Session 78: Calamis, Ithronel 16

Nura notices Elenion’s Sapphire buckler. Scale used to make the buckler came from a Sapphire dragon named Paldret. Shield was crafted by one of the dwarves that originally occupied the keep that is now the West Wing. An expedition had been sent to Mount Olympus because the Zafrine in the mines surrounding the keep had run out, and they went to mount Olympus to get more. Paldret, who lived near Mount Olympus at the time, attacked this expedition of dwarves. During the scuffle, Paldret lost one scale, most of the dwarves in the expedition were killed, but the few survivors ran away with the scale that was used to make the buckler. Nura tells Elenion she knew Paldret from a while ago, that he’s not very social with humanoids, but close with metallic dragons. He dislikes the dwarves that went to Mount Olympus, because he sees them as power hungry and selfish. He’s devout to Zafros the God of Magic. Probably lives around the Echoing Heights. Elenion scries on Paldret. She sees him sleeping, has some scars that seem healed, but breathing and otherwise looks well.

As the group is planning their next steps, Elenion notices that Hazel is being scried on and tries to “discreetly” let them know.

Hazel dispels it, after telling “them” it’s rude to spy without asking.

Group discusses how to contact Nidhogg, Hazel considers trying to send a message (via sending). The message doesn’t go through, and Hazel is reassured they never met Nidhogg.

They contacted the druids, and learned that the druids do not have “parts of Nidhogg”, and they have fought her brethren, but not Nidhogg directly.

Hazel then messaged Gralkas Yorkul (sigh) to ask if they have seen Nidhogg lately and for ideas on how to contact her. Gralkas tells Hazel that a batallion of the Bahamut Brigade was sent to Aethea during Zachronos to assist with security. Hazel asks for more information and learns that Garth is the one going into “Zachronos” and will be done later today. He doesn’t know more details about the ritual.

The group heads back to the keep early in the morning, using Zannan’s very fast teleportation spell with the Amber Orb.

Zannan and Hazel go to the Temple of Yemoja to check on the progress of the cure for corruption. They speak to High Priestess Enndolynn, who advises them that Arin, an alchemist dwarf, is working tirelessly on the cure, but hasn’t any finished potions yet. Hazel looks at notes of the alchemist, looks like he just needs more time to produce a viable product that will be effective.

Brandybuck and Zannan write letters to Nephira and Zannan’s family respectively, in case things go wrong with Nidhogg’s battle. Elenion speaks to Halaema about the upcoming battle and about how gods interact with their followers. Communications are not consistent across gods. Halaema is very emotional about letting Elenion go into what she believes is certain death. Elenion leaves Halaema with a fancy cloak, which Halaema will keep safe for when Elenion comes back.

Zannan mentions he could teleport if there was an object from a place. Elenion suggests Garth’s music box. The group discusses routes for getting to Aethea. Elenion communes with Selune and learns that Nidhogg does plan to come back to Aethea (though not immediately – something in the range of weeks rather than days). She also learns about a deep hatred from Nidhogg towards Bahamut, and taking off branches from trees (literally, as in Yigdrasiil; as well as figuratively, as in killing other dragons). Also learns that Nidhogg is underground often and that Skywrite may not be as effective as they hoped. Nidhogg also may still have alliances that may hurt the group’s chances.

Brandybuck goes to take a bath, to attempt to talk to Yemoja. Didn’t hear back from her and got pulled out of the water by a female human who wasn’t judgmental, but slightly concerned about his mental state. Learns about a sense of dread about Lake Avaranthia potentially being corrupted again.

Group decides to go to Multruvia to fly Boyd to the Glass Islands and attempt to collect a sample material from the Island, to return to Multruvia in 2 days. 

Group sees wraiths, skeletons, zombies and some rather large skeletons walking around Multruvia, outside of the city guard building. Boyd flies past these creatures, seemingly undetected.

The group returns to the keep to work on other things. Later in the day, Elenion sends a message to Garth and finally hears back. He sounds different, with a deeper voice, but also as if he’s having a hard time grasping whether Elenion is real or maybe a dream? He explains that Zachronos hasn’t been done in a long time, and that he is now the protector of Aethea. He also says he needs to talk to her and hints at the music box he gave her.

Discussion between the group about killing Nidhogg to make kinky boots.

The group teleports into a shop with the sounds of whirling of machines and mechanisms clicking, and a lot of clockwork objects around. There are shelves with lots of metal pieces and tools. The group is greeted by a dragonborn (Kaleth) who seems suspicious of the group, and questioning how they got there. After mocking Elenion for claiming Garth is her boyfriend, Kaleth earned Hazel’s shade. Garth gave them a codeword to tell him, so he let them go.

They take in the city of Aethea, which in this section seems to be mostly made from different metals. There is a populace composed almost exclusively of dragonborn and dragons. There is some fire damage to portions of the city, with some people working on repairs.

Gralkas eventually catches up to them to take them to take them to Garth. They see a building in the distance, made of a metal that is unique, dark silvery blue.

They arrive at a building made of metals of multiple colours, and meet a very aged Garth in his human morph.

Session 77: Calamis, Ithronel 16

The group was still conversing with Nura, and established that Nidhogg was seen most recently during the attack to the metallic dragon’s home. Nura also tells the group she would rather not see Nidhogg again, as she probably would try to kill Nura. Nura seems content to just hide underground for now. Nura also reveals she has met some drow and seems to like them, but doesn’t seem to be aware about much information on corruption. Through a conversation about dreams, the group realizes Nura means that she literally sees people’s dreams. She tells them that sometimes she enters Nidhogg’s dreams and tries to scare her, getting her back for the destruction of Cathrill. Also reveals Nidhogg’s weakness is her impulsiveness, short temper and how she holds a grudge. Nidhogg also dislikes Nura’s ability to shift between planes and seems obsessed with keeping the barrier up.

The group also learns about Nura’s old home, which was located near the southern exit of the tunnels leading out of the West Wing.

Elenion takes a large number of rubies.

Nura also shows the group that the large ruby in the ceiling (which she calls a chandelier) can be moved by pressing a switch, revealing the sky above.

Nura also reveals that she saw that Nidhogg had a very dark, consuming presence in her dreams, as well as a different appearance with spikes coming out of her body (red with a black tip).

Brandybuck sees the face of a woman in the watery curtain. Nura tells the group the watery curtain is fed by a spring from Lake Avaranthia. Brandybuck asked Yemoja if that was her in the waterfall, and shortly after felt a strong thirst and very drawn to the waterfall. Once he touched the watery curtain and drank from it, he immediately fell unconscious (as far as the rest of the group could tell). In Brandybuck’s perspective, he just stepped through the watery curtain into a place filled with water. There’s no current, he can’t tell which way is up or down. In every direction there seems to just be water as far as the eye can see, and the light seems uniform. From the distance, a figure approaches. Looks humanoid. As she got closer, she asked: will you accept my gift of unimaginable power? Eventually, Brandybuck said “yes”. As soon as he accepted, she hugged him tight, dug her claws in and bit his neck. A battle began between Brandybuck and this mysterious vampire. Brandybuck successfully defeated the vampire (with some indirect help from Hazel). Once defeated, the vampire vanished, and in its place, Yemoja appeared with a message: “you have shown great skill, as I expected of my champion. Be careful of those who are not as they seem. Do not seek power blindly. You are on a path of alliances. Remember and trust your friends. Trust your heart. I will stand by those who will cleanse this world and welcome life. Will you welcome life? Will you cleanse this world?”

Once Brandybuck accepted, he woke up without any injuries. He tells the group about his experiences.

The group decides to rest afterwards. Brandybuck and Elenion activate the skylight to let the moonlight in. It’s also raining and some of the rain is coming in. Elenion feels the rain is different and warmer. It feels like ordinary water to Brandybuck. Elenion collects samples of the rain water.

Nura also reveals she doesn’t know Garth, but knows that Bahamut watches over metallic dragons more directly, so Elenion shouldn’t worry, because he would protect them from anything major. Elenion asks what Bahamut likes and Nura knows that he likes magic (and mentioned Zaphrine, because that’s the stone that represents Zafros, the god of magic. Also Mount Olympus, above which the metallic’s home is located, is a known source of Zafrine).

Elenion tells Nura that rubies are her favourite rock, so Nura gives her a crescent moon-shaped pendant.

Elenion sends Boyd up the Ruby “hatch”, but unsure of what Boyd saw out there.

Group wakes up well rested and with newfound abilities!

Planning of location/strategy for battle against Nidhogg:

-        Allies? Evgenia? Anyone from West Wing?

-        Location? Near Lake Avaranthia?

-        Tormenting Nidhogg in her dreams?

-        Skywrite

Session 76: Solas, Ithronel 15

Party is at Mossgrove and decide to spend the night there, and head over to the Pond in the morning. Yinfaren again tells the group not to pick any mushrooms around the pond, as it is bad luck. Hazel is very skeptical about that. Elenion stocks up on mushrooms from the Mossgrove “kitchens”.

Brandybuck tries to communicate with Yemoja, and feels a change in the feeling of the air, it’s subtle, but there is a higher level of humidity in the air for a moment, which he feels as a sign that Yemoja is watching him.

In the morning, Hazel makes some coffee. Yin tells the group the directions to the pond, there is a well-traveled path leading to it. They should look for blue mushrooms which increase in density as they get closer to the pond. There’s also a large willow tree that grows close to the pond. Additionally, there’s an offering bowl near the lake with what seems to be the remains of dried up mushrooms of the same kind they have as meals at Mossgrove. Elenion adds some mushrooms to this offering bowl and sees some koi fish in the lake start to jump.

Hazel looks around for clues of what could be causing the “bad luck” surrounding the blue mushrooms.

Hazel casts “see invisibility” and is overwhelmed by the presence of hundreds (possibly thousands) of small creatures that look like fairies, who appear to be laughing at her, and fluttering about all the members of the group. Elenion tries to play charades with them, but they don’t understand what anyone is saying. Hazel at least could comprehend them via spell, and determined they were not hostile towards the group. Zannan makes an image of a dragon and tries to convey the meaning of “where?”. The fairies respond to that by indicating the group would have to enter the lake to reach “her”. Hazel also discovered that the blue mushrooms are the fairies’ homes.

Hazel cast water breathing so the group could get into the lake. As they enter the lake, some of the fairies join them after turning themselves into koi fish. They follow the group underwater, but only until the group reaches a point in which it gets pretty deep. The group sees the bottom of the lake has some bioluminescent algae, as well as magenta-coloured crystals, increasing density towards the north. As they approach this area, they notice a tunnel descending deeper. The group gets attacked by a group of giant pike fish.

After defeating the fish, the group descends into the tunnel, they eventually resurface within a cave. The cave is lined with additional magenta-coloured crystals. A lot of the floor stones have heart-shaped rubies on them. There is lot of animal and plant life, consisting mostly of bioluminescent algae, and small insects and amphibians, as well as some of the same kinds of pixies that the group saw on the surface.

After walking for a few hours, the group reaches a large grotto with a large ruby (about 20 ft wide) in the ceiling at the centre. This ruby has a gentle glow to it. They also see a waterfall at the opposite end of the grotto. Behind the curtain of water, there is a gazebo-like structure entirely made of ruby.

The group reaches the structure and notices a table and 4 chairs, all made of ruby. There are 4 tea cups and 4 tea pots. There’s also a banner hanging behind the table saying “welcome to my tea party, this is your first trial”. Also, each tea pot is labeled with one of the following: “red”, “crimson”, “sanguine”, “rubeo”. Brandybuck tries the Sanguine tea and is hit by a column of fire. Zannan and Elenion both try the Rubeo tea. When Zannan drinks his tea, he notices a darkness spell effect appearing near a wall 60 feet away from him. Zannan goes towards the edge of the darkness. Elenion also tries the Red tea, and nothing happens, as well as the Crimson tea, which makes her feel a boost of confidence. Brandybuck also tries the Crimson tea, but doesn’t feel anything different.

Eventually an elven-looking woman approaches the group from the tunnel just north of the table. She is very excited that the group tried all the teas. She also shows admiration for Elenion’s hair colour, because it is just like the colour of one of the moons.

The group mentions the name Novasset, but she doesn’t recognize it. She seems surprised by the survival of other gem dragons on the surface.

Zannan mentions Nidhogg’s name, to which the group notices a strong reaction on Nura’s part (her facial expression shows shock). Nura explained that she and Nidhogg had a history of a relationship that didn’t work out, and Nidhogg took revenge on Nura by burning down Cathrill to the ground, knowing that Nura has a soft spot for surface people.

Session 75: Sygmis, Ithronel 14

The party returned to the West Wing in the morning, via Shel Alari’s portal. They then decided to head towards Mossgrove via the tunnels under the keep. Hazel helped with casting a vortex that moved their two horses into the tunnel, as they wouldn’t fit through the trapdoor.

Travel through the tunnels was peaceful, with occasional kobold sightings, but no hazards. Upon arrival at the edges of Alusfaenvandor forest and progressing into it, the group noticed the smell of undead. An encounter with corpse flowers and zombies took place. The group, managed fine, however they suffered the loss of their horse Salsa.

Later in the day, the group reached Mossgrove and met Yinfaren again. Yinfaren told the group that there’s a fishing pond just West of Mossgrove where the dragon lives. She told the group not to take any of the mushrooms from around the pond, and that often people leave offerings of mushrooms there.

A few messages were sent. Zannan communicated with Evgenia, who said that the Drow Empress will not be very helpful with solving the ongoing conflicts, and also that there’s an unseelie Belmorn in captivity.

Session 74: Cyclonis, Ithronel 13

During the ball, Elenion spoke to her father, he mentioned he was proud of her, and that he trusts her and has confidence in her.

Zannan did the addressing of the peace talks, with each party member’s title. He also brought up the concern of addressing Nidhogg’s agenda, and the importance of figuring out what she wants.

The formal dinner began – a very opulent meal was served. The Council members (including the Twilight Wings) ate at the table, while guards and guests mingled all around the ball room. There were always 6 drow guards standing behind the drow council, while the other 12 drow guards mingled around the room. They seemed to be taking rotations in these tasks.

The Peace Talks began.

The first addressing was done by Drow Prime Sentinel Isilru Zeignat, who said the following:

“Our Empress once had an alliance with the dragon Nidhogg, but that alliance has fallen, and we no longer see the dragon as an ally, as she threatens our empire as much as yours. We also have learned of a threatening individual, who is a shapeshifter, and seeks to sow chaos in all of Arvandor. We believe they once took the persona of an Ascal Olovalur, and that this individual has also on occasion infiltrated our midst and caused irreparable harm. We do not know who this person is, or what their real name is. We call them “the Betrayer”. We do not know their motives or objectives, but we do know they have started gathering an army composed of some deserter drow, vampires, and a number of engineers and their creations – true abominations built only for destruction and pain. Our Empress Nokshei Dyvnek proposed this meeting so that we may find common ground to form an alliance and neutralize these enemies of Arvandor, who threaten all of its people, regardless of their origin. We would also like to request that the barrier between planes be removed, so that our civilians may also have a world to go to for asylum, should the conflicts here increase in severity.”

The Seldarine council replied with their own concerns and requests, mostly concerns about corruption and vampires being out of control.

Regarding the corruption, the Drow said the following:

“What you refer to as “corruption” has been our Goddess Ganassis’ blessing and protective embrace. Just like your goddess Celeste blesses you with sunlight, which as you well know, weakens us, our Goddess blessed us with this protection, because it weakens our enemies. We do not have control over it, or how it spreads, just like you cannot control the sun itself.”

This triggered some further negotiations regarding the term used to address the corruption as not “Blessing of Ganassis”. Another suggestion by the party was to agree on a cease fire between factions, in an attempt to see it perhaps the corruption would recede. Additionally, having cities open at night could allow for Drow to still work at night.

The group mentioned a semi-cure for vampirism, but did not disclose the ingredient used for the potion.

Both factions decided to take these suggestions to their leaders, and seemed favourable to the cease fire, as well as interested in the semi-cure for vampirism. They also seemed agreeable to the idea of joining forces and providing soldiers and ships to help fight Nidhogg. However, getting feedback from the Empresses will take some time.

At this point, Elenion noticed one of the guards whisper something in Evgenia’s ear. Hazel communicates with Evgenia to ask what was happening, to which Evgenia replied: “Talabrina, one of my guards, has been missing for the past 10 minutes, the other guards are still looking for her”.

At the same time, dessert was about to be served - a pastry chef (human female – Lynne Crawford) brought in a procession with a cart that held her most elaborate cake yet, in celebration of this momentous occasion. The cake was covered in a veil. When the veil dropped to reveal the cake, the room fell silent. All gasped in awe, and Lynne couldn’t help but smile, confident her masterpiece was being admired. What Lynne couldn’t see was what had been revealed on the cart behind her. Her face dropped as a symphony of piercing screams cut through the room.

There was no cake – but the corpse of a drow instead. With a dagger of Eladrin military design planted on her chest, and a note written in blood that read (in sylvan): “Take your filth back to Carantharas”. The victim was immediately recognized as Talabrina, the guard Evgenia was missing from her party. She was wearing her sleeping gown (instead of the official ball garb).

This event triggered the doors to the ballroom to be shut. Nobody enters or leaves, until cleared by thorough investigations. The party also successfully defused the situation, avoiding further attrition between factions – go group!

Arelel, the Seldarine Chief of Diplomacy, urged everyone to stay calm in the face of this great tragedy, and that this is a matter that requires cooperation and thorough and careful investigation. Any attempt by anyone to flee this place before providing a thorough interview will be seen as an active attempt of fleeing the scene of a crime, and treated as a criminal act. He proposed that the Twilight Wings, as the neutral party, investigate this incident.

Investigating the body, the party noticed that Talabrina’s throat was slashed. Elenion also could tell that she has been dead for a while, since late this morning.

Hazel detected the presence of what could be the betrayer somewhere to the south, possibly by the docks. Brandybuck and Zannan rushed to the docks and noticed a person who looked like a sailor, but acting strangely, out of place. They then saw the halfling that they immediately recognized as Tin Can extending a hand to this mysterious person. Before Brandybuck or Zannan could do anything, Tin Can teleported them both out of there.

Hazel sent disturbing crying sounds to the Mayor of Multruvia (Darastrix).

A very curious woman at the ball was trying to get as much information as possible (Sybill Blackbriar). She is a reporter for the Arvandor Gazette, and very interested in gossip.

The group told both the Seelie and Unseelie courts about the halfling automaton known as Tin Can, and that the Betrayer is most likely responsible for the murder.

The group also decided on the codeword Omelette.

Hazel made a mental note that a bag of colding would be good to have to transport dragon blood.

Session 73: Cyclonis, Ithronel 13

The party was at the Golden Clover Tavern in the morning. Hazel noticed some drow looking at them and (via detect thoughts) express feelings of “so that must be them… Ariadne’s comrades… what is their deal?”. Hazel noted that they referred to Ariadne by name. The group had a few drinks and food (the spider gruel and multigrain bread).

The group found out they had a room reserved for them (room number 12), at the same floor as the drow attendees. On the way there, Hazel detected abjuration magic coming from room number 1.

Hazel, Elenion, and Brandybuck explored the city streets. They saw a very busy hair salon, and Hazel tried reading thoughts of Seldarine guards, but they noticed, and recommended she doesn’t do that at the ball.

Zannan left the bag of holding (enchanted with non-magical aura) atop of a tree just east of the Ball building so that Boyd can bring it to them in case of emergencies.

Brandybuck went to check the area near the gates of the city and noticed traffic to and from the docks, the air ship docked outside the city, and some people being turned away at the gates for inappropriate behaviours.

Once the ball began, Zannan and Elenion tried to look like they were on a date off to the side, so Zannan could check on the bag, but the guards saw through their deception, and suggested they move along to the ball.

Upon arrival inside, they were announced as “The Twilight Wings”, and were encouraged to interact with the other attendees, especially members of the council (on both sides). Brandybuck immediately noticed one of the drow attendees was precisely the drow who he remembers as his parent’s murderer.

This same drow (Arch Huntress Evgenia Nastamitsia) approached the group and asked for a dance with Zannan. He noticed a slight change in her eyes when he mentioned his last name. During the dance, Evgenia questioned Zannan about the Twilight Wings’ views on fairness government and community. She also told Zannan she has concerns about the Drow Empress not properly taking care of her people, and that the drow community is suffering and not doing well. She mentioned that she knows they travelled with Ariadne, and that she believes Ariadne is still alive, because the empress announced Ariadne was executed, but it was not a public execution. Evgenia believes the Empress still has some use for Ariadne and likely keeping her in a more secluded, high security prison to which not even Evgenia has access. Evgenia then slipped a note into Zannan’s sleeve, letting him know that they can attempt communication via spells (such as “sending”) every Sygmys at 7 PM. On the note, she again expressed concerns with the well-being of the drow, and that she believes that peace between drow and eladrin is the way to save her people, because the Empress is not acting in the best interest of the drow. The party notices how Evgenia’s guards are protecting her from afar, trying to prevent the other drow from noticing her interaction with Zannan.

Zannan also talked General Egoreen and learned that her main goal is to end corruption, as she has lost many soldiers to the illness. She was otherwise uninterested in the social function as a whole.

Hazel interacts with Abofri, who was not very open, however she implied that interests between the drow and the Twilight Wings may be aligned, while being evasive about any details.

Session 72: Cyclonis, Ithronel 13

Elenion told the party about her father’s letter, which let the group know they are expected to act as a neutral party at the Council Meeting, and sending them garments to wear at the ball. 

Elenion communed with Selune and was provided with a vision:

“An eladrin and a drow figure are fighting and getting both consumed by flames (with a dragon’s face). The image shifts to purple wings and a feeling of peace and hope.”

The party concludes that this could mean that the presence of the Twilight Wings at the ball could be helpful at least in dealing with Nidhogg. The party then begins preparations for the ball. Zannan finds a person at the keep (Terryn Truegust) who knows the spell “Mage Armour”, so he was able to copy this spell to his spellbook. Elenion cast Hero’s Feast during the morning of the ball. People who took part in the feast: Armando, Kalim, Coleen, Remi, Novasset, Katrina (the Armourer), Elder Qinyarus, Halaema. Zannan also gave a sending stone to Kalim. Hazel cast Arcanist aura.

The party took the portal to Shel Alari the morning of the Ball (on Ithronel 13). Upon arrival, the guards inquired the party if they intended to do harm or use harmful spells, but seemed calm and respectful, almost welcoming towards the party. They directed the party towards the Golden Clover Tavern, where most visitors are staying for the event.

When headed towards the tavern, Hazel detected thoughts, and noticed that the drow find it weird that everyone around here seems so relaxed and safe. They are also very tired and thinking about going to their rooms to rest fairly soon.

The group is currently at the tavern, waiting for the time of the Ball (after sunset).