Session 17: Brothers of Yore Report

General Summary

The Masters of the Nine Elements say their last goodbyes to Holdenglade, with Tony buying new weaponry, Donevan applying for a lease to have his church to Ax built in Greater Withering and the entire party confronting Anton De La Vére on who should run the city as regent whilst they're away in Elgen Isle. Following the blind word of Goron, they set out into the Silver Grove Forest. Around three days subsequent to their departure, Heato suffers a terrible nightmare of Barontyne and Calixis. In the vision, Barontyne learns of the party's activity in Holdenglade, and warns André not to send Ardenyx again, and to instead deal with the rebels himself. And right before he leaves, Barontyne also mentions to "Double efforts on finding the artefact. It could change the tide of the war", resulting in Heato awakening in a cold sweat. That same night, the party are attacked by a roving band of Satyr druids who attempt to rob them using an elemental they casted. Averel utilises his 'Goofy-Ahh Balls' to break their concentration, dismissing the creature.   The next morning, before the party set off once more, Goron explains that he hasn't been entirely truthful: not only does he need the party's help on Elgen Isle but he also wants them to help steal Kairon's body from Ablefell. Reluctant yet intrigued, the Masters of the Nine Elements set off once more in search of Ablefell, a place they never thought they'd have to visit again. And with the help of Marvin Bleak and his Wanderlust Hotel, the journey is a pleasant one.   Upon their arrival, dismal rain soaks the new city, bringing in the harvest season. The city is more callous than ever before, with separatists being executed in the streets, and an equally as cruel governor replacing Ydrenich. Averel, Rostliem, Tony and Heato all attempt to locate where Kairon is being held whilst Donevan journeys back to Ablefell's library of records to find any new information on the name 'Corsair', (perhaps with 'Silverfrost' he was looking in the wrong place). Ultimately, he manages to source a record from 20 BXR, detailing the odyssey of a group of adventurers known as the 'Knights of the Four Corners', consisting of Corsair himself, as well as Orlo Thoronivich - a dwarven barbarian from Torrenheim, Faea Medan - an eladrin druid from Alcyrne (whom Donevan had already met prior in his visions) and Ludvik Levaraine - a human ranger from Ɏntefæhrne. Myths tell that these heroes traveled all of Avalǿn in search of threats and vanquished evil before it could get its claws on the realm. Though all of the events following the Wars of Xandria seem to have been ripped out from the archive.   Meanwhile, the rest of the party find themselves deep below ground, underneath a mausoleum at the edge of the city. In these catacombs they received a guest appearance from Ecan Merimbo, who somehow found himself locked in yet another coffin and befriended a Flameskull named Cindy who was sick of being treated like an outcast. Eventually, they came toe-to-toe with the blight of this mortuary, a vengeful Bodak that fashioned a skin-kite out of one of the groundskeepers. They held their own against it for long enough that Rostliem could polymorph it into a frog, whereby they threw it into a sarcophagus and incinerated it before it could do any further harm. Once they had retrieved Kairon's corpse, the party convened outside the cemetery and began their journey back to the coast. Here, they pass back through Hill Giant territory, Mistbrook Manor and the ruined village of Ayerith, where the party had assembled many moons ago. Goron pays his fees to the Harbormaster at Glintigo Port, allowing for the himself and the party safe passage over the Alta-Nova Sea.   Another nine days pass until the Masters of the Nine Elements finally set foot on Elgen Isle. A thick grey mist covers the island; otherwise emerald green grass has been blackened and much of the wildlife is shriveled and dead. The islanders look pale and downtrodden with dark purple rings below their eyes; faces gaunt and lifeless. Goron explains that a disease only known as Aura Sickness has been spreading amongst the villagers for a number of months with no signs of stopping - he needs the party's help to confirm his suspicions of its cause. Kairon's funeral is arranged for the following night, and when the time comes, all of the islanders gather to send him off into the afterlife - burning candles to light his way and floating him out to sea on a raft beneath the moons. For Kairon, his journey ended where it began: home on Elgen Isle. And forever, he will live on through the hearts of the party as their unforgotten Brother of Yore...   (p.s they don't care)