Session 14: ♫What do you say to a drunken jailor?♫ Report
General Summary
We began with Roisin Marshfield still reeling from the disturbing message she had just received. Jeeves returned at this time, and the group discussed a bit about some history regarding the Linibian Calendars During the Friend Times, and some of the events of the prior era. Particularly the party discussed the terrible army of constructs that saved the people of the Linibian States from the Korth Horde, but also became uncontrollable and nearly destroyed all life. It seems Roisin Marshfield's father, Alathius Marshfield, has found a way to unseal the Iron Fortress and is now preparing to claim the Iron Throne and the force of constructs within. Roisin Marshfield explained that her father has a small force of these constructs he calls "The Hunters", and that they will be sent to hunt the group down. After this the priest suddenly asked a very intense question about how Roisin Marshfield was described. He seemed very intent on the exact words. When Roisin Marshfield informed him that she had been told "The Rose Must Die By Her Own Thorns", the old Dragonborn became very sad, and explained that there is a prophecy that one would arise, a Rose, who would be betrayed, who would be defended by her thorns, and would face horrors from beyond reality, abominations with no place in the world. He spoke to the party and Trysor , and Jeeves , seemed to be making light of the situation and the dragonborn roared in anger, and blew a massive sheet of flame across the room above their heads, terrifying then and sending Trysor , Jeeves , and Roy rushing to the back of the room where they cowered in fear. The old priest spoke kindly to Roisin Marshfield, and offered her and her troop a powerful blessing. Roisin Marshfield agreed, and the party gathered close. The old priest incanted for a few minutes, calling upon The Source in prayer. The entire party then saw divine radiance settle upon them, and it felt like their very souls were being burned to ash. All but Jeeves suffered this pain willingly, but Jeeves resisted and threw off the radiance. The others glowed so brightly that Jeeves was unable to withstand it and was blinded by the light. Moments later those who had suffered the radiance found they were no longer subject to fear of any kind, and could more strongly resist attempts to control their minds; sadly Jeeves resistance prevented receiving the blessing. The group were all shocked to see the old priest step back, sit upon the floor, and die before their eyes, the last of his life expended upon this blessing. Roy asked if anyone else received a message, and Trysor admitted he received his own message that he must return Roisin Marshfield within a week or his life, and those of the entire party would be forfeit. Roisin Marshfield still felt that she should retrieve her last "Thorn", Quirico , who was last seen some hours before headed to see the captain of the guard and bring him back to this hallowed place soon. The group regathered their wits, and began to make their way to the guard headquarters and city jail.
Arriving at the city jail and guard headquarters, the group learned that Quirico was imprisoned. The watch captain, Shastwick, was dismissive and kept asserting that the situation was not their problem anymore. They insisted that the "insane" Quirico would be executed in the morning and this was all for the best. They even went so far as to express pity on the party members for "selflessly taking care" of their companion. The debate went back and forth, but captain Shastwick always turned every point back into agreement that Quirico must be executed. Roisin Marshfield finally spoke up and Shastwick reacted quite differently, as he realized he now faced the Princess, Tyrant of the White Realm (a new title, thanks to her father's recent actions). He addressed her by her titles, but continued to interpret her every argument as agreement with the pre-determined course of action. Roisin Marshfield suddenly realized she could pardon the man, thanks to her position, and declared a pardon; demanding he be brought out immediately. Papers were brought and she formally pardoned Quirico for all past crimes. This angered Shastwick who muttered an insult toward Roisin Marshfield as he stepped back before ordering Quirico released. Poor Quirico was obviously mistreated terribly and severely injured when he was brought forth. The innocent man had clearly had his eyes removed and the socket burned out; an act of torture rarely seen in civilized lands. Roisin Marshfield began to seethe, and demanded Quirico 's posessions be returned. When the equipment was brought out it became clear that his fantastically valuable armor, his inheritance from his infamous past, had been stolen and replaced with shabby iron chain. Trysor began by asking that Quirico 's armor be returned, but Shastwick again insisted that this was it, and became quite sarcastic again. Trysor , in turn spoke harshly to Shastwick who continued to lie and attempted to intimidate the entire group. Continuing to grow more and more angry, and unsettled by the actions of this cat, Shastwick stabbed Trysor violently. Roisin Marshfield roared out a "STOP" at this, and a pair of guardsmen pulled Shastwick back immediately. Roisin Marshfield called out imperiously, playing the role of her title as Tyrant of the White Realm, and simply ordered the guardsmen to take Shastwick's head.
Enough, your crimes are beyond bearing. Guards, take his head.This was done, immediately, and a different guardsman then stepped up and asked for orders. Roisin Marshfield ordered them to return Quirico 's armor, which was done without hesitation this time. The new, they presumed, captain of the guard explained that the city would pay to have Quirico healed at the temple, and apologized for the mistreatment. The new man explained that there was a personal issue between Shastwick and Quirico , and that had driven the man to behave in this entirely unacceptable manner.
The group then asked about the problem with the caravans, the original reason that Quirico had come to this place. The guard captain explained that little was known, except that the caravans generally were found up to a day travel north, or a couple days south, and there was almost never anything left except the occaasional few gnawed bones. The guard captain seemed both extremely surprised, and quite confused, that the Princess might choose to assist the city personally. It would be much more in line with expectations that she should demand safe escort at the expense of the city instead.
Their companion freed and his equipment recovered, the party returned to the temple of The Source Ascendant, and found that a different priest, a gnome who appeared quite elderly, even by the standards of that extremely long-lived people. Krathlak's still form remained seated peacefully upon the dais, and the gnome priest invited Quirico to step forward. When Quirico was led near the dais, Krathlak's spirit rose from his form, and the radiant light settled upon Quirico . Uncharacteristically, Quirico accepted the blessing, despite the terrible pain involved, and once the blessing was complete, Krathlak's spirit departed to The Source and his body turned to fine dust that blew away in a phantom breeze. The gnome priest then offered healing, per instructions from the city watch delivered shortly before the party arrived. The priest called upon The Source for powerful restoration and healing, and then led Quirico to a meditation chamber to rest while his body was restored through the powerful assistance of The Source. While Quirico was healing, the priest asked Roisin Marshfield what should be done with the body of the disgraced Shastwick, should it be given last rights or disposed of without them. Roisin Marshfield vacillated a bit; initially denying the request, but she was finally persuaded to allow holy rights to be performed so that the body would remain deceased and not return as one of the foul Undying to threaten the city. With their friend healed and his eyesight restored, the group retired to their rooms at the Raynite's Rest for a well earned night's sleep. Roisin Marshfield, having rested recently, dozed some, but did not sleep deeply at all, and experienced strange, but not nightmarish, dreams.
Awakening in the morning, rested and recovered, the group met for an early breakfast where a spider tried to bite Roisin Marshfield. Fortunately, Jeeves noticed the arachnid and clubbed it to mush instantly, but it splattered on his ankle and Roisin Marshfield's dress, poisoning him, and nearly poisoning Roisin Marshfield. Jeeves grabbed the remaining whisky and poured it over the mess to ensure Roisin Marshfield was cleaned up, then Roy use magic to remove the whisky stain and smell from Roisin Marshfield's dress. Finally ready for their day, the party proceeded quickly to the Trader's area outside the citadel approximately an hour's walk. On arriving they learned that of the two caravans present, one was leaving headed South in about ten minutes. They approached the caravan master, an Half Orc named Slakrad and asked if they might accompany the caravan as additional guards. Slakrad was highly confused, why would a princess guard a caravan, surely she meant be guarded by the caravan, as was her right. It took a bit to convince him, but he turned out to be sharper than they expected and agreed that he would "Invite the Princess and her Companions to travel with the caravan for safety, in the middle where it was safest" and, with a bit of reshuffling to make room, the caravan headed out upon the three week journey south to the Skulldigger's Haven (Schädelgräberhafen). The first day's travel was oddly quiet, the group had learned to expect strange and dangerous events in these lands, but nothing interesting happend and the caravan made good progress. The entire contingent seemed on edge when, just before sundown, Jeeves noticed a shimmering in the air ahead and the group spread out. Suddenly, without warning, the three Gorgon appeared out of nothing and began turning guards to statues with their horrific breath.
Roy reacted quickly and sent a looming shadow towards the nearest enemy, but missed his target. It was but a moment later and nearly a dozen guards were slowly petrifying as all three creatures exhaled noxious arcane fumes. Behind them, the party could hear yet more screams as even more of the creatures assaulted the long caravan behind. Everyone in the group, except Quirico , was likewise exposed to the fumes and began to feel their flesh solidify, their dire situation only beginning to dawn on them. Quirico , filled with fury, rushed to the nearest creature and, in a surge of effort, dealt a shattering series of five blows, though not all penetrated the layered iron plates. The guards backed away if they could, and let loose a flurry of crossbow bolts, some of which even made it through the tough armored exterior of these creatures. Trysor returned to his natural form, shaking off the petrifying effect, and rushed in to strike with his powerful claws, despite the painful consequences of attacking iron plates with mere claws. Boris called forth a powerful divine storm of lightning to bring divine retribution upon these corrupted things and rebuke their accursed existence, striking one with a powerful bolt as the clouds raged overhead. Sadly, this was Boris ' last act as the stalwart halfling succumbed to the arcane fumes and turned to stone. At Roisin Marshfield's direction Trysor attempted, again, to strike the horror before him and, thanks to Quirico 's distraction, managed to slip under the plates to slice a connecting fiber. Roisin Marshfield then managed to throw off the petrifying effect, to much relief. Jeeves acted next, and fired two arrows from his masterfully crafted bow, but both glanced off the creature's hard iron-plate "skin". Sadly, Jeeves was unable to withstand the magical fumes and his flesh became limestone as he became another statue for these creatures to destroy. Roy cast a strange magical spell and simply disappeared, and the creatures then trampled some of the pertified guards, shattering the statues and beginning to consume the powdered remains.
Notes
Roy
Quirico
Jeeves
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