DOGS OF WAR
Our party has returned home at last after a solid month away researching the mysterious verse of the draconic prophesy and uncovering its secrets.
“When dark lanterns flicker
in the light of the silver torch,
the King in Green rides north on a bolt of steel.
Two nations prepare for war,
as all eyes turn to Sky Blue.”
The Dark Lanterns and Silver Torch were engaged in a heavy game of spy vs. spy, unfortunately distracting from the true enemy within, the Swords of Liberty that struck against Lord Kor ir’Wynarn’s personal train, while causing the blame to fall on warforged operating out of the Mournland…
SALVAGE MISSION: THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The sun rises lazily over Ye Olde Thunderpath. A rare sunny and bright day in Khorvaire. The short dry season has come to Breland bringing a gently muggy heat as the sun dispels the remnants of morning fog. How do you like to spend your morning?
… Hammer awakes to a pain in his back … Using the new ability of their base to send messages he contacts Blue from the Red Hammer in Sharn. On his way the pain becomes unbearable, and they open him with the universal knocker finding a strange mechanism, a newly formed docent and a letter from his mentor Alaistair. Hammer’s body is made to create new docents!!!
Meeting with Blue at the Red Hammer, Hammer arranges a meeting with Merrix d’Cannith II, leader of House Cannith South.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: WHICH CAME FIRST?
Meeting back at the Red Hammer, the team meets Blue and her companion (?) Crucible. They learn that Crucible is a “forged”, created after the war and a collector of ghulra imprints. She leads the team through a secret lava tube tunnel into the heart of the Cannith Forgehold in Sharn. She introduces them to Tim, (don’t pay any attention to Tim) and then leads them to Merrix. Merrix seemed most interested in the docent and the mechanism inside Hammer that produced the docent, and while he’s able to incubate the docent so it does not lose its arcane charge, his creation forge lacks certain key materials in the production of a warforged host: Siberys dragonshard dust, celestial tears, Xoriat-touched ore, an arcanodynamic flywheel and dragon guano. Some supplies must certainly be located at Whitehearth, the seat of power of House Cannith before the Mourning… He would like to take back the location if possible, or at least secure as much materiel as he can from the fortress, and has tried before to no avail.
The adventurers decide to head to Whitehearth by sea, and as they move through Sharn to the docks they encounter ugly anti-warforged racism resulting in a fight. After killing three out of the five sailors, the Sharn Watch intervenes. Reports of hate crimes against warforged seem to be on the rise. On the ship to Darguun, they meet Big Bara, a warforged captain in the Brelish military, leader of Bara’s Breakers, an elite scouting unit. Her team is headed to the frontier with the Mournland ahead of the floating fortress Argonth. She’s agreed to use Ye Olde Thunderpath as lodgings for her troop.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: DID SOMEONE CALL FOR SCAVENGERS?
The party is met in Darguun by a Deneith mercenary sent to meet them by Endira d’Deneith, who aids them and provides information. The coastlands of Darguun are subject to raids by the elves of Valenaar. Lyrenton, hometown of Bellota, is now completely abandoned due to a wasting sickness that seems to radiate from powerful magics of Whitehearth altered by the Mourning. Rose Quarry is late on shipments of marble. A group of Karnnathi House Cannith members passed through Darguun heading towards Whitehearth two weeks ago but has not bee seen…
A brief travel overland to Lyrenton later they find the remains of a recent campsite in the ruins, and glimpses of a furry creature.
They proceed to Rose Quarry and find the abandoned mining camp at the mouth of the mines, with a mission log by the House Cannith expedition leader. It seems they succumbed to illness and perished.
Proceeding into the mine to investigate, they find the goblin miners have been infected (?) by artifice that makes them sleep walk…
Deeper within the mine they interact with the ghost of the Cannith expedition leader and overcome his magically altered guardians, before reaching the true secret of Rose Quarry, a Siberys Dragonshard geode. They find the magically mangled body of the the expedition leader and defeat the gasseous elemental “Monoxide” and are able to claim the Siberys Dragonshard dust.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: The Temple of Kha-Shazul
The party takes up the task left to them by the dragon they stole from, Phileas. An attack on the cult of the Daughter of Khyber at a Q’barran temple with ancient relics, a scepter, an amulet and a crown.
… WHAT AN ADVENTURE PACKED SESSION … I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MADE IT!
Discovering two of the three items, Kili and Hammer receive aberrant dragonmarks, while Drego’s mark of the sentinel grows and changes. Returning to Phileas, he has the following information.
“In the course of previous research, I once uncovered a tale of a group of explorers of the Q’barran peninsula. Five of the members of this group were said to have all simultaneously developed the so-called aberrant dragonmarks in the course of an expedition. Such an event would be rare enough, but one true dragonmarked among their number claimed to see her mark change in shape at the same time.
This group of explorers of which I spoke were led by one named Jheamast, a Sarlonan. No direct account hints at Jheamast or his band having visited the Temple of Kha’shazul, but the congruence of his party’s manifesting the same strange marks that you have manifested seems clear.
“Jheamast was said to have sought a weapon for use against some foe in his homeland of Sarlona. It is my belief that he must have claimed the missing relic—the one called the Dragon’s Eye—from the Temple of Kha’shazul prior to your arrival. More than a thousand years prior, to be precise. If you are amenable, I would like to procure your services for another few weeks. I will increase your wages, providing you with an additional 500 gp (worth of salvage) each.”
“The full truth of what happened to Jheamast and his party is long since lost, but I have heard one rumor that I must share with you. Jheamast is said to have died in the Lhazaar Principalities some years after his time in Q’barra, but the Sarlonan’s companions who manifested these new and changed marks were all dead within a year of their entering Kha’shazul. It is said that at least one was apparently consumed from within by the power of the mark she bore. Dark legends surround many who carry the so-called aberrant marks, and these tales of Jheamast’s party could be no less fanciful.
However, if the legends are true, discovering why Jheamast lived might be your only chance for survival.”
“Seeking clues of Jheamast’s activities in the principalities will no doubt take some time. This galleon remains chartered for your use, and I will leave a supply of sending stones by which you can keep me apprised of your progress.
I cannot accompany you, for I must make my way east in order to undertake further research on your new marks.”
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: THE VORGAARD ESTATE
The players are sent by Phileas via a magical ship in a bottle to the Montulet, currently in Port Verge, to investigate the aberrant dragonmarks and Jheamast with the help of Elivello.
Finding a lead in the local tavern after wining a game of dragonchess against a local, they learn the story of one who sought and found the tomb. Unfortunately he is no longer to be found anywhere, but the journal of his adventure was sold to a collector of historical artifacts, a Karrnathi wizard named Vorgaard with an estate found across the Bay of Eels. Unfortunately, the information was overheard by a member of the cult of the Daughter of Khyber.
Racing by boat across the Bay of Eels, the party arrives at the estate too late. It is up in flames. But the cultist attackers are still present.
The party successfully defeated the cultists and their undead minion raised from the archaeological artifacts in the estate, recovering the journal.
… Join us next time for …
DDAL-EB-08 - A Parliament of Gears
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: Zikran’s Zephyrean Tome
Within the book Kili took from the Vorgaard Estate was a map to a “Throne of Talons”, images of a majestic ki-rin, and a poem.
On the journey to the Shrine they met a pilgrim. Inside they overcame various trials to reach a golden master.
Finally, the cloud giant swung out to deal a killing blow to the pilgrim, the ki-rin statue intervened and saved it’s life. As Zikran died in their arms, the celestial’s tears enabled the party to experience a memory of the Day of Mourning. The ki-rin was also in possession of a locket with the royal crest of Cyre on the outside and a portrait of Prince Oargev ir’Wynarn dated to 10 days before the Day of Mourning with him in Metrol inside, and an ornate jeweled key with the inscription, “an heir of Jorat must complete what he started.”
Rewards: Salvage, celestial tear, ornate emerald key, royal Cyran locket.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “In Zilargo We Trust”
The party stepped off the train in Zolanberg and was met by a member of the Trust, the secret police of Zilargo. Seeing the Sentinel Marshal, Special Inquisitor Delby offered to show them to a local artificer. Wandering through the Zolanberg Industrial Park they happened upon Wooly Wallace’s Wonders of Artifice. Unfortunately, their request for the warforged component was exactly the code phrase used by the underground society that Wooly Wallace was a member of. After some hijinx, they barely escaped being blasted into either space or smithereens.
What Could Have Been
What Actually Happened
Rewards: Arcanodynamic flywheel, salvage, spell books, and El succeeded in their mission.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “MINE YOUR OWN BUSINESS”
Returning to Port Verge, the party searched for information about Thraxis, the artificer mentioned in Eliam’s Journal who has the missing journal pages. Doc Grimm at the Bilge & Bulwark was able to connect the party with the Sea Wyverns, a once fearsome band of pirates fallen on hard times and their leader, Captain Damog Hellscurvy. He had information that Thraxis and another of his crew, Jukkeam, were captured by the Cloud Reavers and put to work in mines under the Dreadhold, a maximum security prison facility run by House Kundrak. His plan is to capture a supply ship in harbor at Port Verge, disguise as Cloud Reavers and sneak the party into the facility in boxes past their main defenses. Once inside, he has a map to the cell block where Jukkeam is being held…
Unfortunately, Thraxis perished in the mines below the Dreadhold. The party goes to find the body and encounters mutant flesh-warped Dolgaunts. Fortunately the content of the missing pages of the journal were tattooed on the body. Also, this mine is a rich source of Xoriat-touched ore! Meanwhile, a prison riot distracted the guards allowing them to move freely back through the prison to the port and cleaning up the guards there, to escape.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “The Prince’s Map”
The session begins with a Phileas outlining what you have achieved, and revealing that although you now know guideposts for your journey on Trebaz Shinara, and instructions for when you reach the tomb, you lack a map of the island that will allow you to trace the path. The only known map of this island of mystery is in the possession of Ryger ir’Wynarn, pirate prince of Regalport. You’ll need to approach him to gain his favor to access the map… at the same time he sends El on a parallel mission: the Prince has one of the keys of the ir’Wynarns. Five in all, the draconic prophecy tells us, the Chamber, you will need them to fulfill your destiny.
Exploring the Pirate Exchange in Regalport, both El and the party discover that Ryger likes to hangout with the boys at the Rusty Anchor…
Despite failing to gain the Prince’s attention through performance or feats of dexterity and strength, Falko impressed the Prince through persuasive interaction and gained a letter granting access to the maps in the war room of the Dragoneye, the Prince’s flagship.
El, setting out early in the morning got work as a new steward for the officer’s chambers.
Aboard the ship… well… everything didn’t go exactly as smoothly as it could have… on the upside, the party gained the map and El found a key. Avoiding a run in with the cultists of the Daughter of Khyber on the docks of Regalport on the way back to the Montulet, the party sets sail for the haunted isle, Trebaz Shinara.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “THE SAILOR’S TOMB”
With the completed journal and map in tow, the team heads to the haunted isle of Trebez Sinara. Overcoming a zombie killer whale and fierce dragonne to make landfall, the party followed the journal’s directions hiking overland through jungle, first to an airship caught in the canopy and then on to the statue of a maiden dressed in ancient Sarlonan garb and marked with an aberrant dragonmark pointing the way to the tomb of the long forgotten sailor.
Inside the cave, the party braved the perils of the undead before reaching the sarcophagus, defended by an evil being of living nightmare. With its defeat, the now serene ghost of Jheamast revealed that the curse of the dragonmark was released from him as he ascended the Orrery of Vortuum in northern Argonnessen.
… Join us next time for …
DDAL-EB-09: Lord Bucket
El does some investigation and gets suspicious about Big Bara’s motivation. As the party prepares the township of Salvation for war, there is a lot of grumbling about General Karol Tyresh.
Battle ensues… significant to the story, Drego saves Sky Blue and Falko saves the General.
Endira d’Deneith arrives and meets with Drego.
1.You’ve been making quite a name for yourself. I figured it was time I paid a visit to my star protégé and see for myself this ragtag group you’ve managed to pull together. Thank you for meeting and exceeding my expectations in your abilities.
2.Uncovering that illicit mine under the Dreadhold has turned into something of a diplomatic affair between the council of the Twelve. At some point you’re going to have to stop making me look so good or the house will “promote” me to sit with the other representatives in Tower, at least that’s the rumor. Trust me, if they assign me to that frozen pillar hanging over Korth like some sick icicle, I’ll be dragging you along.
3.There’s been a lot of interest in your comings and goings in Karrlakton. First that odd artifact in the Gray, and according to your latest reports, the Chamber getting in on it. What do you know about the Chamber?
4.I have a job for you. Recently we were contacted by a merchant tycoon and known Aurum member. He would like to contract you for a security job coming up in a few weeks. He’s a member of the Aurum, and an investor. He bought a piece of military hardware from Breland that he’s converting into a luxury sky liner and wants you to be on board, expenses paid, for its maiden journey to Xen’drik and back.
5.There will be a large number of celebrities, the wealthy and powerful on board. A real who’s who. Often Narcy of Xandra would subcontract to us for this kind of high-profile job, but there’s a couple reasons why we’d like to assign you to this case. For one thing, Narcy has not been seen since the lightning rail fiasco. For another, the client has asked for you by name. What can you tell me about, Zed Plinled Burgenhind (Jukkeam’s father).
Well... For one thing he’s a member of the top echelon of the merchant elite in Khorvaire.
6.After the Battle of Cairn Hill and the tragic loss of the flying fortress there, the Brelish were looking to maintain aerial superiority but with fewer resources tied up in a single hull. This airship, the Golden Dragon, was among the largest airships ever built, but after the war
7.He’d like to discuss the terms, either at his office in Highest Towers or at his estate in Platinum Heights in the Upper Central Plateau of Sharn. There’s a little time until the first voyage if you have a little unfinished business to take care of first, but the sooner you get there, the sooner you can conduct interviews with the crew and any other preparation you deem necessary.
… Meanwhile …
KILI Story: “Book Worm”
Killi researched at the library at Ye Olde Thunderpath and found out:
(1) The Great Turning of the Age
The Quori organization known as the Dreaming Dark fears nothing greater than the turning of the Quor Tarai (the spirit of this age). The Dreaming Dark has been at work in the world for thousands of years to prevent this turning. If the age were to come to an end, all the quori would be reabsorbed into Dal Quor and the cycle would reset, except that while the current cycle of Dal Quor is ruled over by the Darkness that Dreams, according to legend, the next cycle shall be under the dominion of the Light that Dreams.
(2) The Sarlonan Secret
The Dreaming Dark believes that by controlling enough mortals in nightmares, they can prevent the turning of the age. That is why they invaded the kingdom of Riedra on the continent of Sarlona. Even today, Riedran humans known as "the Inspired" are under the domination of the quori of the Dreaming Dark.
(3) The Kalashtar
The Kalashtar are similar to the Inspired in that they are influenced by quori, but not coerced like those under the Dreaming Dark. The Kalashtar follow a path of light acting as hosts and hiding places for quori resisting the Dreaming Dark, and work towards hastening the great turning of the age.
(4) Quori and Dal Quor
Dal Quor, is the realm of dreams, visited by mortals as they sleep. The quori are generally unable to leave this realm of dreams but there are rumors that they taught the early Sarlonans technologies and secrets for bridging this gap during their initial invasion of Riedra. There's a footnote on this section, it's a quotation taken from a book titled "Bridging Dal Quor and the Material Plane" by Professor Aztec published by Morgrave University.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “A Soirée in The Sky”
Billowing clouds escape the forge. “It” advances, ghulra gently glowing azure like its eyes and the gem in its chest. Mostly wooden features are accented with plates of bronze rather than steel. Gazing around the room, every feature novel information, it finally unblinkingly settles on you. A smooth, medium-register voice addresses you in Common, “What is my designation?” … “What should I do now?” …
Ushered in, you’ve been expected. Checking your arms with the receptionist in the cavernous lobby, you are led to a caged, indoor soaring sled which closes around the party, before gradually ascending to the top of the Burgenhind Building. A chime indicates your arrival at the pinnacle of the Khorvairan financial world. The tricorned and ten-ringed magnate, “Zed”, poses for another portrait before panoramic windows overlooking all the small people in the world below.
Thanks for rescuing Jukkeam. I hope the reward was enough.
This new hull cost quite a pretty penny.
Tonight’s gala will be quite the event. A maiden voyage to Xen’drik and back should be just the thing to get people’s minds off this dreadful war in the East.
War is quite profitable...
Captain Alastair will answer any other questions you have.
… Meanwhile …
KILI Story: “Professor Aztec”
At the Morgrave University Sharn Campus, Kili avoids interaction with Zell Mar and continues her research. She finds the book written by Professor Aztec, her father. Some interesting passages therein include.
(1) Attachment of Quori to Hosts
The initial attachment phase of quori of light joining with human hosts that would become the Kalashtar in Adar, and the much greater number of quori of the dreaming dark that joined with the humans that would become known as the Awakened in Riedra, took place more than a thousand years ago. First the quori interacted with the dream of their chosen host day after day until the vividness of the dream lasted beyond their sleeping hours until the dream of the quori could be held by their host even while the host was awake. This was the first generation of our people.
(2) Inheriting the Dream
When hosts had children, they could pass on the dream of their quori to their children, and the one quori would be hosted by multiple Kalashtar, sharing the dream of their one quori. When a child was born to two Kalashtar parents, the child would tend to gravitate to one or the other parent's dream, no single Kalashtar holding the dream of two quori. All told, our people, the Kalashtar have only 63 quori shared among us all.
(3) The Death of the Host
When a Kalashtar dies, it no longer holds the dream of a quori. Some have questioned what would happen if there were means possible to keep the soul of a Kalashtar in a state of stasis, preventing it from moving on to Dolurrh, if the dream could continue beyond the physical life of its host.
(4) Dreams in Reality
The quori are the natives of the realms of dreams, Dal Quor, and are, to our best knowledge unable to manifest themselves in the prime material plane. Rumors persist that the giants of Xen'drik once held powerful magics that could bring dreams into reality, and some say the savage drow in the jungles still have these artifacts. Stormreach is our only point of contact with these peoples, however, and attempts to ask them to part with the relics they consider to be sacred have failed up to the present.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “The Red Carpet”
After preparing for the evening gala event and getting in position, the guests arrived. Drego and Ellivelo were standing by the Captain to greet the guests as they arrived. In terms of interactions of note, Drego nearly had a run in with the Karrnathi delegation, in particular their skeletal bodyguard. Many of the guests, both men and women, seemed interested to meet the charismatic pirate prince, Ryger ir’Wynarn.
As guests settled in for the evening’s entertainment, Ghel the goblin wait staff noticed Ryger making advances on the female entertainers. Drego tried to get a seat at the table gambling with Danno Dameson and pirate baron Paldrith Malinko, but was brushed aside due to the presence of the ir’Tonklin heir.
Moving out to patrol the halls and check on the cargo arrangements, Drego ran into an extra crew of hobgoblins “working” on the engineering room. Confronted, the would be saboteurs attacked, with reinforcements coming from the cargo space below. Ghel’s positioning due to the Draconic Prophecy saved many of the guests, but Leery ir’Kinly met her end at the end of the claw of Kray.
As the dust settled, a device was discovered, a blast cylinder, set to cast Banish on the elementals holding the ship aloft at the end of the timer. Time ticked down, but Falko was there to counterspell the blast with dramatic flair.
As Zed Burgenhild and the Lord Mayor of Sharn returned to the city by skiff, the guests settled in for an uneasy rest to start their cruise.
Before retiring, Hammer checked on Shepherd who is getting better at not breaking dishes and staying out of the way of the chef. Speaking of which, Drego noticed the chef spying on the situation in the steam pipe room. El took the form of Valencia and made a personal approach to Ryger ir’Wynarn and was able to deduce that the one on this cruise is most likely Ryger’s First Mate, the changeling Syn. Drego visited the spa, and through clever use of his spell to read thoughts, discovered that spa master Zan is on the run from the Tyrants, the Sharn crime syndicate made of up changelings and led by Ek. Yes, that Ek. Hammer flexed at Dameson, and then called it a night, collecting two trophies: an adamantine warhammer and +1 battleclaw.
… Meanwhile …
KILI Story: “THE SUMMER OF LEMONADE”
Zell, finding Kili researching asks Kili what she's looking for in the library and if he can help her look. Getting a cold response from Kili, he just says that it was good to see her and just so you know, that he broke up with Jia ... and then begins to walk away to leave Kili alone ...
“Wait.. why did you break up with her?” Kili sends telepathy to Zell. (She assumes it’s because he wasn’t interested in others except his research.)
He thought about it a lot... she was cute in some ways, but not very intelligent. She liked to hang out with questionable people at Detention.... He was attracted at first to how outgoing she was, but as an introvert, it got to be tiring going out all the time to meet her friends... He thought they could never be fully happy together because she would want more social activity and he would want more quiet/private time...
Kili thinks, it makes sense… Kili will try to enjoy tea with him after researching. She still can’t understand why the time could be fun though she has no interest in having food and drinking… Kili is interested in what Zell will order…
Zell orders iced mint lemonade and a light bread like "melon-pan"… he seems happy. but quiet. At peace, but too nervous and forgets his food and minty lemonade.
Without meeting your gaze, he stirs his drink with his straw and says, "I've followed your group in the newspaper. It sounds like you are doing important and dangerous things out there in the world. I'm just glad your are safe. How long will you be in Sharn?..."
Kili orders same things as him.. and She looked down in embarrassment. “I didn’t know that we could be such popular in news.. but I’m sure most of all are about my party except me. You know I’m not so interested in others except researching.. and pursuing for knowledge. I’ll stay until next week Thursday possibly.”
“That soon... " he sounds disappointed. Then smiles, "Of course. The world and your friends need you... "
He pinches off a bite of the fragrant bread and slowly sips at his mint lemonade looking off into the distance, pensively…
“I haven’t thought the world needs me. The world hasn’t welcomed me. You know my past and why I left the university, but well.. as for the world, Morgrave University is top university in the world and you work there. The world needs you, right? I’m proud of you. What research do you involve with now? “ she smiles innocently.
At the mention of his research he brightens. “Ever since you brought me that Oracle of War, I’ve branched out from my major in artifice to start joint research in a new hybrid field of applications of artifice to the Draconic Prophecy.”
…
Kili goes on to research into the modern history of the Cyran royal family, living spells, and the quori’s understanding of the great turning of the age. And the relationship between the Sovereign Host and the Dark Six.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “Murder, He Wrote”
Captain Alastair introduced you to Uta d’Medani, a liaison between the party and the House Medani security detail, while Drego d’Deneith sat this one out, complaining of illness. The Captain went on to give a briefing, reminding the party of the importance to their employer of this voyage passing without diplomatic incident.
The mysterious Oracle of War gave vague hints from the Draconic Prophecy:
“Mortal force is often optional.”
“An imposter is among us.”
“Every drop of blood can have a ripple effect”
“Mysteries abound, but the most significant are bound in mineral, alchemy and ink”
“There’s more than one way to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”
Various interactions between the party and guests transpired. Notable events include: Hammer meeting the Karrnathi secretary, Falko meeting with Jovi “Tony” ir’Graccen, Uta getting talked at by Halas, Ellivelo meeting Zan “sneaking” away from the spa, a debate on the use of undead between the Cardinal and the Karrnathi Ambassador, the Karrnathi Secretary dropping some papers, Dameson and Resham ir’Kessler rolling up on the scene to do some investigative reporting, Ellivelo breaking into the secretary’s room and finding the secretary dead with a poisoned goblet by his side and Uta finding a strange ruby amulet on the body with necromantic magic aura, a collision between the diplomatic courier and goblin wait-staff leading to fisticuffs over a missing diplomatic pouch, one of the elvish entertainers blaming it on Palinko, Zan warning Ellivelo to stay away from Palinko and his associate Azango ir’Tonklin, Uta noticing Jenks trying to hide the diplomatic pouch, Hammer confronting the pirate, Ellivelo or Hammer notice that Azango ir’Tonklin was not present, and Uta and Falko meeting with Jenks and the chef who bring them in on the plot to intercept and replace the diplomatic writings on behalf of Breland…
Falko replied: “For king and country”… important developments include: Elivello talking with Meena to identify that the necklace was acting as a Magic Jar, Drego meeting with the delegation from New Cyre and being asked by the halfling representative about his “crows”, Falko avoiding detection by Dameson and Resham, some rough diplomacy causing the body guards to be detained, Hammer dispelling the necklace and catching Gunter and then healing the Cardinal of poison, with the letter written by Gunter in guise of the Cardinal found on the desk, an interaction with the Morgrave University professor who talked about his collection of Giant-Age artifacts, some discrepancies in the movements of Azango ir’Tonclin above deck, the discovery of the sabotaged laboratory, and stopping the explosion with some quick thinking.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: “The Heart of Darkness”
At the request of Captain Alaistair d’Lyrandar, Uta d’Medani joins the party in escorting Halas Martain, explorer extraordinaire, to uncover a ruin of an ancient giant empire and recover invaluable artifacts of the past. Flying over the jungle, Halas expertly identifies fluora and fauna of the Xen’drik wilderness as the party catches glimpses of dinosaurs and lizardfolk. Landing in a clearing near the ruin, the team crosses a steamy field of burping mudflats, and are attacked by vicious worms and steam creatures before ascending the man-sized steps leading up to the colossal statue of a cyclops.
Inside the temple showed signs of two cultures … in the very ancient past the giants built a temple, which has been destroyed and damaged later by dragons and left for ages… until now.
The adventurers first reach a sealed hub room, with six side chambers outlining the process by which an ancient powerful evil was overcome.
Text in the hub room:
GIANT: In time before time, the three great progenitor dragons spawned the gods. The gods in turn spawned the godspawn. The godspawn warred for the hearts of the mortal races. To ensure their victory, some representatives received the gifts of the godspawn. The Dark Lady presented Gyrothrax the chosen with her own heart. Great is the Keeper of Secrets. With her Heart, who dares defy Gyrothrax. Long may he reign.
DRACONIC: The Chamber has recovered the gifts of hand and eye, heart and shroud, staff and crown. Gyrothrax is no more and the godspawn is lain low by her own power. Here lies her darkened heart, sealed until its power is needed to strike down another of Khyber’s terrific spawn. May it not fall into corrupt hands.
SIDE CHAMBERS:
Chamber 1: Seal of Power
Giant: Murals depict temples and texts praise the might of their religion of shadow which spread from western desert to eastern jungle and from southern ice flows to northern isles
Dragon: We defiled their altars, cast down their idols, and slayed their priests. Their faith shattered; the people awoke from their nightmares of shadow to see the light.
Rune: Power
Chamber 2: Seal of Omniscience
Giant: The murals depict eyes. Praise the spawn, all seeing and all knowing. None can hide from the sight of the godspawn.
Dragon: In her hubris, the godspawn gifted us with a shroud. Hidden from her view we moved against her with impunity.
Rune: Omniscience
Chamber 3: Seal of Ascension
Giant: Praise be to the invincible godspawn. Who can defy the all-mighty? No mortal thing can harm her.
Dragon: Her own might was turned against her, piercing her divine protection and making the way for others.
Rune: Ascension
Chamber 4: Seal of Secrets
Giant: The inscrutable, whose ways cannot be fathomed, and no one can know.
Dragon: We laid bare her private parts and uncovered her inner thoughts, we discovered the roads she travels and the place she could be found
Rune: Secrets
Chamber 5: Seal of Arcana
Giant: She dwells in places that cannot be reached and none can come before her unannounced, her courts are distant and sealed to mortal flesh
Dragon: Her secrets ours, we opened a gate, her dwelling was only a wish away
Rune: Arcana
Chamber 6: Seal of Eternity
Giant: She was before we were, she will be when we are gone, her power knows no limits and is not reduced by the sands of time.
Dragon: She is no more, her power broken, her followers scattered. One Spawn of Khyber, not sealed but slain.
Rune: Eternity
The inner sanctum containing a large pit, the throne room of the king of the cyclops, a room of the guards and a final room with an illusory “creation forge” hiding “the Heart of Darkness”. Warned that such great power comes at a price by an enormous wraith, the party wraps it carefully and proceeds to the exit where they are confronted by a wraith dragon with the animated skeletons of the king of the cyclops and his guards before returning to the Golden Dragon.
… Join us next time for …
SALVAGE MISSION: ALL MY HEXES ARE FROM XEN’DRIK
Mr. Linntorm meets you at the pier at Falconer’s Spire and explains that many of the guests and staff have made alternative arrangements, and outlines the replacement crew and new passengers including Kili Aztec, and a large collection of “specimens” … A House Tharashk bounty hunter asks the party if they know the whereabouts of Halas Martain and is brushed aside.
The players interacted with various NPCs: Shepherd seems to have a handle on the kitchen, El has a way with the ladies, Drego finds Diraz d’Jorasco to be rather slippery in his responses, Jovi ir’Graccen has his eyes and ears peeled for Egen, a rich investor is looking for a powerful crew to help him recover lost investments if they are ever in Korth, Lathe is a mysterious warforged representing the Iron Watch, Dameson and Resham fail to see through Falko’s disguise, and a special entertainer shows up to keep the guests laughing.
A drow druid treesteps through a wooden idol and frees the animals. Her crew and dragon attack the captain. The party has several clutch moments and brings down their foes, saving the day. Arriving in Sharn they grab the evening edition of the Sharn Star as they board the lightning rail back to Salvation.
… Join us next time for …
