Session 420 – Echoes From The Past
General Summary
18th of Ilvin (Winter) 728TR
The story so far
A group of heroes battle the evils haunting the beleaguered Kingdom of Kanday.
Sir Odin, a former Erkan of the Order of the Checkered Shield, has been raised to knighthood.
Remy, a former master thief and active gambler, has won and lost fortunes.
Abaddon has traveled the wilderness, perfecting his impressive martial skills.
Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the god of Knowledge Save K’Nor, joins them on their adventures.
This is the continuation of Session 418 – Looters .
Mylene will reward the heroes well if they remove these threats to the miners and recover the crystal for her. Edelina and Remy are convinced that the crystal can be used as a nexus or gateway to the elemental plane of Earth.
Part 1 – Stray Dogs
Traveling through the rugged Ternu Hearth toward the mine, the heroes are set upon by a large pack of starving wild dogs. The vicious mutts are soon disposed of. Luckily, none appeared rabid.
Part 2 - The Guardian
The heroes stealthfully approach the mine, noting a vacant worksite, tools scattered about, and a large pile of rocks containing some glittering crystalline material. The team spreads out and investigates as the stones begin to move, forming into a huge, vaguely lizard-like shape. The elemental guardian has protective crystalline scales, which deflect the hero's attacks. Worse, it can project these crystal shards into deadly razor-sharp barrages. The heroes fight in an atypical, uncoordinated manner and are soundly defeated. Battered, fearing death, they give up and flee.
After regrouping, they decide on an alternative approach. Can they negotiate their way past this strange elemental? Edeline casts True Speak and allows Odin to communicate with any intelligent creature. He peacefully approaches it, apologizes, and asks to parlay. The rock creature is passive and listens. The ranger is very persuasive, and a rumbling voice responds, “Get me the nexus crystal and you may pass.” Odin agrees, fully aware that it is likely referring to the crystal that Litigant Mylene desires.
Part 3 – Living Crystals
The rock guardian allows the party to enter the mine, and after some exploration, they are set upon by tall crystals which shamble forward and cut the heroes deeply with their pointed edges. Worse, the crystals focus light using some magical energy into a multi-coloured rainbow of magical rays, each doing different types of elemental damage. The crystals are shattered, but there's worse to come.
Later in the cave, Odin, scouting ahead of the heroes, spots a strange glowing red crystal protruding from the wall at the utmost depths of the mine. He feels a faint hum and joins his companions, who attempt to make their way forward quietly. But they are sensed by three crystalline ooze entities which move through the rock underneath them to block their escape before they emerge and attack.
The Carnivorous Crystals vibrate and emit a disturbing low-pitch subsonic sound, which prevents the heroes from concentrating. One lurches forward and envelopes Remy, who feels his skin hardening. The crystalline horror plans to transform his flesh into rock and use him as a host for reproduction. Fortunately, the agile former thief and acrobat escapes.
As Abaddon battles, he feels his ancestral weapon, a three-pronged spear passed down from his elven ancestors, start to vibrate, emitting a strange hum. His family legends say that this weapon was used to kill the Ivashu demi-god Obsidapor in the long, distant past. The closer he gets to the red crystal, the more the spear responds. He feels it has awakened one of the magical properties of the artefact.
The hero's tenacity, luck, and strength eventually win the day. The Carnivorous Crystals are shattered.
Part 4 – Echoes from the past
With the immediate threats to the mine dealt with, the heroes examine the strange magical crystal. It is an Elemental Earth nexus, meaning that it can open small gateways to the elemental planes when exposed to the correct conditions. Those conditions are being magic and copious quantities of earth or stone. A mine would be an excellent location.
Abaddon notes that the weapon head of his spear has three cavities; one is filled with a clear gemstone, which imparts lightning damage, and the other two are currently empty. A small chunk of this crystal may awaken another property. Abbadon believed the tribal storm god Manaclir once wielded this weapon. But he would need to smash the crystal to get a suitably sized shard. Edelina volunteers to help; she has read about gem cutting some years ago and may be able to cut off a shard without shattering the whole crystal. Carefully, aided by Remy, she makes a cut and very nearly shatters the entire crystal. Focused, she tries again, and this time succeeds. As a small section has been removed without damaging the whole. The shard will fit into Abaddon’s spear, but he needs some ancient elven magic to activate the enchantment. He needs to travel to a holy grove to access the magic.
Part 5 - Holy Grove
The heroes leave the mine and find the rocky lizard creature patiently waiting outside. They consider betraying it, but ultimately, they honour their deal and pass on the elemental nexus. The Elemental releases a grateful rumble, absorbs the crystal, and disappears into the earth, returning to its plan of origin.
Abaddon has knowledge of the ancient holy elven groves his kind used many millennia ago, and one is three days travel deeper in the Ternu Heath. He leads the characters there. The gove is well hidden, in a sinkhole accessible by a shallow stream. As the party approaches, they note vines begin to twist, digging into the earth and pulling out large boulders, which the heroes fear will be thrown at them. They retreat, while Abaddon's shape changes into a small otter and swims down the stream. Shortly after, he emerges in a small, forested cave, open to the sky. The location is peaceful; however, Abaddon is sure it would have some form of magical defences if anyone not of elven blood attempted to enter. He focuses, calling on his people's ancient magic, and the spear of Soul of the Thunder, the demigod Manaclir, is awakened. A new enchantment, which delivers thunder damage, has been added. The spear is almost whole.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Mylene of Sarin, Aleath's best and most expensive litigant.
Related Content
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Player Characters
Odin - Human - L13 Ranger
Background - Martial Disciple.
Archetype - Shadowdancer, Investigator, and Fighter.
Abaddon - Elf - L13 Monk
Background - Martial Disciple.
Archetypes - Druid and Familiar Master.
Remy - Human - L13 Aerokineticist (with Metal second gate)
Background - Acrobat.
Archetypes - Acrobat and Thief.
NPC Companion
Edelina - Human - L13 Holy Sage Sorcerer
Background - Astrologer.
Archetypes - Psychic and Time Mage.
Next Session
Session 422 - The Fallen Warlord.
NPC Companion
Edelina of Sprunstone
Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the Church of Save K'Nor, wanders the world looking for subjects to research. She has studied psionics, religions, and astrology. Her current research topic is the monstrous Ivashu in all their strange forms.
The Tribal God Manaclir
Great Grey God, Master of Wind and Wave, Saver of Lives and Drowner of Men, Soul of the Thunder, Guide of the Great Spirits.
Manaclir, the primary god of the Adaenum tribal nation, is depicted as a muscular man with wild grey hair and a beard, wreathed in dark clouds. He is often shown amidst falling rain or standing on a rough sea.
There are leagends of him in the mythic past defeating the Ivashu demi-god Obsidapor with his magical staff. This is believed to be the same staff passed down through Abaddon's family.
Comments