Session 63: When Last We Met 12/27/23
General Summary
When last we met, the party had just encountered a group of creatures along the road and dealt with them. The mechanical horses that broke down come back to life and They proceed to get back in their carriages while trying to Chastise Dima for causing all of that. Olim warns the party not to talk to her brother like that... As she proceeds to smack him and chide him even worse.
The party mounts up and makes it out of the oppressive foliage of the mountain road and comes to the open steppes of the north country. The party views the in-tact sign saying to talk to no one. Which Dima clearly violated.
They ride for another day before they reach the village of Yakutia. They are greeted with curious looks from the rugged looking populace who follow the party into the village. They ask for directions to their chieftan and some are luckily able to understand them as they communicate in a dialect of Primordial. They are directed and led to the Chieftan of the Tsao Kun - Ongar Kol Ongar who greets the party warmly if not skeptically. Finding out the road they came upon he regards them as very brave or very foolish but lauds the party for facing down the creature known as Ithaqua and living to tell the tale. However, Dozens of them must still exist in that forest according to him.
Kraal then presents the tribes with the crates they were instructed to deliver. Upon opening it, It is revealed to be an artificer bomb which detonates killing many and injuring many more. Those that remain corner the party and demand to know why they did this. Tensi makes a great case for the party and asks Arcturus to cast Zone of Truth which he does trapping Kraal and the rest of the party inside. Tensi explains to Ongar that it is impossible for them to lie within this circle and once more explains they knew nothing of this plot. Kraal, being under the effect of this spell says he was just as Unaware. Ostera, the other party's mage, casts a detect magic on the remnants of the crates finding the glowing with a faint aura. She casts dispel magic to reveal the Mastokov Symbol emblazoned on the crates was actually an illusory script and the symbol was actually that of the Volim Clan. The rival family of the Mastokovs. Olim works out that Zhonoviy and The Mastokovs intended to make it look like the Volim clan attacked the Tsao Kun Tribes in hope of gaining their favor against their rivals. This earns the Ire of all in attendance especially The defacto leader Kraal who vows to destroy Zinoviy as well as the Entire Mastokov Line.
The party spend the better part of 4 days repairing their damaged carriages. In which time Mistral has an emotional reunion with the man that won the heart of his mother and is essentially a father to Mistral. Khaluun. Left blinded by that fateful escape many years ago. He and his niece Azarga exchange gifts with Mistral and though saddened by the death of Yheva, Mistral's mother, he is pleased with the genasi Mistral grew to be and wishes he could help him destroy that oppressive regime but opts to aid him with information and a box of handy items.
With their carraiges operational again, the party departs Yakutia with A horse named Novsh and the promise of retribution from the Tsao Kun upon the people who orchestrated this attack. They time their journey so that they travel along the Mount Yambui road by daylight and are not attacked by the creatures that inhabit that cursed forest.
They make it out of the forest and return to the main road leading to Darkolz. They free their gifted horse at the request of Ongar and make their way back into Darkolz with multiple plans to gain entry to the Dormition Palace. They finally decide on a two pronged attack. 6 of the party members will hide themselves in Mistral's ring and the rest will use subterfuge and stealth to get past the guards at the front. With Celeste carrying Mistral, Isolde, Romaia, Tensi, Ostera, Olim, and Dima enter the palace with the latter saying they are returning for their pay from Zhinoviy. Lamenting the loss of most of their party. They gain entrance to the Palace and move past the atrium as Celeste casts pass without trace and they decide what their next move should be.
And that's where we'll pick up next time!
Rewards Granted
a box of Poisons and various implements - Given to Mistral by Khaluun to aid them.
Novsh - A strong Yakutian horse given to the party to supplement their missing construct horse. Let loose with Orange sticks to graze for the rest of his days. Enjoy retirement!
Character(s) interacted with
Ongar Kol Ongar - Cheiftain of the Tsao Kun clans and leader of their armies. Promised revenge against the people of Darkolz for their vile attack
Azarga - A young girl of about 18. Found Mistral and brought him to her uncle
Khaluun The Blind - The man who got Mistral and his mother out of the Dormition Palace many years ago. Left tortured and blinded by the Mastokov's forces. Uncle of Azarga, surrogate father to Mistral.
The Sisters of Salvation - On a quest of vengeance against the Mastokovs. How far will they go?
Notes
8th of Nuada
- Party made it out of the Yambui forest and travels another day
- Party arrives to Yakutia
- Meets Ongar Kol Ongar
- Delivers their cargo
- Oh no! It's a bomb!
- Learns they were meant to die in the explosion and frame the Volim Clan for this attack
- Party is endeavoring to repair their damaged carraiges
- Mistral has tearful reunion with father and cousin
- Party completes repairs on their carraiges and heads out for Darkolz for payback
- Party arrives to the Yambui forest by daybreak and traverses it
- Party arrives back to Darkolz after a slower 6 days of travel
- Lets Novsh the horse run free in the wilds
- Returns to Darkolz
- Gains access to the Dormition palace
Comments