Session 105: When Last We Met 12/1/24
General Summary
When last we met, The party had just dealt with two star spawn on their doorstep. As the last fell silent, The party began to harvest parts from these otherworldly creatures. After that, Vandread's steel defender disposed of the corpses.
From there the party tries their best to calm down after that attack and take an evening meal with their housemates Vasil and Caoimhe. As they dine, they all hear the sounds of yipping and laughing outside the manor. Peering out a window, they see dark animal shapes moving between the trees. Mistral can make out their vaguely canine features and Vandread figures out they are Gnolls. He proceeds to open the door a crack and poke his head out and asks them to show themselves. They do and a horde of Gnolls form up ranks outside the manor.
One armored Gnoll who seems to speak common well enough converses with Vandread and tells him that their master, The Demon lord Yeenoghu, has tasked them with guarding the woods surounding their manor and kill any intruders. As thanks for killing Baphomet, Who was a sworn enemy of the Gnoll Prince. The party hestitantly agrees but establishes ground rules: being that they cannot attack anyone in the town of Ailec, and They are not to immediately kill any intruders, but instead, capture them and bring them to the party to interrogate. The Gnoll leader, calling himself Gurr, agrees to these terms and the Humanoid Hyenas disappear into the treeline.
After that strange exchange, the party take a long rest seeking to go give warning/counsel to the people of Ailec on this new development. The following morning they do just that and ride for Ailec. They have their bailiff Drozza gather the villagers in the town square so the party can make their proclamation. Vandread explains that they have made a deal with Gnolls to guard their forest, to which the villagers immediately react with revulsion and fear. Celeste and a few more party members step in and assuage the townsfolk that they will not be harmed by their forest guardians. The townsfolk, owing much to the party, place their trust in them that they won't be torn to shreds in the night. Vandread leaves his steel defender to further help defend ailec as well as reinforce the manmade structures to keep outsiders out. Caoimhe will also be sending his Steel Defender to assist in this.
The party then rides back for Maplevale Manor to make preparations for the next steps. Upon their arrival, they find their gnoll guard dogs have already snagged some prey. Though this group is not anyone that wishes the party any harm. They recognize the voice of Sebastian as he calls out for help. The party intervenes and explains they are not enemies and should not be attacked further. A little disappointment evident on their faces and in their yips, They retreat back into the the guilewoods.
Their reunion with Sebastian is not the most joyous as the two exchange stories of the hardships they endured up until that point. Sebastian relays that he took the Airship back to Sunwilde and it appears as though The King in Yellow has overtaken the entire country And the few to escape were a few members of the Muharib who accompanied Sebastian back to Auldsod. They explain that The King in Yellow will likely be sending out "Emissaries" who seek to expand his reach to other countries. in order to subjugate the whole world as is his desires.
The party then decide to check on major seats of power they know about. That is Mount Cashell's Capital city, The Dormition palace in Volgot, And Sebastian recommends checking the Emberforge Keep in Norheim. Countries with United governments would likely be easier to bring under his sway as the governmental power is concentrated so heavily at the top.
They decide their first stop is to be Mount Cashell. With no time to waste, they ride 3 days toward the capital city with Ukko, Sebastian, Hakim and two of his Muharib accompanying them. They make it to Mount Cashell and find their celebrity status has grown since their days as fledgling adventurers so long ago. They are assisted by city guards to come to the City Council chamber where they seek to check in on eveyrone.
Entering in they find a layer of water has flooded into the building. Within they find several people lying face down in the water. Upon trying to rescue them, They find the individuals unable to breathe outside of the water. Rather than let them choke and gasp on air, they leave them to the water where it seems they are breathing normally.
The party pushes further in until they reach the main council chamber where they find all the delegates within also lying facedown in the knee-deep water. They also see two Aboleths floating among the stagnant water. They spot the party and a battle ensues. Spell, missile and melee weapon is launched against these creatures who eventually both die from their wounds sustained. Those attacking within melee distance noticed a viscous mucus spray out from their wounds. Several times it hits members of the party who are able to avoid the adverse effects of this caustic bodily fluid.
Vandread however, was not so lucky. Upon delivering the death blow to these Aboleths, it lets out a spray of mucus that infects Vandread. And within moments he finds himself choking on the very air we breathe. The party witnesses this and a full on panic may soon break out. But that's where we pick up next time!
Rewards Granted
Character(s) interacted with
Notes
- Party harvested the Star Spawn
- Made a deal with Gurr and the Gnolls
- Took a long rest
- Went to Ailec to warn its citizens of the Gnolls
- Returned to Maplevale
- Found The Gnolls attacking Sebastian and Hakim
- Made a plan of attack to stop the spread of The King in Yellow
- Rode for Mount Cashell
- Arrived at Mount Cashell
- Traveled through the city to the City Council Chamber
- Found it flooded and everyone inside unconscious underwater
- Found two Aboleths behind it all
- Battled and defeated the Aboleths
- Vandread begins choking on the air after being subjected to one of the Aboleth's Mucus
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