Campaign3/session-1
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Session 1: From Hebridonia, With Love
34 Orran 810
Aethra, a Kyelsoran elf with a local reputation as a merchant of magical goods and information, asked several of her associates to meet for dinner at The Hearty Boar at the setting of the evening bells. Each member of her assembled associates makes their way through the seedy establishment, which is more of a shanty constructed in an alley between two decrepit buildings in the roughest section of town. The stench of stale beer and sweat filled the nostrils of each who passed through the rough hewn portal of the Boar, and wary eyes watched from irregular recesses as a serving wench guided each guest through the narrow ground-level floor into the subterranean labyrinth of vaults that make the majority of seating in the Boar. Aethra's guests are led to a back room, apparently a storage room that has been cleared for her use.
As the last of Aethra's associates are seated, Aethra shifts her weight and speaks: "I think it would be best to start with some introductions. I'll start with Cathon Silverstrings," Aethra gestures to the handsome human male sitting to her left. "Many of you may know him, or know of him already. I have yet to find another man who is his equal in the telling of tales and songcraft. He is with us today because he also has some experience in the Gap which should be valuable."
Turning to her right, Aethra looks toward a human female seated on her right side, "Rahaza is a warkaster that I have had the privilege to work with in the past. She also has experience in the Gap, fighting Demarians in various mercenary groups."
"Mundori has been my long-time business associate of mine," Aethra nods to the dwarven male whose arms are resting on his upturned hammer, "and his wide range of skills will come in very handy if things go sour."
"Finally, there is Gorin," Aethra gazes at the human male seated by the door. "He's an excellent cook, but the reason I've asked him to join us is because he is the only other person who speaks Demarian, and if we are separated or need to break up, he will be instrumental in conversing with the locals in a manner that is inconspicuous. Most Demarians speak common, and it's use is fairly widespread throughout the Empire, but for official business, Demarian is used."
"With that out of the way, we can get down to the details of why I've called you here--"
Aethra is interrupted by a knock on the door, and she looks at each of her guests warily. She mutters "I wasn't expecting anyone else."
The door is knocked on again, and the serving girl is heard through the door, "Ma'am, there is another to see you. I know you said there were only four, but this one is quite insistent."
Aethra's brow furrows, "Very well, let him in."
The door clicks open, and in strides an imposing human male with a shadow of dark hair about his shaven head. Aethra nods to the serving girl, and the door closes behind the intruder. He offers a sealed letter to Aethra as an introduction and waits carefully as she reads it. Aethra seems rather distressed by the letter, but does not divulge it's contents to the others, folding the letter and tucking it away in a breast pocket.
"It would seem we will have another to join us in our journey to Demaria." Aethra says coolly as she gestures for the figure to take a seat. "According to the letter, his name is Beh."
"You don't know him at all," Rahaza asks. "How do we know we can trust him?"
"He is a monk from the Fehrsa Ohnai," Aethra pauses to see if everyone understands what that means, and seeing some confusion, continues her explanation. "The Fehrsa Ohnai are an order of monks dedicated to learning the philosophy and combat techniques of the Kyelsoran."
"Oh, so he's a wanna-be." Gorin states flatly.
Aethra's eyes dart to Beh, who remains perfectly still, his face betraying no expression, but his alert eyes focused on Gorin. "I would not describe the order in that way, and I would not provoke him. The Fehrsa Ohnai are formidable in the martial arts, and not to be trifled with. They enjoy the full support of the Kyelsoran as well."
Gorin shrugs, and leans back in his chair. "But can he be trusted?"
"I think so," Aethra nods. "The order doesn't take just anyone, and they are known to be trustworthy. They seem to think that we need some help, though I never told them about our meeting or mission. But I never turn away an honest offer of assistance, especially not this time."
"Very well," Mundori speaks up, "If Aethra says that he can be trusted, that is good enough for me. What is our task?"
"I've been contacted by the dwarves to gather a group to head into Demaria, to the city of Sunai which lies just beyond the Gap in Demaria. It is the main city where all trade and military supplies must pass though to pass into the gap from anywhere in Demaria."
"We're supposed to have several objectives once we infiltrate Sunai, but I've only been told of the first one so far. The Dwarves would like us to help them free the slaves in the salt mines beneath the city. The details of that operation are still a bit sketchy, and we'll learn more when we rendezvous with my contact on the other side of the Ardgour."
"Why would they want us to free Dargai slaves?" Rahaza asks with great disdain.
"Because the slaves are largely NOT Dargai. The Demarians believe that all other races are subservient to the Dargai race. The mines are manned by dwarven prisoners from the war, and others that have been sold into slavery. There are gnomes and humans beneath the city, as well as dwarves."
"And elves." Cathon adds.
Aethra nods grimly. "Yes, and perhaps elves."
Rahaza looks eagerly at the group. "Well, what are we waiting for? I'm ready!"
"Not looking like that, you're not." Mundori smiles. "What are we going to do for disguises? None of us looks Dargai..."
"I have five enchanted hoods which will provide us with a means to look like Dargai. We should have little trouble fooling the casual observer." Aethra looks to Beh, "I will need to find a sixth tonight so that everyone will have a hood when we reach Demaria...."
Final details are settled, and the group agrees to meet at first light the following morning to begin the journey.
35 Orran 810
A cold heavy rain pelts the land as the party gathers at the western gate of Cromdale. The begin their journey on a new road, commissioned by the Demarians at enormous expense five years ago at the formalization of trade between Demaria and Hebridonia. The road is empty, with grass growing through the cracks between the cobblestones, a sign that the war has all but stopped that trade. Only the most adventuresome merchant dares to try passage through the gap now, and few are ever heard from again.
The party winds its way into the mountains, eventually passing into the very clouds which mercilessly pelt them with icy rain. The fog is dense, and it is hard to see more than 10 feet ahead. The road narrows as it climbs still higher, and becomes slick as the rain starts to freeze. Truly it is a miserable day to travel.
Some relief comes in the afternoon as the party crosses a ridge and begins to descend into a small valley perhaps 2 kilometers across. The road makes it's way across the side of a mountain to a low ridge on the opposite side of the valley. Gorin notices some unusual dark spots halfway along the road to the other side, and the group carefully approaches to a range of 500 meters, where they can clearly see that it is three figures bound to X-shaped crosses just above the road. The landscape around the area is boulder-strewn, and the group agrees that it is likely an ambush.
Mundori makes himself invisible and goes to take a closer look. A few moments later, Cathon becomes impatient and slips away from the group while everyone else is watching the area around the crosses. For many minutes, there is nothing to see. From time to time, one of the party can see Cathon picking his way along the rocks. It occurs to more than one of them that if THEY can see him....
The group is just about ready to close the distance when they spot a figure hiding behind one of the rocks, looking down on the crosses. So it was an ambush! A moment later, Mundori appears on a boulder above the hiding figure and unleashes a massive flash of lightning down on the unsuspecting person. The figure jolts as the electricity courses though his body, and then it is smoking and limp against the boulder. The deafening thunderclap arrives a second later. The group races down the road, but by they time they have reached the crosses, it is all over.
Of the three Dargai that were hiding above the crosses, two were killed by the thunderbolt from Mundori, and the third was rendered unconscious by a barrage of magic missiles, and bound for later questioning. Before anyone could intervene, Rahaza crushed the skull of the unconscious Dargai with a boulder, and proceeded to repeat the act several times for each of the bodies, a wild look of dreadful purpose in her eyes. To each of the party watching, a sudden realization arrives: Dargai have no blood!
"That woman has some serious issues," Aethra said as she watched Rahaza toss aside her boulder.
The group turns its attention to the three naked figures on the crosses. They are dwarves, and it is apparent that each has been shaved. Two of the bodies are badly decomposed and riddled with holes and maggots. The stench is unbearable when the wind shifts. The third dwarf appears to be barely alive, and Mundori struggles to free him from the cross and shelter his stone-kin from the wind with his bedroll.
There is no emissary of faith with the party, and Cathon is able to heal some of the wounds, but many more remain. It is enough to pull the dwarf to consciousness, and he sputters as he tries to drink the water passing through his parched lips.
An eerie silence has fallen over the group as the dwarf drinks. For as horrible as his fate has been, there is something even more sinister about the wounds which cover his body. Round blisters with centimeter sized incisions give the dwarf a spotted appearance from head to toe, a wound that no one in the group recognizes.
"Are there any other guards up here, in support of the ambush?" Mundori asks the dwarf.
"Six..." the dwarf croaks in return.
"What did this to you," Rahaza asks.
"Demarian cleric's pleasure...." The dwarf's eyes roll in the back of his head, and he mutters one other word before he slips from consciousness. "Seizorann."
"What the hell is that," Rahaza straightens and looks around.
Aethra bites her lip, and looks at her group. "I'm not sure why he said 'Seizorann', but I can tell you what it is. The deepest mines, where the dwarves dig for magestone, have these creatures called 'Seizorann'. The creatures are always found around large deposits of the stone, and their tendrils infuse the surrounding rock with the hardness of diamonds. The dwarves have to kill the creatures in order to get at the magestone. It's dangerous work, and they're hard to kill from what I understand."
"What does that have to do with Demarian clerics," Rahaza shifted her weight, clearly looking uncomfortable.
"I don't know," Aethra answered. "There is a Seizorann in Sunai that was installed many years ago, in an effort to improve the fortifications of the city. I don't know if the clerics would have been involved with that or not. It would make sense."
The group decides to quickly move on, carrying the unconscious dwarf, in the hopes of avoiding the other Demarian patrol which might return at any moment. They follow the road to the far ridge, and as they cross it's crest they see six figures making their way up the road in a military fashion.
Everyone scatters off the road to form an ambush, and Mundori and Rahaza coordinate their magical attacks. As the guards approach, Mundori is surprised that Rahaza has not started her attack yet, and finally decides to launch his own attack. Four guards fall asleep, and the remaining two crouch low, trying to figure out what is going on.
It is too late.
Rahaza pops from the hiding place, yelling "You were supposed to wait!", and hurls a fireball down upon the two remaining guards. One has wit enough to dive off the road, and is badly singed. His comrades were not so lucky. Mundori starts down the road to finish the job with his hammer, but Rahaza doesn't wait and pops the last Demarian in the chest with a pair of magic missiles. His lifeless body rolls limply down the scree-field for 30 meters and comes to rest against a jagged boulder.
The group sets about checking the bodies and finishing off their prey. Rahaza is especially eager to deliver the final blow, and fires flaming crossbow bolts into the chests of each of the fallen. The group decides to leave the bodies on the road to make it look like the dwarves had launched a savage attack, rather than hide the bodies.
As they travel onward, the weather has slowly improved until the rain has stopped completely. Thick clouds continue to roll just overhead, but the visibility below the cloud layer is now much better. By nightfall, the party has made it to a wide valley nestled in the mountains arms, and they camp in a wooded area near the bottom of the valley, just off the road.
While examining the surrounding area, Mundori discovers a rough cave entrance with a stone door twenty meters inside it. The group decides to take shelter in the cave, and examine the door. There is no apparent way to open the door, and on its face is an ornate rune of warding. The injured dwarf is roused, and asked if he recognizes the rune.
"It is sealed," the dwarf croaked, and cleared his throat. "You cannot journey to that citadel anymore because of a Seizorann. We tried to reinforce the fortifications of that place with a Seizorann, just as the Demarians have done to Sunai. It didn't work, and the citadel had to be abandoned."
Aethra nodded. "I'm surprised that they tried. Darlock told me that the reason why the Seizorann in Sunai was so effective was because it fed off the natural magical energies of the Dargai race. I didn't think your people had such power..."
The dwarf nodded. "Darlock would be the one to ask about it. I only know what I hear. And I hear that you should stay away from this place."
"Who is this Darlock you speak of," Cathon asks Aethra.
"He is the dwarven contact that we'll rendezvous with tomorrow."
36 Orran 810
Morning arrives, and the party eats breakfast, gathers its belongings and returns to the road. Above, the clouds continue to roll on, but at least it's not raining. The day is spent hiking through the mountains, following the trade road through the rugged terrain.
At lunch, the group stops at the first ridge that looks out over Demaria. It looks like an arid place, and a warm breeze can be felt wafting up the face of the ridge from below. Above, the cloud layer seems to thin and abruptly stop in a turbulent area where the warm dry air mixes with the clouds. The transition is starting, and several party members wonder what wicked sorcery is involved.
While the group eats, Aethra gives each person the hood of disguise that she promised. She explains that the Eastern portions of Demaria are almost desert-like, and Dargai are very sensitive to intense light and heat. This has dictated some necessary clothing choices, and most Demarians wear a garment called a veiraft, which covers the body from head to toe in white linens, leaving only the eyes exposed. Aethra demonstrates how it is supposed to look, and transforms her appearance to look like a Dargai. The disguise is so effective, that Rahaza startles, perhaps on the verge of attack.
Each person in turn practices taking on the appearance of a Dargai, mastering the slitted eyes, the swarthy complexion, and the extra digit that appears on each hand.
"I'm not exactly sure what I should do," Mundori wonders. "I'm really to short to be an adult Dargai. Perhaps a child?"
"That would work," Aethra nods. "You would be a young child because we gain our height at a rather young age."
Rahaza stiffens. "What did you mean by that?" She eyes Aethra warily, "What did you mean 'WE gain OUR height at a rather young age'?"
Aethra flashes a disarming smile, "Dargai youth get tall pretty early in life, just like elves. I just mis-spoke."
The situation is diffused for now, but Rahaza watches Aethra warily for the rest of the day. The party packs up and continues down the road, winding along switchbacks down into the foothills of the Ardgour. By early evening, they leave the road, heading for a cluster of rocks a few kilometers off the road, where Aethra had pre-arranged to meet with Darlock.
As the party approached within twenty meters of the rocks, Aethra stopped to listen for a moment.
All is quiet.
Satisfied, the party works their way toward the rocks, a central finger pointing to the zenith, with shorter fingers leaning against it, forming an enclosed natural shelter. As they get within 4 meters of the opening in the rocks, the whispering sound of their feet in the loose sandsoil becomes silent.
Surprised, the party retreats, and Mundori offers to do some reconnaissance. He uses some unusual magics to scale the nearly-vertical rock face, and peers down inside the chamber. Below, he can see a dwarf pinned to the central rock, and a Demarian preparing to press a hot ember into the dwarf's eye.
Continued in: Clayfinger
Campaign 3 Index
