Kingdom on the Brink - Session 12
General Summary
The party begins to search the room, Oneiro and Swift Paws go to search the nearby dead orcs, Artimus examines the Earth Elemental, Ashara and Runsha keep a lookout. Oneiro and Swift Paws find some gold and a note written in orcish, they hand the note off to Runsha to translate. Artimus remembers that some elemental monsters have a gem core and attempts to find it, Oneiro tries to help, and eventually Ashara attempts to help, she finds a shattered gem. The group heads back to camp to get a long rest, in the morning they see Ashara throw most of her equipment into the wagon and she sets out with a bow, saying that hunting was a good way to relax. The group heads toward the last room as they enter they spot three giant snails, Artimus and Ashara move up to try and attack from range when a Trapper peals off the and attempts to smother Artimus. Artimus successfully dodged, and Ashara moved him back to the rest of the group, the trapper attempts to flee but the party kill it from range and they slowly begin to move forward and begin to attack the giant snails. Gareth and Runsha move past where Artimus originally moved when two more Trappers attempted to smother them, but they were able to evade them as well, Hendred moves up to help. The group unleashed a ranged barrage of magic and arrows on the Trappers and Flail Snails as they slowly make their way to the group, then the Snails reach Runsha and Gareth. One begins to attack Gareth while the one in the back starts to shine with bright light, Stunning both Hendred and Gareth, Hendred is able to command her spiritual weapon to continue the attack. Ashara moves up and manages to resists the bright light so she can join the melee, the group manages to kill the first snail which recedes into its shell and starts to scream, the other two they manage to kill shortly there after (The snails scream for up to 16 minutes). The group begins to spread out, Oneiro and Runsha make their way across rushing water to the other side of the room while the rest of the group discusses what to do with the snail shells, Oneiro and Runsha find the body of the last adventurer and search it. There's a potion of fire breathing, a cloak of displacement, and a letter on the body which read like a journal entry with the writing expressing their concerns on one of his companions battle fury. The party comes back together to find the rest of the group dragging a shell back to the wagons, Ashara wonders if the barbed tail on the Trapper can be used as a whip and Oneiro tests it out on her, sending her into a rage she struck Oneiro with several heavy blows. Gareth successfully Grapples Ashara with Oneiro and Hendred trying to restrain her with manacles, Artimus is able to magically slow Ashara (Swift Paws still being new to the group sits a little ways back observing the strange sight). After several failed attempts to restrain Ashara, Hendred casts calm emotions with suppress Ashara's rage, but when the affects end 1 minute later the suppressed rage come back. Between a guiding bolt and Swift Paws sneak attack, the group manages to knock Ashara out which breaks her fury. The group heads back to camp.
When the group gets back to camp they prepare to leave, Thorne mentions that he is going to the place known as The Pillar and that it was along the way, though he understood if the group didn't want to come. As the group was talking some of the members remembered an individual by the name of Gus while others didn't. The Group spends two day traveling to The Pillar and when they arrive the group splits up, Hendred and Ashara go next to the river to examine the stonework, Runsha and Swift Paws inspect the entrance, While Gareth, Thorne and, Oneiro spot a tent with a campfire and head there. Runsha notices some glyphs and a giant crystal and starts to bash it with his War hammer and Hendred realizes that the stonework is thousand of years old. Thorne approaches the tent and spots a man reading by the fire, the campsite appears to have been there for awhile, after some conversation the group find out the man's name is Simon and he's been here for years trying to study the ruins, he offers to show them around and share what he knows. The group comes together at the entrance, Oneiro asks Runsha to stop bashing the crystal and he places his palm up to it and begins to magically heat it up, a beam of light appears from the crystal and begins to shine on each of the characters until it reaches Thorne. The light disappears and a Man dressed in Sapphire robes appears and welcomes the party, he says for them to reach the Pillar they need to complete three tests: Test of strength, test of intelligence, and the test of compassion, then the robed figure disappears and two blue Dragons appear. The bigger one lets out a line of lightning while the smaller one begins to circle the group, Artimus attempts to cast slow but the dragon resists it, Hendred heals the group and Thorne goads the dragon. Ashara manages to successfully mount the dragon before it climbs higher, Oneiro fires a grappling arrow which connects with his foe. The Dragon goes into melee with Thorne and shortly thereafter it readies another breathe attack, but due to Ashara's guardian spirits the dragons breathe weapon is reduced in severity and the party is able to subdue it. The smaller dragon flies down and transforms into the robed figure and congratulates the party, he disappears again and the doors open, the party heads inside. Simon comes out of his hiding spot, completely dumbfounded by what just transpired.
The group arrives at a small area of ruins (Simon begins to curiously examine everything), Runsha and Swift Paws approach a circular piece of stone and the robed figure appears again explaining that to reach the Pillar (which is surrounded by water) they need to collect three gems by answering three riddles. The group spreads out and and easily complete the task, they head back to the circular stone and place the crystals, the water starts to recede and land begins rise, making a path to the megastructure. Almost the entire party decides to head towards the structure, on the way Simon's attention gets attracted next to the water and he goes over to the edge, some of the party members asked if he sees anything. Simon shakes his head and the group begins to walk off, shortly thereafter several tentacles reach out and grab Simon, Ashara and Oneiro are close by because they were already in (or on) the water. The creature begins to drag Simon into the water as it attempts to bite Gareth, Ashara swims up and attempts to break its grip to no avail and Thorne jumps in to help, the creature shoots a lightning bolt at Gareth and Hendred which knocks Hendred out. Oneiro is able to banish the creature which allows Ashara to pull Simon out of the water and goes back for Thorne, Swift Paws grabs the healing ointment and goes to stabilize Hendred. The group fires several more shots at the creature while slowly moving away from the water, the creature gets driven off, Oneiro hunts down a bird and takes the now empty ointment jar and throws them out to the water, a tentacle reaches up and grasps the jar. Simon, while sustaining some cuts, is ok and thanks the group and they head towards the Pillar to begin their ascent. Once they reach the top the robed figure asks for proof of their compassion, Oneiro speaks up and the figure turns to Simon to ask if they speak the truth, Simon acknowledges that it is the truth (Revealing that he serves the robed figure). The figure says Thorne has come for answers and for help, so he shall give both, the group gets transported away from the Pillar. They find themselves in the midst of chaos, buildings ablaze and fire raining from the sky, they realize while they can see what's going on they can't interact with it. Thorne recognizes this place from his visions and finds a couple running with a baby that feels familiar to him, he goes after them with the rest of the group following. He finds the couple pleading with the robed figure and he walks up, the figure is chastising the couple about wanting his help now after having the audacity to mock the gods and trying to raise two moons into the sky, the pride of their people would be their undoing. But he said he would save their child, not for their sake though, with that the group finds themselves back at the Pillar. Ashara is on the ground slowly rocking herself, as if experiencing a bad memory. The robed figure addresses Thorne, saying that he would be his right hand of judgement if he accepted, then the figure took out a knife and cut his hand, with the blood soaked blade he offered it to Thorne who accepted it and cut his own hand. His body racked with pain as an unfamiliar power begins to course through his veins.
When the group gets back to camp they prepare to leave, Thorne mentions that he is going to the place known as The Pillar and that it was along the way, though he understood if the group didn't want to come. As the group was talking some of the members remembered an individual by the name of Gus while others didn't. The Group spends two day traveling to The Pillar and when they arrive the group splits up, Hendred and Ashara go next to the river to examine the stonework, Runsha and Swift Paws inspect the entrance, While Gareth, Thorne and, Oneiro spot a tent with a campfire and head there. Runsha notices some glyphs and a giant crystal and starts to bash it with his War hammer and Hendred realizes that the stonework is thousand of years old. Thorne approaches the tent and spots a man reading by the fire, the campsite appears to have been there for awhile, after some conversation the group find out the man's name is Simon and he's been here for years trying to study the ruins, he offers to show them around and share what he knows. The group comes together at the entrance, Oneiro asks Runsha to stop bashing the crystal and he places his palm up to it and begins to magically heat it up, a beam of light appears from the crystal and begins to shine on each of the characters until it reaches Thorne. The light disappears and a Man dressed in Sapphire robes appears and welcomes the party, he says for them to reach the Pillar they need to complete three tests: Test of strength, test of intelligence, and the test of compassion, then the robed figure disappears and two blue Dragons appear. The bigger one lets out a line of lightning while the smaller one begins to circle the group, Artimus attempts to cast slow but the dragon resists it, Hendred heals the group and Thorne goads the dragon. Ashara manages to successfully mount the dragon before it climbs higher, Oneiro fires a grappling arrow which connects with his foe. The Dragon goes into melee with Thorne and shortly thereafter it readies another breathe attack, but due to Ashara's guardian spirits the dragons breathe weapon is reduced in severity and the party is able to subdue it. The smaller dragon flies down and transforms into the robed figure and congratulates the party, he disappears again and the doors open, the party heads inside. Simon comes out of his hiding spot, completely dumbfounded by what just transpired.
The group arrives at a small area of ruins (Simon begins to curiously examine everything), Runsha and Swift Paws approach a circular piece of stone and the robed figure appears again explaining that to reach the Pillar (which is surrounded by water) they need to collect three gems by answering three riddles. The group spreads out and and easily complete the task, they head back to the circular stone and place the crystals, the water starts to recede and land begins rise, making a path to the megastructure. Almost the entire party decides to head towards the structure, on the way Simon's attention gets attracted next to the water and he goes over to the edge, some of the party members asked if he sees anything. Simon shakes his head and the group begins to walk off, shortly thereafter several tentacles reach out and grab Simon, Ashara and Oneiro are close by because they were already in (or on) the water. The creature begins to drag Simon into the water as it attempts to bite Gareth, Ashara swims up and attempts to break its grip to no avail and Thorne jumps in to help, the creature shoots a lightning bolt at Gareth and Hendred which knocks Hendred out. Oneiro is able to banish the creature which allows Ashara to pull Simon out of the water and goes back for Thorne, Swift Paws grabs the healing ointment and goes to stabilize Hendred. The group fires several more shots at the creature while slowly moving away from the water, the creature gets driven off, Oneiro hunts down a bird and takes the now empty ointment jar and throws them out to the water, a tentacle reaches up and grasps the jar. Simon, while sustaining some cuts, is ok and thanks the group and they head towards the Pillar to begin their ascent. Once they reach the top the robed figure asks for proof of their compassion, Oneiro speaks up and the figure turns to Simon to ask if they speak the truth, Simon acknowledges that it is the truth (Revealing that he serves the robed figure). The figure says Thorne has come for answers and for help, so he shall give both, the group gets transported away from the Pillar. They find themselves in the midst of chaos, buildings ablaze and fire raining from the sky, they realize while they can see what's going on they can't interact with it. Thorne recognizes this place from his visions and finds a couple running with a baby that feels familiar to him, he goes after them with the rest of the group following. He finds the couple pleading with the robed figure and he walks up, the figure is chastising the couple about wanting his help now after having the audacity to mock the gods and trying to raise two moons into the sky, the pride of their people would be their undoing. But he said he would save their child, not for their sake though, with that the group finds themselves back at the Pillar. Ashara is on the ground slowly rocking herself, as if experiencing a bad memory. The robed figure addresses Thorne, saying that he would be his right hand of judgement if he accepted, then the figure took out a knife and cut his hand, with the blood soaked blade he offered it to Thorne who accepted it and cut his own hand. His body racked with pain as an unfamiliar power begins to course through his veins.
It is early afternoon on the 35th day of Terseg
Rewards Granted
Cloak of Displacement
220 GP
Level 6
Giant antimagic snail shell
220 GP
Level 6
Giant antimagic snail shell
Missions/Quests Completed
Cleared out the cave
Character(s) interacted with
Simon
The individual in Sapphire robes
The individual in Sapphire robes
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