Session 23 "Goodbye Agony" Report

General Summary

...the Raven's Alliance sets up camp for the night and for what seems like ages enjoys the quiet and solitude of the desert night. Lillyanna and Isaac examine the stone recovered earlier in the day finding a pull from her necklace. Stepping away from her sleeping allies and under the watchful eye of Isaac and Gunthar she reads from her mother's journal stating the strange words found within. Isaac, having heard the same gutteral tone in an earlier vision watches on as the small acorn flashes a brilliant green and falls to the ground. Bending to retrieve it, Lillyanna finds an expertly cut emerald in it's place. As she returns to the group Isaac and Lillyanna feel the stones pulse intensely as if calling to each other. Spending the time to examine it closer he discovers it is in fact the Bone of Derina exactly as described in his journal. After which the party continues to rest and rises with the sun to proceed on towards home. The Raven's Alliance travels through the day with the unbearable heat of the desert sun beating down on them. On the horizon heading quickly in their direction from the north a wicked sand storm is approaching them. Meanwhile several miles away Sordrin, an Isto warrior leads her small patrol after a group of individuals that have left a wake of destruction. The Raven's Alliance finding a small oasis with several ruins around quickly take shelter and prepare to weather the incoming storm. Battered by the blowing wind and sand the take shelter amongst the ruins and large boulders in the area. Minutes pass that feel like hours with the sand stinging their eyes and skin but eventually pass. As the storm blows over in the distance they hear a female calling "Brother!" The party moves cautiously forward to investigate finding Isaac's sister Delilah with a group of orcs, a large monstrosity, and several undead dressed in armor and crimson cloaks. Skipping ahead she spots her brother and begins to taunt him. The party quickly flies into action with Lillyanna securing Rosaria to safety. Gunthar calls upon Bieshulla to aid and causes fear in many of the gathered enemy. Sordrin leading her Crimson Company members on quickly pick up the trail thanks to aid of the Eimlaq ranger, Tyuka and charge forward soon finding two groups in the midst of combat. Charging her mount forward the Isto expertly vaults from the back and into the fray. Delilah using the Tear of Thorizun quickly brings Gunthar under her control and then disappears as her forces spread out assaulting the members of the Raven's Alliance and the new comers. One by one the enemy fall under the withering attacks of the Raven's Alliance and their new allies eventually able to overwhelm Delilah with Guthar striking the final blow. As her body falls there is a flash of teal with an echoing reverberation through the ground. With her last breath she grabs Isaac's pants leg and smiles "He's coming" as her final breath leaves her. After stripping the body and finding the pieces of Rockwell, Gunthar drags the body and begins to raise into a nearby tree. Right as he finishes with Isaac calling for them to run their world goes black with only Sordrin seeing the figure of Tallus Rain standing before them. With seething anger he makes it known that this will not be the day for them to die and they will pay a hefty price for the murder of his daughter. Gunthar challenges the tiefling and steps from the darkness and the two large figures exchange blows. Not willing to let their dragonborn friend face Isaac's father alone the rest of the group joins the fray. Soon Tallus' dragon joins the battle and the party is hard pressed. Hurt by the vicious assault Tallus runs for the dragon mounting it as it turns and breathes it's shadowy fire striking Rowan, Gunthar, and Sordrin laying them all low. The dragon takes flight with his rider and begins to rise as Galaser, a cleric under Sordrin's command runs to the aid of the fallen. Gunthar awakened tries to quickly revive Rowan finding him cold and unbreathing. Isaac angered unleashes radiant bolts at his fleeing father striking him causing him to fall from the dragon. The dragon not willing to fight further quickly changes direction and strikes at Isaac as it flies off. The party quickly is revived and find that Rowan has passed from the world. Rowan soon finds himself on the plane of Hombelor with a winding staircase ahead of him. Midway up stands a male gnome who beckons him forward to which Rowan soon finds he stands face to face with Rafferson. The god is surprised to see Rowan and then leads him through a doorway to where Abraz his wife awaits. The goddess of luck and fate watches as they approach and tells Rowan that he is earlier then expected. With a quick word with her husband it is determined that fate would be the deciding factor and flips the coin of fate in Rowan's behalf. The coin falls and Rowan's fate to stay in the paradise he is afforded with the goddess Abraz. He is allowed to return to say his goodbyes but time is short. Galaser attempts to revive Rowan unable to understand why her magic is not working as the spirit of Rowan Smiggles appears and explains to his friends that he is now at peace and home. Solemnly they say their goodbyes with Slinger even more in question of the motives of the gods. The Raven's Alliance prepare the small gnomes body and prepare to send him on his final journey. Wood is prepared in the oasis with Tuddles the ferret showing for the first time affection for his fallen master. With the help of Lillyanna, Isaac takes the pack and places the ferret in it with promise to care for it. Rowan's body is laid on the pyre and Lillyanna prepares to light the fire. Isaac in honor of his friend turns the flames bright pink as the flame alights the wood and their fallen friend. With the fire burning through the night, Gunthar hears from the Deismos that a new development has occured and they would see them in the port. Watching over the pyre of their friend the Raven's Alliance along with the Crimson Company trio rest and tend to their wounds.....