Session 16: To Niptu's Temple Report

General Summary

Session 16 – Wednesday October 26th, 2022 – To Niptu’s temple

4 Hour Battle / Role Play session 5:30 PM to 10:00PM

The Stone Bearers. Party of 4:

It is the 25tht day of the month of Marpenoth (Leaffall) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Late October.)

• Abrash – Wood (Dessert) Elf, L4 Druid – Jacob Munson
• Ajani– High Elf, L4 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda (Absent)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L4 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Thomas – Human, L4 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L4 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Cedrik – Human, L4 Bard – Dan King (Absent)
• Gurthen – Dwarf, L4 Paladin – Spencer Armstrong (School)

One more thing

The party helped the Tribe of the bear pile up the bodies of the Gnolls and burn them. The leader of the tribe, ‘Ehlark, approached the party and told them there were 2 other bodies that needed to be burned. Thomas examined the pale elf bodies and found 2 puncture wounds on the neck. He immediately said “Vampire.” Gazlowe said, “They’re just a myth.” ‘Ehlark explained that there is a small band of Dhampirs who roam an area of the wood near an area called the “Dead Wood”, but the tribe generally avoids that area. Gazlowe asked where that was and ‘Ehlark told them it’s about ½ a day’s journey north of here.

Isabella said, “We need to kill and burn this Gnoll leader.” Gazlowe wanted to throw the live Gnoll in the fire for the humor, but Thomas walked over and killed it first. Gazlowe ignited the fire and burned all the Gnolls and the 2 elves. The Elves sat in morning of their fallen tribe members.

The Baby

Gazlowe asked, “Since we again saved the tribe perhaps, we can have the baby named after us.” ‘Ehlark told them they could ask the mother. Gazlowe went into the birthing tent, saw the elf in pain and Abrash pulled him out slowly. The party tried slept in the tent next to the birthing mother and most slept soundly, except for Thomas who couldn’t get any sleep. In the morning the woman began screaming in pain and Gazlowe woke up and got into his armor saying, “More Gnolls!” Abrash calmed him down and they heard a baby cry. The father of the child, Ninthalor’, asked the Stone Bearers to name the child. Gazlowe insisted on Gazlowe Jr., but the rest of the party suggested Lapis Ursi, as that is an ancient name for Stone Bear.

“Someone wants to see you”

The party bid fare well to the Tribe of the bear and headed north. They debated going to the Dark wood or straight to Niptu’s temple. The skies became darker as rain clouds covered the forest. The party started marking their trail and keeping track of their location, so they don’t get lost. Abrash saw shadows moving in the trees and informed the party. They prepared for an ambush. Abrash whistled loudly and in response an elf walked out in front of him with his weapons sheathed and hands open. Gazlowe spotted more elves encroaching from behind.

The elf said, “You are the Stone Bearers?” Gazlowe confirmed. The Elf said, “The Red Lady wishes to see you.” Gazlowe told them that they can but need to make it quick because they have to be someplace in 3 days. The others glared at Gazlowe telling him to shut up. Abrash asked if they plan on being held for more than a few hours and the guards replied, “That’s up to the Lady Red.” Gazlowe asked, “The Red Lady… 1-10?” The guard replied “12.” Gazlowe said, “Lead the way!”

Morgwais Nightmeadow, the Lady Red.

The party went peacefully with the Elves and after a few hours came to a very small clearing. The skies were overcast and there was a light rain, except over the center of the clearing where there was a break in the clouds and a ray of sunlight shone upon a very beautiful red haired elf lady. Thomas said, “Yeah, 12.” The Lady Red addressed the party with a gentle smile and a calm voice. She told them that she knows that they have helped the Tribe of the Bear but asked them what their purpose is in her wood.

Abrash addressed her politely and by her proper name but told her that their business is of great secrecy and importance. The Red Lady was taken back and asked, “Secrecy in my Wood?” Gazlowe began to question “Her Woods” but was shut down by the rest of the party. The Red Lady explained that there are many creatures in the Wood, but the elves consider it their territory and a Holy place. Abrash told her that they respect that and that’s why they’re looking for the Dhampir. Gazlowe agreed, “We love Elves.”

The Lady Red was amused by Gazlowe. She asked how they got their name. Isabella explained they hit a bear with a Rock. Thomas elaborated and Abrash said it was their first Great feat as a group. The Lady Red called forth more Elves and offered the party fresh food and even some meat for Gazlowe. She also asked of their plans for the Dhampir. Abrash explained they want to find out if they’re responsible for killing some of the Bear Tribe. The Lady Red replied, “I think I will allow this.” She assigned two of her guards to accompany the Stone Bearers to the Dark Wood because it’s a very dangerous section of the forest.

Gazlowe speaks his mind

Gazlowe asked Morgwais if she was aware of the Shield and Sword of Niptu. He said the Shield was in the forest doing unscrupulous things. The Red Lady asked, “Who told you this?” He replied, “A Friend named Revalor.” Thomas emphasized that Revalor is with the Sword of Niptu. Gazlowe explained the whole situation stating that the Sword wants to destroy Niptu’s body so the shield can’t use it. The Red Lady’s countenance grew more grim as she said, “The Body of Niptu should not be destroyed.”

The Red Lady said, “I think it is time for you to leave.” She then told them they are not permitted back in the forest. Two of her guards were assigned to escort them out of the forest. She told them, that they can finish their food and will then be escorted out. Abrash asked about the Dhampir. The Red Lady thought for a moment and said, “With my guards with you, I will permit this. I’m not unreasonable.” Abrash telepathically spoke to the others, “She’s above the crazy line on the crazy/hot scale.”

Towards the Dark Wood.

The 2 guards were escorting the party as they journeyed to the Dark Wood. Thomas asked if they were leaving the area or the entire High Forest. The guards told them, they’re being escorted out of the High Forest. Abrash cast “Detect Thoughts” on one of the guards who seemed to be more open, while Gazlowe asked more questions. Abrash was able to determine that the Red Lady’s ability to enforce her exile is limited and that the White Lady may be an ally. Abrash then mentally communicated what he learned to the others.

Abrash spotted a venomous viper hiding in their path. He moved so that one of the guards would be the first to get near it and the Viper struck. The guard immediately went down, and Isabella said, “Hmm… it’s dangerous around here.” The party backed away from the large beast and only half-heartedly tried to help. Without immediate assistance the venom continued to course through the guard’s veins, and he died. The other guard took a defensive stance against the viper.

Grigori Nistrupa

Three arrows flew out of the darkness. One struck the standing guard in the neck and two struck the Viper. The Guard’s Veins grew dark as the necrotic poison from the arrow spread. The guard fell to his knees and then onto the ground dead. Gazlowe immediately raised his hands saying, “We’re friends!” Thomas said, “Shhh!”

A very pale elf with a large scraggly beard emerged from the shadows. He said, “From what Revalor told us, we thought you’d be more competent than this.” He then introduced himself as Grigori Nistrupa. He looked like a homeless man but wore fancy black leather elven armor. Gazlowe asked, “I assume you’re with the Sword of Niptu.” Grigori said, “Not so loud.”

Grigori confirmed that Revalor gave the Stone Bearers a most important task and asked if they found where the Body is hidden yet. When they told him no, he asked if they completed the first temple yet. Again, they said they’re on their way there now. Grigori asked why they didn’t do that a week ago. The party skirted the subject. Grigori reinforced the need to completely destroy the body of Niptu before it’s too late! Grigori said the first temple is only 2 days away and the moon will be full in 3 days. He gave them a piece of parchment that had a cryptic code on it and told them it would help them find the body after they complete the first step. He bid them fair well and sent the on their way towards the temple.

The party collected some poison from the viper and Abrash studied a few other beasts including a captured Balloon spider. They asked Grigori about the Dhampir and if they could have killed Elves from the Tribe of the Bear. Grigori provided them some background of the Dhampir and warned them that the Dhampir are excellent military commanders, and they probably killed the elves.

Outside The Temple

As they parted from Grigori, he remined them of one of Niptu’s famous sayings “Teamwork makes the dream work.” He told them the temples require you work together. The party thanked Grigori for his help, and they moved on through the forest for a couple days. The journey was relatively uneventful. As they approached the area where they knew the temple was, they began to walk more quietly. Rather than all going up they decided to send in Abrash as a spider to scout out the area.

Abrash saw a thick fog in a small valley next to a hill where the cave should be. He heard scuffling of feat and the sounds of zombies from within the fog. Next to the hill was a small stream and another hill on the other side of the stream. Around that hill were 4 guards with swords and long bows. Abrash went back to the party and reported what he saw.

Removing the protection

After a thorough, long drown out debate, the Stone Bearers finally settled on taking out the guards and the zombies. They decided to take care of them today and go into the temple fully rested. They first ambushed the guards. Abrash’s Spike Growth was instrumental in aiding them, as was Gazlowe’s magic missiles and his homunculus Bitey. After the party killed 3 of the guards, Abrash hit the final guard with his thorn whip and dragged him 10 feet through his thorny spike growth, knocking him unconscious. They captured him and tied him to a tree, and he was more than willing to talk at that point.

Gazlowe and Thomas interrogated the guard and found that he was hired by the shield of Niptu to protect the cave entrance. The Guard told them that if they kept him alive, he would take them to the keep. He told them there is a basement in the keep where they keep something, but he hadn’t been down there. He also didn’t know what was in the cave, he was just hired to guard it. They agreed to keep him alive (for now.)

The fog faded a bit and only lightly obscured the zombies and the cave entrance. The party then went in to attack the Zombies. As they stood just outside of the fog, formulating their plan of attack, the zombies came forward and started to attack. There was 1 ghoul and 10 zombie minions. The ghoul focused on Gazlowe. Abrash took out ½ of the Zombies again with his Spike Growth. Thomas took out 2 of the zombies, Isabella took out the Ghoul. Gazlowe and Bitey took out the last 3 zombies.

Thomas looked for any graves or a possible origin of the zombies. They recognized one of the Zombies as one of the thugs whom they paid off to release Revalor. Gazlowe examined the stone door blocking the entrance to the cave and determined that it’s actually a thick metal door with a veneer of stone. They brought over the captured guard (Knuckles Carver) and asked him a few more questions. They found that he was not much more than a hired hand and left him there until the morning.

What’s Next:

• Go to Niptu Shrine #1 to learn about Niptu’s magic (opens on the 29th on the full moon)
• Meet Victor Rathmore at Blackmoor’s on 23rd to return gem and hand over Revalor
• Gazlowe to find out about Adventurer’s guild
• Find out about the Red and White Ladies and report back to The Lord’s Alliance.
• Find out about mysterious slave trade in the High Forest.
• Locate the Shield of Niptu and find where they’re hiding Niptu’s Body
• Disintegrate Niptu’s Body and let Revalor Miadi know. Revalor is hiding with family at cottage along the Delimbiyr River between Zelbross and Loudwater.
• Train the Hellhound Johny Cash
• Purchase the Firestone Keep and rebuild it.
• Gazlowe not happy with helm purchase
• Party to utilize the herbs Abrash and Ajani found.
• Gazlowe to make a permanent mayonnaiser for Flicktongue
• Restore Abrash and Ajani’s homeland.

Campaign

The Forest

Protagonists

Thomas Elliot

Abrash Asim

Chaotic Good Moon Wood Elf (Folk Hero)
Druid 1

9 / 9 HP

STR
7

DEX
10

CON
13

INT
8

WIS
19

CHA
14

Report Date

28 Oct 2022