Journal - Session 12 - Hit the Books!

General Summary

The 15th of Serrum, 1390 of the Storm Era, North of the Grimwood on the Road Toward the Grand Stormwatch Citadel
As the party walked toward the Citadel in the distance they discussed a few things: Falstaff and his motivations, why Moloch wanted to go to Greypeak, where the Rue Stones might be, What Empress Taliah will do when they get to the Citadel. When the party arrives at the Citadel, they are ushered into the citadel and are asked who they are. The Empress never caught the party’s names and was embarrassed to have to ask their names as the Herald ferries the party into the main keep and up to the war room.
The party entered the war room where they met Xalathas, Dulan, and Elanil and they discussed plans for re-taking Weatherdeep. The party decided they would continue to pursue the Rue Stones while the Stormwatch tried to recapture Weatherdeep. They were pointed to the Atheneum to look for information. Ghesh wanted to speak with Xalathas in private and he was told to come to his quarters later.
The party decided to go to the hall and have dinner. They all eat various meats, cheeses and bread. After dinner everyone but Vex goes to the Athenaeum where they begin to search the Atheneum for information about the Rue Stones. Vex stayed behind and continued to eat until he fell asleep. Ghesh went to the quarters of Xalathas on the 5th floor but was told he wasn’t able to see guests at that time due to urgent business and to return in the morning.
In the Atheneum the party began to research, upon searching Dink found an ancient book containing a passage about the Rue Stones on level 3, section 13 on the blue aisle, it read:
Professor Tervin, Weatherdeep University Department of Antiquity 582 of the Storm Era
Of Rue Stones;
Of all the strange tales of fantasy, there is that of the fabled Rue Stones. Legend speaks of two that have been found by priests of Ava. Both a glass sphere containing raw elemental power, one of them containing water, the other wind. Legends speak of a thief who stole the Rue Stones from a sacred place but was captured by an ancient group of warriors known as the Highwatch (a predecessor to the modern Stormwatch) tasked with subduing this thief. After capturing this thief, the Highwatch led by a warrior of great valor tried to bring the thief back to Weatherdeep, but something happened along the way and the warriors were defeated and the thief escaped.
To date there is not any evidence for the existence of Rue Stones or any proof of this ancient fugitive. All scholarly work deems this a fable.
Using this information the party began to search for information about the Highwatch, they found a correspondence from a Lord High Marshall of the Stormwatch to an Emperor of Icaria on the 1st floor 9th section on the green aisle, it read:
Lord High Marshall Careth The Highwatch and the Origins of the Stormwatch 350 of the Storm Era
To His Highness Emperor Harken,
May His Highness live forever! As you have requested,. I, your humble servant, have compiled a brief history of the Stormwatch for your review. Before your ancestor His Highness Emperor Everlan I and the Council of Free Peoples gathered to answer the threat of the storms there was a different reckoning of years and time. In those days the years were referred to as the Common Era, this gathering as you know is referred to as the Council of the Storms. In that meeting the Kings and Emperors of all Ashrea gathered and pledged their support to one another in aid of the common cause, to protect one another and if possible find a solution to the problem of the storms. To commemorate the event Ashrea entered into a new era and it was named the Storm Era. Therefore this event happened in year 1 of the Storm Era. The last year of the previous accounting of time was 2313 of the Common Era.
During this time there had been a previous alliance of all Ashrea and a military was raised to aid in the common defense of all. It was called the Highwatch. The Highwatch was made up of peoples from every nation of Ashrea, just as the Stormwatch is today. To combat the elemental threat the storms pose, the Highwatch was changed and their purpose became to defend the peoples against the threats within the storms themselves. Their name was changed to reflect this change in purpose and they became the Stormwatch.
Due in part to the valor and bravery of Captain Theobold and his party of Highwatch warriors during the incident with the corruption of the Temples of Ashrea, Icaria was given the high honor of the location of the Grand Citadel of the Stormwatch.
This new information led the party in a few directions, Ghesh began to research Captain Theobold while Moloch researched Emperor Harkin and Dink researched Lord High Marshall Careth. Ghesh was able to find an obituary for Captain Theobold, it reads:
Obituary
Captain Theobold of the Highwatch
Captain Theobold, born 2282 of the Common Era in Weatherdeep. Graduate of the Military Academy with high honors, quickly promoted through the ranks of the Highwatch due to exceptional skill. He is survived by his father and a sister. Theobold fought and died in the protection of the people of Ashrea, and in his final hour he was killed in action south of Eastreach while escorting a prisoner back to Weatherdeep for questioning regarding an object of ancient power, some kind of stone of power. Captain Theobold will be entombed in a cemetery north of Weatherdeep with the rest of his kin.
Captain Theobold’s Journal and its last entries are available in the Citadel Atheneum for those who wish to hear more of his heroic deeds.
Valor and honor to the victorious dead!
The final note about Captain Theobold’s Journal led the party to the restricted section on level 5 section 9 on the black aisle. The party was able to bribe the Stormwatch librarian into allowing them access into the restricted section, he then went to get some dinner and left the Athenaeum unmonitored. His journal reads:
Theobold’s Log
The 14th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Near Keldon
We have pursued the one who defiled the Temple of Ava east from Yavanna in the realm of Athendul. He makes haste to Astaria to the south. With the corruption of the Temple we have been beset by inclement weather inbound from the south. We shall overtake him in the morrow, perhaps before the third meal. The oddity of the weather is that it seems to spawn creatures composed of water. These vile brutes attack anything they come across, women and children included. We first encountered this phenomenon on the banks of the Leor opposite Keldon. Savin was the first to meet the ire of one of the water monsters. As the river rose from the rain from the storm the villain manifested from the shallow pools nearby and it drug him to his doom. Our counterattack was the very measure of vengeance and even still we struggled against the beast. Alone my enchanted blade of Celemor was able to harm the foe, the rest of our number was not able to harm the beast. Before the beast was smote, Asaroth met his doom similar to Savin. I’m placing a special commendation into the log for Savin and Asaroth who met their fate as warriors, and to Revin whose valor was unmatched in today’s fray.
The 15th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Mournsky
Our force will meet our quarry in the Astarian village of Mournsky. Farmax has scouted ahead and found him entering the town from the north. I pray for a special blessing from Ava on this day, we will avenge the corruption of your temple. Celemor is prepared for when battle is joined. For Ava!
The 15th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Mournsky, second entry.
Let the record show Revin was valorous to the end, his death at the hands of the defiler was swift. Only Careth and myself remain of the original troop that set out from Eastreach when we learned of the threat. When we reached Mournsky, we were ambushed and quickly overtaken by our adversary. He moved with unnatural speed and agility and struck with the power of ten of the strongest warriors. Quickly were we subdued, but when all was lost, he turned and fled to the east into the wilds. We will regroup and continue to pursue. We still have not uncovered his identity, our only clue is the last statements from the dying priests of Ava who died where they served. We know that he took something of great power, a device the dying priest referred to as a Rue Stone. In its place a stone of like shape, but ruinous instead, the priest called this a Foe Stone. This Foe Stone defiled the temple, corrupting its power somehow removing the essence of Ava herself! Today is made doubly sad as today starts Yearsend, I now have the melancholy task of informing the families of the fallen about their fate and valor.
The 18th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Mournsky.
We have received word that Lord High Marshall Dacron has mustered the Highwatch to aid us in our pursuit of the defiler. We also have rangers from Elfalas who will join us in a day who will assist us in tracking him down. Until then we will tend to our wounds and prepare for the chase.
The 21st of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Mournsky.
The rangers of Elfalas having arrived the day before yesterday have scouted out and found a trail headed east to something they call, Shal Ath Dharasha or in the common tongue The Pillars of Destiny. Lord High Marshall Dacron and the Highwatch are expected to reach Mournsky by supper tonight, and should make for the east early tomorrow morning. I have reached out through post to the Widow of the brave Revin, and the parents of young Farmax. It is with a heavy heart I alert them to the passing of their eldest son, I can only imagine their pain.
The 24th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, The Pillars of Destiny.
We learned the name of the defiler, he was a fisherman from Astaria named Soran of Darcloud. Unfortunately we were too late, by the time we had arrived at the so named Pillars of Destiny Soran had already removed the Rue Stone from its sacred pillar and replaced it with a corrupting Foe Stone for there was nothing left except ruins in the place where we were led. Soran had already fled, the Rangers of Elfalas are tracking him now and tell me that his path has turned north into the Realm of Elfalas. We have sent word to Lord Adanuil by messenger hawk to be prepared.
The 25th of Refrum 2312 of the Common Era, Near the Pillars of Destiny
Today was a great day, we were able to track down Soran and we caught up to him about halfway to Halethdar. The fight was hard but with the support from the Rangers of Elfalas we were able to capture him without loss of life. In his possession he held two Rue Stones, one that was seemingly full of a small raging ocean and the other possessed by swirling clouds. We will take him with us back to Weatherdeep where we will learn the truth about why. and how he managed to defile the temples of Ava. Happy Yearsend!
– Final Entry –
After reading through all of the information in the journal the party retired for the evening. Moloch went to train in one of the Citadel training rooms and then he retired and went to bed. Vex eventually left the Dining Hall and found his way to the dormitory.
The 16th of Serrum, 1390 of the Storm Era, In the Grand Stormwatch Citadel
The next morning everyone awoke and went about their normal routines, Moloch tried to go back to the same training room but found it occupied for a class, he found a training yard outside and trained there instead. Ghesh went to Xalathas’ room and spoke with him about a few things. He asked for permission to enter the restricted section and was granted written permission. They asked for mounts for the journey ahead and were permitted. He was asked about the Rue/Foe Stones but Xalathas didn’t know too much.

Report Date

12 Aug 2023