Session 58: A Return to Sunder Report

General Summary

Departure from Priom Crana

The party awoke in Herin, well rested and were asked to meet with the Ancestors.    After a short meeting and discussion, the Elders agreed to assist the party in their endeavours to bring down a resurgent collective, and advised they would need significant strength to fight against them and stand a hope.    As the party were about to leave, the Hill Giant Elder, looking somewhat less imbecilic than previously, presented them with a gift of appreciation.    The party, taking this and saying their farewells, were escorted by the Cloud Giant elder to the city's teleportation circle. En route they said their farewells to those they had met in the city, Andrak, Bror, the young giantkin and finally the Elka, the cloud giant elder who had always been kindest to them.    At her instruction, they stepped through the portal and returned to the city of Kasil at the base of the mountains, where this adventure in Priom Crana had started.    Making their way out they saw Rhorog Iron-Tusk and Reed Avery waiting outside, their two agents they had left in the town below. They were ready and happy to accompany the party back to Sunder.   

The Vipers Stir

The party made their way, several discussing what the skeleton they had with them knew.    On the fifth day of the journey, Tarvy began to feel a little strange, a feeling that worsened throughout the day until, by evening his pact scar burnt with pain and he could hardly sleep. Cleansing himself by attempting to dispel the magic did help alleviate the pain somewhat.    As the party slept, however, Hallaster felt a disturbance in the weave, a vibration that seemed to thrum through the very fabric of the world. As he felt this, they all felt an icy chill run down their backs that woke them from slumber.    Looking about they all saw a green light erupt from the east, rising up and up and up towards the heavens, before passing out of view.    This sickly green light emanated a pulse, a beat, which Tarvy noticed almost aligned with his own. With every beat a slight, unpleasant tingle ran down everyone's spine. Unlike the last time, this light was something everyone could see.   

Return to Sunder

The rest of the journey was uneventful, and, as they reached sunder, they noticed movement in the bushes as though about to be ambushed. Girding themselves, the party prepared for combat, however, as a black clad figure dropped from above wielding a dagger, another figure, quieter still, moved out of the shadows of trees and garroted him.      Standing up, Aaron Schreck introduced himself briefly before disappearing back into the undergrowth with the dead body.    The party returned and were greeted by Zartagar Stonewarrior and the Slowpass Boys, now clad in beautiful golden armour with gleaming weapons.    Zartagar gave a brief explanation of what had been going on before showing them around their new castle, where the ground floor had been largely finished, barring a bit of aesthetic work, and the first floor was well under construction. He also showed them the great hall, where 5 large thrones had been erected to house those members of the board as they dealt with Fulcrum business.    The party presented Bax Xos, the leader of the Rejects with the banner of the White Champion, and they got to work attuning to it. Genkas was also happy to offer some training to the troops.    Dungbomb had left, however, all those items which had been requisitioned had been put together, at no additional charge.    The party then rested, choosing that over dealing with petitioners that day.    The following day several petitioners came forward (with more to come): 

• Vitt Dagludy came forward and presented the party with a Sending Stone, a means for them to communicate directly with the Fulcrum (via Jennifer ) while they were away, aiding in any decisions that might need to be made in future. 
• Vitt also requested that money be set aside for a communication station in the keep, much like there had been in Thornguard Camp such that they might be better able to communicate and coordinate with any allies the party picked up along the way.
• Fight  entered, looking annoyed as ever, and asked when his brother would be revived. The party assured him that he would as soon as they were able. 
• Horbane Wranvaris requested some agents be spared to him that he might both scout out the new happenings in Nightwell and research precisely what it might mean. 
• Phira Dewbottom entered, a friendly firbolg who explained she was a farmer and her family were tradesmen who could gladly make sure everyone was fed and watered and generate some profits for the castle. 
• Aaron Schreck, the dark clad man they had met on the road, emerged, and explained that he was a spymaster who had come to help deal with the distinctly lax security on the stronghold. Tarvy questioned him in detail about his past and he, though cagey, was able to allay fears of other loyalties. He agreed to prepare reports on Veritas and the Beskus Empire over the coming days for the party to review. 
• Aila Hart entered the room, a contemplative halfling who was a disciple of the Witness. She offered herself as a service as her goddess liked to be informed of important happenings across the world.
• Towards the back of the line, Valikos val'Dissar, a beautiful man with glowing eyes and almost equally glowing hair strode into the chamber and offered the services of "the great family val'Dissar", which Hal had heard of as being a family exiled from Vucrax in the West for reasons unknown. He didn't seem terribly keen on hard work or messy adventuring, but seemed to have found reason enough to justify his presence.  
• Itch  emerged, towards the end of the queue, his scaly wings flapping as he reached into his fleshy pocket where notes from his former master were sent, and, pulling out a stone, he threw it onto the floor, the stone cracking into three identical segments which parted and, appearing spectral through the weave,came an image of the slender form of Koba Kaze. 

There are a couple more petitioners to come, after which the party must decide where, and when, they wish to go next.