Session 069 - Bad Bard in the Big City
General Summary
21st of Ilvin to 5th of Navek (Winter) 721TR
The story so far
Quazzy has had revelations from the long past. During the events of the Battle of Sorrows, her Warlock Patron Desridaen has lost a valuable Magical Flute, and he wants it back.
Quazzy and friends have decided to make a winter journey to the musical instruments last known location, likely buried with Mearkis the Sorcerer in Shobald's Tower, in the Kingdom of Chybisa.
The party have made it to Trobridge Inn and agreed to travel to the City of Tashal with the diplomat Sir Rayneld Ynel. Unfortunately the local Clerics of Sarajin, Clan Maael, and some Chelni warriors do not approve of Sir Rayneld recommendations of adding a Kaldorian Military presence in Trobridge and plan to silence him.
Continuation of Session 68 - Bad Weather and Bad Dreams.
Location - The Salt Route between Trobridge Inn and Kingdom of Kaldor.
For four days, the heroes evade a persistent hunting party of Chelni warriors and Sarajin Clerics (Clan Maael) by using a combination of deception, skilled scouting, and making good use of the terrible weather.
Hungry Harpies
The party is spotted by a flock of Yélgri, the semi-reptilian Harnic Harpies. These monsters are low on food, freezing, and flying around Trobridge Inn looking for prey (i.e., animals or humans which may wander too far from the settlement.) They swoop in and are immediately slaughtered by the heroes' spells and martial skills.
One, named Ocypete, is captured alive. Quazzy uses her mind control magic to twist the monster's motivations and memories. He is now has confused minion compelled to join the recently formed cult of her Warlock patron Desridaen. Ocypete helps the party scout for a few days then flies off to his mountain nest, awaiting further instructions.
Quazzy
Athena
Yureb
Clan Maael
Old Aunt Maggi
Someone used magical scrying to locate Quazzy. Unfortunately, with the foul weather, Quazzy did not detect this magic. Soon the heroes encountered a pale ancient woman, calling herself Old Aunt Maggi and Toomas a 7 ft fall man lightly clothed seemingly unaffected by the cold. Yureb notes his footprints in the snow are much larger than his feet, and Athena senses Old Maggi is a Fiend. She is looking for Quazzy and sees through her attempts at magical disguise.
Quazzy attempts to Banish Old Maggi back to her plane of origin and fails. The old woman transforms into a blue-skinned, horned, old hag while Tomass grows into a gigantic gray-skinned humanoid monster. The party spring into the attack and take a pounding from the grey monster, but Quazzy's second attempt at Banishment is successful on Maggi. Alone the monster is soon slain.
The Elven Wizard
Gaelira proves a be a good traveling companion with mischievous tendencies making fun of Yureb in a friendly fashion. She is also a skilled Wizard, and Quazzy exchanges some magical incantations, then she gifts the party with some Healing Potions before leaving.
Location - City of Tashal and Kingdom of Kaldor.
The Terrible Bard at the Busted Nut
The party arrives at the City of Tashal safely, and Sir Rayneld gives them a brief history lesson and points out the cities highlights. He thanks them for their protection, and company then makes his way to the Heralds Guild, The Enclave of the Holy Oak, while the heroes seek out an Inn. They choose the The Busted Nut, a seedy Tavern and Inn on the east side of the City where no questions are asked.
The Heroes intervene, Quazzy enters the mind of one of the would-be Assassins and tells him he is a better performer than the Bard and suggests he makes a spontaneous performance. The weak-willed man is actually quite good with a fine singing voice. With one of the Assassins thus disabled, the party rushes upstairs to find the remaining two Assassins attacking the Bard with poisoned blades. The party quickly kill these two men and rescue the musician.
The Bard, Ricard Thirlwell, is a somewhat muddled performer, but very appreciative for the players timely intervention. He has some minor magical abilities but appears limited in musical talent.
He explains in a somewhat rambling and confused manner that he recently purchased some Dragon's Blood from a shady looking Melderyni Merchant. Thinking it was too good to be true, he had it investigated by the Apothecary Lorin Lorinsen, who is also an able Alchemist. The Dragon's Blood was apparently real, so he decides to get it converted into the four legendary Potions of Longevity. He only told his lover Elysant (Ellie), who is an Acolyte of Halea of his plans, and she provided some funds for the Alchemist. He was going to gift one to her and donate another to the Church. That is all he knows.
Quazzy speaks with the dead Assassins, and one was very talkative. The corpse informs her that he was hired by Danisa, the Mistress of the Golden Banquet, one of the senior priestesses in the Local Halean Temple, to steal all of the potions. It is commonly known that Priestess Danisa, who is in her mid-forties, is jealous of the High Priestess's good looks, and the Assassin assumed the potions were to restore her youthful appearance.
Ricard gives one of the potions to the party for saving his life and offers another if they can learn if his lover Ellie on in on the conspiratory, and find a way to punish with the Priestess Danisa. However, he does not want either harmed in any way.
To be continued.....
NPC Interactions
Sir Rayneld Ynel - Kaldor's Envoy to Trobridge Inn.
Gaelira, Elven Enchanter and her pet Night Lion Nico.
Ricard Thirlwell, Bard - A rather incompetent Bard.
Challenges Overcome
4 Yélgri and 4 Yélgri Brutes.
Night Hag Aunt Maggi and a Gray Render.
3 Assassins.
Skill Challenge - Avoided Chelni and Sarajen Clerics pursuers.
Skill Challenge - Arrived at the City of Tashel.
Saved the Bard Ricard Thirlwell Life.
Created Content
Related Reports
Trobridge Inn - Updated.
Sir Rayneld Ynel - Updated.
Players Character Status
Athena the Banshee - Level 14 Paladin of Vengeance.
Yureb - Level 14 Arcane Trickster.
Quazzy - Level 5 Necromancer and Level 9 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen.
Comments