Session 45: The Originals

General Summary

The Originals

36th of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
As the three vampires, Rivnaerat, Cronzun and Silas revealed themselves, The Regulators sprung into action. Meara activated her radiant wings and dove into the courtyard, attacking Cronzun. Zuko was close behind on the flying carpet, and took a shot with the Gedia's Torch bow, which drew the attention of all three vampires, Silas especially.
Malcolm stayed put to clear the misfire from the previous fight, but quickly started firing rounds with his pistols and his newly crafted sniper rifle. Silas drew his own blood with the bone like spikes protruding from his wrist and attacked Meara once, piercing her shoulder, before running away. Meara hit him as he ran, but experienced psychic damage as she did. Zuko chased and fired on Silas trying to take him down before he escaped. Malcolm began to focus his fire on Rivnaerat, who dived behind a well for cover. Malcolm threw his radiant hand grenade behind the well and Meara finished him off with two radiant enchanted fire bolts.
Just as this happened, Cronzun teleported to Malcolm's side, but was thrown off the wall and died on impact. While the Regulators were preoccupied with the other two, Silas escaped through the main gates, and they heard several explosions outside. Zuko went to investigate, but called the rest out when he found a humanoid form laying face down in the mud.
Malcolm used his "eyes of the grave" ability but saw no sign of any undead nearby. They turned the body and discovered Silas had killed Decker in his escape. Callum Owen asked for their help carrying Decker back to the chapel of Droana. When a group of Templars came to carry him in, Callum asked the Regulators to stay for "the sending" at noon, and offered them rooms at the canteen.

The Sending

When they finished their rest, they discussed their plans for finding Silas. Malcolm ordered Serenity to do an aerial search while The Regulators were occupied. Meara realized her now healed wound still seemed to burn. They theorized that the psychic bond with Silas was still active and she could perhaps use it to sense his location as well. Unfortunately, it didn't work. They went to visit the lead priest of Droana at the chapel to ask about the injury. He explained to them that it was Hemocraft. While not directly harmful, Silas could use it to keep track of her location and discourage her from harming him. He tried but failed to dispel the brand, and explained that it requires a high level of magic that is not guaranteed to work on command.
They decided they would talk to Lord Ozin Lorimer about the brand as well, both to determine if it could be used against Silas, as well as seeing about getting it removed. Thradreg Duskchin reported in that they had not found Silas but they did find something of interest that could be show to them when they returned.
They were summoned to Decker's private quarters where Callum was busy going through his personal possessions. He said Decker had left a note for him in case he was killed and Callum became Lord Commander. It reminded him to stay aware not only of the fort, but the world around it on both sides. In that respect, he asked if they knew why after 5000 years, the three elder vampires were awakened. Malcolm explained briefly about Mantus being prevented from returning and Orcus' intentions. Callum said he was only vaguely familiar with Mantus, but that Orcus was known to the Templars. He said the Templars were of course tied to their post, but he had a friend in the Realm of the Dead that he could try to reach, that would likely have helpful information on Orcus' plans from the perspective of that realm. Malcolm gave him a piece of the Scroll of Message so they could be contacted directly.
Lastly, he asked that they inform him when and where they planned to defeat Silas. When he is killed in the mortal realm, there would be a short window for the Templars to get him into his sarcophagi in the Realm of the Dead, so it would be better if the Rangers could move it to a nearby location to where they would retrieve his remains.
Callum then noticed that Malcolm's "R" badge had gone missing since he had come into the room. When Malcolm confirmed it, Callum went to a small door in the wall and called out the name "Jack." A small capuchin monkey appeared holding Malcolm's badge in its paw. Callum explained that Malcolm would have to pay in food to get it back. Malcolm offered a piece of jerky from a slight distance encouraging the monkey to come to him. It hopped onto his shoulder and made the exchange. Callum explained that Jack was a pet that came to the fort with Decker and used to go out with him when he was a ranger. On one such ranging Jack was bit by something that turned him undead. The Templars tolerated the creature but now that Decker was gone, Callum wasn't sure what to do with him. Malcolm offered directly to Jack to take him with them when they left, and both Jack and Callum seemed to agree, though Callum warned that if Jack was exposed to direct sunlight or the light from the "red crowned moon" his true form would be visible to others.
They then proceeded to the courtyard where the bodies of the dead templars rested on funeral pyres. As Callum gave a speech about how the fallen Templars would continue serving Droana into the next life, Zuko and Meara noticed that there were a massive amount of Ravens perched around them. At least one for every person who had died. Malcom's attention was drawn to this, but he instead saw people perched in the same precarious place that the others saw birds. He noticed that they could have been mistaken for templars themselves if not for their unnatural placement and stillness. As his attention focused on them, they turned their heads slightly to acknowledge him. When the pyres were lit the ravens (and people from Malcolm's perspective) swooped down over the bodies to carry their souls to Sepulcher.
Callum stopped the rest of the Templars before they dispersed, and called The Regulators to the front, asking them to kneel. He knighted each of them as honorary Solis Templars, saying that he understood they couldn't stay at the Fort, but they would be counted among the Templars wherever they go.

Rain Check

The Regulators returned to Serenity, and Duskchin explained they had found a clear marker in the clearing beyond the forest surrounding the Sinsol Vale. They did their best to recreate what they found. He then uncovered a stone cairn with a piece of the dark shroud Silas had carried pinned in the stones so it would flap in the wind. Under the top most stone was a letter reading, "No hard feelings on either end, I hope. I have no interest in fighting The Champions. I'll let you know when I'm ready to talk. - Silas"
They discussed the meaning of the letter, realizing that at the very least, he didn't want to be an enemy, but perhaps he also wanted to be an ally. Malcolm then received a message on the Scroll of Message from Clambock Levut informing them that a lot of big changes had occured over the last few days, and Jarl Rupert Wasser was trying to reach them.
Malcolm ordered the ship returned to Palhas City where they could meet with the Jarl, and get their bearings before continuing their search for Silas, and the remaining weapons of the champions. To be continued...

Report Date

21 Feb 2021

Primary Location

Fort Solis