Session 26: Ain't No Mountain High Enough! Report

General Summary

24th of Rolier 1524 Continued As the dust started to settle from the fight with Daffodil, the party started to fall apart. Reign was outraged at the behaviour of some of the party members, Fargrim withdraw from the party while Simone tried her own little ways to reach him, Karl attempted to smooth the situation over, Lily took off in search Xeldarix who had been told to continue up the trail, and Lyra closed off as well opting to follow Lily.   Lily and Lyra focused their attention in trying to get the collar off of Xeldarix, and with some advice from Karl they decide that Lily will attune to the Ring that controls three collars. One is on Xeldarix.   Reign focuses her attention on Simone and tending to her needs. Simone had tried to help Fargrim, but he was not in the mood for her childish antics and instead he started to dig Daffodil a grave.   Simone starts to talk to the ghost of the departed. Daffodil's ghost was nearby and Karl pulls out the gem and tries to attack the ghost with magic missile. But since the ghost is still on the ethereal plane, the spell had no affect. This instantly has the whole party on alert.   Reign looks through the gem to see all the children that Karl saw dead that seemed to be linked to Daffodil. It is then revealed to the party that Daffodil had been collected children of blooded parents, waiting for them to have their blood manifest before stealing it for himself via blood theft. One child was still alive from a near miss attempt on her life by Daffodil, but badly hurt. Lila, who was the agent Lyra had used in Saarmen to get her information.   Simone hears from the spirits that Lila is far away and if they travelled the normal way, they might be too late due to her injuries. Lyra makes a plea to Xeldarix to save Lila but Xeldarix hesitates due to the affects of the collar is unsure if she would be able to do as she truly wanted. Karl takes a gentle approach, telling Xeldarix he will not order her as she is hurt and needs time to recover, but so does Lila. Leaving the choice in Xeldarix hand, which she uses to say she will do it. Karl tells her to 'come back safely'. Moving a little away from the group, she disappears with a pop.   In that moment when the rift opens, creatures crawl out. Ghouls and ghasts tear their way out of the opening before it closes and begin to attack the party. The party works together to deal with the problem. However as they defeat the creatures, Simone reveals that Alexis is now the one in control and will be returning with Lila at any moment.   When Alexis arrives with a pop, more creatures use the chance to make their way out of the Shadow World. This time Spector and the unseen Skulks. Throughout the fight Alexis uses her own body to protect Lila, taking any of the blows coming her way. Through the use of mirrors and Good's sense of smell the group is able to track their invisible attackers and eventually defeat them.   As the battle ends, Alexis pulls back her wings to reveal Lila, who had been healed mid battle by Fargrun, just waking up with a splinted leg. Lila upon realising who she is with, tries to warn them about Daffodil coming after them only to find out she is too late.   Lily's attunement to the ring was interrupted by the fight, so has to go back to that starting again. Alexis speaks Brecht for the first time in trying to calm Lila and making her displeasure known for those who harm children. Lila meanwhile is furious at Lyra for leaving her in Saarmen, she takes advantage of Alexis being collared to order her to let go and escapes the clutches of the immortal.   Karl does his best to try and keep everyone calm, explaining where he can to those who need it to fill them in on the situation, thanking Alexis for finding Lila. Lyra apologises to Lila, saying she tried to do what she thought was best. Lila is a little spit fire, who is ready to try and kill Daffodil all over again. She explains that he tried to stab her in the heart but missed and she ran.   The party removes Daffodil's items for some members of the group to search as they bury Daffodil. One of the collars is discovered to be missing. However, he does have his Crown of Deflection, Acacia Staff, and one of the collars. While the party busies themselves with the items, Fargrim talks to Alexis who has a bad reaction to some of his questions. He is quick to comfort and reassure her. Lila yells at Lyra some more about being a cry baby and eventually the two come to an understanding with one another. Karl identifies the items from Daffodil.   Lila reveals the missing collar is on a cockroach demon that Daffodil got in Saarmen.   Alexis, Reign and Lila retire to the tent for some rest and the group and eventually the attunement is complete and Lily is able to remove the collar. At 9:30 am the group is back on the road again, having picked up their extra companion.   At 4pm the group arrives at another abandoned outpost, but there seem to be no creatures waiting for them this time.   Xeldarix and Karl sit quietly and either read or write in their own books while Lily attunes to items near them. Then Xeldarix continues to teach Karl and Lyra infernal. Xeldarix braids her own and Lyra's hair in this time.   Meanwhile Reign and Fargrim spar before Fargrim settles down for a peaceful evening. Reign however gets Alphonso to help her train Slash so he comes when called. Overnight Lily, Reign and Lyra take watch.   25th of Rolier 1524   In the morning Simone tries, and fails, to sneak away from the group to be sick. Karl is quick to be at her side, where she explains she hasn't been sleeping well and reveals they are nearly at the temple that will be her new home. Karl is adamant about the fact that they will not be leaving Simone here alone.   It's at this stage, Simone's new powers make themselves known as she starts to challenge the thoughts and emotions of the people she touches, going into a rage at the idea of everyone leaving her. Xeldarix explains the power and Karl helps her focus, so she realises what she is feeling and what she is feeling from others are different. She is able to admit that the feelings she was expressing were not her own and in the end went for a nap.   Meanwhile, Reign and Lila search the ruins and find: 24 gold 5 silver a Barrel of Ale (6 gp, 240 lb) Riding Saddle (10 gp, 25 lb) Spade (2 gp, 8 lb) Vial of Ink (8 gp) Wooden Drum (5 gp, 3 lb) 1 Aquamarine (400g) At 7 am the group starts to talk about Saarmen where Reign suggests bringing in Anuire forces to take Saarmen. The end goal being to free the city and get rid of Morningsteel. Reign says she does not want it to go to war but to free the people by bringing in an outside force. Reign calls into question the morality of the group's current quest and puts forward her bold action. The group does not seem to warm to the idea.   In the end the group continues with a reminder that there is a demon bug around somewhere.   At 12pm they arrive at the next obelisk, getting very close to the top of the mountain when the group is surrounded by smoky figures that fly above their heads. The group quickly deals with these foes and investigate the obelisk. Though one does get away.   They learn the obelisk has more to the story at the top. After discussing it a little, the group continues onwards.   At 5pm they approach the city gates. Coming up the path, there was a odd boulder nearby, but the group was unable to work out the purpose of the boulder. Many believe that it had something to do with Kurruk, but were unsure what exactly.   Inside the gate to town was a large parade ground. To the West the ridge was high and masked many of thing things further up. The North showed some destroyed tent areas with houses further up and South had a large building next to the parade grounds.   The group looked into the large building. It seemed to be a keep. There was an area with weapons and where soliders could keep person affects, a stables and a closed off area behind a door. Before the group could search the grounds too well, Fargrim noticed Simone was not doing well as she was digging hard enough into her arms to draw blood. She was not very lucid as she seemed to be running a high fever. She muttered about worms wiggling beneath her skin. Karl activated his blood ability to Detect Life around them. He was fascinated by the sensation he was getting off of all the weeds, fungi and mold in the area. In the end, Lessor Restoration from Lily seemed to help Simone a little, but she was clearly still very unwell.   Leaving Simone with Lyra in the magical tent, the rest of the group went back in to explore the building. The type of place where if the city was attack, this was a good place to gather to defend it. Karl and Fargrim found some bags of wheat inside, but the three bags they looked in was moldy. At this point there was a bang on the door as Karl detects life in the next room. It's lots and lots of small forms of life.   They decide to stay and deal with the problem, with Reign holding the door shut. The zombies with worms coming out of every possible location breaks a hole through the door. The group slowly battle the seven zombies and manage to take them all out. After, Karl and Lily set fire to everything to ensure nothing evil remains within the stone structure.   Meanwhile, Fargrim and Reign go around the building to find a hedge maze to the south with a southern entrance. Beyond that was a hut in an overgrown area full of trees and a switch back trail that went further up to the peak. After sharing this with the group, they decide to head North since there is not much daylight left to find somewhere safe considering how unwell Simone is.   The north led to residential housing and a mass grave area that it is likely Kurruk had dug for the the people he could bury. Continuing up the path the group comes to a fork in the road. The right went to a building that was a part of the wall with another large building of note on the left of that path. The left path had a very tall tower, going up a few stories. The group went on the right path, discovering the large building was a mess hall of sorts for feasts. There was a large area at the back for cooking and tables to host most of the town from the looks of things. There are plates on the tables, while a few tables were knocked over. It looks like whatever happened here was when people were eating.   Continuing on, the building attached to the wall is a ruined garrison. It had areas that led out to the top of the wall, an officers desk area and weapons storage with barracks. The group decided this was a great place to stay for the night after searching the place. They went back to get Simone when someone was approaching the town. Quickly hiding in the Keep, Karl used Aeyrn to see who it was.   A half elf named Felix met with the group, claiming to know many things about them and having a mutual friend Mary from the Attractive Carrot. He is on a similar mission, looking for places of power to help a friend.   The group allow Felix to stay with them. Fargrim approaches Xeldarix with the idea of wanting to help her with some of the things from her past, but now is not the time or the place. While resting Karl starts scribing a spell into his spellbook, while Felix does a song of rest for the group. This triggers something in Xeldarix, causing her to leave the room. Lily follows and is there for her when Alexis appears. Lily tries to gently tell Alexis about the fate of her god, but this sends her into a distressed state where she flies off. Lily turns into an imp and follows. Her distressed screams from above prompts Fargrim to leave the building, as Alexis tries to pull off her horns. Lily attacks Alexis to try and get her to stop. Alexis grabs her with the intent of squeezing the life out of the devil in front of her. Something within this causes Xeldarix to remerge. Xeldarix takes them both down, Lily taking her normal form again, to Fargrim where he explains this is why they need to talk. He suggests maybe having something to tell Alexis so she will trust the group. Xeldarix is unsure of this and just suggests pretending this is a mission from Basaia. They agree now is still not the time or place, so they return inside. Xeldarix requesting from Felix that she be given a warning next time so she may leave.   Overnight Fargrim takes the first shift, Lily on second and Xeldarix with the last one.   

Rewards Granted

Found in outpost:

• Barrel of Ale (6 gp, 240 lb)
• Riding Saddle (10 gp, 25 lb)
• Spade (2 gp, 8 lb)
• Vial of Ink (8 gp)
• Wooden Drum (5 gp, 3 lb)
• 24 gold, 5 silver, Aquamarine (400g)

Found in Keep

• 45 bags of wheat
• Reign found 60g 1sp 1cp
• Lily found 65g 1sp 2cp

Found in Ruined Garrison

• 9 x Bolt of Canvas (1 gp, 10 lb)
• 12 x Bottle of Common Wine (1 sp, 4 lb)
• 45 x Manacles (15 gp, 2 lb)
• 12 x Rope Net (10' x 10') (4 gp, 40 lb)
• 10 x Small Cask of Wax (2 sp, 5 lb)
• 43 x Box of 20 Candles (2 sp, 1 lb)
• Loom (50 gp)
• Rug (10 gp)
• 7 x Wool Cloak (5 sp, 3 lb)

Missions/Quests Completed

Eye on the Prize - Found the city at the top of the mountain

Created Content

• Archestuel
• Archestuel Mountains
• Spawn of Kyuss
• Felix

Notes

Name	XP	Running Total	Level at the end of the session
Fargrim	2,695	40,965	8
Felix	Pending one shot	23000	7
Karl	2,695	40,965	8
Lily	2,695	40,965	8
Lyra	690	30,775	7
Reign	2,695	40,965	8
Simone	895	18,755	6