Episode 62 - At the End of the Road of Thorns

General Summary

• A huge (18’ tall, 6000 lbs) glabrezu named Mokravud was sitting cross-legged outside the secure shelter when the Guardians woke up, occasionally tossing pebbles against the door. Once Mokravud noticed them emerge from the shelter, he quickly rose and greeted them in a disturbingly welcoming and pleasant voice. He held forward a large bag in one of his pincers, shaking it to show that it was filled with what sounded like coins. Mokravud then made the party an offer, a no-brainer in his opinion. He knew the Guardians had come to Tanglebriar to deal with the Winter Council. Glabrezu had the power to grant wishes to mortals. All they had to do was to wish away the protective wards that kept demons out of Thorn's End, and in return, Mokravud would not only take care of the Council for them but give them the sack of coins as well. The Guardians would not have to cross the swamp, or even get their hands dirty.
• The party refused and combat ensued.
• Quilindra then led the Guardians across three miles of inhospitable terrain. Five hours later, they emerged outside the ruins of an old tower.
• The courtyard before the main doors of the castle swarmed with demons. Overseeing the squabbling, howling mob was a single bloated nalfeshnee demon named Viggrizzur. Lurking in the yard with Viggrizzur were many lesser demons, all of whom feared the nalfeshnee enough to limit their squabbling and bickering and fighting to a dull roar.
• As the group approached, Quilindra assumed her natural succubus form and was greeted with open arms and rounds of applause by the demonic host. Beaming with pride, she told Viggrizzur she brought some folks that were going to get rid of the Winter Council for them.
• Viggrizzur ordered the demons to stand down. He asked if the Guardians would be interested in doing him a favor— simply go into this tower and talk to the elves within and convince them to lower their defenses. In return, he promised the Guardians that they could have all of the treasure inside the tower. Viggrizzur wanted Thorn’s End gone. The demons couldn’t get in, but they could outlive the elves that they lay siege to. Time will guarantee the demons will be victorious. Eventually, they will sunder the building into dust and reclaim the land for Treerazer. The elves, however, don’t need to be there. Kill them, deal with them, Viggrizzur didn’t care which. Just get rid of the elves.
• The demons parted, allowing the party to approach the front door. They knocked on the filth-caked iron doors. The door was quickly opened and the Guardians rushed in. The corrupted satyrs behind them threw spears made of sharpened bones at the opening hoping to kill some of the elves inside.
• While his man was being tended to by Godric, the captain of the guards addressed the party. The captain named Armistril wore gleaming armor and wielded a cold iron longsword and a heavy shield that bore the image of a wolf’s head. He clearly struggled to remain composed and wanted to know who the Guardians were. The Guardians introduced themselves and said they wanted to speak to the Winter Council. Armistril told them that the Council had been miserable and sequestered themselves away, having not spoken in years, not since “the incident.” But today a meeting was called, and on that same day a group of adventurers who appeared to have the good graces of an army of demons, passed through that army unscathed and knock on the doors of Thorn’s End. Coincidence?
• Armistril told the party he was going to retrieve the Commander-in-Chief and she could decide what to do.
• Six guards remained in the Great Hall, keeping an eye on the Guardians while they wandered around the room. There were several old portraits hanging on the wall, all identified as the most recent members of the Winter Council. Plaques on the portraits’ bases read, from right to left, “Perelir,” “Arlindil,” “Hialin,” “Malindil,” “Auramesties,” and “Lasdolon” The portrait identified as Lasdolon was shredded in its frame, but holding the pieces together revealed an elf with blue peacock hair.
• Rooker found another picture, one in a simple frame, that had been hidden away behind a tapestry. It appeared to be a group portrait - a family picture of Winter Council members Malindil Stormblade, her brother Lasdolon Stormblade, and Lasdolon’s wife Loriana, a cleric of Desna.
• The doors opened and Armistril returned. With his was a tall elven woman in golden armor. She identified herself as Malindil Stormblade, Commander-in-Chief of Thorn's End, and demanded to know what the party was doing here.
• Rooker made a disparaging comment about her brother. Malindil became enraged, drew her blade, and demanded to know what they knew about her brother. The six guards and Armistril also drew their blades.

Rewards Granted

Loot

• A sack filled with 5000gp.

XP

210,519 + 20,160 = 230,679 XP!

Ding Level Twelve!

Missions/Quests Completed

• Reached Thorn's End.
• Discovered Quilindra's true nature.
• Discovered Lasdolon's connection to the Winter Council.

Campaign

Second Darkness

Protagonists

Reh

Telith Nordhof

Sir Godric

Rooker Shango

Report Date

07 Jun 2020