Session 13-27 Report
General Summary
Sisters and Solidarity - Ep. 13 (6/29/23)
3rd of Nubnohine - 5th of Nubnohine
- Greylyn has a near encounter with her sister Lyssa before the party leaves the Nest, in the company of Elvira.
- Elvira told the party that she hoped to escape Myalo's grasp, and there are others in the nest that wish the same. She offers her ability to go between planes to them, if they help her escape and imprison The Collector, her former captor of three centuries.
- The party discussed the potential allies that can be attained to help fight Marhynth (and possibly Myalo). Of these included Aerah, Greylyn's former cohabitant at the Nest, and the Children of the Dawn.
- The party is teleported with and by Elvira to Heartfield. While Alfredo and Elvira waited safely in a Heartfield tavern, Greylyn and Cinamon journeyed to the Dawnhold.
- On their journey, Grey and Cina came across an odd tavern, named the Cowardly Crow. The tavern is owned by a half-orc woman, named Ka'Ruul, and is heavily enchanted and protected by those enchantments.
- Grey and Cina arrived at the Dawnhold and met with the leader of the Children of the Dawn, Ulric Holmes. The pair negotiated for the Children of the Dawn's help in destroying Marhynth and his kin.
- After Cina and Grey learned of a teleportation circle, they journeyed back to Heartfield, slaying a skeletal giant on their way. When they returned, they found a letter left by Alfredo, telling them that she drew a card from the Deck of Many Things, which gave her the ability to journey to the plane of fire to immediately rescue her mentor.
- Before Alfredo left Cina and Grey to deal with the impending conflicts, she made a second wish to provide the pair with the best help that she could offer. This wish changed the very nature of the Holy Avenger she carried to demonstrate the power of the Matron of Ravens. It remained, waiting to be claimed.
- When Greylyn took the sword, they felt the Matron's presence with her, who then took her into her embrace. The Matron explained that she was repelled from helping Greylyn when their order killed her. She then requested the chance to make amends and offered Greylyn the opportunity to stray away from Myalo's grasp. Taking the hand offered, Greylyn found themselves, once again, in the embrace of the Matron and one step further from Myalo.
- Greylyn and Cinamon found comfort in each other, after the departure of their friend. Cinamon felt the presence of her Angelic Guide, as they shared a moment of pride and love for her companion.
- After waking from their well deserved rest, a raven was found pecking at their window. After letting him inside, it began speaking and offered to enter Greylyn's service as a familiar. He would later be named Actael. It was then that Greylyn renounced the name Quintillios and took the surname Ravensong.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, and Elvira teleported to the Dawnhold and became more familiar with the keep and its occupants. They were introduced to a tiefling woman named Erinysis, a warrior cleric of Nubnos and Lucifer.
- The first formal briefings on the battle to come were held, the plan being a frontal assault by the Children of the Dawn while Cina, Grey, and Erin infiltrated the castle to kill Marhynth.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, Elvira, and Erinysis shared tales of friends they've lost, enemies they've felled, and loves that could never be forgotten.
- The party prepared for the impending march and battle, training with members of the Children of the Dawn and each other.
- They learned what expectations were on them and the Children of the Dawn. They also fought against a band of the Children of the Dawn's strongest fighters to prepare, and they stood victorious in the scrimmage.
- The party began their long march to the Bonefort, traversing the Damned Marshes and large areas of unfamiliar terrain.
- They encountered a collection of swamp-dwelling creatures, including a massive frog-like creature and carnivorous plants while scouting ahead. Without difficulty, they slayed the creatures and cleared the path for the army.
- After the fight, they found themselves surrounded by a large group of Lizardfolk.
- The party stood their ground against the imposing force of Lizardfolk around them, and met with an emissary of their people. They negotiated passage through their lands for the Children of the Dawn and set foundations to ease the lasting tension between the groups.
- The party then made camp just outside of the Bonefort and gathered themselves for the assault, gaining an ally of a capable Rokurveldian fighter.
- The party ascended the looming fortress on wing and broom, awaiting the right moment. As the army below assaulted the gates, the party swept into the top of the castle and began their attack on Mahrynth and his guards.
- During the fight, the party discovered that one of the people in the sanctum that Mahrynth was found in was not actually his ally, and was, in fact, a witch belonging to the Sanguine Coven.
- The party fought the Blood Lord and his servants, weaving great magic and trading blows. Though Mahrynth used his many abilities to deceive the party and conceal himself from them, his many efforts were consistently thwarted by Cina's magic. The blood lord, eventually, had his dignity and pride stripped from him, followed shortly by his life.
- The party then witnessed as the many monstrosities created by Mahrynth grew rapidly weaker after their master was felled, and the Children of the Dawn were then able to push through the front lines and take the rest of the castle.
- While the army of the Children of the Dawn worked their way up the castle, the party worked their way down. They found and freed a collection of prisoners, presumably held as a food source. They also found the Bonesmith's laboratory and the Rune Carvers that craft his monstrosities at his whims.
- The party and the Children of the Dawn slayed the remnants of Mahrynths bloodkin and joined the revels of victory.
- In that first night, Greylyn had her dreams warped to be tools of fear and anxiety by Myalo, while one of his servants skulked in her bedroom, trying and failing to remove her ring of mind shielding.
- Greylyn and Cina awoke, quickly restrained the skulker, and began questioning him. While they gathered valuable information from the interrogation, Erinysis checked in on Elvira, finding her badly wounded and slowly bleeding out. Getting there in time, Elvira was able to be saved.
- Cina dispatched the skulker, and the group soon discovered that Ulric had planned for Myalo to attack the fort once it was taken.
- The party sought out an old acquaintance of Greylyn, a powerful vampire witch named Aerah, for assistance in the coming battle.
- In their bargaining, they were tested by Aerah in a horrific dreamscape. They witnessed horrific creations of Aerah's mind and distorted memories of their own. In this, they discovered a link between Myalo's heart and the Ruby of Arethor, a necromantic relic.
- Cina was reminded of the homes of her youth, creating some feelings of need to return to them.
- Greylyn was shown and tested by her former imprisonment by Myalo, a memory which she shattered with her resolve.
- After the pair triumphed over the challenges set forth, Greylyn was offered a deal by Aerah, displaying the power of a Daemogoth, which was accepted. Greylyn then saw a dark spot form on her palm, a mark of this new pact.
- Aerah agreed to help the group with the impending battle by weakening the magic of Myalo's warlocks.
- In the week following the meeting with Aerah, Greylyn and Cinamon prepared for what is to come, while Erinysis left the keep with a group from Children of the Dawn to negotiate for aid from the Lizardfolk of the Damned Marshes.
- Greylyn trained with the warriors and even Ulric, himself. Ulric promised retribution to Greylyn, should her actions lead to the harm of his people, not acknowledging the hypocrisy of the thought.
- Grey sent Actael as a messenger to speak with Myalo. The veil that Myalo had drawn over Greylyn's eyes was only briefly seen again before he showed his true self, laughing at the mere thought of valuing Greylyn how she should have always been.
- Cina worked with Sylvia and her mages, preparing for the battle, but also finding comfort in her company. Sylvia offered some guidance and opportunity to Cina for her magic.
- Cina and Greylyn made good use of the castle's wine cellar.
- The morning of the expected battle, Magister Clorid arrived at the castle's battlements, dragging the near corpse of one of Myalo's soldiers. He explained to the party that he had been tracking them and had worked his way through several of Marynth's and Myalo's foot soldiers to find them.
- Cina, Grey, Elvira, and Clorid reminisced on fond memories and told stories of great accomplishment over wine and bread.
- The gut wrenching sound of a horn resonated through the keep's walls. The battle was here.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, and Elvira stood shoulder to shoulder on the battlements with the archers and mages, while Clorid waited below with the vanguard.
- Cinamon and Greylyn saw the face of war. Many fell at their hand and beside their shoulders before they watched Elvira and Sylvia pulled deep behind enemy lines by magic.
- As Clorid cut his way through the lines below, Cina and Grey flew ahead.
- Greylyn first marked her sister in blood, Lyssa, as her quarry. The two fought, Grey nearly laying her low in a matter of seconds, but then being struck with a barrage of blades from Myalo's Deathguard. Surrounded on all sides and pinned, Cina healed Grey through the quite literal connection of their love and incapacitated Lyssa in a moment of swift arcana. Vulnerable and exposed, Lyssa was soon struck down by Grey, her last words being in gratitude of Grey finally giving her peace.
- Ulric charged through the field, tackling Myalo through a portal made by Elvira, buying some time for Grey and Cina to cut through his forces.
- Clorid cut through several of Grey's bloodkin on their flank, including Nicolai and Sandor, the twins most hated by Grey. Cina kept both Elvira and Grey alive amidst constant harm coming to them, while also cutting through many of the Deathguard and soldiers with the outpouring of radiant energy that she brought with her. Grey fought, toe-to-toe with her bloodkin, protecting her loved ones with every mighty blow.
- Myalo soon returned to find his forces dwindling, but his rabid need to see Greylyn suffer did not wane for even a moment. Myalo first attempted to slay Elvira and Cina in one fell swoop but found his spell countered by the trio of goth girl mages; Cina, Elvira, and Sylvia. Cina drew his ire away from Grey to buy her time, fighting him and two of his Deathguard in melee. Myalo sunk his teeth into Cina's neck in an arrogant display to Grey, only to find Cina teleporting away long before he could make her the meal he hoped for. She then completely destroyed what remained of Myalo's Deathguard and mages. Greylyn dashed towards her former master, blade ready to cut him down. She cut deep and wounded him greatly with each blow but she was rebuked by Myalo's savagery, nearly falling herself. She found an opening to pull from his grasp as Clorid charged him to take his swings. Cina mended some of Grey's wounds, as Grey did the same for Elvira. Sylvia, bursting with volatile magic, threw everything she had at Myalo, to find him still standing with his grin. The time Clorid bought them was deeply needed, but had great cost as Myalo eventually felled him. Elvira and Sylvia now bleeding into the dirt, Clorid and Ulric's bodies losing their warmth, Cina and Grey found themselves alone with Myalo. The two unleashed everything they had at him and he met them in-kind. As he watched the life leaving Cinamon and Greylyn, Myalo knew his victory was before him. In this final moment of arrogance, Cinamon drew upon a power he knew not she held, becoming a beacon of the Matron's Celestial power. With her body and blade imbued with divine and arcane power, she cut Myalo down to his knees, leaving him just alive enough to watch Greylyn carve his beating heart out of his chest.
- Cina rushed to heal Elvira and give the spark of life back to Clorid and Ulric. They all watched as the Lizardfolk reinforcements and Children of the Dawn finished off what was left of Myalo's army, what few remained scattering into the darkness. Myalo was no more.
- In the wake of the battle, those who lived still wore the blood of their comrades and enemies alike. The healers and clerics tended to the wounded and honored the dead.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, and Clorid also tended to them. Clorid helped those that were wounded, while Grey and Cina gave rites and honors to the dead. They both felt the presence of their god, as did all who looked upon them.
- Grey and Ellie talked on a roof about the traumas of the past and the hopes for the future.
- Grey and Cina found their comfort in each other's arms and the cups of their warm tea. Ellie was later introduced to the wonders of tea by the pair.
- Grey, Cina, and Ellie said their goodbyes, mending fences with Ulric as they turned down a lordship, receiving parting gifts from him and Sylvia, and seeing Clorid off to find his new adventure in what remains of the Nest.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, and Elvira began their journey home. They revisited the Cowardly Crow, the divinely protected tavern run by Ka'Rul.
- Greylyn spoke directly to the Raven Queen when the Matron reached out to her in her dreams. She apologized and admitted that she failed to protect Greylyn when she was killed by her comrades. She offered Greylyn a chance to be something new, and the offer was accepted. Greylyn deepened her vow to the Raven Queen and was reborn anew, finding that the fangs and endless hunger were gone.
- Elvira awoke to find her body different as well, as the Matron also restored what life she could to her, removing the curse of undeath from her. Elvira became immediately fascinated with what this meant, taking a long (long) shower for the first time and learning about food.
- Cina, Grey, and Ellie met a mysterious traveler in the tavern, who eventually revealed that he was a ranger sent to track Grey and Cina. He told them he was paid by a Death Herald that had a grudge against them. He shared what he could about the potential danger ahead and went on his way.
- The trio later encountered the Death Herald and his trap, slaying more than a dozen undead and the Death Herald himself. Though they were wounded and exhausted by this, they knew they had tied up one of the few remaining loose ends in the Dead Lands. They all then returned to the Cowardly Crow to get rested and cleaned up before venturing off again.
- In her sleep, Cinamon was visited by her patron. She found the conversation to be far less hospitable, as some of the truths about how their pact was formed came to light. Cina was reminded of their power structure, but also felt a separate source of power not linked to Z.
- Cina and Grey had one last night of comfort together before embarking again on the journey back. Elvira tried bacon.
- The three made their way through Heartfield and Boneveil, sharing the news of the fallen Blood Lords with the town leadership and preparing the Dead Lands for what is to come. Greylyn threatened a teenager (for the last time).
- On their way to a temple to the Matron, Ellie was nearly charmed away from them into a trap by an assassin from the Usurper. Cina and Grey stopped it in time, spotted the assassin, and eventually banished him back to the Shadowfell.
- Cinamon, Greylyn, and Elvira went to the temple of the Matron in Heartfield. Elvira sat with Cinamon outside the temple; Actael sat with Mort.
- Greylyn met with the priestess and the accompanist of that temple, finding that a prayer for a sign was answered. The accompanist shared that they heard tale of the Raven Knights to the north and Greylyn shared what she knew of the Usurper. Glimpses of what is to come crossed their minds. Cina found herself gazed upon by many ravens while waiting outside.
- Cina, Grey, and Ellie teleported into the wastes of the Dead Lands, bringing them straight to the doorstep of the Collector.
- The three ventured through his dungeon, avoiding traps, solving linguistic puzzles, and unlocking his many trophy rooms. In each room they found the many captives that the Collector still held, all creatures of power from other planes. Ellie felt the true weight of her trauma resurface as she walked the halls.
- Cina and Grey communicated with and freed all those they could, finding an unlikely pairing of a Planetar and a Horned Devil being forced to fight on the same side. As they went forward, an unsprung trap was sprung, allowing a Neothillid to escape its enclosure. The angel and devil fought it back while the trio went onward.
- They encountered the Collector, seeing his weakened state, yet still recognizing the horror and hatred he held in his heart. Cina and Grey occupied him, finding their prowess to far exceed his, while Ellie completed the incantation to imprison him. The three reigned victorious, now holding the Collector sealed in a gem.
- On their way out of the dungeon, Cina came face to face with the last of the Collector's trophies. One which she was familiar with from her childhood. The Atropol remained in magical stasis as the three left the halls and collapsed it on itself; a terrible evil sealed away forever.
- The three then brought the gem to the Children of the Dawn for temporary safe keeping, until they find a proper volcano. All things in order, they sought passage out of the Dead Lands at Grim Landing.
- Al fought through the City of Brass and eventually found and saved Giuseppe. The two visited the Knead and Knot together, passing it to Toni. Al then accompanied Guiseppe to his homeland, to allow him to find peace in his final years.
- Clorid journeyed with the Children of the Dawn to the Nest, destroying all who remained loyal to Myalo, but sparing a small few that either came with them as prisoners or as prospective warriors for their ranks.
- Erinysis left the Children of the Dawn soon after the Battle of the Bonefields. She journeyed East, across the sea on her next divine mission for her gods.
- Dari, the head of the Floggers, found a much needed boom in business hunting monsters as the dispersal following the fall of the Blood Lords came. Occasionally, she notices a Dhampir in her bar and is reminded of Greylyn. Gordon, the young servant boy to the Governor of Boneveil, is also reminded of Greylyn frequently, though he does not enjoy them quite as much as Dari.
- After the survivors of the caravan, goats included, arrived at Grave Hill with their message, Onvyr or "One" became more hands-on in giving aid to the village, in hopes to secure it. Eventually, a rider from the south, carrying a message, informed him and the rest of the village of the recent demise of the three Blood Lords slain by the party. Hearing that Mahrynth, the vampire who hunted Onvyr, was no longer an issue, he decided he would leave the village to its own devices. While he attempted to sneak out in the cover of darkness, he found one of the goats that came back with the caravan had gotten loose and got through the gate. Hearing it bleat in the darkness, he felt he had to bring it back to the village. By the time the lock on its gate was secured, Onvyr had decided that he would stay to help the town. One week later, he revealed his true nature to the town, but the village still revered him nearly as they would a god. The village now makes the best cheese in the Dead Lands.
- The Dead Lands will likely always be. It would take immense power to change that. However, the lives of those who must live in its shadows have had their lives changed for the better in a meaningful way for the first time. The Angels of the Dead Lands touched many lives on their short journey, and they will always be remembered.
Rewards Granted
Way too many magic items and far too much gold.
Cinamon Hadalia
()
8 / 8 HP
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Report Date
10 Dec 2023
Primary Location
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