| GM Ascension |
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Just the handle is trapped. The door is made of stone though, so it won't be a simple matter of throwing a shoulder against it to bust through.
| Alma |
| Male Human Paladin/2 HP 28/33 |
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Looking at his companions, "Do any of you have any kind of magic that can remove this trap?
| Warren Enzroth |
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"I do. But it will take considerable time."
With those words, Warren will stat casting Acid splash repeatedly on the hinges.
| Irina Moretskya |
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"What about a big boulder? Throw a large rock at the handle, it'll activate the lever and the weight should open the door."
| Warren Enzroth |
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"That is a much better idea than the one I had."
Warren pivots swiftly and retrieves the nearest stone of appropriate size, going back as far as necessary to find one.
| Markov Galan |
| Male Half-Elf Alchemist/3 HP 16/20 |
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"Let me take a look first."
Markov will examine the glyph trying to identify the magic glyph.
knowledge(arcana)
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Markov examines the door as Warren looks for a stone of appropriate size to try and get the door open with.
Warren soon returns with a rock about 8 inches in diameter, as he begins repeatedly trying to get the door open electrical sparks flash around the rock each time it strikes. After a number of tries the door opens, swinging slowly inward.
A musty smell emanates from the room and a thick layer of dust covers the floor. A humanoid skeleton rests propped against the back wall, the tattered remains of aged robes adorning it. A single ring with a small emerald adorns one of its hands, and a golden necklace encircles its neck.
Sitting next to the long dead corpse is an inkwell and a piece of parchment, the corners sticking up through the dust on the floor.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Small puffs of dust kick up from the floor as Alma walks to the back of the room, leaving everyone with a slight urge to sneeze. Picking up the parchment he carefully shakes it, causing more dust to float through the air. The writing is in a language Alma does not know. The writing looks hastily scrawled.
ಸುರಂಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ವೆಸ್ - ಕುಸಿಯಿತು.
ವಿಷ.
ಹೆಸರಾಂತ
ಕ್ಯಾಚರ್
ಹುತಾತ್ಮನನ್ನಾಗಿಸು
Drow in the tunnels - collapsed.
Poisoned.
Sorrin
Drais
Nuneirath
| Alma |
| Male Human Paladin/2 HP 28/33 |
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"I cannot understand this language. Can any of you? Alma bends down to retrieve the ring and necklace.
"I wonder if these could help us identify this poor soul.
| Irina Moretskya |
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Irina looks at it. "Of course. I speak the language of the angels."
She smiles sweetly at the rescued paladin, and translates it for everybody.
| Trom Blackthorn |
| Male Dwarf Druid/3 |
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Glaring in turns at Irina and the paladin, Trom grumps that-"Nobody ever smiles at me."-but nonetheless listens intently to the translation.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Kydus gives Irina a stern look, though his voice is soft when he speaks "What game do you play at Irina?" He listens to her translate the writing, his expression showing a hint of surprise as she reads the three names at the end. He gives Irina a glare, as if perhaps this is a continuation of her joke.
Alma pulls the ring and necklace from the deceased. The necklace is of quality craftsman with lines of silver worked into the gold. The ring is a simple band of silver, a once inch diameter emerald outshining the plain smoothness of the simple ring. No signifying markings adorn either piece of jewelry.
| Irina Moretskya |
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"Who? Me?" Irina replies sweetly. "I don't know what you mean. Do those names mean anything to you?"
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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"Do not worry good dwarf. The gods smile upon you, and what more can a person ask for than that."
"Only one of those names do I recognize, Drais, Logan Drais. A silver and honey tongued elf living in Coran. As old as elven kind gets."
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Save for the skeleton the room is bare, but a closer look at the skeleton uncovers a small pack wedged behind the decayed cloth and bones of the remains.
Pulling it free it only ways a few pounds, but looks to be in very good condition, if a bit dusty.
| Warren Enzroth |
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Init:
Percep:
Percep:
Percep:
Percep:
Percep:
"What is that you have found, Trom?"
After taking a look at the pack and anything inside it, Warren will turn back the way they came and begin walking. "We had best be moving on. We have found our paladin friend and learned more of the creatures here. I suggest we get out before more of them show up."
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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The pack contains:
A pouch filled with gold coins
Two arcane spell books.
A dozen sheets of paper and two quill pens.
A dozen days worth of trail rations.
Far more than the packs weight would have suggested.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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The pack gives off a moderate aura of conjuration. A closer study reveals the item as a handy haversack.
The journey back down out of the mountains is uneventful. While tracks and signs of goblins abound, you are fortunate to avoid encountering any of the vermin. Several columns of smoke rise from different locations to the south though over the next two days.
Kydus is thoughtful during the journey, and makes no effort to hide his gaze frequently being on Irina - trying to puzzle her out.
Still a day from the settlement left behind nearly a week ago you spot the glint of sun on metal breastplates in the distance. A small cloud of dust rising behind a patrol of men on horseback.
So far either they have not seen the group or have no interest in you as their present course will cut across your front field of vision.
| Markov Galan |
| Male Half-Elf Alchemist/3 HP 16/20 |
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Init:
Perception:
Markov will examine the Spell books during the journey back.
Seeing people up ahead he sends talyn to scout the area.
| Trom Blackthorn |
| Male Dwarf Druid/3 |
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Intiative:
Perception:
At some point during the journey, Trom will cast Detect Magic on the ring and necklace taken from the skeleton.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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From Talyn's perspective all the mounted men look alike, wearing the same colors, blue and gold, all bearing shields, bows and blades. They are moving at a trot.
Both the ring and necklace are magical.
The ring is a ring of arcane signets.
The necklace is an amulet of natural armor
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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It is only a moment before the company of men and horses veer in your direction. Their commander pulls them up just short of running over the top of the group and looks over each of you. Each of the soldiers is wearing a blue and gold uniform, an emblem of a stag on their breastplates, marking them as belonging to one of the noble houses.
While new to the area, you recall overhearing talk in the inn you stayed at marking these as belonging to House Jumai, one of the more powerful nobles in Coran.
"This area isn't safe for travel at this time. The whole place has been crawling with goblin packs. What is your business in this area?"
| Irina Moretskya |
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"Collecting the bounty on goblin ears, of course," Irina says, holding up the ears Alma's made her carry. "Wouldn't make much sense to be anywhere else."
"Oh, and we also rescued this friendly dwarf and this paladin of the Mithril Rose, who'd been chained up by a pair of devils to an altar of Asmodeus," she adds as an after-thought. "But if you still don't think we're able to handle ourselves with a few goblin packs, then we'll gladly head back to Coran with our bounty."
| Markov Galan |
| Male Half-Elf Alchemist/3 HP 16/20 |
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Markov signals Talyn to return and reatach.
"We have been away from our group for some time. Perhaps you can fill us in with what has happened in our absence."
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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As Irina holds up the string of goblin ears the man laughs out loudly, "Ho ho. Far be it from me to make recommendations to where you should or should not travel then. You must be the ones who bested the ogre then? Calid feared you all must have fallen to the vermin, he shall be glad to hear you are well."
His voice loses his joviality, "Sav was overrun, as was the settlement he was protecting. All were slaughtered. But as you can see" he makes a gesture taking in the near two dozen men and women with him, "the nobles have sent us forth to drive the goblins back. We've slaughtered several packs we've run into and no doubt the vermin have high tailed it back into the mountains. The patrols will continue though for the foreseeable future. You would be welcome to join us in the hunt if you wish, though I don't anticipate much more happening out here. Otherwise you may return to your business in Coran and collect your bounty."
At the news of Sav's death Kydus bows his head, uttering a quiet prayer to Serenrae. "Sav was a good man."
| Irina Moretskya |
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"Sav...the settlement...?" Irina falters. "We were only supposed to be gone a few hours, to defeat that ogre...not to get sidetracked rescuing captured paladins..."
Irina furiously scrubs at her face.
| Warren Enzroth |
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A slight flicker of emotion runs across Warren's face at the news, whether anger or sadness it is difficult to tell before he hides it again. These things happen. That is why I do what I do. May those who have fallen victim to these monsters find peace
It seems the situation here is taken care of. We should see if there is anything more we can do to help the civilians here, and then be off back to Coran.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Kydus looks pained at this new information, as though he is in some part responsible for it.
"If you hadn't gone to Calid he would have fallen to the ogre. You could not have known another group of goblins was close by. Sav and his men slew near three dozen defending as they could. Your presence there may have simply left us more dead to find and bury - and no rescue for this dwarf and paladin." says the soldier.
| Alma |
| Male Human Paladin/2 HP 28/33 |
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Alma tries hide his emotions upon learning of the settlement. Anger flashed across his face. Was I selfish? Did I lead as Imoedae would have wanted?
Alma remains quiet as they return to Coran.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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A day later the group arrives back in Coran and collects the bounty.
Kydus prepares to depart with the following words, "My blade is yours should you need it someday." He watches Irina closely as he speaks the words.
| Warren Enzroth |
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After a few days' rest in the city, Warren goes to the library to see if he can find any information on the names they uncovered.
| TowerOfTheHeavens |
| Unknown |
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Spending a few hours in the library looking over books provided by the librarians, Warren uncovers the following:
Osir and Bel Sorrin, one holders of the first seat of the Merchant's Guild were killed during the War of Ascension in 4476, two months prior to the ousting of the mages of the sealing of the tower.
Their business empire covered goods and services of all kinds.
The Sorrin estates were located on the Ioso islands, though they had residences in Coran, Akleta, Gumlat, and probably any number of neighboring kingdoms.
The couple had one daughter, Mariann Sorrin, a skilled warrior. Mariann Sorrin did not spend much time at home once she was of age, it is believed a division stood between her and her parents, though exact nature of the division is unknown.
Stories from the north, would occasionally reach Coran of heroics done by Mariann Sorrin and two traveling companions of hers. Logan Drais, an elf of renowned skill with a rapier and sometimes questionable reputation. And Adella Nuneirath, an elven priestess of Serenrae.
Two months after her parents death Mariann Sorrin returned home and claimed a place among the new nobility of Coran by virtue of her parents wealth and standing, which she was granted. She was not popular among the other nobles or her servants though, considered a harsh and spiteful woman, and a shrewd and manipulative politician.
Late in the year 4477 she disappeared for two months time, leaving many to speculate what had become of her. Upon her return she once again begin to ply her style of politics. Five weeks later she was found dead in her home, slain by an unknown hand.
Investigations were made, but because of her reputation and numerous political rivals she had made in her short political career nothing substantial was ever discovered.
Logan Drais moved to Coran several years after the War of Ascension, a wealthy man from days spent adventuring he turned his interest to trading caravans and shipments.
Adella Nuneirath has not been heard of since those days. Whether she returned to her elven homelands or headed for others parts is unknown.