Session 243 - The Lost Brother

General Summary

30^th Peonu to 18^th of Kelen (second and third months of Spring) 725TR

The story so far

The heroes are investigating the Morski, a sinister ship containing priests of Morgath, the evil god of death and chaos. This ship has met some disaster; all its occupants are dead, and it appears haunted by all manner of wraiths and undead.

This is the continuation of Session 242 - Ship of death.

Location - Off the Coast of the Kingdom of Melderyn.

Part 1 - A Dead Ship

The heroes continue their investigation of the Morski, following the sound of chanting below. The vessel is devastated by whatever calamity befouled it and repeated blasts of Jolanta's disintegration spells.

Below deck, they find the source of the noise, an undead Priest of Morgath surrounded by powerful protective barriers. As the heroes batter them down, they are stuck from behind by a giant skeleton, a Boneclaw, with long extended arms. The characters efficiently deal with these dangerous threats. The Priest turns to dust when struck down.

Examining the cabins, Acheron finds twisted and wreaked silver objects scattered about. Some belong to a rod carved with skull shapes. He identifies these as rods of office used by the Uzhada, the much feared Morgathic Inquisitors and agents of the Torkena-Matan (the Morgathic holy office). The other silver objects are much more concerning; they are shards of a shattered Silver Sword. One from Acheron's Order. Putting the fragments together, he is able to reconstruct a name, the Whispering Wind; this sword belonged to his fellow warrior of the Argent Order, Halidon.

Acheron asks Jolanta to use her divination magic to understand what happened here. Casting the Ashen Memories spell, she sees the most significant event occurring when the lanterns in this cabin were burning. She sees the following;

The cabin is darkened; only two small lanterns reveal three priests of Morgath conferring around a small bloody shrine with a black glass orb as a centerpiece.
Suddenly a man appears out of nowhere, wielding a silver sword. Jolanta recognizes this is almost identical to the one Acheron wields. This must be the Argent Order warrior, Halidon.

He cuts down, killing one priest and removing the second's head. This man's body turns to dust. He strikes and injures the third, but this priest draws a silver rod adorned with carvings of skulls and strikes the black Orb. The Orb explodes with darkness which overwhelms the cabin, and the warrior bears the brunt of this evil magical explosion.

Jolanta searches the room and finds footprints of Halidon leaving the room, but loses the trial shortly after.

Part 2 - An Old Friend

Halidon, art by Artbreeder

Halidon is not hard to find. He is mediating in the hold and warmly greets Acheron. He appears well, although a little tied for the ordeal he suffered a few days ago. Immediately suspicious, Acheron questions him about things only himself and Halidon would know. Halidon passes and explains he has been hiding in the hull, waiting for opportunities to destroy the last of the undead. He stowed away on the Morski, intending to kill all of the priests or sink it if the opportunity arose. He is thrilled to hear that the characters have a ship nearby; he was not looking forward to the long swim to land.

As the group returns to the deck, the still suspicious Acheron takes a risk and covertly casts Detect Thoughts. Halidon's surface thoughts are twisted and hateful. He looks forward to killing Acheron and the party, drinking their blood, and escaping. Acheron concludes that his friend has been compromised, likely possessed by the evil Shadow of Bukrai. He may not even be alive. So Acheron cleverly and discreetly works a key phrase into his conversation, which alerts the party this man is a threat.

In a well-coordinated attack, they strike, catching Halidon by surprise. He recovers quickly and counters. He is a deadly, elusive warrior, possessing rapidly healing and considerable blood-based magic. Nevertheless, he is eventually killed and disintegrates into dust when the final blow strikes.

Acheron is sure he is an Amorvin or free-willed undead, which means he may reform again at midnight. Usually, Amorvin creates a sanctum, and the party scours the Morski for one. Eventually, Jolantas and Blaine find a large waterproof barrel, empty although its inner lining is covered in Morgathic symbols. This is it. Acheron, trained to deal with his very threat, disrupts magic. When Halidon attempts to reform, he will instead be destroyed.

The heroes search the Morski, finding anything of value, then depart before it sinks forever deep under the sea. Unfortunately, much of the valuables and documentation which could have explained this evil ship's mission were destroyed by Jolanta's indiscriminate use of destructive magic.

City of Cherafir the Kingdom of Melderyn.

Part 3 - Back on Dry Land

Prince Jevas, art by Artbreeder

Prince Jevas Toron thanks the heroes for dealing with this ship of death and sees they are rewarded for their efforts.

Acheron seeks guidance from the church and is advised to report to his order's headquarters in the Kingdom of Kanday. There he can also return the shards of the Whispering Wind. Prince Jevas organizes passage on the next ship to Kanday's largest settlement, the City of Aleath.

Arrilion, art by Attacus

Meanwhile, Arrilion the Lexigrapher, with a large glass tube covered in runes, connected at each end with tubes and needles in hand, meets with Acheron and Avon. These are inserted into the character's arteries, and soon, their blood passes through the glass cylinder and is transformed and then returned to their circulatory system.

However, Jolanta grabs some of Avon's and Acheron's blood before this rather uncomfortable process is undertaken. This is secured in wax and attached to the legs of some migratory birds. Their enemies may think they are far away if the blood is traced.

With Avon and Acheron's blood changed, the characters spend some time shopping. Acheron pays a Jmorvi Armourer to forge a new suit of enchanted chainmail; the heroes prepared to return home.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Jevas Toron - Crown Prince of Melderyn

Arrilion the Lexigrapher- White hand Wizard.

Challenges Overcome

1 x Boneclaw and 1 x Priest of Morgath.

Halidon - A Vampire Warlock.

Rewards

Each character, including sidekicks, are given 3 x Potions of Greater Healing.

Created Content

Nothing this Week.

Silver Swords.

The Argent Order.

Morgath.

Order of the Lord of Chaos.

Amorvin, free-willed undead.

Player Character Status

Acheron - Human - Level 6 Devotion Paladin, Level 4 Hexblade, and Level 5 Divine Soul.

Jolanta - Human- Level 15 Evoker.

Avon- Half-Elf - Level 15 Thief.

Campaign

Rise Of A Dark Empire - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Avon

Jolanta

Acheron

Report Date

07 Aug 2022

Secondary Location

City of Cherafir

Related Characters

NPC Companions

Moneypenny

Avon's able assistant

Moneypenny, art by Artbreeder

Blaine

Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.

Blaine, art by Artur Sadlos

The Argent Order

From the shadows, the Argent Order secretly battles the forces of evil churches.

Argent Order, art by Attacus

Torkena-Matan (The Holy Office)

The Torkena-Matan report to the Morgathic pontiff and a secret organization called the Jury of the Dark Orb (the Namana-Khidur). Each temple has hidden agents and reports on heresy and impious behavior.

Ara'Dunrangash

Also known as Lesser Orbs of Bukrai. They are created in Morgathic temples and are consecrated by a human sacrifice. Every ritual, sacrifice, or torture adds to the Orb's power. These hollow spherical black orbs are usually made from glass, obsidian, or crystal, are cold to the touch, and often radiate necromantic energy. Close or prolonged exposure will drain the life of anyone without magical protection.

Priests of Morgath and Necromancers tap this power to fuel spells, animated Gulmorvin (unfree undead) and apply a curse to a location, person, or object. They are sources of much destruction, pain, and misery.

Ara'Dunrangash, art by Attacus