Session 39 - Yule Be Sorry

General Summary

14 Erastus (July), 4725 After the harrowing encounters with the Ebon Triad and the bomb they had planted aboard the Wavestone, the Ruinlords earned some much-needed rest. However, that sleep was far from restful. The fire cracked and spit embers like tiny shooting stars in an apparently shared dream, casting fleeting warmth across the heroes’ exhausted faces. The room they had entered felt like an echo—a memory of comfort that lingered just out of reach. In its center stood a snow globe, its glimmering surface promising respite but delivering something far colder. When their fingers touched its glassy surface, the world collapsed, unraveling into frost and shadow. The world they landed in was a frozen wilderness, where snow fell endlessly, muffling every sound except the biting wind. Ice clung to the branches of towering pines, and a pale moon cast long, eerie shadows. As the heroes took stock of their surroundings, a figure emerged from the swirling frost—a tall, crystalline woman wreathed in robes of shimmering ice. Her hollow, glowing eyes fixed on the party with a mix of disdain and sorrow. The heroes recognized her from tales told around hearths and holy texts. This was the Frostbinder, a once-noble ally of Saint Nicholan, who had fought alongside him to protect this realm of Yule. But something was wrong—terribly wrong. Her voice, once said to inspire warmth and courage, was now bitter and cold. She confessed that she had been swayed by the whispers of an infernal being called Santac Laus, who revealed the "truth" of Yule. It was he who had promised her power beyond measure, convincing her to betray Saint Nicholan. With her newfound strength, she had stolen Yulebrand, the saint’s greatsword, and used her magic to corrupt it, severing Nicholan’s connection to this realm. Without his presence, Yule had fallen into darkness and despair. “I was his ally,” she said, her voice cutting through the icy air. “But now, I see what he could not—hope is a fragile illusion, and I will not crumble with it.” Her words hung in the frozen silence as she vanished into the snow, leaving only a path littered with icy challenges and corrupted guardians. The heroes knew their task: to find Yulebrand and set things right. The battle with her frozen sentinels was fierce, their hulking, crystalline forms blending with the snow as they struck with the force of winter storms. Frost clung to the heroes’ weapons and armor, the cold seeping into their very bones. But they endured, shattering the Frost Elementals and clearing the path to Hoovale—a village that had been all but forgotten. The streets of Hoovale were lifeless, the houses dark and silent. The frost that coated the rooftops seemed to have seeped into the hearts of its inhabitants. But a small child emerged from the shadows, her voice trembling as she begged for help. The heroes set to work, mending lanterns, rehanging wreaths, and driving out the Ice Mephits that cackled from the rooftops. Slowly, light returned to the village, and with it, there was a flicker of hope. The villagers emerged cautiously, their fear giving way to gratitude as the heroes reignited the spirit of Yule. From there, the path led to Saint Nicholan’s Workshop, once a beacon of creation and joy, now a hollow shell of its former self. The Frostbinder awaited them there, her corrupted form towering over the battlefield. Her icy minions, including a twisted wooden soldier and a monstrous teddy bear, turned the workshop into a chaotic arena of frost and fury. But the heroes pressed on, breaking her body and her grip on Yulebrand. In her final moments, her hollow eyes flickered with something—perhaps regret—before disappearing into the frost again, leaving the workshop silent and still. As the greatsword was freed, its radiant light surged through the workshop, burning away the corruption and leaving it silent and still. Returning to Hoovale, the party was greeted as saviors. The village erupted in celebration, the glow of lanterns and the warmth of rekindled hope filling the frosty air. As the festivities reached their peak, a familiar figure stepped from the shadows, his presence radiating both power and kindness. It was Saint Nicholan, his connection to Yule restored by the heroes’ bravery. He thanked the party, calling them champions of light and protectors of hope. With a solemn gesture, they returned Yulebrand to him, its radiant blade now purified. In return, Saint Nicholan bestowed gifts upon each of them, items imbued with his blessing and tied to the spirit of Yule. The celebration carried on into the night, the laughter and joy a sharp contrast to the despair that had once gripped the village. Eventually, exhaustion overtook the heroes, and they drifted into a deep sleep beneath the star-filled sky of Yule. When they awoke, they were back aboard the Wavestone, the warmth of the celebration replaced by the chill of the ship’s quiet night. Captain Mira confirmed the worst—whatever dark powers had twisted the Wavestone’s magic had left lasting scars. Repairs were unavoidable. “We’ll dock in Salisgrad within the hour,” she said grimly. The mention of the city caused Dunner to pale, his jaw tightening in silent dread. He said nothing, but it was clear Salisgrad was not just another port to him—it was something far worse. The approach to Salisgrad was slow and somber, the icy waters reflecting the gray sky above. As the ship neared the city, they passed a towering lighthouse perched on the cliffs. Its once-proud beacon stood dark and cold. The first mate glanced at it and muttered, “Cursed. No one can make it light anymore, so they say.” The lighthouse loomed in the distance as the ship crept closer to Salisgrad, its dark silhouette a harbinger of the trials yet to come.

Rewards Granted

Saint Nicholan's Gifts – Summary Breakdown

Cal - Gift: Enchanted Spectacles of Frostfire - Effect: Scorching ray wand (5 charges, CL 8th, 4d6 fire damage per ray, produces two rays).
Tike Myson - Gift: Gingerbread Fists of Fury - Effect: Enlarge person wand (5 charges, CL 8th, duration 8 minutes).
Dunner - Gift: Crimson Holly Wreath - Effect: Divine favor wand (5 charges, CL 8th, +2 luck bonus to attack and damage rolls).
Vaz'non - Gift: Peppermint Dragonflame Staff - Effect: Fireball wand (5 charges, CL 8th, 8d6 fire damage, Reflex DC 17 half, 20-ft. radius).
Alfie - Gift: Blessed Cookie of Erastil - Effect: Cure serious wounds wand (5 charges, CL 8th, heals 3d8+8 hit points).