Loot:
+1 Platemail (Acid Resist 5)
+1 Large Greatsword
Parry Gauntlets
Shielding Girdle
2500g
Zithiruun’s armor & weapons (trophies)
City Rewards:
5000g
Titles: Lord/Lady – minor nobility
Lands: modest homes in Overlook, or 1 mansion
Blessing of Bahamut (Toradin)
2613 xp each (current total = 26,001; level 11)
Encounters:
2800 xp Gate (4 Trolls, 1 Red Dragonspawn)
3200 xp Beatles (1 Lamia, 1 Dartswarmer, 3 Fey Dwarves)
0 xp Firefighter (skill challenge)
4565 xp The General (1 Githyanki, 1 undead dragon, 6 Goliaths)
2500 xp Victory in Overlook (major quest)
For simplicity sake... everyone is at 4700g and the minor items no one would use have been sold.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Zithiruun's Plot Reveiled
The githyanki are known to be very militaristic and aggresive. They are constantly working to expand their influence & control over others (who become slaves on some level). Regardless of their current focus, the ability to rapidly move troops around the world & between planes is a huge military advantage.
Elsir Vale has an abundance of portals, natural and man-made, to this world & other planes. The entire vale is abnormally conducive to portals. You've encountered at least 4 natural crossover points. Any other region of the world might have 1. Additionally, man-made portals are faster, easier & cheaper to create here. This is the resource the Githyanki have been after.
Zithiruun has been the puppetmaster behind many of the troubles in Elsir Vale lately; many of the issues the party has come across. Amyria shares the following info...
General Zithiruun was a great hero — one of the most respected military leaders of a militant race. From the great city of Tu’narath, he led armies of the githyanki on raids across the Astral Sea, and into a dozen different regions and kingdoms of the mortal realm. From the deck of the astral galleon Siun’kara or the back of Rathoraiax, his great red dragon steed, Zithiruun proved an unstoppable force — a champion among a race of champions. Even Vlaakith, the fearsome githyanki lich queen, acknowledged his greatness, heaped great praise upon him.
It’s said that he was crippled and his mount slain in a battle against a mighty dragon or fiend. Rumors disagree on whether he still lives and what position he might hold (if any) among the weakness-intolerant githyanki.
Elsir Vale has an abundance of portals, natural and man-made, to this world & other planes. The entire vale is abnormally conducive to portals. You've encountered at least 4 natural crossover points. Any other region of the world might have 1. Additionally, man-made portals are faster, easier & cheaper to create here. This is the resource the Githyanki have been after.
Zithiruun has been the puppetmaster behind many of the troubles in Elsir Vale lately; many of the issues the party has come across. Amyria shares the following info...
General Zithiruun was a great hero — one of the most respected military leaders of a militant race. From the great city of Tu’narath, he led armies of the githyanki on raids across the Astral Sea, and into a dozen different regions and kingdoms of the mortal realm. From the deck of the astral galleon Siun’kara or the back of Rathoraiax, his great red dragon steed, Zithiruun proved an unstoppable force — a champion among a race of champions. Even Vlaakith, the fearsome githyanki lich queen, acknowledged his greatness, heaped great praise upon him.
It’s said that he was crippled and his mount slain in a battle against a mighty dragon or fiend. Rumors disagree on whether he still lives and what position he might hold (if any) among the weakness-intolerant githyanki.
Session 23 Recap
Having cleared the fey mercenaries, the temple was very quiet. There were several doors along the side & back of the main sanctuary. Toradin ventured in from Overlook, done with his family matters. Kava and Reed decided to go home, but couldn’t exit the temple. They stood guard in the entry hall, while the others pressed on.
One of the back doors led to living quarters and a smaller sanctuary. The earthquake had heavily damaged the room and the ceiling was unstable. Seregdur spotted some shinies near the altar at the other end of the room. He worked his way through the rubble as the others watched from the entry. Scattered around the altar were various ritual tools (goblets, ceremonial dagger, tray). He grabbed what he could and headed back. The venture was nearly done, when the ceiling decided to drop on Seregdur. He dodged, weaved and made it out alive, but not untouched.
The other hallway at the back of the main sanctuary led to additional living quarters, storage, a kitchen and the reliquary (library). The door was shut & locked. Peering through the keyhole, the adventurers were able to see several Goliaths standing guard over an Azer. No one understood their conversations, and others could be heard in the room. The lock was picked, but some of the adventurers decided the Azer wasn’t worth the trouble. Should they bother? At that point a couple Goliaths came up behind the group and sounded the alarm.
The fight started in the hall, but quickly moved into the library. The trolls were tough. Fire was less effective than expected. The redspawn firebelcher granted it’s allies some resistance (unknown to the heroes). And even when the trolls took fire or acid damage, it didn’t always negate their regeneration. So, they focused down the Goliaths first. Then the dragonspawn. Once it went down, the trolls weren’t so tough. They fought on for a while, but died in the end.
The Azer was chained and half-mad. Torture had driven him (near) insane. It took the party over an hour of soothing talk, religious compulsion and healing to bring some sense to the man. He eventually snapped out of it, though he was exhausted and confused. The “Caretaker” was normally the sole inhabitant of the temple. He had magical control of all the guards, wards and entrances. General Zithiruun wanted control of the various portals for troop movement. He could bring soldiers in from the Astral Sea, then out to Overlook, or elsewhere. In his madness, the Caretaker lost control of the portals. Zithiruun took control and left the temple (guarded) to progress his plans elsewhere. Now that the Caretaker is alert again, he has re-established control. The heroes may leave at their leisure. He will actively block entry to the temple for a time to thwart the Githyanki.
The group recuperated and assisted the Caretaker in reconsecrating the temple. Then they returned to Overlook. Ancestor Durkik was given the relic/book. Then they visited the city council to warn them of the pending Githyanki attack. General Zithiruun used Sarshan (Shadar-kai), Sinruth (Hobgoblin), Tusker (Orc) and others to further his plans. He has mercenaries (fey, trolls, goliaths, orcs, others) staged to assault Overlook from within & without. The council asked the group for input on how to best defend against these foes since they are familiar with many of the Githyanki’s troops. The rest of the day was spent discussing city defenses, portals and enemy weaknesses.
One of the back doors led to living quarters and a smaller sanctuary. The earthquake had heavily damaged the room and the ceiling was unstable. Seregdur spotted some shinies near the altar at the other end of the room. He worked his way through the rubble as the others watched from the entry. Scattered around the altar were various ritual tools (goblets, ceremonial dagger, tray). He grabbed what he could and headed back. The venture was nearly done, when the ceiling decided to drop on Seregdur. He dodged, weaved and made it out alive, but not untouched.
The other hallway at the back of the main sanctuary led to additional living quarters, storage, a kitchen and the reliquary (library). The door was shut & locked. Peering through the keyhole, the adventurers were able to see several Goliaths standing guard over an Azer. No one understood their conversations, and others could be heard in the room. The lock was picked, but some of the adventurers decided the Azer wasn’t worth the trouble. Should they bother? At that point a couple Goliaths came up behind the group and sounded the alarm.
The fight started in the hall, but quickly moved into the library. The trolls were tough. Fire was less effective than expected. The redspawn firebelcher granted it’s allies some resistance (unknown to the heroes). And even when the trolls took fire or acid damage, it didn’t always negate their regeneration. So, they focused down the Goliaths first. Then the dragonspawn. Once it went down, the trolls weren’t so tough. They fought on for a while, but died in the end.
The Azer was chained and half-mad. Torture had driven him (near) insane. It took the party over an hour of soothing talk, religious compulsion and healing to bring some sense to the man. He eventually snapped out of it, though he was exhausted and confused. The “Caretaker” was normally the sole inhabitant of the temple. He had magical control of all the guards, wards and entrances. General Zithiruun wanted control of the various portals for troop movement. He could bring soldiers in from the Astral Sea, then out to Overlook, or elsewhere. In his madness, the Caretaker lost control of the portals. Zithiruun took control and left the temple (guarded) to progress his plans elsewhere. Now that the Caretaker is alert again, he has re-established control. The heroes may leave at their leisure. He will actively block entry to the temple for a time to thwart the Githyanki.
The group recuperated and assisted the Caretaker in reconsecrating the temple. Then they returned to Overlook. Ancestor Durkik was given the relic/book. Then they visited the city council to warn them of the pending Githyanki attack. General Zithiruun used Sarshan (Shadar-kai), Sinruth (Hobgoblin), Tusker (Orc) and others to further his plans. He has mercenaries (fey, trolls, goliaths, orcs, others) staged to assault Overlook from within & without. The council asked the group for input on how to best defend against these foes since they are familiar with many of the Githyanki’s troops. The rest of the day was spent discussing city defenses, portals and enemy weaknesses.
Session 23 Rewards
Gloves of the Healer
+2 Cloak of Distortion (Seregdur, upgrade)
+1 Cloak of Distortion (vendor?)
600g
1200 xp each
Encounters:
3900 xp Reliquary (3 Trolls, 5 Goliaths, 1 Red dragonspawn)
700 xp Quest – Control of Mountainroot Temple
700 xp Quest – Relic / book brought to Durkik
700 xp War Council (skill)
+2 Cloak of Distortion (Seregdur, upgrade)
+1 Cloak of Distortion (vendor?)
600g
1200 xp each
Encounters:
3900 xp Reliquary (3 Trolls, 5 Goliaths, 1 Red dragonspawn)
700 xp Quest – Control of Mountainroot Temple
700 xp Quest – Relic / book brought to Durkik
700 xp War Council (skill)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Session 22 Recap
Having spoken at length with Durkik and rested overnight, the heroes were poised for action. Durkik led them deep under the Stone Anvil to an ancient sepulcher. “The portal is through there. My vows prohibit me from going any further. May Moradin watch over you.”
The sepulcher was huge and well crafted. No doubt, many import dwarves were buried here hundreds of years ago. The statue at the far end was the centerpiece of this wondrous room. The 15 foot tall statue of Moradin was made of mithril filigree. The room showed signs of a recent fight. Several smaller guardian statues lay in ruins about the room.
The adventurers approached the mithril statue & spotted the portal in an alcove behind it. It would take some squeezing to get past the statue, but they didn’t get that far. The statue sprang to life and addressed them: “Those who would enter the Mountainroot Temple must first prove their understanding of Moradin’s ways.” The party talked it out, pieced together their knowledge of religion & history, worked it all into a poem and recited their answer with reverence and grace. The statue examined them for a few moments… “Very well then. Welcome to Mountainroot.” The statue twisted and moved, and an opening formed between his massive legs.
The other end of the portal was in the entry room of the temple. Several portals, magical and mundane, dotted the walls of this chamber, and a small stage was in the center. An earthquake had severely damaged one end of the room. Guarding this room were fey guards working for Zithiruun. The harpy, thugs and various fey creatures swarmed to the party and gave them a good beating the first round. The heroes shrugged it off though and slaughtered the attackers after offering terms. The quickling darted off through the rubble.
The cathedral was larger than some keeps the heroes have seen. There were two sections. The lower cathedral had rows of low stone benches. The upper had statues of Moradin, angels and an altar. They were immediately beset by more fey creatures, including Cyclopi this time. They were hard to hit, but went down with a nice thud. Another of the fey dwarves was spotted up top, but the adventurers retreated for a short rest. One they didn’t get.
The remaining fey were pressed into action by their hag leader. She blasted several of the heroes with her screams, multiple times. Meanwhile, her displacer beast pets maneuvered into flank on various people. Reed evaded them, but Paleus could not. The fight wouldn’t have been so bad, but the beasts were blurry and difficult to hit. The adventurers cleared everything else, then finished the displacer beasts.
The sepulcher was huge and well crafted. No doubt, many import dwarves were buried here hundreds of years ago. The statue at the far end was the centerpiece of this wondrous room. The 15 foot tall statue of Moradin was made of mithril filigree. The room showed signs of a recent fight. Several smaller guardian statues lay in ruins about the room.
The adventurers approached the mithril statue & spotted the portal in an alcove behind it. It would take some squeezing to get past the statue, but they didn’t get that far. The statue sprang to life and addressed them: “Those who would enter the Mountainroot Temple must first prove their understanding of Moradin’s ways.” The party talked it out, pieced together their knowledge of religion & history, worked it all into a poem and recited their answer with reverence and grace. The statue examined them for a few moments… “Very well then. Welcome to Mountainroot.” The statue twisted and moved, and an opening formed between his massive legs.
The other end of the portal was in the entry room of the temple. Several portals, magical and mundane, dotted the walls of this chamber, and a small stage was in the center. An earthquake had severely damaged one end of the room. Guarding this room were fey guards working for Zithiruun. The harpy, thugs and various fey creatures swarmed to the party and gave them a good beating the first round. The heroes shrugged it off though and slaughtered the attackers after offering terms. The quickling darted off through the rubble.
The cathedral was larger than some keeps the heroes have seen. There were two sections. The lower cathedral had rows of low stone benches. The upper had statues of Moradin, angels and an altar. They were immediately beset by more fey creatures, including Cyclopi this time. They were hard to hit, but went down with a nice thud. Another of the fey dwarves was spotted up top, but the adventurers retreated for a short rest. One they didn’t get.
The remaining fey were pressed into action by their hag leader. She blasted several of the heroes with her screams, multiple times. Meanwhile, her displacer beast pets maneuvered into flank on various people. Reed evaded them, but Paleus could not. The fight wouldn’t have been so bad, but the beasts were blurry and difficult to hit. The adventurers cleared everything else, then finished the displacer beasts.
Session 22 Rewards
+3 Quickcurse Rod
Gem of Colloquy (Giant)
750 gp
1500 xp each
Encounters:
500 xp Moradin statue (skill)
2300 xp Temple entry (1 harpy, 1 quickling, 2 fey dwarves, 6 thugs)
2800 xp Lower Cathedral (1 banshrae, 1 quickling, 2 fey dwarves, 4 cyclopi)
3400 xp Upper Cathedral (1 hag, 1 banshrae, 3 fey dwarves, 2 displacer beasts)
Gem of Colloquy (Giant)
750 gp
1500 xp each
Encounters:
500 xp Moradin statue (skill)
2300 xp Temple entry (1 harpy, 1 quickling, 2 fey dwarves, 6 thugs)
2800 xp Lower Cathedral (1 banshrae, 1 quickling, 2 fey dwarves, 4 cyclopi)
3400 xp Upper Cathedral (1 hag, 1 banshrae, 3 fey dwarves, 2 displacer beasts)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Durkik's Speech
“Zithiruun has subjugated a number of Overlook’s priests and military officers. Most of them were kidnapped and subject to a difficult psychic ritual cast by githyanki. The result is that these poor people’s minds were destroyed, and they have been 'possessed' by githyanki, who are even capable of manifesting some of their normal powers (albeit in weakened form).”
“The possessing githyanki cannot access the host’s memories. So I have not been possessed. Rather, I was held captive and tortured for information, while a hired doppelganger took my place in public.”
“All of the questions have centered around the Mountainroot Temple.” See separate post on this temple.
“As you’ve doubtless guessed,” he says to you, his voice still weak, “the Stone Anvil contains a portal to the Mountainroot Temple. I don’t know why this General Zithiruun wants the temple, but it’s clearly what he’s after.”
“It’s funny, he’s had me tortured for days to make me describe the Mountainroot’s mystical defenses, but the truth is, I don’t know much about them. I know about the temple only because, as High Priest, I was told of it by my predecessor. I can tell you that the defenses are psychically linked to the ‘Caretaker’, allowing him to control them, but beyond that, I know little. But even had I told them that much, I doubt they’d have believed me.”
“I don’t know why he wants the temple,” he repeats, “but I know it cannot be good for us. I know not who else in this city might have been compromised—who can be trusted. That leaves only you.
“The entrance from the Stone Anvil is carefully hidden within an old sepulcher. The chamber is hidden behind a secret door; I can escort you to it, but no farther. What I cannot do is tell you how to access the portal, for I don’t know, and I am oathbound never to enter the sepulcher. But my hope is that, once you find it, you can figure out how to use it.”
“I must ask you one thing more,” he adds swiftly. “When the Mountainroot Temple was abandoned, the priesthood took most of our ancient religious relics with them. Most, but not all. Somewhere within the temple lies a tome entitled, when translated into Common, The Incunabulum Primeval. It is a book of great power for those who know how to use it. If you can find it and return it to us, I can promise you a reward of (upgrade Seregdur’s cloak), as well as legal right to any other treasure you find in, and can carry out of, the Mountainroot.”
“The possessing githyanki cannot access the host’s memories. So I have not been possessed. Rather, I was held captive and tortured for information, while a hired doppelganger took my place in public.”
“All of the questions have centered around the Mountainroot Temple.” See separate post on this temple.
“As you’ve doubtless guessed,” he says to you, his voice still weak, “the Stone Anvil contains a portal to the Mountainroot Temple. I don’t know why this General Zithiruun wants the temple, but it’s clearly what he’s after.”
“It’s funny, he’s had me tortured for days to make me describe the Mountainroot’s mystical defenses, but the truth is, I don’t know much about them. I know about the temple only because, as High Priest, I was told of it by my predecessor. I can tell you that the defenses are psychically linked to the ‘Caretaker’, allowing him to control them, but beyond that, I know little. But even had I told them that much, I doubt they’d have believed me.”
“I don’t know why he wants the temple,” he repeats, “but I know it cannot be good for us. I know not who else in this city might have been compromised—who can be trusted. That leaves only you.
“The entrance from the Stone Anvil is carefully hidden within an old sepulcher. The chamber is hidden behind a secret door; I can escort you to it, but no farther. What I cannot do is tell you how to access the portal, for I don’t know, and I am oathbound never to enter the sepulcher. But my hope is that, once you find it, you can figure out how to use it.”
“I must ask you one thing more,” he adds swiftly. “When the Mountainroot Temple was abandoned, the priesthood took most of our ancient religious relics with them. Most, but not all. Somewhere within the temple lies a tome entitled, when translated into Common, The Incunabulum Primeval. It is a book of great power for those who know how to use it. If you can find it and return it to us, I can promise you a reward of (upgrade Seregdur’s cloak), as well as legal right to any other treasure you find in, and can carry out of, the Mountainroot.”
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