Session 26: Hermit of Warduff Report
General Summary
The session began with Orion being spoken to by Zephyr, appearing to warn him about the path that he and the party walks, telling him to leave to a far away place. The party then headed back to the city where they had a good night of drinking with a guard captain, Theo Mitchell. In the morning they were approached by a man named Dorelor Bootleg who offered the party a job to help guard a merchant vessel heading to Caernstock in 3 days. The party decided to think on it since they were busy with other things. The man said to ask for Captain Kelfen in the dock ward if they take up the offer. The party received a letter from the Queen the night before and they headed to the keep within the Castle Quarter to speak with her. She had asked to meet with the party to address them about their progress on the Blood Lord's jewel and speaking with the old hermit in the Warduff swamp. The party hadn't made progress at that point and said that they would get onto it immediately. They headed out of the city towards the swamp, and there they discovered a sunken road that had fell to the marsh, with an abandoned camp drowned within. They saw a blind zombie-like creature feasting on a bloated pile of flesh, which soon retreated into the swampy water at seeing their presence. The pile of flesh then began to form into a huge humanoid form which attacked the party. With each strike the creature split into smaller versions, and two of the blind creatures crawled out of the water and began to attack too. Orion fell unconscious with a crushing bite into his leg, but was swiftly rescued by Geraldt who healed him back onto his feet. After the fight was over, the party was covered in black bile, goop and disgusting blood. They headed further into the swamp, where they found wire traps that would alert whoever lives there. Geraldt expertly disabled them, and the party headed further in. When they arrived, they saw a small cabin on stilts with light emanating from the windows. When they knocked on the door, the light instantly faded and a grizzled voice answer. He asked what they wanted and let them in, giving a very well cooked soup to the party and offering to heal them. He was wary of their intentions, but saw their intentions were perhaps noble. He showed them a vast library hidden beneath his home, which seemed to last forever. He handed the party a scroll which contained a mysterious riddle that perhaps gave information on the whereabouts of the Blood Lord's Jewel. The Dragonborn, Cerulean Saxe, said that is all the information he has, but that a man by the name of Luminark Hysh, an Astromancer, may know more. He told them he is located in Caernstock. The party thanked him and left for Helmgart to speak with the Queen. They told her all they know and she copied the riddle that Cerulean gave to them. She rewarded them with a sum of 750 gold, for both giving them the information and to go and speak with Luminark Hysh.
