Session 104 - The Mysterious Ancient Mound

General Summary

5^th to 7^th Halane (second Month of Autumn) 722TR

The story so far

The Heroes have located the Wizard and Psionicist Wilcock Suddicke, who was investigating the mysteries behind the records of a series of appearances and disappearances of albino girls over the centuries. Young women very much like Quazzy.

While questioning him, the Heroes were challenged by a squad of Larani Inquisitors. The situation quickly deteriorated, leading to their slaughter. The Heroes covered their role in the deaths by making it appear as though the Priest-Assassins of Naveh responsible.

Now Quazzy and friends, accompanied by Wilcock, plan to return to the City of Cherafir and investigate further.

The continuation of Session 103 - The Massacre at St. Bergains.

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Location - On the road in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 1 - Invisible Hunters

As the party pass through a series of narrow woods, Yureb senses objects or creatures moving through the air. Invisible Stalkers lock on to each of the characters and prove frustratingly challenging to destroy. After the last of these hunter elementals are destroyed, Quazzy receives telepathic ravings from her nemesis, the mysterious Raven Women. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you so much."

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Location - City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 2 - Gossip, Parlor Tricks, and a Big Sword

The Party arrive at the City of Cherafir and make their way immediately to the Chantry of the Guild of Arcane Lore. They want to question the Wizard Kailrun as he was the only person who, as far as they know, knew where the Heroes were going. Did he tell anyone? Kailrun is pleased to see Wilcock again and utterly oblivious to the Party's difficulties. When questioned, he says he told no one about where Wilcock was or what he was doing. However, his apprentice, Nera, looks a little guilty.

Nera says she was gossiping with one of the other Mages, Roseia Thelkuz. Roseia asked her what the Party was up to, and after being told where they were planning to go and why, she disappeared and hasn't been seen since. The Party learns that Roseia usually lives with her father, the Candler, in his workshop. The Party intends to visit. But first...

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Yureb visits Guildhalls library, with the intent of continuing his verbal sparring with the Librarian Alyse Lempol. Again she is far from impressed with his attitude but agrees to view his magical demonstration. He performs, in her words, a "parlor trick" with three Gold Crowns, using slight of hands rather than magic to deceive her. The scheme is executed perfectly, and she has no idea how it was done and is, as expected, not amused. Yureb donates a Gold Coin to the library funds and ominously tells her again that he is from the future and asks the question, "Has the King of Rethem been assassinated yet?"

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Athena meets with Master Weaponcrafter Yebisi Netoshi to pick up her reforged and enchanted ancestral Greatsword Retribution. He completes his forging ritual by testing the sword's cutting edge by slicing a series of bound mats in half. The dramatic final part of the ritual transforms his arm into what looks like steel and then plunges his fist into hot coals until it glows. He then grasps the sword blade leaving a barely noticeable imprint, his mark. The sword is complete.

However, Yebisi is not finished with Athena. Word has reached him of the recent massacre of Larani Priests at the Priory of St. Bergain, and he remarks, "we suspect you may have been involved." He speculates that one of two events would have occurred.

1. Athena and Party were confronted by the Inquisitors leading to the slaughter. This was covered up, and the Navean Assassins blamed.
2. Navean Assassins were seeking revenge on Athena and Party for their past actions, and the Inquisitors walked into their ambush, resulting in their slaughter.

Athena, not wanting to lie to this man, is evasive and unable to offer him any clarity. He recommends that she should leave the Kingdom as soon as possible. However, she may return after her war is won.

Wilcock has a word with Athena afterward, He tells her that rumors among the wizards of the Guildhall are that Yebisi is a member of the Council of Eleven as well as a friend of the King.

Part 3 - The Candle Maker

The Party visits Harigh Thelkuz, father of Roseia, the Mage who disappeared. Harigh is busy rendering large chunks of fatty meat to make candle wax and not at all acting in any way suspicious.

Quazzy makes a distraction, and Yureb sneaks into his house and investigates. Roseia's room is a revelation. Behind wall covering is a complex series of symbols with golden skulls and ravens being prominent. After examining it through the eyes of her familiar, Quazzy deduces a pattern. This is a stylized map showing nearby landmarks and the location of what she thinks is a burial mound or Barrow. Under her bed is a book, an incoherent rambling of the Raven and Skull Cult. However, the Mound of the Golden Carrion is mentioned several times.

Quazzy is well versed in obscure ancient arcane history and somehow recalls the burial mound of King Maukolum and Queen Xristiana. These were rulers of a petty kingdom during Melderyn's Eldritch Period, around 1,000 years ago. The Heroes head off to find this Barrow.

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Location - Hills North of the City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 4 - The Barrow

Quazzy, who is skilled in finding her way through the wilderness, quickly locates the Barrow, and the Heroes note that the mound is open and has a rough trail leading into it. It is covered with Ravens, so Quazzy turns the Party (and Wilcock) invisible, and they enter.

The first chambers are filled with old statues, some in bad condition, but further in are four Raven Cultists, Roseia being among them. The clacking of Athena's armor alerts Cultists, and spells begin to fly. Lighting Bolts light the confined chamber, and magic spells are dispelled, countered, and even stolen during the hectic but brief magical duel. Then a strange demonic entity appears and enters one of the statues and animates it. It proves impervious to many conventional weapon attacks and well able to inflict an immense amount of damage. Eventually, the Heroes overwhelmed the Cultists, killing three and capturing one. The Demon jumps between statues, animating new ones as its previous hosts are damaged or destroyed. However, Athena and Yureb finally catch and destroy this creature as it flees a critically damaged effigy.

The Heroes now have an opportunity to interrogate their captive and examine the ancient pictograms lining the Barrow's inside walls. What will they learn?

To be continued....

NPC Interactions

Wilcock - A Psionic Wizard.

Yebisi Netoshi - Master Weapon Crafter.

Wizard Kailrun and his apprentice Nera.

Harigh Thelkuz - Candler.

Challenges

Defeated 5 Invisible Stalkers.

Yureb perplexed the Librarian.

Defeated 3 Arcane Guards, 1 Raven Conjurer, and 1 Eidolon. Captured 1 Arcane Guard.

Rewards

Athena acquired Retribution.

Created Content

Melderyn's Eldritch Period.

People of the Dusk.

The Council of Eleven.

Related Reports

Wilcock Suddicke - Wizard and Psionicist.

Chantry of the Guild of Arcane Lore - Updated.

Yebisi Netoshi, Master Weaponcrafter - Updated.

Players Character Status

Athena the Banshee - Level 17 Paladin of Vengeance.

Yureb - Level 17 Arcane Trickster.

Quazzy - Level 5 Necromancer and Level 12 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen.