Session 92 - To the East
7 Flaurmont 1011 - 22 Flaurmont 1011
General Summary
The party ends up staying on Serraine for another week after negotiating with Horrobin to integrate the Lamp of Shroud, which Seraphina wanted to destroy, as a power source for the STINGRAY. Seraphina wants to be sure it is securely integrated in the vessel, so Leo is also able to get a bit more time with his dad. There is even a moment or two of lucidity where he seems to register the fact that Leo is his son, but these moments are just that - moments. Leo asks Horrobin if he would put his name in his book for the Far Scribe feature. He explains that it is merely for communication using the Sending spell. Horrobin studies this a bit, and agrees that he will add his name to the list. Leo says he will check in from time to time to see how his dad is doing, and check in on the overall status of Serraine.
Once the installation of the Lamp is complete to Seraphina's satisfaction, the party disembarks from Serraine, though they have been given a year of free transit to and from the city, so perhaps they will get a chance to visit again.
They use Transport via Plants to return to Saltmarsh. Leo has reaches out to Ynyr, explaining that they have gathered the 4th segment of the artifact. He is excited and asks when they can visit. The party does their catch-up in town, stopping in to discuss general goings-on with Eliander. There haven't been any major issues with the Iron Ring. Things seem more stable in Halag and Aubrek has been steadily increasing his trade activities with Halag and has established local offices there.
Tork of course stops by Blossom's Home, to be sure things are going well. As he is returning to the inn from Blossom's home, crossing the Sharkfin Bridge, a passerby makes an attempt at tripping Tork. He easily avoids the "attack," but finds that the perpetrator is one of the monks from his monastery, Master Chandar. Tork is a bit unsure of his standing, in fact he assumes he is persona non-grata due to the violent actions of his last day. After some discussion with the monk, it becomes clear that the incident was not as damning as Tork believed and he would most likely be welcome back to the monastery after the proper atonement. Master Chandar seems very interested in Tork's developments and suggests they head to the Sea Grove for some sparring. As they walk, Tork explains that he still struggles with controlling his rage and has been hoping that by overcoming his rage he would be ready to return to the monastery to make amends. The master seems impressed with Tork's work with Blossom's Home, which speaks well of his personal development.
When they are at the Sea Grove, the master has Tork make attacks both with and without his spear and tests his balance and techniques. The master senses that there is something "wrong" within the spear, and explains that he thinks it is distorting Tork's Ki. To achieve the balance Tork claims to be seeking, he must somehow overcome the wrongness of the spear. Tork agrees and says he has had recent misgivings about the spear, but has been unable to let it go - he will work more on this. He thanks Master Chandar and they part ways, Tork thinking on what he has learned.
Meanwhile Leo has shown the new segment of the Orrery to Ynyr. Ynyr says he will need several days to see if he can better triangulate on the remaining segments. Leo leaves the segment with Ynyr and returns to town.
Tork shares his experience with the encounter with the Monk from his Monastery with the party. Seraphina naturally is upset about the spear, having had her experience with the cursed axe (which she still carries, of course!). The party tries their various magics and ways to end the bond, but it seems stronger than a simple curse, perhaps because of the duration of Tork's bond? Regardless, nothing they can think of seems to affect the bond.
Tork, naturally tries simpler approaches, such as throwing the spear away, or simply leaving it behind, but it's inherent returning nature (of great value in combat) negates these simple approaches. It simply finds its way back into his hand regardless. They talk to Captain Xandros, who was able to de-curse the cursed axe, but she also does not seem to have magics appropriate to overcome this. She is able to tell them that this spear is made from the bone of a Gold Dragon, suggesting it must be a very powerful artifact indeed.
The party even travels to visit the Kobolds at the Sunless Citadel, to see if they know of any Gold Dragons; the logic being maybe another Gold Dragon would know what to do to separate the spear. Unfortunately, the kobolds do not know of any Gold Dragons, but have heard that there was a Green Dragon somewhere at the eastern end of Karameikos. The Kobolds ask after their friend Rach, who had left with the party. It is clear that the effects of the False Hydra are still lingering, as the party's memories of him had again faded. With the prompting though, the party becomes sadder and explain what happened in Leeside. The Kobolds take this in stride as life is hard amongst the clan. Leo asks how relations have been with the Goblin village. It seems they don't have much conflict. The Goblins have access to the mushrooms of the lower level, essentially moving there, and don't have to trouble the Kobolds, so they are able to coexist in relative peace.
The party thanks them again and heads back to the surface to transit to the vicinity of Mirros. Ynyr has indicated that the next piece of the Orrery is somewhere in the far east/north-east of Karameikos. Conveniently, the same region as the Green Dragon was rumored to live.
The party returns to Saltmarsh and meets with Eliander again, to learn what they can from him and his library about dragons and eastern Karameikos. While he doesn't have personal experience in that region or with Green Dragons, they do learn about the general nature of such creatures, the elves (Vyalia, the same as Elincia) in the region, and the rumored Green Dragon's name - Argosyl.
Next is another Transports via Plants, this time to near Mirros, from where they head east with Wind Walk. They return to foot near Rugalov and enter town. This is a small town that lives off the trade routes. The main road to Thyatis runs through Rugalov and the river has some trade with the Vyalia Elves up-river. Inquiring with the various traders and townsfolk, it seems they have not heard rumors of the dragon in recent generations. They suggest that the Vyalia Elves have probably negotiated some sort of peace with the dragon. They learn that there is a lightly-traveled road along the river that the elves use for trade with Rugalov, though the trade seems lighter than in the past. The party decides to take this path to explore further, departing the next day.
The first day passes with no particular excitement. In the afternoon of the second day, however, the party finds the path comes to what was a large grassland that almost seems as if it, and the path as well, has plowed and upturned, though in no organized manner. There are also no structures in the area that would indicate a farm or such. The party decides to investigate. A few minutes after entering the field, the party feels a rumble in the ground and several creatures burrow out of the soil. Strangely, these creatures, which a few of the party recognize as Ankhegs, seem confused. They attack, but not consistently. The party engages, and starts taking these down. However, after just a short while, the ground begins to rumble and shake in a much stronger and more ominous way than would be indicated by the emergence of these first acid-spitting creatures. A very large Purple Worm bursts from the soil. It lashes out at the party for intruding on its hunting grounds, thinking it has found a new meal.
However, the party is able to lay down tremendous amounts of damage. Leo immediately hits it and three of the Ankhegs with Synaptic Static to soften it up. Tork and Seraphina quickly engage and land critical hits, Seraphina cranking up her Smites to 11, and Tork simply pummelling the Worm. Stavos, Leo and Elinicia split their attention across the Ankhegss and the Purple Worm. The Worm makes several attempts at eating party members, but everyone manages to avoid such a grisly fate. After several pummelling rounds of combat, the Worm sees that it is severely overmatched. Severely wounded, it dives into the ground and burrows far and deep, leaving the party to wonder what they should do.
This seems like a pretty significant roadside hazard, but the party doesn't know how they can they track down the Worm in it's own underground lair. Moving beyond the overturned ground, the party sets up camp.
Character(s) interacted with
Report Date
14 Nov 2024
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