Session 12: March 12, 2024 (33rd Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) Lore Dump in the Abandoned City (TW: tortured bodies)

Session 12: March 12, 2024 (33rd Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) 

Dramatis Personae:

  • Echo, Wolfkin Hunter, played by Mike "Burn the Bodies" P.
  • Kelter Tealeaf, Halfling Rogue, played by Mike "Can I Pick that Laawk?" Y.
  • Vinny Boombatz, Dwarven Fighter, played by Eric "Needs a Golf Bag for His Weapons" M.

Quod Occurrit:

The next day, Kelter manages to circumvent the lock to the other chamber, which was fortunately empty. They found a few treasure items: a bottle of wine, a waterskin that smelled of perfume, and some silver coins. Presumably the wine is long spoiled but you never know what preservative magic is in an old barrow. The ancient bottle is worth something to a collector for sure. 

With the barrow thoroughly pillaged, they decide to explore a bit more of the city, not minding the rain. They come upon an old temple, and inside find a grisly sight: the bodies of two recently executed Raven Sisters with their throats cut, slumped over in a ring surrounded by pews. The sisters were known to Nirvea: their names were Mairsile and Catriona. It appeared to have happened a few weeks ago, likely done by Rust Brothers. Since the bodies had their fingernails pulled out, it appears they were tortured, perhaps to divulge the whereabouts of other Raven Sisters. They must have resisted the torture, since it would have allowed for plenty of time for the Rust Brothers to have alerted Sturkas in The Hollows, which would have resulted in Nirvea's murder. Regardless, what were Rust Brothers and Raven Sisters doing in Wailer's Hold? The party then cremated the bodies.

The party then decided that things were getting pretty intense, and made up their minds to find some Elven Rubies and the Crown Stanengist, since that seemed to be a good thing to do as far as advancing their own firepower (and therefore safety) went. Being martially minded, they decided to try to find the sword Maligarn, which they supposed must be in the Vale of the Dead, since that's the last time Viridia's ruby (which is said to be set into the sword) was seen. Fair enough. Pretty good guess, but is it true?

They leave Wailer's Hold, and come across what looks like the decaying and half-eaten body of a Rust Brother. They give it a wide berth, fearing contamination. This was a very smart move, as the body did indeed harbour contagion! 

Heading east, they come to a bend in the river with no safe ford that they could find. Rather than be stuck in the wilderness in the dark, they head back to spend the night in Wailer's Hold again so they could be stuck in an abandoned city in the dark, which is perhaps marginally better. Maybe. Before they bed down for the night, Nirvea regarles the party with tales of the Raven Lands, in particular legends about Merigall, the crown Stanengist, the sword Maligarn, the Nekhaka scepter, and the Blood Star Cloak Clasp as they sit around the fire, thinking about all that has happened to them in such a short time. After all, it's been less than a month since they first left their hometown.

The next day they head south, and find a riderless horse. Well, Kelter found it first, and snuck up and managed to grab its reins and calm it. It was a proud stallion, with saddle, bags and a saddle blanket. From the quality of its trappings, it was clearly a nobleman's horse. This is confirmed by searching the saddlebags, which contain a small silver box and a rose-shaped sigil (signet ring), which Nirvea identifies as being the crest of the LaVide family, who have a small keep nearby.

We close the session the party thinking about whether to return the horse to the LaVides, and how they might find the keep, which none of them have ever been to. Nirvea just knows that they are already in the general area, but not in which direction it might lie.


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Session 13: March 12, 2024 (34th Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) The Party Would Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Session 12: March 12, 2024 (34th Day of Springrise, 1165 AS)  Dramatis Personae: Echo, Wolfkin Hunter, played by Mike "The dwarf breathes so loud I could have shot him in the dark" P. Kelter Tealeaf, Halfling Rogue, played by Mike "The Nano Cuisinart" Y. Vinny Boombatz, Dwarven Fighter, played by Eric "I crush your head" M. Quod Occurrit: Since a well-rested party is an effective one, the group camps for the night. In the morning (the 35th), they party decide that returning the horse to its home is the right thing to do, and with Nirvea's help and Echo's pathfinding ability, they start on their way. While working towards. where they suppose the keep must lie, they pass by an abandoned mine that nearly tempted them to investigate first. However, the mines are no place for a pony (or a warhorse), even one so brave as Bill, so they made note of its location, determined to come back and check it out.  Camping that night was rough. Echo couldn't fin...
Read more

Session 1: August 1, 2023 There's No Place Like Not Home (1st Day of Springrise, 1165 AS)

Session 1: August 1, 2023 (1st Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) Dramatis Personae: Echo, Wolfkin Hunter, played by Mike "I cannot create a normal character, ever" P. Kelter Tealeaf, Halfling Rogue, played by Mike "The Ham" Y. Vinny Boombatz, Dwarven Fighter, played by Eric "Emergency Bread" M. Quod Occurrit: Travel On the first day of Springrise, the three companions decided to leave their shithole town of Riversbend. Not that there promises to be any other towns about that aren't likewise shitholes, but a change of scenery was the main priority, shit quotient be damned. In fact, so pressing was the need for a new shithole that they left Riversbend bright and early at 6 am.  They were aware of a town south of Riversbend called The Hollows. They were instructed to head due south til they hit the mountains, and then skirt the mountains to the southeast, which would bring them to their destination. With Echo leading the way, Kelter keeping lookout, and Vinny t...
Read more

Session 9: December 5, 2023 (28th Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) Call for Backup!

Session 9: December 5, 2023 (28th Day of Springrise, 1165 AS) Dramatis Personae: Echo, Wolfkin Hunter, played by Mike "All These Humans Smell Funny" P. Kelter Tealeaf, Halfling Rogue, played by Mike "I Can Save Her" Y. Vinny Boombatz, Dwarven Fighter, played by Eric "No More Hammer Time" M. Quod Occurrit: It has finally stopped raining! In the morning, the party starts their return to The Hollows, breaking their vow to never return there for a second time. They had managed to salvage a good amount of gear off of Esgar and co., and figure some silver in their pockets is easier to carry around than more spare armaments then they are likely to need, and they can now afford to pay for some extra muscle. They skirt into a new hex for funsies, but regret it almost instantly. Vinny may not have the eyes of a hawk or the ears of a fox, but he does apparently have the nose of a hound. He notices it first: the smell of burning meat, followed by the sound of heavy fo...
Read more