Friday, May 22, 2009

Interrogating Grovald

Grovald grudgingly admits that he killed Haelyn and buried her behind the fountain. He claims he was ordered to do so by individuals who didn’t like her poking her nose in where it wasn’t wanted. If pressed, he confesses that he’s ultimately working for someone named General Zithiruun. Grovald doesn’t know what he’s a general of, and he doesn’t know what species, for the general wears a hooded cloak, but he does wear a strange armor of iron joints and leather harnesses. At the moment, though, Grovald takes his orders from priests of Moradin (?) in Nine Bells.

If pressed on the issue, Grovald confesses that he is the priest of “the master of darkness.” (A DC 10 Religion check reveals this to be an occasional title for Zehir.) Grovald claims that his involvement here is purely mercenary.

Lavinya's Plea

“My name is Lavinya,” she tells you. “I’m the last priestess here (Temple of Erathis in Nine Bells); the others all departed years ago, when the Nine Bells went all to seed, and the temples with it. I keep it open and functioning as best I can on my own, but ... ”

“Do you know Haelyn?” she asks.

“Haelyn is a wonderful old woman. She’s the caretaker of the shrine to Erathis, over in Tradetown.”

“I’m sure you know,” she continues, “that most worship of Erathis in Overlook takes place there, rather than here. I must admit, I haven’t always been a friend to Haelyn. I was ... bitter, very bitter, at what happened to my temple. But after a time, we got to know each other, and we’ve become great friends.

“And that’s why I need you!” Lavinya looks up, her eyes suddenly narrowed. “Something is wrong! Something’s happened to Haelyn, I know it, and maybe not just to her!”

“A few days ago, Haelyn just disappeared. I went by the shrine to speak with her and she was gone. There’s a man named Grovald maintaining the shrine now. I don’t know him; I’ve never met him before, and nobody I talk to knows him either. He told me that Haelyn left on a spiritual retreat and would be back in a few months. “But I know better! Haelyn needed no ‘spiritual retreat.’ Her faith was strong, and it was centered on that shrine! And even if she had, she wouldn’t have up and left—not without telling me.”

“I must confess, I went back at night and snooped around a bit, not just in the shrine, but peering through the windows of the groundskeeper’s cottage. I’ve offered penance to Erathis for my trespass, but I had to know what happened! I didn’t . . . I found no trace of Haelyn, but I did catch a glimpse of a letter through the cracks in the shutters. I couldn’t read much of it, and I dared not stay long, but I’m certain it was addressed to ‘G’—that must be Grovald, right?—and it began with ‘I am commanded to ask if you’ve had any further problems with the worshipers of . . .’ That’s all I saw, but it sounds sinister enough!

“And that,” she says morosely, “is where things got even worse. I went to the authorities, but they told me there was nothing to look into, that Haelyn—or any citizen—can travel as they please. I spoke to some of the other priests—Aelys of Bahamut, Durkik of Moradin at the Stone Anvil, Kyrrist of Avandra, even Matron Volorvyn of the Raven Queen. Some of these have long been my friends, and even those who were not have at least been respected colleagues. And all of them brushed me off! They were distant, uncaring, even cold, as though my worries were of no moment! Volorvyn appeared barely to recognize me, and while we’ve never been close, we’ve known one another on and off for years.”

“And that’s when I thought of you, Overlook’s new heroes. I’m terrified that something has happened to my friend and that something is wrong with my fellow priests. I should, we all should, be showering you with gifts and thanks, not heaping even more cares onto your shoulders—but I’ve little influence left in this city, and I have nobody else to whom I can turn.”

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Session 20 Recap

The final room of the fortress was obviously built for one purpose, ritual work. And Fangren, the gnoll leader, was busy at ritual work when the adventurers arrived. Elemental Chaos energy was streaming in from the pillars to form a blob above the central dias, where the gnolls were adding ingredients to the cauldron. A dozen twisted, mutant people encircled the ritual area, chanting in disharmony. Two elemental beasts lay at the foot of the dias.

The ritualists switched gears quickly though and shifted their attention to the intruders. A few of the heroes cleared a path into the room. The gnolls were quick too though & rained their destructive forces on their remaining foes bunched up in the doorway. But these heroes weren’t going to let a little AoE damage, ongoing damage & dazing deter them. They pulled themselves out of the doorway and shared the pain.

Kava and Peleus did their duty and pinned down the tougher opponents. Some of the ritualists went down quickly. Many of them got off some descent attacks first though. The gnolls in particular ignored physical armor. They attacked the heroes with elemental energies, and the beasts had a hideous psychic laugh. Both sides took a beating, but the heroes outlasted them. In a last ditch effort, one of the beasts let loose a massive psychic blast in the middle of everyone, which did more harm than good for their side. Fangren fell to the ground clawing at his own head before dying.

Rathos had little trouble with the ritual work that followed. The existing portal was closed, and a new one to the Astral Sea opened. Amyria was released from the sword in a flash of light. The elven woman had unearthly beauty. She wore mithril chainmail. In her left hand was a large, leather bound tome. In her right hand, an exquisite silver longsword with a star ruby pommel and golden runes.

The heroes brought her up to speed on recent events, and everyone departed for the Marsh Forest. The elves there welcomed Amyria and her escorts with refreshments and many questions. (Non-elves are rarely allowed in this forest.) She indulged them briefly, then departed through the megalith portal to Overlook (activating the portal herself). She took her leave of the heroes at this point. “I must pray and meditate on things for a time. I am still unclear on what’s happening.”

The party milled about Overlook for a few weeks. Things were not settling down here. The Orcs to the west were no longer a threat. Yet, the city was seemingly preparing for war. Gates and walls were being bolstered. The militia had expanded, and they were training daily. Clan troops and merchant guards were growing. It seems political unrest has driven this more than any external threat. Various power groups are using the “threat of war” as an excuse to flex their muscles and establish a stronger presence. Most of the workers seem unconcerned about their tasks, but “authorities” have commanded these things be done.

Many of these new troops aren’t soldiers or guards at all. The Lost Ones are making a killing hiring out muscle. Mercenaries and adventuring companies are likewise in high demand. Rathos has recruited a few guards to station at the Happy Beggar and the Temple of Erathis. Reed has invested some money in the hostel. Finding suitable guards has been difficult though considering the available applicants. So far, he has 20 people that appear to be dependable & trustworthy, though not cheap.

The religious community has been busy as well. Ancestor Durkik, high priest of the Stone Anvil, has ordered the old temple of Moradin in Nine Bells restored. Nine Bells is a very old & poor district with numerous churches in disrepair. The caretaker of the Temple of Erathis in Nine Bells, Lavinya, has asked the heroes to investigate the disappearance of a colleague. Haelyn is an elderly priestess who runs the shrine of Erathis (nicer part of town, more membership). She disappeared a couple days ago, and someone calling himself Grovald has claimed stewardship of the shrine. Several clergy of other temples have been behaving strangely too.

After beating Grovald into submission & killing most of his thugs, the party questioned him in private. Grovald was hired to stop Haelyn’s nosing around. A general “Zithiruun” paid Grovald to kill Haelyn and find out who she’s been talking to. He met the general once… of elven build with a leather battle harness and an occasional stammer… other characteristics were hidden by a hooded cloak. Grovald goes to confession at the Temple of Moradin in Nine Bells. Sometimes the priest hearing his sins gives him orders, payment and notes from the general.

The adventurer’s locate Haelyn’s body buried near the shrine. They exhume her body & have her resurrected with Lavinya’s help. Haelyn confirms that various clergy around town are behaving strangely. Haelyn & Lavinya are very grateful for the heroes’ help.

Session 20 Rewards

Circlet of Mental Onslaught
2 Flame Roses
2 Fundamental Ice
2 Potions of Clarity +1
6 Platinum Rings
Various Portal Rituals
Belt of Vim
600 gp Fangren
300 gp Grovald
-500 gp Resurrect Haelyn

1700 xp each

Encounters:
3500 xp Fangren (3 gnolls, 12 mutants, 2 elemental beasts)
1200 xp Closing the portal (skill)
2000 xp Ritual to release Amyria (quest)
400 xp Ending the abductions (quest)
2500 xp Shrine of Erathis (Grovald, 2 dopplegangers, 12 thugs)
600 xp Haelyn found & resurrected (quest)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Shadar-kai Weapons

Their shadar-kai weapons give the gnolls an advantage in their raids, but these blades require the special training Kyrion provides. The shadar-kai short sword is statistically identical to the katar (PH 218), while the shadar-kai greatsword is statistically identical to the fullblade (Adventurer’s Vault 9). Though the weapons have a jagged and shadowy appearance, this provides no additional mechanical benefit.

The weapons are made of shadowsteel.

Shadar-kai Letter

The following letter was found on the shadar-kai weaponmaster in Greystone Fortress:

Kyrion,

Let me make my orders clear: you are there only to train the gnolls, not to fight for them. Watch yourself; they are a bloodthirsty and violent lot, and they may turn on you. You may need to remind them from time to time that I pay them well for their services, and that I can withdraw my support for their butchery at any time. Be careful of their leader, for he is far more cunning than others would give him credit for. I would not have even considered trying to trick them into service with that “Emissary” deception that riled up that fool Sinruth. These gnolls have the power of their foul god on their side. They are not to be trifled with.

— Sarshan

Session 19 Recap

“Warning! Keep out! Haunted!”

What a great place to hide and get rested up! The gnolls aren’t likely to go in that room. So, the adventurers went in. The meditation room was guarded by “spirits,” but they weren’t undead. They were elemental. Once slain, they melted away. And the heroes rested.

Guards the adventurers had removed hours earlier were probably replaced by now. The prison and waterfall rooms had nothing but dead bodies. Seregdur rigged a noise maker on the portal room door, and the group pressed on.

The last hallway led to a solid looking door, barred from the inside. Luckily the gnolls within were training rather noisily. Reed tried repeatedly to remove the bar, through cracks in the door. Eventually the gnolls were alerted, but Reed did manage to remove the bar about the same time.

The intruders walked into a dozen armored gnolls, weapons in hand. Oddly, a shadar-kai was here training with them. This shed some light on the gnolls’ skill with the odd weaponry, but the heroes had no time to ponder that. Instead, they cut through the recruits and engaged the gnoll warmaster & shadar-kai weaponmaster. Both were skilled combatants, but had a run of bad luck. They couldn’t seem to penetrate Kava’s defenses. So, the heroes rid the world of more evil doers.

As the group evaluated their earnings, Jimmy the bounty hunter was spotted in the doorway, casually leaning against the wall as if he had been there a while. He addressed the party with some familiarity and chatted for a moment. Jimmy had warned them back in Overlook of the bounty on their heads. “I’ll be collectin’ that bounty now. Which one of you turds is first?”

Jimmy and his pets put up a good fight, but his skills were ranged. Like so many before him, the heroes got in Jimmy’s face and shut down his offense. He slashed and shot and held strong for longer than most. In the end, he was out numbered and surrounded though, and had no choice but to surrender.

In exchange for his life, he shared some useful info. He had been here in his youth and knew the layout of the place and several secret tunnels. He described the living quarters below and the ritual room ahead. “The gnoll chief is probably in there.” He also informed the group that Sarshan (shadar-kai arms dealer) had put the bounty on their heads.

The group confirmed Sarshan’s involvement here via a note (next post) on the shadar-kai weaponmaster (dead on the floor). It seems this man has been heavily involved in the recent troubles in Elsir Vale. And he survived the volcano/earthquake in the Shadowfell. The sword Seregdur is carrying is important, as is this fortress.

Session 19 Rewards

+1 Morningstar (Wicked Fang)
Figurine – Ironwood Hound
Helm of the Eagle
1 Potion of Healing
1 Potion of Regeneration
1400 gp

1325 xp each

Encounters:
2250 xp Meditation Room (3 Psionic Echoes, 3 Mindscramblers)
2700 xp Training Room (12 gnolls, 1 shadar-kai)
3000 xp Bounty Hunter (1 Jimmy the elf, 2 owls, 2 hounds)

Session 18 Recap

The Githzerai “fortress” wasn’t very defensible. The heroes strode right in the front door. The entry hall was lined with windows/portals to other rooms. Most of them led to a guard room. The gnolls there quickly mobilized and positioned themselves, while the intruders tried to figure out how the portals worked. Both sides were split up between the rooms. The gnolls tried to gang up on 1 or 2 enemies, but still couldn’t bring down anyone. The adventurers eventually coordinated their efforts and removed the guards.

The portal system led to a four way intersection. Various sounds could be discerned from each direction. The group chose to follow the voices first. This led to the prison. The gnolls on duty here were trained to restrain and whip prisoners. Their tactics were less effective on hearty adventurers, though the manacles were annoying.

Two prisoners were found in the cells; a human deputy from Red Rock and an elf ranger from the Marth Forest. Both had been here less than a week, but were routinely beaten. The gnolls have been capturing skilled citizens in the region for several weeks, but neither of these men knew what had happened to the others. They confiscated gear from their fallen captors and headed home.

The group investigated the waterfall room next. Three gnolls (two mounted) were training in the water to build strength & stamina. The mounts were large hyenas, and they laid into Kava with their riders sporting light lances. These weren’t the real threat though. The third gnoll was a summoner. He called in swarms of crows and rats that viciously gnawed on several of the heroes, and he did so at least three times, flooding the room with vermin. But alas, his defenders weren’t as skilled, and once the heroes got to him, he went down quickly.

A door in the back corner was wedged shut with a note in Abyssal (the gnoll’s language): “Warning! Keep out! Haunted!”

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Session 18 Rewards

+2 Tratnyr (Vengeful)
Gloves of Storing
Salve of Power
2 Potions of Clarity +2
2 Desert Roses
600 gold

1150 xp each

Encounters:
2300 xp Portal Room (7 gnolls)
2300 xp Prison (7 gnolls)
2300 xp Waterfall (3 gnolls, 2 hyenas)