play session 17

7/30/2019 Play Session 17

1/13

Play Day 17 - 26/04/2013In the lands of Taggriell

Date: Oathday 9th Desnus.The party begin this session, in the very early hours, roughly 3am, on Oathday, having justbroken camp in a small dead end chamber in the cold corridors within the Nordein Glacier.

*********After securing their gear, the party once again proceed forward through the icy corridors,with Seng and Krondor leading the way.The corridors are wide and irregularly shaped. Small rocks and stalagmites litter the

ground, slowing the progress of the party, which has to carefully walk through with onlythe light from Arforths' staff showing the way.

A large icy cavern, with two other exits, is reached. It is roughly 100 feet across and isbroken up by several freestanding pillars of glacial ice. The ice walls and pillars here catchthe light from Arforths staff and reflect it around the room, giving it an unreal appearance.Cautiously entering the cavern, it is explored. Isabella searches and examines the ice

pillars, smashing one with her morning star, causing large cracks that race up the pillar."By Torags' beard! Stop that before you bring this roof down upon us!" roars Krondor atIsabella.Trying to decide which way to proceed, Seng speaks up, "My lady, can you detect anymagic that may lead us?"Isabella turns to monk, "I'll give it a try."The cleric bows her head and starts to pray. Opening her eyes she sees a faint glowcoming from the southern passage. Raising one hand she points southwards, "This way. Ican sense a faint aura of magic."The party make their way into the southern passage. Isabella senses a growing feeling ofraw arcane energy until she can see tangible lines of transmutation and conjuration magichanging in the air that gather towards one central spot. A 1 foot wide circular sphere of

darkelfshadow.tumblr.com


2/13

arcane energy hangs in the air, at chest height. No one else can see this unusualphenomena.On the icy stone wall, near the strange magic source, visible to all, is glowing arcane writing.Isabella explains to the party what she can see.Elamros speaks up, "Wasn't the sphere shape in the vernal cup about 1 foot across. Do youthink this could be where the vernal key has to be placed?"

Arforth speaks, "Yes, I believe you are correct Elamros. From what you describe Isabella, Ibelieve that this would be an arcane trigger point. If the correct object, in this case theVernal Key, is placed at this point and correctly aligned then I believe something will betransported either out or in from here."Krondor looks suspiciously at the spot, seeing nothing, "I don't like it. I say we go back andtry the other passage."Isabella strides forth, "Come on Krondor, nothing to be afraid of," she says with a slightsmile.The party follow, including Krondor who replies loudly, "I am NOT afraid of anything!Especially a bloody empty corridor!"

*********Moving along the long corridor the party come across another large icy chamber with twomore exits to choose from, similar to first chamber they came across.Entering and searching the room, Elamros decides to drop one single metal caltrop ontothe ground in the middle of the chamber, to leave a sign of their passing.Taking a smaller north west passage they follow the winding passage for some distanceuntil it opens up into a massive chamber that is easily 400 feet across. The chamber isarrayed with a multitude of white trunks supporting a lattice of leafless limbs. Lookingcloser reveals that these are not trees but ice crystals of monumental proportions. Theceiling of this chamber is about 12 feet in height and a light cold wind blows through thechamber.



3/13

Across the far side of the chamber, in the corner of the room, can be seen flickering light.Elamros drops another caltrop to make their way.Slowly and cautiously the party enter and make their way around the southern perimeterof the massive chamber. As they move, they can see more of the far corner. It appearsthere is an encampment set up there with a dozen tents set up around a large camp fire.Snow has been piled up between some of the ice "trees" to make a wall around the camp.Some movement from the camp catches the parties' eye and the sound of faint voices canbe heard from that way.

As the party are deciding how to approach, they see another light come from a easternpassage and two human figures stepping out into the chamber. At the same time, fourfigures also appear from the camp, headed towards the party.

All of the humans, both male and female, appear ragged and dirty. Their gear and clothing,with what little armour can be seen, looks like a mix match of various different fabrics andpieces. Non of it matching and all of it in a bad state of repair. Seeing the party, they alldraw old looking weapons out and one of them shouts, "Hold! Who are you?"The party draw their weapons out in response. Isabella shouts back, "Why? Who are you?"The six ragged people continue to approach the party and the same person as beforeshouts, "This is OUR camp! Drop your weapons!"Isabella shouts back, "We only want to pass and look for the Red Raven. He has the vernalkey and we need it back."

As Isabella utters the words "vernal key" the approaching group stops and talk quicklyamongst themselves. Eventually one shouts back, "We know nothing of this Red Raven butwe need the Vernal Key too. If you search for it then we need to speak."The one human shouting at the party waves his hand at the approaching group and theystop and put their weapons away.The party put their weapons away too and slowly approach. They are invited into the campand sit around the fire, getting some welcome respite from the cold wind.



4/13

The leader of the camp, by the name of Sarond, explains that over the years each personhere has wandered into this ice prison, whilst exploring or hunting in the area. Once insidethese icy corridors though there appears to be no way out again. Over the years the"accidental prisoners" here, as Sarond refers to themselves, have learned to survive by

killing and eating any wandering animal that also found it self trapped. They also learnt tostay away from the single inhabitant of this place, someone called the Jarl, as whose thatencountered him were never seen again. They have gleamed that something called thevernal key is needed by the Jarl to escape this place but what it is or how to use it theyhave no idea.The party explain their quest and why they are here. The accidental prisoners have notseen any other visitors recently but will keep an eye out now for them. The party receivedirections on how to get to the Jarl's lair but with a warning.Sarond speaks solemnly to the party, "If you intend to go there be very careful. You looklike a capable group but the Jarl is not human, even if he looks like it. He is something more,with great powers. I wish you luck, for you and all our sakes. If you do find the key, then wecan escape from this icy prison too."Thanking them for their information, the party leave the encampment and proceed alongthe path as directed by Sarond. *********Eventually, after travelling for a while and negotiating various corridors and chambers theparty arrive at the location identified as the Jarl's lair by Sarond.

An irregularly shaped cavern stretches two hundred feet long and is nearly as wide. A roofof blue luminescent ice arches fifty feet overhead and is held aloft by three stone pillars.Entrance on foot into the cavern is halted by a hot spring that stretches across the caves'mouth. Two more pools are nestled on either side of the cavern.In the centre of the cavern can be seen a massive treasure pile. Coins, gems, chests, cups,books, rugs, armour, statues and weapons can be seen. Two small winged creatures, withtheir backs to the party, stand at the pile and appear to be sorting through it. Thecreatures look similar to the flying creatures the party encountered earlier.Off to the side, near the front hot pool and only just visible is the head of a giant weasel,that is laying down asleep.



5/13

Slowly and quietly the party line up at the cave entrance, up to the hot pool, and readytheir ranged weapons.Simultaneously the party fire. Isabella hits the giant weasel with a bolt. The creature yells

out. An arrow from Elamros hits one of the winged creatures, the arrow smashes throughthe rear of its head and comes out the other side; downing the creature in a single hit.Arforth shoots his bow too but misses and Seng shoots his light crossbow, also missing.The weasel, now very much awake andbleeding, rushes up and runs towards theparty along the thin edge of ground thatskirts the hot pool. In its' haste one of its'paws misses the loose ground and the animaltrips into the boiling hot water with a yelp.The remaining winged creature suddenlyshifts back and forth in the air, shifting sofast it's hard to focus on it.Isabella shouts, "It's cast a Blur spell uponitself!"With a motion that is hard to see the wingedcreature flies towards one of the stonepillars, now obscured from view.The weasel desperately struggles to get back out of the boiling pool. It claws at the loosebank and begins to pull itself up.Seng tries to line up another shot with his light cross bow but the weapon is wet andslippery from the steam of the hot pool and his grip on the weapon fails. With a crash thelight crossbow slips from his fingers and lands onto the ground.

Arforth and Isabella send bolts flying towards the weasel whilst Elamros shoots an arrow atthe creature.Seng ignores retrieving his crossbow and instead takes out his chain dagger. He flicks itquickly at the weasel, slicing it more wounds.



6/13

The weasel manages to get out of the hot pool. Now bleeding from numerous wounds fromarrow, bolt and dagger and with half of its body badly burnt, it turns and runs towards thefar side of the room.Suddenly the winged creature emerges from behind the stone pillar flying directly towardsthe party.Elamros, with uncanny reflexes, aims towards the creature. His eyes narrow down as hetries to focus on the shifting, blurring form. He lets the arrow fly and it appears to flystraight through it."Damn it! I can't tell where that creature actually is because of that spell!" shouts Elamros.The winged creature moves quickly over to the cave entrance and as it nears the party theair in front of it starts to shift and swirl rapidly, small particles gathering at a central point."Magic!" shouts Krondor putting his shield up towards the shifting air.Suddenly, the air burst forward from in front of the creature and hits the party like astorm. Krondor and Isabella are knocked back 10 feet and thrown back onto their backs.Seng manages to roll out the way just in time using his martial training.Only Arforth is not hit by the blast as he standing to the side of cave entrance.Isabella, barely able to stand again, shouts out, "It's a Wind Gust spell. It should only last ashort time."Seng looks to throw his chain dagger at the winged creature but the force of wind gust isso strong as to stop any thrown or projectile weapon.

Isabella shouts out, "Arforth your Magic Missile! Before that thing uses more magic!"Arforth raises his hand and speaks, 'Erak Nar Far!"Immediately two blue bolts of arcane energy appear and fly out towards the flyingcreature. The eldritch bolts, never concerned with any shifting or blurring form, hitunerring at the target. The creature spins out of control and drops onto the ground. Oneof its winged is torn completely off and dark black blood pools around it.



7/13

The weasel continues to run and goes out of sight somewhere on the far side of the cavern.The raging wind, as suddenly as it appeared, vanishes and with its passing leaves thecavern in silence.

*********With no other foes engaging them, the party now has to work out how to safely cross thehot pool, as the ledge around it is thin with loose ground.Seng takes a running start and jumps across the hot pool easily, using his monk training.Once across he ties a silk rope onto one side of the ledge and throws the other end backto the party who secure it. Now with the help of the rope, which is at waist height, the partyslowly and carefully traverse the ledge.Making their way over to the centre of the room, they stop and stare at the hoard oftreasure there.



8/13

"Well that was easy!" Krondor begins. Picking up some of the items. "There must be nearlytwelve thousand coins here.""Yes, too easy," begins Isabella. "Where this Jarl? If he's not here, then where is he? Why

isn't he guarding this treasure?""Perhaps he's out looking for the Red Raven too?" replies Seng. "After all, he needs thevernal key to escape too. He'd want that key more than us."Isabella looks thoughtful, "In that case, grab what ever treasure you can in ten minutes andthen we're out of here. We have to find the Red Raven, and that vernal key, before theJarl ... otherwise we'll be the ones stuck in here forever."Krondor looks devastated, "But ... but ... THE TREASURE!"Isabella snaps, "Forget the treasure! You have ten minutes, tops, to stuff what ever you canin your pockets and backpack. We have to get moving."The party start to grab small items - gems, gold and platinum coins, an elaborate and usual

gold cup and a wizard spell book - and stuff them into their bags."First bloody treasure pile we find and we're not taking it!" moans Krondor."I'm sorry Krondor. If there is time and a chance then we will come back and collect this,"replies Isabella.Before leaving the cavern, Seng and Krondor check the remaining side of the cavern andlocate the badly injured and burnt giant weasel behind a pillar. Before the creature canturn to attack, Seng and Krondor end its' life.

*********Leaving the cavern the party continue to explore the icy corridors and chambers. With noidea where they are going they wander aimlessly, back and forth.Eventually, just as they are about to give up hope, they hear the faint sounds of combat inthe distance. With nothing to lose they make their way towards the sound.



9/13

They turn into a wide, long passage and can see light up ahead where the sounds of astruggle are coming from.The party continue forward. The glacial walls widen out at this point, making room for

several megaliths that project from the floor and walls. The wind whistles as it passes over,while stones and pebbles crunch underfoot.Before the party stand a large number of creatures. Large undead zombies, are standingwith their backs to the approaching party. Flying around them are another two wingedcreatures.Past them, stand several humans wearing tattered and make shift clothes and equipment.But past them all a sight stops the party. A figure, in a red tattered cape struggles againsta large Ogre.The Red Raven.

The elusive Red Raven that the partyhas tracked for nearly a week is nowwithin their reach. His hands arebound together and the other end ofthe rope is held in one hand of thelarge Ogre. In the Ogres' other handis held a sphere, about 1 foot in size,that glows with a yellow light.Isabella lifts up her repeatingcrossbow and lets a bolt off towardsone of the flying creatures. The bolthits it and the creature is struggling toremain air borne.Seng, with lightning fast speed runsup to the injured winged creature and

jumps towards it, his leg stretched outin a kick. His foot connects and snapsthe creatures' neck.



10/13

The three large zombie turn around and Isabella sees them clearly for the first time now.The Cleric of Cayden Cailean stops, "Guys! Those aren't normal zombies!"Seng, now surrounded by three of the large and ugly undead zombies, shouts back,"Couldn't you have told me that BEFORE!?!"The combat is frenzied. The humans in raged clothes rush towards the party, "Intruders!Kill them all!"Isabella lifts up her repeating cross bow and attempts to fire it but it jams. She throws thecross bow to the ground and pulls out her morning star.Large zombies rush towards the party.Seng shouts, "Zombies aren't suppose to be this fast!"Isabella shout back between swings of her morning star, "NOT ... NORMAL ....ZOMBIES!!"Krondor runs towards one of the humans and trips on the lose rocks. The Dwarf fliesforward and smashes his face into the ground.Isabella shouts, "Now is not the time to be napping Dwarf."One of the humans steps towards the down Dwarf. Krondor raises and swings hislongsword, striking the human in the groin.

Arforth steps up, "Seran Ri Tan!" His eyes erupt with fire. He looks over at one of thezombies and instantly it erupts into flame.Seng, rolls forward and raises up, as two zombies try to swipe at him. The trained monk ofIrori snaps one hand up and breaks the neck of one zombie, the blessed martial wraps onhis arms flashing with power. Immediately he then side kicks out towards the other. Theundead creature flies backwards - with its chest crushed in.

Another of the human fighters races to the party. Isabella raises one hand and shouts, "ByCayden - HOLD!" The air in between hazes and the human fighter stops immediately, heldfast by Isabellas' divine enchantment.



11/13

The Cleric walks up to the held fighter and she pulls out a small knife. The eyes of thefighter dart to the knife and then Isabella, pleading and desperate."In Cayden's name," she speaks with edge of anger as she draws the blade easily over theheld fighters neck. Blood pours off from a large sickly wound. The eyes in head of thefighter roll up and then the body falls over.Seng looks shocked, "To kill so easily and without mercy, my lady."Isabella looks over at the monk,"Why waste mercy and those that don't deserve it?"Meanwhile, Elamros is shooting arrows between all the foes, most striking true, with deadlyaccuracy.The human fighters swing long swords at the party and Arforth gets wounded badly. Hestumbles and falls onto one knee.Isabella shouts, "Arforth - your wand!"

Arforth replies, from his kneeling position, "My what?"Isabella, "Your bloody wand OF FROST!"The wizard looks embarrassed, "My wand? Yes, my WAND!"He quickly pulls out a small wooden wand from a hidden fold in his robe. He points attowards the closest zombie and speaks forth, "Wandrill!"

A blue swirl of eldritch energy erupts from the staff. It widens and fills the corridor andrushes towards the large zombie, knocking it back and taking large chunks out of it.Further down the corridor, the blue wave continues and the sound of other creatures, stillin the shadows can be heard being struck and hitting the ground.Krondor moves forward towards the damaged zombie near Arforth and swings his Acreislongsword. The sword slices the zombie in half and as it does so the longsword flashes.One of the white gems on the hilt of the sword then begins to glow softly.



12/13

Seng rushes towards another zombie and kills it with a single flying punch, his blessedmartial wraps once again flashing.Krondor moves towards the last large zombie. The undead creature swings at the Dwarf

but misses. The Dwarf fighter kneels low and takes out both legs of creature with a mightyswing of his longsword. A small flash comes from the sword as another white gem glowsupon the sword hilt.Now only the Red Raven, who is still struggling to free himself, and the Ogre remain.

Krondor, breathing heavily, speaks, "Right, we need a plan against that thing. We approachit from all sides and ..."

As the Dwarf is speaking, a blur of movement passes him, as Seng speeds towards theOgre. Before the large creature can react, the monk strikes it once, with a precise nervestrike, stunning the creature. It drops the glowing sphere and rope that holds the RedRaven. The Ogre stands unmoving, obviously stunned.

Krondor continues, "... or we could just wait till the monk takes care of it. That's good too."darkelfshadow.tumblr.com


13/13

Arforth, turns his gaze towards the Ogre and the Elven Wizards' eyes ignite again. Instantlyone side of the Ogre ignites with yellow flames.Isabella rushes forward and grabs the glowing sphere. A grin spreads across her face.Seng strikes at the Ogre. The first punch strikes and the sound of braking bone can beheard. Seng attempts to strike again but the Red Raven, who is still struggling to free hishands, accidentally knocks Seng. The monk, not expecting the blow from behind,misjudges his strike and kicks the floor instead of the Ogre.Elamros puts two arrows into the chest of the unmoving Ogre. Krondor rushes in andopens up two massive cuts in the creatures side.Arforth, eyes still ablaze, looks at the Ogre again and this time the whole creature erupts inflames. It falls over forward, unmoving, with a loud thud.

*********And as the flames continue, casting weird shadows in the icy corridor, and having finallycaught up to the Red Raven - at roughly 9am on Oathday the 9th of Desnus, that is wherethe play session ended.


play session 17

Documents