Sessions 3-4.
Session 3: "Calaern Explains It All" (July 8)
In the aftermath of the battle with Baron Calaern Anduriel and his family, Dara and Snadwick quickly seek out and set free the family of fey alseids (deer centaurs). The alseids ask Dara to mark Calaern so that the fey may find him and exact revenge. She agrees.
Interrogating the captured Baron by means of Ward's detect thoughts spell, the party learns a bunch of information regarding the oblex conspiracy:
The Baron and his eldest daughter, Lillin, were recruited by a construct known as the Starling, who in turn works for a mysterious "Benefactor." The two elf nobles met the Starling at the magic trading bazaar in Zanjamand, an ancient city in a desert canyon on the borders of Malimpel's domain. The Benefactor appears to be a human male with red hair, though his hands are on backwards. The Benefactor appears to be based in Malimpel; both Calaern and Lillin have met him in person. He seems to be associated in some way with Aanja Subrscribers, Ltd., the shipping firm that has been sending the oblex bombs to their recipients.
Calaern's intended target for the oblex "bomb" was an orc high priestess named Bune Gnashjaw, currently the head priest of Ela in the city of Rajgan, and head of the Adhyars (the guild of priests) in the city. Turning such a high-ranking figure into an oblex duplicate is Calaern's goal, part of his ultimate plan to sow chaos and to sever from the Rajgani Empire and become the king of his own elvish kingdom of Andur. Calaern is also motivated by the fact that he finds it obscene that such a position of authority and respect should be held by an orc. He longs for the days of his mighty ancestor, Phyrael, the last queen of an independent Andur.
A being or person known as the Gray King is the source of the oblexes. Earlier, Calaern had casually mentioned to the party that he knew that oblexes could be found in Darjheim Caverns, a sprawling cave system deep beneath the Rangrum Mountains (the immense mountain range that forms the border between Rajgan and Malimpel). He further warned the party that they would be most unwelcome if they arrived without an invitation from Darjheim's ruler.
The Baron's eldest son, Durven, seems to have no love for either his father or his sisters. He tells the party that Lillin was likely the brains behind any pact that his father made; his father is intelligent but becomes reckless when angered or frustrated, whereas Lillin remains cool and calculating to the last.
Durven is quite happy to take over as baron in his father's absence; much of his resentment of Calaern and Lillin stems from 250 years of being the second child. He candidly admits he probably wouldn't be the best baron; he has become accustomed to drink, to comfortable living, and to amusing himself with fights and horse racing. His younger brother Gerreth might make a better baron, though Gerreth left home after the death of their mother, Baroness Lyrtellon Anduriel. Gerreth, Durven tells the party, is convinced that the Baron killed their mother in a staged "hunting accident." Gerreth began to study druidcraft under the healer Alsheer, though he seems to have left to study on his own some time ago.
Durven believes there are secret passages leading into the Underdark from the Manor's dungeon. He says that his father met with some "gray dwarves" that did not come into the Manor by any regular means.
Dara quietly marks the Baron in the morning, as they load up the Baron's carriage for departure. The party leaves Anduriel Manor with Calaern, Lillin, and Arlea in custody. They bring the oblex bomb, which had already been loaded in the carriage for the Baron's trip into Rajgan. Durven sends a note with them to the authorities, stating in clear terms that he will aid the course of justice and support the Rajgani Empire. He promises to seek out and rid the Manor of those who aided the Baron in acquiring and hunting fey and other intelligent beings. The party arrives in Rathádan without incident, and turn the three elves over to Captain Kaldek's custody.
Session 4: "It's Always F-Day in Asherhet" (July 22)
Tracking down the next known recipient of an oblex bomb, the party journeys to the predominantly human and halfling town of Asherhet, located where the valley of the Hanjar River joins the course of the Simrijj River. It is a prosperous area, the capital of a large portion of the Simrijjar Plateau. The party quickly finds that the town and its outlying farms have recently been plagued by disappearances. The victims are always alone when they disappear, and the disappearances always happen at night. It doesn't matter whether someone is inside or out. The townsfolk have begun staying in groups overnight. Anxiety pervades the town, and business at the inn is slow.
The party interviews a number of people whose loved ones are missing. A consistent story emerges: a scream, a short struggle, and the person is gone before help can arrive. A lingering smell of rotting, and the presence of maggots, are also commonly reported in the aftermath.
Some people in the town are also unhappy with the activities of its halfling mayor, Poinsettia Willbareen. She spends her time mostly with the wealthiest and most powerful people of the town, engaging in weekly soirees at her Burrow that have gained a reputation for excess and debauchery. The local high priestess is especially concerned when Vaelin brings news to her of the oblex conspiracy, and of the rotting smell and maggots. She suspects a fiendish presence in her town. She gives Vaelin a writ authorizing him to make inquiries in the town on behalf of the gods.
Eventually, the party makes their way to the Mayor's Burrow on the night of one of the weekly soirees. The Mayor welcomes them in a fox mask, and acts as if nothing is amiss, as if this is all some misunderstanding created by gossip-mongers in the markets. She shows little concern for the disappearances, saying it's probably just the violence of the poorer people. She agrees to guide them around the Burrow, but is in no hurry, as if stalling or hoping the party loses interest. When Ward attempts to detect her thoughts, she thinks Keep them upstairs. Poinsettia immediately casts a spell of suggestion on Ward, making Ward do everything in her power to avoid "causing trouble" for Poinsettia.
Ward and Vaelin accompany the Mayor on her "tour," while Dara and Snadwick wander off to plan. Snadwick tells Dara that causing minor injury to Ward will snap her out of the enchantment. Snadwick then smokes some potent pollen on offer at the party, but suffers no ill effects.
Lan, meanwhile, has snuck in through the kitchens, disguised himself in one of the livestock masks of the servants, and discovered a library room where a couple other guests of the party tell him he has no business being there. They make him take a note intended for Poinsettia; it says This one wants to be the donkey.
The party regroups. Dara strikes Ward and rids her of the suggestion spell. The Mayor sends her bodyguard after Lan, who slips away with Ward. Vaelin confronts the Mayor about how much the Burrow she hasn't shown them. Pushed to the end of her patience, Poinsettia at last tells the party to come with her and her bodyguard, a large human man. The group heads directly to the library Lan had discovered earlier. Lan and Ward exchange information in the kitchens.
Three cultists and three cult fanatics are awaiting them in the library room. Poinsettia, it turns out, is a warlock of the fiend, and puts up a difficult fight, backed up by her cultists and bodyguard. Ward and Lan hear the struggle and race to help. The party is brought nearly to defeat before Poinsettia, grievously wounded, at last surrenders and tells her cultists to do the same. They are bound and gagged while the party barricades the room against intruders. A secret door likely exists in the library, but in the meantime, the party settles in to rest and bandage their wounds.
In the aftermath of the battle with Baron Calaern Anduriel and his family, Dara and Snadwick quickly seek out and set free the family of fey alseids (deer centaurs). The alseids ask Dara to mark Calaern so that the fey may find him and exact revenge. She agrees.
Interrogating the captured Baron by means of Ward's detect thoughts spell, the party learns a bunch of information regarding the oblex conspiracy:
The Baron and his eldest daughter, Lillin, were recruited by a construct known as the Starling, who in turn works for a mysterious "Benefactor." The two elf nobles met the Starling at the magic trading bazaar in Zanjamand, an ancient city in a desert canyon on the borders of Malimpel's domain. The Benefactor appears to be a human male with red hair, though his hands are on backwards. The Benefactor appears to be based in Malimpel; both Calaern and Lillin have met him in person. He seems to be associated in some way with Aanja Subrscribers, Ltd., the shipping firm that has been sending the oblex bombs to their recipients.
Calaern's intended target for the oblex "bomb" was an orc high priestess named Bune Gnashjaw, currently the head priest of Ela in the city of Rajgan, and head of the Adhyars (the guild of priests) in the city. Turning such a high-ranking figure into an oblex duplicate is Calaern's goal, part of his ultimate plan to sow chaos and to sever from the Rajgani Empire and become the king of his own elvish kingdom of Andur. Calaern is also motivated by the fact that he finds it obscene that such a position of authority and respect should be held by an orc. He longs for the days of his mighty ancestor, Phyrael, the last queen of an independent Andur.
A being or person known as the Gray King is the source of the oblexes. Earlier, Calaern had casually mentioned to the party that he knew that oblexes could be found in Darjheim Caverns, a sprawling cave system deep beneath the Rangrum Mountains (the immense mountain range that forms the border between Rajgan and Malimpel). He further warned the party that they would be most unwelcome if they arrived without an invitation from Darjheim's ruler.
The Baron's eldest son, Durven, seems to have no love for either his father or his sisters. He tells the party that Lillin was likely the brains behind any pact that his father made; his father is intelligent but becomes reckless when angered or frustrated, whereas Lillin remains cool and calculating to the last.
Durven is quite happy to take over as baron in his father's absence; much of his resentment of Calaern and Lillin stems from 250 years of being the second child. He candidly admits he probably wouldn't be the best baron; he has become accustomed to drink, to comfortable living, and to amusing himself with fights and horse racing. His younger brother Gerreth might make a better baron, though Gerreth left home after the death of their mother, Baroness Lyrtellon Anduriel. Gerreth, Durven tells the party, is convinced that the Baron killed their mother in a staged "hunting accident." Gerreth began to study druidcraft under the healer Alsheer, though he seems to have left to study on his own some time ago.
Durven believes there are secret passages leading into the Underdark from the Manor's dungeon. He says that his father met with some "gray dwarves" that did not come into the Manor by any regular means.
Dara quietly marks the Baron in the morning, as they load up the Baron's carriage for departure. The party leaves Anduriel Manor with Calaern, Lillin, and Arlea in custody. They bring the oblex bomb, which had already been loaded in the carriage for the Baron's trip into Rajgan. Durven sends a note with them to the authorities, stating in clear terms that he will aid the course of justice and support the Rajgani Empire. He promises to seek out and rid the Manor of those who aided the Baron in acquiring and hunting fey and other intelligent beings. The party arrives in Rathádan without incident, and turn the three elves over to Captain Kaldek's custody.
Session 4: "It's Always F-Day in Asherhet" (July 22)
Tracking down the next known recipient of an oblex bomb, the party journeys to the predominantly human and halfling town of Asherhet, located where the valley of the Hanjar River joins the course of the Simrijj River. It is a prosperous area, the capital of a large portion of the Simrijjar Plateau. The party quickly finds that the town and its outlying farms have recently been plagued by disappearances. The victims are always alone when they disappear, and the disappearances always happen at night. It doesn't matter whether someone is inside or out. The townsfolk have begun staying in groups overnight. Anxiety pervades the town, and business at the inn is slow.
The party interviews a number of people whose loved ones are missing. A consistent story emerges: a scream, a short struggle, and the person is gone before help can arrive. A lingering smell of rotting, and the presence of maggots, are also commonly reported in the aftermath.
Some people in the town are also unhappy with the activities of its halfling mayor, Poinsettia Willbareen. She spends her time mostly with the wealthiest and most powerful people of the town, engaging in weekly soirees at her Burrow that have gained a reputation for excess and debauchery. The local high priestess is especially concerned when Vaelin brings news to her of the oblex conspiracy, and of the rotting smell and maggots. She suspects a fiendish presence in her town. She gives Vaelin a writ authorizing him to make inquiries in the town on behalf of the gods.
Eventually, the party makes their way to the Mayor's Burrow on the night of one of the weekly soirees. The Mayor welcomes them in a fox mask, and acts as if nothing is amiss, as if this is all some misunderstanding created by gossip-mongers in the markets. She shows little concern for the disappearances, saying it's probably just the violence of the poorer people. She agrees to guide them around the Burrow, but is in no hurry, as if stalling or hoping the party loses interest. When Ward attempts to detect her thoughts, she thinks Keep them upstairs. Poinsettia immediately casts a spell of suggestion on Ward, making Ward do everything in her power to avoid "causing trouble" for Poinsettia.
Ward and Vaelin accompany the Mayor on her "tour," while Dara and Snadwick wander off to plan. Snadwick tells Dara that causing minor injury to Ward will snap her out of the enchantment. Snadwick then smokes some potent pollen on offer at the party, but suffers no ill effects.
Lan, meanwhile, has snuck in through the kitchens, disguised himself in one of the livestock masks of the servants, and discovered a library room where a couple other guests of the party tell him he has no business being there. They make him take a note intended for Poinsettia; it says This one wants to be the donkey.
The party regroups. Dara strikes Ward and rids her of the suggestion spell. The Mayor sends her bodyguard after Lan, who slips away with Ward. Vaelin confronts the Mayor about how much the Burrow she hasn't shown them. Pushed to the end of her patience, Poinsettia at last tells the party to come with her and her bodyguard, a large human man. The group heads directly to the library Lan had discovered earlier. Lan and Ward exchange information in the kitchens.
Three cultists and three cult fanatics are awaiting them in the library room. Poinsettia, it turns out, is a warlock of the fiend, and puts up a difficult fight, backed up by her cultists and bodyguard. Ward and Lan hear the struggle and race to help. The party is brought nearly to defeat before Poinsettia, grievously wounded, at last surrenders and tells her cultists to do the same. They are bound and gagged while the party barricades the room against intruders. A secret door likely exists in the library, but in the meantime, the party settles in to rest and bandage their wounds.
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