Session 64 Report: The Lord's Alliance Part 1

General Summary

Session 64 – Wednesday January 3, 2024 – The Lord’s Alliance.

4-hour Social/Battle session 6:00 PM to 10:15 PM

The Stone Bearers. Party of 5

It is the 18th day of the month of Nightal (The Drawing Down) in the 50th year of the Age of Enialis (Mid December.)

• Abrash – Wood (Desert) Elf, L10 Druid – Jacob Munson
• Ajani– High Elf, L10 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda (Absent)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L10 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Cassidy – Human, L10 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L10 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L10 Paladin – Will Johnson

Searching the Bazaar.

The flames from Gazlowe’s attack were spreading and smoke was starting to fill the Bazaar. Cassidy searched Bertrude and found a key. She then went into Bertrude’s slug home, found a chest with 5,000 gp worth of gold and gems and took it. Cassidy also found a book of poison dealers and quickly departed the home. For Ajani, Gazlowe went to the hags and took 1 lb of tea leaves with 2 teacups and a pot, a book of random fortunes, a jar of small bones and a jar of salt crystals along with 170gp. Gazlowe took a strongbox from Eeek’s that contained 400 cp, 230 sp, and 4 gp. He also found a blank book that couldn’t be written in.   Isabella grabbed a handful of food from the eatery. The party quickly left and took the emergency exit. As they went down the long hall, they saw a couple of gargoyles on guard at the far end. Juan attacked. The gargoyles didn’t stand a chance. Juan badly damaged one and Isabella finished it off. Then Isabella badly damaged the 2nd and Abrash finished it off with a firebolt.   They party donned their Red Lady cloaks and headed off to Zelbross. They knew the way and knew it was a day and ½ walk. During a short rest Isabella, with Gazlowe’s help, fashioned a crude harmonica.

Mining Orcs

After traveling for a while, they stealthily approached a group of Orcs and Tanarukks mining weavite. They rushed in to surprise the miners and caught most of them off guard. The battle was tough, but the party was successful. With a single Fireball from his necklace, Gazlowe began the battle and took out all the Minions and wounded quite a few of the others. Abrash entangled several of the Orcs. Cassidy shot them with her crossbow and Isabella slashed with her axe.   Juan rode bird into the fray and channeled divinity to frighten many of the Orcs. Gazlowe punched one of the Tanarukk’s to death. Cassidy removed the head of one of the orcs with her whip. Abrash dropped the tangling vines and cast a wall of fire through several of the orcs. The Tanarukks hurt Cassidy badly and mildly hurt Juan and Gazlowe. Orcs from the far side of the wall of fire walked through it taking lots of fire damage and then one of the Orcs exploded and poisoned Cassidy.   Gazlowe continued punching and Cassidy threw up (getting rid of her poisoned condition.) Abrash cast thunderwave and pushed 2 of the Orcs back into the wall of fire killing them both. Isabella killed one of the Tanarukks with her axe. Cassidy whipped the Tanarukk leader to death. Abrash pushed the remaining Orc chief through the wall of fire. The party couldn’t see the orc anymore so Juan (with the help of Bird and Gazlowe) was able to leap over the wall and killed the fleeing Orc by shoving it back into the wall.

Weavite

The party collected the weavite that the orcs had collected (about 2 vials full.) They saw more trace amounts of Weavite in the dirt and decided not to collect anymore. Gazlowe asked Juan and Isabella to destroy the tools that they were using to harvest it. Gazlowe kept one of the fine sifters. Gazlowe and Abrash noticed that the power of the weave was weaker in this location.

Zelbross

The party continued their journey. They were able to sleep at night undisturbed and made their way to Zelbross. They made their way to the center of the town and Gazlowe flagged down one of the town’s guard on patrol. The guard mentioned that Vandore was in the administrative building next to the courthouse. He also mentioned that nobody goes into the courthouse anymore snice it’s haunted, and several guards have been killed there.   They continued to the admin building and found Vandore. Vandore was in an office filled with incomplete paperwork. He looked warn, tired and bored but very interested in meeting the Stone Bearers. Gazlowe explained the situation regarding the Red Lady and her desire to meet with the Lord’s Alliance. Vandore explained that the next planned meeting of the Lord’s Alliance isn’t for a couple more months. He went on to explain that there are plenty of issues facing each of the cities right now with increased Orc attacks against most. The party tried to convince Vandore that they need to meet sooner.

Convincing Vandore to help.

Vandore was friendly to the Stone Bearers so convincing him to help wasn’t too difficult. He did tell them that summoning an emergency meeting of the security council is possible. Gazlowe led the conversations with help from others. Gazlowe was able to hit upon his motivations of meeting elves and saving lives. Gazlowe told Vandore that Niptu is back and could be the central reason as to why the attacks are happening. Vandore agreed to help setup individual brief meetings for the Stone Bearers to convince other members of the Lord’s Alliance to have a formal meeting with the Red Lady.

New task: Fix the haunting of the Courthouse

Vandore asked that the party agree to vanquish an evil De Ogen that is haunting the Courthouse. He explained that De Ogen are spirits of vengeance and flame. De Ogen are the malevolent spirits of murderers and other criminals executed by being burned at the stake or thrown into a blazing fire. The depth of their evil and strength of their rage return them to life to seek vengeance against those who killed them. Vandore believes that the only way for this particular spirit to be put permanently to rest is if Thomas is involved in it’s killing. Because Vandore believes this De Ogen is the return of Zoreene. (Queue dramatic music: Dun Dun Duuuuunnnnn!)   The evil spirit only haunts at night and has already killed several guards. In doing so, she has turned them into evil powerful shadows that can drain your strength. No city guards are willing to go in to face this menace. If the party agrees to vanquish the De Ogen and her shadows tonight, Vandore would agree to setup meetings immediately with various Lord’s Alliance members. The party agreed and Vandore setup the first meeting with one of Enialis’ simulacrums.

Enialis’ Simulacrum

Vandore explained that Enialis Prime has been gone for some time, but his Simulacrums all are able to speak on his behalf for the Lord’s Alliance. Vandore was able to secure an immediate meeting and the party was transported to Waterdeep where they had a meeting. They agreed the best person to talk with Enialis would be Ajani but he was currently lost in the Ethereal Plane, they chose Cassidy to speak for the group.   Cassidy provide Enialis a book of Hemocraft as an opening gesture and Enialis accepted it. Cassidy mentioned Niptu and explained how they were deceived and Niptu was resurrected. Cassidy warned that Niptu may want to create a 3rd sundering. She explained how Niptu has Tanarukk and Fey’ri and how they killed Baelnorns of Nithrithyinae etc. Cassidy and Isabella convinced Enialis to meet with the Red Lady, but Enialis still wanted to know what was in it for him. Cassidy told Enialis that she believed Enialis Prime may have been taken by Niptu as the timeline seemed to match. Enialis agreed to meet with the Red Lady and Vandore promised to make arrangements.

Barlock of Dragonford.

Vandore took the party to Dragonford to meet with the Kobold Barlock. He warned them that Kobolds don’t like Gnomes, so Gazlowe disguised the Gnomes as Goblins. Cassidy and Abrash walked into the wrong portal and accidently went back to Zelbross. With only Gazlowe, Juan and Isabella (along with Vandore) Isabella (with an amazing disguise) led the discussions.   Even though they started the discussion with a gift of a gemstone, Barlock was elusive. Barlock licked the gem to check it. Juan saw that and ate a rock. Barlock was confused about eating rocks but indicated he liked food, so Gazlowe gave him a satchel of wine-soaked meat. Isabella stammered a bit but explained that the Red Lady of the High Forest would like to meet with members of the Lord’s Alliance to form an alliance against a bad man named Niptu. As she described Niptu and his ways, Barlock became very frightened. Gazlowe tried to encourage Barlock with tales of wonderous feasts the Red Lady has. But the conversation had already turned. Isabella also mentioned Niptu aligning with Giants and that frightened Barlock even more. Isabella and Gazlowe mentioned how great Kobolds are when they work together. Isabella called them devious, but Barlock took that as an insult and said “No! Gnomes are devious, Kobolds are resourceful.”   Barlock said, “The answer is no, but here is a stick with a scorpion on it.” The party turned to leave.

Rewards Granted

Treasure found:

From the Bazaar

• A Chest with 5,000 gp worth of gems and gp.
• 1 pound of tea and a teapot with 2 cups
• A book of random fortunes
• A jar of small bones
• A jar of salt crystals
• 170 gp
• A Strongbox with 400cp, 230 sp, 4gp
• A blank book that can’t be written in.
• A directory of poison dealers from whom Bertrude purchased poison.

From the Orcs

• A fine weavite sifter.
• 2 vials of weavite