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| "Come and try the eels, boy! We have plenty to choose from...all shapes and sizes! Come and get your eels! You'll find none better than Qith's!" - Qith Anguil, Traveling Eel Merchant and Purveryor of Eel-Based Ephemera. |
Saturday, 25 October 2014
Qith's Eels: Don't Forget to Stop By!
Friday, 24 October 2014
Session 14 Overview
Having set off from High-Haven to the Hell-Knight bastion. Ysera remembers that she has unfinished business in High Haven regarding Tobias Glyph and his studies on the dark symbol, and so she turns her horse around and canters back the way they came. Nefarion and the others proceed on to the bastion without her, making full use of the Phantom Steeds that she summons for them prior to her departure. When they arrive at the Bastion, they are met by three Hell-Knights, one of whom is a peculiar Fetchling armed with a deadly looking blade (the fetchling is the Bastion's resident inquisitor, a cunning and dangerous man by the name of Parvane...and the nickname; 'The Bloodhound') The other two inform Nefarion that the Arch Lictor has requested an audience with him. As this is happening however, the fetchling examines the party suspiciously, sniffing the air around each one of them in an almost bestial manner. He finds it interesting that there are three of them missing. Referring to the Samsaran monk; Sij (who was slain in High Haven), Signifer Ysera (who returned to High Haven alone) and a third person...who he refers to as 'the little one'. This comes as an unexpected shock to Nefarion, as he thought he had smuggled the little Hell-Knight prisoner girl; Severine, out without detection (she was invisible at the time also). The other guards don't cotton on to the link, and interestingly, the fetchling doesn't highlight this fact further. As Nefarion is directed to the Arch Lictor's chambers in the Hall of Blades, Parvane skulks behind him, eying him all the way. As they proceed down a dark corridor. The sinister fetchling continues to talk, playing dumb, and teasing Nefarion with his 'speculations'.
"It's very difficult to leave this Bastion...the walls you see are so very tall and the gates are seldom opened without good cause. So I wonder...just how did that little human girl escape?...I suppose she just wriggled out of those chains and sprouted some wings and vanished into thin air...no, but that's just preposterous. I think I have a far more...believable idea of what happened, I think the Arch Lictor would love to hear. Don't you think so?"
Nefarion ignores the allegations, and continues into the Hall of Blades, closing the door behind him. At the end of the long, grand chamber, sits Emmerich; the Arch Lictor himself. He sits alone, slumped amongst paperwork and other tedious duties that require his attention. Nefarion seems nervous. Does the Arch Lictor know what he did? He let's Emmerich speak for a while, but there is no mention of missing prisoners. Nefarion reports his discoveries during his time in High Haven, he tells Emmerich that the traitor; Lord Emmon, is dead, and that the other escaped prisoner; Matheus the monk, had settled in the city. He also went on to mention the 'Cult' that had contacted him during his stay at the Spearhead Tavern, and about the Tournament in Val Nemor.The Arch Lictor was impressed with Nefarion's work, and revealed the next mission that he had lined up for Nefarion. It involved travelling deep into Val Nemor (the realm of House Villeroy; who were powerful enemies of the crown, whose leader was the Queen's very uncle; Lord-Meister Hermann.) The Arch Lictor had arranged for a Fetchling Corsair sea-faring vessel to take them to Val Nemor. It was scheduled to collect them from a private dock in two days time. In the meantime, the City of High Haven was ripe for the taking, so The Arch Lictor sent word to muster a regiment of Hell-Knights and Signifers to take the City. The meeting was swiftly concluded, but before Nefarion could leave, Emmerich asked him whether he knew anything about the missing prisoner girl; Severine. Nefarion quickly responded, explaining he had seen her in Matheus' company last, but did not know if she was still with him. As Nefarion left the chamber, he saw Parvane leaning on the wall casually, scraping a long fingernail along the jagged curved short-sword in his other hand. The fetchling smiled wryly at him, before entering the Arch Lictor's quarters shortly afterwards. Nefarion continued about his business, hoping that calm ignorance would be enough to keep his crimes undiscovered. Hel had used the opportunity of free time to look around the Bastion's library, performing some research on undead, magical, and shadow creatures, in an attempt to uncover more information about the pale and horrifying creature that had taken her to that room in the Spearhead Tavern. She spent a great deal of time going through the dusty old books but yielded very little on the creature in question (She did however see a picture in the book of shadow creatures that vaguely resembled it, but there was no useful information about it). Cynthia attempted to leave the Bastion, but an intimidating guard prevented her. Seltyiel made use of the Bastion's mage quarter, purchasing a scroll and an amulet. He later went to the blacksmiths' to sell the Ornate Longsword he had acquired from the Von Heltzer Field-Commander; Hoyt, Blacksmith Dayne bought it off him for a thousand gold, and seemed pretty happy about the exchange. Nefarion also visited the Blacksmiths' to inquire about an upgrade to his Armour; (specifically Mithral plating.), Dayne agreed to do it, but said that it would take him at least a full day to complete it. Nefarion agreed, and Dayne loaned him a set of basic Hell-Knight Armiger Half-Plate to tide him by in the meantime. When the party eventually regrouped at the courtyard, Emmerich was inspecting the regiment of Hell-Knights and Signifers that had been mustered. (only 10 men!) He appoints Nefarion as the Regiment's Commander, and instructs him to strike High-Haven immediately. Cynthia , Hel, and Seltyiel go with them, and they all mount ethereal steeds, and spill out of the Bastion in a chaotic formation.
A few hours before this, Ysera arrives back at High-Haven and is authorized entrance by Vissaeus; Captain of the Townsguard. She asks him for information on the Scholar; Tobias Glyph, (who she learned had lived in this very city.) and Vissaeus seems surprised, he goes on to say that Glyph locked himself away in his tower about six months ago, he stressed that Glyph was most insane, and that Ysera would not yield any valuable information from him. Undeterred, Ysera wanted to see Glyph, and when Vissaeus would not take her to his tower, she unbuttoned her blouse seductively to coerce him. (Which worked.) He escorts her to Glyph's Tower...a remarkable structure...tall, and veering and twisting in awkward directions. Ysera imagined that structurally the tower was not secure and that it seemed to defy gravity, yet still...the tower stood. The large...and rather strange looking door wouldn't open and no sound resonated when she tugged on the doorbell, (even though clearly she could see it was not broken.) When she called out Glyph's name, requesting an audience, the door 'spoke' back to her in the Elven tongue.
"Only the Eye can see what lies within."
It didn't take Ysera long to figure it out, and she drew the 'heptagon' with the central eye onto the palms of her hands, and placed them on the door handle. She succeeded and the door opened. Strangely, the inner hall was quiet, and the scholar was nowhere in sight. The place is ram-shackled...books, furniture, and other miscellanea have been thrown onto the floor, and some things have been stacked in strange columns, seemingly defying gravity. Ysera takes some time to study some of the old books in this room, to see if she can find out more information, or spot some sort of code, to her misfortune however, the contents of the books hold nothing for her. Instead, she scans through pages of random ramblings and scribbles...nonsensical gibberish. Regardless, she decides to continue reading...into the night if she has to.
Also in High Haven (at the Spearhead Tavern), Ramos and his cohort; Wolfgang, set about initiating the lost and disillusioned Mack into their Order. Mack reluctantly proceeds, and Wolfgang hands him a ceremonial mace (with the end stylized like a clenched gauntlet-ed fist) before reciting the words of Initiation.
"We are the emancipated few...Brothers and Sisters of the Sanctum...Defenders of the Truth and the Realm without Kings and Queens. Go now, brother. Prove thyself to our patron; Libertorius."
The three of them leave the room, to pay the guard captain (Vissaeus) a visit. Mack senses that he may be using the mace sooner than he thought, and seems quietly distressed and uncertain about the mission that lies ahead. What has he gotten himself into? The three of them question the Half-Orc bartender for the whereabouts of Vissaeus, and the bartender points them in the direction of his house. They wait until sunset, and approach the modest house of the guard captain, before they knock on the door, Ramos alters his appearance to resemble a human (namely an existing human; Qith, the purveyor of Eel-based ephemera). A young, pretty half-elf woman answers the door (Vissaeus' wife; Ophelia) and reluctantly she lets them in, and then Ramos overpowers her, binding her hands and placing a gag around her mouth. He instructs Mack to shut the door, and Wolfgang to search upstairs for other members of Vissaeus' family. He returns a moment later with a small boy on his shoulder, (Vissaeus' son presumably.) With the household secure, they set up a trap for Vissaeus when he returns, extinguishing the lights and holding blades against his wife and son. He returns from work shortly afterwards, and quickly realizes something's wrong. As he steps into his house, he notices a trembling Mack in the corner of his eye, and narrowly avoids a mace to the head. The lights go on, and Vissaeus freezes in position, he sees Ramos holding his wife by the jaw...a dagger pressed against her neck. On the other side of the room he sees Wolfgang with his Bastard Sword's tip against his son's shoulder. Both of their helpless and mumbled cries can be heard. Vissaeus begs for them to let his family go, but Ramos wants answers. He accuses Vissaeus of being corrupt, and demands to know the location of his prized Glaive. When Vissaeus insists that he doesn't know where it is, Ramos rips the dagger across Ophelia's throat. (He screams in horror as his wife's blood sprays out onto the floor and onto his face. Ramos yells to Wolfgang, instructing him to kill Vissaeus, but Wolfgang misinterprets this, instead killing Vissaeus' son, forcing the length of the bastard sword's blade into the boy's chest through the neck. Vissaeus looks on in horror and anguish, and is finally put to an end by Mack, who embeds the mace into the back of the guard captain's skull. It stays lodged as his body slumps into the ever-expanding pool of his wife's blood.
"It's very difficult to leave this Bastion...the walls you see are so very tall and the gates are seldom opened without good cause. So I wonder...just how did that little human girl escape?...I suppose she just wriggled out of those chains and sprouted some wings and vanished into thin air...no, but that's just preposterous. I think I have a far more...believable idea of what happened, I think the Arch Lictor would love to hear. Don't you think so?"
Nefarion ignores the allegations, and continues into the Hall of Blades, closing the door behind him. At the end of the long, grand chamber, sits Emmerich; the Arch Lictor himself. He sits alone, slumped amongst paperwork and other tedious duties that require his attention. Nefarion seems nervous. Does the Arch Lictor know what he did? He let's Emmerich speak for a while, but there is no mention of missing prisoners. Nefarion reports his discoveries during his time in High Haven, he tells Emmerich that the traitor; Lord Emmon, is dead, and that the other escaped prisoner; Matheus the monk, had settled in the city. He also went on to mention the 'Cult' that had contacted him during his stay at the Spearhead Tavern, and about the Tournament in Val Nemor.The Arch Lictor was impressed with Nefarion's work, and revealed the next mission that he had lined up for Nefarion. It involved travelling deep into Val Nemor (the realm of House Villeroy; who were powerful enemies of the crown, whose leader was the Queen's very uncle; Lord-Meister Hermann.) The Arch Lictor had arranged for a Fetchling Corsair sea-faring vessel to take them to Val Nemor. It was scheduled to collect them from a private dock in two days time. In the meantime, the City of High Haven was ripe for the taking, so The Arch Lictor sent word to muster a regiment of Hell-Knights and Signifers to take the City. The meeting was swiftly concluded, but before Nefarion could leave, Emmerich asked him whether he knew anything about the missing prisoner girl; Severine. Nefarion quickly responded, explaining he had seen her in Matheus' company last, but did not know if she was still with him. As Nefarion left the chamber, he saw Parvane leaning on the wall casually, scraping a long fingernail along the jagged curved short-sword in his other hand. The fetchling smiled wryly at him, before entering the Arch Lictor's quarters shortly afterwards. Nefarion continued about his business, hoping that calm ignorance would be enough to keep his crimes undiscovered. Hel had used the opportunity of free time to look around the Bastion's library, performing some research on undead, magical, and shadow creatures, in an attempt to uncover more information about the pale and horrifying creature that had taken her to that room in the Spearhead Tavern. She spent a great deal of time going through the dusty old books but yielded very little on the creature in question (She did however see a picture in the book of shadow creatures that vaguely resembled it, but there was no useful information about it). Cynthia attempted to leave the Bastion, but an intimidating guard prevented her. Seltyiel made use of the Bastion's mage quarter, purchasing a scroll and an amulet. He later went to the blacksmiths' to sell the Ornate Longsword he had acquired from the Von Heltzer Field-Commander; Hoyt, Blacksmith Dayne bought it off him for a thousand gold, and seemed pretty happy about the exchange. Nefarion also visited the Blacksmiths' to inquire about an upgrade to his Armour; (specifically Mithral plating.), Dayne agreed to do it, but said that it would take him at least a full day to complete it. Nefarion agreed, and Dayne loaned him a set of basic Hell-Knight Armiger Half-Plate to tide him by in the meantime. When the party eventually regrouped at the courtyard, Emmerich was inspecting the regiment of Hell-Knights and Signifers that had been mustered. (only 10 men!) He appoints Nefarion as the Regiment's Commander, and instructs him to strike High-Haven immediately. Cynthia , Hel, and Seltyiel go with them, and they all mount ethereal steeds, and spill out of the Bastion in a chaotic formation.
A few hours before this, Ysera arrives back at High-Haven and is authorized entrance by Vissaeus; Captain of the Townsguard. She asks him for information on the Scholar; Tobias Glyph, (who she learned had lived in this very city.) and Vissaeus seems surprised, he goes on to say that Glyph locked himself away in his tower about six months ago, he stressed that Glyph was most insane, and that Ysera would not yield any valuable information from him. Undeterred, Ysera wanted to see Glyph, and when Vissaeus would not take her to his tower, she unbuttoned her blouse seductively to coerce him. (Which worked.) He escorts her to Glyph's Tower...a remarkable structure...tall, and veering and twisting in awkward directions. Ysera imagined that structurally the tower was not secure and that it seemed to defy gravity, yet still...the tower stood. The large...and rather strange looking door wouldn't open and no sound resonated when she tugged on the doorbell, (even though clearly she could see it was not broken.) When she called out Glyph's name, requesting an audience, the door 'spoke' back to her in the Elven tongue.
"Only the Eye can see what lies within."
It didn't take Ysera long to figure it out, and she drew the 'heptagon' with the central eye onto the palms of her hands, and placed them on the door handle. She succeeded and the door opened. Strangely, the inner hall was quiet, and the scholar was nowhere in sight. The place is ram-shackled...books, furniture, and other miscellanea have been thrown onto the floor, and some things have been stacked in strange columns, seemingly defying gravity. Ysera takes some time to study some of the old books in this room, to see if she can find out more information, or spot some sort of code, to her misfortune however, the contents of the books hold nothing for her. Instead, she scans through pages of random ramblings and scribbles...nonsensical gibberish. Regardless, she decides to continue reading...into the night if she has to.
Also in High Haven (at the Spearhead Tavern), Ramos and his cohort; Wolfgang, set about initiating the lost and disillusioned Mack into their Order. Mack reluctantly proceeds, and Wolfgang hands him a ceremonial mace (with the end stylized like a clenched gauntlet-ed fist) before reciting the words of Initiation.
"We are the emancipated few...Brothers and Sisters of the Sanctum...Defenders of the Truth and the Realm without Kings and Queens. Go now, brother. Prove thyself to our patron; Libertorius."
The three of them leave the room, to pay the guard captain (Vissaeus) a visit. Mack senses that he may be using the mace sooner than he thought, and seems quietly distressed and uncertain about the mission that lies ahead. What has he gotten himself into? The three of them question the Half-Orc bartender for the whereabouts of Vissaeus, and the bartender points them in the direction of his house. They wait until sunset, and approach the modest house of the guard captain, before they knock on the door, Ramos alters his appearance to resemble a human (namely an existing human; Qith, the purveyor of Eel-based ephemera). A young, pretty half-elf woman answers the door (Vissaeus' wife; Ophelia) and reluctantly she lets them in, and then Ramos overpowers her, binding her hands and placing a gag around her mouth. He instructs Mack to shut the door, and Wolfgang to search upstairs for other members of Vissaeus' family. He returns a moment later with a small boy on his shoulder, (Vissaeus' son presumably.) With the household secure, they set up a trap for Vissaeus when he returns, extinguishing the lights and holding blades against his wife and son. He returns from work shortly afterwards, and quickly realizes something's wrong. As he steps into his house, he notices a trembling Mack in the corner of his eye, and narrowly avoids a mace to the head. The lights go on, and Vissaeus freezes in position, he sees Ramos holding his wife by the jaw...a dagger pressed against her neck. On the other side of the room he sees Wolfgang with his Bastard Sword's tip against his son's shoulder. Both of their helpless and mumbled cries can be heard. Vissaeus begs for them to let his family go, but Ramos wants answers. He accuses Vissaeus of being corrupt, and demands to know the location of his prized Glaive. When Vissaeus insists that he doesn't know where it is, Ramos rips the dagger across Ophelia's throat. (He screams in horror as his wife's blood sprays out onto the floor and onto his face. Ramos yells to Wolfgang, instructing him to kill Vissaeus, but Wolfgang misinterprets this, instead killing Vissaeus' son, forcing the length of the bastard sword's blade into the boy's chest through the neck. Vissaeus looks on in horror and anguish, and is finally put to an end by Mack, who embeds the mace into the back of the guard captain's skull. It stays lodged as his body slumps into the ever-expanding pool of his wife's blood.
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Active Quests Log
Current Active Quests: 5
1. ) PARTY QUEST (MAIN): 'Snake in the Shadows'
RECEIVED BY: Queen Karyn Arcadeus
RECEIVED WHERE: Rhuen (Palace of Embers)
OBJECTIVE: Infiltrate Val Nemor, Locate and Assassinate the Queen's Uncle; Lord-Meister Hermann of the Renegade House Villeroy.
REWARD: 5,000 exp each. 5,000 GP each.
TIPS: Val Nemor is swarming with enemy soldiers and Automatons. You will have to consider more subtle means of infiltration.
2.) YSERA QUEST: 'One Book Short of a Library'
RECEIVED BY: "Ancient Symbols: A Compendium" by Tobias Glyph, Scholar of High-Haven
RECEIVED WHERE: Bastion Zenith (Library)
OBJECTIVE: Towards the end of the book of symbols, you discovered the same symbol seen on the neck of the assassin. At this stage in the book, it seems that the author has become quite obsessive and incoherant in his words and his writing quality has greatly deteriorated to the point of hastily etched scribblings. He talks about the 'Heptagon' when referring to the symbol, and insists that the central eye is 'always watching', 'looking for something'.
1.) Not a lot is known of the author; Tobias Glyph, only that he was infamously soft in the head, and lived as a Scholar in the City of High-Haven
3.) SIJ/NEFARION QUEST: 'Blood Rituals'
RECEIVED BY: The Faceless Deity
RECEIVED WHERE: Bastion Zenith (The Black Chapel)
OBJECTIVE: Wait 2 Days for something to happen....In the Spearhead Tavern in High-Haven, Nefarion gets visited by three sinister cloaked individuals, despite his initial worry, it seems that they only want to talk to him. The ringleader goes on to talk about her 'Dark Master', she divulges that he seeks great power, and is eager to meet with Nefarion and his companions, as they have 'piqued his interests'. She says that if Nefarion meets this Dark Master, and decides to offer his faith and service, he will be rewarded with great riches...more gold than he could ever spend, and great power, the likes of which the world has never seen. The Master has a sanctuary in Val Nemor, deep within Villeroy territory, meaning that Nefarion could operate within that region with great ease. He could even get close to the Queen's treachorous uncle; Lord-Meister Villeroy (Refer to Quest: 'Snake in the Shadows'). He could even slit his throat...end the war, once and for all. But only, if he joined this dark and shrouded order. Furthermore, she told Nefarion, that he had already encountered two of her associates; Xenastasia, the Bastion's resident Necromancer and a fellow Hell-Knight. And also, the Assassin that abducted Prince Rhed (and mortally wounded him) was also a former member, and yet neither of the three cloaked figures seemed remotely perturbed by his demise at Nefarion's hand. She concluded the encounter, by saying that if Nefarion was interested in meeting the Master, that all he had to do was enter a Knightly Tournament in Val Nemor, and 'impress him'...supposedly he would be watching. The Tourney starts in a week, so Nefarion has plenty of time to make his decision.
REWARD: ??? (Great Riches and Power)
4.) CYNTHIA QUEST: 'Avenge the Fallen'
RECEIVED BY: Cynthia Back-story
RECEIVED WHERE: Ostenheim
OBJECTIVE: Avenge the deaths of your fellow Vampires by killing the hunters responsible.
REWARD: ???
TIPS: Ostenheim is deep within Val Nemor. The region is swarming with Villeroy soldiers and Automatons. You will have to consider more subtle means of infiltration.
5.) RAMOS QUEST: 'Claw of the Griffin'
RECEIVED BY: Ramos Back-story
RECEIVED WHERE: Ascentium; the Mountain Fort
OBJECTIVE: Infiltrate the ranks of The Von Heltzer Vanguard, and Dispatch the Paladin Lieutenant; Heidi of Helm Valdur. Work in conjunction with Wolfgang to disable both Royalist and Renegade forces in the Nibellion/Meridiangard Border. Return to Ascentium on completion of the objectives.
REWARD: ???
1. ) PARTY QUEST (MAIN): 'Snake in the Shadows'
RECEIVED BY: Queen Karyn Arcadeus
RECEIVED WHERE: Rhuen (Palace of Embers)
OBJECTIVE: Infiltrate Val Nemor, Locate and Assassinate the Queen's Uncle; Lord-Meister Hermann of the Renegade House Villeroy.
REWARD: 5,000 exp each. 5,000 GP each.
TIPS: Val Nemor is swarming with enemy soldiers and Automatons. You will have to consider more subtle means of infiltration.
2.) YSERA QUEST: 'One Book Short of a Library'
RECEIVED BY: "Ancient Symbols: A Compendium" by Tobias Glyph, Scholar of High-Haven
RECEIVED WHERE: Bastion Zenith (Library)
OBJECTIVE: Towards the end of the book of symbols, you discovered the same symbol seen on the neck of the assassin. At this stage in the book, it seems that the author has become quite obsessive and incoherant in his words and his writing quality has greatly deteriorated to the point of hastily etched scribblings. He talks about the 'Heptagon' when referring to the symbol, and insists that the central eye is 'always watching', 'looking for something'.
1.) Not a lot is known of the author; Tobias Glyph, only that he was infamously soft in the head, and lived as a Scholar in the City of High-Haven
3.) SIJ/NEFARION QUEST: 'Blood Rituals'
RECEIVED BY: The Faceless Deity
RECEIVED WHERE: Bastion Zenith (The Black Chapel)
OBJECTIVE: Wait 2 Days for something to happen....In the Spearhead Tavern in High-Haven, Nefarion gets visited by three sinister cloaked individuals, despite his initial worry, it seems that they only want to talk to him. The ringleader goes on to talk about her 'Dark Master', she divulges that he seeks great power, and is eager to meet with Nefarion and his companions, as they have 'piqued his interests'. She says that if Nefarion meets this Dark Master, and decides to offer his faith and service, he will be rewarded with great riches...more gold than he could ever spend, and great power, the likes of which the world has never seen. The Master has a sanctuary in Val Nemor, deep within Villeroy territory, meaning that Nefarion could operate within that region with great ease. He could even get close to the Queen's treachorous uncle; Lord-Meister Villeroy (Refer to Quest: 'Snake in the Shadows'). He could even slit his throat...end the war, once and for all. But only, if he joined this dark and shrouded order. Furthermore, she told Nefarion, that he had already encountered two of her associates; Xenastasia, the Bastion's resident Necromancer and a fellow Hell-Knight. And also, the Assassin that abducted Prince Rhed (and mortally wounded him) was also a former member, and yet neither of the three cloaked figures seemed remotely perturbed by his demise at Nefarion's hand. She concluded the encounter, by saying that if Nefarion was interested in meeting the Master, that all he had to do was enter a Knightly Tournament in Val Nemor, and 'impress him'...supposedly he would be watching. The Tourney starts in a week, so Nefarion has plenty of time to make his decision.
REWARD: ??? (Great Riches and Power)
4.) CYNTHIA QUEST: 'Avenge the Fallen'
RECEIVED BY: Cynthia Back-story
RECEIVED WHERE: Ostenheim
OBJECTIVE: Avenge the deaths of your fellow Vampires by killing the hunters responsible.
REWARD: ???
TIPS: Ostenheim is deep within Val Nemor. The region is swarming with Villeroy soldiers and Automatons. You will have to consider more subtle means of infiltration.
5.) RAMOS QUEST: 'Claw of the Griffin'
RECEIVED BY: Ramos Back-story
RECEIVED WHERE: Ascentium; the Mountain Fort
OBJECTIVE: Infiltrate the ranks of The Von Heltzer Vanguard, and Dispatch the Paladin Lieutenant; Heidi of Helm Valdur. Work in conjunction with Wolfgang to disable both Royalist and Renegade forces in the Nibellion/Meridiangard Border. Return to Ascentium on completion of the objectives.
REWARD: ???
Session 13 Overview
With the party more or less reunited, the majority of them decide to rest up at the local inn; The Spearhead Tavern, as they are all exhausted from the long night. The White Necromancer; Hel is yet to return, and her share of the reward gold goes to Nefarion; her Hell-Knight Master. He vows to keep a large portion of it for himself. Unbeknownst to the other PCs, Hel is still incapacitated on the beach, she awakes briefly as she is moved, and picked up by someone or something. But she then falls back asleep. Ramos, along with Mack and Seltyiel are the first to reach the Spearhead Tavern, and acquire rooms for the night. Secretly, Ramos is here to meet one of his associates, a fellow brother of the Order of Libertorius (sworn enemies of the crown, radicals, freethinkers, and believers of true democracy). He speaks the secret pass-phrase and gains entrance to the room:
Q: "The eagle flies in search of prey..."
A: "North. North is the way". (Whichever direction the Royal Capital is from current location)
The man is none other than the assassin; Wolfgang (Lord Emmon/Sij's murderer, who had worked undercover within House Von Heltzer.) Wolfgang seems to be quite distrusting and paranoid towards Ramos, and is eager to leave the city as soon as possible. He is dismayed further when Ramos informs him of the forlorn Mack, and his intention to initiate him into the Order. Ramos also expresses interest to stay in High-Haven until he retrieves his stolen gold. Wolfgang reluctantly agrees to wait, but vows to stay in the room until it is safe enough to leave. Cynthia, followed closely by the Hell-Knights; Nefarion and Ysera are next to arrive at the Spearhead. They have a sombre drink of red wine as Seltyiel weeps hysterically in the background. But the mood is swiftly interrupted following a violent and messy vomiting episode for Seltyiel, who had drank a dodgy cocktail.
Hel awakens, and she finds herself lying down on a comfortable bed in a minimalist room with wooden walls, and nothing but a faint flickering candle to light it. Perplexed, she gets out of bed, and attempts to exit the room through the door, but she finds it locked, and the one window is well reinforced with wooden planks. She bangs on the door, screaming hysterically but no-one hears her cries for help. She attempts to destroy the door using her magic and abilities but a wall of energy blocks her. As she scans the room for magic, alarmingly...evil energy surrounds her, trapping her within this room. She uses Spectral Hand to allow her to pass her hand through the wall, where she conveys a message of help to anyone on the other side. It's not long before a young woman tries to free her, but she has no luck with the door either. The commotion is heard by Ramos and Wolfgang, as astoundingly, it seems to be happening in the same tavern that they are in. Ramos goes out to investigate, seeing the young woman attempting to open the door. He offers his help, and heads downstairs to acquire a key. The Half-Orc bartender (begrudgingly wiping up vomit at this point) refuses to lend the key to Ramos, insisting that the occupier of the room didn't want to be disturbed. When Ramos questioned him further, the bartender revealed that the occupant was a tall and skinny man, although he never saw his face. The gold he was being paid was too good so he didn't question it further. The man had reportedly rented that room for the last six months, and hadn't stirred since. Ramos threatened to harm the bartender if he did not procure a key, and the bartender drew a dagger, and threatened to call the guards, but alas Ramos saw through the Half-Orc's bluff, and managed to win him over. The bartender went to look for the key (or even a spare), but none were to be found. The Hell-Knights had overheard this conversation and decided to help Ramos investigate this problem. They returned upstairs to the locked room, and Nefarion shattered it with his Great Axe. Ysera dispelled the magical barrier. When they entered the room, to their surprise, they saw Hel lying on the bed, whimpering claiming that there was a monster under her bed. Nefarion attempted to move Hel, but he could not, and on further magical scanning, sensed that she was positively tainted. Undeterred, Ramos crouched down, and lifted up the bedskirt, and under the bed was Hel, her eyes full of terror, she whimpered to him, "there's someone on my bed". When the looked back onto the bed, the 'Other Hel' was nowhere to be seen. Shortly afterwards the candle extinguished itself and the room fell into complete darkness. They used a Light Spell to illuminate the room, and heard a strange twitching noise coming from above. When they looked up, they saw a gangly, withered humanoid clinging to the ceiling. It looked down on them with it's wide black eyes and shrieked horrifyingly, sending them all flying across the room, it then materialized into black mist and burst out of the barricaded window and into the night. Hel seems unharmed (physically anyway) and they all decide to try and sleep through the rest of the night. In the night, Seltyiel becomes bored, and decides to wander around the High-Haven castle, he manages to sneak inside successfully but is shortly discovered by a guard. Seltyiel flies up to the ceiling, jingling chains, and pretends to be a ghost. The gullible guard is convinced and cowers. It's not long before another (more sensible) guard approaches, he sees through the obvious hoax and asks Seltyiel politely to leave, and he does so with childish discontent.
As they sleep deep into the night, Nefarion suddenly awakes, after he thought he heard a voice mumbling from outside of his room. He attempts to wake his 'sister', but has no luck. He decides to exit the room, in order to trace this source of noise. The corridor is pitch black and from it's end he can hear the playful giggle of a young woman echoing towards him. Cautiously, he walks down the corridor towards the source of this strange and harrowing laughter before he hears the voice again, this time, she speaks into his ear. "The smell of death is on you, Murderer.".
Nefarion turns to look and he see a woman, shrouded with a green cloak. As she walks into the moonlight, he can partially see her face. A young, confident face, with two small horns on her forehead. Her amber and scarlet alien eyes meet his (their intention shrouded) and her red lips smile at him indulgently. Following this, two more cloaked figures come into view, and Nefarion seems surrounded. Both of these figures are male, the taller and muscular one seems to be human, and the other speaks in a strange, serpentine dialect of common. And so it would seem that Nefarion's forewarned "Two Days" had finally run out. Whoever he had contacted during that blood ritual at the Bastion's Black Chapel, had answered him. The horned female continues to speak to Nefarion, and goes on to talk about her 'Dark Master', she divulges that he seeks great power, and is eager to meet with Nefarion and his companions, as they have 'piqued his interests'. Nefarion feels as if he has little choice in the matter, but decides to listen regardless. She says that if Nefarion meets this Dark Master, and decides to offer his faith and service, he will be rewarded with great riches...more gold than he could ever spend, and great power, the likes of which the world has never seen. The Master has a sanctuary in Val Nemor, deep within Villeroy territory, meaning that Nefarion could operate within that region with great ease. He could even get close to the Queen's treachorous uncle; Lord-Meister Villeroy (who with his Automatons, had been responsible for Nefarion and the Royalists' defeat at the Battle of the West-Harbour). He could even slit his throat...end the war, once and for all. But only, if he joined this dark and shrouded order. Furthermore, she told Nefarion, that he had already encountered two of her associates; Xenastasia, the Bastion's resident Necromancer and a fellow Hell-Knight. And also, the Assassin that abducted Prince Rhed (and mortally wounded him) was also a former member, and yet neither of the three cloaked figures seemed remotely perturbed by his demise at Nefarion's hand. She concluded the encounter, by saying that if Nefarion was interested in meeting the Master, that all he had to do was enter a Knightly Tournament in Val Nemor, and 'impress him'...supposedly he would be watching. The Tourney starts in a week, so Nefarion has plenty of time to make his decision. Nefarion returns to his room and falls back asleep, when he awakes the next morning, he's not sure if it had even happened. Could it have been a dream?
They all rise early, promptly leaving the Spearhead Tavern. Nefarion, Ysera, and Hel agree to head out of the city towards the Bastion to report their accomplishments and findings to the Arch Lictor. Seltyiel (who is need of the Bastion's magical and alchemical amenities) decides to go with them, and Cynthia reluctantly follows them, as she is still technically a prisoner of the Hell-Knight Order. They arrive at the City Gates, but are disallowed exit by the guards, who have tightened up security following the murder of their Lord. After some tense discussion, the Townsguard Captain; Vissaeus appears, and he grants them access out of the city (because he knew them to be the ones responsible for saving the City, and repelling the Von Heltzer siege army.)
Ramos stays in town with no intention to follow the other PCs. He searches around town for clues about his missing money, and encounters a tradesman; Qith (a self-proclaimed 'Purveyor of Eel-based Ephemera'), who directs him to a man who is new to town, and who has recently acquired a great deal of wealth; a man known as Matheus. Ramos takes this information to the Captain of the High-Haven Townsguard; Vissaeus (who he discovered had helped elevate Matheus to his current state of influence and wealth). But after Vissaeus finds out that Ramos is an outsider to High-Haven, he becomes very suspicious and intimidating towards him. He even questions him regarding his motives and business within High-Haven, but Ramos manages to deceive the captain, and find out some information of his own. The Captain tells him that Matheus has an office in the City Castle, where he conducts his affairs in the reformation of High-Haven and assassination aftermath. He keeps Ramos' prized Glaive as 'insurance' until he returns. It doesn't take long for Ramos to locate Matheus in the Castle, and he is granted a private meeting in his office. After a heated discussion, it becomes clear that Matheus' is not playing Ramos' game, and is not admitting to any of Ramos' strong accusations. Ramos finally threatens Matheus by kicking the door shut, and Matheus calls the guards to take Ramos out of the premises.
Current Party Formation
(Group 1)
Location: En-Route to Bastion Zenith
Active Quests: 'Snake in the Shadows', 'Blood Rituals', 'One Book Short of a Library', 'Avenge the Fallen'
Members:
Cmdr. Nefarion Furyborn
Sgnf. Ysera Furyborn
Q: "The eagle flies in search of prey..."
A: "North. North is the way". (Whichever direction the Royal Capital is from current location)
The man is none other than the assassin; Wolfgang (Lord Emmon/Sij's murderer, who had worked undercover within House Von Heltzer.) Wolfgang seems to be quite distrusting and paranoid towards Ramos, and is eager to leave the city as soon as possible. He is dismayed further when Ramos informs him of the forlorn Mack, and his intention to initiate him into the Order. Ramos also expresses interest to stay in High-Haven until he retrieves his stolen gold. Wolfgang reluctantly agrees to wait, but vows to stay in the room until it is safe enough to leave. Cynthia, followed closely by the Hell-Knights; Nefarion and Ysera are next to arrive at the Spearhead. They have a sombre drink of red wine as Seltyiel weeps hysterically in the background. But the mood is swiftly interrupted following a violent and messy vomiting episode for Seltyiel, who had drank a dodgy cocktail.
Hel awakens, and she finds herself lying down on a comfortable bed in a minimalist room with wooden walls, and nothing but a faint flickering candle to light it. Perplexed, she gets out of bed, and attempts to exit the room through the door, but she finds it locked, and the one window is well reinforced with wooden planks. She bangs on the door, screaming hysterically but no-one hears her cries for help. She attempts to destroy the door using her magic and abilities but a wall of energy blocks her. As she scans the room for magic, alarmingly...evil energy surrounds her, trapping her within this room. She uses Spectral Hand to allow her to pass her hand through the wall, where she conveys a message of help to anyone on the other side. It's not long before a young woman tries to free her, but she has no luck with the door either. The commotion is heard by Ramos and Wolfgang, as astoundingly, it seems to be happening in the same tavern that they are in. Ramos goes out to investigate, seeing the young woman attempting to open the door. He offers his help, and heads downstairs to acquire a key. The Half-Orc bartender (begrudgingly wiping up vomit at this point) refuses to lend the key to Ramos, insisting that the occupier of the room didn't want to be disturbed. When Ramos questioned him further, the bartender revealed that the occupant was a tall and skinny man, although he never saw his face. The gold he was being paid was too good so he didn't question it further. The man had reportedly rented that room for the last six months, and hadn't stirred since. Ramos threatened to harm the bartender if he did not procure a key, and the bartender drew a dagger, and threatened to call the guards, but alas Ramos saw through the Half-Orc's bluff, and managed to win him over. The bartender went to look for the key (or even a spare), but none were to be found. The Hell-Knights had overheard this conversation and decided to help Ramos investigate this problem. They returned upstairs to the locked room, and Nefarion shattered it with his Great Axe. Ysera dispelled the magical barrier. When they entered the room, to their surprise, they saw Hel lying on the bed, whimpering claiming that there was a monster under her bed. Nefarion attempted to move Hel, but he could not, and on further magical scanning, sensed that she was positively tainted. Undeterred, Ramos crouched down, and lifted up the bedskirt, and under the bed was Hel, her eyes full of terror, she whimpered to him, "there's someone on my bed". When the looked back onto the bed, the 'Other Hel' was nowhere to be seen. Shortly afterwards the candle extinguished itself and the room fell into complete darkness. They used a Light Spell to illuminate the room, and heard a strange twitching noise coming from above. When they looked up, they saw a gangly, withered humanoid clinging to the ceiling. It looked down on them with it's wide black eyes and shrieked horrifyingly, sending them all flying across the room, it then materialized into black mist and burst out of the barricaded window and into the night. Hel seems unharmed (physically anyway) and they all decide to try and sleep through the rest of the night. In the night, Seltyiel becomes bored, and decides to wander around the High-Haven castle, he manages to sneak inside successfully but is shortly discovered by a guard. Seltyiel flies up to the ceiling, jingling chains, and pretends to be a ghost. The gullible guard is convinced and cowers. It's not long before another (more sensible) guard approaches, he sees through the obvious hoax and asks Seltyiel politely to leave, and he does so with childish discontent.
 |
| The 'Creature' in Hel's Room. |
As they sleep deep into the night, Nefarion suddenly awakes, after he thought he heard a voice mumbling from outside of his room. He attempts to wake his 'sister', but has no luck. He decides to exit the room, in order to trace this source of noise. The corridor is pitch black and from it's end he can hear the playful giggle of a young woman echoing towards him. Cautiously, he walks down the corridor towards the source of this strange and harrowing laughter before he hears the voice again, this time, she speaks into his ear. "The smell of death is on you, Murderer.".
Nefarion turns to look and he see a woman, shrouded with a green cloak. As she walks into the moonlight, he can partially see her face. A young, confident face, with two small horns on her forehead. Her amber and scarlet alien eyes meet his (their intention shrouded) and her red lips smile at him indulgently. Following this, two more cloaked figures come into view, and Nefarion seems surrounded. Both of these figures are male, the taller and muscular one seems to be human, and the other speaks in a strange, serpentine dialect of common. And so it would seem that Nefarion's forewarned "Two Days" had finally run out. Whoever he had contacted during that blood ritual at the Bastion's Black Chapel, had answered him. The horned female continues to speak to Nefarion, and goes on to talk about her 'Dark Master', she divulges that he seeks great power, and is eager to meet with Nefarion and his companions, as they have 'piqued his interests'. Nefarion feels as if he has little choice in the matter, but decides to listen regardless. She says that if Nefarion meets this Dark Master, and decides to offer his faith and service, he will be rewarded with great riches...more gold than he could ever spend, and great power, the likes of which the world has never seen. The Master has a sanctuary in Val Nemor, deep within Villeroy territory, meaning that Nefarion could operate within that region with great ease. He could even get close to the Queen's treachorous uncle; Lord-Meister Villeroy (who with his Automatons, had been responsible for Nefarion and the Royalists' defeat at the Battle of the West-Harbour). He could even slit his throat...end the war, once and for all. But only, if he joined this dark and shrouded order. Furthermore, she told Nefarion, that he had already encountered two of her associates; Xenastasia, the Bastion's resident Necromancer and a fellow Hell-Knight. And also, the Assassin that abducted Prince Rhed (and mortally wounded him) was also a former member, and yet neither of the three cloaked figures seemed remotely perturbed by his demise at Nefarion's hand. She concluded the encounter, by saying that if Nefarion was interested in meeting the Master, that all he had to do was enter a Knightly Tournament in Val Nemor, and 'impress him'...supposedly he would be watching. The Tourney starts in a week, so Nefarion has plenty of time to make his decision. Nefarion returns to his room and falls back asleep, when he awakes the next morning, he's not sure if it had even happened. Could it have been a dream?
 |
| The 'mark'... |
They all rise early, promptly leaving the Spearhead Tavern. Nefarion, Ysera, and Hel agree to head out of the city towards the Bastion to report their accomplishments and findings to the Arch Lictor. Seltyiel (who is need of the Bastion's magical and alchemical amenities) decides to go with them, and Cynthia reluctantly follows them, as she is still technically a prisoner of the Hell-Knight Order. They arrive at the City Gates, but are disallowed exit by the guards, who have tightened up security following the murder of their Lord. After some tense discussion, the Townsguard Captain; Vissaeus appears, and he grants them access out of the city (because he knew them to be the ones responsible for saving the City, and repelling the Von Heltzer siege army.)
Ramos stays in town with no intention to follow the other PCs. He searches around town for clues about his missing money, and encounters a tradesman; Qith (a self-proclaimed 'Purveyor of Eel-based Ephemera'), who directs him to a man who is new to town, and who has recently acquired a great deal of wealth; a man known as Matheus. Ramos takes this information to the Captain of the High-Haven Townsguard; Vissaeus (who he discovered had helped elevate Matheus to his current state of influence and wealth). But after Vissaeus finds out that Ramos is an outsider to High-Haven, he becomes very suspicious and intimidating towards him. He even questions him regarding his motives and business within High-Haven, but Ramos manages to deceive the captain, and find out some information of his own. The Captain tells him that Matheus has an office in the City Castle, where he conducts his affairs in the reformation of High-Haven and assassination aftermath. He keeps Ramos' prized Glaive as 'insurance' until he returns. It doesn't take long for Ramos to locate Matheus in the Castle, and he is granted a private meeting in his office. After a heated discussion, it becomes clear that Matheus' is not playing Ramos' game, and is not admitting to any of Ramos' strong accusations. Ramos finally threatens Matheus by kicking the door shut, and Matheus calls the guards to take Ramos out of the premises.
Current Party Formation
(Group 1)
Location: En-Route to Bastion Zenith
Active Quests: 'Snake in the Shadows', 'Blood Rituals', 'One Book Short of a Library', 'Avenge the Fallen'
Members:
Cmdr. Nefarion Furyborn
Sgnf. Ysera Furyborn
Seltyiel Garrott
Hel the Necromancer (Mel; Ghost Sister)
Cynthia the Malefactor
(Group 2)
Location: City of High-Haven
Active Quests: 'Claw of the Griffin'
Members:
Ramos of the Order
Wolfgang of the Order (NPC)
Lt. Mack (NPC)
Lt. Mack (NPC)
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
Session 12 Overview
The party is divided, scattered in all directions away from the village. After a couple hours of running, they learn that the Von Heltzer invasion force is withdrawing from the region, back to their lands (following the deaths of their commanders). Unfortunately for the party members, the Von Heltzer force is heading straight through the village, between them and the safety of High-Haven. Nefarion and Ysera flee south into a forest, and decide to rest until the army has passed. Seltyiel and Cynthia flee east into Von Heltzer controlled territories, and eventually double-back west along a mountain path. Hiding in the mountains as the invasion force passes by. They get a close call after a Von Heltzer scout passes by them and a further one mounted on a Griffin swoops over them. But after a few hours of hiding, they remain undetected, and pass the army successfully. Hel (without the company of her ghost; Mel) wanders south to the coastline, she manages to patch up some of her wounds, and in the distance she can see the two distinct spires of High-Haven. She walks along the beach towards the Port City but falls into a deep sleep not long into her journey. Mel (who had been back at the Windmill) searches desperately for her living sister, and manages to detect her, she flies south over the passing Von Heltzer army towards her sister. Ramos heads west back to the Windmill, to locate his hidden stash of items, to his horror, almost 3,000 of his gold is missing, the trail of coins lead towards High-Haven. He suits up, and decides to follow the trail, and along the way he sees a limping Mack in the distance, heading straight for High-Haven. After an awkward meeting (Ramos, having considered taking Mack's life), Ramos decides to help Mack, patching up some of his wounds, and takes him off of the path. The pair of them notice a cloud of dust in the distance, in addition to the sounds of thousands of boots marching on the ground. The Von Heltzer army...it was heading straight for them. Ramos drags Mack as far as he can along a hidden forest route but it seems that the army has caught up with them. Ramos hides Mack in a hollowed out tree stump, and he himself climbs up a tree. The Von Heltzer army passes through the forest, and after twenty minutes or so, the army seems to have gone, when Ramos jumps down from the tree, Mack begins to climb out of the stump. It's at this point a crouching figure sits up from behind the stump Mack had been in. The figure (identified as a Von Heltzer scout) had dropped trow and was currently ejecting his bowls. Ramos went over quietly and attempted to coup-de-grace him, but failed. The scout threw himself to the side, and drew his sword from it's scabbard (with trousers still around his ankles), and the two of them clashed in melee. After a brief fight, the scout made a run for it (having sustained a number of deadly stab wounds from Ramos' glaive). He screamed bloody murder as he ran towards the tail end of the Von Heltzer army, who had left him there. Fortunately for Ramos, the scout tripped over a log as he ran, destroying his knee and pulverizing his lower leg. He lay there screaming, and Ramos stabbed him multiple times until the screams stopped. A Von Heltzer Knight had heard the commotion in the distance and had charged Ramos, but Ramos made a run for it shortly after. The Knight in his heavy Armour and already exhausted state, did not pursue Ramos for long, and allowed them to get away.
It takes them a long time to get back to High-Haven, but astoundingly all of the PCs made it in one piece (With the exception of Hel, who is still passed out asleep on a southern coastal beach.) After they all return, they are met by Captain Visseus of the High-Haven Townsguard. He explains to them that in their absence, Lord Emmon has been murdered along with their companion; Sij, the Samsaran Pacifist Monk. He was dismayed to have to tell the PCs the news, but assured them that their sacrifices had not been in vain. The Von Heltzer army had withdrawn from the region, licking their wounds. They had saved High-Haven were rewarded 2,000 gold each, and 1,000 bonus experience each for their endeavors. Matheus and Severine (the Hell-Knight fugitives that the PCs saved) also greeted the party. Severine smiled warmly at Nefarion and Ysera, and she is still wearing her green dress - albeit a bit muddied since they you saw it. Matheus had his hand placed on Severine's shoulder affectionately. He seemed well washed, and adorned in finer clothing. Weaing a purple velvet doublet and positively jingling with jewellery.
It takes them a long time to get back to High-Haven, but astoundingly all of the PCs made it in one piece (With the exception of Hel, who is still passed out asleep on a southern coastal beach.) After they all return, they are met by Captain Visseus of the High-Haven Townsguard. He explains to them that in their absence, Lord Emmon has been murdered along with their companion; Sij, the Samsaran Pacifist Monk. He was dismayed to have to tell the PCs the news, but assured them that their sacrifices had not been in vain. The Von Heltzer army had withdrawn from the region, licking their wounds. They had saved High-Haven were rewarded 2,000 gold each, and 1,000 bonus experience each for their endeavors. Matheus and Severine (the Hell-Knight fugitives that the PCs saved) also greeted the party. Severine smiled warmly at Nefarion and Ysera, and she is still wearing her green dress - albeit a bit muddied since they you saw it. Matheus had his hand placed on Severine's shoulder affectionately. He seemed well washed, and adorned in finer clothing. Weaing a purple velvet doublet and positively jingling with jewellery.
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