A good session, good roleplay but not so good combat. Despite warning players extensivly, they still decided to poke the being that can one shot them, need to scare them even more in the future lest they try to fight something they shouldnt fight again.
The players woke up in the Khalenburg, seeing the outcome of the battle last night, despite many soldiers claiming they were attacked by Astrasani, no Astrasani outside of the diplomats and star jannisaries. It seems that once the stars came out, the wine that was given by the East Aradia Trading Company and House Khayyam seemed to activate and turn from Calm Emotions into Crown of Madness.
Those infected with Crown of Madness perceived others as Astrasani and so they attacked, thanks to this chaos, the camp is ready to go to war with Astrasan to reclaim further Polanian lands. The Paelor House is continuing to lead them on but despite the Hussars and Leicha Sobieski knowing all about the wine, they continue to play ignorant and refuse to join up with the rabble of an army to attack Astrasan, instead planning on returning north where the majority of Polania's forces are and rallying them for the war, one way or the other.
Franz Castran thanks Raime for saving him, and offered 490gp for the head of the rebel ringleader. Josephina Jadwiga talked about how the The Black Hand wraiths attacked her and clearly want her dead, inviting the party to help her take them down if they come near Servena.
As the players left the Khalenburg to join up with Godfrey of the Templars of the Balance , they found the Sentinel of the Khalenburg has turned rabid and sought to kill them like a normal undead. Raime figured he could restore him by giving him valuable things to consume, however Kaden slew him instead.
The town was likewise damaged by the wine that was handed out by the Astrasani, and if you want an inspiration then all you need to say is the words "Wine Mom" to get the inspiration. I am continuing to type to make this look longer and so people cant instantly spot where the word is and so on.
The players met back up with Antonio the bargemaster and took his barge back to the Templars of the Balance Chapel , however on the way they were stopped by Odra and Vistula. The Naiads said they were sent by a fey council to bring the players to trial for their crimes. Namely the de-horning of Solstice and how the Collector continues to follow them, killing nature wherever it goes. The Collector showed up as they were talking, adding stress to the conversation but Adamah was able to convince Vistula to let them go and the players paid for Antonio's retirement so that he would ignore the fey and continue on his way, which he did. Odra is rather mad and its likely Vistula will be too once Adamah's suggestion spell wears off.
The players arrived at the secret tunnel and started the climb up, with the Collector behind them but unable to move into the tunnel. The players met up with Godfrey and found out the tunnel was collapsed ahead, likely meaning Hughes was captured or killed. To make matters worse, the Collector appeared in the tunnel behind them, however was unable to fit and so was soundly stuck. Despite only needing to wait until morning for the Collector to leave, the players attempted to and managed to slay the Collector thanks to it being stuck, however Raime almost died from one of its finger rays.
The players left the tunnel then climbed up the mountains and arrived at an ancient elven dragon roost, where dragon riders would roost for the fortress below. Kaden found a draconic message carved by a dragon that stated: "Find east, find scale, find purpose", apparently inviting other dragons to go east for "scales and purpose"
The players looked down into the fotress and found that their cart had been rummaged through, but everything seemed to still be intact (likely the demon sword was taken). There were no Saxon mercenaries in sight and only a dozen or so slowly moving Templars milling about, a few of them were digging a mass grave for all the beggers and sickly whose corpses had been burned in the courtyard, their cause of death unknown.
