Session 150 - "Fire and Fury"

General Summary

Dry Riverbed Bridge

9.40p

The Soul and weird horse-like creature stand and contemplate each other. Drago notices a distinct similar to alchemist in Vorkstag in Lepidstadt, a skin-stealer fey, who had a companion named Grines (Vorkstag and Grine's Chrymic Works), and had dealings with Auren Vrood. The creature raises the sword with difficult towards the Unworthy Soul, but then begins backing up from the direction it came.   With still some six hours left to reach Hyannis, the Fellowship begins crossing the bridge. The Soul notices an oily sludge where the creature had been standing. Kyrrn draws a wand of longstrider and begins crossing the bridge.   Suddenly, from the east, the creature begins galloping towards her in a full charge. It slams into her, but she is able get out of its way some as it continues its charge towards Neferu. A black, oily substance that smells of sulfur slicks onto her body, but Kyrrn manages not to be overcome by the stench. With a wave of telekinetic power, the creature's legs are swept out from under it and it lands prone. Searching through her mental stores, Kyrrn realizes that the fey creature is the dreaded nuckelavee, a spirit of wrath that is attracted to pollution and waste. Among the cruelest fey, the nuckelavee are usually found near polluted waters.... in fact fresh water can be harmful to it. Their oily bodies are poisonous to non-fey and they have a weakness to cold iron. She thinks to the party to use their waterskins before drawing her own. Drago charges down the rock face he had been climbing, straight at the nuckelavee, which appears to be unaware of his presence. Crissaegrim rakes against its foul body, opening a large, bloody gash. The first fey reappears, casting a frightful presence, but it has no effect on Neferu. Approaching him, the creature suddenly vomits an oily, sulfurous spew that coats Neferu. A foul coldness seeps into his soul, draining away some of his life. Kelath shoulders past Neferu and advances on the fey. He moves into position and raises his shield in anticipation.   The second creature studies intently and appears to reach some conclusion and attempts to crawl away from Drago, but the action draws an attack from the dhampir. Still, it manages to stand. Neferu calls forth a rain of divine fire (flame strike) which pounds into the creature before Kelath. Kyrrn steps forward and flings her waterskin at her fey attacker. It misses, but the splash catches it, burning its skin and sickening it. She then casts phantom pain from her staff which begins assaulting its mind. Drago moves forward attacking, carving deep into it. The first beast rips into Kelath, leaving the oily substance in his wounds, but it has no effect on him. The creature too appears to study Kelath before advancing on him, but the blow is gives lands only on his shield. Kelath attempts to devise a stratagem, but he is unable to think one through. Instead he moves between the creature and the cliff face and raises his shield once again.   The second nuckelavee steps away from Drago and disgorges a familiar black substance, but it seems to have no effect on him. It does, however, appear to shake off the effects of Drago's and Kyrrn's attacks. Neferu once again rains fire down upon his foe. Nyrrk comes forth and strikes a line of shadow blast on hers and then raises a mystic shield in anticipation of reprisal. Drago steps forward and bleeds it once again. The first fey steps to Kelath and catches him with a massive overhand swing, the blow slamming into his shoulder, nearly cleaving off his arm. It tries another blow, but it skitters off his shield. Pushing through the pain, Kelath returns the favor and slashes the creature as well. Acting quickly, he then lays hands upon himself and heals some of his grievous wounds.   The horse-thing facing off against Drago and Kyrrn pushes Drago back and then swings its sword into him. It then follows up with its jaws, tearing a chunk out of his shoulder. Neferu cups his hands as he powers up his inner radiance torrent. Nyrrk fires three forces missiles into the fey which slam into it. Drago nearly disembowels it, but it does not go down. The first one steps towards Kelath, but is only able to land one blow against him.   The second fey slashes its bastard sword into Drago, but is unable to follow through with its last attacks. A beam of energy explodes from Neferu's hands, blinding light casting off him, and slams into the first monster. Force energy blows out from him, surround him in a cloud of power. Invisible blades of force burst around the second one, issuing from Kyrrn, nearly tearing it to pieces. He says to Drago, "Let's end this distraction," and jumps through time, appearing at the other end of the bridge. Drago strides after and past her, charging toward the last nuckelavee, bringing Crisssaegrim to bear. They exchange sword blows, Drago still pressing his attack. It steps back and lashes out at Drago, landing one blow and missing wildly after. Kelath plans his attack, finds an opening in its defenses, and stabs out with his winged sword. He strikes an inspiring marshal stance.   Neferu lashes barbs of electricity against the last nuckelavee. Kyrrn, with near surgical precision, explodes a ball of fire that catches it and just barely misses hitting Drago and Kelath. The battle ends as the ashes of the last fey are blown away in the wind.   Neferu quickly begins attending to the party's wounds.  

Wealday, Gozran 26, 7411 AR

12.10a

The Fellowship pushes on for two more hours and it seems the closer they get to Hyannis, the more ruined and polluted the landscape appears: dead trees, sulfurous water and the like litter the landscape. The party finds a place to make camp. It is wet and soggy, but the spot is at least living and untouched by the surrounding blight.  

5.30a

During Kelath's watch, he notices a horse moving off to the north about 90 feet away. It appears to be trailing smoke as it moves through the trees. Not seeing him, the creature moves on.  

8.10a

Kyrrn hears the sudden, alarming sound of a pig off to the south, followed soon by the sound a crashing tree. About 150 ft. to the south, she sees and tree top falls. As she wakes the party, the squealing stops.  

8.30a

Giving the area of concern a wide berth, the party gets back on the road to Hyannis and is only about 4 hours out by their estimate.  

10.30a

Drago notices something in the sky, the same winged creature that he spotted before. He describes it to the party but they are unable to discern what it is.  

Outskirts of Hyannis

12.30p

Hyannis is a mining town located on the southern end of the Hungry Mountains. It feels destitute, having a dirty stream of water flowing down the middle of the road. Everyone appears tired, dirty, and disinterested in the group as they make their way through town. The buildings are in various states of disrepair and neglect. The continual smell of sulfur and sewage that they have noticed while on the road is much more intense and ever-present. Drago is able to recall of a band of five mountain dwarves that started this settlement many years ago, running it as a mining town that relies on the various minerals and metals that they bring out of the mine. The dwarf who lead this band, Svingal Halfbeard, is still the leader of the town. The whole town caters solely to the miners that work here and Halfbeard's word is taken as law. A gambling hall, bar, inn, and general store are accounted for. Neferu approaches an old man and asks to be pointed in Halfbeard's direction. He eyes him over and offers a dirty, grimy hand to him. Neferu shakes it as the man begins laughing and hacking. Realizing his error, Neferu offers 3 copper pieces to the man. The man spits out dark phlegm and directs the party to the imperator's hall. They make their way to a collection of shacks where a group of halflings are gathered around. There is a trail that goes north, but it heads to the mountains. They continue on into town, moving past the shacks and halflings where they notice the smell is fresher with the smell of baking bread. Halflings appear working to the east in the middens, carry crates and pulling small carts.   Kyrrn makes her way to one of the shacks where an older woman is manning the oven, asking what she wants without looking. Kyrrn asks for five loaves of bread and pays with a gold, which the woman quickly palms. When asked about where to stay in town, she mentions "Little Lordlings Inn" and "Sin's Roost", but not to go to the latter.   The Fellowship continues on past the halfling shanty town and makes their way into another area of larger buildings, two-storied and the like. Foot traffic consists of dwarves, humans, and a few halflings. They find their way to the "Little Lordlings Inn", but continue on looking for the hall. They come to a jumble of small stalls and shops where a number of people are selling all manner of things, merchants actively hawking their wares of food, drink, and snake oil. Most of the things being sold seem catered to the darker pleasures. Kyrrn reads the air and asks a townsperson how to get to the imperator's hall. They indicate Halfbeard is off to the west, but that it might not be a good idea to find him as he is stubborn at the best of times. They indicate to a large building and that he would be there with his cronies. They also say it would be easier to speak to Lytha Boldbrow, the woman who birthed two of his children as he does pay her mind.    

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