[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux: Session Zero, part 2

23rd Calistril

Praise the Dawnflower! With her blessing I have been chosen to explore the area known as the Greenbelt, along with my new comrades Maria Zenata, Chahana Surtova, and Zander Aldori. Kahn Mahn will not be joining us, as he proved to be a most unsavory character.

La, but I have omitted the other events that occurred prior to the selection gala. On the morn of the 21st of Calistril, we were visited by yet another person attempting to recruit us, this time a half-elf woman who sought to persuade us to go to the Azlanti Isles on behalf of something named the Bountiful Venture Company of Andoran. While I should like to see what remains of Azlant, I am not willing to abandon the selection process in favor of that task.

I did not experience this myself, but I later learned that Chahana and Maria were approached by a local gentleman who sought companions to accompany his niece and nephew to the Golden Winter Ball that evening. Chahana and Maria agreed to this request and attended the ball in company with a young man and woman.

I had thought perhaps to avoid the ball, but when I learned that the members of the Dreadnaughts would attend I thought I should like to have another opportunity to speak of Sarenrae with Sol Covenant. Such opportunity did not present itself during the event, for Sol Covenant is a man who enjoys conversing with many people and was much engaged in that capacity when he was not enjoying the repast provided by the ball's hosts. This ball was held in a chancellor's mansion on the outskirts of the town, to which we were transported in carriages. Though it had been implied by the Advocate that we might find useful converse with the nobles in attendance, in truth they had little interest in those of us who had come for the charter selection.

On the day of the 22nd of Calistril, yet more folk came offering other opportunities for labor. I was suprised to find that folk had come all the way from Tian Xia to invite participation in a fighting competition there. The reward for the winner of said contest was proclaimed to be treasures from the vault of the Ruby Phoenix, a sorceress of great repute who has purportedly died and been resurrected many times.

Those of us who wished it were taken on a boar hunting expedition. The person who was meant to be the huntmaster declined to participate, proclaiming he had spent the previous night searching for someone who had got lost. Once it was settled that another would serve as huntmaster, we set off, only Kahn electing not to join us. I thought that combatting the corrupt minions of Treerazer was dangerous, but hunting wild boar is quite a challenge. Chahana suffered a serious injury. I had the good fortune, or the Dawnflower's blessing, to avoid harm and strike the final blow. For that I was awarded a fine quality boar spear.

When we rejoined the second group of hunters we noticed that they appeared uneasy and seemed to be avoiding one of their company, a dwarf named Landon who seems to have no interest in personal hygeine. But they would not say why they were so uncomfortable with him other than to indicate it was not due to his lack of personal care.

One of the other candidates, an individual known by the name of Sparky, had healed Chahana of some of her injury after the boar gored her, but I was not disappointed that he was not chosen to join our group in the selection. He had stated that he would only use his healing ability for a person who was near death, which I feel is not in agreement with the tenets of Sarenrae. I can comprehend that if healing magic is in short supply perhaps it is best to conserve such magic until it is most needed, but Sparky's argument did not seem to me to be stating such wisdom.

After Chahana was fully healed by the priests of Pharasma, we arranged to participate in a contest of arms with members of one of the dueling societies. First we each sparred with a single opponent, all at once but fighting our foes separately. In this our party won the contest. Afterward some obstacles were placed in the fighting circle and we competed as a group with the duellists. Here too we were victorious, in a more dramatic conflict which saw Zander leaping onto a table. Kahn joined us for this, for at this time we had not yet learned of his duplicity.

That evening the second ball took place, this hosted by a wealthy noble family of the name Lucchio. I chose not to attend this ball, as did Zander and Kahn. Maria and Chahana told me later that the most interesting event of this ball was the appearance of King Castruccio Irovetti of Pitax. He appeared to be in an impatient or angry mood, but Chehana and Maria took the chance to introduce themselves, hoping to allay any fears the king might have that the explorers chartered by Restov intend to encroach upon his kingdom. The king did not appear to be much interested in their assurances. They later learned that he was attempting to negotiate rights to a copper mine.

                                           King Castruccio Irovetti

As I had the evening free to do as I pleased, I sought out one of the other of my kindred who are here for the selection. This was Reislin Aleglossa, a mage who is somewhat more mature than any of the other candidates with perhaps the exception of Tamorjen. We had a pleasant few hours conversing until it was time to retire for the evening.

At breakfast our group was approached by a local man who sought someone to enter an abandoned tavern in Absalom to recover a tankard that had once been used by Caiden Caillean himself. I am uncertain whether any who heard him took his tale seriously. We were also visited by a local man, Vikel Benzen, who formerly had dwelt in the Greenbelt and desired that someone slay an aged boar called Tuskgutter and bring him its head, for it had taken one of his legs at some point in the past. As reward for successfully slaying the beast he would present the slayer with six enchanted arrows. As this request will not require us to travel to another nation or across the sea, we may pursue it should we encounter Tuskgutter.

At midday we returned to the Citadel for the selection announcement. This had been described as a gala, but was a much less formal affair than the winter ball. The event did not begin at the appointed hour, part because the Advocate was not present. We also observed that Kahn Mahn was missing and none had seen him since the previous day. Rumors began to abound to explain the Advocate's absence: that she had been bribed or magically charmed, or had fallen ill or been injured. All these were dispelled when she arrived. Before the selection announcement was made, the Advocate explained to us that the rough person we had seen in the Silver Dagger on the first evening, a man called Holk, had first been ejected from the competition for killing someone and then had been expelled from Brevoy entirely. Then she took us by surprise by saying that Kahn had attempted to interfere in the selection process in addition to other crimes and was now in the custody of the judiciary of Restov!

While we were still taken aback by this news, the Advocate read out the names of those who had been extended charters. As I have said, I am to remain with Chehana, Maria, and Zander, and much to my surprise and pleasure we are to be joined by Reislin. We will also be accompanied by Simon Holcroft, who joined us on the boar hunt and demonstrated a knack for dealing with animals. The territory we are all to explore has been separated into four quarters; the Dreadnaughts will go to the land nearest to Pitax, while the region known as the Noman Heights where centaurs live has been assigned to Maegar Varn and his Varnling mercenaries, and another group will travel to the area of the Hooktongue Slough and the town of Drelev.

                                                       Simon Holcroft (NPC)

When all of this had been read out I heard the door leading out of the Citadel open and caught a glimpse of Temorjan stalking out before the door slammed shut after him. His name had not been called.

Be it know that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, then granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and west and sixty miles south of Oleg's Trading Post. The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry shall remain, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witness this 23rd day of Calistril, under the watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne. 

Next: Session 1, Into the Greenbelt

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux: Session Zero

Campaign notes:

For those who have looked at other parts of this blog, our group has previously participated in a campaign using the Kingmaker Adventure Path. That campaign unfortunately ceased without completing the adventure path. We are beginning a new campaign with a different GM and a different group of adventurers. To give the characters more reason to participate in the campaign goals and a closer relationship with one another than the usual "you meet at a tavern" introduction, we're having a couple of introductory sessions to get the characters acquainted and get them involved in the the campaign.

Before I begin to describe our first session, here are some house rules we're using.

Characters are created with the point-buy method, using the 25-point "Epic Fantasy" option.

High and Low
A roll of a natural 20 on any skill or ability check adds 5 to the final result.
A roll of a natural 1 on any skill or ability check subtracts 5 from the final result.

Writ of Destiny
Once per game session a Writ Token can be spent to grant an advantage or disadvantage to an in-game roll, before that roll is made.

                                                       Writ Token

Blood of Life
Cure or inflict potions can be applied directly to a wound in the same way as an oil.

Lead From the Front
The party gains an extra success at a group skill challenge if the nominated leader succeeds at the skill check.

Tough Enough
Hit points are rolled for each level beyond first level. The player and GM both roll, and the highest result is used.


Before the campaign began, each of the characters had heard that the Free City of Restov in Brevoy intended to grant adventurers a charter to explore the territory to the south of Brevoy known as the Stolen Lands. The characters wrote to the Lord Mayor of Restov to indicate their interest in obtaining charters, and each of them received this letter:

"Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been invited by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, to participate in the final selection process of granting the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. The carrier of this charter should present themselves before the Lord of Restov on the 20th day of Calistril in the Free City of Restov, prepared to immediately engage in exploration and travel should they be chosen by duly selected representatives of Lord Nolenski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne."

Armed with these letters, a number of would-be explorers converged on Restov.

Twentieth Day of Calistril in the year 4710 by Absalon Reckoning

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

On the previous day I arrived in the Free City of Restov in the south of the nation of Brevoy, which lies to the north of the Greenbelt along the Sellen River. This day at an early hour I made my way to the Citadel, one of only two stone structures in this city. It is quite a different city than I am accustomed to in Iadara. The buildings are all of timber, often partly coated with a white plaster. The weather here is not pleasant at this time of year, being chill and rainy. The hem of my cloak is very muddy.

At the Citadel I was admitted without delay after showing my writ to the guards at the gate. There I waited for a time beneath a portico to keep out of the incessant rain. I was joined there by a group of other people I assumed to also have writs such as that which I have received. For the most part they were human folk. When the appointed hour arrived, the Lord Mayor's Advocate appeared and explained to us that should we choose we might take lodging at the city's expense at an inn called the Silver Dagger, and that evening we would be hosted at a banquet during which details of the selection process would be discussed. If we desired it we might take carriages back to the Citadel from the inn in time for the banquet.

After giving my name to a scribe and showing my writ again, I made my way along with a group of six others to the Silver Dagger, having already given up the room I had taken the previous night at another inn. At the Silver Dagger each of us was presented with a green ribbon to wear that the serving folk might know which of us were there at the hospitality of the city's lord. The innkeeper told us each of us was entitled to a free meal and a pitcher of ale, but we would have to share a room with other guests unless we were willing to pay two gold coins for a private room.

I found a table with two other woman, both human to my eyes. Their names are Maria Zenata and Chahana Surtova. Maria is young but has the scars of a battle-worn soldier. Chahana covers her face with a veil, which is apparently a custom in her native land. She is distantly related to the same family as the Lord Regent of this land. We sat and conversed pleasantly with one another for some hours, watching as a number of other people arrived and were given green ribbons to wear. Among these I spied a halfling, two dwarves, three of my own kindred, and at least one whose bloodline I think bears the mark of a fiend or elemental. But the better part of this crowd was made up of humans, as the populace of the River Kingdoms is largely such folk.

Eventually we were joined by two men, Kahn Mahn and Zander Aldori. Kahn is a human man who fills his words with unbridled confidence despite his youth. He told us of how his father had advised him to try a variety of studies or occupations before pursuing his preferred training as a wizard. I find this odd, for human lifetimes are so brief, how have they time to pursue more than one occupation? Kahn bears a sword but it does not appear to have seen much use. Zander is a young man partly of orcish blood who is also equipped with a sword and armor but while they are not handsome they look serviceable and well made and he appears to have some knowledge of how to use them as he is a member of one of the many duelling houses in Restov. Maria also appears to be proficient with her sword and armor. Chahana prefers the bow to the sword but does not seem to be merely a duellist, which is a common pursuit here in Restov.

When I first arrived at the Citadel I observed a man in green livery waiting there, and now a whole group of people wearing the same uniform entered the Silver Dagger and crowded together around two tables, paying no heed to anyone else. I'm told they are members of a mercenary company called the Varnlings, well known in this region. I do not know what a mercenary company could want of this exploration. Certainly they may find brigands or monstrous creatures to defeat, but it seems curious to me that they would otherwise have any interest in obtaining a charter when according to Maria and Kahn they already have some level of fame.

Our time together was also interrupted by the arrival of a representative from Lastwall seeking people to travel their to combat giants, and a brother and sister who had traveled from Taldor seeking people to help them reclaim their diamond mine from invading trolls. The man from Lastwall could not offer any great incentive to turn me from my intention to explore the Greenbelt, and because the Taldorans required a bloodprint contact I was not at all interested in the much more lucrative reward they offered.

When the carriages arrived to convey us back to the Citadel, I boarded with my new companions. Kahn had invited a young human lady to join him who knew the area of Restov much better than any of the others. Her father teaches at one of the local dueling schools. The Citadel had been decorated with lights and banners since I first visited it. We were conducted into a very large room filled with high tables, where we could mingle with other applicants while dining on small dishes and being offered entertainment. Curiously the entertainers sometimes approached their audience and attempted to encourage them to participate in the entertainment.

As I roamed about the chamber, I noticed a human man wearing the symbol of the Dawnflower seated with two women of my kindred. I made my way toward them to find that Zander had already met them and was conversing pleasantly with an older human man. These people were introduced as members of the Dreadnaughts, a small mercenary group of only five members. Their leader, Sol Covenant, is like myself a warrior devoted to Sarenrae, and I took great delight in speaking with him. The man with whom Zander spoke is a wizard by name of Havin Wayfinder, who is also very friendly and warm in nature. The two elven folk with them are Jastra Moondown, also a mage, and Erendis, a priestess of Desna. Sol Covenant remarked that their fifth member, Garrett, was probably disguised as one of the servants and observing the event from hiding.*

Of all the people who had come to seek the charter, the person whose presence most surprised me was Temorjin Yorl, the great swordsman. I do not know what he could seek by obtaining the right to explore the Greenbelt. I greeted him politely as I passed his seat, but he did not acknowledge my presence.

Then a person clad in the black robe and odd headgear of an official entered the hall and struck the butt of a long staff upon the floor to attract our attention. This official told the gathered crowd that we would be taken in to the feast in a moment, where we would meet the lord. He informed us of four important rules with which we must comply else we could be at least ejected from the selection process and at worst given much more severe punishment, though he did not specify what that punishment would be. The lord would be seated with other high officials on a dais, which we must not approach. We should not touch those persons, not speak to them unless invited by them to do so. We must not draw a weapon, though we were permitted to bear our arms. And those who had the ability to cast spells must not do so in the lord's presence.

When this announcement had been made, we were conduced into the banquet hall and greeted with a speech from the Lord Mayor. After the Mayor's speech concluded, the Advocate we had met earlier, Lady Jenessa, appeared again to describe the selection process to us. We would be interviewed separately by members of the selection committee beginning on the following day. During the next two days there would be an archery range and fighting circles available to us should we wish to demonstrate our skill with bows and other weapons. There would also be hunting expeditions conducted to allow for additional opportunities for a display of skill. Scholars would lecture us on the history of the region we were to explore, and in the evenings there would be formal winter balls which we could attend if we chose to meet the nobility and important merchants of Restov. On the third evening a gala would be held during which the chosen explorers would be announced. Of all these events only the interviews and the selection gala would be required of us.

Advocate Jenessa also asked that we not accept any other contracts until after the selection process was complete, explaining that the people of Restov had invited individuals like the man from Lastwall and the Taldoran siblings to come and offer us work so that if we were not chosen we might find other opportunities.

When we began to dine, it soon became apparent to me that my new acquaintances were concerned about what they might wear to the balls, for they lacked any formal attire. They also worried that it would not be appropriate to wear the same costume two evenings in succession. Maria asked one of the servants if some provision had been made for those who had no courtly garments to acquire some that they might attend the balls. I was not concerned with this as I have brought my courtly garb with me and I do not care if these folk see it twice.

Before the end of the evening we were given the times for our interviews with the selection committee. Chahana and Maria will see them tomorrow morning, Zander in the afternoon, and Kahn and I not until the following day. Kahn was disappointed with this, as we had all agreed we should participate in some of the other events together and having to wait so long for the interview would make that difficult. He sought out another man called Igby whom he had met at the inn and persuaded him to exchange his interview time for Kahn's time, after which he then had to convince a clerk to agree. Afterward he suggested that I do the same so that we might all complete our interviews on the first day of the selection process. He recruited the halfling Thim Tanglefoot** to exchange times with me, but while he was making that arrangement I had already sought out Temojin Yorl and by the blessing of the Dawnflower persuaded him to allow me to take his time.

The next morning we met and as a group went to hear one of the lectures on the history of the region, which was given by a fairly youthful man. The second lecture was provided by an elderly Taldoran man who sometimes lost the thread of his thoughts or forgot what name he sought to speak and had to be given assistance. I was reminded well how sorrowful it can be to dwell among the shorter-lived peoples of this world. Only the flame of the Dawnflower will keep me warm when my human friends end their short existences.

*The characters mentioned in this paragraph were all NPCs in a campaign our GM ran previously for our group.
**Thim Tanglefoot was a player-character in our previous run-through of the Kingmaker Adventure Path.


Our Party:

                                                 Chahana Surtova

Kahn Mahn

                                               Lythande Syldorei

Maria Zenata

                                                     Zander Aldori

Next: Session Zero, part 2

[Pathfinder] Wrath of the Righteous, part 55: Beneath the Crypt

Asami's letter to Master Seimei continues.

Bodak

In the aftermath of the bodak's attack, myself, Kirara, and Zero were all much weakened. For that reason we ascended the steps to wait just inside the entrance to the crypt while the others investigated the six burial vaults. Zosta and Runa opened the doors one by one, finding all the vaults unoccupied by any remains, though Jiro averred that all had been occupied at one time but the vaults had not been opened recently. There was nothing else within the empty vaults. We wondered what had become of the remains. We know that nabasu like to make ghouls of those they have slain, but the remnants of those already long deceased would be of no interest to them for that purpose.

Beyond the vaults lay a door to the right that did not open on another vault. This revealed a wall of unfinished stone and a staircase leading down to a set of double doors. To prepare us to face that chamber, I cast a communication spell upon all of us. Jiro then opened the doors, holding his eyes tightly closed to defend himself from the nabasu's gaze and employing his magic to grant himself echolocation.

Zero and I had not yet entered the short passage to the stairs at this point. Just as Jiro was sensing the room beyond the double doors, I sensed something behind me and then claws sank into my back. I cried out in pain, but my cry made no sound. I could not see that Jiro sensed my injury through his link to our lives, but he shut the doors and ran back up the steps, having realized that not only was something behind us but that the chamber beyond the doors was affecting by an enchantment that blocked all sound.

Nabasu

I moved away from the creature that had attacked me, realizing as I took refuge in a corner that it was the nabasu. It had teleported behind me. Zosta burst out of the stair passage and flung her arms about the demon but it slipped free of her grasp. Runa surged forward and used her divinely granted power, sending a burst of energy out that permitted everyone a sudden brief alacrity. A malevolent aura spread out from the nabasu, but only poor dear Kirara was unable to resist its effect. I had run into the passage where the stairs lay and hidden behind a section of wall out of sight of the demon but the wall did not protect us.

I could not see this, but the nabasu struck Runa a fierce blow with the axe it bore and then both clawed and bit her. Jiro ran out to cast a healing spell upon her. Zero stood in the doorway to the burial vaults, performing to inspire us. I stepped behind him and found that I could hear in that area, which encouraged me to cast a spell that would make everyone but the demon swifter. Runa struck the demon one hard blow and it took a step back, using its native ability to paralyze Zero and then engulfing the chamber in impenetrable darkness. A moment later Jiro's lantern flared to life, dispelling the darkness. The silencing effect had also been dissipated somehow. Jiro freed Zero of his immobility.

Zosta had been punching the nabasu with her fiery fists while Runa sliced it with her baneful blade, and now Zosta landed a blow that dropped the nabasu to the floor. It let out one rattling final exhalation and died. While the rest of us recovered, Zosta accompanied Jiro downstairs to find another crypt, this one holding three free-standing mausoleums with portraits of their occupants carved upon their lids. These were empty like the vaults upstairs, though similarly they had once been occupied and had not been opened for some while. When they had assured themselves that there was nothing else to be discovered in the crypt, they returned to the upper chamber.

The nabasu had carried little, as is the custom of most demons we have encountered thus far. His axe was enchanted with magic that would cause wounds inflicted by it to be more harmful to the victim. I determined this when Jiro was unable to, though touching the weapon caused me pain. 

After we had done with the crypt, Runa removed the nabasu's head and took it outside to show to Aegronius' ancestor Sir Alrys, for his curse prevented him from entering the crypt. Sir Alrys was grateful to see the desecrator of his crypt had been destroyed, but his fallen state remained and he was impatient to have the crypt consecrated so that he could be free of the curse. Runa had to allay his demands that she consecrate the crypt immediately, for she did not have access to such magic at that moment.

Sir Alrys

On the following morning Runa dressed herself in her priestly vestments and performed the consecration. When it was done Sir Alrys sighed in relief. As his spirit faded away, a brilliant light shot across the abandoned town. Jiro and Zosta both observed a flare of greenish light where it presumably landed. I accompanied them to seek that spot while Zero remained to assist Runa in donning her armor. When we found the spot where the green flare had occurred, a glow hovered just above a spot on the ground. Jiro produced a spade and in a short time a chest had been exposed, buried a few feet beneath the surface.

When the chest was removed from its burial, it proved to be unlocked. Within it we found seven arrows, a horn, a small pouch, a rod, a scroll, and an axe with an unusually short haft. Runa withdrew the axe and the haft expanded to a length that would permit it to be wielded with two hands. It also proved to be forged of cold iron and blessed with divine magic. 

The pouch contained incense that would aid a priest or person with access to divine magic. All seven of the arrows were also blessed, the horn would create a blast of holy magic when sounded, and the spell inscribed on the scroll was capable of resurrecting a deceased person. The rod was the least of these, being a crook-shaped quarterstaff that could also be transformed into a constricting serpent under the command of the rod's wielder. We took these things with gratitude, for all of them but the rod will aid us in our struggles against the demon invaders. And even the rod may have its uses. I have not forgotten your teaching, respected master.

Once we had acquired our reward from Sir Alrys, we decided to explore to the south between the lake and Drezen. Before we departed Jiro sent a message to Horgus Gwerm to request an additional supply of diamond dust, as he had been obliged to use all of what Zosta carried in order to restore some of the damage the nabasu's aura had inflicted upon myself, Zero, and Kirara.

For two days we continued an uneventful journey through the barren land. On the third day we were making our way along the bottom of a ravine which was overlooked by walls three times my height. As we neared a bend in the ravine, several ghouls suddenly appeared approaching in our direction. I was fortunate enough to spot them quickly and was able to eliminate them all with a ball of flame.

Ghoul

Just as I performed the gestures and incantation, Zero made a prodigious leap up to the top of the ravine wall. As the burning ghouls collapsed on the floor of the ravine we heard a screech. I felt myself held, unable to turn my head to seek the source of the scream. Despite my immobilized state I saw Zosta vault up to where Zero stood. Five fiery wings unfurled from Runa's back and she flew up the cliff as well. Jiro folded a paper crane and hurled it upward.

After a moment I recovered from the nabasu's paralyzing power but I could feel the same weakening effect that I had experienced in the crypt. The nabasu had taken flight, but Zosta leaped on it and pinned it so that it fell. It attempted to teleport away but failed. While Zosta continued to grapple it, Runa drove her blade through its foul body and it expired.

Once the nabasu was dead, we found that it had some crude maps in its possession, and the ghouls it had made wore the remnants of the garb of Baphomet cultists. We knew that a stronghold of the Ivory Labyrinth likely lay somewhere nearby, but the presence of these transformed cultists confirmed our suspicions. Now we must decide whether to first seek the Ivory Labyrinth or search for the missing priest.

Symbol of Baphomet

Characters are now 10th level.

Next: part 56: In the Belly of the Beast

[Pathfinder] Wrath of the Righteous, part 54: Into the Marchlands

Respected Master;

I write now to tell you that we have departed from Drezen. We are making a survey of the Marchlands territory surrounding the town, seeking any resources the town can use, as well as any threats to our forces there. We spend six or seven nights out, then return to Drezen to resupply before venturing out again.

Before we left Drezen for the first portion of our survey, Irabeth asked us to look out for a priest of Erastil by the name of Jesker Helton. This priest attends to a shrine to Erastil that lies to the southwest of Drezen, but he has been reported missing. 

In addition to the sightings of drake riders, we have heard rumors of a blind six-legged dragon or a dragon accompanied by barbarians carrying out raids against the few who still dwell in the Marchlands, and also of a creature called a  woundwyrm. These last are of particular interest to us as we have learned that Xanthir Vang was an individual who died and was reborn as some manner of wyrm.

The cavern where we encountered the vescavors continues to be considered dangerous territory, for there remains within it the portal we found there that appears to connect the Marchlands to the Abyss. We do not intend to explore there, but it was Zero's suggestion that we begin our investigations in other canyons that lie near to Drezen. 

For our journeys Runa has acquired a pet eagle, which she hopes to use to send messages back to Drezen should we have need.  She states that it was the treekin in the garden who helped her to acquire the bird. The treekin has now chosen a name for itself and desires to be addressed as Gami. Runa has named her eagle Wenchurch. She says only that the name sprang into her mind of a sudden. Wenchurch was initially hostile toward both Bohgong and Kirara, but with time has become more indifferent to them.

At the beginning our explorations were uneventful, leading us only to find the occasional remains of some poor local resident or Crusader who had died there. But that state could not last. The land is too infested with demonic influences. Our first dangerous encounter following the retaking of Drezen came as we were making our way through a series of shallow ravines. A swarm of maggot-like grubs suddenly burst from the barren earth beneath our feet and began to clamber up our legs as they attempted to burrow into our flesh. Runa flung a flask of alchemical fire into the swarm attacking her, splashing herself and Zosta. Some of the creatures began to chew on my limbs, distracting my mind from all else but escape and relief from the pain. I scrambled up out of the ravine in an effort to escape the other grubs.

Runa was particularly badly affected by these awful beasts. Many of them began to bite her and no matter where she went they pursued her. When she managed to get free of them for a moment I had the presence of mind to send a ball of flames into them which swiftly dealt with the group nearest to her, but soon enough another group found her. She retreated down a side ravine out of sight of the rest of us and we did not know how hard-pressed she was.

Zero had also managed to retreat around a turn in the ravine and thus avoided being found by the grubs. He began to sing an encouraging tune to us from his position. A bolt of lightning shot from somewhere behind me, which I was told later came from Bohgong, though even Jiro does not know how how he came by that wand. I was startled when the grubs that had first attacked me found me again, burrowing upward through more layers of earth with astonishing speed. I ran toward Zero to escape them.

It was a struggle but we were able to eliminate the horrid things. It was Zero who realized how to be rid of those that had infested our bodies. I submitted myself to having Zosta pummel me with her fists in order to destroy them. Jiro then took out his wand to heal all the hurts we had suffered, especially Runa, who had very nearly been consumed by the grubs. What an ignominious end that would have been after all our success in Citadel Drezen. I wonder how many other travelers have succumbed to such monstrosities.

When we were recovered enough, Jiro took flight to assure us that there were no more grubs awaiting us when we forged ahead. He discovered the remains of a body near where they first emerged. All of this person's flesh, clothing, and possessions had been destroyed, perhaps consumed by the grubs. Only an enchanted ring remained. Runa gathered up the bones and took them to bury beside the lake that lies to the north of Drezen. The water in the lake is not entirely useless, but it carries a measure of the demonic taint that infects this land.

On the following day we made our way back to Citadel Drezen. While there, we learned that someone had sent a message to our comrade Aegronius, who has been separated from us for some little while. The message came from his mother, with whom he had not spoken in a long period. This message was meant to inform him that his relatives had discovered there was a family crypt in the Marchlands, containing the remains of relations that Aegronius had not been aware of. This information intrigued us and we decided when we ventured out again that we would seek out this crypt and assure ourselves that it had not been violated by the demons or their allies.

Aegronius

When we returned to the lakeshore, Zosta and I glimpsed a path there. Following this path led us to a small town near the lake by the name of Seeker's Gully. It had clearly been abandoned since the Second Crusade. On the far edge of the town we found the family crypt. The family name carved above the door to the mausoleum was spattered with blood. The doors were broken. Jiro and Runa observed large tracks, and some also from a smaller creature, but these did not appear to have been made recently.

As they were looking at the tracks a ghostly figure appeared floating from within the damaged structure. It bore the semblance of a human man who had a slight resemblance to Aegronius in his features. This apparition began to complain to us, berating us as others who had come to defile its resting place. The information we had received was that Aegronius' ancestor who was buried here had been a minor hero of the Second Crusade, but his spirit lingered, unable to pass on and forced to witness how the enemies he had combated had defiled his burial and that of his family. Now he was understandably bitter and angry that the Crusade he had served had not protected him.

Jiro was able to reassure this fallen spirit that we meant him no harm and would endeavor to right watever wrong had been done him and his crypt. He then told us that some creature festered beneath the crypt. He was still angry and resentful and threatened that if we did not do as we said he would hunt us, but Zero had realized that he was unable to leave the confines of the crypt. Zero was eventually able to tell him about his descendant Aegronius and this seemed to placate him somewhat. When asked to provide more information about what lay below, the spirit changed his form into an image of the creature. We recognized it as a nabasu.

Nabasu demon

Once this information was revealed, the spirit then attempted to compel Runa to consecrate the crypt, but she resisted the compulsion. Despite the spirit's hostile behavior, we chose to enter the crypt with Runa leading us. We paused a moment for her to seek Iomedae's blessing. Inside the crypt was decorated with images of Iomedae on each of six doors. On each door was inscribed a name. Three statues of Iomedae also occupied this chamber. The interior was chilly.

Statue of Iomedae

But our attention centered on a creature which stood before the tombs. It screeched at us and rushed forward to slam into Runa. Its scream left me feeling weakened, but I had the presence of mind to surround us with a protective circle against evil creatures. Zero began to sing an inspiring song. Jiro warned that this creature was undead, then summoned a spirit to attack it with its ghostly tetsubo. Runa advised that the creature was similar to an undead creature called a bodak. She slammed into it herself. Zosta's fists burst into flames. It attempted to slam Runa again but failed. I called out to the Ethereal Plane and brought an archon to aid us. Zero began to fire his bow at the undead thing. Then Jiro's spirit ally swung at it again and it was vanquished. Runa bowed deeply in gratitude to this spirit. We had eliminated the undead menace, but now we would have to face the nabasu and whatever allies it had.

Bodak

Next: part 55, Beneath the Crypt