2024/02/07: Searching for an artificer in Thesk Report

General Summary

Nyx, Othar, Malakai, Garrek   We're missing Ash's player, so for this session we're jumping to the other side of the world. Back to Thesk. When is this happening? Sometime not too long after the adventure in Gertaglebrache.   Nyx and Othar, with Garrek in tow, went to Castle Darkstorm to ask Arghent where they might find what they're looking for. (Something to deal with Nyx's very angry chain weapon, Nightscar, and possibly find a wielder for one of the swords Othar is looking for.) Arghent's divination pointed them to a crater in the middle of nowhere. Nyx gave Garrek a block of gold worth some 2000 gold to get him on board for the mission.   Arghent teleported the trio into the flat terrain in the middle of nowhere, with assurances that he'd pick them up again when they were done. The crater was near the drop-off point, and Othar spotted what appeared to be a fallen sign in the middle.   Meanwhile, Malakai was back from his adventure in Darkhome and was working in his forge. One of his followers, Brandolf, told him there were odd-looking adventurers poking around the base of the mountain. They turned out to be the adventurer trio. Malakai went down to say hi and find out if they were there to kill him. They introduced themselves, he started to let them in, and then the group got attacked by a bunch of construct spiders with skulls for abdomens.   Malakai noticed that one of the spiders was whispering "must find the child" while it was doing its best to chew on his head.   Once the spiders had been dispatched, the party headed inside Malakai's mountain to check on the three kids he has in his care. They were all fine. Malakai gave them instructions on how to stay safe and then called Ionrathe because Ion Rathe is known for very enthusiastically protecting kids. Ion Rathe and several members of the Blood (his elite bodyguards) immediately appeared. They told Malakai they'd watch his place while he and the other adventurers went to hunt down whoever was behind the spiders.   While they had the time, Malakai took a look at Nightscar, Nyx's infuriated weapon. Long, liquidy black spiked chain. Sapient, very angry. Mutable. Malakai discovered that there was a person in there, some sort of cursed ghost who had been bound into a weapon. A lot of spite and hatred. He was a warrior at one point and he was imprisoned after he murdered his family because of a spell that made him insane, and he went after the priest who cast the spell but was caught by the priest's colleagues and bound into a chain, which later became cursed. Apparently they were priests of Khazi. Not much of a surprise there, considering the multiple levels of bondage involved.   Malakai considered options for reforming Nightscar into something less horrible for its inhabitant. Nyx offered several gems she'd found in a dungeon in southern Thesk that had apparently belonged to the old evil emperor of Thesk. Garrek, spotting runes on the gems, stopped the handoff, looked closer, and promptly started gruffly interrogating her. Apparently these were artifact-tier craftsmanship, unique heirloom dwarven gems. Not magical, but some craftsdwarves had put their hearts and souls into these. They were priceless. After getting Nyx's answers and giving her a long, considering look, Garrek gruffly informed Nyx that these needed to get back to dwarven hands. And not his; he didn't have the funds to compensate her properly for them.

Rewards Granted

2 xp

Character(s) interacted with

Arghent the White, Brandolf Runeburn, Ion Rathe Derguil, Jeriko, Malakai's apprentice, The Apprentice of Shisui

Notes

Nyx apparently has a white mask and form-fitting armor? And chains, somewhere.   The three kids Malakai is caring for: Shadow dragon (Jeriko), young artificer girl apprentice, young sage (Riku Wakusei, a.k.a. The Apprentice of Shisui).