Session 22: Cyclonis, Tanyth 1st

The party (minus Hazel) decided to leave the town of Kepios and head to Menell Dilth via the forest. Kalim located two rare plants during their hike through the forest: Lightning Jewel Orchid, and Magic Mushrooms. Still within the forest, Lenny heard commotion up ahead on the path. As the party approached, they saw an eladrin woman surrounded by two disturbing looking unicorns, with red eyes, and a black tar-like substance oozing out of their wounds and nostrils. Additionally, two undead eladrin, wearing tattered seldarine armor accompanied these unicorns. They were moving towards the eladrin woman.

The party fought off these monsters and after some healing, introductions were in order. This eladrin woman’s name is Sylvie, and she was very thankful that the party could help her escape the situation she was in. She also had a severe burn on her leg, which Kalim helped heal. The party also took a closer look at the monsters they just defeated. Armando noticed the smell emanating from the unicorns resembled the smell from the sickness his father had. The party noticed that the unicorns and the undead eladrin were branded with a symbol.

Lenny recognized the symbol as the Symbol of Ganasis – evil deity of darkness, chaos, untimely death, divisiveness and disruption. The party went back to Menell Dilth, where they found the town still holding the “Festival of Life” celebrations. They headed towards Tatiana’s, who was very happy to greet the party once more. She informed the party that she unfortunately only had one room available. Faith offered space in the Thieves Guild quarters, should the party require more room.

Everyone had dinner, gross tomato eating happened, and Armando purchased a pint of Lone Tree Mead Reserve, which Lenny enjoyed responsibly (a.k.a. did not get drunk).

Some of the party members decided to have some deep fried goods again (including a churro sword and popcorn shrimp).

Lenny prayed to Selune, mentioning that she’s trying to still take care of people, but feeling it is very hard to stay balanced with Hazel leaving. It certainly feels unbalanced now.

Everyone had a long rest at Tatiana’s. Lenny and Kalim noticed Sylvie making noises under the bed while they rested. The next morning, Kalim purchased a new recipe for a Potion of Giant Strength, and Armando spent some time studying the book of animal harvesting.

Session 21: Tempest, Volodar 31

The party, currently in Kepios, has had mixed reactions to the letters they received. The most emotional reaction to the letter has been Hazel’s, as she was informed that her young brother was kidnapped, and her friends are currently in Aerie, trying to investigate where her brother could have been taken.

The letter details that they know Ascal Olovalur was involved in the kidnapping, but they don’t know his whereabouts.

The party spent the day at the village of Kepios, Kalim worked on copying and making potions, he purchased ingredients from the local store, as well as a mortar and pestle. Lenny got some holy water, and Armando purchased additional glass containers (in case they ran into more blood samples).

The party met the elder of Kepios Village, Cliphek Hinwyn, an old silver-skinned dragonborn who seems to tend to the Temple of Bahamut. Cliphek told the party that the Pact of Life has been trying to keep the corruption at bay, however the chromatic dragons have been advancing northwest into the forest. The druids of Yigdrasiil have been holding their ground (for now), but just barely. Same with the Bahamut Brigade. They lost contact with the priests of the temple of Yemoja, and only know that the temple sunk into Lake Avaranthia. It used to be suspended on the surface of the lake, protected by a magical shield. With the constant threat of the corruption, the Life Pact cannot afford to loose the support of the priests of Yemoja, and Cliphek asks the party to check on them and figure out what happened, so they can re-establish the hold they used to have in southern Arvandor.

Additionally, Lenny used the scrying spell on her letter seal. She discovered that she has an aunt called Halaema, and that she’s hiding in a cave with the Hopeful Dawn. She managed to escape from Carantharas, where she was held prisoner previously.

The party now has a number of choices for objectives and different routes available to them. After some discussion, the party decided to head towards the Hopeful Dawn cave in search for more allies, deliver the dragon blood, and then continue northeast towards the monastery of Ivtar, eventually making their way to lake Avaranthia.

The party went to bed for the night, only to discover the next morning that one of their party members was gone: Hazel. She left a note, and her construct (Slarty) behind. Her note said:

“Dear Armando, Elenion, and Kalim, I am so sorry to leave you like this without saying good-bye but I didn't want you to change direction just because of me. People's lives are on the line and I won't be responsible for anyone else dying because I was selfish and thoughtless. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine! And I'll try to message you as much as possible. Please be safe!! I'm sending Slarty with you to protect you. He might take some more recalibration to listen to you, but I've done the best I could with that in the time that I had. Please don't follow me, you are needed to the east! I have every faith you will be more than capable to meet whatever challenge is thrown at you. See you later. -HA”

The news weren’t received very well by some of the party members, but the party still agreed to proceed towards the east, as previously planned. 

Session 20: Tempest, Volodar 31

 

Upon handing the Aeli stone to Garth, he immediately got better, but also started transforming, and getting much, much larger. He revealed himself as an ancient gold dragon and apologized for the deception. His life was never in significant danger, he had been observing the party since they entered the forest, and had to be sure they were indeed well-intentioned. Magmarivox had indeed attempted to poison him, but just like the party, she was deceived into thinking he was merely a young dragon and much weaker than he appeared.

He has observed the corruption for some time, and had been tasked by his brethren to investigate its progression in Arvandor, because they are reaching a point where they may have to evacuate the realm completely, as metallic dragons are feeling the adverse effects of the corruption most.

He has noticed that in the last week something caused the corruption’s progress to slow down, and even recede in some areas. This is the first sign of hope he has seen in centuries. He believes the party also brings him hope and he needs to relay these urgent news to his brethren. Maybe they are about to have a chance to fight back soon.

He also gave the party some blood, and Hazel a golden scale, as promised. The scale is the size of a dinner plate.

The party also met Gralkas Yorkul, a recruit of the Bahamut’s Brigade. Sworn to defend the metallic dragons that remain in Arvandor, and sworn to protect the realm from the chromatic dragons.

The chromatic dragons are known to be benefitting from the corruption created by the vampires somehow, and to some degree contributing to it. The corruption seems to expand as the chromatic dragons and vampires grow in numbers.

Gralkas helped the group get to Kepios, a small fishing village inhabited by the Dragonborn, with a temple to Bahamut. On their way, the group came across a few dinosaurs, and fought them off successfully.

Gralkas looks at Elenion with suspicion, and commented on the fact that she’s Eladrin, but she seems different from the rest. When Hazel asked him about that suspicion towards Elenion, Gralkas explained that there was a disagreement between the Eladrin and many of the other groups that formed the “Pact of Life”, to the point that the Eladrin are no longer part of the pact.

The group also found out that this Pact of Life (which is a group trying to keep the growth of corruption at bay) is currently composed of: the Bahamut Brigade, the Druids of Yigdrasiil, and the Priests of Yemoja. The temple of Yemoja hasn’t been heard from in centuries, and legends say it sunk.