Session 165 - Auspicious Beginnings
General Summary
1st and 6th of Nuzyael (First Month of Spring) 724TR
Backgrounds
Remy is a gambler, card sharp, a man with a criminal past, and master of the magic of kinetic energy. He is tracking down the mysterious Pirates of the Bloody Flag. They have stolen something that rightfully should have been his. His underworld contacts in the City of Aleath, including the mysterious Black Bishop, have informed him that contraband known to have been stolen by these scoundrels has turned up in Sarkum.
Abaddon is a cynical Elf wandering the world in human guise, perfecting his martial prowess. He is the last of his ancient clan, and the holder of his family's secrets, on a quest to find a special Taur-im-Aina or Elven Holy Grove. Unfortunately, its exact whereabouts have been lost to the ages, although Abaddon believes this natural wonder is somewhere in Kanday's southwest, near Sarkum.
Meanwhile, Odin, an Erken or Chosen Man, is a common soldier in the Order of the Checkered Shield selected for "special duties" has been busy. Six months ago, the civil war in Rethem ended, and mercenaries on both sides of the conflict have viewed Kanday as a ripe source of easy plunder. As they are disbanded, they have taken up raiding border settlements. Worse emboldened by their newfound power in Rethem, much more dangerous sorties have been carried out by the Company of the Copper Hook and the Companions of Roving Doom. Odin and the rest of the Checked Shield have been stretched thin guarding the border against these threats. However, over winter, the conditions have stabilized as the new regime in Rethem asserted control.
Now Odin looks forward to a leave of absence, joining his new companions Abaddon and Remy in their journey to the south of the Kingdom. But first, he has a small task to undertake. He has been ordered to escort Sir Bertin Harrad, a knight currently performing a vigil at the Memorial of the Last Battle near Zerien Keep, to the Checkered Shield fortress of Menekod.
Location - Memorial of the Last Battle near Zerien in the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 1- The Memorial of the Last Battle
Odin, Abaddon, and Remy make their way to the Memorial of the Last Battle, a shrine commemorating the Battle of Niya Creek, to meet with Sir Bertin. Unfortunately, unpleasant events have occurred. They find that Sir Bertin has been murdered while praying. Two bandits are looting his body, one is defiling the holy shrine, and another is keeping watch from the large nearby mound.
The heroes leap into action, the bandit on the mound shoots Abaddon, injuring him, but the rabble is quickly cut down. The bandits are unquestionably Agrik worshiping raiders from Rethem, and they appear to have been digging up the orange-colored dirt from the mound. Odin recalls the stories that hundreds of demonic creatures were buried here over 20 years ago.
Examining the camp, the observant Remy finds a faint trace of magic and the impression of some script or symbols on an otherwise blank piece of discarded parchment. Carefully rubbing ash from the campfire, he makes out a disturbing symbol representing Ashlagya the Bloodsport, also known as the Hunter after life. One of the god Agrik's Demonic sons.
Location - Castle of Menekod in the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 2 - Meeting with the Grandmaster
Odin respectfully transports the corpse of Sir Bertin to Menekod, where the guards at the castle gate inform him that the Chabla (Grandmaster) of the Checkered Shield, Sir Syman Tolfane, wants to speak to him.
Nevertheless, Sir Syman approves Odin's request for a leave of absence but asks a favor on learning that he plans to travel to Sarkum. Ebasethe Hodge Pebles, a priest of Peoni and member of the Sons of Tirrala, has traveled to the Sarkum region.
He also warns Odin that there may be some Agrikian active in that area and ask him to investigate if true. "The Prince would appreciate this." He refers to his friend, the King's brother, Prince Anaflas Milaka, who will inherit the Earldom of Sarkum when his father dies.
Location - Sarkum Road in the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 3 - The Man in a Tree
The heroes' journey to Sarkum through the Ternu Heath is interrupted by the howling of wolves. Soon dark shapes begin to circle the travelers. The circle becomes tighter, and four Wolves pounce on the travelers. At first, the heroes look like they have the threat well under control, killing several of the pack. Then, with their blood up, one wolf drags Odin to the ground, and the other tears into him, very nearly ripping out his throat. Odin narrowly escapes with his life.
The next day, not far from civilization, the party witnessed a strange spectacle. A man is shouting for help. He is up a tree surrounded, waving a blanket to get attention, surrounded by half a dozen Vlastors. The diminutive eaters of eyes spot the heroes and, moving at lightning-speed, mob the heroes, leaping at their faces attempting to gobble eyes, but most of the brittle Ivashu are killed and rest driven off. The heroes are left with minor cuts all over their upper bodies.
Anyway, skilled adventures like the characters are precisely what Antin needs. He is a merchant from the City of Aleath, and one of his family's ships was lost at sea last year, sadly with his brother on board. He has recently received word that the wreck may have been found off the coast near Agrik's Cauldron, a large dangerous reef west of Sarkum. He would like to hire the party to travel to the wreak and recover his brother's remains and the family's signet ring. This ring is enchanted, and he will give the heroes a magical wand to allow them to Detect Magic to locate it. His brother's remains should be nearby. If they find the ring, they can keep the wand. The heroes agree to help.
To be continued.NPC Interactions
Sir Syman Tolfane.
Antin Alveri.
Challenges Overcome
Killed 4 bandits and drove off 2 more raiders.
Killed 4 Wolves.
Saved Antin Alveri and defeated 6 Vlasters.
Created Content
Related Reports
Order of the Checkered Shield - Updated.
Company of the Copper Hook - Updated.
Player Character Status
Odin - Human - Level 1 Ranger - Gained Level.
Abaddon - Elf - Level 1 Monk - Gained Level.
Remy - Half-Elf - Level 1 Wizard - Gained Level.
Remy
Abaddon
Odin
Memorial of the Last Battle
This small Shrine, holy to worshipers of Larani, was built at the site of the one last battles of Ezar's War, the Battle of Niya Creek.
Legend has it that Priests of Agrik attempted to summon one of Agrik's Demonic sons to fight for them and win them the war.
The summoning failed; however, instead, nearly a thousand of the weak Vii demons appeared and were met by 10 knights of the Order of the Checkered Shield. In this epic confrontation, the Demons were destroyed although only one Knight survived, Sir Syman Tolfane, who eventually rose to the rank of Chabla or Grandmaster of his order.
The shrine's relief carving displays knights doing battle against diminutive winged creatures. Nearby is a small shelter and a mound where the remains of the demons were buried. This mound is strangely contaminated with reddish-orange soil, which alchemists believe has magical properties.
The Checked Shield frequently patrol this site, and there have been occasional skirmishes with the Copper Hook, who sometimes lay ambushes or vandalize it.
Order of the Checkered Shield
Order of the Fuming Gate
Company of the Copper Hook
Sons of Tirrala
Commonly known as “Tirralmen,” the Sons of Tirrala are specialist congregations within the Church of Peoni who are experts in healing battlefield injuries.
They accompany armies and military units, working on the field of combat, treating and stabilizing the wounded, and helping transport them to further treatment at hospitals if necessary.
Vlaster - the Eater of Eyes
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