Journal Entry 11.00 The Return of Jerig

The party goes to retrive Jerig and is ambushed. Lord Madamus is implicated in the ambush. The party finds a new ally with Lord Clemotayse. Jerig is rescued and all of Hursing's research is recovered.

General Summary

After several months, the party finally has all the reagents necessary to recreate Hursing’s Rune. Now they just need the actual formula, and for that, the hope is Jerig has recovered enough from his ordeal at the hands of Lord Madamus’s men to provide some answers.
Dame Imokan reveals she has been holding Jerig secretly at her country estate – a place many of you have already visited not even aware that Jerig was also there. She apologizes for not being more open, however, it was critical no one know of Jerig’s whereabouts.
Wasting no time, the party leaves out immediately and quickly arrives as it is only a few hours walk from the edge of Chrailis, about four hours total from Dame Imokan’s city estate.
The party is met at the entrance to her estates by several of her guards. When the party asks about Jerig, the lead guard, Brazzle doesn’t seemed surprised. He states that Jerig has been moved for his safety. The party is confused and concerned that something is wrong – why would Dame Imokan (or actually Zurrelvants which is who sent them) have given them wrong information just hours before. It doesn’t help that they have never met Brazzle before.
Asking to speak with the captain of the guard, Daylen comes forth and offers the same message. Reluctantly, the party leaves the main house and starts around the lake sitting behind Dame Imokan’s per the instructions given to them by Daylen. About halfway around the southern side, after another hour walking, they come upon a small mango and orange orchard with several homes in the middle.
Curiously, as they enter the orchard, they find that it is abandoned. And from the looks of the interiors of the houses, this farm was recently abandoned.
That is when they are attacked. The party is attacked from above by a group of known ruffians known as the Prana Brothers using flying and invisibility potions. At first it appears that Prana Brothers have a considerable advantage, but in short order the party is able to take several of them down.
A single mage which had been helping the brothers then yells that reinforcements have almost arrived and he commands the remaining brothers to flee toward the south toward a line of approaching soldiers on horseback.
The party immediately sets their defenses and readies to defend. Morvion even casts an impressive spell which blinds several of the approaching horsemen while Aja creates several layers of illusionary spells covering slightly more deadly spells. She also has a few fogs up for good measure.
Just as the party is getting ready to fully engage, three massive fireballs explode engulfing the entire line of soldiers along with the flying mage who was with the Prana Brothers during their initial attack.
The party carefully waits for a new attack from a different opponent when far out in the field the see a single figure step from behind a tree. She has pinkish hair and appears to possibly be an elf. Morvion and Graykar believe they recognize her as Ascilli, Spango’s ex-girlfriend. If so, it was she who ended up taking the blame for when the party had broken into and robbed Spango’s bedroom. Even at this distance, the party can make out her smile as she waves to them and then with a curt salute, disappears back into the trees.
With an apparent victory, Aja spies one of the Prana brothers flying away and gives chase, flying after him and quickly overtaking him. Urik takes out on foot and keeps pace, his augmented speed allowing for him to run faster than the brother can fly. Quickly catching up, they take the remaining brother prisoner and haul him back to the main group.
Once Aja and Urik return with their bound prisoner, Urik and Graykar notice several people approaching from the river’s edge. Seeing that these people are not soldiers but instead appear to be farmers, the party waits for their approach. Urik notices that the man in front is wearing the holy symbol to Kristor.
“Well met, Brother Time,” Urik calls to the approaching group.
The priest responds, “Blessed be the Now, the Past, and the Future, allied Brother Sword. We are pleased to see you only minorly hurt. Kristor sent me a forewarning and told us to hide in the reeds. We had been there for a few hours when you arrived. We thought you were the reason we were told to hide, but then we saw you get attacked. Truly, Kristor is Wisdom when she warned us to stay clear. And wow! How you destroyed those charging soldiers was spectacular. A ball of fire, a great display of fireworks then Woomf, Woomf, Woomf,” he excitedly waves his hands. “I have only witnessed a few fireballs in my time and those were truly impressive.”
The party collectively chooses not to correct the priest – if he wants to believe they did it, why certainly, until they know more of what is going on they allow him to believe this story.
As they talk to the priest, they learn he is a devout priest of Kristor and goes by the name of Joras. He has been living on this small farm for the last decade or so pondering the meaning of water ripples and how they relate to the flow of time when Mistress Sharlena arrived from the nearby estate of Dame Imokan. She had the man Erik with her and she asked that he be allowed to spend the night before moving on. She believed that Erik was in danger due to a missive she recently received from Dame Imokan.

I believe Lord Madamus has discovered that it is I who have been hiding Erik. He will obviously be looking for Erik at my various properties and it is essential that you move him. I may have a spy here at the main household. If that is so – move him with all haste. I will send my factors (those of whom we spoke last month). When they arrive, make sure that Brazzle is aware of where you have gone. He will know them when they ask for Erik by his real name. Follow the plan of moving Erik. I hope this letter finds you safe and Eric doing much better than the last time I visited. I can’t stress how impressed I am with how much your herblore has improved poor Eric’s condition. Very Respectfully, your ever devoted student, Dame Imokan.

After reading the letter, Aja immediately asks the question she can’t hold back, “Dame Imokan is your student – you know herblore?”
Mistress Sharlena laughs. “I am no more her teacher than a librarian is a scholar’s teacher. I happened to know more than her on a few topics of herbology. That is how she initially met me, she was researching some topics and came to me as a student. She isn’t from Chrailis and had little experience with Rose Wood and Silthus Weed as where ever she comes from isn’t any jungle. I quickly taught her all I knew and from that day on, she’s been teaching me. However, the joke has stuck. It's her way of saying that in all things, we are equals and I should never hold her higher than myself.”
The party starts investigating the dead and trying to figure out what has happened and just who was attacking. From the dead they find little to identify them more than a few insignias representing that they are possibly men from Lord Madamus. The direction they were coming from doesn’t make much sense till Graykar points out that if the soldiers were to attack Dame Imokan’s estate head on from the city, it might cause greater suspicion than if an attack came from deep in the woods. An attack from the woods can be covered up to look like several different kinds of scenarios happened.
Using this logic, as the party continues to explore some of the bodies, they find magically preserved parts of lizard men in their saddlebags. They also find few sets of boots with lizard men feet attach to the bottom are also found in their supplies. It isn’t hard to now conceive that the pending attack was going to be made to appear as if it was a lizard man attack.
Urik wonders how many other attacks recently were not from the lizard men but ended up being attributed to them. “About 50 years ago, someone was consistently setting the orcs up, making them look like the marauders.”
Aja says, “I was around then, I am pretty sure it was the orcs making themselves look like that. I talked to too many survivors and tended to many of wounded.”
Urik just grunts.
Meanwhile, Urik sends word back to Chrailis requesting paid labor so that the locals won’t have to worry about burying the dead. By the time the party leaves the farm the next day, some laborers have already begun arriving. The laborers say they will drag the bodies (man and horse) out further into the woods and bury them. Overall, about 40 laborers arrive and it takes them roughly a whole day to finish the job. The total cost comes to 160 gold.
Aja finds the one horse that had flown off wandering around the lake. She tries to get it to fly, but it now seems land bound. She suspects that the horse had been given a flying potion. Testing this theory, she uncorks a bottle of fly potion and offers it to the horse who seems trained to drink the potion as she tips it up. Mounting up, she finds that this horse has literally been trained to fly a rider around and responds to the reigns appropriately. She ponders if she wants a flying horse and wants to spend the time to learn the skill. She then tells the party about the horse. Graykar thinks such a well-trained horse has to be worth something valuable.
Once the only living Prana brother recovers enough to be questioned and has quieted down, the party begins to interrogate him. Aja cast’s a creative curse causing his feet to itch uncontrollably if he lies. He lies very little, offers several curses and threats, promising to kill them, and tells them he doesn’t care what they do to him. Urik refuses to let them actually torture the prisoner.
All they find out is that yes, he is a Prana Brother, and in fact, he is the leader of the Prana Brothers and goes by the name Jonas. They also find out it was the mage who had hired them and supplied them with several fly and invisibility potions as part of their payment. The mage’s name was Ainklara.
Their job was to come to this village and quickly snatch a young male while killing everyone else before the main force arrived. They were also instructed to make absolutely certain no one got away to warn the main estate they were getting ready to raid.
And they did not know who had hired them except the mage. All the mage ever would say is he works for a powerful lady who will accept no failure.
He says they had only arrived a short while (a few hours) before the party and that they themselves had also found the village empty. Waiting around, that’s when they saw the party approaching. They watched the party from above. That’s when the mage whispered in his ear that the should take the party out now as the armed force was nearing. The brothers then attacked.
Having found out all they believed they could in this short time, the party spends the night and plans to head back to the country estate of Dame Imokan the next day. They also send word back as to what they have found out about the pending attack in case a second attack is pending.
Talking to Jerig, they find he has recovered quite a bit. He still seems jumpy and paranoid. There is a tinge of madness in his eyes, but overall he seems sane. The party lays out what they are seeking and he tells them that yes, once they get back to Chrailis he can help them.
Before they leave the farm, Dame Imokan sends word that the party is to return, however not to her estate, but to a friend’s fortress in the second tier who goes by the name of Master Clemotayse. He is the liege lord of Sir Lantry and Dame Huwandra – two individuals that Graykar and Tars have previously had dealings with. Her message says have worked directly for the royal family before and have connections that she, Dame Imokan, lacks. He is an aristocrat of similar rank to Lord Madamus and should offer sufficient protection short term.
Quickly making their way to his fortress, Aja sees that Kinsi and a single black robed member of the Coterie are standing nearby the entrance.
Kinsi bows and greets Aja. The black-robed Coterie member has his cowl up where all that can be seen are two glowing gold orbs where eyes should be. They then hear a voice in their head, the words in time with the pulsing glow of the Coterie’s eyes. Greetings bearers of the Kreshavic Legacy Weapons. Know this – you will be safe as long as you stay in this dwelling. Our mother has taken an interest in current events and wishes to see you proceed to your next step. She has waited too long for the Wood Temple to be unlocked. Do not tary as you need to be about your task, yet know you are safe in this complex as is your charge. Our servant Master Clemotayse will take over the final recovery of the human known as Jerig. With that, the voice in the party’s head goes silent.
Despite their questions, the man in the black robe remains quiet and refuses to acknowledge the party. Kinsi stays a short while, “I just came to say hi and also to let you know, we got your back in this adventure as long as you stay the course of where you are going, Aja. Please let your friends know they are safe for now here. Should they leave, they are on their own.” With that, the two leave.
One of the party’s first order of business is contacting the local Stone Watch or Ivory Shields and requesting that someone be sent to pick up Jonas Prana.
During their stay, they see several men bearing the insignia of Lord Madamus in the vicinity of Lord Clemotayse’s Fortress, though none ever get closer than several dozen feet. They appear to be observing and are not being covert about anyone knowing they are watching. Its as if they are issuing a nonverbal challenge. Lord Madamus wants them to know he is out there.
Once they are settled in, Jerig begins to relate what he knows about his distant relative. He says that Hursing’s son, Adrus, lived on the same property which Hursing died. It was the Rain Tree Apartments.
Following this lead, Morvion and Graykar sneak off in the early morning while Aja awaits the pending arrival of Dame Imokan and her retinue.
They sneak off without being followed, using a secret exit that Clemotayse’s servants show them.
Heading to the Rain Tree Apartments, they find that the apartments are actually several connected villas consisting of older stone buildings on the third tier. Graykar is able to charm his way into looking at the records and they find that the records actually go back over 250 years. More than enough time to find out where Hursing had lived. They can’t find Hursing’s name, but they do find building and the location of his son’s dwelling.
Going up the entrance of the unit where Adrus had lived, the current owners refuse to let them on the property. Morvion suggests some skullduggery, Graykar counters that it might be best to look for other options first and at least make anything illegal a second option. Afterall, if they have friends in the Coterie, there might be better ways of persuading the current occupants to let them have a look.
Heading back, they meet up with Aja and Urik who are currently eating a late breakfast with Dame Imokan and Lord Clemotayse. Lord Clemotyes is a large balding man with a full brown beard and is of considerable girth. He laughs at almost everything, especially his own words which are almost never-ending. They motion for Morvion and Graykar to sit and join them.
Dame Imokan then calmly looks at Graykar and Morvion, saying quietly yet with full seriousness, “What did you find?”
Neither are certain if they should say anything in front of Clemotayse, then Morvion says with his somewhat halting common, “We found where they lived, the current resident won’t let us on the property.”
With his deep voice, Lord Clemotayse calls from one of his servants and whispers something in his ear. “Which exact apartment was it?” he asks Morvion.
Morvion responds, “It is Rain Tree Villa 4.”
Lord Clemotayse nods and whispers again to his servant before looking back at everyone, “Let us continue the breaking of our night’s fast.” While everyone else seems close to finished, both Clemotayse and Urik appear far from done.
While Dame Imokan questions the group further about their latest adventure, the meal continues on.
Aja lets Morvion and Graykar know that the Ivory Shields had already come by and picked Jonas up and even paid them the bounty on the spot. Once the Shields get out to Dame Imokan’s estates and recover the brothers’ bodies, the rest of the bounty will be paid. As they are wrapping up, some of them tipsy after several bottles of wine having been drunk in celebration of recent success, the servant which Lord Clemotayse had whispered to suddenly returns.
In a grand display, Lord Clemotayse stands up and belts out loudly, “I have an announcement, one that requires yet another toast.” He leads everyone in a toast. “It seems that someone has purchased the Rain Tree Villa 4 lease, not at a small cost. The current residents will be out by the end of the day and per the agreement, they will only be taking their immediate personal possessions. By tonight, you will have the keys and can search it at your leisure.”
Waiting till nightfall, the party sneaks out again. This time they are certain they are being followed. Graykar leads them through the city, trying to lose their followers. Once he is satisfied that no one is following, they head over to the Rain Tree villa.
Entering the property, they find it has a front gate leading to an open courtyard. Off the enclosed courtyard are three two-story buildings which make up the villa. Aja and Urik choose one, Morvion and Graykar choose the second. Once done, they will look into the third building.
Spending the night and not finding anything in the three buildings, they conclude they might need to get a little destructive if they are going to find anything. Just minutes after making the decision, Graykar using his crowbar punches through a wall and finds that it is actually different construction and appears to be hiding a small room. Circling around the inner wall, Graykar determines that dimensions are wrong, there has to be an interior structure hidden between the walls.
Now that the party is searching, it doesn’t take them long to find a concealed door behind one of the darkly stained panels. Inside they find small room, barely 3 feet by 8 feet is a small desk with several books, scrolls, and journals. Along with this, they find a chest with several small knickknacks.
Believing they have what they need, the party heads back to Lord Clemotayse. Certain that they might be jumped if they try to sneak in, they take the direct approach and quickly march down the street and enter through the front gate. They see several of Lord Madamus’s men look back and forth, acting confused with some obviously want to attack. However, with the suddenness of the party’s appearance, they remain indecisive and let the party pass unmolested.
Once safely back, the party reviews everything they have found with Dame Imokan.
In the books, journals, and scrolls, they everything they have been looking for. They find the full instructions on how to prepare the reagents so that Hursing’s Rune can be recreated. Not only that, they find a rather detailed map which shows the actual location of the lost city along with more accurate descriptions of Hursing’s time near the city.
He also has detailed drawings and in-depth information on the Sarloks. They look like fearsome beasts, very similar to how he had described them in his journal.
Annoyingly, in the items gathered, they find a small glass with a small amount of crystalline gel in it labeled Crystalline Ooze along with several sheaves of blue silk tree bark. Aja quips to Gigi, “At least he didn’t also have banshee spider blood – that would have been really irking.” Gigi starts to say something along the lines of “Actu. . .”, then holds back thinking better of it. Aja glares at him, yet he refuses to say what he getting ready to say.
It takes several days for Aja and Dame Imokan working together to recreate the key. Once done, and with the map in hand, the party is ready to finally head to the lost city.
During this time three other events occur of interest.

1. Morvion sneaks out to investigate something Graykar had told him. He is certain he is being tailed. Cursing his luck, he decides to move quickly then hide to see who follows. When no one follows, he waits about 30 minutes then doubles back only to find six of Lord Madamus’s men dead, throats slit. In one of the dead men’s throats is a single golden hilted dagger which has been jammed all the way into the neck bone. Wrapped around the hilt are a few long pink hairs.

2. Lord Clemotayse tells everyone that Janus Prana has disappeared. He was taken to the jail and arraigned. Then he was just gone. When Lord Clemotayse had his barristers look into it, no record existed of him being let go and his name had been removed from all dockets with no sign of who did it. All that existed was that he was arraigned and his bounty had been paid.

3. A message arrives for Urik from Sir Caladanis.

“Greetings Sir Urik, I fear I no longer have any friends in this age after being stuck in the mountain for so long. I have no one else to turn to – neither family or friends - and no money to hire help. I know this is an odd and strange request. Mr. Urik, but as an honorable man, I beseech of you your help – you are actually the closest thing I have to an acquaintance. I am innocent of these charges and I need help proving my innocence. It has been so many years, the courts just wish to close the matter and put me away, no one cares to really investigate. To them, this matter was settled and judged long ago. In absentia, they call it. I fear for my life from a court too busy to care.”

Report Date

06 Aug 2018