Dark Tides, Session 2 Report
General Summary
The Old Hag
In the abounded home of Gallen Shroud, the group are confronted by an old hag calling itself Losa. She explains she wants to make a deal with them; information about their current quest in exchange for a favour. After some debate Levi bravely - or naively - agrees. As the deal is sealed by some sort of magic that briefly numbs the right hand of the forgetful bard, the room grows quiet and cold.Just as Losa is about to give them the information they seek she hushes them, ''a new guest has arrived...'' she says smiling knowingly. A moment later a stranger opens the door nonchalantly. He is wearing a soldiers uniform, with a fur coat, two sabres sheathed on either side of his belt. The dwarf Dankil charges him madly, almost forcing him to the floor, while the stranger tries to explain he comes in peace simply on an errand from the army. After everybody has been calmed once more Losa continues. She explains that the corruption that ails the forest has a heart, and if you find the heart you might be able to heal its sickness. Unless, of course, it takes you first, as it has done with so many before. What she wants, as by the deal, is the heart, if they find it. She tells them to go west, and if they get lost follow the ravens.
Just as everybody is about to leave, she locks eyes with the stranger who has revealed his name to be Benedict. She asks him if he isn't looking for somebody. There is a brief moment, a pause, then he firmly answers: ''No.'' and leaves. On the precipice of the old forest, they get a nights rest. In the morning the barbarian half-orc Henk explains he has a couple of things he needs to tend to, and wanders off over the hills, leaving the rest of the group to stare down the deep-eyed woods in front of them.
The Journey West
In seems the arrival of Benedict was a blessing, though he is secretive about his motives, he is a gifted tracker and manages to keep the party on track westward. On the path they are ambushed by more blights, this time in a different variant, a bit more dangerous and tough. Utalising the very undergrowth of the forests to trap and intwine the party. With a bit of fire magic and a couple of well aimed swings they destroy the monsters.A bit further down they discover an old farm house completely overgrown by the surrounding flora. Levi stealthy enters only to find a man half swallowed by the trunk of a tree. ''...I can here it... The heart...'' he says as Levi tries to free him. But it is of no use. Just as the man disappears completely, Levi can almost hear it as well, the beating of the heart, as if it emanates from the very wind and ground around him.
They continue further west a couple of days until they arrive at the shore of a large river. They found some solid footprints, that Azura and Benedict have been tracking. It leads them across the fervent waters to the edge of some ancient ruins, seemingly dating back thousands of years. On the road deeper into the heart of lost civilisation, they discover the source of the footprints; a tribe of orcs.
While attempting to hide from a patrol, they are discovered and forced to meet the tribes leader; the Shadowspeaker Yadba. Only Benedict manages to keep his cover and remain unseen, slowly following the captured group from the shadows.
On the road Dankil and Levi get into a heated debate, as Dankils hatred and distrust of the orcs gets the better of him. He ends up bound and carried in the mouth of Edwald in his bearform. Only by the graze of Azura and Levi do they manage to avoid more fighting.
The Trial
They are brought to the remains of an old temple or palace, on which the orcs have made camp. At its peak rests the old throne room, where Yadba awaits.The group explains their reasons for traveling through the orcs territory, but Yadba, resting on his throne with an old strangely familiar ivory pibe in his mouth seems unimpressed. He tells them that many have tried and failed while attempting to heal the forest, only making things worse in the process. Why is he too think, that they are strong enough to make a difference, where more worthy and wise warriors have fallen? He demands a trial, a test of their strength and determination. He wants them to fight him, if they beat him he will grant them passage.
Azura stands back, while Levi, Dankil, and Edwald ready themselves. In the meantime, on the outskirts of the camp Benedict is searching for a way up our of sight. On the first two hits by Yadba, Dankil is knocked to the floor with a half broken shield, as Edwald charges him in his bearform. They wrestle for a time, but Edwald is violently forced out of his bearshape with a strike of the axe. They fight back and forth determined, with the adrenaline pumping. Slowly withering the orc chieftain down, barely holding on to their lives in the frey.
The dark purple blood is oozing from the many wounds of the orc, as he stands smiling lifting his axe for another couple of quick swings. Edwald casting acid and fire from one side, Dankil exhausted raising his torn shield to block the blow, and Levi throwing his broken weapon with all he got. Just as the axe connects with the shield, almost breaking the arm of the dwarf, a bolt of eldritch blast flies just past the head of Yadba. He looks up confused to see Benedict vaulting over a nearby ruined wall, as he tosses his sabre with critical precision. With barely any time to react, the sabre rotates through the air like a delicate sawblade and penetrates the stomach of the chieftain. He looks up with respect towards his foes, and falls over with a loud bang against the dirt.
The guards quickly runs to surround the group, who is standing back to back around the fallen chieftain. Just as the orcs are about to attack, Yadba, with his last bit of strength motions them to stop. The party helps him up to his throne, as he nods in respect. ''You have been granted free passage, and shown your worthiness. Among my tribe you will always have a place to stay.'' The group is rewarded with a Sunstone, a shortsword and a cape of elvenkind. They ask about the forest, but it seems Yadba and the tribe don't know much. Only that it's been going on for a while. Some have travelled through, but none have returned. Among them a druid, whose name he cannot remember. He wishes them luck and hope they can finally heal the home that he loves so much, that he would rather die here, than having to migrate again.
The Tomb
After some celebration with the orcs, tasting the local spirits and enjoying some much needed revelry, the adventures decide to explore the ruins further before heading onward. They travel below the throne room, setting off traps and scampering through narrow dark hallways. At the end they find themselves in a large underground chamber, with the illustrations of the Ethereum Pantheon. The foundation of western faith 4000 years ago.3 doors beneath each wall, the moon, the sun, and the last being completely collapsed. They discover that the Sunstone they just attained fits the center of a small altar in the middle of a rotating dial with 4 runes on it. 3 words in celestial, Knowledge, Power, Freedom and the last in abyssal: Secrets. They figure out that the sun represents power and place the stone in the altar and rotates the dial accordingly. When nothing happens they stand back for a moment, puzzled, until they see the small pillar of sunlight beaming through the cracked celling. They configure it with the use of Dankils shield, so it reflects upon the sunstone and it lights up with a warm glow. With that they press down upon it, and the door to the Sun wall opens. They hurry through barely avoiding a couple of traps, when they find themselves in large royal bedroom. Two skeletons beneath velvet bedsheets and a third hanging from a noose. The room is filled with treasure and they eagerly fills their bags. Collecting 600 gold, 500 silver and 2600 copper (just about 676 gold), and 10 different gems each valued to about 50 gold.
Dankil takes down a green shield from the wall, made with authentic dragon scales. Discovering that it just might be the same scales from the fabled Jaded Dragon who fell at the hands of the first emperor of Pallisia in the battle for Yasol. Meaning they might be in the ancient ruins of Yasol, who every scholar thought was lost.
Among the treasure they also find a couple of unidentified magical items and a superior healing potions.
Just as the 4 of them are about to leave something stirs behind them, as an old suit of armour starts to move and shift...
Rewards Granted
3 Unidentified Magical Items (A scroll, a metal tube, and a Potion)
1 Healing potion and 1 Superior healing potion. 676 gold coins, 10 gems worth 50 gold each.
Jewel of the Sun (Sunstone)
A short sword, two Long swords
The Dragons Defeat (+1 Greendragon Scale Shield)
Levi: 1250 xp
Azura: 1200 xp
Dankil: 1250 xp
Edwald: 1200 xp
Benedict: 1300 xp.
2700 xp needed for lvl 4.
Travok Dankil
Levi The forgotten
Azura Fireborn
Edwall Evergreen
Report Date
29 Jul 2023
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