Session 20: On Matters of Death

General Summary

1st of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
The Gala The Regulators were guided back to the manor after the conclusion of the competition. The parlor was filled nobles, both local and from distant parts of Palhas Province. Many of them appeared to have been drinking throughout the competition and crowded them as they entered the room. The party graciously politley accepted thier praise, with the exception of Kaylee who seatd hersyelf by the fire and the equally disdained looking "Baron" Clambock Levut. Jarl Rupert Wasser cleared the crowd away and congratulated them on their victory and apologized for their loss of Sebastian Braun. He reminded them that a feast at his own great hall was a customary part of the prize, but that he didn't want them to feel any pressure do participate before they had dealt with Sebastian's death. He told them to send word ahead at least a day in advance of when they wanted to accept the dinner in their honor, no matter how long that took.
Their conversation was interrupted by a well dressed half-elf who burst into the room, short on breath. The Jarl chastised him for being rude to the champions of the gauntlet, and introduced him as Nilron Morlamin, representative for Palhas Province in the Earrenian Imperial Council. Nilron apologized and congratulated them before insisting that he speak with the Jarl alone. The Jarl congratulated them again and apologized that he had to leave them. Malcolm offered their services in the future, including for whatever important matter Nilron had to discuss with him, if it proved necessary. They left the room and Zuko turned invisible, following them down the hall.
The Plot
They turned into a room and shut the door where Zuko pressed his ear against the door. Nilron informed the Jarl that Empress Alexandra Nordheim was dead, murdered sometime the night before. THe Jarl demanded to know why he wasn't informed earlier. Nilron explained that everyone in the palace was murdered, and the situation only drew attention when a few commoners saw the Empresses body pinned to the palace walls like an animal hide on a tanning rack. Thankfully, no one outside the council knows that it was her, but the council is keeping her death quiet for the time being so no one connect the two.
The Jarl asked why Nilron was telling him if the council had decided to keep it quiet. Nilron thought this was, while tragic, the best time to implement their plan; since the Nordheim dynasty was effectively over, and the next heir to the throne was Alexandra's bastard brother. The Jarl and Nilron desired to see the Imperial Council vote to dissolve the empire as a whole, returning the provinces to their own sovereignty and continue forward simply as allied states, joining the Quorum of Acreomond as individual members. The Jarl said he understood Nilron's instinct, but taking advantage of this opportunity would cast suspicion that they were somehow involved in her murder. If not to the Council, to the Quorum; and they needed to be in favor with both, otherwise they could send the continent into chaos and war. The Jarl assured Nilron that a short time under the rule of "the bastard" would probably prove equally beneficial to their cause, while not implicating them in the tragedy.
While Zuko was eavesdropping, Malcolm checked on Kaylee. He assured her that what happened to Sebastian was not her fault, but she said she couldn't help but feel responsible because they hired her on specifically to keep them alive. Malcolm asked if there was anything her temple could do to bring him back. SHe admitted it was possible, but she wasn't sure what would be required of them. Malcolm also checked in with Clambock, who was looking uncharacteristically depressed. Malcolm pointed out that his disguise hadn't been particularity convincing. Clambock conceded this, but added that any male gnome fighting with the "Crazy Eight" would be suspected to be him. Malcolm asked why the Jarl was so against him participating in The Gauntlet, and Clambock explained that now that he was a [Lord Mayor, he had a responsibility to his people, and couldn't be risking his life in such a manner. Clambock admitted he saw the wisdom in that, but the competition was the only thing that brought his old traveling companions together. Malcolm understood, but pointed out he was just going to have to find a new way to bring them together.
The Original Artifact
The party scooped up what they could of the banquet table and traveled with Kaylee to the temple of Nallula. They were guided to an underground chamber where Sebastian's cleaned body was lying under a sheet on a stone slab. After a solemn moment, Kaylee asked for the high priest. Aemeal, the high elf woman who had told Kaylee not to accept Malcolm's offer to participate in The Gauntlet, entered shortly after. Aemeal stated that her participation in the blood sport put Sebastian's death on her hands. She then asked what she remembered of Nallula's birthplace. Kaylee answered that is was somewhere in north-western Frielos Province. Aemeal said that the temple would cover the material cost, but Kaylee would have to earn favor with Nallula for the ritual to succeed. To do so, she would need to go on a quest and return with "the last original artifact." Kaylee signaled her understanding and left, Meara nearly lost her temper with the high priest and left immediately after, followed by the party.
Kaylee stormed out of the temple and took her anger out on a nearby collection of water barrels. The party calmed her down and asked her to explain. She said she felt as if she was given an impossible task on purpose, explaining that "the last original artifact" was Nallulla's personal diary, last known to be be hidden in her home town. The problem being that the halfling village existed thousands of years before, and hasn't been located since settlers returned to Acreomond. Malcolm asked if there were any clues at all to its location. KAylee said that the best place to start would be Bunorley. Malcolm assured her that they would find the village together, and they were already headed to Bunorley to commision their new airship. Kaylee regained some confidence and told them to be ready by morning; she was off to acquire some equipment she was now entitled to since she was officially on a quest for the temple.
Research on Orcus
The party proceeded to the Archives of Udal and found the scribe they had spoken to earlier. He declared the entire research project an exercise in futility. and offered a small stack of papers with his notes. On warlock pacts he offered the following information: All warlock pacts involve the warlock's soul becoming the property of the patron in addition to any other agreed terms. In the most typical arrangement, the potential warlock completes a task for the patron, then the patron grants them their boon, and the warlock is left alone to accomplish the goal they wanted the powers for. Sometimes this is a one time trade off, other times there is an ongoing series of favors exchanged. When there is no longer an active deal is when things become unstable. If a warlock acts in a way that is against the patrons interests, or they refuse to complete another agreed task, they are known to disrupt the Warlock's actions, or even take their powers away to scare them in line. The patron can also locate and spy on the warlock at any time. The only known way to escape a deal with a patron is to acquire enough favor with a god to override the deal, which is very difficult to do. The god that grants them their favor can power the warlocks spells going forward as well. Even after successfully doing so, the patron still has the ability to spy on the former warlock, but their soul is no longer the patron's property, and the patron can no longer remotely interfere with their actions.
The scribe said finding information on Orcus was significantly more difficult. Most texts mentioned him only in passing, and much of the cross references he found led to books that didn't seem to exist. He pondered out loud if the missing books may be in the Ark of Forbidden Knowledge. he shared what he did know:

Orcus is a Valarcour but even among that pantheon his modern following seems non-existent and his presence hasn't been felt on Firnormond for millennia. In life he was the leader of the original Order of Thanatos, a group of Alfardarine that intended to conquer the world with the use of undead armies. The same group emerged thousands of years later as Drow and the cult became became one of the great guilds of Sacramond. Most of the texts say that Orcus' defeat at the hands of the Hellige Riddere caused the eruption of Mt. Yarost that caused his followers to flee to the Underdark.

The scribe admitted there was more that he read but he wasn't permitted to share the information as the archives were for the dissemination of facts, not myth; and there were repeated mentions of Orcus in relation to Mantus, claiming that Orcus was one of his lords, or generals, and even recieved a piece of his heart which gave him supreme power in life and allowed him to ascend as a god. The party convinced the scribe to humor them with the legend, and the scribe gave them the basic details:

According to legend, Mantus and his sister Eldath created the world of Firnormond together. Eldath ruled the day, and was the goddess of life and order. Mantus ruled the night and was the god of death and chaos. Long after the world was populated with the immortal creatures that are ancestors the the animals and races that now live on Firnormond, Mantus became restless and killed his sister. A group of followers created a tablet that allowed opened the veil between his realm and the material plane. This allegedly began the era known as The Millenium of Darkness.

He stressed again that this was simply an oral myth from the eras between the great migration and the rise of civilizations. None of it should be taken seriously.
Before they left, they asked the scribe if there was an Archive in or near Bunorley where they may find some maps of the era, explaining that they are looking for the birthplace of Nallulla. He said there was no proper archive there but he believes a High Sage of Udall named Cadnost lives in the city somewhere, and he may be able to help. He also mentioned that the author of Grandmother, Grandmother was from the same town, in case following that trail helps them find more clues.
The party then stopped by [Al-Hai's Bazaar and purchased some magic items. Zuko accepted a brand on his armor in exchange for present and future discounts. The party accepted the same for their tent.
The party returned to the Lucky Hawk Inn where he finally revealed the conversation overheard between the Jarl and Nilron. Alaric was shocked at the revelation of the empress' mutilated body. THey asked if he had any indication that he lost any memory. Alaric said it seemed to happen in real time. He then revealed that it seemed like someone else had killed several other people in the palace that he was sure wasn't his doing. They concluded that his patron seems to have sent help that night, and they all speculated that he and Lilith Smios may have the same patron. Alaric scried on her and saw her walking through a ruined city somewhere in a semi-tropical climate. The streets were filled with undead, but she seemed unconcerned and wasn't harmed.SHe then walked through the front gates of a large keep and into a great hall where she greeted someone out of view as "master."
We Ride at Dawn 2nd of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
The following morning Kaylee met them outside the tavern dressed in new plate armor with the symbol of Nallulla attached to her chest and shield in colored metals. They got into the carts and picked up some supplies, including lanterns for the cart. They traveled well into darkness until they reached the southern border of Palhas Province and spotted a strange light ahead; a blue flame about 10 feet in the air. They snuffed the lanterns and stopped the cart, but not before crossing a threshold that gave them an underlying sense of dread. Kaylee sensed it too but had no idea what they had stumbled on. Malcolm and Zuko circled what they could now see was a monolith style pedestal holding up the flame. When they approached they found an inscription in common and Gorheimian (language) along with over 500 names. The inscription read:

"Dedicated to the 549 lives lost at Fort Staerdale on the 18th of Wintercrest, 73 1E. If any of their souls may linger here, may this light help guide them home. "

Zuko had never been to Fort Staerdale but recalled the story: "The Battle of Fort Staerdale was the last battle in the War of Earrenian Expansion. On the 10th of Wintercrest, Frielos city was sacked and the king surrendered. A general, whose name has been forgotten in shame, was sent to Bunorley to secure the city and its assets. When he arrived, he discovered several large trebuchets under construction for the war effort. He ordered them completed, and though no official decision had been made to wage war on Palhas, marched northward and ordered Fort Staerdale to surrender. A messenger was sent out from the fort to Palhas city to tell King Bertram that the Earrenian army was on their doorstep. The king realized that his hopes of fending off such an invasion was futile, and would result in unnecessary death. He sent the messenger back with the order to surrender. In the meantime, the soldiers at Fort Staerdale fought of the subdued siege from the imperial army. A late winter storm blew in from the west, and trapped by the Dead Mountain range, buried the road between Palhas city and the fort, and the messenger never arrived. On the 18th of Wintercrest the trebuchets arrived and they immediately started firing on the fort. It is said that the fort was almost entirely leveled in less than an hour, and none of its defenders survived. By the 21st of Wintercrest the army marched forward to Palhas city, and King Bertram surrendered immediately. Though the surrender was accepted, the general was arrested and shipped to Frielos city, and Emperor Bendik Nordheim executed him with his own hand. Bendik sent a significant stipend to the surviving families of the brave soldiers of Fort Staerdale, and commissioned a memorial in their honor."
Malcolm signaled the rest of the party to join them, but as he did, the flame on top of the memorial blew out. Shadows began to creep out of the ground around them, revealing the glowing red eyes of the dark specters.
to be continued... Session 21: Ghost Light 

Report Date

20 Mar 2020

Primary Location

Palhas City