Session 159 - "Becoming the Hunted"
General Summary
The Fellowship remembers that the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye left them with packages and letters:
The Fellowship returns to the stables to inquire of the Dark Riders' horses. Kelath approaches Clanartus on the pretext of checking on the Fellowship's own horses. Old Clan asks for their assistance with an old wagon, Bertha, in helping to replace a wheel. Kelath, the Unworthy Soul, and Kyrrn enter a small barn to assist him, but his actions begin feeling suspicious. Kelath engages him in conversation and remarks to Kyrrn that the area seems staged and that there is an odd, old smell. Kyrrn begins sensing the thoughts of another. Kelath insists Clan gets some of his own hired hands to help. Clan begins making his way out when he sudden begins to shut the door. Kelath utters a battle cry as an undead creature appears disgorges a viscous substance at the Soul from its mouth, splattering him. Some of it gets in his mouth and he immediately feels sickened. Another rises up and projectile vomits at Kelath. X charges forward and attempts to strike at Old Clan, but the once elder man immediately dodges away as his visage begins running off his face like wax, revealing a half-skull mask beneath. Kyrrn amps a telekinetic rend, catching the three foes, but the masked man appears to be able to avoid it some. She snaps a shield into place. Clanartus feints at X before viciously driving a blade into his belly and then closes the barn door. Neferu reopens the door as the Soul steps up but is unable to land a blow. Kelath moves into closer position to one of the ghouls.
The first ghoul once again vomits on the Soul, the liquid burning deeply, sickening him further. The ghoul adjacent to Kelath attempts to attack him, but only lands with a claw, which it also grabs him with. X lays in with a flurry of steel at the Once-Clan, rendering him unable to react to his next strike, slashing him deeply. Kyrrn unleashes and Nyrrk flings a tool at the first ghoul, following up with a psi burst. Clanartus once again dances his blades around X, landing a blow under his guard. Cut in several places, X's wounds freely bleed. Once again the assassin closes the barn door, but X and the Soul make him pay for this, landing opportunistic blows. Neferu opens the door yet again and quickly heals and stems X's flow of blood. Kelath carefully plans his attack and slashes the ghoul before laying hands on himself.
The first ghoul once again vomits onto the Soul and continues to sicken. The second one rips into Kelath with his jaws and claws and a sudden freeze begins traveling up his limbs. X is able to land a single blow on Clan. Nyrrk coldly calculates the threats and unleashes a torrent of magic missiles. Most of them find their mark on Clanartus, which send him slumping to the ground, the lower half of his face sloughing off. The last two strike the ghoul on Kelath as Nyrrk departs. Neferu enters the barn and quickly attends to Kelath's wounds. The Soul steps to face the first ghoul.
The ghoul claws the Soul paralyzing him and scoring deep gouges. Neferu suddenly slumps to the ground as the Unworthy Soul disappears. The second ghoul continues pressing his attack against Kelath. X strides to it and is able to land a glancing blow. Rushing to Neferu, Kyrrn pulls out a vial from her belt pouch and pours a healing potion into his mouth. Kelath regains control of his limbs and visits vicious retribution on his ghoulish attacker.
Regaining consciousness, Neferu sights down on the first ghoul, but it shrugs off the bright lance of energy that springs forth from his hand. He then quickly puts his healing hands to his own use. The ghoul then runs past Kyrrn, hissing as it goes to open the back door. The second ghoul releases Kelath and begins to move away from the group and takes off through the front door. X sprouts wings and charges through the back door to block the creature's escape. Kyrrn tries but ineffectually flings spells at the fleeing ghoul. Kelath gives chase after the undead as well.
- Kelath is gifted a glittering held that was bourn his commander at Lastwall, Lord Nigel. It was one of the symbols of the Battalion of the Golden Fist.
- Kyrrn is given information on the Cult of the Black Goat that is devoted to the Outer God Shub-Niggurath and that the Watcher in the Bay may actually be an aspect of this perverse fertility god.
- Velexander shares the following, "We offer knowledge as a sign of good faith. Natisha Pavalanis, a minor noble from Caliphas, seems to be behind the recent assassination attempts. Unsure what has prompted this, but know that we have reason to believe she is a vampire with powerful allies and access to many resources. Moreover, we have reason to believe she is connected to the Whispering Way. She has been "overheard" mentioning a trip to Virlych. If we find out more we will communicate to you. Use this information cautiously. If she wants to stop you from assisting the Fellowship of the Sun, then that is all the more reason to complete it. Khu Ba Heteph"
Oathday, Gozran 28, 4711 AR
Thrushmoor
12:02p
The Fellowship decides to try and approach the Count posing as others that are also interested in learning more about the Watcher in the Bay.The Silver Wagon
The main road into town is called Silver St. and is where the inn is located as are the Broken Compass stables, which run by Old Clanartus (Old Clan). The Spike, a tap house run by Emman Gulston, is downstairs while the inn is upstairs. People are putting up ribbons and decorations in preparation for the Festival of Lanterngeist, a harvest festival celebrate throughout Versex. It's popular to have lanterns and bonfires in an attempt to hold off evil. The group makes its way to Fort Hailcourse and begins to notice that there are guards for the town and others specific to the Fort. Kyrrn notices these are non-native guards, Drumish mercenaries. They are from the Kalistocracy of Druma, a nation of merchants, south of Lake Encarthan. It is common practice for other nations/rich people to hire Drumish mercenaries --- well trained, loyal. The society is semi-permeated at every level by the region of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, a supposed series of dream-records which are all about making profit.Fort Hailcourse
12.31p
At the entrance to the fort, Kelath approaches the guards and asks how to report a missing person, their man Swany, and is pointed to the captain on duty. The guard takes an initial statement and asks if they knew anything about the fire at Rozenport. X comments on them being Drumish mercenaries. Kelath also asks about the Dark Riders and the guard's mood shifts, but the inquisitor plays it off as he is only interested in buying such horses. Visibly relaxing, guard mentions while fine horses, the piebalds are mainly good for short distances and suggests checking at the stables to see if the Riders had been there. Private Allory will inform Captain Laedral of their report.The Broken Compass
12.51
Versex Sessions
Report Date
07 Aug 2022
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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