Session 114 - The Bad Apples

General Summary

16^th to 17^th of Agrazhar (Third Month of Summer) 722TR

The story so far

Sabretooth, Acheron, and Avon have spent Summer in the Dwarven Kingdom of Azadmere. Sabretooth has learned that the Amethyst Troll Statuette, one of the rare Faragen Figurines, was last seen on the nearby Orkel Island. This magical artifact may be able to magically enchant his claws.

The continuation of Session 113 - The Hunting Lodge.

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Location - Orkel Island in the Kingdom of Azadmere.

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Part 1 - Apple Island.

Sabretooth learns all he can about Orkel Island, a small island in Lake Arain, known for its Golden Honey Apples and Apple Cider. The islanders have a reputation for strictly following the ancient Jarin ways. Some say they are a little backward, and it is rumored that they perform human sacrifice to appease the local lake monster, the Daranog. Five years ago, after the crops failed, it has been rumored that a Kaldorian merchant was sacrificed, and since then, apple yields have improved.

Part 2 - Meet the Locals.

Accompanied by Sigam Asandril, their government-assigned guide, translator and "babysitter" the Heroes arrive on Orkel Island by fishing boat. They find the small settlement consisting of only eight longhouses and a hall. An ancient burnt or petrified tree, adorned with colorful ribbons and old round shields, stands in the center of a small stream.

Gelfein Mailoc, art by Attacus

The surprised locals are strange, many of the males are heavily tattooed, and most have some of their finger joints removed. They clearly do not get many visitors and claim not to speak Hârnic, so Sigam translates.

Gelfein (Clanhead) Mailoc greets the Heroes, and Sabretooth explains that he is investigating the Amethyst Troll Statuette. Gwegon, one of the elders, retrieves it from the hall and shows it to the outsiders.

Gwegon, art by Attacus

The Heroes discuss how to proceed amongst themselves, and Gwegon looks on suspiciously. The characters suspect he can understand what they are saying. Sabretooth declares that he is an Ivashu and would like the artifact and is willing to pay or do some service for it. This causes some confusion. The villages do not immediately say no and invite the Heroes to a feast tonight.

They spend the rest of the day touring the village and apple fields. Five years ago, the lake monster Daranog was spotted, and there was an earthquake. A section of the Island shifted, and it is now a small marsh not far from the village. The village has large barrels for making Cider, and old Dwarven made apple crushing and squeezing machines. The old dead black tree is more interesting. The ribbons have small tokens of Ilvirian iconography, including representations of various Ivashu, with the Nolah or Hârnic Troll being the most common. There are carvings on the tree. The bottom represents the arrival of the Jarin settlers among what appears to be tiny Dwarves with oversize curved weapons. Above this are old shields, which the characters think may be concealing more carvings, followed by engravings of villagers picking apples and an obscure series with a Blind Man and a Troll.

Part 3 - Feast and the Tree.

That night the Heroes are feasted with Apple Pies, Apple Cider, and rabbit stew. After some pleasantries, Sabretooth bluntly asks them if they still sacrifice humans to the Lake monster. This chills the room, and the locals vigorously deny this, and the evening ends abruptly. The Heroes are given pallets in the room to sleep but note that guards are assigned by the door.

After the guards have fallen asleep, Avon and Acheron sneak out and examine the tree more closely. They find concealed under the shields carvings, which show what looks like a mass murder scene and the humans sacrificing people to the very small dwarves. One carving shows a blind man and a troll skeleton driving the small dwarves away.

In his studies of evil entities, Acheron remembers reading about the Fae monster called a Polrae, also more commonly called Redcaps. These evil Fae creatures from Jarin mythology revel in murder, bloodshed, and slaughter.

Part 4 - The Marshland.

Back in the Hall, Sabretooth pretends to suddenly wake, claiming to all around him that he has had a vision from Ilvir. The villages must tell him everything about the sacrifices. Gelfein Mailoc is fooled and agrees. The villages had traditionally sacrificed humans on a site of some long-forgotten murder to stop the Polrae, not the lake monster, from massacring the villagers. But that practice ceased around 50 years ago when the blind Ilvirian Priest Farengen visited. He created a guardian from a troll skeleton to stop the Polrae. Since there has been no need to kill anyone. Gwegon looks guilty and leaves the meeting hall. The Heroes follow.

Redcap. art by Wizards of the Coast

He makes his way to the nearby Marsh, and the Heroes confront him while rummaging through a bush. Seeing them, he says in poor Hârnic that the Heroes will make a suitable sacrifice for the Polrae. Invoking the Amethyst Troll Statuette, his hands turn into Troll Claws, and he attacks. However, Sabretooth's Ivashu companion Chameleo spits venom into his eyes, and he is momentarily blinded. He stands no chance of defeating the Heroes and is quickly knocked unconscious.

As he falls to the ground, the Heroes note small, rapidly growing red mushrooms appearing all around the Marsh. These bursts open into Polrea or Redcaps. A large number of these vicious little Fae creatures emerge over the next minute. Nevertheless, they are quickly dispatched before they overrun the Heroes. However, their metal booted kicks cause considerable injuries. Searching the bush Gwegon was looking through, Sabretooth finds a Troll skull.

Part 4 - Restoring the Guardian.

Returning to the village Gwegon confess to all. The earthquake destroyed the guardian, and he had to sacrifice the merchant to save the village. None of the other villages were aware of his actions. Unsure of how to proceed, Gelfein Mailoc will allow Sabretooth to keep the Troll Statuette if the Heroes can somehow restore the Guardian.

Vine Troll, art by Kobold Press

After daybreak, the Party return to the Marsh and finds all evidence of the Polrae gone. Searching through the muddy water Sabretooth finds the rest of the Skeleton of Troll. Nearby, also hidden underwater, is a large circular stone slab. With a mighty display of strength, he drags the Slab onto dry land. It is covered with inscriptions that no one can decipher; although they work out it has something to do with plants and the troll skeleton. Sabretooth re-assembles the Troll's bones on the slab, and nothing happens. Nearly out of options, he closely examines the inscriptions again and finds an indention that matches the statuette's base. He inserts the Statuette, then after a flash of light, vines from the ground grow up and twist around the Troll Skeleton, forming plant-like muscles, animating it. The Skeletal form begins to move, looks at Sabretooth, then gives him the Amethyst Statuette before becoming immobile. The Heroes believe that the Guardian has been restored.

Part 5 - Justice.

Back at the Village, Acheron wants to have Gwegon executed for his crimes, but Sigman informs him that is not how they do things in the Dwarven Kingdom. Jarinese people have a different justice system. She tells them they use a version of Vendetta law, which allows the aggrieved party's family to have a say in the trial, verdict, and sentence. As the family of the Kaldorian merchant would be far to difficult to contact, Sigam suggests the Party contact the highest-ranking Kaldorian official in the Kingdom, Sir Randel Dyvons, the Priest of the Graymere Hall of the Inner Eye, agrees to stand-in for the victims family. A short trial is held, and the verdict is guilty, and the sentence is death as compensation, or another form of a resolution was deemed unworkable. Gwegon is put to death.

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Kirinza Hazadul, art by Artbreeder

Just before the Heroes leave Azadmere, Acheron meets with Kirinza Hazadul the Master weaponsmith at the Argentate Griffin. He has received a message from the Church of Larani instructing Acheron to collect a new recruit for the Argent Order and escort him to the Abbey of St Andrada for training. The man's name is Azemer Palian and he is currently waiting at the Temple of Larani in the City of Tashal.

To be continued.....

NPC Interactions

Gelfein Mailoc - Head of the villages on the Island of Orkel.

Gwegon - Executed Murderer.

Sir Randel Dyvons - Priest of Larani.

Kirinza Hazadul - Forges Silver Swords for the Argent Order.

Challenges Overcome

Solved the mystery of the murdered merchant.

Defeated Gwegon.

Defeated numerous Polrae (Redcaps).

Restore the Vine Troll Guardian.

Rewards

Amethyst Troll Statuette.

Created Content

The Polrae a.k.a Redcaps.

Related Reports

Faragen Figurines - Updated.

Sighted Farengen - Updated.

Graymere Hall of the Inner Eye.

The Argent Order.

Argentate Griffin.

Players Character Status

Acheron - Human - Level 5 Paladin and Level 3 Warlock Disciple of Mendiz.

Sabretooth - Unique Ivashu - Level 5 Ivashu Lord Barbarian and Level 3 Monk.

Avon - Half-Elf - Level 8 Thief.

Campaign

The Uncivil War - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Avon

Acheron

Sabretooth

Report Date

06 Dec 2020

Chameleo

Sabretooth's Ivashu Companion.

Chameleo, art by Attacus

NPC Companions

Sigam Asandril, Herald.

The Heroes Guide in the Dwarven Kingdom.

Sigam Asandril, art by Artbreeder

The Amethyst Troll

Amethyst Troll, art by Attacus

Appearance: A 6 inch tall statuette in the shape of Troll, carved from Amethyst . Weighs 0.5 lb.

Infusion: Activated as a bonus action. Your hands grow into huge troll claws including large talons. For 1 minute these inflict a base 1d8 Slashing damage and are considered magical weapons.

Duration: The person attuned rolls d20 for the number of infusion points gained. 1 infusion point is consumed per use.