Session 75 Report: The Marquess Kurtis von Glauer
General Summary
Session 74 – Wednesday March 27, 2024 – The Marquess Kurtis von Glauer
4-hour social/combat session 5:30 PM to 10:30 PMThe Stone Bearers. Party of 4
It is the 10th day of the month of Hammer (Deepwinter) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Early Jan)- Abrash – Wood (Desert) Elf, L12 Druid – Jacob Munson (Absent)
- Ajani– High Elf, L12 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
- Gazlowe – Goblin, L12 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi (Absent)
- Cassidy – Human, L12 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
- Isabella – Forest Gnome, L12 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
- Juan Peyote – Gnome L12 Paladin – Will Johnson
“Help a living sole by sparing them from death.”
(This scene took place shortly after they entered the Shadowfell 3 days ago.)Cassidy sneezed and Abrash and Gazlowe disappeared, and Ajani appeared. Ajani quickly analyzed the situation and suggested that everyone let the vampires finish off the creatures that were attacking them. With a show of brutal strength and much disgust, the vampires slaughtered the Sorrowsworn. Using some sort of sword made from shadow, the lead vampire deftly finished off the last creature. The Marquee Kurtis von Glauer introduced himself and thanked the party for letting him and his family complete the ritual. The party started to ask questions, but the Marquee suggested the safety of his home as a place where they can rest and talk. The party was a bit concerned but cautiously went along. A young female vampire seemed to take a liking to Juan and introduced herself as Lilith. As they journeyed a few miles, they were introduced to a Shadar-kai trader named Ennek the buyer. Eventually they made their way to a “Scooby Doo” looking creepy mansion.
Sure’Phat
The Marquee asked Ajani for some ink and with it he marked the wrists of the Stone Bearers. He told them that they are protected friends of the family von Glauer for the next two weeks, the duration of Sure’Phat. The party was invited into a very ornate, old but elegant home. In the center of the front room was a tall iron pole that was ornately decorated with ribbons and such. The Marquees explained that one of the first traditions of Sure’Phat is to decorate an iron pole in the main room of the home. In the adjacent dining room was a feast set for about 24 individuals. The party was invited to sit and eat with about 18 vampires. The Marquees explained that during the 2 weeks of Sure’Phat the family dines on “Traditional food” and during dinner they expect an open “airing of grievances.” He assured the party that the food is traditional and would be delicious to the living. The Vampires picked at the food but consumed the wine with vigor. The Stone Bearers however found that banquette was delicious. The Marquees then explained Sure’Phat. He told them “The Noble houses of Ancient, Free and Accepted Vampires have a family reunion. During the time they partake of 7 rituals:- Refrain from forcibly taking the blood of innocent.
- Adorn an iron pole in the home.
- Help a living soul by sparing them from death.
- Allow for the airing of grievances during the evening meals.
- Offer a service to a worthy living soul.
- Display of feats of strength by wrestling the head of the household.
- Excise from the family any who reject the ways, or otherwise endangers the traditions of the AF&AV families.
Participating in the rituals.
When the mention of last point occurred, the bickering and chatter among the family stopped and everyone looked sullenly at the empty chair at the end of the table. The family was formally introduced as was the Stone Bearers. The bickering started back up, and the Stone bearers talked with the vampires who continued to air their family grievances. After an hour Marquees rang a large bell at the head of the table and all the bickering stopped. He then declared time for feats of strength. Isabella volunteered to participate in the feats of strength as did Juan. They were both given tight fitting outfits and told they were to wrestle with the Marquees. Isabella went first and although it was a good match, the Marquees was victorious. Juan approached the Marquees naked. It took a bit longer for the Marquees to grapple Juan and Juan wrestled well but the Marquees was again victorious. At the end of the match the Marquees said, “You fight well, you will do just fine.”Proven worthy
The Marquees then announced to everyone that the Stone bearers nearly defeated him and that they are “Worthy.” He told everyone, “They have proven themselves worthy!” He then told them, “Tonight you are our guests. We will aid you in your training and give you a place to rest.” He offered each of the Stone Bearers specialized training to help them with their level 12 ASIs and feats. He also offered Lilith to Juan for the evening. In the morning the Marquees asked the Stone Bearers what they’re doing, and they explained the Illithids and meeting with the Sorcerers of Kortar. They explained that they need to get back quickly because of Niptu. They told the Vampires of the evil of Niptu and that they are recruiting allies to help defeat Niptu. The Marquees told them that if they successfully complete their task against the Illithid, then perhaps if they do him a favor, he would persuade the Dhampirs in the High Forest to join the fight against this Niptu. He explained that his Son, the Count Rhodar Von Glauer needs to be excised from the family, but this cannot be done directly by him or his other family. However, a group of living adventurers would be perfect for the task. If they should do this, he would not only commit to the Dhampirs helping the Red Lady, but he would commit his 5 top vampire generals to any organized battle against this Niptu. However, he told the party, “There is one other test you must pass, you must make your way back here with no memories of this conversation. Allow me to leave the beautiful halfling with a harmless bite on her neck as a clue. If you do return to us, your memories will be restored, and we will then tell you of a cave of treasure that is rumored to have at least one legendary item that you can keep.”Memories restored.
(We return to the present)The Party now recalled the whole experience and remembered everything. The Marquees told them, “You indeed, are worthy.” The party told of their success. He welcomed them back for more food and another’s night of rest. He told them some details of his son and a little history of his son’s rejection of the family, the traditions of Ancient, Free and Accepted Vampire families, and the ways of Sure’Phat. Such rejections of all their ways must result in the son being killed at the hands of the living. The Marquees again promised that if they kill his son, he will commit both tribes of Dhampirs along with his 5 generals to fight against the Niptu. As an up-front offering, he gave the party two potions of mind control (1 beast and 1 humanoid) to use as they wish. He also told them of a cave protected by creatures called Gloomstalkers. Native monstrosities of the Shadowfell, much like Wyverns. He told the party that many adventurers have been killed by the creatures in the cave and it must have a wealth of treasure. All the Vampires want is 1 egg from their nest and the party can keep whatever other items they find. The party asked about Rhodar’s weaknesses, and the Marquees explained that he’s resistant to necrotic and mundane weapons. He went on, “When you defeat him, his spirt will form a new body in his resting place where he can then be destroyed a cleric’s Hallow spell or perhaps even a large amount of holy water.” He warned the party that he’s very powerful and has minions and perhaps alliances with devils. He suggested they gain just a little more experience before they charge in (perhaps level 13.)
The Cave of shadows
The Marquees offered the party another night’s rest and gave them detailed instructions on how to find the cave of shadows where the Gloomstalkers live. After a long rest the party headed off to the cave. Without Abrash it took a little longer to find the cave than they expected. They spotted the cave from a distance and started to form a plan. Ajani suggested they attack from a distance and draw the creatures to them. The party agreed and setup an ambush of sorts. Ajani started it out with a fireball into the cave. Several creatures were hurt and headed out of the cave. One let out a horrific shriek causing Gosha to be paralyzed with fear. Juan charged at the first one that approached and smote it to death. Isabella charged in to attack another. Another Gloomstalker shrieked and continued to freeze Gosha. Ajani cast gravity sinkhole and pulled one of the creatures away. Cassidy whipped one as one of the creatures grabbed Isabella in her talons and flew back towards the nest. Another snatched up Cassidy and carried her away. Juan smote another and destroyed it. Isabella slashed into the creature carrying her, killing it. Isabella fell prone onto the floor of the cave. Gosha snapped to her senses and tried to jump up to hit one that was flying away but just missed. Juan smote yet another and killed his 3rd Gloomstalker. Isabella saw the last creature just 10’ outside the cave carrying Cassidy and she hit it leaving it badly bloodied. Ajani finished it off with a chromatic orb.The nest and a favor.
Inside the nest they saw 2 eggs and 1 baby Gloomstalker. They killed the baby; Ajani safely packed the eggs. They made a small fire and roasted the baby Gloomstalker (about the size of turkey.) The baby Gloomstalker was not very tasty. They took a short rest and searched the cave. Over the hour they found a small fortune in treasure (See Treasue found below.) The Stone bearers made their way back to the estate of the Marquees Kurtis von Glauer. Ajani gave the Marquees one of the eggs and the Marquees was very excited. He thanked the party and offered them another night’s rest as they’re going to have delicious omelets in the morning. Seeing how excited he was Ajani gave him the 2nd egg with no strings attached. The Marquees was touched. He provided Ajani with a sending stone and offered him 1favor (within reason.) But not before the end of Sure’Phat. In the morning, they had breakfast, but the omelets had a very rich bloody flavor and were very runny. The vampires loved it, but the party preferred the more traditional food of which there was plenty. After breakfast the party left to find their way back to the material plane.Back to Ashyra
The party struggled to remember what they had to do back in the material plane. They were confused as to which task led to which subtask and what was on their agenda next. They decided to go back and find the Red Lady or perhaps find Vandore Hallwinter. They knew they had to go back through the mummy tombs so they should check on Ashyra. Eventually they found the crypt that they passed through to get to the Shadowfell and climbed into the tomb to make their way back to the material plane. They found themselves back in the stairwell below Ashyra’s throne room. They walked through the whole temple but found no signs of Ashyra; She wasn’t there, and her organs were not there. Ajani tried to scry on her, but he was somehow blocked. He knew that she either had some means to block being scried upon or she was not on this plane. They party moved on and climbed the stairs to exit the tomb and the dungeon.The Red Lady
Once they were out of the nameless dungeon, they found themselves in the forest and it was very cold. Ajani used the sending stone to contact the Druid Orist Lightbane. Orist cast Transport via plants and brought the party to Reitheillaethor (RHY-thigh-WAY-eh-thor.) They were brought into the canopy and to the council meeting chamber where they saw Vandore Hallwinter having a conversation with a human man. The man was middle-aged with a sunken face and a general look of weariness. The Red Lady and Vandore spotted the Stone bearers upon their entrance into the chamber and left the man to speak with them. The Red Lady and Vandore seemed to be getting along very well and the Red Lady told the party that she’s very pleased with the alliances that have been forming thanks to their work. She asked the party where they’ve been and what they’ve been up to. Ajani gave a very high-level outline and Cassidy mentioned that they are making an alliance with the Dhampir. The Red Lady seemed less than enthusiastic for that alliance. She said, “I suppose the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” She did tell the party that there have been reports of a group of beings that have been sacking some small elven villages. “They call themselves the Heralds of Niptu and they are sewing fear in the forest.”George Philip.
After a few moments of sharing stories, the human behind the Red Lady and Vandore cleared his throat. The Red Lady said, this is a most important task that needs to be handled by someone as capable as yourselves. Please do not take my red cloaks on this mission and I will leave this to you and Vandore. She left the area and Vandore introduce George Phillip as a trusted … “agent,” an emissary of the Lord’s Alliance. “He has been undercover for some time tracking down a very powerful magical item that has been stolen. We wish for you to steal it back. It’s called the Deck of Many Things…”Rewards Granted
Treasure found:
From the Marquees Kurtis von Glauer.
- A Potion of Mind Control – Beast
- A Potion of Mind Control – Humanoid
