The Mephits have a secret room in the Eyrie. It was sponsored by Anondar Harilax, a retired majordomo for House Ornelos who is called "Uncle Anondar" by many in the family. The Mephits have taken to meeting in there when they are scheming, and this is where they hid Jolistina after they captured her.
She was a puzzle. She had a key to the Eyrie and was extremely familiar with its layout. Once she regained consciousness they discovered that her plans had been thrown into disarray when they closed the host club at the beginning of the week. Of particular annoyance to her was the cancelling of Vudran Day, since her plan had been to carry out her attack during that event. At rather short notice, then, she'd had to move her plans to one of the parties being thrown by House Carowyn. Clearly, the move was too abrupt, since the mission was a failure and she'd ended up captured.
Leutnant Serai Leroung was attending a Company Muster. While Seneschel Kalepopolis (the civilian commander-in-chief) was not present, Commandant Endrin and Oberstleutnant du Moire were both there. After the inspection there were some awards presented, including a couple for ten years of service. Then Leutnant Leroung's name was called, and she was presented with a Meritorious Service Award for her valour in defending the civilians in attendance at a social event at Carowyn Manor.
Siolin Jeggare felt the need to track down Rolth, the necromancer who had accompanied Jolistina to the party. Fortunately, Siolin excels at tracking people down in an urban environment, and after several hours of hard work he had determined that Rolth had last been seen entering the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden. Since by this time it was fairly late, the Mephits decided to meet again in the morning.
Moving out to the hospice, the Mephits were uncertain how to approach. Karmina purchased a lot of fresh fruit, and then the group went in and distributed it to the sick. They encouraged who they could, and Siolin gave a speech inspiring competence in the Queen's Physicians. Outside, Svokui cast locate object, targeting Rolth's wand that they'd seen at the party. He determined that it was beneath the hospice, but the staff insisted that there wasn't a lower level. Karmina circled the outside of the building after casting detect secret doors, and found one around the back of the building.
The Mephits went back to their secret room, stumped. They'd heard rumours of wererats, but felt that they were less important than the plague. They knew that some bodies were being dumped in an alley in Old Korvosa, but didn't think that they were the right group to investigate such slacking. They wanted to cure the plague, but didn't want to assault a volunteer hospice full of sick people and the physicians attending them.
They packaged up everything they knew about it and delivered the information to Lord Glorio Arkona.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 5)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 2)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 3)
Lord Glorio Arkona isn't happy about the plague. He has always shown concern for the well-being of the residents of Old Korvosa, and these people were the hardest hit by blood veil. He gave his chief of security, Vennashti Arkona (a cousin from Cheliax), the job of taking care of it. Vennashti decided to get a scroll of passwall and make a covert entry into the hospice. He was familiar with the layout (having visited it when the Arkonas still used it as a warehouse) and knew that there was a key necessary to activate the freight lift and descend into the secret storage area.
Svokui Miskels accompanied Serai Leroung in her role as liaison between the Mephits and the Arkonas. Hethibarb Arkona, hoping to increase his chances of being accepted as a Mephit, was also along. A random house guard was also assigned to the task by Vennashti.
Svokui used locate object to determine that the lift's key was currently in the southern office on the top floor, and Vennashti went up alone to scope things out. He reported that some Gray Maidens and Queen's Physicians were up there, but that one of the Gray Maidens had evidently gone crazy and killed the others before dying herself. Svokui and Serai went upstairs and knocked on the office door.
Doctor Devaulus answered the door, and recognized the Mephits as having been on the platform as guests of honour when he was introduced to the city. He invited them into his office, and Svokui charmed him. When it was explained the Svokui needed to borrow the key for a brief spell, the doctor very reluctantly handed it over.
Things didn't go as smoothly in the basement. Vennashti hadn't been prepared for the extent of the renovations that had been made, and hadn't brought anyone to disarm alarm systems. Soon there was a warning out of their presence, and they pushed ahead.
Serai's priority was to get to Rolth, who had killed her a few days earlier, and this became the focus of the team's efforts. Svokui was able to use locate object to determine which room he was in, and they rushed there and had a big fight. From there they decided to press on a bit, and through a set of double doors faced the massed might of some Gray Maidens, some guards, and some clerics of Urgathoa. They won the fight, but decided that they needed to get out while they could. Since many Mephits have friends and family in the Gray Maidens they checked beneath the helmets. While they didn't recognize any of the fallen, they were dismayed to see the extent to which the women had been scarred.
Svokui went up to return the key, and found Dr Devaulus waiting impatiently at the top of the lift. He immediately took back the key and started down, saying that he was going to catch it from her for being late in responding to the alarm. Svokui asked him a few questions before leaving the elevator on the ground floor, and discovered that the doctor worked for the Red Mantis.
The group left the hospice in a hurry, and Vennashti dispelled the passwall.
PCs:
Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 2)
Guest NPCs:
Vennashti Arkona
Hethibarb Arkona
some random House Arkona guard who futilely offered to tell people his name
The revelation that Doctor Devaulus worked for the Red Mantis radically changed the plans of the Mephits. Svokui knew that as soon as the charm person spell wore off that he was going to be reported as a target to the doctor's Red Mantis compatriots, and at that point his life wasn't going to be worth a Magnimaran copper.
Gathering their previously-established mercenary contacts, Svokui and Serai rushed back into the Hospice, accompanied by Karmina and Erst. Siolin remained outside, seeking more information. Svokui used a scroll of passwall to gain entrance to the back of the building, and Erst jury-rigged the lift to get them to the bottom of the shaft.
Once down, they went back to the room where they slew Rolth. Kyra immediately started trying to heal the prisoners, but their insanity just led to a great deal of screaming and shrieking. Before long the group left the room and pressed onward.
Detect thoughts revealed the presence of someone in one of the rooms off the vat chamber, and the group opened his door. A bald gentleman with an accent from Ustalav greeted them and offered them tea. When the entire group tried to bull into his room he changed into a swarm of bats and bought himself some space.
At the end of a long fight, Valeros was dominated and the gentleman turned himself into a swarm of spiders and slipped through some cracks in his laboratory's wall. Careful searching revealed a secret door, and behind it was a coffin containing the unconscious body of the man. Karmina, the local expert on vampires, explained how to kill him.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 5)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 3)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 4)
Guest NPCs:
Kyra (cleric 3)
Lini (druid 3)
Merisiel (rogue 3)
Sajan (monk 3)
Seoni (sorcerer 3)
Valeros (fighter 3)
After searching the undead's lab thoroughly, it was decided that Karmina would fly up and give Siolin the medical notes that they'd found as well as request additional equipment. To her surprise, however, the lift doors were closed even though they'd left them open. They all approached, and discovered Doctor Davaulus inside. He promptly cast a spell and disappeared.
Serai was confident that he'd only turned invisible and was still around, so she started feeling her way around the lift. She was proved correct when he cast a spell and she collapsed into helpless laughter. With their numbers, however, they were able to quickly defeat the doctor in spite of his magical abilities.
Karmina did her errand, and then everyone waited until a half-elf named Seltyiel arrived with their supplies. Pressing on, they moved deeper into the complex.
At one point they found four enormous cylinders containing what Karmina identified as daemons. The two priests in the room tried to break one of the cylinders, but the Mephits and their people were too quick, and the priests fell.
Beyond that was an oddly confident woman, waiting in a room of seven vats. She exhorted the intruders to prostrate themselves before her, and several of them did. She stood on the air above them and used her magic to good effect.
This lasted until Lini pulled out a wand of dispel magic, and brought the woman crashing to the ground. Angered, she cast another spell, and dark energy crackled on her fingers.
Serai rushed up, and the woman reached out and touched her. Even with Zellara's prophecy to aid her, she fell dead to the floor. The others quickly finished off the priestess, but the damage was done. They paused a moment to assess the situation.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 5)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 3)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 4)
Guest NPCs:
Kyra (cleric 3)
Lini (druid 3)
Merisiel (rogue 3)
Sajan (monk 3)
Seltyiel (fighter 1/evoker 2)
Seoni (sorcerer 3)
Valeros (fighter 3)
Hmmm. I'm slightly surprised that the Mephits haven't been attempting to take prisoners to turn over to the authorities, given the crimes against the city that they must suspect that some of these people have been committing.
I haven't expressed the depth of fear that they feel for the Red Mantis. Their absolute determination is that they will leave no trace of who was in the basement, and then I think they're going to plant a story putting the blame on someone else.
Kezug is usually the one with a weak stomach when it comes to killing, and he's running the perimeter outside. Serai has lost the lawful part of her alignment while this has been going on, though.
There's a spoiler-filled discussion of this issue in the other forum.
Kezug is usually the one with a weak stomach when it comes to killing, and he's running the perimeter outside.
Goblins in Korvosa, call the guards!
Kezug is usually the one with a weak stomach when it comes to killing, and he's running the perimeter outside.Goblins in Korvosa, call the guards!
Gah! I suck! I meant, of course, Siolin. Good catch. :)
(The same player has Siolin in this campaign and Kezug in the Birdcrunchers game.)
The Mephits looked over the carnage of the temple to Urgathoa. They had defeated the priestess, but at the cost of Serai's life. Hethibarb Arkona chose that moment to return to the scene and walk in on the carnage. Screaming at the sight of the body of his most recent crush he sprinted toward her. Karmina Ornelos took the opportunity to slip out and prepare for her date with Hethibarb's uncle.
Everyone else circulated around the room. Erst Fordyce started checking the fountain for secret compartments. He found one and began looking to see if it was trapped. The others started treating their own injuries and other similar tasks.
To everyone's astonishment, there was a crackle of energy from the statue of Urgathoa, and the priestess's corpse began to spurt and congeal, hovering a foot or two above the floor. She then reached down and animated the corpse of Serai Leroung.
The ensuing battle was very tough, particularly since many party resources had already been expended. Serai was particularly effective as a zombie, and ended up grappling Sajan and gnawing on his skull until he eventually died from blood loss. Seltyiel was about to begin a fighting retreat when the group finally managed to take down the priestess's undead form, followed closely by Serai's.
Hethibarb was beside himself. With everyone else's permission he took Serai's body and left for the temple of Abadar. Kyra began pontificating about making sure that everybody knew the exact details of the Red Mantis's presence in the city and all that had transpired. Seltyiel rolled his eyes and knocked her unconscious. He and Svokui spent the rest of their prestidigitation castings (including one extended prestidigitation from Svokui) cleaning everything in the complex that might lead back to them. They also used a wand of animate dead to turn everyone they'd killed into a skeleton, and then trapped them so that they couldn't get at the still-restrained patients. Svokui used three floating disc spells to transport out the daemon-holding cylinders.
Working anonymously, they planted a story with the church of Pharasma that Blackjack had killed people responsible for the plague, but that the space beneath the hospice was still overrun with undead. The church responded in force and destroyed all of the skeletons, blowing them into dust. The Mephits also dropped off the notes anonymously at the Academae, along with clues that Blackjack was responsible for discovering the notes that could lead to a cure.
Well aware that they had established for themselves a reputation for doing their utmost to fight the plague, they announced that the culmination of their efforts was the funding of a planar ally spell to bring an astral deva to Korvosa to walk the streets and cast remove disease on all who need it. They asked Archbanker Tuttle to prepare it, as well as raise dead (for Sajan) and resurrection (for Serai) the following day. Siolin Jeggare also secured a wand of modify memory, which he used on Kyra to make her think that she'd been with Blackjack and not the Mephits when she went beneath the hospice.
Meanwhile, Hathibarb Arkona had appealed in most strident terms to his family. An emmisary was sent to House Leroung.
Serai looked around. She was at the end of a very long line of people winding through a graveyard, waiting to get into a palace. She recognized the place from the last time she'd been dead, three days previously. She relaxed and prepared for a long wait. The man in front of her in the queue smiled at her and started talking in a language she couldn't understand. She shook her head and shrugged. He spoke more loudly and slowly. Soon he added gesticulations. The insect woman in front of him smiled and relaxed at no longer being his target, and Serai tried to ignore him. She was delighted when, after hours of this, she felt a tug to return to the material plane.
She awoke in the Temple of Abadar, with her mother and little sister looking at her through tear-reddened eyes. Her mother gave her a big hug.
"I told you that if you joined the military then it would be the death of you! And now it has been. Twice! Oh, please say that this violent phase is over and you're ready to work in the library, like your brother. Maybe your husband can be a good influence on you this way."
"Wait!" shouted Serai. "What!? Back up and explain yourself!"
"Well, honey, it's not cheap bringing someone back from the dead, and we've had to do it twice for you this week. We've arranged your marriage with Hethibarb Arkona, and they've agreed to fund part of this expense. The alliance will be good for both Houses, and really it's past time that we should have arranged something like this anyway."
She gave Serai a pink dress that they'd brought with them, and she struggled out of bed and got dressed. Serai's mom beckoned through the doorway, and Hethibarb came bounding it.
"We'll leave you two alone now."
Serai's mom and sister left, and Hethibarb beamed. Serai glowered at him.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 5)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 3)
Guest NPCs:
Kyra (cleric 3) [played by Siolin's player]
Lini (druid 3) [played by Serai's player]
Merisiel (rogue 3) [played by Serai's player]
Sajan (monk 3) [played by Svokui's player]
Seltyiel (fighter 1/evoker 2) [played by Siolin's player]
Seoni (sorcerer 3) [played by Erst's player]
Valeros (fighter 3) [tied up for the entire session]
and special guest:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 1)
After taking care of bringing team members back to life, the Mephits (plus Hethibarb) went to their various homes and inquired after what might be available in terms of house guards to escort the angel around Korvosa. Between them, the Houses provided several squads of guards who could escort someone circulating through the city. Though they would eventually be working in shifts these squads all came to the Bank of Abadar for the arrival of the angel.
Archbanker Tuttle arranged with Siolin Jeggare for the payments, and then began the ten-minute casting. With them in the room were Karmina Ornelos and Svokui Miskels. Soon an astral deva of Sarenrae appeared, introducing herself as Sanmeltrah. Siolin explained the proposal to her, and presented her with a gift. He suggested that she leave it in the bank rather than being on the streets carrying thousands of gold shields. She agreed, and the group of them proceeded to the lobby of the bank so that she could open an account.
Moving out into an area protected from the crowds, Siolin instructed the House guards to secure the area and then he introduced Sanmeltrah to the people. With the guards keeping order in spite of a near-riot, an orderly line approached her and she cast remove disease on each person. This went on for many hours, since word quickly spread of what was happening. When the Mephits and Hethibarb went home to sleep this was still on-going.
The next morning they each received a messenger from the castle inviting them to an audience with the queen at about an hour after noon. They also heard that the queen would be making some public pronouncements. They met and discussed options, and decided to go see the queen and be on their very best behaviour. They checked on Sanmeltrah, and learned about all of the squabbles that had happened in her presence but were reassured to find no major incidents. They also received a message from Tayce Soldado inviting them to a potluck dinner at her home that evening.
That afternoon they went to Castle Korvosa. Several of them noticed a tingling in their heads, as though someone was trying to look inside them. They handed over their weapons and then waited until they were escorted in to see the queen. She was attended, as always, by her bodyguard Sabina. She thanked the Mephits for all of their efforts on her behalf, particularly the coin exchange and the summoning of the angel. She appreciated that they had done these things in her honour and had worked to bring the city's population around to her side. She issued each of them a certificate for a purchase within the city's walls.
They were then all escorted out onto a balcony in front of a waiting crowd. The queen publicly praised them for their efforts and called them heroes of Korvosa. She particularly praised Leutnant Serai Leroung as the only member of the Sable Company who had been effective during the plague, to the point of laying down her life twice in her efforts to fight it. The queen also said that she would be making use of the group in the future to secure Korvosa's interests, especially in light of the ineffectiveness of the Korvosan Guard in the course of the crisis.
Responding to an earlier-received invitation, the Mephits and Hethibarb quickly made their way to Citadel Volshyenek, where an obviously sleep-deprived field marshal personally thanked them for their work in fighting the plague. She said that in light of the guard's decreased numbers she could easily spare some equipment from the armory, and invited them to peruse what was there and help themselves to something.
After that they went their separate ways to prepare for the potluck dinner. That evening they made their way to Trail's End, bringing various dishes. Karmina also brought along the orphan choir and had them perform the song that they had sung at the opening of the Eyrie. The Varisians had composed a fiddle song called The Dance of the Mephits, which was performed for the first time around a fire after dinner.
The following day was spent at the castle, where they each sat for portraits. The queen promised that these would be hung in the hall of heroes, alongside the paintings of their ancestors. Since it was Erst Fordyce's birthday they all went out to the Posh & Turtle for dinner.
The next day was Wealday, which meant that their allowances were deposited in their accounts in the bank. They were pleased to discover that their families had increased their income as a reward for their efforts on behalf of the city. They also received word that the queen hoped that they would travel to Citadel Vraid and then on to Bloodsworn Vale on her behalf, so they made purchases and preparations for that. They received a sealed message tube for the lector of the Order of the Nail, and they went into their secret room in the Eyrie and read it. The queen was terminating her contract with the hellknights, and while they would still be welcome in town she would no longer be paying them to enforce the city's laws. Their assignment in Bloodsworn Vale was to investigate why Sir Gyrad, a knight sent there during the tricentennial by King Eodred II, hadn't made any progress in opening the trade route.
House Ornelos was moving into the Academae campus and sealing it up for a while, so Karmina had no trouble securing a family carriage for cross-country travel. The group spent Oathday en route to Citadel Vraid, and Leutnant Leroung flew above them on her hippogriff. (She had been reassigned to the queen's mission after two of her four squad members died and a third went missing over OId Korvosa.) Before long they were at a staging area, and Serai was obliged to leave Dagger (the hippogriff) behind. The carriage was escorted the rest of the way to the citadel by a hellknight.
The main entrance to the citadel had massive doors, and the entire architecture suggested that it was crafted to allow the Order to entertain Huge guests. As they entered, the knight removed a gauntlet and gestured to a small shrine. He explained that every time a hellknight used the main entrance he or she would offer a small amount of blood to Asmodeus. He also explained that this wasn't mandatory, but simply a courtesy, and the guests should not feel obliged. He then drew a small amount of blood, sprinkled it on the altar, and offered his knife to the group. They each made the sacrifice.
The message delivered, the group accepted the hospitality of the Order and stayed in guest quarters. Karmina made sure that she was outside in the sun, however, when she prepared her spells Fireday morning.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 5)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Leutnant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 3)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 4 [of Nethys])
Guest NPC:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 1)
Having met up with the supply wagon, the Mephits escorted it to Fort Thorn. (Svokui Miskels learned some news from them and instead rode back to Korvosa.) The carters were particularly concerned about the minotaurs who lived in the pass west of the vale and often ambushed supply wagons. Leutnant Leroung flew overhead, alert for danger, and the group made it to Fort Thorn unimpeded.
The guards recognized Leutnant Leroung's flight suit as she began to land, and gestured her over the walls to land inside. One of them ran to fetch Sir Gyrad. Soon the knight was welcoming the Sable Company officer and having his men barrack Dagger (her hippogriff) in the stall reserved for just such a purpose. Sir Gyrad was surprised to see her, as he hadn't been expecting a visit from a marine this week, but welcomed her warmly.
As the others approached, Leutnant Leroung made introductions. When he realized the families of his guests he became somewhat overwhelmed, and offered them rooms in the keep. It was late, but they hadn't eaten, so he rousted up his cook and had a supper prepared for them. He told them about some recent problems, then retired to sleep in the guest barracks, along with the officers he'd rousted out of their rooms.
Siolin and Hethibarb began working through Sir Gyrad's paperwork, which he'd confessed was a mess and rather overdue. Serai and Erst spoke with some of the guards and other people in the fort. Karmina slept.
The next morning Sir Gyrad was hoping that they would be able to shed some light on the deaths of his scouting party. They said that they would, and then they set out. They decided that before the went to the murder site they should speak with a hermit who lived locally and who had tried to contact Sir Gyrad in the past (though had received no response).
Along the way, Leutnant Leroung and Dagger were surprised by a chimera who resented their intrusion into her air. There was quite a battle, but the Mephits helped out as soon as they could and in the end they were victorious.
They took along a keg of beer, which the hermit (who called himself "Oakbrow") received with enthusiasm. After a long talk it was agreed that Oakbrow could sell his potions in Fort Thorn, and that he would help the fort in times of need. He also told the Mephits about an ancient cold iron mine west of his home.
Deciding to check out the mine but wanting to do so during the daytime, the group journeyed to its mouth and made camp nearby. During the night they were approached by some hobgoblins who demanded that they throw down their weapons and surrender. This did not end well for the hobgoblins, though one of them ended up under a suggestion spell from Siolin. The hobgoblins ended up unconscious and tied up, and after surveying the mine the Mephits built a travois and hauled their prisoners back to the fort.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 6)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3)
Leutnant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 5)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 5 [of Nethys])
(Note that the player of Hethibarb Arkona has been invited to join the group. Hethibarb, on the other hand, has not yet been invited to join the Mephits.)
After delivering their hobgoblin prisoners to Gyres at the gatehouse, the Mephits let Sir Gyrad know that they had returned, and were hungry. He promised them supper, and they had an hour. Hethibarb brought the chimera teeth to Gyres and asked for help getting them drilled to make jewellery. Siolin spent more time with Gyres, getting to know him and befriending him a bit. Serai spent the time with Dagger (her hippogriff), getting he cleaned up after his long flights and making sure that he was well tended. Erst was greeted by a wizard who had teleported in from Korvosa to bring him back to town for a family function, and they departed. Karmina had a nap.
Over dinner, Sir Gyrad asked how their murder investigation was going, since news had leaked out that the survey team had been killed and mutilated. Serai told him that they had killed the chimera that was responsible for many deaths throughout the vale, and Sir Gyrad was satisfied.
Using information they'd gained from the hobgoblins who had ambushed them, the Mephits and Hethibarb journeyed north along the eastern bank of Petal River. The nearly disturbed some dire boars along the way, but some quick thinking allowed them to avoid any hostile encounters.
Serai and Dagger were able to spot the hobgoblin encounter from the air, and they returned to the others with the information. Siolin took the lead, and they all advanced toward the outer earthenworks surrounding the hobgoblin camp (with Serai and Dagger once again in the air). They called out greetings and spoke with the leader, a hobgoblin named Kurat. Siolin offered him five gold sails a day if he and his band would assist in taking out the ogres who were roving the area.
(They had earlier learned from their prisoners that half of the hobgoblin band had been killed by the ogres.)
Kurat said that he would require ten gold a day and three longbows plus three hundred arrows. Siolin countered with an offer of shortbows instead of longbows, to be delivered after the ogres were dead. Kurat insisted on at least one shortbow before the attack. Siolin said that he didn't have a shortbow with him, but could give a cash advance instead. Kurat declined the cash, insisting on the weapon. Siolin said that he would return in two days with a shortbow for Kurat. Kurat said that he expected reinforcements to return by then, and thus they would be able to assault the ogres with a decent attack force.
On their way back, the group decided that they should at least look at the site where the survey party had been murdered. They searched around, and found some personal effects, a thorny arrow, and a trail leading south. They began following the trail, but between the failing daylight and Dagger's complaints at pushing through the forest they decided to return the next morning.
Upon their return they relocated the tracks and continued following them. Eventually they came to a clearing, and were surprised to see circles of rose bushes (that looked to have been recently tended) surrounding some monoliths. Siolin began to detect magic, and Hethibarb looked at the edge of the perimeter in case there were traps. Just as he discovered that there was one (and Siolin said that there was magic), two of the rose bushes transmogrified into Small gnome-like people and attacked him.
Wanting to impress his fiancee, Hethibarb drew his weapon and charged the archers, forgetting that he had just discovered a trap in his path. A thorny vine snaked out and entangled him, and the archers continued to shoot him.
Things started to escalate, and eventually Siolin cast calm emotions and attempted to negotiate with the guards. He was sufficiently persuasive that they were convinced to send an emissary (who turned out to be another rose bush turning into one of them) down to tell their king. They sent along a valuable gift for him, and eventually the emissary returned to take them to the king.
The journey went down some stairs and through a grisly dining room, where more of the same kind of people were feasting on human remains. The guard gestured that they could push their way through a thorn wall in order to speak with the king. They did so, and they found the unfriendly monarch sprawled in his throne. Some truly prodigious diplomacy soon had the king feeling helpful, and he explained that he was being required to pay tribute of four of his people's ears every month to Vardak the sorcerer, who enforced his will with brown dragons. There would be nearly a month before the next tribute was required, and Siolin promised that the group would try to resolve the issue before then.
The next day they all returned to Kurat's fortifications. His reinforcements had not arrived, and he was unable to give Siolin the strength the latter desired. Siolin gave him the shortbow and worked out further payment details (payable upon completion of the assignment) while Serai and Dagger scouted out the ogres home. Kurat told them that the ogre leader was named Shinka, and that she lived in the mountains with her two husbands.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 2)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 3/Pathfinder chronicler 1)
Leutnant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 5)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 5 [of Nethys])
Siolin Jeggare had left to venture back to Korvosa for some business ventures, and Erst Fordyce arrived, accompanied by Morvius (a scout detailed by Sir Gyrad to guide Erst to his companions). The eight people (four Mephits, a scout, and three hobgoblins) conconcted their tactics.
Having decided that Leutnant Leroung would fly ahead and lure the ogres out of their shack, the others set out on their trek. They were still ten minutes away when Dagger made his second flight over the ogre residence. Two ogres were hard at work constructing some sort of huge contraption to fling timber at the skies. It had a very low rate of fire, but since Leroung was firing flaming arrows she wasn't much faster. This continued until a large piece of lumber smacked itself into Dagger, who suddenly could no longer maintain altitude.
As Dagger did his best of have a controlled landing, the ogres cheered and rushed toward his likely impact point. Once down, Leroung did a fast dismount, ducked behind a rock, and swigged a potion of invisibility. The ogres rushed past, intent on eating hippogriff, and began hurling javelins. One of them managed to hit Dagger, who collapsed in a bloody heap.
Serai Leroung is nothing if not brave, so she leapt up and took on the two ogres single-handedly. The badly bloodied by their enormous hooks, she managed to take them both down with some very lucky blows. She poured a healing potion down Dagger's throat, then sat and waited for her companions to arrive.
The hobgoblins were quick to begin looting the site, and Karmina occupied herself by healing both Dagger and Serai. Soon the hobgoblins had claimed all the loot and were hoping for more, and a squabble was brewing when the third ogre appeared. The eight made short work of it, and suddenly the hobgoblin commander gave the order to attack the humans. This ended badly for the hobgoblins. On their way home, the group stopped at the hobgoblin fortification and finished off the remaining two.
Returning to Fort Thorn, the group also reported on some gold resources they'd found in the hills near the hobgoblin fortifications, which delighted Sir Gyrad. They knew that the supply wagon was due from Korvosa that evening (since it arrived every Sunday), so they decided to take a day of rest. Nobody minded until the wagon failed to appear.
The next day Serai and Dagger were back in the air, scouting out the wagon route. The found a hedge maze, populated by at least two minotaurs. It contained the wagon and the remains of the horses that had been pulling it.
Meanwhile, the Petal River was becoming very befouled even though it had been perfectly clear the previous day.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 2) [also played Kurat, the hobgoblin commander]
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 7) [also played Morvius the scout]
Leutnant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 5) [also played Seda Lizardbane the hobgoblin]
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 5 [of Nethys]) [also played Maral the hobgoblin]
Siolin Jeggare teleported back to Fort Thorn (with some help hired from Theumanexus College) and brought with him a clerk he'd hired in a side trip to Kaer Maga. Siolin told everyone else that a group of miners left about a day after the supply wagon with the intention of reopening the cold iron mine, and Serai and Dagger immediately flew off to warn them about the minotaurs and escort them to their destination.
Unsure of how to deal with the hedge maze, the Mephits and Hethibarb sought out Oakbrow the druid. He told them that he could indeed help them with the problem, but in exchange he wanted them to deal with the negative energy problems plaguing Mist Lake. They were hoping for more concessions out of him, but ultimately agreed.
Arriving at Mist Lake fairly late in the day, they discovered that the spirits of some Chelish soldiers were locked in combat with the spirits of some Shoanti warriors, some three hundred years after their deaths. Attempts at reconciliation turned out to be futile, and in the end a burst of positive energy from Karmina was enough to send the Shoanti warriors running. The Chelish soldiers expressed their gratitude and at long last made their journey to Pharasma's judgement.
The next day the group set out to the swamp, in a long-overdue response to an invitation the lizardfolk there had sent to Sir Gyrad. After stumbling around for a while (and encountering Asta the troll, whom they talked out of eating them by directing her to some buffalo bugs) they finally encountered some lizardfolk, who were persuaded to bring them to Chief Kassmak. Siolin Jeggare spent some time negotiating with him, much to everyone's benefit.
Among other bits of information, Chief Kassmak told Siolin about some so-called nightmare creatures who lived up the Coldrun River. Siolin promised that the group would look into the source of the trouble and attempt to stop the terrifying nighttime incursions. The group went up the river and managed a very stealthy scouting trip. Upon discovering that the encampment was occupied by bugbears they snuck away and returned to Fort Thorn.
They decided that the best tactic at this point was to wait until the following Sunday when the next supply wagon would arrive and accompany it through the pass into the vale. They then spent the next several days (including Saint Alika's birthday) tracking down several important resources in the vale.
As Sunday dawned the group (four Mephits, Hethibarb, and Oakbrow) snuck into position and joined the supply wagon. Its two guards were overwhelmed to find members of three Great Houses attaching themselves to the procession but they rallied admirably. The seven of them felt confident that they could take out three minotaurs, and brazenly rode through the pass.
Sure enough, the minotaurs attacked. Things looked good for the heroes until Urx the stone giant joined in from the other side. She was grumbling about not having been promised enough of the loot, but she fought alongside the minotaurs anyway. This lasted right up until Siolin hit her with a suggestion spell, and soon she was convinced that the minotaurs were going to rob her of her share of the treasure and was fighting them for it.
The combat ended soon after this, and Siolin sent Urx off to eat the bugbears.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 2) [also played Urx]
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 7) [also played Oakbrow]
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 1) [also played a wagon guard]
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 5 [of Nethys]) [also played a wagon guard]
Leutnant Serai Leroung of the Sable Company flew into Fort Thorn. She reported that the cold iron mine was once again being worked, but that the miners had been careless and had contracted some strange disease while exploring the lower reaches. Rolling her eyes, Karmina Ornelos rode off to help heal them.
The remaining Mephits took Hethibarb and set out to investigate the rumours of the sorcerer who demanded tribute from the fey. By the end of the first day they were approaching the place where they'd discovered the bugbear fortification, so they proceeded with caution. It turned out that this was unnecessary, since clearly some enormous force had smashed through everything and killed or dispersed all of the bugbears.
After two more days of travel, they were approaching the mountains in the northeast corner of the Vale. They saw four winged creatures flying toward them, and prepared for an attack. They had determined from the description given by the fey that there were wyverns serving the sorcerer, and deduced that these must be them.
Sadly, they were unprepared for the fiery bursts that the "wyverns" breathed at them. The battle went badly, leaving Dagger and Hethibarb dead and everyone else unconscious or scattered. The flame wyverns landed, poked around, talked among themselves, and flew off.
Erst revived an unconscious Serai, and they and Siolin buried Dagger. They then made a travois and began dragged Hethibarb's corpse back to Fort Thorn. They made good progress to the swamp (helped by the fact that all three were wearing rings of sustenance), after which they had assistance in getting back to the fort. Once there, Father Apar cast gentle repose on Hethibarb and Serai performed the ceremony to gain a new hippogriff companion. She named her Cloak.
As Sunday morning stretched to noon, the Mephits set out for Korvosa. Along the way them met the supply wagon, and inquired if there was any mail for them. The wagoneers, shocked at meeting members of three Great Houses out in the forest, stammered and checked. In fact there were several letters and even two packages (both for Leutnant Leroung).
Opening the small package first, the leutnant discovered lieutenant's insignia for the Korvosan guard and some congratulations on her promotion, along with her permanent assignment to Fort Thorn under the command of Sir Gyrad. The message likewise included a reassignment of Dagger from her to Sir Gyrad. She opened the larger package, and discovered uniforms in her size for the Korvosan Guard, along with a letter saying that Commandant Endrin was dead and that the Sable Company had been disbanded.
The other letters were less dramatic, though the one to Erst Fordyce saying that the woman he was courting had been killed in the line of duty as a Grey Maiden distressed him a great deal. Siolin also had a considerably longer letter, giving him descriptions of everything that had happened. He was particularly intrigued by Togomor, the new seneschal.
When they were nearly back in Korvosa they activated their hats of disguise and Siolin snuck around doing some discreet investigations. He learned a bit more, and soon the group was back in town. Serai kept her presence a secret, but everyone else let it be known that they were home, and dismissed Cloak. Hethibarb was raised from the dead.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 3)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 7)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 2)
Leutnant/Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 5)
Karmina asked several of her friends to meet her in the secret room in the Eyrie. She had received information that the queen had signed a contract with a belier devil, and wanted to make sure that her companions were aware of this. For the most part they were glad that the power behind the throne was a devil rather than a demon, and decided to move on to more pressing matters.
Hethibarb Arkona had heard from his uncle Glorio that Pilts Swastel had set himself up in Old Korvosa as emperor, and this was contrary to family interested. Hethibarb had told his uncle that he'd take care of things.
At the same time, Erst Fordyce had been contacted by the Friends of Korvosa and told that Vencarlo Orisini apparently had some information concerning the queen but that nobody had heard from he since about the time of the quarantine. Erst wanted to look into it.
That evening they made their way to Endrin Island, after a Harrow reading from Zellara. It was late, so they stayed in the building on the Arkona estate where Hethibarb had grown up. (He's a member of a lesser branch of the family, so doesn't live in the main manor house.) The next morning he seemed incapable of serving them breakfast, so they decided to go to Jeggare's Jug.
On the way there they stopped off at Orisini Academy so that Erst could get the information that he needed, but they saw that it had been burned down. The nearby residence was still standing, but they decided that it would be uncivilized to approach him this early in the morning so pressed on for breakfast.
When they returned they knocked on his door, but there was no response. (All of them had activated their hats of disguise except for Hethibarb, who didn't have one.) To their surprise the door was unlocked, so they went inside. They saw a fire burning so knew that someone was around, and began investigating. Soon they were ambushed by a pair of Red Mantis assassins. By the end of the fight the assassins were both dead and Orisini's house was ablaze.
After Hethibarb finished running the bucket brigade and the fire was out he dismissed the crowd. One young man wanted to talk to him, so Hethibarb took him aside while the others searched through the rubble with detect magic. They also stripped the two dead assassins. One of the assassins had died of a critical hit during the fight, but they other had only been knocked unconscious, so before dispatching her Siolin made sure to hit her with a modify memory spell to make her forget the last five minutes before she died.
To their surprise, they recognized her once they took her mask off. Her name was Yindrini Hasmarga, a longtime friend of Rosedale Arkona who he knew had always secretly plotted against his family. They left her body to burn with the house.
Meanwhile, Hethibarb was speaking with a fellow who was hoping that the Arkonas would track down and rescue Vencarlo. He told Hethibarb that he'd seen Vencarlo talking to Salvator Scream, an artist whose works adorned many noble walls in Korvosa, including those of Arkona Manor. Hethibarb thanked him for the information and assured him he'd take it under advisement.
Hethibarb reported all this to his uncle, who asked why Hethibarb was interested in Vencarlo. Hethibarb told Glorio that they thought that that Vencarlo was related to the rise of the emperor, whereupon Glorio assured him that there was absolutely no connection. Then the two began to plan how to make sure that the Red Mantis didn't find out about Hethibarb's involvement in the death of two of their own. Glorio also gifted him with a hat of disguise.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 3)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 2)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 6)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 5 [of Nethys])
Having brought Erst's shrunken body back to the mainland, the group contacted the Fordyce family and arranged for them to finance a trip to the temple of Asmodeus. After Erst was raised and uncursed, Karmina had some chores to do for her family, so everyone else went to the Eyrie to discuss some issues. They were particularly concerned about the fact that Hethibarb's aunt had Vencarlo and the seneschal in "protective custody".
Hethibarb said that he needed everyone to trust him when he was recommending certain weapons and tactics while confronting her. This proved a bit of a sticking point, so he had everyone agree to either get a ring of mind shielding or else have their memory wiped of everything but their decision to trust him if he explained what was going on at Arkona Manor. People agreed, and Hethibarb told them all the big secret of the Arkonas. Then there were mind wipes, and he had his own memory altered in case his uncle poked around in there.
While waiting for Karmina, Siolin mentioned that he'd heard of a beggar who yesterday had paid for a scroll of stone to flesh with a chest full of pinch and silver shields. She'd apparently come back this morning and bought a scroll of teleport with platinum crowns, and people found her less interesting now.
Karmina, meanwhile, discovered that Gasta Weagra (a cousin of hers and the manager of the Gilder Orrery) was taking over a sizeable chunk of book business from Bookmaker, a rival store in Midland. The owner of the latter, one Costa Serimus, had gone missing about a week before. Basha, the owner of a smaller rival, was also taking over some of Serimus's business but was also concerning himself with trying to find the missing man.
The others determined that the beggar woman had actually taken her scrolls to Bookmaker, and had entered the Vaults from there. After a long trek through the sewers they discovered the door she'd entered, and stood around outside wondering what to do. Svokui cast detect thoughts, which ended up alerting whoever was inside to their presence. Mist started seeping around the door.
Siolin had a bellows with him and suck the mist in, then dropped the bellows and backed away. It didn't take long for the mist to emerge from the bellows, after which it solidified into Lem. He looked at Siolin and said "Hiya boss!"
After a few tense, awkward moments, the group followed Lem into the room. He said that a year or two ago a pair of statues had appeared in there. One of them was still there: a feathery human-ish woman with vulture legs and a big beak. The other was missing, but had been an ogre-sized woman down to the waist and a snake from there the rest of the way down. Lem's new mistress had charged him with finding out what was going on. The group allowed him to tag along.
They followed the beggar woman's exit path then trailed her to a warehouse near Gaedren Lamm's old place. Questioning the guard in the basement of the house that sold Vault access, they discovered that she was usually accompanied by a "lion centaur man" who changed into a human before climbing out of the Vaults. After finding that man they learned that he was one of the "Followers of Hetitia". He and Siolin and Lem arranged for Hetitia to meet Lem's new mistress (after Hetitia returned to town in a few weeks).
Still mulling this over, the group went home. They agreed to meet at Theumanexus the next morning to teleport to Fort Thorn.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 3/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 3)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 6)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 5)
[note: This is a summary of two short sessions.]
The Mephits teleported into Fort Thorn with Tepest Geezlebottle. When they arrived at the fey glade in order to ambush the dragons they learned that the fey ears were to be left at the top of a tree elsewhere in the forest. Grumbling, they moved their ambush.
It was a tough fight, but the Mephits prevailed. Karmina Ornelos animated the two fire drakes who had arrived as zombies, and everyone set out for the fortress of Lord Vardak.
When they had almost arrived, they were set upon by four more fire drakes. This was a much closer fight, and for a while it looked like it might be the end of these heroes, but they managed to defeat them. After a short rest they entered the fortress.
They fought a barghest and a golem, and were stunned to discover a matched set of gems that together comprised a Chelish seed of fire. They pondered their options.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 4/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8)
Siolin Jegarre (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 3)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 7)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 6 [of Nethys])
Lini showed up with a message from Oakbrow. Apparently a number of the remaining denizens of the Vale were headed toward the group. Someone skilled at negotiations needed to fly to them quickly before they attacked the PCs from behind while they were fighting Lord Vardak. Karmina took her zombie dragons and flew Siolin off to meet this new threat.
Advancing through Lord Vardak's fortress, the group entered the dining room. Having already peered into the room via a peep hole they knew that nobody was in there, but they also knew that with the amount of noise they'd been making anyone left in the fortress knew they were there.
Erst stepped into the dining room, only to have a ten-foot-tall goblinoid attack him. Rallying to recover, his response time was slow and the goblinoid attacked him again, killing him. Another of the goblinoids became visible as it attacked Hethibarb as he entered the room. Serai rushed to his rescue, and was herself slain. It was a very tough fight, but in the end the Mephits (and Hethibarb) prevailed.
Their resources depleted and two of them dead, the group decided that this was a great opportunity to use the Seed of Fire. Soon Lord Vardak's fortress was nothing but a smoking ruin.
Savouring their too-costly victory, the group trudged back to Korvosa.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 5/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 7)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6)
[Lini was played alternately by Serai and Erst's players.]
After spending some time among the Skoan-Quah of the Kallow Mounds, the Mephits sat around the fire with Thousand Bones, Chief One-Life, and Ash Dancer. There was much discussion, and the Mephits decided to go to the Lyrune-Quah to become Shoanti. Thousand Bones gave them some equipment to help them on their quest, and assigned to them four young Boneslayers as an escort.
The group decided to head to Kaer Maga first. After they killed a land shark on the way, the four Boneslayers started feeling pretty cocky. This lasted until after the trip to the city, when in quick succession an emberstorm and a distant sighting of a huge red dragon quieted them right down.
Another emberstorm was starting up just as the group arrived at the Acropolis of the Thrallkeepers, where the Mephits were hoping to acquire some sort of token that would help them convince the Lyrune-Quah to converse with them. Another group, including Krojun, arrived soon after they did. As they looked around they discovered signs that a couple other people had been there not long before, and hadn't left yet.
Moving deeper into the old ruin, they discovered a large pool. Motion within it indicated that something very big was in the water.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 6/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 4)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6/loremaster 2)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 7 [of Nethys])
Carefully inching past the pool so as not to disturb whatever was in it, the Mephits down a hallway and through a door. Past it was a shrine containing a mosaic of a well-endowed mermaid, much to Hethibarb's delight. He commented that the more he learned of Desna's faith the more he liked it. Eventually he tore himself away from ogling the mermaid and continued checking for traps.
Finding a set of double doors, the Mephits went through to find several statues covered in ancient Thassilonian text. Hethibarb found no traps on the statues, so (as the only people who could read the language) Serai and Svokui started translating. Though it initially looked like a simple task, they soon realized that they were in for a bigger job. They started taking notes, and then needed a system for organizing their translations. Other people got bored and continued to explore while those two continued.
Finding a sixty-foot pit that glowed green, Karmina pondered turning into a bat and flying down it to explore. First though she decided to get Svokui so that he could look at it. When she asked him for help, however, he shrugged her off and continued to work. Karmina wasn't sure what to make of this, and went to talk to Serai. When even she was engrossed in research Karmina knew that something was wrong and cast dispel magic. This freed the two from the trap, and the three of them left (shutting the door firmly behind them).
The pit turned out to be less frightening, having feather fall and levitate in it. The group went down it and looked around, eventually finding a sphere that they determined had an incorrect map on it. After they fooled with it for a bit, Hethibarb suddenly disappeared. Rolling her eyes, Serai duplicated his actions and went after her fiance. Two of the Skoan-Quah boneslayers, intrigued, also followed suit.
There was some concern as to what had happened, and Svokui's ring of x-ray vision allowed him to determine that the people were actually unconscious within the sphere. Before the others had come up with a plan, however, the four came back (albeit with nasty headaches). They had butterfly tattoos on the backs of their left hands, and seemed more alert.
As the group started quietly out of the complex, they discovered more footprints of people who had been there lately, matching those that had preceded them in. They were distracted from this by the Sklar-Quah throwing rocks into the pool, and tentacles erupting to poke at them. A fight ensued, with a total of three tentacles attacking the group before they managed to make it outside.
Tired from a busy day, the Mephits called it an early night and got some sleep behind a nearby hill. They made a timely start the next morning and journeyed all day. As the sun set they were met by Lyrune-Quah moon maidens. A brief negotiation won them an audience with Tekra'Kai, who was glad that her prayers to Desna had been answered by their appearance. She told them about the red reaver who had bonded with the House of the Moon, and they promised to get rid of it.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 6/fighter 1)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 8)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6/loremaster 2)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 7 [of Nethys])
The arrival of Siolin and Erst brought the number of Mephits at the House of the Moon to six, and soon they had decided how they were dealing with the red reaver. Siolin's magic proved sufficient to trick it, and before long it had left the Lyrune-Quah's grounds for good.
Heavy Speech, a shaman of the Shundar-Quah, arrived soon afterward, escorting some familiar faces. Lini, Merisiel, Sajan, Seltyiel, Seoni, and Valeros had decided that it was time to start afresh, and they were on a quest to accomplish this. Heavy Speech left them with Truthspeaker Akram of the Lyrune-Quah, with the understanding that they were recreating the legend of Skurak. Hethibarb, Serai, and Siolin decided to join them. Erst, Karmina, and Svokui decided to spend some time in Kaer Maga.
The next morning Truthspeaker Akaram took his group out of the Lyrune-Quah grounds and headed south. After several days and an occasional distant sighting the group found itself in the midst of combat with Cindermaw the Clan Eater. Things got tense, but eventually everyone in the group (except for Valeros, who died) managed to duplicate the legend of Skurak. Truthspeaker Akram was impressed.
After more travel, the group ended up at the Sklar-Quah camp of Flameford, where Akram recounted the events of the previous week. Krojun was there and seemed unhappy, particularly when the Sun Shaman accepted the eight as Shoanti. Once things progressed to the point where most of them applied to join the Sklar-Quah he left the council fire in disgust.
Siolin stayed behind, but the other seven set out as directed by the Sun Shaman. The totems they had to haul up a hill were heavy and fragile, but they kept them upright. On the second day they were attacked by land sharks, but the new Shoanti managed to drive them off without losing any totems. As the day drew to a close they knew that soon they would be full members of the Sklar-Quah.
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 6/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 4/Pathfinder chronicler 5)
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 8)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6/loremaster 2)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 7 [of Nethys])
As the sun rose, all of Flameford turned out to cheer the new Sklar-Quah. Even Krojun seemed impressed. There is a great celebration.
After a couple days of tattooing Serai had a chance to speak with the Sun Shaman. He told her of his ancestor, another Sun Shaman, who accompanied a hero of Ustalav named Mandraivus on a quest to kill a dragon named Kazavon. He explained the relationship to Korvosa to this quest and the purpose of the Sklar-Quah.
Once the Mephits reunited in Kaer Maga there was discussion of what to do next. Karmina proposed that she cast commune to help clarify their goals. The next morning, immediately before they left, she did just that. The following morning she did the same. The third morning on the way back to Korvosa she felt it unnecessary, so they simply returned home.
Once there they spent time doing their own tasks. Erst watched the Longacre building, trying to build a feel for the shift changes. Karmina donated money to the orphanage she patronizes, and also set up a fund to assist the homeless. Serai gritted her teeth and went home to ask for her family's help in doing some research. Siolin gathered information and requested a pair of boots of teleportation from his contact in Katapesh City. The group also arranged for an audience at the Castle the following morning.
Unfortunately the queen was unable to see them, but General Sabina Merrin was there. She thanked the heroes for their service to the city, knighted them, and told them that they were permanently assigned to Fort Thorn in Bloodsworn Vale.
Once they had their mission Siolin retrieved his boots and the four of them went to Fort Thorn. Sir Gyrad was gone, along with his clerk; he had been reassigned as ambassador to Nirmathas. The group left a message for Oakbrow, spoke with the King of Roses and one of the lizardfolk, then called it a night. Erst began plans for expanding the fort.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 2)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5 [ECL 12])
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 9)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Serai Leroung received word that more avenues of research had opened at the library, so she reluctantly agreed to go home. Siolin used his boots of teleportation to pop them all back to Korvosa. The others had some jobs to do around Korvosa.
The next morning, Karmina cast commune on behalf of Erst, who was curious about the fate of a certain young lady who had joined the Grey Maidens. After that, Siolin teleported them to the inn in Harse, where they had heard Hethibarb was waiting for them. After a while they all teleport back to Korvosa, and do some more chores and shopping.
Early the next morning Siolin teleported them to the easternmost part of Bloodsworn Vale that he had seen, since they had decided that it was high time that they paid a visit to Skelt. They marched all day and arrived there as the sun was setting.
As they were looking for a decent inn, a man mistook Karmina for someone he called Countess Carmilla. They quickly cleared up the misunderstanding and had him show them to a nice inn. Siolin made contact with Mayor Hazim Arast, and mentioned that they would like to address the people. The mayor arranged for the town square to be cleared and for notices to be sent around.
When the Mephits arrived, a small platform awaited them. The mayor introduced them and turned the event over to them. Off to one side, they noticed that there were three well-dressed people paying particular attention: a human woman holding a large stein, a male dwarf holding a staff, and a human woman in grey robes and an iron mask. Karmina stepped forward, warned any undead in the crowd that some positive energy was on its way, and asked everyone else to gather in. She let off a burst of positive energy, which was greatly appreciated by everyone. The crowd was dispersed and more people gathered, and the process was repeated several times. She also made remove disease and lesser restoration available.
Afterward Karmina was approached by the three notable individuals. They introduced themselves as the local high-ranking clergy: Fern Cailean of the church of Cayden Cailean, Bombo Flameaxe of the church of Erastil, and Halla, "Priest of the Third Step" of the church of Razmir. They chatted about theology for a while, though before long only Fern and Hethibarb remained, discussing various finer points of drinking beer.
That night Erst went out to sneak across the rooftops. He was surprised by a halfling woman who introduced herself as Zana. She told him a few things about the way crime worked in Skelt, then disappeared over the side of the roof.
The next morning Karmina approached a woman dressed entirely in white who wore a great deal of valuable jewellery. The woman was accompanied by several people dressed all in black, none of whom spoke during the encounter. The woman introduced herself as Abselm, a prophet of Kalistrade. They had a productive conversation, and both parties looked forward to further discussions.
Before leaving Skelt the group met with the mayor to discuss trade agreements involving the Vale. The very lawful Korvosans found his approach and even his areas of interest to be a source of frustration, and Siolin promised to send clerks to Skelt to help understand the taxation process.
Following up on a lead from one of Hethibarb's friends, Siolin and Hethibarb teleported to Kaer Maga for a conversation with a crimelord.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 6/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 2/psychic warrior 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5 [ECL 12])
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Word around Korvosa was that someone was offering a reward for information on the location of Hethibarb "Skippy" Arkona. The Mephits who remained in Korvosa heard about this, and didn't like it. Some investigation (and a little divination) revealed that Skippy was in Kaer Maga, so several of the Mephits (Rhiho "Drummer" Chevar, Alishan "Beetle" Kroft, and Saeco "Goose" Nergan) decided to gather a bunch of their family's magic items and go help him. They took along Aspexia Charthagnion, who had just applied for club membership.
While trying to find a civilized way to travel there they discovered that a member of House Miskels was on her way to Kaer Maga to meet with another Mephit (Svokui "Nosey" Miskels) to inform him of a family funeral in Westcrown. They shared a carriage ride to the city, then she found Nosey and they teleported away. The other Mephits were somewhat surprised to discover that yet another Mephit, Vequia "Plum" Sukar, had been with him and was now by herself in town. They informed her of their mission.
Gritting her teeth, Plum realized that she was going to have to take action herself. Turtle and Skippy had told her and Nosey about the crimelord before they left, and she knew that he wanted seven swords that were apparently hidden beneath the city. Knowing that she needed help, she went to her creepy uncle who lived in Kaer Maga and agreed to help him with various sociel duties in exchange for his assistance in finding out where they needed to go.
After far too long looking after her uncle's dolls and helping at parties (tea and otherwise), Plum had the information that they needed. The swords were being held by a petty crimelord named Tirana. She was based in the former headquarters of some sort of knowledge cult whose symbol was an owl. The group sent Aspexia out for snacks and met in front of the entrance to Tirana's base. They knew a little about the schedule her thugs kept, and waited until most were away.
Goose checked out the front door and declared it free of traps. He unlocked the door and opened it up. The entrance room had some rugs and a small pool of water, but nothing else other than the door in the far wall. He walked in and got shot twice, staggering him. The group quickly discerned that the shots had come from beyond hidden arrow slits in one of the walls, and a fight ensued. It was a difficult struggle, made slightly easier after Aspexia arrived bringing snacks (and the magic items from Korvosa). Once the fight was over she healed everyone and then pulled out the scroll of find the path.
The spell indicated that after leaving the room she should turn right, peek into a chamber, and throw a rock to destroy a crystal. She told this to the others, whereupon Drummer strode into the room and peered down another hallway. This got her attacked by an air mephit. After the fight Aspexia healed everyone up again, then went ahead and smashed the crystal.
Following the dictates of the spell, Aspexia darted into another room, made a combination of motions on some sort of artwork, then left before the giant tentacle could grab her. After this the spell indicated that they should all leave the complex, so they did.
Maneuvering through the undercity of Kaer Maga, they (with the help of find the path) snuck through secret passages, used code phrases to get help, and avoided a great many obstacles. Finally they came to a sealed wooden door. Aspexia smashed it with her hammer, and it fell a very great length. The group looked out of the city and down off the Storval Plateau to the plains far, far below. The spell indicated that they needed to descend about a hundred feet.
Once down to the appropriate level, they pressed through a part of the wall that seemed no different from any other. This put them in a dustless cylinder, and they marched onward. Eventually they saw a glow up ahead. Peering in they saw a jade well full of lava and two red dragons. Taking as many precautions as they could first, they walked into the room and spoke very deferentially to one of the dragons. (The other dragon didn't move, and they guessed that it was an illusion.) They said that they had many magic items and would gladly offer them to him if he would allow them to pass. As they spoke a large human-shaped figure rose to waist height out of the lava. The dragon said that he would examine their offering and consider it, and that they were permitted to enter the room behind him while he thought about it. He said that he would give them his decision when they came back.
The room beyond the dragon had some flowing water, and beyond it was a woman in a flowing cloak who was wielding a flaming sword and standing over a seven-pointed star. Next to her was an altar holding six candles, and over each candle another sword floated point-down. As the group entered the room two large earth elementals rose up to face them, and the woman started casting spells against them.
It was a terrible fight, and before long Aspexia was a pile of dust on the floor. Upar the kobold helped the group as much as he could, which wasn't much. Things were getting very desperate after Tirana's cloak started transmuting into nightmare bats, but miraculously the group prevailed. Taking the seven swords and the ashes of Aspexia, they teleported to Westcrown. They went to a temple of Asmodeus, and were able to trade Tirana's cloak of nightmares for having resurrection cast on Aspexia.
Heroes:
Aspexia Charthagnion (aristocrat 3/cleric 2 [of Asmodeus]) [also played Upar]
Rhiho "Drummer" Chevar (aristocrat 3/knight 2)
Alishan "Beetle" Kroft (aristocrat 3/sorcerer 2)
Saeco "Goose" Nergan (aristocrat 3/rogue 2)
Vequia "Plum" Sukar (aristocrat 3/transmuter 4)
Serai Leroung was in the university library when she noticed that there was a message that had come in that was being hidden from her. Being a direct sort of person, she insisted rather forcefully that it be turned over to her. It seemed that a distant relative, Khandescus Leroung, had a problem in Westcrown and needed a team to help him out. Since Serai was already hoping for a chance to impose on Khandescus for some research on life persisting after death, she arranged for sendings to some of her friends and then hired someone to teleport her to Westcrown.
Svokui was already there, having attended a family funeral. Siolin and Hethibarb teleported first to Skelt to gather Karmina and Erst, then went on to Westcrown. The hired a boat to take them to Parego Regicona, then made their way to Khandescus's tower. They were told that they'd be able to identify it by the way that the top floor had been blown apart.
Khandescus was looking somewhat scattered, but welcomed his relation and her companions. With scant explanation he opened a gate to Axis and sent them through with instructions to talk to Torleinn, a delightful and charming woman of his acquaintance. All they knew was that he had stolen twenty-one soul gems from the Vault of Pharasma and that some cloaked figures had stolen them from him in turn (destroying one in the process).
Torleinn met them deep within Norgorber's realm and took them to her home there. She gave them tea and explained that they would need to talk to a Keeper of the Vault, promising to introduce them to one. She was very relieved when the Mephits told her that Khandescus had decided to return the soul gems into the hands of Pharasma instead of keeping them for himself. Eventually she led them to the surface, in full view of the city of Axis and the spire of Pharasma.
As the group started its trek to the spire, an elf flying far above them began a power dive toward them. Her particular interest was in Karmina, and introduced herself as Melandriava Hastrabnish. Claiming to be Karmina's caseworker, she scoffed when Karmina said that she was in Axis in order to do someone a favour, and was frankly disbelieving when Karmina said that she was a cleric of a deity (though Karmina claimed that she and Nethys had more of a business relationship than one of worship).
Torleinn was clearly uncomfortable to lose control of the dealings with the servants of Pharasma, and when Malandriava offered to fetch a Keeper of the Vault quietly excused herself. She was gone by the time Melandriava and the Keeper returned. The Keeper gave the group a map with some glowing gems on it, saying that they could touch a gem to get transported to the approximate location of a missing soul gem. She pointed out that one was in the Abyss and another in Abaddon, while the one in Elysium had a blue circle around it signifying that another team was already working on retrieving that one. There was a fourth that was obscured, but she felt it would surely resolve in time.
The group went into the city of Axis to resupply and prepare. Karmina visited some family, but found a chilly reception. Svokui's family had a townhouse, and they were very welcoming. Serai's family maintain an apartment in Axis where they store copies of important documents, and they gave her jobs in shelving items and sorting some filing. Siolin's family had a manor house near the Vault of Abadar, with standardized rates for family and guests staying there. Erst and Hethibarb had no family living in the city.
The next morning, provisioned and prepared, they set out for the Abyss. Having decided not to go alone, they hired a horned devil as a bodyguard, and he enjoyed crunching tormented souls beneath his feet as the group marched across an open expanse in the Abyss toward a nearby city.
Once in the city, which was named Taste of Anguish, they started mingling with some merchants. They learned of a succubus who was seeking information, as well as a vrock who was hidden elsewhere. Primarily though they learned about Tarigwydin, a vrock some called "the Upstart" who within the last week had somehow acquired a great deal of power and had taken over the city. Apparently he spent almost all his time in the massive tree in the centre of town.
An interview with the succubus revealed that what she wanted most was the location of the vrock who was here to consult with Tarigwydin. It turned out that between Svokui's permanent tongues spell and Siolin's amazing ability to find anyone in any city they quickly located him. Respectfully requesting an interview with the elder vrock, they informed him of the succubus's presence. He hesitated responding, apparently finding something he recognized about Karmina, and then gave them permission to bring the other demon to him.
When they arrived with the succubus, she immediately attempted to charm the elder vrock. This went badly, and she would have been immediately obliterated had she not had about twenty humans, dretches, and quasits ready to join her fight. Most of the Mephits found themselves blinded by the vrock's first action, so they held back. When they heard that Tarigwydin was flying toward them, they had their horned devil teleport into the tree, grab the soul gem, and teleport back. They managed to survive being blind near the fight while this was going on, and when he got back they pressed the next gem on the map in hopes of being transported away. Nothing happened.
Tarigwydin realized that they had taken the source of his power, and turned toward them, ignoring the succubus and her minions. Before he had a chance to finish them off, however, they were carried away by the magic of the map. Tarigwydin roared his frustration after them.
Looking around, they realized that they were in Abaddon. They were near a river, and saw a lump of bone and rock lodged in the water. A door led into the lump, and the map indicated that this was their next destination. Not wanting to take a second gem into there, they used the map to travel back to Axis.
As they were walking toward the city from their arrival spot, they were approached by a group of people in black, hooded cloaks. The leader was a human who introduced himself as Olvan. He implored the group to give the gems to the temple of Aroden instead of to the Vault. He said that they were fragments of Aroden's soul, and that he and his group were going to enact a ritual to return Aroden to life. The Mephits were unsure, and Olvan told them to think on it and then to bring the gems to the temple of Aroden. They group deposited the one gem that they had retrieved into a secure box in the temple of Abadar, and pondered.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 7/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 2/psychic warrior 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5/paragon 1 [ECL 13])
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 9)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6/loremaster 3)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Siolin stayed in Axis to research the Children of the Reborn Glory while the others pressed on to Abaddon. There, Galarkroxneg made short work of the daemons defending the other soul gem and the group returned to Axis.
They deposited their soul gem in the Bank of Abadar, and then confronted the Children of the Reborn Glory. Siolin's research helped them figure out that there was little chance of the story of Aroden's return being real, and so the group turned the gems over to a representative of Pharasma. Karmina took the opportunity to have a long talk with Melandriava, and she learned a great deal about herself and her past.
The next day the group was transported back to Westcrown. They presented Khandescus with a list of their expenses, which he immediately passed to his manservant. He also presented the group with a spellbook he'd taken off of a necromancer, more as a token of gratitude than as payment.
While in Westcrown the group met up with Beetle, Drummer, Goose, and Plum, who were bringing Aspexia's remains to a temple of Asmodeus in order to have her resurrected.
The next morning they all met up again and teleported in two groups to Kaer Maga. From there they would be dividing up and going their separate ways.
PCs:
Hethibarb Arkona (aristocrat 3/rogue 8/fighter 1)
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 2/psychic warrior 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5/paragon 1 [ECL 13])
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 9)
Svokui Miskels (aristocrat 3/diviner 6/loremaster 3)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Sub-Lieutenant Endir Bromathan, known as "Shanks" to his former comrades in the Mephits, was feeling uncertain. He'd been assigned to Fort Thorn to serve under Captain Dame Serai Leroung, but she hadn't been present since before he'd arrived and so he had yet to properly report in. To complicate matters, Dame Betlinde Schmitt of the Grey Maidens was also waiting for Dame Serai, and she kept commenting on it.
Endir had heard that some people would be appearing for a meeting in a couple of days, and was taken by surprise when a number of lizardfolk marched up to the fort and started shouting at him. One of his corporals was able to translate for him, and he soon discerned that they were angry at the Korvosans for breaking promises. They wanted whoever was in command to surrender himself into their custody and be marched before their chief. After some negotiation, Endir agreed to go, on the condition that he could bring along a few adventurers and some of his men.
After meeting with Chief Kassmak, Endir realized that there was more going on than previously known. Corporal Margado, formerly of the Sable Company, had managed to tame a wild hippogriff and rode it out on a sweep, looking for possible culprits. He saw a figure fleeing through the swamp, and descended. She identified herself as an agent of Queen Ileosa, though she was short, blue, and only had three fingers on each hand instead of four. The corporal thanked her, flew her to the road, and left.
Eventually the group made it out to an encampment of three trolls. They told everyone about a cave where some reptile folk were keeping a medusa captive. Endir gathered two dozen men from Fort Thorn and marched on the cave. As they approached a strange song emerged from inside, and the soldiers were compelled to walk in. After seventeen of them were turned to stone the group returned to the fort, though not before making sure that the trolls were well and truly dead.
Sub-Lieutenant Endir Bromathan
Alishan "Beetle" Kroft
Corporal Galt Margado (also played Private Moraine Kavvik)
Lini
Merisiel
Sajan (also played Private "Sarge" Bron Thornvale)
Arriving back at Fort Thorn, the Mephits met Dame Betlinde Schmitt, the Grey Maiden assigned as an observer. Dame Serai learned that she had been promoted to captain and ordered to remain in Bloodsworn Vale. Sir Erst learned that he had been put in civilian command of the fort and was also expected to remain in the Vale.
That afternoon, several fey appeared for their scheduled meeting at Fort Thorn. They admitted that they were so far unable to match the sheer brutality displayed by the Korvosan Guard, and were curious about what terms would be required were they to surrender. The Mephits admitted that they knew nothing about any attacks by the Korvosan Guard. Dame Betlinde said nothing. The fey said that they would return in a week.
Siolin, Erst, Serai, Karmina, and Dame Betlinde then went to the cave where it had been reported that there was a medusa. They indeed saw a lot of stone statues of Korvosan guards as well as lizardfolk, and once they penetrated the cave they saw a medusa all tied up begging to be released. She looked straight at them and they looked at her with no ill effect. Erst began to look for invisible foes and saw an invisible medusa, almost getting petrified in the process.
There was a confusing fight, and many disguises and hidden foes were revealed. The bound medusa turned out to be a harpy who begged for her life. The invisible medusa attacked, becoming visible in the process. The troll turned out to be a hag. Karmina turned out to be someone who would cast slay living on a Grey Maiden, and was completely successful in doing so before she herself was petrified.
After the fight the group gathered their spoils and teleported back to Korvosa, leaving the statue of Karmina and the corpse of Dame Betlinde behind.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (aristocrat 1/rogue 8/shadowdancer 2/psychic warrior 1)
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5/paragon 1 [ECL 13])
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 10)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Back in Korvosa, Erst and Hethibarb met up with Alishan and Aspexia. Hethibarb had decided to contact his twin brother, Spike, with a sending, so Aspexia acquired a scroll and cast it. Spike's reply was terse, but revealed that he was in Magnimar and would prefer not to be disturbed. He told Hethibarb to stay out of Korvosa, and indicated that if Hethibarb was desperate he should contact Noravia Kroft (a member of the Crest Circle Young Monarchists, as was Spike).
Feeling that not having his twin brother in the same city counted as a desperate situation, Hethibarb sought out Noravia. She made some caustic comments, but it turned out that she was feeding Spike's cat while he was away and let the group (minus Erst, who was having no part of this) into Spike's apartment. Hethibarb starting rifling through the desk and Alishan checked the bedroom for secret compartments. Noravia left the keys with Hethibarb and left.
Eventually Hethibarb and Aspexia went back to his apartment, and Alishan brought a couple of young ladies into Spike's place to sample the aged alcohol. A good time was had by all in both places.
The next morning saw a pounding on Hethibarb's door. He opened it to see a member of the guard. He was presented with an invitation to Castle Korvosa for that morning. He dressed properly and went on his way, leaving Aspexia to find her own way out. At the Castle, Hethibarb met with the queen, who knighted him and assigned him to Sir Erst's council in Bloodsworn Vale.
While Siolin ran some errands Serai decided to have a drink at the Posh & Turtle. While there she met up with two other young aristocrats: Sandrine Vigneron and Theodric Kurmalt. They both told her that they were hoping to join the Aristocracy Mephits of Korvosa, and bought her many drinks. Seltyiel, who was in the area and who had worked with Serai before, noticed the commotion and wandered over to join the group and sponge drinks.
Meanwhile, Siolin collected Lem from the Vaults. Lem was now a vampire, and he was accompanied by Harsk, his vampire spawn servant. Siolin teleported them to Ustalav, then went to the statue of Karmina in Bloodsworn Vale and restored her. She used a scroll to teleport them both back to Korvosa. They all went to the Mephit clubhouse and partied late into the night (being mindful of the curfew).
The next day (Oathday) saw everyone making a very late start. By the end of the day the group had teleported to Fort Thorn and were trying to get caught up with administrative tasks.
On Fireday all of them except Siolin set out to track down a special squad of Korvosan Guards assigned to the late Dame Betlinde. They determined that the squad would be at a nearby cold iron mine that afternoon, so they set up an ambush. It was tricky, but they managed to defeat the entire squad.
While all this was going on, Siolin was negotiating with the lizardfolk, the fey, and Sweet Krogolina (the harpy). Things weren't perfect, but he had workable terms with all of them by the end of the day.
Meanwhile, Lem and Harsk had been making their way toward Scarwall. Once they finally arrived there they found a tower seemingly made of bone several hundred feet away from the barbican gatehouse. Outside the bone tower were quite a few dead orcs. Intrigued, Lem knocked on the door. A very perky elf answered, and explained that she and Shadowcount Sial (whose name was uttered with a rude face by the elf) were there to investigate Scarwall but they were waiting for some people before entering. They chatted for a while, then Lem and Harsk left.
At the prearranged time Siolin cast sending and asked Lem if it was safe for everyone to teleport in. Lem replied in the positive and prepared to be the target of a scrying.
PCs:
Siolin Jeggare (aristocrat 3/bardic sage 2/Pathfinder chronicler 5/paragon 1 [ECL 13])
Lieutenant Serai Leroung (aristocrat 2/rural ranger 10)
Karmina Ornelos (aristocrat 3/cleric 9 [of Nethys])
Guest PCs:
Theodric Kurmalt (aristocrat 3/rogue 2)
Sandrine Vigneron (aristocrat 3/fighter 1/rogue 1)
NPC:
Seltyiel (fighter 1/wizard 1/duskblade 6, played by Erst's player)
Captain Dame Serai Arkona Leroung had put out the call: Since she was leaving the Mephits she wanted one last expedition with her friends. Specifically, she wanted to go into Scarwall and retrieve Serithtial, a bastard sword forged by Iomedae herself. Some of the others understood the significance of this, but regardless all of them wanted to support their friend in her last acts as a Mephit.
After carefully reviewing the scouting reports submitted by Lem and Laori, they (rather generously) bribed the Deathwatchers for access to the castle, then decided to fly over the bridge rather than walk it. This seemed like a good idea until a dozen four-armed gargoyles flew toward them.
Svokui took the brunt of the hits from the gargoyles, but with a couple of spells managed to wreck their day. Three of the gargoyles were killed, eight were last seen spiralling down toward the lake surface, and one was unconscious. Svokui waited for him to wake up, then threatened to plane shift him away unless he talked. The gargoyle said that in exchange for a plane shift to the universe of Earth he would answer any questions anyone cared to ask. Unfortunately he didn't know a lot about the castle interior, but he warned of a bunch of devils on the third storey and praised Belshallam the grey dragon. Svokui (calling himself "Siolin Jeggare") sent him away with promises of a future trip to the plane of Earth.
The gargoyles having been neutralized as a threat, the Mephits continued their flight. Instead of entering through the front door, however, they fley up to a balcony on the third storey. A skeleton with a flaming head stood patiently on the balcony there, and asked their business. They explained that they were flying to the courtyard to visit the dragon, which the skeleton considered for a moment before approving. He turned to walk back inside, but the Mephits didn't like the results of their diplomacy. Radomer hit the skeleton with a glitterdust, blinding him. Erst immediately struck him with a sword that had been powered up by Karmina, destroying the skeleton instantly. A couple of shadows popped their heads through a door. One of them popped right back, and the other was quickly dispatched.
Continuing their flight, the Mephits soon landed in the courtyard. Svokui could see an invisible dragon watching them, which he announced. Radomer cast glitterdust on the dragon, annoying (but not blinding) him. Conversation began, and the Mephits continued their tradition of trying to talk potential foes into not fighting. In this case they were able to determine that something was preventing the dragon (who indeed used the name Belshallam) from speaking freely. When they volunteered to let him go, they found themselves attacked by a group of wraiths led by a dire wraith. Karmina destroyed the bulk of the wraiths by calling out to Nethys, and the dire wraith fell to Erst (who still had Karmina's magic on his sword).
Karmina cast a magic circle against evil and tremulously moved next to Belshallam, allowing him to temporarily speak freely. He promised his hoard in exchange for beling released from duty as one of the chained spirit's spirit anchors. The Mephits pondered their options.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (human aristocrat 1/rogue 11/shadowdancer 2)
Radomer Jeggare (human aristocrat 3/wizard 5/loremaster 6)
Serai Arkona Leroung (human aristocrat 2/rural ranger 10/fighter 2)
Svokui Miskels (human aristocrat 3/wizard 6/loremaster 5)
Karmina Ornelos (human aristocrat 3/cleric 11)
Feeling tired and low on resources, the Mephits decided to take a break. They had previously been offered a loan by House Jeggare (many months ago) and some of them decided that it was finally time to take advantage of it. There was a series of teleporting shopping trips while everyone secured all of their available resources before returning to Scarwall.
Travelling swiftly to the precise spot Radomer had memorized, they disintegrated the ceiling and fell through to the room with the secret entrance into the Star Tower. They showed the interior to Svokui as they went, and descended to the strange blue portal. Diving through it they found themselves in a room with a natural stone floor, and their ears popped.
They started exploring the natural stone passages outside, and soon heard chanting. Following the sounds they encountered some gugs. They began fighting them, and Radomer flew toward a speck of light out in a nearby underground lake. A big creature rose from the water and tried to kill him, and he promptly returned to shore. Meanwhile, Karmina and Svokui had both been killed by the gugs. The others slew the gugs and teleported their slain comrades away.
The group took the minimum amount of time to revive their fellows and replenish supplies, then teleported straight back in. This caused some problems, with them arriving in another cavern entirely. They teleported away from there, trying again for the correct cavern. This time they arrived outdoors, near a large abandoned building. Making one more attempt they finally made it to their desired spot. They tried to get the sword, but Serai was slain by the big creature from under the water and many of the others were badly hurt. They teleported away again and decided that this time they would rest overnight.
The next morning saw them make a third incursion into the cavern. They were ready for the big creature and still it was difficult. They had learned through divination that they could not retrieve the sword until it was dead, so that was their primary goal. After Radomer blinded it, it retreated underwater into a cave. Several of them went in after it, and between disintegration spells and some other brutal attacks it finally fell. The Mephits retrieved Serithial and teleported away in triumph.
PCs:
Erst Fordyce (human aristocrat 1/rogue 11/fighter 1/shadowdancer 2)
Radomer Jeggare (human aristocrat 3/wizard 6/loremaster 6)
Serai Arkona Leroung (human aristocrat 2/rural ranger 10/fighter 3)
Svokui Miskels (human aristocrat 3/wizard 6/loremaster 5)
Karmina Ornelos (human aristocrat 3/cleric 12)