The Fifty-Third Session
September 18, 2021, Campaign: As the ground quakes, evil wakes
The Party is celebrated in Quadroads. Majorie is fine, but in the deserts of the north. Salris decides not to follow through on his latest assassination contract. Ryltar identifies the Far Realm Shard, and attunes to it. The celebrations are attacked by assassins targeting Dirius, and the Party saves her life.
Table of Contents
Last session
It was the second Kel of Uktar, and we were at the gates of Quadroads.
- Thrai promises to keep the devil's bargain, in exchange for not disclosing her relationship with Rogo or her reaction to his death.
It was the second Forn of Uktar, and we were at the gates of Quadroads.
- The Party informs the Ascendants' Sending-sending Halfling that the obsidian pumice is destroyed, and the Flesh Weaver, and all are buried under a new lake.
- The Pelorian High Priest leads the Ascendants in rewarding the Party with 10,000 gold, a free night's stay at any inn in the city, the deed to Kearndal Keep (six days' travel south of Quadroads).
- Gillian Gilliwig will host a party to celebrate the triumph of the Knights of the Summer Court, following the Ascendants' announcement to the populace.
- The Party visits a spa, and Salris dies his hair black. They get new clothes, and go shopping. Sending Scroll. Identify Scroll, Reincarnation Dust, Identify Scroll. 10 potions of Basic Healing, 4 Greater, 3 Superior.
- Ryltar uses a Scroll of Identify to learn that the thing he got from the obsidian pumice is a Far Realm Shard. He drops attunement to the Cloak of Protection in order to attune to it.
- The Party uses a Scroll of Sending and receives confirmation of Majorie's safety. She's in the Kuulahar Wilds, with her tribe, and has not heard of Kerjes.
- Salris tries to fulfill the contract with the devil to kill the Halfling at the Regular Inn, but changes his mind. Weirdly, the knife he would use to do so is covered in silver blood, which doesn't come off.
- The Ascendants make their announcement.
Gilliwig's Celebration Party
Gilliwig has invited the Ascendant Priests to his place for a party. The Party now goes out to it. It's a posh do, so we leave stuff behind, like our armor and weapons.
- Jerry puts all her stuff in her Bag of Holding, but wears the web cloak, and her fancy throwing pen.
- Salris disguises his pact sword and the Bone Whip of Wounding with Disguise Self, wears his usual rings, and keeps only his component pouch with some items in it.
- Vurguron brings his sword and sheath.
- Ryltar has a Greater Healing potion, a Regular Healing potion, his Bloodwell Vial, his Ice Heart of Winter (concealed)
Keeping an eye out for Dirius, the party arrives fashionably late to Gilliwig's party. We come to the gate: two guards stand by, one with a clipboard. A portly man rushes up, breathless in his thankfulness that we have arrived. He claps, and announces, "Guests of Gilliwig's, I introduce to you the Knights of the Summer Court." The crowd cheers and the bandstand picks up a festive tune on the string quartet.
Smile and wave, boys, smile and wave.
A small child asks Salris what we had done; he spends time telling our story grandoisely. Thrai cuts in at the end, saying that we're late. She's uncomfortably dressed in a fine blue dress. Salris complements her on her appearance; she says she'd rather be out bashing heads instead of talking to heads.
Jerry and Thrai
Jerry takes Thrai's arm and steers her over towards the bar. "So tell me about the bashing of heads."
Thrai explains that she's been asked to feel out the Party's goals and ideologies, as many of the social elites are curious of the dealings of the world outside of Quadroads. They take great pride in talking good, but never experiencing it. "Except," says Thrai, looking around nervously, "unless you're the commandant. I would steer clear of him if you're not willing to be talked at. He's the ornately-dressed general over there."
"I shall steer clear of him." But now they are at the bar. Thrai asks for ale, and receives it. Jerry asks for a finger of a particularly expensive Dwarven mead, and is given a glass. She holds it as a prop, not drinking of it.
Salris excuses himself from introductions to grab a glass of wine from a passing tray. He sits on the edge of the central fountain, on the lawn, as the spray from the two-tier mermaid-adorned fountain sprinkles over and around him. He enjoys the attention of the beautiful people of the Quadroads.
Vurguron and Zaela Pentoss
Vurguron and Ryltar are shaking hands and kissing babies, when Vurguron sees a silver female Dragonborn. He recognizes her as an ambassador from the South Haven to the Quadroads, and is an Ascendant. She recognizes him as he approaches, and introduces herself as Zaela Pentoss, of the acolytes of Bahamut. She is now the highest bearer among the church in Quadroads. "Word of home has reached my ears in saying that you are the only one seeking Bahamut's Scale."
Vurguron's eyes glisten. "Yes! It was stolen from my family, and I would get it back."
"Your father would see that his last rule pass before he steps down: that no other parties shall pursue the scale, other than you."
"In the wrong hands, that scale could lead to some very bad things down the road. Not just because it's my family's heirloom, but because it's very magical metal."
"Very much so. And how is that search going?"
"Welllllll, we think that the Scale is being held ransom by an evil dragon, until we find something of hers."
"So you know where it is?"
"We think we know where it is, but not so wonderful is how we can get it back. We need to defeat a dragon."
"And what dragon is this?"
"Kerjes."
"Well, that is concerning. But I see that this quest is in capable hands, and I see that you are on track to return the missing item."
"We may not be able to do it alone, but maybe we should; it is my family's legacy."
"You will receive no help from the South Haven; the military has retreated to the city."
"They've done what?"
"With the calamity surrounding, they have withdrawn."
Vurguron makes a noncommittal noise; the Party has its own problems. She thanks him for his time; she's turning in for the night.
The secret stock of wine
As Jerry walks with Thrai around the party, she notices that the selection of wines at hand includes her own vintage, Cairncross. The bartender calls out that Gilliwig has set aside a special cask for us, "the secret stock," which is our "truly deserved reward."
Jerry (and Thrai) go to find the other three honored guests, and asks them whether they think it's poisoned. We decide to go ask Gilliwig, who sees us approach, and calls us out as the heroes of the hour. "What can I do for you?" Jerry: "The barkeep says that you had set aside a special vintage for us; we'd like to share a glass with you." "Oh! Yes," he says, with no sign of deception that Jerry or Salris detect. Ryltar, with a natural 20 on his insight, goes along. Gilliwig leads us up to the balcony, where he speechifies about how we saved the city and reopened the trade routes once more. He presents "gifts, on behalf of myself, and the Ascendants."
"Jerry Falone," he cries, extending his hand for Jerry to approach. She does. "You shall have this charm," a Gruul Charm. "Your deep knowledge of the forest and travel over land, shall help you in your future travels aiding the city." It's a keychain on a necklace, made of twigs in burnished copper, a circle with a line through it and an X below.
To Salris he presents a charm in the style of a mardi-gras mask: the Rakdos Charm.
Ryltar Melator gets the Azorius Charm, "to spread wisdom and knowledge where theose are lacking."
Vurguron, who has no last name, is given the Boros Charm.
"Go forth, and be a shining light for this city." Applause, and the party and mingling resumes.
And Gilliwig leads us through the crowd, helloing and shaking hands, to the bar.
Jerry asks, "What is this special cask?"
"I have picked this up from far away, and have been waiting for the right moment to share it with those who are deserving of it. It's quite unique, from Sunderland, up north, northwest, along the coast. Just the other side of the Red Wastes from the Scaled Legion there, Vurguron. And I'm curious to see how it pans out."
The bartender brings out a pony keg, untapped. Gilliwig presents the honors of tapping the keg; Salris with a strength check of 0 takes the tap and the hammer, and utterly fails. A chip of wood pops off, and the keg leaks a little. Jerry tries, and fails with a 7. Vurguron takes the hammer and with a 24 taps the keg. The bartender comes around with glasses for this very clear wine. It smells like wine. Jerry detects raspberries, ash. A balanced, yet unique flavor profile, coming from a clear liquid. Jerry asks, him, "Well, how does it taste?" Gilliwig calls a toast, "To the thriving of the Quadroads," and takes a sip.
Jerry doesn't quite take a sip yet. Thrai does, as do Salris and Ryltar. Gilliwig sits back, eyes closed, enjoying the taste. He sits in the moment, enjoying the taste. "Ah, that is a wonderful taste." Jerry sniffs the glass again, and actually takes a sip: It tastes better than the smell.
"Now, let us return to the festivities," says Gilliwig.
Dirius
From behind us, flanked by the accompanying acolytes, Dirius says, "May I have your ear for a moment? I have heard great things, and wish to talk with you." Jerry asks the bartender for another glass, for "our friend the Drow," but the cask is empty. Jerry passes her unfinished glass to Dirius, who compliments Gilliwig. "You've outdone yourself." Gilliwig bows out for the night.
Dirius says that we have done well for ourselves, is curious how, "Ryltar, is it?" has been. "I've come to understand that you are an archaeologist such as I," Gilliwig having introduced Dirius as a "highly-renowned archaeologist."
Ryltar replies, "I've heard of your exploits as well. I'm quite curious why you're here."
"I'm planning a new expedition, and am looking for new researchers, to go with."
"Unfortunately, I have a prior obligation with another expedition. If you're willing to wait a few months….?"
"Another expedition?"
"I can't divulge particulars, alas."
"Your mentors -
tktk insert Hayden's snippet of the speech
The Entertainment
As they're having this debate, the music changes from something more orchestral to something more like bellydancing. The strings are put away, and drums are pulled out. Three belly dancers perform in front of the bandstand, drawing the crowd's attention. As they dance, they kick up a trail of colored vapor behind them. And singing behind them is a beautiful lady, a harmonic song that draws people close, as the gala turns into a much more lively party.
Ryltar and Dirius move away from the band; the Party follows. Thrai detaches, to go sulk in the corner. This is not her thing; she's been pulled into service that is not of her liking. The dancers continue dancing, to a harp and bells and little bells, as a swirl of color gathers in the center of the stage. A column of color.
Other than Ryltar, the Party sees the color swoosh out to the left and right of the stage. All save Ryltar make a Wisdom save. Jerry is Charmed by the swirl of color as it spreads across the crowds, and are incapacitated. They inhale and look around, seeing people dropping. Just before she passes out, she sees a flaming arrow coming in.
- Round 1: Fireball!
- The flaming arrow strikes Dirius, and explodes. In a 20-foot circle, many people take damage. 13 people fall unconscious, 4 are dead. Those who save take
14damage. On the roof of the neighboring building, an archer ducks behind a crenellation. - Vurguron Misty Steps onto the edge of the roof, in front of the archer.
- The bellydancers blur together and multiply. Three become 15.
- The harp itself moves, and makes two Infernal Noise attacks against Dirius.
- The populace flees, trying to shake people out of the effects of the charming/incapacitating spell. Everyone who's not incapacitated manages to leave the courtyard.
- Thrai is in the opposite corner of the yard from the fireballed people; she casts Mass Cure Wounds on six members of the populace, leaving 7 down. She holds out her holy symbol, and ducks behind the bannister of the stairs.
- Ramag runs up to the fountain and holds out his hand. Everything seems to have a greater gravity; the grass collapses under the increased gravitational pull.
- Ryltar casts Hold Person on the archer, but the archer escapes.
- Salris shoots two Eldritch Blasts at the gravity mage Ramag,
- Jerry pulls her halberd out of her bag, and glowers at Dirius. She says, "This is your fault."
- The flaming arrow strikes Dirius, and explodes. In a 20-foot circle, many people take damage. 13 people fall unconscious, 4 are dead. Those who save take
- Round 2: Ice Storm
- The bard on the stage casts Ice Storm, and those who fail take
3bludgeoning and7cold. A 20-foot radius around Jerry, Dirius and Ryltar becomes cold. Some of the revived populace are downed, and 5 more die. - Dirius regains some HP. "This is not my fault! Do not says that this is." She moves away. Jerry punches her as she leaves, running to the exit.
- The gat guard runs towards the bard.
- Vurguron attacks the archer, for
14slashing4radiant, and moves forward on the roof, next to the archer. - Three of the passion dancers each cast Magic Missile on Dirius, for
32darts. They all continue dancing. - The lyre makes two Infernal Noises at Dirius, hitting once.
- The populace continues watching, enthralled.
- Thrai does a Spirit Guardian, attacking one dancer, but all 15 react.
- Ramag makes two Lightning Strikes against Dirius, bringing her almost to death.
- Ryltar Mind Spikes Ramag at fourth level for
4d8 = 26damage. - The archer pulls out a scimitar, hacking at Vurguron, hitting for
8slashing. Then the archer tries to flee, and is hit by Vurguron's16slashing4radiant reaction attack, before he can duck into the bow. - Salris casts Synaptic Static in a 20-foot sphere, dealing
25psychic damage. This kills 2 members of the public, and hits Rama, the dancers, the harp and the bard. The dancers and their illusions go away. - Jerry casts Lightning Arrow and throws her pen at the arp for
9piercing and a lot of lightning damage;15lightning ofervlow for the bard.
- The bard on the stage casts Ice Storm, and those who fail take
- Round 3
- The bard disappears.
- Dirius looks very badly wounded. She casts a sixth-level Cure Wounds on herself.
- Vurguron casts Blur on himself, giving others disadvantage on attack rolls against him, jumps down from the roof, and runs across the garden.
- The harp jumps up into the air and lands by Ramag, releasing a massive hwang, catching most everyone in the room. Those who suceed on a dex save take
12. Ryltar fails and is downed. - the singer Misty Steps next to Dirius and stabs her with a dagger,.
- Thrai approaches Ramag, and downs him and the harp with her Spirit Guardians.
- Ryltar revives himself, and swigs a Potion of Greater Healing. Then he casts Hold Person on the singer attacking Dirius.
- The archer shoots at Dirius, missing with all three arrows. Salris is right next to him, and has been poking his bow as he shoots.
- Salris whacks the archer with his cruelpesh,
- Jerry flanks the archer at the bar, and starts stabbing, hitting twice at max damage for
32.
- Round 4
- Dirius casts Harm on the singer, who passes the save, taking half of
14d6but still reduced to1HP. "You messed with the wrong Drow," says Dirius. - Vurguron Misty Steps across the plaza to the singer, and stabs her through the heart, singing a few bars of "shot though the heart!" He sheathes his blade and tells Dirius to watch her back.
- The remaining six members of the populace are unconscious; Thrai begins healing them one by one. There are 5 remaining.
- Ryltar Mind Spikes the archer.
- The archer says, "one last shot!" Two misses, but the third arrow hits. It carries a tube of alchemical stuff, which explodes, dealing
8d6 + 1d8thunder damage, downing her. The archer then tries to run up the wall. Salris' attack of opportunity with the cruelpesh deals9damage. Jerry misses, and he gets to the roof. - Salris sees that he's within Misty Step range, and cruelpeshes the archer twice, expending hit dice to deal more than
31slashing and fire damage, slashing along his back. The quiver breaks, releasing an alchemical goo that explodes, throwing him into the air, crashing to the roof tiles. He wears scale mail similar to Salris' own. Salris Disguise self and throws the person into the bar.
- Dirius casts Harm on the singer, who passes the save, taking half of
Dirius, again
Jerry walks over to the downed Dirius and gives her a healing potion, bringing her to 6 health. "Stop bothering Ryltar," she says.
Dirius comes to consciousness. She looks around, and sees the destruction. Salris extends to her a hand; she bats it aside and stands up on her own. Salris snarks, "Not very polite to your saviors, are you?" "Oh shush," says Jerry.
Vurguron starts handing out healing potions to the populace: he revives one person, tosses another potion to Thrai. Thrai stabilizes one and heals another.
Salris finds an intact bottle of wine in the bar, uncorks it, and drinks it. He happened to have grabbed Jerry's vintage, and compliments her on it, offering the bttle to her. "Sure," says Jerry, and pours the bottle over her head. "Smells like home."
Guards and paladins rush in.
"You okay, Thrai?" asks Salris.
Thrai tears off the bottom of her dress, and says, "Better."
We spend the next hour helping recover the dead: 18 populace, three belly-dancers, the magical harp, the singer, the mage Ramag, the bard, and the alchemical archer.
"So what does that make us?" asks Dirius.
Next Session
What does that make us?
And where do we go from here?
- Maybe talk to Rezzik Brazzik about calling off the assassination.
- We know how to trap the Jester, with Magic Circle
- What's going on with the stars? Are Ryltar's theories about colors and significant plot-relevant things' colors correct?
- How can the Mummy Lord be defeated?
- Determine how to resolve the Eta'el-Kerjes plot
- Remember to un-petrify Ockoh in the Ice Lord Wint's Lair — if Dirius didn't shatter him. Grab the de-petrification potions from the Elven town.
- Is Salris' brother also a bearer of the curse that afflicts Salris? Or is he just part of Rezzik Brazzik now?