Session 4: A Gift of Glitterreed
General Summary
Flamesday, 15 Seeding, 998 Y.K.
Having successfully rescued the team from House Cannith and recovered the case of alchemical reagents, the party regrouped back at the boat to rest and recuperate. The mutant wildlife had taken their toll on many, and everyone was in sore need of repair and recovery. Zer's mental powers were enough to rejuvenate the unicorn, and Bell and Milli worked together on patching the rest.
As the crew worked, they shared notes of why they had agreed to come on Krayg's mission, and in fact what had brought them to Sharn in the first place. Milli revealed to the group that she was on a quest that would likely take her into even more dangerous places across Eberron, but that she was eager for traveling companions she could trust. Relic said it sounded like a good plan, as he too was on a mission to understand his place in the world. The forged drew back his robes, and for the first time showed the group the bright blue dragonmark that had been on his chest when he first awoke. Zer spoke of his calling to lead Adar out of the shadow of Sarlona, and Bell spoke of her history fixing Forged and the steady dwindling stock of repair parts on the market. Finally, Spark held out her staff to Relic and spoke of the destiny her mentor had seen upon her.
When Relic's hands touched Spark's staff, the knot near the handle started emitting a soft but high-pitched hum. It grew louder, and a red light shone out from the split in the knot, revealing for a brief moment the gem embedded in the heart of the livewood staff. Just as the pitch peaked, however, the light suddenly vanished out and the staff fell quiet, leaving the Forged's dragonmark slightly tinged violet as the gemstone somehow interacted with it. The group, seeing this change and hearing each others' tales, agreed to stay together for the time being and address their mysteries together.
First, however, the group agreed that the last of the corrupted animals still around the mill needed to be put down, for their own good if nothing else. In the crumbling bell-tower of the temple, they found a giant spider guarding a holy symbol that appeared to be magical in its own right. It fought viciously -- and viscously, as it tried to seal both Zer and Spark up in its webbing -- but a well-placed firebolt from Bell's crossbow brought the bug low. As well as the talisman, Spark found a note presumably left by the last priest. In cramped and hasty writing, the note's author warned that the Warders were coming back to destroy the town and asked every Sovereign's blessing for protection. Whatever gods looked over that place, however, seemed not to be able to prevent its destruction.
A strong wind picked up after the spider's death, bringing the scent of moldy hay to the party's nose, but also a scent quite familiar to Millimax: glitterreed, an enchanted waterlily native to the Everglow. Finding the plant growing all by itself in a small puddle behind the stables was a shock to the unicorn, who eagerly harvested the windfall for her stash. That, however, raised more questions than answers, as did the pair of sickly corrupted wargs that watched the party from their makeshift den. These wolves made no effort to fight, instead growling halfheartedly and fleeing into the forest as soon as the group left.
Both the communal kitchen and the cheap and cramped living quarters were infested with rats, which the group dispatched. Abandoned among the cookware Bell found a hand-axe head that seemed to pass through wood as though it were water despite its dull edge. The last of the buildings cleaned out and all trace of the corruption cleansed, the party returned to the boat and returned home to return the chest.
When they arrived back at the skydocks, however, a Forged quite unlike most others awaited their return. Highly polished and well-maintained, they introduced themself as Lead Design. They told Spark directly that they were grateful for the rescue of their team and pointedly noted that the group was in possession of something that belonged to Lead's employers.
Rewards Granted
- Woodbane Handaxe: double damage against wooden targets, 1d4 bludgeoning otherwise
- 20sp
- Enough XP to bring the party to 2010 each.
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