[Pathfinder] Wrath of the Righteous, part 61: Return to the Marchlands

 

Asami

When we had recovered from fighting the demons, we left Eagle Rock behind us and returned to Drezen for two nights to restore ourselves. Some of my companions have ordered items to be made for them by the artificer who was engaged by Horgus Gwerm for that purpose. I inscribed two new spells into my spellbook from the book that Aravashnial gave me.

Aravashnial (NPC)

Two days later we set out once more into the Marchlands, turning our faces toward the lake that lies northward of the lava field where we visited Delamere's tomb. We were marching along through the waste beneath the Worldwound's perpetual heavy dark sky when a winged beast came swooping down upon us with such speed that I was unaware of its approach until I heard the beat of its wings directly over my head.

It was one of the drake riders we had heard were patrolling the area, though we ourselves had not encountered one before. I recognized this was a rift drake, a variety of drake found in this region, and its rider was an incubus. The incubus carried a lance, which he plunged into Zosta's flesh as it was she who was at the forefront of our party.

Drake rider

The lance dealt her such a grievous blow that she was immediately plunged into unconsciousness. Zero immediately began to recite a stirring tale to bolster our resolve, and Runa ran to Zosta's side to heal her wound. Jiro hurled a swarm of dragonflies at the incubus. Runa's healing brought Zosta back to her feet and she sprang at the drake, but the rider had his mount swerve out of her reach. I then hurled my spear at the drake and it pierced the beast's scaly hide before returning to my hand.

Zosta

The incubus attempted to place a suggestion in Runa's mind, but her will was too strong. I warned my friends that incubi can make such efforts whenever they desire and we must be on our guard. Then the drake spat a cloud of burning acid at us all, and I found myself growing sluggish under its temporary effect. It did not prevent me from summoning a river of wind to strike drake and rider. I was gratified that the drake's flight seemed disturbed by the blast of wind flowing against it. 

Jiro created a magic circle to protect us from the incubus's evil. Two tiny missiles flew from somewhere behind me, and despite the incubus's resistanct to magic it appeared to have take some harm from the missiles that Bohgong expended from his wand. The drake then swooped at Runa, the rider likely recognizing the symbols of Iomedae that she bears. Zero, who had vanished from sight, suddenly reappeared with his bow in hand but his arrow flew past the drake. The drake swept past us and banked for a return.

Jiro

Bohgong

I realized that a spell of haste would counteract the effect of the drake's acid and I cast it, affecting Jiro, Zero and Zosta as well as myself. Runa had manifested five wings and flown up to meet the drake and thus was too far away to benefit from my spell. Zosta used the increased speed afforded by the magic to make a prodigious leap at the drake and rider, grappling the drake's wings and forcing the creature to the ground. We all rushed it, Jiro going first to heal the wounds Runa had suffered from the drake's last attack on her. Runa then struck the incubus in the vitals and he went limp, the light of life fading from his eyes. 

Zero

Runa

Runa dealt the drake a final blow, though she expressed regret at slaying a creature of such beauty. When we were certain both rider and mount were dead, most of the hide was removed from the drake and placed in Zosta's capacious bag. Perhaps the crafters in Drezen will be able to make use of it. The incubus's lance was enchanted with the power to create a burst of lightning and he wore leather armor of good quality. Runa also took the specially made saddle used to ride the drake. 

We will rest now, and tomorrow continue with our exploration. 

[Pathfinder] Return of the Runelords, part 11: Old Man's Landing

 

As we walked forward into the council chamber, we saw a variety of the important personages of Magnimar seated around the large horseshoe-shaped table. But of course my attention went first to you, Master Taeral. I hadn't expected to see you there. 

Nor was I prepared to see the other members of the Sihedron Heroes seated beside you, those about whom you've told me though I have never met them before. I recognized them all based on your descriptions. 

Hunter's mentor Aiden Valdemar with his muscular and scarred chest exposed in a manner that seems quite unusual for a mage. 

Zinovia's dark-haired mentor Tor Miraborg.

Mordren the priestess, Lonn's mentor, who appears to have the blood of demons or devils in her ancestry.

And Tiressa Avendale, the venerable elven druid who rescued Fox from a life of slavery. 

Unfortunately matters regarding the Runelords require urgent attention, and the most I could enjoy of your presence was the sly wink you gave me before Aiden began to speak.

Our mentors and masters have been searching for the relics of the Runelords throughout Varisia, but each time they have reached a location that should have contained such relics, they have been emptied of artifacts. Furthermore, the Heroes are aware that someone has been watching them. They feel that to continue pursuit of the Runelords it would be better if we who are less known continue the search. The Heroes will spread out to various locations and give their protection to places like Roderic's Cove that are associated with Thassilonian locations or objects. 

We were also informed that the portal to Hollow Mountain we had found beneath Roderic's Cove had been closed, which must have been from the Hollow Mountain side as it is a one-way portal initiated from somewhere within Hollow Mountain. 

Our next goal is to reach Hollow Mountain and find out what lies within. An expedition had been sent by the Pathfinders but they had lost contact some time ago and they wish for us to investigate what became of the expedition members. We may also be able to find a guide there, a Pathfinder Society member named Kelhuud who went there with another expedition some time ago and never returned, but is believed to still live on or near the mountain. 

We were given several bird feather tokens we can use to communicate with our mentors, though we've been advised to use them sparingly. The Heroes are able to communicate with one another in some way, and a message sent by token to one will swiftly be spread to all. 

In addition to the tokens we each received 750 gold pieces for expenses, as we must arrange out own travel to avoid having the Heroes too closely associated with us. 

After we parted from the Heroes, we took care of selling items that we've acquired but have no need of or cannot use. This garnered us each a share that made it possible for me to purchase an enchanted headband to increase my intellect, as well as a protective cloak with steel wire woven into its fabric. 

My companions purchased other items for themselves in preparation for our voyage to the north. We've decided to ask Captain Sursha if she'll take us to Old Man's Landing. 

At first we considered telling her we were returning to Roderic's Cove as it lies across the Varisian Gulf from our actual destination, but we were concerned that she might not have sufficient stores for the journey if we told her a different destination than out actual goal. In the end we decided to be honest with her and spoke with her privately in her quarters. She didn't object to being scanned for magical effects after having be deceived by Viralane. Repairs on Tyalee's Whim had been completed and she had hired new crew to replace those consumed by the ooze. We'll have to hope that none of them are working for our enemies. 

Before arranging our transportation plans with Captain Sursha, we returned to the Pathfinder Society library to research Hollow Mountain. Our investigation provided little information. We learned only that Hollow Mountain is attributed to the Runelord of Wrath, and there may be some type of forge within, though we don't know if it's one of the forges for creation of creatures like sinspawn.

I've neglected to mention that in our discussion with the Sihedron Heroes, we spoke of the Peacocks. It seems they have existed for a very long time, since the age of the Thassilonian Empire perhaps. At one time they requested aid from the Runelords to build a temple, and all but Lust agreed to help them. Perhaps this explains why the current chapters of the Peacocks appear to have no representation of the Sin of Lust. We do not know if Sorshen, Runelord of Lust still exists.

Before we departed from Magnimar, Hunter desired to visit his family and we were all invited to join him. He has five siblings, rather surprising to me as he is half of elven descent and such large families aren't common among us. Hunter seems particularly proud of his eldest sister, Hope, who is a member of an organization named the Solemn Order of Sages, Librarians, and Teachers. Hunter treated our entire group, his family as well as the five of us, to a meal at a dining hall where we took up almost their entire banqueting room. 

Looking back on our meeting with our mentors, I recall that when we first entered the council chamber Fox had surprised us all by transforming into his fox shape and running up to where Tiressa was seated, then prostrating himself before her. Zinovia took exception to this subservient behavior afterward, demanding to know why he did it and whether he had exchanged enslavement to one master for enslavement to another. It took several days, but eventually while we were sailing to Old Man's Landing he was able to explain to her that it's his choice to make himself obedient to Tiressa and he knows that he is not her possession.

Our journey has been mostly uneventful, which has allowed me to scribe two new spells into my spellbook from the book I purchased in Magnimar. Audrahni has come with us, for which I am very glad.

I spoke too soon that our journey was uneventful. Last night all of us had a dream, the same dream, sent by a 'dream' spell. I have never heard of a 'dream' spell that can reach more than one person at a time. But somehow someone achieved this. All of us saw in our dreams a strange woman with unusually pink skin and hair, and vivid green eyes. She introduced herself as Sorshen, the Runelord of Lust. 

She claimed that she is not our enemy, that as we feared Alaznist has risen and left Hollow Mountain. She said that she, Sorshen, has been watching us and thinks we may be the heroes who can defeat Alaznist, but we need help. She told us to seek out the spirit of one called Thybidos in the Forlorn Sepulchers. She referred to this Thybidos as Alaznist's slain predecessor, and indicated that  we need to find something she called an Abyssal Runestone from the Gauntlet of Fury to compel him to give us his aid. When we are done with him we are to find her in Korvosa. 

After we shared with one another that we recalled the same dream with identical details, we wondered how she has been observing us and whether she could truly by the Runelord of Lust. Then Zinovia caught a glimpse of something hovering overhead near Lonn. I was unable to perceive it, but Fox and Lonn also saw it when Zinovia pointed it out, and Lonn realized it must be a scrying sensor. He asked for whoever was in control of it to stop watching us a sign that they are not our enemy, as we have to way to be rid of it. The sensor remained, but that doesn't prove the person scrying on us is our foe, only that they might not have been observing us when Lonn made his request. 

Now that we know someone is watching us, or at least Lonn, we made sure he didn't see when we sent a bird token to report this to our mentors.

A few hours ago we reached Old Man's Landing. We could see a small boat on the beach, and Fox realized he could see a leg over the gunwales. It appeared to be the limb of a corpse. We climbed into one of the boats from Tyalee's Whim and Hunter and Zinovia began to row us ashore. But almost as soon as we set out something appeared in the water and set upon the boat, tipping us all out into the water. We all began to swim for shore as fast as we could, for our attacker proved to be a young dragon turtle!

It's my good fortune that you insisted I practice swimming, Master Taeral. I managed to get away from the boat and reach the beach beside Audrahni. Hunter remained in the water to distract the dragon turtle and suffered sorely for it. Lonn remembered that such beasts have a breath weapon like true dragons, a cloud of scalding steam that can cover a large area. Lonn has learned an ability similar to the message spell I know, but he is able to use it whenever he wills to communicate with us, else we would never have been able to hear his warning about the dragon turtle's breath.

Once I was out of the water I summoned a lightning bolt to sizzle the dragon turtle's flesh. But though it was young it was hardy and my lightning didn't do it much hurt. Except for Audrahni who was with me and Hunter who was still in the water by the boat, the others had all reached the beach and were grouped together some distance away. The dragon turtle chose that moment to breathe at them. Its incredibly hot breath nearly killed Audrahni, who had gone to treat their wounds just before the turtle exhaled. I had run farther inland after casting my spell and was still distant from my friends, but I had to watch Lonn, Fox, and Zinovia engulfed in the boiling mist. The corpses in the other boat were cooked to the bone and the rowboat itself was burned by the heat.

 

Lonn hurried to heal Audrahni, after which she was able to use the powers Ashava had restored to her to heal the others. Zinovia flew into a fury and slashed the dragon turtle with all her might, and it died. It had already been wounded many times by Hunter and by spells directed at it from Fox as well as my lightning.

Zinovia was determined to pull it out of the water, which required a good deal of effort from her and Hunter. After it was dragged onshore she cut it open and an amazing trove of very precious and magical items spilled out of its gut! I wonder how many other visitors' boats had been capsized there and the occupants were swallowed before they could escape. It's a pity I spend my coin on the headband I bought in Magnimar, as there was one with a better enchantment inside the dragon turtle!

[RuneQuest] Brylaneth's Journey, part 11: The Company of the Rainbow Dragon

 

After we brought the cattle back, the chief's wife gave us 200 silver pieces as a reward. That was nice but we had no home to go to, and there weren't many places where we could spend the silver. So we stayed in that village a little while. 

Wurk suggested that because we can no longer claim to be Haraborn we should find another name for ourselves. He wanted our new name to be the Shahvasites after Sha'vashak. We agreed with that because we could think of nothing better.

A guest came to stay in the chieftain's household. His name was Joh Mith. He was a trader. He was going to the northeast to trade with the people in Prax. He said he came to Sartar once every year. Wurk made a deal with him that we would go along with him as his guards. We went north into Milani territory with him and his muleskinner.

Joh Mith

Muleskinner

While we were traveling I felt like we were being watched. I saw a spirit watching us but it left. 

We came to a crossroads and Joh Mith said he knew a village where we could stay for the night. We went to one man's stead and his family treated us well. They washed our clothes and let us use their sweat lodge. They shared news with us. They also warned us that because it was Dark season there were trolls about.

After we left that stead we went on to Runegate Fort, which had been destroyed before by the foul Crimson Bat. There was a permanent market outside the rebuilt fort. Joh Mith said too much of the stuff there was new. 

Because of the threat of trolls, we stood watches that night. I had the last watch before Yelm-rise. The muleskinner was awake too. I saw at a small camp not far away from ours there were some people who gave a piglet to a troll and the troll ran off. I thought I heard children running but I couldn't see them. When Yelm rose I asked the muleskinner if the people there gave bribes to the trolls. He said yes, it was a way of saying to the trolls to eat these things like the piglet instead of eating the people. Those children running I heard were trolls running from camp to camp to get their bribes.

Trolls

We heard from the town watch that some trolls had raided that night and taken some sheep. The muleskinner said he had given the trolls some apples to leave our camp alone, but I never saw that.

We kept going northeast to Two Ridge and camped there. We saw a patrol of Malani. We knew they weren't friendly with the Colymar, but not whether they were friends of the Lunars. They stopped us and wanted to know why we were there. They wanted a silver piece per foot of our group, but Joh Mith negotiated a price of one silver per person and two silver for each of his mules. 

While we were going along with Joh Mith, Wurk spent a lot of time learning more tradetalk from him.

We left the Milani lands and came to the Cinsina lands. Then we came to Jonstown. We had to go down steps from a plateau to get to the south gate. Joh Mith took us to his house there. 

Wurk thought we should look for a shaman who would be willing to teach me. But while he was walking around Wurk suddenly saw Jodi White Hart from Black Stag Vale. Jodi White Hart was glad to see him. After everyone left the Vale, Jodi White Hart and his family went to Jonstown to stay with his wife's second husband, Kayden the Scribe. Jodi White Hart told Wurk that the Redsmith was there in Jonstown too. They went back to the house Jodi White Hart was living in to talk without being overheard by strangers. Jodi White Hart's wife Margo was pregnant. 

Jodi White Hart

After that all of us went to stay in Kayden the Scribe's house. Joh Mith paid us almost twenty silvers each for being his guards. Wurk told the story of what happened to us to Temerin the Younger, who was one of Kayden's apprentices. Temerin wrote a poem about it. Jodi White Hart didn't know where the rest of the Ring were or if they had survived.

Temerin the apprentice scribe

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 35: A New Year

 

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

When we had rid the island of the giant flytrap and searched the island thoroughly, we left that area behind us and returned to Lorewynd. After we arrived, we were quickly ensnared in the necessities of managing our territory had no time to go out exploring.

Month of Abadius, year 4713

A new year has arrived, the third since we first took up our charter to reclaim the Stolen Lands. We've set Jubilost Narthropple the task of exploring a great circle from south of the Little Sullen River to the Narlmarches to the north of Leveton. At one time we saw the river as our southern border, but as conditions in Brevoy have changed and we've re-examined our charter, we've concluded that we don't need to stop our expansion there, though we do need to ensure that we don't come into conflict with Mivon. We n0w have an embassy in Mivon, represented by Chahana's former chatelaine Fabreze. Chahana has a new assistant, Odanost.

Odanost

We've incorporated some of the area along the foothills of the Tors into our territory, as well as that part of the Narlmarches surrounding Tiressia's tree. An orchard has been planted near Tatzlford and we've given leave for another farm to be started. There was some trouble with bandits over the winter but our patrols dealt with it.

Our greatest challenge has been maintaining the good relationship with our citizens. Some folk were disgruntled by the recent spate of illness plaguing Neotellus and felt that we hadn't done enough or acted quickly enough to prevent more people from falling ill. There were also several disputes over land when some folk claimed they had a right to start farms in areas we have yet to incorporate into Neotellus. But some carefully chosen words were able to ally any fears or anger.

Throughout the winter we kept adding improvements to our lands, constructing a granary near Tatzlford and adding more houses there, and establishing a formal graveyard in Leveton.  Reislin purchased a menagerie of beasts for the entertainment of the citizens. We have drawn up plans to create a second district in Lorewyn, where we intend to build an arena, a temple, and a school or military academy. We've also started construction on a waterfront area on the east side of the river opposite the mills and foundry that already exist on the western bank.

Jubilost sent us a message that he found an unusual and fortuitous discovey on his journey to the south. After hearing some disturbing sounds, his troop sought out the source and found a hillside penetrated by holes that were emitting the odd sounds when the wind blew into them. When the gnomes looked through the holes, they discovered that these led into a source of gemstones. We must manage this discovery with as much care as we've used in managing the gold mine we discovered. Though the mine is south of the river, we have made it part of Neotellus.

Early Gozreh, 4713

Spring thaws came with a great deal of rain this year, washing out some of the roads we've had built. This inconvenience aroused the arguments over land once again and we had to sooth troubled feelings. After the rains decreased we granted permission to establish more farms, and also ordered the building of a monument to the gods of goodness and mercy in Tatzlford, as the town lacks a shrine or temple. 

Disturbingly, we have received a message from Restov that they've lost contact with Varnhold. They sent a small patrol to check on the town and lost contact with the patrol as well. We'll have to investigate that ourselves. We've decided to take Zander's wagon and horses on our journey. It should take us four days to reach Varnhold through the pass. Goldwing will accompany us, but I am still waiting for a response from Iadara about a saddle for him.

As we were passing below the abandoned watchtower over the pass, we encountered trouble. Reislin spied a person up above us, then realized that based on the distance this person must be a giant. Just as she shared this with the rest of us, a large boulder came hurtling down from above, directly at her. We all pressed ourselves up against the cliff face to get out of range, but the giant threw down another rock and crushed Reislin's magically summoned horse. Reislin took flight and avoided being injured herself.

The giant had shouted down at us when he attacked. Zander translated his speech for the rest of us, telling us that the giant was threatening to kill us just as he had killed someone else. We didn't know who he could be speaking of, but worried it might be the patrol from Brevoy, though we had expected them to skirt around the northern part of the Tors and approach Varnhold from that direction. We decided that we were not willing to stand a giant attacking travelers in the pass, so we made our way around to the path that led up to the tower, leaving the wagon and horses at the bottom as we ascended to the abandoned tower.

As we approached the tower, Goldwing circled around it and by means of head motions and wing flaps communicated to me that the giant was behind the tower. I shared this with the others, and Reislin gifted us with speed. Maria ran to the rear of the tower immediately, while Chahana climbed up the ladder to the tower entrance, thinking she might be able to shoot at the giant from within. Zander had taken flight and disappeared around the cliff side of the tower. 

Maria, Zander, and I converged on the giant, who was indeed awaiting us there. He took out a huge club and swung it at Maria but it only struck her armor a glancing blow. I rushed forward and thrust my spear at him. Zander appeared behind him and stabbed with his blades, while Maria's sword slashed the giant repeatedly. Reislin had determined that it was a cliff giant that could withstand some harm from acid and fire but otherwise had no special defenses or offensive abilities. While the three of us pitted our blades against the giant, Goldwing swooped down from above and attempted to claw his head. The giant bore many scars on his legs, showing that this wasn't the first time he had been attacked by beings of our size.

Zander sank his blade into the giant's hamstring, hampering its ability to move. Maria dealt the giant several severe wounds, so much that he went down on his knees. With his torso now easier to reach, Maria thrust her blade into his chest and Zander stabbed him in the heart at almost the same moment. I jumped back as the giant toppled over. 

When the giant was dead, we went into the tower to examine his victims. They didn't appear to be from Brevoy. There were several bags containing items such as silverware with them. At first we thought they might be the thieves who had troubled Neotellus during the previous year, but it seemed unlikely they would have gone into the pass and climbed up to the tower. could they have come from Varnhold?

The giant also had a much larger bag, which was full of various things including the corpse of a pig. Along with the pig remains we found a small potion, a set of armor similar to what Chahana wears but designed for jousting, a ring imbued with a protective charm, a garment that according to Reislin is called a spectral shroud, and a vest that will allow the wearer to access any tool they need with a thought. But the most curious item in the giant's sack appeared to be a large loaf of bread, though Reislin revealed that it is actually a club that can be made to assume the form of anything the wielder desires!