Session 234 - The Cut
General Summary
23th Morgat (Third month of Winter) 724TR
The story so far
The heroes have destroyed the evil artifact, Word of Tekhos, and are now taking a long-earned rest.
This is the continuation of Session 233 - Evil Calls Evil.
Location - City of Shiran in the Thardic Republic.
Part 1 - Down Time
The heroes decide to wait out the Winter in the City of Shiran.
Jolanta spends time with jewelers enhancing her Necklace of Infravision. She can now use it to Scry.
Acheron spends time at the City's Temple of Larani, the Church of the Neradas the Autarch, and successfully performs a holy Holy Vigil.
Avon spends time among the rich and powerful, endeavoring to gain support for his eventual Senate bid. Senator Marvae Sudela agrees to offer support for a mere 3,000sp while Senator Turin Markaz would give his for 10,000sp. Senator Seris Mardorva is a sleazy wastrel and Avon, in his time acting as a guard for the senate buildings, is aware of some of his many embarrassing indiscretions. After a "friendly" conversation, the Senator is delighted to support Avon's bid and offers 7,000sp to bribe other Senators to the cause, as long as these indiscretions remain secret.
Part 2 - Water Wizard
Jolanta is aware the undercut, a section of the city washed away in a flood 17 years ago, is undergoing repairs. Last Autumn, the construction works found an interesting anomaly. A stone circle, possibly of elven construction under rubble in the waterway, around 5ft below the waterline. This is inscribed with a circle of fish. Telaggeron theorizes that this is a Barasi Point to another world or maybe the elemental plane of water. His evidence supporting this hypothesis are the historical records of strange fish and water animals caught in the vicinity as well as the many legends of people mysteriously disappearing from that area.
Aware of Jolanta's interest in water magics, he would like it investigated before the spring repair crews cover it with rubble. Jolanta reviews the pile of legends and historical documents Telaggeron has assembled. An old book perks her interest, referring to five mysterious travelers from Melderyn, the Concave of Eder. They spend some time in the area before mysteriously disappearing, never to be seen again. Jolanta has seen reference to the concave before when researching the ancient Wizard King Cryptan Seaweave, the creator of her magical Staff. Jolanta agrees to investigate.
However, the cold winter waters will likely be lethal to any investigators. Telaggeron has a plan. He can brew Potions of Warmth but needs a particular ingredient, blubber from a Red Aklash. Fortunately, there are some nearby.
Part 3 - The City's Worst Perfumer
Braxza, the Red Aklash, was a unique Ivashu captured by hunters and sold to the city's Pamesani Area managed by the church of Agrik. Unlike other Aklash's, Braxza breathed flaming gas and had fire-resistant red blubber. By some accounts, it was more intelligent than a standard Aklash. An immensely popular combatant in the gladiatorial games, Braxza met its end at the hand of the new arena darling, the free Gladiator Tanis, now called the Flamehand.
The great Ivashu's blubber was collected against the objections of the local church of Ilvir and given to the priestesses of the Order of the Eight Demons. This slow-burning oily blubber has been used in the Priestess's fire rituals, and some are given to their favorite Perfumer Saget Reion to be worked into scented candles. As it happens, the Perfumer workshop is located next to the Wizards Guildhall. Telaggeron also makes it very clear that he has a strong dislike of the fire magic welding Agrikians.
The party visits Saget's Perfumery. Avon and Jolanta halfheartedly attempt to conceal their identities while Acheron creates an illusion that he is female and dressed in the garb of the Priestesses of the Order of Eight Demons. Saget Reion business is well guarded and services mostly to Agrik worshipers. Although he is a perfumer he has a license from the Chandlers Guild to produce scented candles for religious purposes. Perfumer Saget wants business and is wary of what he thinks is an Eight Demon Priestess ominously glaring at him. He has a contract to produce candles for the nearby temple and is not keen to sell any Red Blubber to Jolanta. Acheron has a discreet chat with the perfumer, implying that by refusing, he will find himself embroiled in a temple dispute, something he should avoid at all costs. They can be painful and deadly. It may not end well for him.
The perfumer agrees to sell Jolanata some Red Blubber. He will use slightly less in his candles and nobody will notice. Relieved, he will pretend he never met the characters.Part 4 - The Under-Cut
A week later, Jolanta gives the party Water Breathing from the Staff of Cryptan Seaweave. After drinking a Potion of Warmth, they enter the undercut.
The underwater world is unfamiliar; nevertheless, the party spot the circular platform Telaggeron described. The inside of the inscribed ring of fish symbols is an elven script, only noticeable when using Detect Magic. Weaved into the runes are a magical opening mechanism and a two-stage trap. The first will activate a magical blast, and the second will summon angry Water Elements. Jolanta expertly disables this trap, and the party enters through the magical entrance.Part 5 - Cavern of Fish Statues
The entrance opens to a series of cold caves filled with pools of icy water. In each pool are ancient statues of bizarre fish creatures. These are enchanted and animate, attacking the intruders but are quickly destroyed.
Throughout the caverns, the characters find ancients skeletal remains of what could be the lost Concave of Eder, equipped with unusual rust-free coins and gems. They discover a bizarre sight on one of the skeletons, fleshy hands. When removed from the bones, the hands become appear transparent gloves. This is something very strange.
Part 6 - Hydra
As the characters explore further, they smell something off, a putrid aroma of an enormous monstrosity lurking nearby. A reeking Hydra with two enormous spiked tentacles. This gabs Blaine then bites him with its multiple heads and slams him to the ground. The stunned Blaine is helpless and will not likely survive another series of attacks, so Jolanta Dimension Doors him to safety.
The party quickly change its tactics, keeping its distance and sniping from range using the side passages to evade the brute. The creature is worn down, but Avon strays too close and is badly mauled. However, the monster is eventually destroyed. They rest the remove the heart of the creature, it might be of some use.
NPC Interactions
Telaggeron Nilm - Water Wizard and Alchemist.
Saget Reion - Perfumer.
Senators Marvae Sudela, Turin Markaz, and Seris Mardorva.Challenges Overcome
Avon gains more potential voters for his senate bid.
Acquired Red Aklash Blubber.
Disabled a Complex Magical Trap.
Destroyed the 4 x Animated Stone Fish Statues.
Killed a Gulguthydra.
Rewards
The heroes have several Potions of Warmth, a Hydra Heart and unidentified Magical Gloves.
Created Content
Nothing.
Related Reports
Guildhall of Arcane Lore, Odivshe - Updated.
Eder.
Player Character Status
Acheron- Human - Level 6 Devotion Paladin, Level 4 Hexblade, and Level 3 Divine Soul.
Jolanta - Human- Level 13 Evoker.
Avon- Half-Elf - Level 13 Thief.
Avon
Jolanta
Acheron
NPC Companions
Moneypenny
Avon's able assistant
Blaine
Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.
The Staff of Cryptan Seaweave
An old staff, crafted to look like it is warped in seaweed with bits of fishbone sticking out of it.
Lore
The Wizard-King Cryptan Seaweave ruled the petty Kingdom of Eldersharn on Melderyn's northeast coast during Melderyn's Eldritch Period.
He was obsessed with freeing the trapped sea god Eder from his imprisonment and created many artifacts, including this staff, to aid in his objective. All his efforts failed.
A cabal of wizards eventually undermined his rule and created an uprising. He was sent into exile, never to be seen again.
Properties
You can Walk on Water while holding this staff.
The staff has 10 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC.
Dominate Monster (Water Elementals only) (3 charges)
Create or Destroy Water (1 charge)
Ice Storm (3 charges)
Control Water (3 charges)
Water Breathing (2 charges)
Chromatic Orb (cold only) (1 charge).
The staff regains 1d4 expended charges daily at dawn.
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