Session 8 & 9: "Agents of Morn" (5-8 Flamerule DR 1372)

Quick Summary:

• Lord Morn provides aid from his storeroom and coffers (25gp, 75gp promissory notes)

• Rubyem is detained by local guards, to be interrogated by Sir Haemish Trig

• Group rest overnight, ready to depart early Flamerule 6 with Kellan and horsehand

• Kellen leads group through the wilderness, sharing little information on the goblet

• Group camp by a stream roughly halfway to the fortress

• Flamerule 7, group approach a junction in the road looking for a marker by a cairn

• Kellan attacked by a large snake from the leaf litter, followed by a 5-goblin ambush

• After defeating the goblins, Kellan locates the missing road marker, and Rio and Gaerfinas deduce the correct way to go

• Group find a safer location, and rest for the night to heal

• Soon the next day (Flamerule 8), the group come across the entrance to the fort

• Group looks for signs of others, finding nothing but animal tracks (goblinoid and large)

Loose Ends:

• Mysterious large animal tracks where something opened the heavy door [later understood to be ettin-related]

• Finding the Goblet [later located]

• Learning more on the shapeshifters

Flamerule 5

Still in Lord Morn’s apartments, the group begin preparations for the upcoming journey to the Abandoned Fortress. Lord Morn returns all the artifacts that were recovered from Rubyem’s house, minus the mysterious black rocks.

To aid in the mission, and at Kelnor’s request, a stipend of gold and promissory notes is given to the group, along with horses and passports to aid in free movement through the country. Haemish also introduces Kellan, his adept, to be the group’s guide and source of arcane knowledge.

While discussing the mission, Gaerfinas enquires after his old unit and learns they are still active in the region. Troubling news is also learned of Tilverton in the far south. Rumours are that the whole town has been obliterated and refugees are flooding into Daggerfalls.

Haemish finally tells the group that Rubyem has been apprehended, although she wounded one of the guardsmen in the process. He will spend the next few days interrogating her, learning whatever he can form her, promising also to inform the group on this.

Flamerule 6

The next day dawns, and Yessica and Freli bid the group farewell. A departure is made unceremoniously through the town gate (keeping a low profile), and mostly ignored by the townsfolk. During their trip, Kellan takes the lead, choosing to travel the lesser-frequented routes as much as possible.

Kelnor enquires after the Goblet and while Kellan answers, it is clear he does not wish to say too much.

The day wears on without incident and the group make camp by a small stream that evening. Kellan and Rania put their heads together and work out that you are well over halfway to the fortress. They build a fire, eat and rest throughout the night without incident.

Flamerule 7

Continuing the journey the next morning, Kellan sings a strange, eerie tune which puts the group on edge rather than lightening the mood. The song is about a mother who believes her child has been replaced with a monster, her decision to runaway after her family disbelieve her, and the misfortune of her family that follows.

Time passes and the party move up a narrowing path, now inside a gorge still below the treeline. Seeing a junction up ahead, Kellan becomes animated and announces that there should be a marker close by a cairn showing the way.

Everyone starts to dismount, while Kellan moves forward, rooting around in the bushes. A sudden cry comes from Kellan as a large snake emerges from the lead litter -- in one swift movements, it wraps its coils around Kellan, and contracts around his slim frame, crushing him into unconsciousness.

• Kelnor reacts quickly, rushing the snake, slashing with both daggers, and dealing significant damage

• Rania moves up as well, also striking with her dagger, and leaving a deep cut in its side

• Artus wields his greatsword, also wounding the snake as they all try and make it relinquish its grip on the stricken adept

• Gaerfinas strafes to get a clear shot and looses a crossbow bolt into the snake’s side

• Snake rears up at Kelnor, plunging its fangs into his neck, dealing significant damage

• Rio moves up to gain a better position

• Disoriented by the savage attack, Kelnor plants a dagger viciously behind the snake’s head, and staggers away to safety

• Rania slashes again with her dagger. Snake blood soaking the ground around their feet

• In a final blow, Artus cleaves the snake in two, its body finally going limp around Kellan

• Seeing Kellan is unconscious, Gaerfinas casts a healing spell to stabilize him

• As the healing magic fades, a group of goblins ambush the group

• Two goblins emerge from the bushes in the north-east. One shoots his bow at Artus, dealing minor damage, while the other glances off his armor

• A third goblin from the West attacks Gaerfinas with a scimitar, the blow glancing off his armour, and dealing no damage

• Two more goblins appear in the north-west, with the first dashes towards the centre of the party waving his scimitar, but out of reach of everyone

• The other goblin shoots his bow at Artus, but the bolt sails by

• Clutching at his wound, Kelnor crouches down into the undergrowth. Hidden from the goblins he quickly drinks one of Festim’s spicy healing potions

• Rania aims her bow at the first of the north-east goblins, hitting it in the torso, and causing it to reel back in fear

• Artus unleashes holy vengeance on the first north-western goblin, cleaving it cleanly in two with his greatsword without any real effort

• Inspired by the Paladin, Gaerfinas impales the western goblin through the midriff with his spear, killing it in one blow

• Rio moves forward to gain a better angle to shoot his crossbow at the closest north-eastern goblin, dealing further damage

• The two remaining goblins both shoot their crossbows at Rio. One misses, while the other hits him in the arm

• Kelnor, now recovered, sneaks across and shoots at one goblin, but the bolt misses

• Rania shoots and also misses

• Artus, still full of holy fire, runs over to the closest goblin and again cleaves the helpless wretch in two

• Gaerfinas, pulls his spear free from the dead goblin at his feet, runs across the path and throws it at the remaining goblin, hitting it in the shoulder

• Rio looses another bolt at the final goblin, doing even more damage, staggering it further

• The desperate goblin wildly swings his scimitar at Artus, but the heavy armour is too much for the feeble attempt

• Kelnor runs up behind the goblin, but cannot land a fatal blow

• After missing previously, Rania takes no prisoners, shooting the goblin straight through the eye, killing it instantly

In the aftermath of what can only be called a brutally one-sided bloodbath, Rio checks on Kellan’s condition, and Kelnor recovers all the crossbow bolts from the area, also finding a bag of teeth and the goblin’s weapons. Rio and Kelnor have heard that goblins use teeth as currency.

Distributing the bolts back among the group, Kelnor reprimands Kellan for heading in alone. Kellan grunts his acknowledgment while using his own healing wand to restore himself.

The adrenaline now fading, Kellan resumes his search for the marker, eventually finding the stone face down in the dirt. Kellan despairs at not knowing which way to go. Rio and Gaerfinas - obviously a little more 'street smart' - search further and find a slot in the ground where the stone once stood. Its shape only allows the stone to fit one way, meaning the marker points to the northern path.

Seeing Kelnor and Rio were still wounded, the group moved away from the crossroads to find a safer place to rest and recuperate for the evening. Rio sets his hunting trap while Artus and Gaerfinas perform their holy rituals to Helm. Luckily the night passes quietly.

Flamerule 8

The next morning the journey continues into the mountains. A large craggy rockface looms up ahead between the trees and the road underfoot starts to become more regular, with paved slabs. The road is somewhat overgrown but easily passable. Whomever used to tend this path has long since departed.

As the road curves, the group come upon a large hexagonal opening in the rock face. It surrounds a heavy imposing wooden door that stands slightly ajar. Wary of the previous day’s ambush, the group search for signs of others passing through, especially knowing the Zhentarim are also searching for the Goblet. Nothing is found except some small animal footprints and also, worryingly, some larger unidentified footprints leading to the door. Whatever left them, seems to have opened the heavy door without much effort.

The group listens intently at the door but can hear nothing from within. Kelnor retrieves his hooded lantern from the portable hole and volunteers to scout the entryway beyond the door. He slips silently inside, finding a cavernous room. The immediate entrance is at a raised level, with stairs leading down into the main hall. The limited light of the lantern shows Kelnor the general aspect but little else -- the ceiling is high up. Wary of the attention the lantern may bring, Kelnor quietly retreats to the doorway to inform the group of what lies ahead...

Experience:

• Artus (140)

• Gaerfinas (140+50)

• Kelnor (140+50)

• Rania (140)

• Rio (140+25)