Session: 7 Between a Church and a Fiendish Place Report

General Summary

6th of Roelir 1524 Continued   The group after much discussion and debate over Xeldarix, the group decided to work with her for the moment with the idea of getting more information about her before trying to destroy her.   Fargrim gave a letter to Nate for lady Rosa to be delivered tomorrow.   Most beloved Lady Rosa,   I write to you to inform and update you on events that have unfolded in rapid succession in your fair city of Poden.   As you know, we came to you with information that a spawn of indeterminate, powerful, and perhaps infernal nature has been loosed on the city. It was, initially, bound into service by a group that calls itself the Unchained. Our adventures brought us to Poden in order to find the Unchained and release ourselves from a mark placed upon us. You are familiar with this mark - your temple tried to protect one such person marked, with the loss of 5 members of your clergy plus the victim themselves.   We were successful, with the help of Kristos of the Wizard’s university, in tracking down, and eliminating the cell that was causing this havok in town. However, we interrupted their ceremonies and somehow this … being that calls themselves Xeladrix (or Zeladricks) was released from her bonds and, in her words, sought revenge against this cult. While I have no love for this cult of necromancers, Xeladrix claimed a number of murders over the night in the name of vengeance. This sort of vigilantism cannot be left unchecked.   However, we have no reliable way of tracking Xeladrix or guaranteeing if she is even still in Poden. Our only hope at this point is to continue tracking both the Unchained and Xeladrix. She has shown herself to us once seeking information on the Unchained, and may follow us if we leave town. In addition, our search points us to other towns to root out the unchained from this corner of civilization.   Of all the paths we can take, the one that would seem to save the most lives is to leave Poden and bring the ills that we have unleashed with us. Xeladrix’s business, like ours, is with the Unchained and if we are to have any hope of stopping both of them, we must play our role and continue onward. Trying to track and contain a being we do not understand would seem overly hopeful at best, and most likely dangerous for all of Poden.   Lastly, I leave you with a bit of knowledge. The Unchained set up their cult in the sewers of Poden. There is a secret entrance in the sewers (the entrance of which is in the park near the Wizard’s University) to a underground lake. Crossing the lake leads to an old Mercian temple which is guarded by snake creatures. The creatures seem good natured - but were overpowered once by evil machinations once already. Cleric Fargrim Hammerfall   Reign wrote two letters. One to the Master of the watch and one to go the location that they don't go to after figuring that out at the meeting.   Dear Sir Captain of the Watch,   I am aware that you are busy in your present duties and have therefore decided to part by correspondence.   My comrades and I have determined that it would be best for us to depart and help others who have been targeted by the fiends who once plagued your fair city. I trust that your men and allies are more than capable of routing the current threat. I hope to return to see that you are well in the future.   Best Regards   Lady Reign Duskwalker of Seasedge   Dear Sir Wade Locktree,   I have recently encountered a group with both of our names in their ledger and took it upon myself to settle our accounts. I imagine this has unexpectedly lifted a burden from your hands, as it has for myself as well. However, I fear they may have sent a messenger to see you prior to the matter being resolved. I will come see you myself to lend any aid that I can once I have dealt with a related matter elsewhere.   I hope that this letter finds you in good health.   Best Regards Lady Reign Duskwalker of Seasedge   Dear lord Rab Drewett,   We wish to report that the five lowlifes who have dishonoured you by taking away your son's light have been dealt with. Our contract worked most efficiently on your behalf in this matter. Upon are questioning, we determined that they were common thieves whom attacked Morgrym while he slept. They have since been added to the lower ranks of our cause.   Please accept our condolences on the matter.   Kind Regards,   Robert Ansout   The group met with the Dean of Necromancy is Lazar Black and his son is Sadan Black who also works for him. Christos came with them. Xeldarix had been waiting for them, having dressed herself in new clothes to try and appear less threatening. Throughout the meeting she was scribbling in her book.   Lazar asked the group about Igor but was met with silence and he took his own meaning from that.   Lazar used a disk of rose quartz to decipher the book magically. From there he gave the following information:

• Working with Witches in the woods who have been kidnapping people. (Circle of Willow)
• People split between Sarmeen and Brechlen as a broken item of power is hidden there and needs to be taken to the Archestuel Mountain to conquer the power. The group in Sarmeen have found it's resting place and are currently searching for the item. Location unknown, but the leader of this group should have documentation. The leader is a woman by the name of Wima Solidbrook. The leader of the Brechlen group was recently replaced. Name currently unknown of replacement.
• They have someone in the king's inner circle and so do the witches. (The King is looking to leave Poden early.)
• Blackgate group does not have the power source yet but they have full control of the area and the towns from behind the scenes.
• A warning about the Banshegh.
• Xeldarix admits there is a place of power in Sarmeen but the one she didn't seem to think they were thinking of the same type of place.

Banshegh info:

• In the state of Pashacht, Justina has her own independent state.
• She claims to not be the Banshegh.
• The Banshegh is only around when Justina is sleeping and the whole area goes through a transformation when the Banshegh is around.
• The town is not find-able at night.
• Also known to haunt the Mountains of the Silent Watch at night.

  The group decides to go to Brechlen due to the number of people to check in on/save and since the Unchained are no where near finding the item it might be better to try and stop them.   Before leaving Lyra goes to see Miss Berry. They go into the library to have a private conversation. They briefly discuss Miss Berry. She has the innate ability to control all herselves and is aware of the other her in the crystal but gets headaches/hard to focus and has to leave. They then discuss the Awnshegh and gain more information about that.

• Justina is an Elf who married the lord of Pashact and continued to rule after her husband died.
• There are bloodline abilities that can sense other bloodlines but there is no evidence to suggest that the Banshegh has it. She is resistant to magical and non magical damage though.
• If the Banshegh is killed Justina goes through an insomniac stage and cannot sleep. Once sleep returns so does the Banshegh.
• Justinia has been killed but it never really took.
• She is a fair and just ruler by all accounts.
• If you are in the town when the landscape changes you are safe.
• Azari bloodline.

  Xeldarix joined the shopping for rations and had issues with the horses, opting to walk.   Letters from Reign were sent off before they left. The group went out the West road to cross the river. The river was reached by nightfall as the group stop for the night.   7th of Roelir 1524   Over night Xeldarix enquired about the new pets the group has obtained. Pseudodragons attacked, waking most of the group up. Over the course of the battle it became apparent the creatures had poison and some kind of telepathy. With some difficulty the creatures were killed. Xeldarix and Reign watched over the group as they slept allowing for a full rest, but a late morning start.   The group crossed the river via the bridge and entered into Podenstahl. They stayed on the main round for a time before continuing to follow the coast of the lake to the north. As they continued they came across two large black bears that were in heat.   Lily got the group to back off. Upon discussion where the group as a majority did not want to want to go round as it was a large delay. Lily requested everyone stay back so she might be able to negotiate in peace with the animals. Lyra went as backup, Xeldarix had gone missing and Reign stood behind Lily as she approached. Fargrim and Karl stayed back as requested. The bear did not take kindly to the intrusion. Lily transformed into a black bear and led the male away from the group. The female attacked the rest of the group as they were a threat to the territory. The female was killed, and carved up as rations (10 days for group, 3 days without curing processes). The male was knocked unconscious due to Lily's efforts to preserve life and Reign's hard hitting attacks.   Reign was displeased with Lily's actions with running away and Lily responded by walking away from the group. Xeldarix shadowed her to keep an eye on her. After the group continued on without incident. They camped near the lake with the idea of heading North in the morning without the lake to guide them (9 days remaining).   They set up shifts.

• Fargrim for 1 hour
• Fargrim and Karl for 1 hour
• Karl and Lily for 1 hour
• Lily for 1 hours
• Lily and Lyra for 2 hours
• Lyra for 1 hour.
• Xeldarix shows no signs of sleeping or desiring to do so and will be up throughout the whole night.

  With that set up the group had 1 ration worth of bear, with enough cooked to have for breakfast the next day to allow for 1 full day worth of rations being eaten off bear total. Lyra starts process for smoking meat with the idea of continuing during her shift.   Near the end of the first hour, Fargrim heard something outside the ring of light by the fire and hidden among the trees. Initiative will need to be re-rolled for this.

Missions/Quests Completed

Next location Selected

Created Content

Lazar, Sadan, Awnshegh, Justinia, Miss Berry (Update), Wima, Unchained (Brechlen), Unchained (Sarmeen), Bloodlines, Azari Bloodlines, Podenstahl, Pashacht

Notes

Character	Session XP	Running Total	Level at end of session
Fargrim	1150	6925	5
Karl	1150	6925	5
Lily	1150	6925	5
Lyra	1150	2265	3
Reign	1150	6925	5