Sessions 7 and 8 - Into the Shadow Realm
General Summary
Session 7
Travelling quickly through the Shadow Realm, the adventurers, along with Prince Philippe, quickly looked for a portal within the lands. They were attacked by Displacer Beasts within the forests, but after the quick scuffle, they found some castle ruins. To Sunjar, these looked like a dwarven fortress. They heard wailing coming from the castle ruins, and soon a curious Amelie was spotted by some Banshees. The banshees attacked the adventurers, taking down Terra with their wailing, but were defeated ultimately. The party progressed further into the ruins, defeating dwarf sword wraiths, and then discovering they stumbled upon the shadow of an old ruin. They also spotted that they were being followed by a raven. Eventually, the raven landed, and through it's mouth the voice of Morganine spoke. She introduced herself as the Raven Queen, the goddess of war and shadows.I am in the blood you spill. The cries of these warriors echoing in the walls around are where I tread. The destroyed onagers, the broken castle walls, the memorials of warriors of old. I am War. I am The Land. I am Death. We are Morganine.
Sunjar proclaimed to the goddess that she was messing with Vivian, but Morganine did not fear her, knowing that even Vivian's will pleased her with the aspects of war. Sunjar thus decided to stop fighting, if only to annoy her. Morganine explained that the party was trapped in the Shadow Realm as presents from Augustin, ones she could watch fight and eventually turn into her servants. Though the adventurers refused this, Morganine told them it was ultimately their fate. Org tried to bargain with Morganine, but the goddess would not hear his pleas. Eventually, Morganine grew tired of the mortals and their debate, so she flew off.
The adventurers, not knowing where to turn, eventually sent a message out to Mateo again, who said he was looking for a way for them to escape in due time. Org, meanwhile, started to pray, hoping it would show the way. He eventually heard a voice telling him to follow the river and go to a canyon. Org then led the party to a canyon where they found a great door, one that proclaimed, "those who enter shall face great trials." Org then prayed again, which opened the door.
They first were bombarded by a razor trap, which Amelie went through and got cut badly, but she then disabled the trap. The party then found an invisible floor puzzle, but with Amelie detecting magic, she led them across easily. They then found four knights in a circle, and the knights attacked the party. A long fight commenced, with the greatest of the knights, a black-clad warrior in hoplite armor and a face of a skull, doing devastating blows to them. Eventually Amelie stopped him from healing, and the adventurers whittled down his resolve until him and his knights surrendered.
The knight introduced himself as Saint Ascus, saying when he was slain by Asthenios 2000 years ago, his soul was transported here. However, he has since then fought against the long-corrupted Morganine as a saint, and told the party that he was testing their valor. He told them the way to escape: a portal within the realm of Reynauld the Nightmare Tyrant. But they would need to pass into the land of the Shadow Elves. Then, Ascus took Sunjar's warhammer.
“No doubt you fight in memory of your father. I can feel your honor in the weight of this weapon. You seek to avenge his death at the hands of tyranny. That is a righteous cause. So, you shall have a righteous weapon!”
Thus, Sunjar's warhammer was turned into the legendary Holy Avenger, to which Ascus gave him to have a fighting chance out of the Shadow Realm. He said, "Morganine expects you to fight, but fight you shall. Not in her name, but in mine, and Vivian's!" So the party rested in the protection of St. Ascus, while planning their next moves.
Session 8
Leaving the domain of St. Ascus, the party was bombarded by a creature called The Lonely, which tried to hug Org to death. The party slew it, with Sunjar testing out his improved version of his warhammer, now called Holy Avenger. Then the party was attacked by Shadow Elves, but they captured one of their ranks. The shadow elf was questioned, and he told the party the way toward Reynauld's realm. He was asked for a name, but only told them, "I don't know." So the party started to call him IDK, and forced him to help them against his fellow Shadow Elves. They came upon the ruins of a small town, and he scouted ahead to help his friends. However, he was knocked out by the Shadow Dancer leader. The party then caused a distraction by Terra lighting a fire in the forest, and went inside the small town to rescue IDK. They set an ambush against the Shadow Dancer, who called for reinforcements, but Amelie cast a large fireball spell against him, and the Shadow Dancer would be slain by Sunjar's Holy Avenger and it's mighty smite, making him explode and sending his head flying. The party defeated the rest of the Shadow Dancer's minions, and rescued IDK. However, the reinforcements showed up, and began to give chase. The party fled from the town, letting go of old objects to slow down the chasing Shadow Elves. Amelie sent another fireball, and the adventurers eventually lost the elves and crossed the bridge to get toward the Shadow Realm's version of Vine. After a night's rest, they were attacked by a creature called The Hungry, but promptly destroyed it. Then, they continued their journey, knowing they would have to face the Nightmare Tyrant eventually. They also got a message from Mateo, telling them King Gabriel was dead, but as a result of his investigation, he fought Augustin and was trapped in an Imprisonment Spell, forced into a demi-plane where he could not escape, and thus could not help them. So they wee on their own.
Date (in world)
???, 4282
Report Date
03 Aug 2021
Player Characters
Org Orgenson, righteous Half-Orc Paladin of the Ancients. He seeks equality between monster and men and is willing to crusade for his cause. Though he appears to be a dumb brute, he has a heart and soul of gold, and a great sense of right.
Terra, fair and kind Wood Elf Fey Wanderer Ranger. She seeks to find her long-lost love in the lands of Larian, a knight whom she once met but knows not the name and face to.
Thimbleswipe, mischievous Fairy Psi-Blade Rogue. Long ago chased out of the fey lands, he now seeks a new life of mischief within the lands of men. But look beyond his heart of guile and greed and one will find a hero fitting of the fey.
Sunjar, proud Dwarf Paladin of Devotion. He has come from the lands of Bolderun to uncover more about the mysterious Vivian and uncover more truth about dwarf religion.
Amelie Dumas, adventure-seeking human Necromancer. Amelie has humble origins, growing up in a family of cheesemakers. However, after her uncle took her in as an apprentice, she has secretly studied the dark arts and finds thrills in adventuring in her studies.
Allies
Lady Jeffery, a white pig with brown splotches. She is Org's pet, and sponsor of the party.
Prince Philippe Percival, human Bard of the Sword. He is the heir to the throne of Larian.
IDK, shadow elf warrior. He is a former soldier for his kind, but has betrayed them in order to help the adventurers escape the Shadow Realm.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments