Chapter 3 - Rest in Bexton

General Summary

The party took a rest at the Iron Bow Inn, owned by a woman named Maisie Lychester. They enjoyed meals and drinks there, then went to sleep for the night. However, John Harvard-Heming used his Invoke Duplicity to create an illusion of himself resting, and then took her keys discreetly and opened her money box. In this act, however, he was caught by two elves: Ardor, who merely watched him, and then one of the high elf patrons named Galmili, who was a priest of Lolth disguised as a cleric of Brigid. Galmili threatened to expose John, but John negotiated, and so they split the game. John then slipped out in the night and buried his coins near a Fenrir's resting place, to make the mound not look suspicious.
In the morning, Maisie was shocked to see her money stolen. Galmili betrayed John, declaring he was the thief. Maisie called the guards to investigate the matter. Ardor then spoke up, stating that Galmili was the true thief and blamed John. Galmili and John vied their cases against the guards, but ultimately Ardor exposed Galmili as a Priest of Lolth. (For he was awake to see the interaction and watched silently.) The guards arrested Galmili promptly, and Maisie thanked Ardor and John for catching the thief. Ardor then told John "you're welcome" silently.
Eogun woke up fully attuned to his new Axe of Lightning, and went toward the local arena to try his might against the competition. He was vetted, and supported by the local Arena Master named Ubba Guhtredson. Eogun went under the stage name "Eogun the Giant". Ubba set Eogun against a tiefling eldritch knight named Baldric the Bald. The two battled, Eogun using his giant abilities while Baldric utilized tricky magic. It was a close match, but Eogun ultimately found victory, and collected winnings.
Through the rest of the week, the party did training and studied further into the matter of Morgainne. Ardor and Caoimhe visited the local library within the Church of Amagus and Cardia in town. Ardor studied further elemental spells, while Caoimhe looked into who Morgainne actually was through reports. Meanwhile, John studied in the keep of King Edmund within the city. There, he was visited by a woman in scandalous purple robes, who taunted him about his "other self". She tried to enchant John, but his half-elven nature resisted her guiles. Then he told Morgainne off, and the Enchantress teleported away out of anger.
Near the end of the week, John told his mates about the "other John" running around, which stunned all of them. John told them to keep this information secret, but did not tell them of his encounter with Morgainne. After the discussion, the party travelled to the Mines of Bexton, which was supposedly filled with Kobolds. Outside of the mines, Ardor sent his familiar, Ash, to scout ahead. Ash managed to find several paths in the dungeons, filled with dangerous traps and loot. They also spotted a Kobold with a shield, green in color and larger than the others. Still, they went inside.
Inside, they were bombarded by two Kobold Dragonshields, as well as six other Kobolds. They were swarmed, and Eogun had to cut down many, as well as Caoimhe sending druidic magic and John using healing and his illusions to defend the party. Ardor sent powerful magical blasts, destroying the Kobolds with fire and ice. Eventually one of the Dragonshields called two ogres to the fight, which sent Eogun to be overwhelmed momentarily until Ardor backed him up and killed the last Dragonshield. They knocked out the ogres and convinced them to leave. They rested for about an hour at the entrance, until all was said and done and realized they needed to continue into the dungeon.

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In Beton, meanwhile, Uhtric, Olof, and Aethelflaed arrived to see Nilrem within the city, over the bodies of dead viking warriors. Uhtric was enraged, and demanded Nilrem to explain himself for abandoning the queen of Mywick. Nilrem was calm and explained the final moments in detail.

“Lady Swansong told me to leave. I was prepared to defend her against Gromherjek, but she insisted that her doom was ‘necessary’. In her words:
“'The Lady of the Lake intends these to be my final hours. Why else have my knights be incapable? The stars have aligned, and the true heroes of Albion were to show themselves in the rainy inferno of the serpent’s wrath. Yes, I must face my Doom, but only that Albion may live. So says the Lady of the Lake.'”
“Thus, I left the queen to her doom, and went my ways toward Wywich in order to warn their queen there. After my meeting, I came here to Beton, to ensure the town would be safe. I am sorry for all the deception, but it was necessary. Now you must return to Bexton. I fear this plot against Albion stays there, as the Sons of Ormulf have not left the Silver River. Your allies are walking into the devices of a terrible enchantress named Morgainne.”

Uhtric forgave Nilrem, understanding his wisdom, and then turned back to his friends in relief that Beton was still safe. Nilrem then told the group that they needed to make haste, as he feared danger in the Kobold Mines that the other four were walking into. Thus, he teleported Uhtric, Olof, and Aethelflaed back to Bexton. Uhtric and Aethelflaed then hurried to the caves to meet up with their four other allies...

Date (in world)

Winlustra 1st-7th, 4350

Report Date

24 Oct 2021

Player Characters

Uhtric Godwinson, human Paladin of the Crown and the Earl of Beton. Once he was scarred by the Danen for defending his hometown, and has sworn to protect Albion with his life.

Aethelflaed Aelfling, half-elf Swashbuckler Rogue and barmaid. She is an entertainer of all sorts, but loyal to Uhtric her earl.

Ardor Pelota, dark elf Wild Mage and Wizard. He is a prolific student of evocation magic (especially fire) and a bit of a prodigy. He is joined by his familiar Ash, who has a bad attitude.

John Harvard-Hemming, half-elf Trickery Cleric. A very logical man, John has been seen as a nihilist, having little moral sense yet devoted to his mysterious god.

Caoimhe Kirkpatrick, human Shepherd Druid. Caoimhe is fanatical about myths and legend, but has been sent on a quest by the Ents of Kirk to stop a legend from being created. She is joined by her wolf ally, Fenrir.

Eogun MacOncett, human Rune Knight. Eogun comes from a clan with no claim to fame in the lands of Keller. Armed with Giant runic magic, Eogun seeks to make a name for his family within the lands of Albion.