Drakonia Adventure Log - Session 9

The Bloodied Bite

Party: 
♦ Alvana (deva avenger)
♦ Barrus (bugbear rogue)
♦ Sergo (half elf warlord)
♦ Rhakka (tiefling warlock)
♦ Elessar (goliath barbarian)
♦ Hadarai (eladrin swordmage)

Barrus, Sketched by Dumi

    In the morning Hadarai made use of a scroll of sending to talk to the King's Majordomo and send a report, asking for reinforcements. He was told the Omega Company contingent could be sent. It was commanded by a dwarf, by the name of Durom Stormhammer, a man who gets things done. The Legate promotes Hadarai to major in-field, a promotion which remains to be confirmed into position at a later date. The others familiarized themselves with Oshul's stronghold, and Alvana even did a bit of shopping in the tribe before leaving to reinstate Barrus in his rightful position.
    A scout from the Golden Fang led us part of the way towards the Bloodied Bite. The rest of the way was up to them. As the party drew closer to the territory of the enemy tribe, they find the land tainted by Shadow. No animals chose to live on this land. Barrus remembered the forest was once known as The Mad Forest, because the primal spirits were very active in the area. Traveling the tainted land was harrowing, but we endured its difficult conditions.
    We came to a fallen tree, climb atop it, and see a clearing up ahead. This place looked like an ancient fey place of passage, marked by two Guardian Trees, and all could sense this was a perfect spot for an ambush. Hadarai explained that in antique times, this was a place of pilgrimage to a small fey temple of the primal spirits, since before Illithiria was established, when the fey people were nomads. This was part of a Path of Purification. Alvana notices some wisps coming from the lake, and each of us has a sense of peace and homecoming. Despite this, Hadarai feels that something is amiss here, as we are, after all, in a tainted place.
    A prayer to the primal spirit incites the undead in the region, as the wind bares the message “Your gods are worthless here”. We are attacked by a Battle Wight, a creature which drains vitality when it attack with its soul-draining sword, Ghoul Ambushers, who ate their victims when they were immobilized, and Skeletons, which were essentially just cannon fodder compared to the rest. During the combat, from the ruins, a Green Arcanian arose, a ranged undead fighter who was the most dangerous yet. The combat was excruciating, particularly for Barrus, who dealt with the Battle Wight in melee, and was drained of most of his energy. After the fight, we tried out best to redeem this once holy place, and we invoke the spirit of Pakkun, in a ritual to cleanse the place of evil. When we completed it, we heard a mighty bear's roar, and due to a boon named Pakkun's Endurance, we all regained some of the vitality we had lost in the fight.
    A small winding path opens up towards a road that we follow for 2 hours. At the edge of the forest, we find a plateau where the war camp is situated, and we arrive just in time to see its wooden gates open and 2 warbands departing from it. A group of 180-200 warriors in all. The warcamp would likely keep a few remaining guards, sentinels, slaves and other few, about a fifth of the tribe remaining behind. Haradai used a scroll of sending to contact the legate, sending a brief message about the Bloodied Bite warriors who would reach the Golden Fang next sunrise, and asked her to inform Durom.
    The autumn moon was in its first quarter, and it was foggy, perfect conditions for an ambush. We noticed the patterns the sentinels were using between the four guard towers in the camp, and we attempted to disable the sentinels, knocking them out. The camp was still slightly benumbed, only 20 sentinels seemed to be awake in all. We disguised ourselves as sentinels of the camp, and approached the main tent inconspicuously.
    Barrus saw his brother inside, talking heatedly in Goblinoid, about the foolishness of the attack, and the half-orc woman assured him that the sacrifice would not be in vain, and that The Shadow works in mysterious ways. The main army was 3 days away from that measly tribe. “The tactic is very simple”, she explained, giving details that made it apparent that she was an excellent tactician. “The Shadow is now away, and attempts to communicate with the dwarves.” It was obvious to those of us with insight that she knew more about the plan, but if we did not act soon, the window for action might slip away as other guards could be on alert.
    Barrus' Brother bore the same symbols now found on Rhakka as tattoos, but he did not resist the half-orc woman, instead, he was empowered through them to be an even more excellent melee fighter. The guards inside the tent, two Bugbear Wardancers, were dispatched during our surprise attack. Possibly seeing us as a threat, the half-orc woman  used a linked portal which took her through the Shadowfell, to a predesignated destination, one still on this continent, Haradai's keen arcane senses noticed. The fight with the half-machine bugbear was very difficult, Alvana even banishing him for a few seconds in which her companions gathered their breath. “Long have I wanted to decorate my tent with your head”, Barrus' younger brother threatened our friend, but when it became obvious that he would perish, the half orc woman detonated his body with a word from afar, which nearly floored all of us, leaving Barrus standing, in time to reclaim his authority in the tribe, having slain his contender.

Drakonia Adventure Log - Session 8

The Moaning Cave of the Howling Pass

Party: 
♦ Alvana (deva avenger)
♦ Barrus (bugbear rogue)
♦ Sergo (half elf warlord)
♦ Rhakka (tiefling warlock)
♦ Oshul (longtooth shifter warden)
♦ Elessar (goliath barbarian)
♦ Hadarai (eladrin swordmage)
 
    The eladrin was hot-dropped among us in The Howling Pass, a tall fellow, with silver hair, fully equipped for battle, who bore a simple smile and told us he was an officer in the Gloaming Guard, a lieutenant, sent by the High King to aid us.

    Oshul told us that up ahead we would face the Weeping Willow Waterfall, which was very treacherous, and that beyond it, we’d come upon an enemy tribe. However, he realized that there may be a cave which could lead us directly to his tribe’s territory, although it was tainted by the Shadowfell. On the way to the cave, the weather changed suddenly and we sought shelter, but still had to endure the elements somewhat. We then found the cave, which seemed dug by a remoraz, but at least half of it was a natural formation. We lit a sunrod and travelled in bright illumination until we reached a large chamber, lit by poisonous, luminescent fungi. Rhakka and Hadarai sense an otherworldly rift in the middle of the room, and tossed the sunrod near it so that it would become visible to the rest of us. The two then approached the rift to seal it, by channeling arcane energy at it, but something goes wrong and otherworldly creatures step through it: Fowl Spawns. These were mutant humanoids, perverted forms of humans and goblins, who had become immune to fear. The portal, a far-realm anomaly turned Elessar’s leg into a tentacle as he walked by it to engage the brute spawn. Throughout the combat, both Hadarai and Oshul tried to close the rift, to prevent other creatures from escaping through it, but failed. The portal turned into a sphere and detonated, dealing damage to all of us, and to the cave itself, which would fall in a matter of seconds. We ran down one of the passageways, and soon we find we need to crawl.

    We come to a place where we can hear a well or perhaps an underwater lake. Hadarai dropped into the water, with all of our party supporting him on ropes, knotted together. As an underground mountain lake, we knew it had to have a draining spot somewhere, as for the lake itself it could hold any creatures, from a remoraz to small fish.

    Suddenly, a gaping maw approached Hadarai, a flesh-eating shark. Within seconds, in which Hadarai moved back to the surface of the lake, a large Kraken appeared to attack. Alvana dropped on the rope next to Hadarai, on top of the Kraken, and used her keenest powers against what she perceived as a terrible threat to her and her group. Luckily, Sergo managed to avoid the thick of this particular battle by using diplomacy to convince the kraken that we simply sought passage through his lake, and we were not after the treasure he guarded. The kraken spoke in a booming ancient voice and led us to a small current which took us to the edge of a small lake, The Lake of the Frozen Spirits. Here we rested, Alvana and Oshul recovering from their illness, though Barrus remained infected.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    In Oshul’s tribe, which had moved into a stronghold in the mountains and reinforced their position, all but Barrus were welcomed. Barrus was also taken care of, and healed of his disease, but due to his connection to the Bloodied Bite, the Shaman of the Golden Fang asked that he be treated with caution.

    Here Alvana and Rhakka had a chance to sit down and discuss things once more. Rhakka felt some doubt towards her having found out that she had been a follower of Bane, as in the old Tiefling Empire, once, one of the houses, who worshipped Bane, started conquering the others and led them with an iron fist. Eventually their expansion was stifled, and since there was a decree that Bane would never be worshipped on Yiluma-Orod on tiefling lands. Despite this, cults survived to this day.

    Most notably, during their discussion, Alvana has a flash of the Khitomer Battle, which took place 100 years after the formation of the Tiefling Empire, where her band of tiefling mercenaries fought wave upon wave of dragonborn, seeing herself lobbing off one soldier following another. It is a vivid, pleasant memory, a moment of glory for her, and her eyes glow red as she remembers it. Rhakka is slightly disturbed by her smile as she explains that it was a glorious day, and from their talk concludes that it is a very good thing indeed that Alvana now worships Ioun, and cautiously, they seem to decide to trust each other. Alvana realizes that she must have had several lifetimes as a follower of Bane, at least two as Lady Clarick. Alvana also concludes condescendingly, regarding Rhakka, that despite the power he wields, he’s quite young and naïve, and consequently, he urgently needs to free himself from his devilish pacts.

Colored sketch of Alvana, first concept which defined her looks

    Oshul is told to see his father, who dies in his presence from a disease similar to what plagues The Elven King. The Shaman mentions to him that, although it’s too late for his father, the disease may be potentially cured with the aid of Black Lotus, a powerful poisonous plant that grows “where darkness has touched the earth”. He also tells Oshul that he needs to pass the test of blood, and he goes, alone, into the Spirit Forest. There he encounters a great white bear, with red eyes. This was Pakkun, the Great Spirit Bear. He fights it fiercely, but when a tree falls and the bear is caught under it, Oshul aids him. Pakkun then declares that Oshul is fit to lead the tribe, demonstrating ferocity when it is needed, and mercy when it is due. Upon his return from the forest, Oshul accepts his childhood friend, Barrus, into the tribe.
    The Shaman tells Barrus that he is the one who bears the sigil of authority in his tribe, being the older brother, but that he should tread carefully as an envoy of The Shadow, a powerful half-orc woman, lingers in the tribe and keeps it under The Shadow’s  control.

Drakonia Adventure Log - Session 7

Of Rituals and Honor

Party: 
♦ Alvana (deva avenger)
♦ Barrus (bugbear rogue)
♦ Sergo (half elf warlord)
♦ Rhakka (tiefling warlock)
♦ Oshul (longtooth shifter warden)
♦ Elessar (goliath barbarian)
♦ Fredegar (dwarf runepriest)

    Alvana, Elessar and Barrus headed into Dr. Caerniv’s Laboratory, the door which the undead creatures were trying to tear down, pushing it open with ease after it had been assaulted by the enemies. Inside they find Dr. Caerniv who, wanting to keep her knowledge from reaching enemy hands, had shot an explosive bolt through her head, and surrounding her, a wall of fire cast around the desk. Dr Caerniv was one of the most important associates within GEARS, who helped create the warforged. In the room, we also spotted a false wall, and beyond it a control console which could open the other room in Laboratory A51. It was however beyond repair, and we needed to short-circuit the whole system in order to make way into the other chamber, where Rhakka was kept in stasis.

    Alvana phased through the wall to get past the runes infused with fire, and deactivated the security in the room from the desk. After a bit of research and a lot of intuition, Barrus and Alvana realized that short-circuiting the system needed to be done by reversing the positive and negative charges. By doing so, the safe in Dr. Caerniv’s office opened, and inside we found an experimental warforged model, TX-DA-00, which was in prototype stage, and notes about Rhakka’s condition. It seemed that the ritual on Rhakka was a real breakthrough, a means to control a warforged without sentience, through remote circuitry. There was a great question mark about the specifics of this ritual though, and it was the main research of Dr. Caerniv.

    The short-circuitry awoke Rhakka, who was in the adjacent room. Although he was otherwise naked, there was a thin layer of ghost-gear on him. He was however, it became apparent, possessed by the war-chief. In his mind she appeared, mocking him, controlling him, but ultimately fighting him for dominion over his body, while Alvana, Barrus and Elessar fought to restrain Rhakka in the real world. Alvana realized that by dealing psychic damage with The Banisher, she could perhaps aid Rhakka in his struggle to regain control over his mind, and cast blow after blow with the Githyanki Silvered Weapon, until Rhakka himself addressed us, in control of his being once more. It was apparent however that should we not perform the ritual soon, she might return to his mind, once she gathered her strength.

    We left GEARS and found Sergo looking for us, who told us to quickly leave the city for the elven encampment, where the ritual could be performed safely.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    Meanwhile Fredegar and Aalana had returned to the elven encampment with Oshul, an important member of one of the Lost Tribes, specifically the Tribe of the Golden Fang. They had been on a mission to enlist the tribes’ aid, but where they expected to find a force ready to unite against The Shadow, they found only war and strife. The Lost Tribes were a group of people who had broken off from the former Salronta Empire, during the Dark Ages, before the forming of The Eight Duchies. Each of the human tribes made a pact with a Druid of the Fang, who were lycans, to gain strength and skill and defend themselves in the absence of imperial patrols. The heirs of these people, became shifters, and the Duchies drove them over the Dragonspine Mountains, in their attempt to expand across the lands of the former Empire. There is also one tribe of rogue bugbears, which came to Endallion after facing oppression in the Northern continent of Karaz-Kor, known as the The Tribe of the Bloodied Bite.

    The Shadow saw an opportunity with these people, and sent “advisors” in the midst of the tribes. As a result the tribes became corrupted, one by one, all but the Tribe of the Golden Fang, and were at war. Aalana’s diplomatic plea fell on deaf ears among most tribesmen, but Oshul and his father, the tribe chief, saw wisdom in aiding the elven war-effort, and sent Oshul as a sign of good faith.

    Oshul recognized Barrus as a childhood friend, and explained that he was a prince among The Bloodied Bite, but that The Shadow’s envoy, had killed his father and poisoned his brother, who now ruled the tribe.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    In the rush to perform the ritual on Rhakka quickly, Sergo diplomatically asked the king for the necessary components, and Alvana rushed to a ritualist’s tent to requisition them. A young looking elven girl, who seemed no older than 12 by human standards, could tell Alvana was struggling with Hell Fever and asked Gloaming Guards to hold her down and keep her in bed until she could be cured of the disease. Despite some serious protests, Alvana soon realized that everyone around wanted to help her, and relaxed when she saw the ritual’s components taken to Fredegar. She also warned that others suffered from Mummy Rot (namely Elessar and Barrus) and they too were given the same care she benefitted from.

    All rituals performed, including Rhakka’s, which purged the iron from his bones, and lifted the runes to the surface, as tattoos, the party gathered their strength and resources thus far. Fredegar inspected the Book of Ervaril to find that inside it there was a small piece of an Iocaric Key. In order to understand it, the runepriest copied it onto a tent, but, realizing what it meant, that it was part of the means to enter the Forge, tore his drawing from the tent and asked Rhakka to burn it. Better there be a single copy of the key, and better it stay with us, than end up in the hands of The Shadow.

    Soon afterwards, Alvana found herself locked in a discussion with Rhakka regarding the God he served, Asmodeus. Alvana knew that souls are a commodity in hell, a type of currency, and was startled to understand that all the creatures under Rhakka’s Warlock’s Curse ended up enforcing the evil god. She tried to point out that there are threats in the Multiverse beyond The Shadow, and that, while she understood that Rhakka’s powers came from a pact, one which he did not choose for himself, he should try to free himself of it, rather than remain a lackey, and thus just as guilty of evil proceedings as those they try to vanquish. Fredegar defended Rhakka, saying that his allegiance was clear from his actions, having always acted with our party and not against it. Alvana had however quite a narrow and harsh perspective on the matter, but before she could argue further, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a tiefling whom she recognized clearly. She even remembered his name – Zebron. He was a war-prisoner, chained by the elves, but when she exited the tent and he saw her, he pulled the entire column of prisoners closer to her, in an effort to face her and he bowed. “Milady Clarick of Winter!” he said. He wore the symbols of Bane. Alvana, somewhat startled and unsure how to respond, declared that she indeed once bore that name. Seeing Zebron reminded her of a collaboration with a Tiefling House, quite powerful and warlike, from the times when she swore faithfulness to the God of War. Alvana asked the Gloaming Guard what the fate of the prisoner was, and they explained that they were to be executed. She asked to interrogate him first, and they agreed, although they positioned ten guards with her as she did so. Zebron looked towards Alvana with admiration at first, and asked her for an honorable combat. He wanted to die at the hands of an Angel of War, and wanted to remind her of her conquests while she served Bane. When she declared that she now serves the Goddess Ioun, he was disappointed, and called her weak. He mentioned the traitor who poisoned her, and when she would not fight him he was truly spiteful. She wanted to find out the name of the traitor who gave her the lover’s confection though so she asked Zebron if he’d speak the name, if she decided to fight him. He swore by his position as a paladin, a warrior’s pledge, that on his dying breath, he will speak the name.

A random but clearer portrait of Alvana.

    Alvana asked the others of her party to not intervene, although both Barrus and Elessar had been all too eager to step in and “help” with the interrogation. Alvana demanded respect for her curiosity towards her past and did everything to ensure honorable combat. During the fight she felt all the forces of her past lives whispering that she should pray to Bane, that it would bring her luck. She adamantly refused to be tempted, fighting for Ioun’s grace, and trying to keep her focus and her accuracy. It was symbolically a duel between the honor of culture and the triumph of waging war, a fight doubled by her inner conflict between the two deities. Even though Zebron tried to tell her she was weak, he ultimately conceded when he realized that her belief was not to be shaken. He stopped fighting, and told Alvana that the name she sought was “Korevar”, known among their cult as Korevar the Betrayer. “He is Korevar the Redeemer, to me.” said Alvana, who then saw the tiefling drive his sword through his chest. She prayed intensely for the soul of the lost one, and felt comfort in the belief that it will end up somewhere good.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    Soon afterwards Elessar was spotted by a goliath in the Elven camp, who went to salute him. When Elessar introduced himself as former chief of the Chimera Clan, the other was shocked, and said that he too is from the Chimera Clan, now positioned to the north of the Elven encampment, and that if he is truly the Elessar of Legend, the Shaman will have to speak with him. Elessar called for his black griffon, which greatly impressed the young goliath, and together with Fredegar flew north swiftly.

    The Shaman was incredibly ancient, and through withered eyes recognized the chief. He was just a child when Elessar left, but throughout the years had gathered enough wisdom to know the truth of Elessar’s words.

    Fredegar was initially not allowed passage into the tribe, but was accepted at Elessar’s command, and passed the rite of fire, wherein the runepriest and the blacksmith both held hot coals in their unprotected hands for a duration of time. Having succeeded to match the blacksmith’s prowess, he was welcomed to craft with him.

    The Shaman asked Elessar to undertake the rite of blood, to regain control of the tribe. He and a challenger cut wounds on their bodies with a ritual dagger and bled to show their dedication to the tribe. Elessar managed to remain standing longer than his opponent, and the rite of blood was complete. Elessar was now once again leader of the Chimera Clan, though the situation he had inherited, of the goliath tribes of Karaz-Kor was still cause for much concern still.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    At dawn the following day, everyone had gathered together again. We saw Calrethral, having returned from a secret mission, covered in lacerations and stab wounds. The High King told us that The Lost Tribes were at full-out war, and asked us to go on a diplomatic mission to enlist their aid, hopefully to find out more about the situation than Aalana and Fredegar had understood alone. Oshul was sent back with us as a guide of sorts. When entering the Howling Pass on canoes we had to maneuver ourselves, we were attacked by werepeople – wereboars, werewolves and weretigers. After a swift combat the majority of our party found themselves infected with Moon Frenzy, while Oshul had contracted Moon Tusk Fever. Luckily, help was, supposedly, just beyond the pass…

Drakonia Adventure Log - Session 6

The Tomb of Ervaril II and The GEARS Central

Party: 
♦ Alvana (deva avenger)
♦ Barrus (bugbear rogue)
♦ Elessar (goliath barbarian)
♦ Hakumen / Vornafein (drow assassin)

    In the midst of the scene described above, each character tried to make their way inside, slowly uncovering what each of the traps did. Alvana stood behind, somewhat apprehensive of the initial jump over the spiked pit trap. Luckily Elessar helped her over, by extending her a rope and pulling her while she made the jump, and she was safely in the middle of the room, from where she spotted a few loose stones in one of the walls. Heading there to investigate, past one of the fire braziers which had been disabled, she found the entrance to a control room, and just in the nick of time, as Vornafein had been tossed into acid, and Barrus was struggling with the treasure he felt compelled to bury himself in. She disabled the traps in the room, and then slowly disarmed the traps in the entire tomb. In the control chamber there were also some treasure parcels, potions of regeneration which we split amongst ourselves, gold, and a scabbard with a large bastard sword which Barrus immediately claimed.

    Also in the chamber in one of the chests we found the sealed Spellbook of Ervaril.  The party rested here, tending to their wounds and diseases, before heading out of the tomb.

    Outside of the tomb the forces of The Shadow awaited once more, though disconcertingly, this time they were Spider League Drow, like Hakumen, who also had a black dragon tattooed as a sign of allegiance to The Shadow.

. ___ . - ♦ - . __ ...--.--- ♦ ---.--... __ . - ♦ - . ___ .

    The party then met the legate, Lilianne Caelys and Gloaming Guard Captain Varlanna who were thankful that we had recovered The Book of Ervaril, and tasked us with urgently finding Archmage Pynar in the GEARS Academy in Griffin’s nest, who would know how to use the book to save our friend. The Shadow had been spotted and was looking for something.

    Due to a notice of intruders, all the compound’s laboratories were under lockdown. We use one of the floor maps in the lobby to locate Pynar’s room, and also spot a staircase going towards the lower levels. The archmage’s tower was relatively easy to reach, using an elevator which we first had to fix. In her chamber, Eveline lied at her desk almost dead. She told us that Rhakka was kept in stasis in A51 Laboratories, and that she was not certain what The Shadow was searching for, but with her dying breath begged us to keep the Book of Ervaril safe. In Pynar’s office, we found a key with a symbol which resembled the arcane markings on the Book of Ervaril, a master key to open locked down doors.

    On the trek down, into the lower levels of the academy, we almost stumbled upon the Shadow, but thankfully we were able to sneak into a hiding place before he spotted us. It became apparent that he came into GEARS to look for the book, and finding that it was not with any of the archmages, turned into his dragon shape and left the compound.

    After an urgent search, we found a passageway marked A51. The first chamber of it was guarded by undead creatures, no doubt The Shadow’s lingering forces. We dealt with an Undead Hulk, a giant undead who acted twice as fast as any of us in combat, could phase, and was insubstantial, but also some burning skeletons, essentially a similar combat to that in the Tomb of Ervaril. The chamber that followed was heavily trapped and not even our master key could help us disable the traps without experiencing them head-on. There was a spike trap, a loose tile, but most spectacularly, 2 braziers which were shaped like female statues, which released gas in a small opening around their bellybutton, while the tiles directly below it sparked continuously with a very low flame. Putting the two together, we had an almost impenetrable wall of fire (which Barrus failed to disable). Elessar braved the flames and opened the next door, which thankfully stopped the blaze. The next room was a summoning chamber, with runes of binding on the floor, and The Shadow’s creatures were trying to break down the door to our right, as we entered. Due to the arcane fluctuations in the room, mindless wisps appeared in the room. The combat was difficult, Alvana making use of all her resources aginst the undead monster that stood before her, including banishing the creature with her sword. The fight left Barrus and Elessar infected with Mummy Rot, but we managed to successfully clear the room.

    That evening, Vornafein died from foul rotting, having struggled with the disease alone throughout the perilous adventure.