Session 037 - Downtime before the Storm

General Summary

Date 26^th of Ilvin (10) 720TR (Winter)

---

The story so far

Quazzy has spent months trying to infiltrate the Church of Naveh hoping to undermine their plans to summon the Greater Gytevsha Krasula. She has passed all of their tests and even obtained one of the Demigod Desridaen's legendary Long-knives for them. They have promised a reward for her efforts.

Part 1 - Quazzy's Reward

Quazzy received another message from the Priest/Assassins of Naveh, a letter looking very much like the ones she has received previously, however on opening it releases a powerful curse, horrifying images from her past appears out of the Shadows and assaulted her psyche. Luckily she is mentally able to resist these terrors, and surprisingly, her housekeeper Gertrude does as well.

Acting quickly, she sends her familiar outside and identifies a dubious character observing her hovel. However, her attempts to follow this man fail as he disappears into the crowds and shadows. But having a good view of his face she magically takes on his appearance and travels to the wealthy city district, causing general chaos and assaulting a senator when he was leaving the Chamber of the Red Domes. Using magic, she is able to escape knowing that it is a death sentence to lay hands on a Senator of the Republic.

Part 2 - Valmera's Insights

Meanwhile, Athena visits her friend Valmera, a Save K'Nor Priestess and Researcher, who she had previously asked to investigated Sir Scarow of the Cohorts of Gashang, a Knight who challenged her to a duel to the death in single combat. Valmera has learned that the Knight uses Demon Brands and fights more effectively when severely injured.

In passing, she also mentioned that the Astrologer Hennigar Gyll has been investigating Quazzy. The party is aware that this man is a secret member of the Church of Naveh and also finds out that he has previously asked for research into sacrificial daggers and more recently Barasi Points, precisely the "dead" one under the city.

Quazzy sends her familiar to follow Henigar, and he travels through the sewers entering a secret passage into a maze. The familiar inadvertently triggers the appearance of several shadowy monsters, but these fade again into the darkness soon enough. Passing through the maze, she enters into what appears to be a temple with dozens of priests and acolytes. She finds a shrine and nearby is the Holy book, the Journal of St Dasinia, she stole from the Church of Peoni, intended to be used in the ritual to summon Krasula. The familiar's presence is detected, so she dismisses it before it is identified.

Part 3 - Braazak's Mission

While the heroes are considering what to do, they are visited by Brazzak Ongrid. Bazzark, the Dwarven stone Sculptor, who has a job for them. He has been translating a Dwarven book on alchemy for a friend, and in the book, there was a reference to the Bowl of Prince Kulks-Xan. He would like to recover this Earthmaster Artifact, and in conversation with several Alchemists, he has learned that the bowl was recovered from a Dwarven crypt by a band of adventurers about five years ago and is now in the hands of the Renegade Stone Sorcerer Ankannor. Ankannor was named renegade for murdering his nagging wife, in public with magic.

The characters interview Purdel Bedar, one of Ankannor's old adventuring party who now owns a Gladiatorial School, The Impaler's Curse. Quazzy learns, using mind reading, that Ankannor may be nearby in a stone warehouse. After some investigation Yureb identifies a likely hideout at Borthon's Stone Accessories.

Part 4 - Assault on the Warehouse

The heroes investigate Borthon's Warehouse and immediately find Ankannor. A battle ensued with Ankannor proving to be a very dangerous foe, and he is assisted by several hard fighting men, including the warehouse and business owner Borthon. Ankannor's skin took on the characteristics of the hardened stone, and his magically enhanced punches were staggering strong. Yureb was nearly killed by one strike, while Athena, who did considerable damage after enchanting her sword, was knocked out. At the last minute, Quazzy used magic, for which he had little resistance, to kill him.

Part 5 - Legal Issues

While Athena is distracting the guards who arrive shortly after the fight ends, Yureb searches the building and finds the Bowl and some loot on the side. Borthon escaped the party and eventually turns himself in to the magistrate and is fined for harboring a criminal. However, Athena, not approving of the Thardic Justice and may be planning some of her own.

The heroes report the death of Ankannor to a senior Wizard at the Guildhall of Arcane Lore and received a few scrolls and potions as a reward. Quazzy is surprised that the Order of the White Hand is not currently actively hunting Renegades in the city, and this wizard seems to be able to identity Yureb despite his disguise (as Baldrick).

Athena informs the family of Ankannor's murdered wife that her husband has been brought to justice.

Part 6 - Conversations with a Cat Cultist.

The heroes start planning to disrupt the Church of Naveh's plans. They intend to kill the Priests of Naveh, that they have identified, beginning with the Astrologer Hennigare Gyll who appears to be a very high ranking member of the Church. They then plan to raid the temple to weaken the Church and use this attack as a distraction while they substitute the Peonian Holy book with a fake, which they have prepared earlier.

Ivor the Pale leader of the fledgeling Servants of Dekejis cult agrees to join the heroes on their assault on the temple as he believes it needs purification.

Missions/Quests Completed

Recovered the Bowl of Prince Kulks-Xan for Brazzak Ongrid.

Character(s) interacted with

Valmera - Save K'Nor priestess and researcher.

Hennigar Gyll - Astrologer and Navean Priest/Assassin.

Brazzak Ongrid - Dwarven Stone Sculptor.

Purdel Bedar - The owner of the Impalers Curse Gladiatorial school.

Ankannor - Renegade Sorcerer - Killed.

Bothon Milriss - the owner of Borthon's Stone Accessories.

Seaross Thanga - Master Wizard unofficially representing the Order of the White Hand.

Ivor the Pale - Cult Leader.

Created Content

The Impaler's Curse - Gladiatorial school.

Borthon's Stone Accessories - All staff killed by the heroes.

Earthmaster Artifacts.

Thardic Republic Senators - The privileged elite of the Republic.

Related Reports

List of Renegade Spellcasters - Updated.

Barasi Points.

Session 26 - Underworld - Where Quazzy steals a holy book.