Session 15: Friends of the Bright Queen
Brussendar 10. Catha is waxing crescent.
General Summary
The Musty Centaurs have arrived in Bazzoxan after an arduous journey across the Wastes of Xhorhas, hoping to gain access to an evil temple and to learn more about a Vestige of Divergence carried by Clothilde, the Jewel of Three prayers. They have been told that there are no fewer than three foreign-born scholars in town, each apparently investigating something about the nearby temple and one-time fortress known as the Betrayers' Rise.
After helping to repel an attack by dark, mind-bending flesh monsters, the Centaurs met Taskhand Verin Thelyss, who asked them to settle in and then come find him later at the Gatehold Barracks.
Taking their leave, our heroes made their way to the one inn in town, the Ready Room, whereupon Clothilde took it upon herself to commandeer the kitchen and make an infernal stink.
When the smoke cleared, Emeric, Plundertooth, Ursa, and Gorem found themselves face-to-face with an enthusiastic but jumpy non-binary tielfling by the name of Question, an archivist with the Library of the Cobalt Soul. Question expounded on their theories of "mythic resonance," explained a bit of the history of Betrayers' Rise, related that they were from the distant city of Ank'Harel and that a strange new mineral that they called Ruidium had been found there and that it was their study of this mineral that led the Cobalt Soul to send Question to Bazzoxan, where the mineral had also been reported. They were eager to share more, but were chagrined when they noticed that their prized notebook was missing. Immediately blaming another scholar, Aloysia Telfan for its disappearance, Question made the Thrusty Centaurs a proposition: if the party could retrieve the notebook for them from Aloysia's abode, Question would assist them in entering the Betrayer's Rise.
Wildshaping into a dog, Gorem caught the sent of the elven scholar and, with Plundertooth and Emeric in tow, he tracked down the warehouse that had apparently been coverted into Aloysia's home. Breaking in the building quickly but not necessarily discretely, the trio quickly identified a strange mosaic on the wall whose tiles depicted Exandria and its two moons in perfect alignment: a celestial solstice. The smell of the notebook seemed strongest on this mosaic. Examining it closely, Plundertooth accidentally set off a magical trap, discharging a time-slowing magical aura and letting loose a necromantic statue infused with a strange red mineral.
Plundertooth fled the scene whilst Emeric did battle with the statue and Gorem, still a dog, searched desperately for the notebook. Soliders of the Aurora Watch, drawn to the commotion, chased Plundertooth back inside but then quickly assessed the danger posed by the construct and aided in neutralizing the threat it posed. A delicate dance followed, in which the soldiers were initally willing to believe that the adventurers were on a special mission for the Taskhand, but became too suspicious at Gorem's abrupt spellcasting. With tensions mounting, Plundertooth literally stabbed one of them in the back and a new fight erupted, in which all the soldiers were killed other than the guard captain, who was knocked unconcious.
Meanwhile, Ursa, Ulfgar, and Clothilde enjoyed a pleasant night at the spare but comparatively safe Ready Room.
Rewards Granted
Silver Raven Statue
Character(s) interacted with
A red-veined statue comes alive.
Report Date
10 Dec 2024
Primary Location
Related Characters
