Session 61: Calamis, Ithronel 2nd

The group is still at the keep. Colleen talked to Brandybuck and mentioned that she is really angry at herself, as opposed to at Brandybuck. She felt broken and insecure that she can’t even hang on to her own lute, much less keep up with the captor of her sisters. She feels powerless since she can’t even take care of her own stuff. She apologized for her impulsiveness before and offered her help around the keep. Brandybuck hugged her and thanked her.

Garth talked to Elenion. He told her that he has been called by his family. They need his help protecting their home. Elenion noticed he was holding something back, but trusted him and did not pry him further. After telling Elenion he loves her, Garth took off to the north, in his majestic dragon form.

Hazel’s brother Remy has been learning how to mix some simple potions in Kalim’s brewing workshop. He gave Hazel a Small clear glass bottle with a cork stopper. It is a potion of hair change, which Hazel and her brother used to die a section of their hair in a shade of brown, contrasting with their otherwise light blonde hair.

Slarty was tasked with entertaining the children as a ride around the keep, much to their entertainment. 

During their explorations of the keep, the group heard cries to the east, as well as a commotion with wolves. They realized there was a baby griffon in distress, as wolves were attracted to its mother's carcass, lying dead on the ground beneath a tree where the helpless fledgling perched itself. Upon defeating the pack of dire wolves, the group noticed an arrow lodged in the adult griffon's hind quarters, the point of entry largely infected, and the likely cause of death. The arrow seems to have come from the keep's armory.

Session 60: Calamis, Ithronel 2nd

The group left the general store and was cut off by a herd of undead creatures that had been affected by corruption. They managed to escape the fight and make their way to the tavern where Nephira and the remaining crew of the Sanguine Raider had taken shelter.

Once there, the group discovered that 6 of the crew have been infected by corruption, all of them elves. There are 14 still healthy sanguine raider crew (including Nephira). Additionally, there are also 7 towns people, some of them children.

After successfully transporting all to the keep (and making arrangements for the sick to be taken to the chapel), the group decided to catch up with other people at the keep.

Halaema revealed that there are rumors of peace talks to be held in Shel’ Alari. She has been in communication with Othorion from the Seldarine. They don’t know yet the exact date for these talks, just that they were proposed by the drow, and that drow representatives will be sent to Shel’ Alari.

This is odd timing, since with the corruption spreading faster one would expect the drow is comfortable and feeling like they have the upper hand.

Session 59: Calamis, Ithronel 2

Once all the affairs were dealt with in Menell Dilth, Zannan transported everyone (via circle) back to the keep. Unfortunately, Elenion will not see the resolution of her Arvandor Apparel prank on Heidi.

Coleen got very angry once she saw Brandybuck. She blamed him for delaying her in her pursuing her sisters.

Coleen demanded that Brandybuck helps her go after her sisters, to make up for his mischief. Brandybuck wants to help her, but the group is hesitant to immediately pursue the issue.

Back at the keep, Elenion asked Halaema to keep an eye out for rubies worth 1,000 gp (to cast Forbiddance spells at the keep).

Elenion scries on Coleen’s sisters. They are alive, but apparently trapped in crates, being transported. Lennie also cast spells on the temple, to allow the vampires to enter it, but so that nobody can teleport (or plane shift) in and out of it.

Zannan and Brandybuck got new tattoos!

The group plans their approach. They decide to attempt to take back the Sanguine Raider, but getting there is the biggest challenge. They share all information with Coleen (except for info regarding Hazel’s schematics and orb of Yigdrasiil). They decide to go to Multruvia, and secure a ship from there.

On Ithronel 2^nd, the group teleported to the circle underneath the City Guard building in Multruvia. Upon arrival, the group quickly realized that this part of town has been consumed by corruption, which advanced very quickly over the last week.

The only consolation is that not the entire town fell to corruption, but there are some refugees on the western side of town, many of which took refuge in the local tavern, including Nephira and the rest of the remaining sanguine raider crew.

The Mayor of Multruvia left town with his VIPs, taking the last two ships, so whoever remained, is stranded here. Many refugees left via land, and are headed west.

The group made their way to the general store, which has been heavily raided and picked through, but found some useful supplies still.

Session 58: Solas, Tanyth 24 - Solas, Ithronel 1

The group got settled and comfortable at the keep.

Zannan wrote a note to Cui Long, thanking for the help, as well as sending back a spell book.

Brandybuck asked Kalim for Coleen’s lute, so he could return it to Lennie. Lennie messaged Coleen to let her know the lute is safe.

Lennie got 50% off of cost for making armor because of their help in getting Katrina and Eryn to a safer place. Lennie owes 4,250 gp.

Hazel started working on blueprints that were demanded by Vaeri. She wants to add a kill switch. Zannan helped (Arcana check: 22). Hazel wanted to make sure it was well hidden within the blueprints (Stealth check: 24). The kill switch will have a verbal component that anyone who knows the word can say.

The group decided to head over to Menell Dilth to purchase items and talk to Knock Knock at Tattoocan about her daughter. During their travels through Khaorvandor Forest, they saw a Tyrannosaurus rex chasing a group of ankylosaurs. The group managed to stay undetected by the huge creatures that rushed by, leaving a wide opening through the forest.

Upon arrival at Menell Dilth, later in the afternoon, Lennie headed straight to Arvandor Apparel’s back door area. She started casting a glyph of warding with “Meld into Stone”, so that Heidi (the store clerk) may turn into stone for 8 hours should she step on it.

Brandybuck headed over to Imagi Knit (the magic component store) along with Zannan. He inquired about getting magical armor, which the shop keeper can do, but requires a piece of armor first. So Brandybuck went to the blacksmith and got studded leather armor to be enchanted. On his way there, he saw Coleen heading towards Tatiana’s tavern.  

Meanwhile Hazel and Zannan talked to Knock Knock about taking her to the keep to see her daughter. She immediately agreed and also revealed many of her children (Ring Ring, Tap Tap, and Bong Bong) have been taken.

Hazel also messages Coleen about knowing that her sisters are east of Multruvia. She also lets Hazel know that she knows Brandybuck’s face, which Hazel then tells Brandybuck.

Coleen also accompanied the group to the West Wing.

Zannan’s Ivory statue looks like…. a good effort…

Session 57: Solas, Tanyth 24

The group made their way to the tavern, where they noticed that Zix, Lila and Ding Ding were all there waiting for them in the attic room. Zix agreed to go home with the children for the night, under the promise that they could leave the next morning.

The group agreed to let him know early in the morning when they were ready to depart.

Lennie sent a few messages: first to her father, letting him know there may be an impostor trying to get in to Aerie very soon. She also told him she has a big cut on her face and that there may be some planar issues. Lord Kauma wanted to know who the impostor is, where they are, and when they may be traveling.

Messaged Olena as well to let them know they are on their way tomorrow.

Meanwhile Brandybuck headed downstairs to meet with Nephira. She let him know that most of the crew has been doing odd jobs around the docks, but she expressed concerns with their living arrangements since they don’t have a ship. Brandybuck handed them 800gp, which she was very grateful for and assured that this would keep them fed and accommodated for a good amount of time. They will stay put in Multruvia or perhaps look for passage to Menell Dilth to get out of this gloomy place.

Lennie also managed to restore Garth’s mind, and he can once again talk and be his normal self, albeit very tired and distressed.

Zannan cast alarm around the room before they all went to bed, with the sound “beep beep beep”.

The next morning, Zannan, Lennie and Brandybuck head out of the tavern to get the blacksmith and leatherworker (Katrina and Eryn), and secure their passage to the West Wing as well. Around town, guards are seen hanging wanted posters around town for two criminals: the drawings look like a human male (Forrest Gump) and female (Jessie Graff). Bounty of 100 gp “To be brought in alive for questioning, for their horrendous crime of theft, and bringing irreparable sentimental loss and damage to the good valuable and vulnerable people of Multruvia”. Lennie made sure to keep a small stack of the posters (5 of each).

Upon returning to the tavern, they were happy to see a well rested Garth and Remi sitting at the table with Hazel. Brandybuck gave Garth a set of fine clothes, which he received with much joy.

Once everyone was ready, they teleported to the circle in what used to be the Hopeful Dawn’s quarters. Lennie had a hard time with the memories this very room brought her. This is where she learned for the first time that Ariadne was in fact a drow. Ironic that today the group finds themselves here again, helping another drow.

They were all well received at the West Wing, and made to feel right at home, including Zix.

Hazel cast detect thoughts on her brother, and the only faces she could get from it were the drow that fed him, as well as the tieflings from “The Hells Belles”. Elenion scried on Hazel’s mother, and she appeared well at home, with her other brother. She looked sad.

Session 56: Sygmis, Tanyth 23

Brandybuck and Zannan did a thorough check of the Mayor’s bedroom. They opened up a chest, which contained several money pouches, 3 small gold bracelets, 1 Potion of Superior Healing, and two potions they couldn’t yet identify (one is made of a transparent liquid with what looks like a fingernail floating in it, and the other is made of a dense purple liquid with an ovoid cloud of pink floating in it).

Meanwhile, Hazel stayed downstairs talking to the gnome female cleaning staff (whom she had previously charmed). The gnome talked about her comfortable family home, her child, but mostly about her five cats (one of which is named Nibbles).

After checking the bedside table in the room, Zannan found a book. It looked well worn, as though it had been read many times. It was bound in green leather with an embossed image on its cover: a young elven boy playfully strolling in a forest, accompanied by a bear walking on its hindlegs, also in a frolicking, playful manner. The book is called “The Forest Scroll”.

Zannan remembered this tale from his childhood, about the boy who got lost in the forest, made animal friends and learned how friends provide each other the “bare necessities” and keep them safe. There’s even a song about it.

Zannan sang the song while touching the head of the bear rug, and the mouth of the bear mount on the wall opened up. Zannan first checked it with mage hand, with no result, and then put his own hand in there. He felt the familiar sensation of the inside of a bag of holding. He then thought of the Orb of Yigdrasiil and immediately felt the sphere come to his hand.

Simultaneously, Lennie now felt the presence of the orb, but also saw Darastrix (the Mayor) riding exasperatedly and angrily towards his mansion. He bolted in, bringing his guards, while the remainder of the group attempted to flee with the orb safely tucked away in their bag of holding.

The group succeeded to escape the mansion, however Hazel was approached by a halfling male wearing a chef’s hat, who could see her despite her invisibility. The halfling told her it was time for “Auclair and Kauma to come trade with his master”. Hazel noticed the halfling was in fact a construct magically disguised. He also added that his master had something of great importance to each of them: Hazel’s brother, and something “worth its weight in gold” for Lennie. 

After much hesitation, Lennie and Hazel accepted to be transported to its master, and Brandy and Zannan jumped into the bag of holding. Upon arriving at the destination, the group found themselves inside a stone building with sandstone floors and quite a bit of sand spread out everywhere. The air felt very dry. The room they were in had no windows, but it felt like they must have been deep underground.

The first person to approach them was an elven woman familiar to Hazel: Vaeri Helethana. She requested again that Hazel hand over the blueprints she requested, and that Elenion would hand over her family signet ring and a vial of her blood. There were a number of drow individuals also in the room. They were mostly covered (including their faces), but their incredibly intricate armor and weapons suggested they were of a high rank among the drow.

Vaeri signaled the drow to show the prisoners. They unlocked and opened two heavy metal doors: one revealed a small boy (Remy), looking dirty, but otherwise unharmed, fast asleep on a pile of hay. The other door revealed Garth in his elven form, looking rough and heavily hurt, bloodied clothes, his eyes looked exasperated and panicked. Once he saw Elenion he dashed towards the open door, at which point the drow pushed him back in and closed the door.

The group attempted to negotiate with Vaeri, but she seemed to care little about the negotiations and was unbending on her terms. She wanted what was convenient, and if the group wasn’t willing to trade, she had no problem disposing of her prisoners. She also pointed out that she knew they had the orb and that it doesn’t belong to them, but to her. It took some convincing by Zannan, but she eventually accepted the compromise of having Hazel provide additional drawings instead. Hazel signed that contract. Hazel also requested to see the face of one of the drow. Lennie cut a large gash across her own face.

The group gave Vaeri all she wanted, and she honored her part of the bargain, returning the prisoners to them and having Tin Can (the construct) teleport them back to the alley near the Mayor’s house. From there, the group returned to their room at the inn. Lennie kissed Garth, he kissed her back, however didn't seem able to say anything to her. He also didn't seem to understand what anyone was saying. Hazel tried to read his mind, but it was very tumultuous and made no sense. Hazel fed her brother some cookies and comforted him.

Session 55: Sygmis, Tanyth 23

The group finished clearing Charles’ home of mimics. Upon inspection of the rooms, the group noticed that the furniture in Charles’ bedroom and his kitchen appears to have been dragged, however his sister’s bedroom seemed untouched (except for a missing dress, likely the one Charles was wearing). Lennie also remembered that mimics are known for being solitary creatures, so it's very odd to have so many in one place.

The group proceeds to the Mayor’s residence, some remaining invisible (Brandy and Lennie), and some changing their appearance to look like runners. Hazel wrote an illusory script to make it look like they have patrons for the race, someone out of town. 

The group agreed on codeword: Chestplate.

Lennie traces Mayor’s location somewhere in New Mire, at a winery not too far from the mansion where they had been before.

Hazel and Zannan charmed two guards at the manor entrance, and spoke to them a bit. Lisa was the most talkative and she revealed that some days the mayor likes to spend time either at the Duskgrove gardens feeding the fish at the pond, or sampling wine at the Ibbania Adega (a winery) in New Mire.

Hazel also charmed one of the servants in the house. The servant mentioned an elven woman with red hair visiting the mayor recently.

Brandybuck snuck upstairs into the Mayor’s bedroom. He noticed a bear rug on the floor with a flat patch of fur on its head. Once Brandybuck touched it, he noticed the eyes on the bear head mounted on the wall glow.