Session 18: The Gauntlet

General Summary

1st of Wintercrest 21st year of the Second Era
Alaric showed the rest of the party the mark that appeared on his chest after killing Empress Alexandra Nordheim. The party was concerned but didn't even have a clear idea of what questions to ask about it. The matter was left open ended, but Malcolm pointed that no one in the party was entirely innocent. However, if it at any point Alaric became a danger to the group, he would have to be dealt with.
When they woke up later that morning, Malcolm, Meara and Zuko stopped to inquire at the White Raven Tavern about where they could go to commission a new airship. They were informed that the premier shipyard of the west coast of the empire was in Bunorley immediately south of the Palhas/Frielos provincial border.
They then disposed of the vagrant's body formthe Wizard's Door outside of the city limits while Alaric went to stock up on crossbow bolts. THey then proceeded to the local Archives of Udal and mad contact with a scribe to identify the mark on Alaric's chest. The scribe, with help from a more senior priest, helped them find an old tome that contained a similar marking. The book identified it as an old symbol used by the Order of Thanatos thousands of years ago, when the order followed the man that would eventually ascend to become Orcus.
The scribe seemed frustrated at the lack of available information but promised to do more research and pass along his findings by the end of the day. Alaric asked if the mark itself was dangerous to his health, and the scribe was fairly certain it was only superficial. He warned Alaric that the pact he made was the real danger. Besides the fact that his soul would be claimed by Orcus after death, there was some possibility that his actions could be interfered with by Orcus if they were against his goals.
Alaric asked if there was anyway to break the pact. The scribe responded that the only method he was aware of was to earn enough favor with another divine entity to override it. The party then proceeded to the manor attached to the Palhas Colosseum to prepare for The Gauntlet. When they arrived, Sebastian Braun expressed his discomfort in dragging Kaylee into such a dangerous event at her young age. Malcolm assured him that everyone would make her protection their top priority; she was simply there to keep them from dying.
Among the incoming competitors, they recognized the famous adventuring party known as the "Crazy Eight," including the cleric of Nallula(organization:29c1ccce-1f03-45fe-b939-10c78ccd8603) they met in [Elta who tried to save Rebecca of Anexa, the Jarl would be irate if he saw him participating.
The participants were explained the rules of the competition before being brought to the staging area, then out onto the field. They were introduced by team to the audience and judges, which included, Jarl Rupert Wasser , Lord Mayor Severin Brahm, and Lord Ozin Lorimer. The other teams were taken back to the staging area while Lord Lorimer cast a spell to change the field into an arctic wasteland. A herd of Ice Drakes was released from the opposite gate and immediately charged the party. Kaylee, in spite being told to stay out of danger couldn't help but participate in the fight, to surprisingly effective result. They survived the fight relatively unscathed and earned the highest possible style points. When the drakes were dead they melted into pink sentient goo and slid under the rock in teh center of the field.
They watched the proceeding parties fight the same set of drakes, witnessing several deaths and knock outs. The Crazy Eight was disqualified when the Jarl saw through Clambock's disguise. As the last party finished their fight, they were brought back to the staging area to prepare for the next round.
To be continued.... @sessi

Report Date

18 Feb 2020