Session 070 - Temple Hijinks
General Summary
The continuation of Session 69 - Bad Bard in the Big City5th to 20th of Navek (Winter) 721TR
The story so far
During the events of the Battle of Sorrows, Quazzy's 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 instrument's last known location, likely buried with Mearkis the Sorcerer, in Shobald's Tower in the Kingdom of Chybisa.
On the way the Heroes have arrived in City of Tashal and saved the life of the Bard, Ricard Thirlwell, from Assassin's wanting to steal his alleged Potions of Longevity. The heroes have determined that Senior Priestess Danisa, the Mistress of the Golden Banquet, at the local Church of Halea is responsible, and Ricard would like to see her punished.
Location - The City of Tashal in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 - Dealing with The Bodies
The Heroes have found themselves in a side room of the Busted Nut tavern with two dead Assassins. Luckily, no one is aware of the fight, so they discreetly make their way out of the building. To explain the bodies, Quazzy creates the illusion of some undead monstrosity in the building. The party relocates to the nearby Iron Bell Inn.
Part 2 - Meeting with the Queen-Mistress
Yureb, using his alter ego Boris, visits the Temple of Halea to arrange a personal religious service with the Acolyte so that she can be questioned in private. He meets with the Queen-Mistress of the Temple Silena Ekiar to make arrangements. The meeting went well, and the personal religious service was organized for that evening. He is also invited to the church's monthly Shesneala service held in a few days.
Part 3 - Investigation of the Lady Friend
Quazzy
Athena
Yureb
Church of Halea
Order of the Silken Voice
Coins of Good Fortune
These are also called Thalia Coins, named after Halea's Handmaiden Thalia, the Princess of Fortune.
These Magical Silver Coins have a bell inscribed on one side and a dice on the other. They will bestow luck and good fortune on the holder.
The holder rolls d10+10 when acquiring the coin. When making an Ability Check, Saving Throw or Attack Roll the holder uses this number rather than rolling. After use the coin will lose its magical properties and turn into a standard silver piece.
Part 4 - Planning
The heroes come up with a plan. They will embarrass Senior Priestess Danisa when she leads the next service at the Temple in two days.
They commission the Apothecary Lorin Lorinsen to create an odorless Fragrance, but when sprayed on, a person will slowly emit an offensive odor when exposed to body heat. Yureb also has a vial of colored water made to resemble the Potion of Longevity. Next, they purchase respectable clothing, and on the afternoon of the 7th, travel to the Temple for the holy service.
Part 5 - The Holy Service and other Events
After accepting the donations, Queen-Mistress Silena then discusses the current political situation and advises investing in trade with the west along The Salt Route. For the last two years, a Tulwyn Barbarian uprising has stopped trade. However, she has recently learned that the Thardic Republic's best General, Kronas Elernin has been made the Marshal of the reinforced Ramala Legion. It expected that he would promptly deal with the Barbarians and reopen trade. Additionally he may well be supported by a contingent of Calvary from Kaldor.
After sundown, the Queen-Mistress passes around a Goblet of Holy Wine for each worshiper to drink. This wine contains a mild drug, and one worshiper starts hallucinating, i.e., believing he has been transported to the Halean Heaven. Taking this opportunity, Quazzy creates an illusion of a ghost of one of the Assassin she sent to steal the Potions of Longevity to rise from the hallucinating worshiper and accuse Priestess Danisa of Thievery. Then in front of her, Yureb drinks one of the fake potions he had prepared earlier and used magic to make it look like he has become younger. Confused, she lets slip that she was involved with the criminal Plot. Queen-Mistress Silena banishes her from the ceremony, and on her way out, Yureb takes the opportunity to steal a few items from her person, a valuable bracelet, some coins, and a set of Halean Tarot cards.
Having embarrassed Dansia, Yureb and Quazzy enjoy the rest of the nights "holy" events which descend into an orgy in the temples hot pool with the Temple Priestess and selected worshipers. Athena discretely returns to her Inn.
Part 6 - Farewells and Thanks
Ricard and Ellie are incredibly grateful for the Heroes actions. Senior Priestess Danisa is under investigation, and her status in the Temple has been dramatically diminished. More punishments may follow. Ricard gives the party one of the Longevity Potions as agreed, and Ellie rewards each character a Coin of Good Fortune. Yureb gives Ellie the Bracelet he stole, hoping that it will be of use in the future.
Location - On the Genin Trail between the Kingdom of Kaldor and the Kingdom of Chybisa.
Part 7 - Starved Barbarians
The Party leave Tashal and make their way for a few days south through civilization then onto the famous Genin Trial, the trade route which runs south to the Kingdoms of Chybisa and Melderyn. Halfway through their journey, they come onto a dozen dead Pagaelin Barbarians. These are mostly old or infirmed and appear to have died from starvation, but there is evidence of bite makes. Quazzy hears ghostly voices from them. They are so hungry and afraid.
Soon their voices become frantic, and appearing out of the despair emerges two gray, distorted, grotesque humanoid forms. They grab the heroes and attempt to eat them alive with their huge deformed mouths. The heroes, although injured, are quickly able to deal with this alien threat.
Part 8 - The Dwarven Statue
Yureb sense a faint magical aura emanating from these figures, and the heroes make a quick offering. Only Quazzy feels a little luckier.
To be continued.....
NPC Interactions
Ricard Thirlwell, Bard - A rather incompetent Bard.
Silena Ekiar, High Priestess - Queen Mistress of the Temple of Halea.
Danisa Chantil, Senior Priestess - Mistress of the Golden Banquet.
Elysant Corinja, Acolyte - also known as Ellie.
Lorin Lorinson - Apothecary and Alchemist.
Challenges Overcome
Attended a holy service of the Church of Halea and embarrassed Priestess Senior Priestess Danisa.
Destroyed 2 Hungry Sorrowsworn.
Created Content
Temple of Halea (Church of the Bygone Dream).
Danisa Chantil, Senior Priestess.
Typical Halean NPC Stat Blocks.
Related Reports
City of Tashal - Updated.
Halean Notes - 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.
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