KwN.0.2 The Paladin's Vigil

Session Preface

Awake with the dawn, you stretch and don your armor with an extended yawn and a mentally recited prayer. Your shoulders ache from tossing and turning the night before, anticipation of returning home keeping you from deep sleep for much of the evening. And now, as you pack your simple camp and return to the road leading eastward towards Sundabar, a summer storm gathers overhead, threatening a torrential downpour soon to follow.
As expected, the afternoon leg of your journey is derailed by a particularly volatile storm with lightning strikes so close, you're forced to seek out temporary shelter in a small natural cave off the trail. By the time you approach Sundabar, you are soaked from boot to helm, but not even the poor conditions can take away the sight of the city as you round the last hill.

Gleaming in the sunlight piercing through the last remaining storm clouds, the fortress walls of Sundabar stand proud and defiant. Silhouettes of patrolling guards march over the deep, wide moat encircling the walls. Across the western drawbridge, carts come and go from Silverymoon. On the side opposite, merchants make their way to the dwarven citadels to the east.

Within the walls, the three spires of the Halls of Everlasting Justice rise above the city proudly, their shadows crossing over the Circle and the myriad of merchants who offer their wares. Tracing the spoke-like streets out from the center of town, you retrace memories of familiar guard patrols and recall evenings of merriment spent in the trapdoor room of the Maiden at Midnight. Besides the Halls, the city's never been much to look at - built as a fortress over the Undercity and only expanded with military purposes in mind back in the old days - but there's no sight as beautiful as home.

As you cross the drawbridge, a squire stands guard dutifully, familiar to you, but his name escapes you. A look of excitement spreads across his young face as you approach. "Ah, Justice Tristain! Or, soon to be Paladin, I hear! Welcome back to Sundabar!"

Session Summary

After speaking with Squire Marthen, Tristain continued to the Halls of Everlasting Justice, passing through the welcome foyer and looking for Champion Sedral in the Feasting Hall.

Arriving at the Halls of Everlasting Justice

"The demon slayer returns!"
Champion Sedral's voice rings out across the feasting hall. Those who still linger after breaking their fast turn toward you, a combination of new and familiar faces among their ranks.
"After years away, our future Hammer returns, having brought even further pride to the Knight's banner!"
The Champion stands from the long table, closes his Book of Lawgiving, and approaches you, clasping your shoulder with a strong grip and a beaming smile.
"Your companion Second took the liberty of sending a raven ahead of you. He's told us all about your adventures against the giants! How you laid down your life against a vampire and his spawn to save your friends. We are truly blessed by the Just God to have you returned to us! My boy, we are all so proud. You must be hungry after your journey into town. Come, sit, tell me everything."
Tristain brings Champion Sedral up to date on his experiences with Nalaskur, the Giants, and his vision from Tyr inspiring him to return to pursuing his contracts more aggressively. Champion Sedral shares a letter he received from Second detailing the reasons why he deserved the promotion he was called home for as well as updating him on the orc threat growing in the east. When Tristain shares his potential contact among the Zhentarim, Sedral wants Tristain to caution, for, as Hammer Rulidd used to say, "Injustice along the way to justice does not justice bring." Tristain takes this to heart and thanks Sedral for his welcome before going to rest in preparation for the Vigil.
As evening falls, Tristain enters the Chapel of Justice, presenting himself in his traditional stole, and sings along to the hymns of hope as Lord Elhand enchants the Object of Meditation - Tristain's new hammer, should he rise to the rank of Paladin. As the gathered Knights process out of the chapel, Tristain finds himself alone with his thoughts for the first time in many years. For the first few hours of the Vigil, Tristain focused on his prayers, memories of his father, concerns of Nalaskur's schemes, his contract's, and what the future may entail.

The Vision of Draxhar

Hours into the Vigil, the still air around you suddenly shifts, whipping chaotically around you. The temperature plummets as the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Your eyes jolt open. The walls of the chapel have given way to rough, jagged stone, covered in shimmering shards of ice. You kneel not before an altar, but in a snow drift threatening to swallow you. The mouth of the cavern before you spews more ice and snow into the cave at an alarming rate. To avoid being buried in the frost, you push back further into the cave with trepidation as unsettling familiarity turns your stomach over. Moving deeper into the cavern, you're forced to step around the remains of individuals who must have similarly sought shelter in these caves and met a less fortunate fate. From the discoloration of the skeletal remains, these poor folk have been long dead, far beyond recognition.
"Don't worry, Tristain, they died particularly painfully."
A voice from your nightmares. You glance back to the skeletal remains. Their yellowed skulls are once more wrapped in flesh, wearing distorted grimaces of torturous suffering. Champion Sedral. Hammer Villiera. Their eyes wide, black, unfaltering spheres staring back at you.
"Surely you remember this place, Tristain? Here, you played the part of the fearless, cavalier young cleric."
You break the gaze of the fallen Knights only to discover more familiar faces scattered throughout the cave. Against the opposite wall, two dragonborn remains watch you with the same black crystalline eyes, one in dulled, dented armor, the other clutching the weathered remains of a book, both of their bodies carved into pieces. In the corner, a withered and decaying form of Hammer Dawnbraid hunches over, clutching an obvious slash across her side, her head tilting to an unnatural angle. Her black, clouded eyes watch with disappointment.
"Here, you found yourself to be the fly caught in a spider's web, and I, the spider."
From the shadows, a broad-shoulders figure steps forth. Even in the freezing temperatures, his taunt, muscular grey-blue skin glistens with beads of sweat. The figure arches its shoulders, massive leathery wings unfolding and tucking back into place. Carved into his chest, the skull and dark sun of the Mad Liar. A myriad of other scars dance across his flesh, a particularly nasty scar slashing from one of his twisted horns across his cheek to his massive, bloody maw with teeth jutting in multiple directions. His eyes, dark as a starless night, transfixed on you. He clasps a pair of axes, stained crimson ages ago.
"Have you missed me?" Draxhar smiles, clearly pleased with himself. "I must admit, I've been too busy to think much of you. But, when I heard about your promotion, well, I simply couldn't miss it. So, shall we see just how deserved this promotion is, 'Demon Slayer'?
Draxhar lips his lips with a long, forked tongue, cracks his neck, and descends upon you.

The Remaining Vigil

"Pathetic. You are the same reckless, foolish boy who deserved to die in these caves those years ago. Now you must live with your defeat twicefold." Smiling once more, Draxhar raises his axe, driving its razor edge through your armor, through your rib cage, through your spine until you hear the deafening ringing strike of steel against stone. The blade is ripped out from your chest with a sick, slick sputtering noise and a distant chuckle reverberating off the cavernous walls. The visage of Draxhar fades away. Your vision swims and blurs as the cave walls close in around you. Your last thoughts are of once again returning to the table with your father, finally finding rest. You can see him, a bright light like flames wrapped around his figure, donned in his Knight's armor atop a dark horse. You can almost hear his voice calling out, "Tristain! You must -.
A sudden gasp of air catches in your throat. Your flesh is aflame, sweat streaks down your brow. You unclinch your eyes and find you are once more in the Chapel of the Just God, your knuckles white as you grip the pommel of your warhammer. Catching your breath, you do your best to return your focus to the Holy Vigil, but the nightmare clings to your thoughts as you catch your breath.
The Vigil continues uninterrupted for the rest of the morning. Despite the haunting vision, you are able to refocus your efforts on Tyr's justice and the pristine hammer before you does not belie the disturbing encounter you experienced. Before long, the doors swing open. Hammer Lord Elhand approaches, examines the hammer with a furrowed brow, pauses for a moment, then speaks in an efforted, neutral tone.
"It would appear the Vigil is complete and Tristain has been found in the favor of the Just God. Come, let us break fast together in the company of all those gathered to celebrate."
Once more in the feasting hall, the morning shines in the glow of your celebration. Champion Sedral sits to your left, Hammer Villiera on your right. For a moment as they both turn to you, beaming with pride, you imagine their eyes are dark voids once more, but blink the image away and return to the present moment.
Hammer Villiera watches your expression, gives you a curious look, then asks, "So tell me, Tristain, how did the Vigil fare? Any revelations from the Just God?"
Tristain shares with Hammer Villiera foreshadowing of a great threat he must face and his solemn response to a trying Vigil, yet Champion Sedral continues to express his pride and belief in Tristain even so.

End of the Feast

As the feast draws to a close, Champion Sedral clasps his tankard, standing and clearing his throat as the hall quiets expectantly.
"Paladin Tristain, I know I speak for the entire Halls when I say we knew this day was a matter of if, not when. We've got a lot of celebrating to do, so I'll keep it short. Your father, Tyr keep 'em, would be so proud of you. Just as we all are. I've no doubt you'll continue to bring honor to the Knights and to the Triad. To the Just!"
As Champion Sedral raises his mug to the sky, so too do the gathered Knights, calling out "To the Just!" in a joyous response.
These shouts are cut short, however, as the morning's light refracted through stained glass windows suddenly fades to dark. Calls of confusion and chaos pour in through the courtyard doors. The gathered Knights, all now on high alert, spill out into the courtyard, staring at the sky. A dense, impenetrable magical darkness spreads over the city like a massive dome. Somewhere above, a draconic shriek tears through the sky like lightning strike. Boulders penetrate the dark barrier, crashing into Sundabar's inner city. One lands nearby, bursting through one of the Hall's spires in its descent. Shattered stained glass, crumbled stone, and twisted metal fly through the sky like falling stars.
For a moment, the entire courtyard is silent with shock and disbelief. Hammer Villiera, her voice full of resolve and duty, breaks the silence. "Knights, now is the hour to honor your oaths. To the walls!"

Session Overview

Date Played:
September 26, 2020
Party:

• Tristain

Time Passed: Flamerule 10, 1493
NPCs:

• Squire Marthen
• Champion Sedral
• Lord Hammer Elhand
• Hammer Villiera
• Draxhar

Loot:

• The Book of Lawgiving
• Letter from Second
• Paladin's Hammer