So party got Sabina on their side and are soon ready to storm the castle but before that they need to take care of Trifaccia. They aren't going the same way as before as they don't want to weaken the image of Blackjack so Faenor is fighting as Faenor and they aren't going to take Trifaccia's duel offers. This takes place at same time when other rebels (Sabina, Vencarlo, Cressida, some rebels and elves) attack Longacre building to free imprisoned Gray Maiden recruits. Party will destroy statue of Ileosa that stands at Eodred's Square and attract Gray Maidens from Citadel. Meanwhile rebels use secret tunnels to get Longacre Building's prison level and escape using sewers (Eries as their guide). Party asks if Laori wants to help rebels and she is excited about the idea so they get divine help too (they instruct Laori that this is silent mission so using easily noticeable spell isn't good idea). They are ready to roll.
First Ragnar, Adolamin and Mevanthalyn arrive to Eodred's Square and check places.They hear loud thump coming from other side of city. Demolition of Great Tower continues and they can be pretty sure it's catapult that is tearing it down. Ocham and Faenor (whose part was first cause scene somewhere in city) head to Great Tower using Dimension Door. They see that there are like near twenty persons around the Great Tower, mostly Gray Maidens but clerics of Asmodeus too and wizards from Acadamae. Then there are workers, stone masons and then crew of the catapult. Faenor changes to Blackjack and asks of Ocham has any alchemist fires with him. Of course he has. Invisible he moves closer to catapult and shouts:
"Again a good example about how Queen doesn't care about Korvosa! She is tearing down our history. Down with her!" and he throws alchemist fires at catapult that catches fire! ("Bertha! NOOO!" yells one crew member). Gray Maidens draw their weapons but Faenor is more concerned about Acadamae wizards as three of them draw scrolls and cast their spells at him: first Reduce Person (resists), then Hold person (resists) and then Blindness (resists again). Then he disarms three Maidens and starts his run to Ocham who Dimension Doors them away.
Faenor changes back to normal and they start their plan. First thing is to get civilians away from the statue and Meavanthalyn has spell for that. She uses Animate Object to make cart full of stones moving creature. That is enough to most of people and even Gray Maidens run as they notice their swords do nothing to this monster. Mevanthalyn sets it to chase Maidens and Faenor disarms then to get more weapons to rebels. Ragnar again turns stone to liquid and starts to shape it to another form: to key symbol of Abadar.
Then familiar voice from near by rooftop greets them: ”You again! Where did you left your precious friend Blackjack or was he too scared to face me again? You, dwarf, do you want rematch? Man against man?” Ragnar answer is no as they planned. ”So you don't have honor? So I'll face you without mercy. Run as you still can!” and Trifaccia jumps to ground level to face party.
Almost same time they hear horses coming from Citadel of Volshyek, Gray Maiden backup.
Trifaccia attacks Ragnar but misses. Then others are ready to act, Ocham takes off to air and Mevanthakyn casts True Seeing to get knowledge about Trifaccia. She sees him as huge red skinned man with black hair. She recognizes it as efreeti, genie from Plane of Fire, evil and scheming outsider. She informs others about this. Adolamin rounds behind it and Ragnar attacks with Serithiel that hurts Trifaccia badly. He attacks Ragnar again doing some damage but then Adolamin too attacks and after Ragnars next turn he surely is in trouble. Faenor and Ocham take care of Gray Maidens as Ocham starts with Waves of Exhaustion to slow them down. Trifaccia turns invisible and tries to run away but luckily Mevanthalyn had True Seeing on and Dispels the invibility. One attack from Ragnar and Adolamin and Trifaccia is down. Faenor disarms Gray Maidens and Ocham's Hydraulic Torrent knocks them off sadle and they flee. Triaccia turns back to normal form and others also see this huge efreet. Ragnar (in his buffed form, divine power I think) drags efreet to Abadars key symbol he made and declares Trifaccia to be fake hero and enemy of city. Then they retreat before more Maidens arrive.
Ocham, Adolamin and Ragnar stay in Cathedral and Faenor and Mevanthalyn contacts Cressida and ask if they need help. They move to sewers to meet up with them and soon they see a large band of woman coming, Sabina and Eries leading them. They asks Cressida how mission wnet and it went quite smoothly just couple of fights and she thinks that Kaerishiel has something to do with that. Laori is super excited. Sabina asks how they will get prisoners through South Gate and soobn they have plan. Mevanthalyn calls divine power and rises very thick mist to Korvosa using Control Weather. Then Sabina and Faenor knock guards out and they flee to Krojun's camp. He is suprised but offers them shelter and Sabina stays there.
They wait two days to get released Gray Maidens to better shape and ready to fight. Now it's clear, at the sunrise of 9 day of Arodus they'll attack Castle Korvosa. Neolandus shows them maps about ground level and three first level above that. Their plan is simple: using Wind Walk they'll get inside and then make through second level to get throne room and see if Ileosa is there. If not, they'll check royal bedroom. They also hear wonderful news: more shoanti have come to help them. Almost 60 warriors and some artisans are ready to help them. Adolamin checks them out and there are warriors from almost all Quah's. He founds his brothers from Tamiir-Quah and spends evening and night with them. Krojun is ready to lead this small army of shoanti and asks where they want them to hit. Easy, Cressida wants take over the Citadel of Volshyek and Longacre Building so shoanti are welcome to help. Kaerishiel asks where they are needed and Mevanthalyn places them to northern side of Dominas Square to stop Maidens coming to or off the Castle Korvosa.
Then 9 day of Arodus comes. They stand in mist (that Mevanthalyn again raised to cover them) at Gray district. Cressida, Sabina, Krojun and Vencarlo wish them luck and good hunting (Krojun promises to get help them as he wants to collect Queen's head). Others leave party alone in the mist and they wish luck to each other and start flying through awakening Korvosa. In their gaseous form thei fly inside using embrasures of great stairs. They materialize and Mevanthalyn changes weather to normal, which is sign to others that they are inside and rebels can start their attack. They head to second level where Crimson Throne waits.
They come to empty stage hall and Ocham asks if they should check royal bedroom first as it's very close. They head through Sabina's room to royal bedroom. It's decorated room with beatiful windows and stuff but it's empty. Or so they thought before Ocham touches the bed. Three tongues strike him and one tries to strangel him! Then it appears, large worm like creature with three heads . They draw their weapons but before they manage to land a hit it disappears and releases Ocham. But then they realize what kind of devil that was. It was bdellavritra, schemer and mastermind behind many plans thaty can take over others if it manages to touch them. Then Ocham casts maximized Lightining Bolt to Mevanthalyn and Ragnar as confirmation after this realization. Mevanthalyn uses Dispel Evil to get that control off and then devil appears again, this time shrieking loudly that he will enslave them all. But party has answer to that ATTACK! Ocham tries to banish it but can't pierce it's spell resistance. Others hit it hard and surround it and soon devil flees back to Hell. They heal themselves and return to stage hall to get throne room.
Throne room isn't empty, Queen Ileosa Arabasti, two hell hounds and three Gray Maidens are waiting them. Ileosa smiles them and thanks them for service that has helped her greatly. But now their service has ended so prepare to die! Battle breaks out and they can see their greatest enemy before their eyes. Gray Maidens attack them and hell hound use their breath weapons but those really don't hurt the party. They attack those that charged them to get rid of them fast and most of them ignore duel threats that they are yelling (Faenor doesn't as he is duelist). Ocham has trick in his sleeve to get Ileosa, he casts Suffocation to her and she starts to choke. Mevanthalyn kills one hell hound (Ocham softened them with maximized Dragon' Breath) and Adolamin beheads another. Then they take Gray Maidens out and just watch Ileosa to choke to death.
Then Ileosa's body turn to blood and starts to spread. Party is shocked but Ocham understands what has happened. It was just simulacrum! He explains that normally simulacrum is made of ice and snow but maybe this has something to do with blood collecting. They hear sounds coming from where they come, new enemies!
Session ends. I love cliffhangers I really do. This was good session, they got rid of Trifaccia and even attacked the castle. Last battle was nice and conclusion was suprise to most of players. We had another session today and we finished Castle Korvosa so be ready for more!
Gaming continues. Party fought against Ileosa and did find out that she was just a fake. Now they hear shouts of alarm and clatter of armor coming towards throne room. They heal themselves and ready for new battle. First ones to arrive are five Gray Maidens (coming from direction of main entrance) and three barded devils (teleported to throne room). Then they see very distracting thing as seneschal Togomor flies above the Gray Maidens and demands them to surrender. Party declines and he turns invisible and everyone attacks.
Faenor instructs his companions, he suggest that he and Ocham take Gray Maidens and others take care of barded devils. Then they hear new voice that sounds very menacing. It commands Yallops (what ever they are) to kill casters first. Two barded devils attack Mevanthalyn (who casts Divine Power to stand their attacks) and one attacks Adolamin (who gets scared and flees). Faenor and Ragnar are targets for Gray Maidens as two of them charge right at them. Faenor uses his parrying techniques to disarm Maidens which works nicely. Togomor's Prismatic Spray makes some serious damage among the party as Ragnar's flesh starts to corrode, Ocham takes electric shock but Faenor suffers the most. He gets hit by two rays. First isn't super dangerous, he evades fire ray nicely but other ray shreds his mind to pieces. One insane bard duelist.
Battle continues. More barded devils appear and things start to look dire. Togomor hurls spells at them very effienctly and they can't locate him. Mevanthalyn just barely resist fear from barded devils and attacks them furiously. Ragnar saw how Adolamin did flee so he charged that barded devil to help his friend. Adolamin get his courage back and take his enemy again. Insane Faenor hurts himself but after one Gray Maiden attacks him he smiles madly and punches three holes to that poor Maiden (two critical hits and one normal). Ocham tries to banish these new barded devisl and uses his highest caster level scroll to do that but after using it he realizes that those are illusions! He curses and soon casts Circle of Death to Gray Maidens, killing two outright.
One turning points of battle is Adolamin killing one barded devil and then Mevanthlyn killing other. Faenor still attacks Gray Maidens and Ocham tries his Eyebite to them but his target resists it. Soon all barded devils are dead, only two Maidens and Togomor reamin. Then Ocham hears it, something big flies near him and lands next to Ragnar. It attacks Ragnar and that makes it visible.
They see a large red horned devil standing near them. They know that means big trouble. It stuns Ragnar and laughs loudly to others. Adolamin attacks horned devil but takes a lot of damage from it's attacks and is barely standing. Togomor raises thick corrosive mist to throne room (Cloudkill) but Ocham dispels it fastly(as he did dispel illusion of barded devils) but not fast enough as Ragnar falls unconscious. Adolamin attacks horned devil but takes a lot of damage from it's attacks and is barely standing. Mevanthalyn pinpoints Togomor for Faenor who casts Glitterdust to show him to others. Adolamin tries to solder a healing potion to Ragnar but horned devil doesn't give him a chance and Adolamin falls to ground (and his infernal wound is slowly killing him).
Things look bad. Horned devil attacks Mevanthalyn and she manages to resist stun effect. She casts Mass Cure Serious Wounds to get her companions to their feets. Both Ragnar and Adolamin are conscious but Adolamin falls back as he tries to stand up. Ragnar uses his dimensional hops to escape further. Ocham casts Suffocation to Togomor as he can target him thanks to Faenor's Glitterdust. Togomor starts to choke. Horned devil casts Lightning Bolt to Mevanthalyn and Faenor and after that Mevanthalyn decides to take their destiny in her hands. She casts Dispel Evil defensively (barely made it), steps closer to devil, hits it with the spell (again, barely made it) and pierces it's spell resistance (yeah, barely). They are suprised to see horned devil dismissed from this plane and they cheer for Mevanthalyn (yeah, horned devil failed his will save by one). They watch Togomor to choke but he doesn't die which suprises Ocham. Fight in throne room is over.
They heal themselves and discuss what to do with Togomor, they decide to gag and tie him up after they take his magic items (which isn't pleasant task). Party wants to find Queen and soon head to third floor to take care of red mantis assasins. They share some loot, Faenor takes Togomor's headband and Ocham takes Staff of Evocation to himself but wants to find Togomor's spellbooks.
Third level and red mantis assasins. They move silently to dance hall but assasins are waiting for them. Three normal assasins, one more muscular one and woman without helmet. She wants to end this mess with party once and for all and orders her underlings to attack. Faenor starts his distraction performance to protect his allies from assasins fascination ability. Adolamin suprises them all as he doesn't charge but draws his bow and shoots muscular assasin but misses. Assasins attack and two more drop behind them and attack Ragnar. They don't manage to land a hit on them. Then assasin leader and her "pet" (as woman called him) summon mantis from another plane to help them. Those mantis aren't real danger to party but are good flanking buddies to assasins. They still dominate the battle as normal assasins have no real chance against them. Then leader and her pet join the fight. Pet attacks Adolamin saying just "heh" before attacking. Leader attacks Faenor and manages to hit. Then both start their hail of attacks and party has to fight for real. Mevanthalyn trips leader down many times but she uses cunning tactic to get on her feet as she casts Darkness to area and stand up. Ocham uses Daylight scrolls to dispel that darkness and also destroys mantis those two summoned. Ragnar finishes those two assasin that attacked him quickly and one mantis and then moves to help Adolamin with muscular one. They both attack him and flank him and Serithiel attacks him furiously, critting and fianlly killing him.
Then the battle turns to Ragnar's nightmare as muscular assasin starts to changes to dwarf. Young dwarf that looks like his missing son Alrik.
Assasin leader escapes using Dimension Door and fight is over. Ragnar tries to save his son using Breath of Life but there is too much damage to that spell fix situation, he is dead. Ragnar burst to tears and others feel very unconfortable about this situation. Ragnar covers up the body and regains his composure eventhough he is now much more silent and absent than before.
Party checks this level and find an interesting room. There are six statues and each one of them has one symbol from harrow deck in their hand. They find a harrow deck but then suddenly wind throws them around the room and interesting thing happens as only one of the cards lands face up. That is Midwife, symbol of new life and new knowledge about the world. They hear whispers in the wind "save me...". They are bit freaked out but continue their way. They hear that whisper again so it's not happening only in that room. Ocham uses Sending to contact Cressida and infroms her about their progress. He doesn't get good answer as Cressida is fighting. Party finds an interesting door. It has Arabasti crest on it and it leads to separate tower, known as Domina's Tower. Faenor can't get through door even in gaseous form (thank you Wind Walk) so Ragnar uses Stone Shape to make entrance for them. They start climb upstairs.
Party arrives to small library, it looks very private and secure place. Ocham finds an interesting book from the desk namedTruths of Sihedron. He takes it and same time they hear loud shout nerby: "How dare you touch my book!" and see the same bdellavritra devil and it attacks Ocham again! Party barely manages to react to situation as bdellavritra casts strong spell on them saying "drop your weapons and surrender to me". Ocham, Faenor and Mevanthalyn all fall under devil's command and do as it says. Ragnar and Adolamin start their furious counter-attack, Adolamin with his axe and Ragnar tries to bind devil to this plane using Dimensional Anchor but devil's spell resistance is too much. They both attack furiously but again devil escapes before dying to it's home plane. That is enough to Faenor and Ocham to break free from Suggestion but Mevanthalyn needs Faenor's help to get free.
Party investigate the room and Ocham finds interesting scrolls that deal with bingind creatures from other planes. Faenor hears faint knock as something falls of from the bookcase. He looks for it and finds another scroll that was invisible. He touches it and it starts to turn visible and he realizes what it is: infernal contract. He carefully opens it and reads it a loud. They are suprised about it's contents. It tells names of devils that are serving Ileosa and that Ileosa has promised Korvosa for infernal use. It also mention that some heretic is bound to Ileosa's body to make her stronger. They discuss this matter quickly before heading to stairs to get fourth level.
Fourth level is the attic. It's almost empty but they still bother to check doors. Behind the fiirst is room that has lot of crates and stuff against other wall. Faenor and Adolamin notice that there is door behind them and they decide to move all junk away from their path. It takes about fifteen minutes. Behind the door is room that is someones simple appartment, so simple that one might not know that he is still in castle. They find chess board and glass showcase that has other games inside. Suddenly wall next to it cracks and reveal secret door. There is another room and another harrow deck. Then ghost appears next to them. It looks tormentet but first thing they notice is its heritage, ghost is tiefling. "Bring my bones... rotting bones... deep below.. i can help you if you bring my bones" and it disappears. They are in the highest floor so it's logical to go down and party moves back.
They check seneschal's room and find Togomor's spellbooks. They also find inetresting map made by "Togomor the Pathfinder". It shows way to place known as Sunken Queen which is located at the marsh know as Mushfens. Ocham checks the book he did find at he Domina's Tower and as he remembered there was a sidenote about location of Everdawn Pool locating at the Sunken Queen. They wonder this a bit and head forward. Ocham decides that after battle is over he will research this.
Neolandus did tell Ragnar how to get to royal crypts so he leads them down. They are suprised that there is none one guarding or waiting them in the lower levels. After a long stairs they find themselves at the crypt level. In the first room Ocham decides to put light in the lantern of revealing just to be sure. Same time lantern lights up over seven feet high pale man appears next to them. He has large sword behind his back and it tries to reach as it realizes party sees him. It doesn't attack them so party doesn't attack either. Ocham asks who the man is but gets no answer. Man doesn't understand his language. He tries Infernal and they find a common language. Faenor talks Varisia and man recognizes the language ("commoner's language"). Same thing happens when Adolamin speaks shoanti ("warrior's language"). Then man takes a scroll from his belt pouch and soon talks Taldan to them. He introduces himself as Kusasfa.
All are interested about this man and ask who he is and where his come from. Kusasfa doesn't remeber much but knows that he was enslaved by Runelord Sorshen long time ago and got turned to vampire by her. Now he wants to thrust his blade to Sorshen's chest to be sure she will never come back. Party tries to get him to help their cause but Kusasfa seems to be only interested about his only quest. They still make a deal: Kusasfa will help them to learn about Sorshen and histroy about her and they'll help him to find Sorshen. Kusasfa suprises them saying that he knows where Sorshen is. That place is this pyramid that was once part of her city Xin-Euryhnia. Party still promises to help Kusasfa and they continue their way to tieflings bones that Kusasfa had seen some time ago.
It did sound like a easy trip but those bones were trapped. Horrivid Wilting strikes them as they try to move them. Luckily they all survive it but are scared about trap that strong. Quick healing and they are ready to go back. Crypt wasn't pleasant place to them.
Again at the top of the Castle Korvosa. They have bones and again ghost appers, this time more sane than before. he starts to talk: "I want to thank you for taking care of my remains. My name is Venster Arabasti." Some suprised looks and someone asks if he is related to Eodred.
"Yes I'm his brother. Or to be correct his half-brother as you can see I'm tiefling. I have been the shame of my family ever since I was born but I have done terrible things after that. I took part to murder of my brother. I knew about his nail-biting and I told Ileosa that was maybe to best way to poison him. Yes, poison him. Eodred wasn't sick, he was poisoned by poison that looks like a disease. Ileosa promised me that I could rule with her if I help him but she did betray me. How stupid I was. I want to help you stop Ileosa so I can fianlly rest. She hasn't been here for long time but I have sensed that she has great plans and she is wants to finish them. Those plans might endanger Korvosa."
"I have one way to help you. I can feel those that have died because of Ileosa's actions, their anger and thirst for justice. I could offer you a powerful magic item but it might require help from your spirit friend. We together could pund those spirit to that harrow deck and transform it to Harrow Deck of Many Things that has powerful abilities. But it might be too much for your friend and she might have to move on to eternal rest."
Faenor declines instantly that they are not going to sacrifice Zellara for that. Venster explains more and says that she can't be here for ever. Then Zellara appears and tell the party that she is ready to do that for them. She knows that she can't remain in cards for long and she wants to see her son again. They discuss bit more about nature of this magic item and Venster tells them that it might be dangerous for them as all spirits are not kind to them. They are ready to take that risk and Venster and Zellara combine their powers to collect the spirits. They can see a lot of familiar faces with those spirits that arrive: Marcus Endrin, King of Spiders, Rolf, doctor Davaulus, Gaekhen, Varisians, Korvosan Guard soldiers, Sable Company marines and many others. Then Venster and Zellara disappear and they have deck.
They come back to second floor (Kusasfa stays at the attic) and soon rebels arrive to there. Korvosa is theirs! Battle was fierce but they manged to pull it off and there are many stories to be told. News about Queen not being in Castle reduces the joy as she could still take Korvosa back but now they have upper hand. Evening is for celebration.
Faenor wants to draw his cards from deck to see how deck works. Ocham is bit unsure if he wants to draw cards or not but they take private room and start to draw cards.
Harrow draws and stuff:
First Faenor: Avalanche, Survivor, Inquisitor and Idiot. He doesn't like the sound of last one and Zellara does protect him and he draws new card. Marriage. He is terrified as portal opens near to him and blue skinned outsiders (marids from Plane of Water) arrive and welcome shahzada and his beatiful daughter. Shahzada tell Faenor that he has promised his daughters hand to one who kills efreet Yzahnum and he did fight alone against it and then lead his friends against it so reward is his. Faenor is so nervous about this marriage but he doesn't dare to say no so he answers yes. Marids thank him and say that they'll infrom him about marirage soon enough. Beatiful princess smiles to his new husband (who really needs drink after this).
Then Ragnar: Rakshasa, Bear, The Wanderer and Sickenss (which he discards and draws Liar). He can feel bestial urges rising deep inside him and knows that next full moon is going to be rough (Bear). But Serithiel doesn't like this change and plays a prank on him (Liar, Serithiel became cursed but just a little). His skin color will changes everytime he uses Serithiel.
Mevanthalyn: Teamster, Courtesan, Lost and Crow (which she discards as she doesn't want to make choice between her allies and treasure and draws Publican). Kaerishiel offers her mission after this all ends. it's for sake of elven people but contains high risk for Mevanthalyn. She takes offer and Kaerishiel thanks her (Teamster). As that mission could be her end so her road as oracle. Mevanthalyn knows she won't live long after she leaves Korvosa and return to Mierani forest (Lost). She still gets help as her sword becomes intelligent helper for her (Publican).
Ocham: Brass dwarf, Queen Mother, Dance and Mountain Man (which he discards and draws Tanglebriar). Ocham has grown stronger after this journey and he gains resistance to any element (probably fire) but then another element is his weakness (Brass dwarf). He gains loyal formian warrior as friend (Queen mother) and improves his reactions as if he was dancing through fangers (Dance). But this all costs him soemthing as his dead enemies will haunt him in future.
Adolamin: Mute hag, The Joke. He discards the mute hag and doesn't draw new card. He choose Faenor to share his Joke and new draws are: Empty Throne, The Jugler, Twin. Faenor chooses empty throne and title of noble and Adolamin gets to swap his abilities.
After this is over Zellara appears and they know this is the last time. She cries and thanks everyone for what they have done to help her and to help Korvosa. They have faced many threats but survived and now the last danger lies in front of them. Zellara wishes and hopes that they'll save Korvosa and make it better place. Everyone thank Zellara for guidance and protection in their travels and hope she'll see her son soon. Then she starts to disapper and soon she is gone.
~~
Session ends. Long session that contained a lot of action and roleplaying. First battle was really thrilling and there where times that it looked like that party was defeated but they managed to win. End scene was good and hopefully memorable. I'm bit tired now so the feel may not be same as you ready it but it was very intense and sad scene. Important friend passed on.
Okay gaming continues. We dealt with Harrow Deck draws for beginning like modifying Ragnar to werebear (eventhought if they hurry there won't be full moon before they face Ileosa), Mevanthalyn's intelligent sword (which is capable of speaking, can sense surroundings but is really unsure about what is right thing to do) and other stuff. Some of them sleep well but some are afraid things to come or what had happened. Then new sun rises.
They are at breakfast table and discussing things about what to do next. Ocham did some research and did find terrifying information about Ileosa's plans. She plans to sacrifice all those how donated blood to make herself immortal, killing thousand in process! Kusasfa (who again suprises them by stalking them) tells them that Runelord Sorshen used same method to be eternally young. That is really bad news and they tell this to Cressida but meet some new faces with her. All five greatest noble Houses of Korvosa are present: Jeggare, Leroung, Ornelos, Zenderholm and of course Arkona. Glorio smiles and greets them like long lost friends but others aren't so friendly.
They tell their information to nobles as they hear that nobles, Cressida and Neolandus are making them Governors of Korvosa until they choose new king. All others take this offer but Mevanthalyn refuses as when this mission is over she must return to Mierani and she doesn't bind herself to Korvosa. Party shares their knowledge about Ileosa's plan with nobles and they are shocked and understand that party wants to continue their way to this Sunken Queen. But first they head to church of Asmodeus to check if they know why blood was collected and where it is.
Archbishop Ornher Reebs meets them and party is very blunt with their questions (but still polite). Archbishop tells them that this is quite normal in Cheliax so he didn't question reasons and when people came to donate blood they took it and delivered some to old theater near South Shore. When they delivered more the old packages were gone. Archbishop is terrified when party tells him why Ileosa needs that blood. He wishes that party will stop her as that could mean death to lot of believers in his church.
Party starts preparation for last voyage to Sunken Queen where Ileosa waits. They buy rations and spell components and say farewells to friends like Krojun (who understands why he can't come with the party) and Vencarlo (teaches new move to Faenor) who has been with them long time. Next morning they are standing at the sun rise and saying quick farewells to nobles and Cressida. It looks like Glorio has total faith in party and party tries to hint that Glorio isn't as nice as he seems to Cressida.
Then they start their fly towards that Greenrust Reef that is mentioned in Togomor's map. When they find it they have clear path to Sunken Queen. Mevanthalyn wants to use Air Walk all way to pyramid but others want to use their feet. They find frog statues easily and start their way through Musfens which isn't really a nice place for people who mostly live in city..
Path to Sunken Queen isn't really hard to find but swamp terrain makes it bit harder to them. They hear strange sounds, swamp is full of exotic smells and they can sometimes see shadows moving near them. Maybe most clear is when three boggards dive to swamp after seeing them so they might face enemies later. They also pass huge undead creature that is probably guarding some part of the swamp. It was either skeleton of titan or runegiant that was mentioned in map. Either way they don't want to face it in combat.
When night starts to fall they notice how loud croaks fill air like frogs were communicating. Faenor acts fast: he looks for camp site, uses his Rod of Splendor to call large tent for them and wards area with Alarm spell. Then Ocham sends his Prying Eyes to scout area. They are ready for night. Before anyone gets to sleep they hear something terrifying: MOBOGO! MOBOGO! MOBOGO! Like hundreds and hundreds of boggards were yelling one word out loud for unknows reason. Ocham knows that word, it means "Big Brother" or "Guardian" which doesn't sound nice. His Prying Eyes return to tell that hundreds of boggards have surrounded their camp and are chanting. They scramble outside when something starts to rise from swamp.
They see three frog like creatures next to their camp and hear one very loud croak yelling "MOBOGO!". Faenor knows that this Mobogo creature is related to boggards and probably dangerous (he knows awful lot about mobogo's for townie). They are ready to face these monsters that try to kill them!
Fight is short. Mevanthalyn summons an gigantic crocodile to help them and others attack best they can. Mobogo's have good reach but coming too near heroes isn't safe solution as Ragnar and Adolamin start to hack them to pieces. Mevanthalyn's crocodile grapples one of mobogo's and Ocham's Dragon's Breath makes a lot of damage to two of them. Crocodile kills one, them Adolamin finishes other and lastly Ragnar slices one to death. They can hear how boggards are retreating. They sleep and continue their way towards Sunken Queen.
It takes almost half a day to get to Sunken Queen but they don't face any threats on way so it seems quite easy. There it is. Huge monument from Thassilon that is slowly sinking to swamp. That place will be their last stage as they'll face Queen Ileosa and hopefully end this once and for all. They are ready.
~~
Session ends because of two players had time limit so I chose this as good place to continue tommorrow. (Session was about three hours long.) Yes you did read correct, we'll be playing again tommorow so end of this campaing is near! Stay tuned!
After some discussion they agree that they'll use diplomacy first and if that fails they'll try other ways. They are suprised that they meet Glorio Arkona quickly and he is nice man. He explains something about Queen and how she's dangerous. When asked about Neolandus he tells that he is at Palace as visitor but meeting him is bit complicated. Both Neolandus and Vencarlo are in their labyrinth beneath the Palace which is used to test new allies if they are worth of Arkona's trust. Its impossible to get anyone out of there before they solve the labyrinth. Labyrinth isn't very dangerous more like puzzle and riddle thing than combat training. For sign of trust and hopefully for new friendship hi gaves them advice how to get in to labyrinh and gives them a ring (which Ocham identifies as Ring of Evasion). Party thanks him and says that they'll head to this labyrinth.
We just played through this section - I just loved roleplaying the NPC Glorio. I roleplayed him like a mofia/mobster/godfather. It was a very nice touch when he invited the PCs into the "steam baths" (just like those old Russian mob films) - I even gave him a stubby cigar and glass of wine as he explained the situation to the PCs.
Neolandus did tell Ragnar how to get to royal crypts so he leads them down. They are suprised that there is none one guarding or waiting them in the lower levels. After a long stairs they find themselves at the crypt level. In the first room Ocham decides to put light in the lantern of revealing just to be sure. Same time lantern lights up over seven feet high pale man appears next to them. He has large sword behind his back and it tries to reach as it realizes party sees him.
That was pretty chool, but it goes a little bit different: After the fight with Togomor, I said to Ocham, that the he should use the lantern more, so those kind of invisible enemies wouln'd be so harmful.
So, down, down, down, the stairs,to the crypt full of ghost in chains.
Thalyn and me casts light spell and Ocham says: "hmm, I will cast it too."
I mentioned to him that "you have that fancy new lantern with you. Isn't it good time to light it"? You can never know...".
Ocham think's that it is actually a good idea, so he did it. And there it is. An ancient Vampire with a sword, which is bigger than dragon's... tail, and everypody is like WHAAT THE SHI-
That was just so awesmoe.
Thalyn and me casts light spell and Ocham says: "hmm, I will cast it too."
I mentioned to him that "you have that fancy new lantern with you. Isn't it good time to light it"? You can never know...".
Ocham think's that it is actually a good idea, so he did it. And there it is. An ancient Vampire with a sword, which is bigger than dragon's... tail, and everypody is like WHAAT THE SHI-
This was one of my favourite minor encounters in the campaign. Just loved Kusasfa and I really liked the way he was lost in time at times. Poor undead, nearly felt pity for him. As a player.
Thalyn couldn´t see any reason for walking several dozens of miles in jungle having 10 hours of duration of wind walk left. The other party members (or at least Adolamin and Faenor) preferred more mundane means of travelling so walk it was. The mokobos we met was nearly worth the walk however, so strange monsters they were and Thalyn got an opportunity to rise some really serious lizard from the murky swamp waters. Dire crocodile having frog dinner is such a inspiring sight...