, rumours fly that Otto may not be the father! ooooh Scandal!

Another report of a strange land appearing at the ruined castle comes in from the fey allies, the group start to suspect that maybe the solstices could be key to understanding this mystery.

Erastus (July)

Founders day festival and the royal wedding anniversary end up in some very embarrassing drunken scandals.

Tales of the "Cripple Killer" appear in town to scare misbehaving children.

Rova (September)

Harvest festival goes off without a hitch, some believe it was thanks to the sudden short supply of anything alcoholic in the city.

Rumours begin to spread that the King Otto may have a drinking problem.

Lamashan (October)

Reports of the strange land appearing again come into the city but again the group is too late when they arrive to investigate,

Ottoberfest......didn't happen, you'll find no records of it what so ever! HONEST! there's nothing to ponder carry on with you daily activities.

Arodus 4th 02 - Awww they're soooooo cute!

Night passes uneventfully.

The group continue along the trail to find a large rocky outcropping that had plenty of vegetation that appeared be covering a large 20ft opening into a cavern which has a passage leading out of it.

Otto casts invisibility on Kyrander and Miro as they volunteer to head into the passage to explore, they eventually find themselves in a chamber full of fungus with 3 other passages leading out of the chamber, they do notice that there are 3 violet fungus in this chamber which obviously hasn’t seen them…yet!

The pair head east, where a passage slopes down for 30ft till it opens in another chamber with a pool of murky water and another passage heading north east and a small crack in the wall.

They head into the crack (4ft wide) which is a little wet and a little tight.

As they make their way through the passage the pair notice that part of the floor is weakened and would collapse if weight is placed on it and between them manage to work their way past the weakened floor.

As they explore the remaining various passages and chambers the pair eventually find a chamber containing a large body of an dead owlbear and the sounds of 2 baby owlbears which appear to be feasting on a slowly dieing troll in the same chamber which is obviously trying to regenerate its wounds but the tiny creatures seem to be injuring it enough with each bite to keep the troll in a constant state of limbo.

The pair return to the surface to retrieve the rest of the group to show them the young owlbears, after some lengthy debate it is agreed that the group would finish exploring the passages and then return to take the young creature’s home.

In another chamber the group find a cave full of spiders, Natlia roles in a flaming sphere which after a very short time seems to take care of the spiders.

Natalia then uses her druidic skills to lure the baby owlbears out of the caves and to take them back to Wyvernshore to hopefully train them to aid the defence of the system.

Arodus 3rd 02 - Talonquake and Mossra

The group and the main division of the militia hastily head to the city whilst they ride hard and long til mid-morning with little rest.

As the city came into sight plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the eastern section of the city.

Miro instantly blurts out “Ah man! Not the dance hall!!”

The group snigger at Miro before they continue to race into town.

When the group arrive into the eastern section of the city they find that the citizens are being escorted by the city guards to a safe location and out of harms way.

Natalia asks one of the guards as he passes what is happening.

The guardsman responds ‘A giant creature is attacking the city, the guards are doing what they can in that direction! They could do with a hand though!” as he points down the road.

‘What about the dancehall man!’ insists Miro as he jumps off his riding dog and shakes the guard for a response.  Confused the guard responds ‘its....its intact sir!? It seemed to have been missed during the attack’

Miro breathed a sigh of relief and patted the guard in appreciation of his response.

The group carry on and ride into the eastern district of the city to find an armoured 20ft owl bear attacking buildings and a large number of the city guard that are trying to fight it off. 

Natalia also notices that the creature is also wearing what appears to be a massive suit of barding as it hoot's its way through the district swiping at anything that moves as the group join the fray.

Bob charges into the fight and bites owlbear's ankle.

Natalia casts flaming sphere engulfing the creature.

The Owlbear hits Bob with both claws and seriously injures the groups honey badger tank.

Miro shoots the owlbear and hits.

Vaneer casts searing light.

Otto casts haste on the group.

Kyrander fires 3 arrows at the owlbear hitting the creature with two of them.

Spot races in and his attack scores a hit against the raging creature.

Bob attacks again and hits.

Natalia moves her flaming sphere to keep up with the owlbear but the ball of flame misses.

Natalia tries to assess the owlbears weird behaviour and thinks that it could be linked to a spell affecting the creatures mind.

The owlbear attacks Bob again twice knocking the badger to the ground with its claws and then twists round and bites Spot.

Miro shoots the owlbear again.

Vaneer races in to the fight and casts a cure serious spell on Bob.

As the fight is ongoing a green flash suddenly erupts from the castle and the group realises that another fight was obviously underway.

Otto casts a flaming spell hitting the creature.

Kyrander lets loose 3 more arrows with all 3 finding their target.

The Owlbear is starting to look in bad shape as it misses its next attack.

Natalias flaming sphere moves again but still has no effect.

Natalia begins to cast another spell.

The Owlbear attacks Kyrander and hits grabbing the ranger within its hold.

Miro shoots at the owlbear but misses.

Otto casts scorching ray at the owlbear.

Kyrander tries to wriggle out of his confined space.

Vaneer casts sound burst.

Natalia summons 2 eagles to aid the fight.

The eagles attack the owlbear and claws out the creatures eye doing enough to kill the creature.

Vaneer heals up Bob, Spot and Kyrander whilst Natalia works out that the owlbear was under some sort of magical rage that was being caused by the barding.

The group then rushes towards the castle to see what is happening.

As the arrive at the main gates of the castle the group can see a huge mound of greenery ahead of them that appears to be moving (shambling mound)

As the group join the fray they arrive in time to see Count Drekev being slapped into a building then just after that one of the mounds severed tentacles starts to glow green with crackling lightning just before it starts growing the tentacle back.

Natalia tells the group the mound is most likely immune to fire.

Otto also informs the group that the mound is healed with electricity.

Just before Kyrander attacks he announces that he thought he saw a will-o-wisp hiding inside the shamble casting lightening at the mound to intentionally heal it.

Natalia casts fairy fire at the mound which shows where the invisible will-o-wisp is hiding.

The eagles attempt to attack the will-o-wisp, though one eagle is killed by the shambling mound whilst the other eagle manages to hit the mound.

Kyrander shoots at the will-o-wisp and hits it twice.

Spot charges into the fight and manages to hit the will-o-wisp.

Vaneer casts a prayer spell.

The Will-o-wisp zaps Vaneer with a bolt of electricity.

The mound attacks and kills the remaining eagle whilst the remaining tentacles miss Spot.

Otto casts a magic missile and insults the will-o-wisp to draw it out.

Miro shoots twice at the wisp missing with one and hitting with the other.

Natalia’s flaming sphere has no effect and then expires.

Bob attacks the will-o-wisp and hits.

Natalia cast magic fang on Bob.

Kyrander shoots the wisp and kills it before sending the remaining 2 arrows at the mound drawing sap from the mound.

Spot attacks the shambling mound.

Vaneer moves closer and casts a healing burst.

The mound attacks Bob and hits whilst hitting Spot but fails to grapple the cheetah.

Otto casts another magic missile.

Miro works his way into a flanking position and shoots the mound,

Count Drelev comes back into the fight and takes out a tentacle as the mound flings the count's annoying yapping dog through the air. (Vaneer secretly cheers!)

Bob attacks the mound and hits [The mound has 1hp left at this point]

Natalia uses her sling and the bullet penetrates through the one remaining leaf killing the creature.

The group takes a minute to take in the sights and the after effect of the attack before talking to Count Drelev about what happened.

As the clear up starts it comes apparent that the 20ft tall owlbear had left a clear path in its wake and Natalia suggests that once the army arrives to protect the city the group should head off along this trail and investigate.

In the meantime it’s decided that the Owlbear corpse should be sent to the lizardfolk tribe as a “gift” of meat.

The next couple of hours are spent assisting the city guard with erecting defences and putting out the fires from the attack. Eventually they head off along the trail and as sunsets they set up camp and sleep.

Erastus 31st 02 - Someone's pinched the yellow brick road

With Hargulka now defeated the group well rested now marched their army west to the emerald city, the ex-troll kings capital.

It soon comes apparent that the capital isn't as well developed as Wyvernshore as they observed what was more like a "shanty" town, the only developed building was the king's lair which was built into the side of a small mountain.

The group ride through the "city" and make their way to the lair only to find a hill giant had barred the door to the lair from the inside.

The group announce the troll king's death at the door and ask for the door to be opened. The giant appeared to be uneducated and a being of very few words, which made it awkward for the group to use their persuasive skill set, but eventually the hill giant opens the door even though he protests that he was told not to let the group into the lair.

The group question the hill giant as to the location of anyone else residing within the lair to which he informed the group that his friend ‘Korgalc’ was collecting all the ‘shinies’ down the corridor there, Miro instantly became restless and so the group left the hill giant to guard the door whilst they went looking for his pillaging comerade who was preparing to flee with their hard-earned(?!?) loot.

Eventually they find themselves in a large chamber with an old wagon that has lost it's wheels and numerous crates that appeared to be overflowing with the spoils of war and standing in front of all those crates and separating Miro and his "hard earned" treasure was a rock troll with a nasty looking club and an evil grin that verged on being near-delighted.

Not wasting anytime Kyrander shoots an arrow and hits.

Vaneer casts sound burst.

Otto casts haste on the group.

Miro stabs and stabs and stabs and stabs (you get the point) and hits.

The Rock troll swipes at Miro and sends the half-pint treasure collector flying.

Natalia casts flaming sphere and hits.

Bob charges in for the attack and misses.

Kyrander shoots 3 more arrows and hits.

Vaneer attacks and misses.

Otto casts acid splash and hits the rock troll.

Miro critically hits the rock troll severing both the creature’s arms in an not so impressive display of acrobatics.

With the fight over the group take account of what their new addition to the kingdom has to offer, they leave a small division of troops to maintain order in the emerald city till an official Lord/Mayor/Count/Duke etc etc is decided to take responsibility for the city, though the door guarding hill giant was delighted to hear that he wasn't about to be made unemployed.

Whilst going through the lair's possessions Miro discovers a note and a map that obviously shows Wyvernshore and the nearby area with an arrow pointing at the city leading from some hill's with the note, "It has been released!".

Worried what could be happening to their own city the group rush to return to Wyvernshore 

Meanwhile as our heroes rush back in Wyvernshore, on the morning of the 3^rd day (the day when the group will arrive) tremors begin to shake Wyvernshore:

A glass of water on someone's bedside cabinet ripples as a dull thudding noise grows in volume,
A giant shadow approaches a series of houses in the early morning, just before the sun rises.
A couple of residents walking through the streets stare up on disbelief and shock
A loud shriek echoes across the city and windows implode.
An enormous clawed paw smashes through a shop as if it were made of paper-mache.
The few remaining street lights glow a green light and then explode as electric discharges arc across the sidewalk.
A loud sizzling noise can be heard and the nearby hairs of a labourer out walking his dog rise up and crackle, before both are turned into blacked shadows on the stone path,

 … Will they arrive in time to save their city from two enormous creatures?

Erastus 29th 02 - Great Balls of Fire!

The group woke to a blustery day and when ready they moved west to the pre-agreed combat location just as Hargulka the Troll king arrived with his entourage and a small ugly fey sitting in a pouch on the back of the troll.

Hargulka was wielding a large magical Morningstar, basic armour and was still sporting a necklace of fireballs that had been given to him by the fey at the Spring Fey Feast.  His companion, Giz, was an ugly hairy fey with a long snout, funny pointy ears and wielded obscene gestures and sharp one-lines; as expected the Troll King's +1 was a participant that wouldn't be fighting but instead insulting the party!

The group and Hargulka approached each other until they were standing with a 20 foot gap separating them.  With some cutting quips, threats and then a small nod of acknowledgement between the combatants they ready themselves for all out warfare.

Natalia starts casting.

Otto casts a haste spell on the group and backs away a little.

Kyrander shoots and hits.

The Troll king regenerates his wounds and throws a bead from his fireball necklace (see the dancing lady entry) at the group which gets the party pretty good!

Vaneer casts a healing burst.

Miro moves away and drinks a potion.

Natalia casts flaming sphere which doesn’t seem harm the troll at all, as the troll nimbly moves around it.

Otto casts hideous laughter which takes hold of the Troll King.

Kyrander walks up and smashes a jar of oil on the troll king with the flaming sphere setting oil on fire which seemed to work.

Vaneer attacks with his trident and misses.

Miro tries to sneak attack the troll and misses.

Natalia's flaming sphere further injures the troll king.

Natalia casts another spell.

Bob attacks the troll king but just misses.

Otto starts to realise that Giz, the troll kings companion, has some sort of ability that makes it harder to hit the troll with spells, melee and ranged attacks!  [Turns out that Giz is a Pugwampi Gremlin!  A creature that brings bad luck to opponents]

Otto then changes target and magic missiles the small ugly fey, seriously injuring him.

Kyrander shoots the small creature hitting it and killing the laughing fool.

Spot attacks the troll king and finally manages to connect.

Hargulka overcomes Otto's previous laughing spell.

Vaneer hits the troll king with his trident.

Miro hits the troll king multiple times.

The flaming sphere continues to injure troll king.

Natalia summons a lightning bolt to strike the troll king.

Bob attempts to bite and hits.

Natalia casts a barkskin spell.

Otto casts hideous laughter again at the troll king which is again successful.

The Troll king doesn’t take as long this time to shrug off the laughter spell and then mockingly laughs at the group.
Kyrander draws his cold iron longsword and swipes at the troll king and hits.

Between the fire from the oil, the flaming sphere and the heat from the lightning strike, all the orange spheres around Hargulka's neck begin to glow rapidly and then the previously inert fireballs on his necklace suddenly crack and explode all at once, killing the troll king instantly with a surprised expression on his face!  The explosion damages everyone nearby, with Kyrander, Bob and Spot all getting blisters and burns as a result, whilst Vaneer is propelled across the field, unconscious and bleeding out heavily.
[Turns out that the fey-gifted necklace of fireballs was as cursed as their other gifts and was both more susceptible to damage and also stacked up the damage it dealt the remaining spheres finally detonated]

Miro and Otto rush over to the cleric and provide healing potions to the very charred Vaneer.

Once the cleric is awake and cooled down he begins healing the rest of injured and charred party.

A cheer goes up from the tree line as the Wyvernshore army celebrate the defeat of the Toll King, whilst the monstrous forces that had been spectating slink 'home' to the forest to await whatever new developments are about to occur.

Slowly the group head east back to their camp to rest.

Erastus 28th 02 - That march was so quick it was like a foxtrot!

As planned the previous day the group gather the army and quickly as possible head south-east two hexs and then travel south west for one which brought them an hour from the preselected combat site with the troll king tomorrow.

The group set up camp and rest ready for tomorrow.