Graveyard of Empires

SESSION 185 January 10, 2018

We take another week for Bavmorda to train as an assassin.

Rallion uses scrying mask and Xen Khel is swarming with infected undead. They are cut off from leaving the high area near the former 3 Sister’s Temple, because the bridge is missing. The colossus is gone.

A lot more options for the mask are available than they were since Sittung altered the orbitals.

Vargen is flooded and severely damaged. Streets are flooded and swarming with infected undead. Boats in the flooded streets are overturned and their occupants dragged under. The colossus from Xen Khel is now sprawled out over the castle and market area of Vargen. Ships are washed up into the town. The Verdant Fellowship grove is destroyed along with the other temples,

Midmark – The lower city is flooded, the floating shipyard is razed and majorly damaged. Newtown is flooded. There are people who have been hung that have signs of a different illness. The upper city is in good shape and the town guard and grey cloaks are keeping people out. There is a huge airship over the city from the Dragon Empire. One day some important Midmark officials (Jardin) and a city delegation is having some sort of discussion with an Imperial commander.

Most of the ships we see are from Feldmark, and there are a lot of them.

Verdant Fellowship had some flooding but is mostly spared.

Xenilum Khel’s main gate is caved in and under guard. A big change from when Rallion went there looking for Thorfus and company.

Kauri questions the DVL on the probability sword and it looks insubstantial and fades in and out until it notices Kauri can see him, and focuses and becomes the most brilliant DVL there. Kauri asks if the charges from one battery could be brought into our reality. Yes, but it would destroy that reality. It would require a deal – a promise to do a favor by the one making the deal. That price is too steep.

The questioning moves to the clock who tells us that Xeno Tel created the DVLs and has a marvelous device where the DVLs are brought into the batteries. When a charge is used from a battery another DVL consumes it. A DVL is in an ancient Dwarven made item. Daemons were corrupted by Prixithalma to not longer serve the Dwarves and are only in magic items created since the fall of the ancient Dwarven Empire.

Xeno Tel delivered the original dwarves who were the initial force that landed on Medeia to prepare for the arrival of the colonists. It took Xeno Tel a few hundred years to arrive. the clock was created 4,999 years and a few months ago, at the time of the First Dragon War. So it takes 5,000 years for the colony ships to arrive. Medeia is not the first nor the last stop on “The Great Road” which is the constellation on the floor in the throne room in Xen Khel. The colonists come and strip the resources and then move on to the next place.

The DVL in the sword is a great one and is not concerned about the shard. It can’t kill it, only drive it away from this reality.

If we block the portal the colonists will go to the next place, or take the long way here.

There are hundreds more like Xeno Tel. Supposedly more colonists.

The water outside the cave has no DVLs. Dark Elf boots, cloaks, and armor also have no DVLs or daemons. The shard destroying DVLs and daemons violates the law of conservation of energy.

Rallion keeps watching over the sites with the scrying mask.

Nash rides the roc and discovers that more training is needed. Serithaz does better programming so that the roc responds to bridle to turn and taps to descend and ascend.

First day Nash sees that the ship is a Midmark merchant ship, The Bronze Wizard. The watch sees Nash on the Roc

Rallion prepares to rides with Nash & Lambertus in a net.

Dark Green robbed human is squinting on the carving on the door. Wizardly robes. He has aerial transportation. His name is Auriol. Came from Midmark. Tallest peak. things not good in Midmark. Looks back at opening and decides not to go there. Explosion in bay and giant tidal wave. Looking for friends of his, a woman, very beautiful with red hair. (Very good speaking habits.) He was staying at the castle with Lord Jardin giving hospitality to visitors. On a relief mission to helpout. From Feldmark. His friend is a powerful sorceress. Last scene near hear to the north. In company of adventurers. A dwarf, Thorfus Ironhand, and this group is problematic, and monk with order of Celestial Dragon some clerics of Baldric Evenkeel. Hoping to gring them back to Midmark. They are needed, Lord Jardin specifically asked for him. Visiting Lord Thornton still there, rep of city, chief liason with various relief groups. Thornton smoothed over agreements for relief. (Lord Jardin said he’s from River Mark. a small city state south of Curmiden. A persuasive fellow. These people were the Protectors of the Council.)

Serithaz can’t read this guy.

Auriol can read it. Calendar, light comes through the door, nothing important.

He wants to stroll around. Mentions that if we have aerial transporation. Will be great reward is we bring news to Midmark. Very essential to the rebuilding process. Go straight to the Council of Elders.

All the Midmark Navy ships were destroyed near Vargen enforcing the embargo.

Red Haired lady, Prix, these heroes saved her. Rallion asked about the story of Lady Em, Auriol told us based on a real story.

Definitely a green dragon. Flies to NE towards Jager’s tower.

We debate if Jardin and Auriol are a faction supporting Prix.

SESSION 184 – January 3, 2018

We scout the roc nest and it is sleeping and Nash asks Serithaz to re-program the Roc to be our friend.

It works and we find thousands of copper that we ignore. An insectoid automaton that is inactive and full of electrum and a magic sword of lizard slaying.

We find many gems and 2,000 electrum.

We go down with Oscar carrying the shard 30′ behind us.

We check out one set of doors and find a key in a giant sphere of water. We came through the door on the other side.

We decide to try to use the chest. We hide behind doors and Bavmorda opens it, and spiders come pouring out. Bavmorda manages to close the lid, so that there are only 30 of them.

Bavmorda is bitten and falls unconscious. We rush in to help, and Lambertus and Kauri are also bitten and fall unconscious.

Nash uses his reroll to stay conscious, we use the party declared roll to save Kauri, and Larry used his reroll for the monster’s initiative, sinc we were tied with 5’s.

We ran, grabbed the unconscious Lambertus and Bavmorda and get behind doors. We drink the healing water from our flasks and all who were poisoned and injured are healed. We use oil to make a puddle and a rope dot open doors, Rallion shoots a fire arrow at the oil and it kills all the spider, and they become a puff of smoke that goes back toward the chest.

We have Oscar come back and we leave.

Tamon and Azra have a metal chest that they let us have. They lost the key, so we tie it shut and have Oscar carry it.

We go back for the chest of infinite spiders, and tie it shut and have Oscar carry it.

We sleep and plan to ascend to the Roc and have it carry us to the village by the sea, where we saw a ship from the covered walkway around the mountain peak.

SESSION 183 – December 27, 2017

After two weeks of training, for those of two classes, we go into the now revealed doors to try our chances vs. the tests of the Four Matriarchs.

We puzzle our way through a maze, and other than Bavmorda slipping on a descent and being badly hurt, we found success! Spiral stairs on the other size of the puzzle like maze lead us upward to a covered walkway below the nest of the roc.

The shard is a stone with a hilt. Not much in the way of an actual weapon, but it dispels all DVLs and daemons within 30′.

Bavmorda picked up this weapon.

Kauri prayed to the mother of wisdom and had no answer. His prayers to the mother of logic split the lid of her sarcophagus, and her skeleton touched his head, revealing the image of a metal box to hold this weapon.

The only magic not affected by it, are Kauri’s mask and the golden feather from the golden eagle messenger bird.

Kauri tells us the the DVLs fear it, and they appeared to be pushed back from the magic items to which they are bound. Kalgun and Seithaz fear it, it is death and nothingness to them.

We elect to leave the shard in the room on a pedestal while we wait for nightfall, to assault the roc in its nest above us. Perhaps we will find a metal box, other items to help us.

Our biggest puzzle is how to get to orbit to take out Xenotel, then return.

With this weapon, we can destroy all magic brought from elsewhere, whether by the dragons or the ancient dwarves.

We also learned from Nash’s questioning of a hawk that those dying of the sickness, if their corpses are burnt, those who breath in their ashes will become that type of undying. How do we purge that disease. Thorfus advised them to burn the bodies, thus causing a faster spread. Has the bomb destroyed them or spread the disease further? Is the island lost?

Session 182 – Because it’s there!

Morning of 7th On’Relden     00.00.03.08

After the battle. We prepare for our trek up Grey Beard. We open thes guts of the bird – find nothing.

As we climb – we find an offering totem, more recent. Totem seem to be dedicated to a Native deity not familiar to Kauri. It’s rather common to find them in around the jungle – Oskar and Kauri just don’t know or what who the deity is.

Going is relatively easy – but windy and rainy as we stop for the night. We set up between large stones for cover.

During the night Rallion and the others (non-spell casters of the party) encounter a shiny Eagle (gold colour) – it seems intelligent and want us to follow it.  

They decide to wake the rest of the party and follow. Kauri doesn’t see any evidence of transpatial energy, yet it emanates light.

Sarathos is woken and he sees the bird and confirms that it’s real, but admits he’s never seen anything like it and suggests that Nash moves closer – rather easily. About halfway there (130 yards) – 90 yards away it (the bird) jumps behind a rock – the glow is still visible.

We approach while Bavmorda goes around, stealthily and sees only a glowing feather, illuminating a staircase heading up the mountain.

Fortuitous!

Rallion picks up the feather – still no sign of transpatial energy (like his mask).

We go back to rest.

Next morning we inspect the stairs and after some deliberation we decide to climb the stairs and see where it leads. The rain continues – and we find another totem offering. We leaving an offering (from Oskar) – Kauri says a few words.

Rallion manages to see evidence that someone has been down and up recently – likely for the offering.

We continue to follow the stairs up.

A few hours before sun-down we look up using the spy glass – looks like we’re heading towards an opening – a large one – near a waterfall. Directly north we see evidence of fire – towards the ship wreckage. We should get there in an hour.

Either side of the stairs is very rough terrain – difficult without climbing gear. Bavmorda decides to climb in that rough terrain – just to keep an eye on our flank (to the right). She disappears into the rain.

We figure we’re close to where we saw the roc fly to.  

We continue.

We find an opening with a waterfall to either side, split by a carving of an eagle, wings guiding the water into pools on either side of the opening. Wind chimes shimmer nearby.

Lights from the cavern – crackle of fire and a low humming (voice) – repetative as if chanting. The waterfalls are reflective and our reflects seem that they are not the same between them – but we can’t tell unless we’re closer.   

We see a lot of traffic evidence from the right pool.

Sarathos says the voice is speaking in ancient common – a prayer to the “4 Matriarchs”. Mentions that nash was doing something “weird” last night when we were checking the “bird”

We reach between the pools – opening goes 20 ft into a large cave with buildings (not in good shape) – damage can be seen, couple of dozen bodies. There’s a large totem, and one guy sitting cross-legged facing the totem, chanting, with his back towards us.

We see another person (almost don’t notice) looking down at the totem from top of one of the buildings. Dressed in islander garb.

Rallion approaches and greets them – person above raises a bow (no arrow) – Rallion continues, she whistles getting the old man’s attention.

Old man get off the ground and walks over to us (slowly), Bavmorda stays hidden.

Speaks to us regular common. Tells us earthquakes hit – Taimo and Azra are survivors. We tell them about how we found the stairs. Nervous about us hunting the Roc, but warms up suddenly when we mention the feather. Apparently the bird was a messenger of the 4 Matriarch.  He invites us to the fire to warm up and get comfortable. Oskar offers to make tea.

Bavmorda doesn’t notice anyone else.

Kauri asks what is this place? Caverns of the Dead – resting place of the 4 Matriarchs – they’re former explorers who heard rumours of treasures, and found this place. They decided to retire here.

Back wall collapsed – uncovering something. Tell us about a door – we’re on a quest to save the word. They roll their eyes –  it’s a nice place, even after the earthquake.

We go take a look. Kauri uses his lamp.

Eastern wall has collapsed – exposing finished walls – and a door. 20×20 space. Very solid looking doors with inscriptions:

Those who Pass Beyond these Doors

Shall Face Tests to Prove whether they are Worthy

To Enter the Presence of those Matriarchs

Who Stood Against the Outsiders

Cerida, with Logic as Cold as the Northern Ice

Vigorous as the Dawn’s Symphony of Bird-calls

Feldma, Protector of Wisdom’s Dying Light

Oswitha, Warm Bloom of Southern Isles’ Compassion

When Those from Beyond Threaten the World

The Way shall be Revealed in Cataclysm

Guardians of our Inheritance and Home

To Claim the Shard of the Mother from its Resting Place

We return to feed and discuss our next moves.

We offer to help them bury their dead and they offer to help train the others.

Speak with Dead – to Elder Agas –

Q: 1.) What is the Shard of the Mother?

    A weapon to use against those not of this world, breaks their power, destroying them.

    2.) Tell us all you know about the tests to get the shard?

    I’ve heard there were test  -the test the virtues of the hero’s, puzzles, traps

    3.) Who are the outsiders?

    Never seen one – told that they are those to come from beyond Meadia (the world) – from faraway. They don’t belong here.

    4.) What is the significance of the the golden feather left by the eagle messenger of the 4 matriarch?

    To receive the feather, means that we were chosen to seek the shard.

We talk with the Prix-Copy – she remembers 4 warrior queens who fought against them for some time – they disappeared and the dragons took over. They’ve been called “outsiders” before.  

Kauri studies Edan’s notes during that time.

Training Starts on the 10th and end on the 24th –