Session 132 - Legacy of a lost Alchemist

General Summary

10^th Kelen (Third Month of Spring) 721TR

The story so far

Jolanta and her trusty bodyguard Blaine are agents of the mysterious Order of the White Hand, hunting down unscrupulous mages and covering up magical mishaps.

However, more recently, Jolanta has spent her time studying and running errands for the Mages of the Guild of Arcane Lore.

Continuation of the Session 129 - Just A Few Bags of Sand.

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Location - City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 1 - Mission 3 - Giant Rats and Beer

Ceredig Yerwold, art by Artbreeder

Jolanta is serving tea and cakes at a meeting between Viran Ceredig Yerwold, of the Order of the White Hand, and the mysterious Arrilion. It takes some time for Jolanta to discover that this exotic, fastidiously clean man is an elf. The men are reviewing reports of strange events and deciding if they merit investigation.

One report is of an Innkeeper at Erwurd Manor who has recently expanded his underground cellar and been attacked by enormous rats.

Arrilion, art by Attacus

Arrilion quickly checks his notes. He has several books and scrolls always on hand. He remembers over two centuries ago, the alchemist Bethfisa had a workshop in that village; it has long since been lost to time. Arrilion hypothesizes that this so-called overgrown rat problem could be caused by residue properties of some prior magical activity. Jolanta is sent to investigate and recover any dangerous arcana if that is indeed the origin of the Innkeeper's problems.

In her studies, Jolanta recalls that nearby is the mysterious Agadar Circle, this is a Barasi Point or Holy Grove. Jolanta makes a mental note to investigate this after concluding her assignment.

Campaign

Agents of the White Hand - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Jolanta

Report Date

04 Mar 2021

Secondary Location

City of Cherafir

NPC Companions

Blaine

Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.

Blaine, art by Artur Sadlos

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Location - Erwurd Manor near Nurisel in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 2 - The Blue Sparrow Beer Cellar

Agnar, art by Grafiart

Jolanta and Blaine make their way to Erwurd Manor, a village off not far from the road to Nurisel. At the decidedly average Blue Sparrow Inn, the Heroes find Innkeeper Howaj Tondion negotiating with the mercenary Agmar Temis. He has just come to an agreement with the innkeeper. Agmar is to deal with his rat problem. Jolanta offers her and Blaine's help, free of charge, but is rudely rebuffed by the arrogant young warrior. "What can a drunkard, who has obviously seen better years, and a weak woman be of any help?" Agmar proceeds down to the cellar, and soon sounds of battle emerge. Jolanta bribes the Innkeeper to let her and Blaine investigate and offer help. As it transpired, Agmar badly needs it, overwhelmed by almost a dozen impossibly large and aggressive Giant Rats. He does kill two but slumps to the ground in a pool of blood from his many small bite wounds.

The Heroes spring to his aid. Blaine starts hacking at the vermin from the stairwell. Jolanta wanting better positioning for her area of effect disintegration spells, leaps over the stairs railing onto some large barrels, spectacularly losing her balance and falling flat on the floor. Giant rats immediately mob her. Nevertheless, the rats are eradicated, and Agmar narrowly survives the ordeal, developing a chronic case of musophobia. Blain helps the traumatized man upstairs, buys him a drink, and returns to help Jolanta's investigations.

The Beer Cellar is large with a rough cut hole in the wall. Beyond is a passageway with a tiled floor.

Part 3 - Puzzle and Flaming Spiders

The passageway swings around, revealing a colored pattern on the floor with a dead rat cut in half and a plaque with a verse. Blaine steps in the wrong spot a few times, which activates cunningly disguised blade traps. Jolanta deciphers the fiendish puzzle allowing the Heroes to pass without being sliced in half. At the end of the passage are two wooden doors, jammed shut due to age.

The Heroes break in the first door finding what remains of a workshop. The walls and furniture are scorched, and a fortune of alchemical equipment is destroyed. Ash is everywhere. Hiding in suspiciously flameproof webbing on the roof are two large spiders. These alchemically enhanced Inferno Spiders ambush the Heroes and wrap them in burning webs. Blaine breaks free, and Jolanta disintegrates the webs around her. The Heroes valiantly battle the spiders resisting their fiery venom, narrowly emerging victorious. Blaine takes a massive bite to the neck, is staggered but defying the pain fights on. Jolanta kills the last spider.

Jolanta searches the remains of the workroom finding the alchemist's workbook with only three spells recoverable. Jolanta decides to return to the tavern to rest up for the night before exploring the remaining rooms. Blaine chooses to drink with the injured Agmar, who jumps at every high pitch sound he hears.

Part 4 - The Store Room

The next morning, the Heroes reenter the complex and break through the ruined laboratory door in a ruined storeroom. They observed two rats playing among the spilled chemicals covering the floor. Seeing Blain approaching them, they panic. The Rats start to grow but were quickly disposed of. Jolanta searched the room, finding four intact potions and a large jar filled with a red fluid. As she approaches, it bursts to reveal a strange slime. Bubbling forth from the Alchemical Ooze are unusual chemical mixtures; however, it is a slow-moving blob and eventually destroyed.

Part 5 - The Well and Centipedes

The final room contains a small well. Looking down, Jolanta sees three large forms, Giant Albino Centipedes, working their way up. One is put to Sleep while the others are hacked to pieces. Blaine climbs down the well and searches around, finding nothing of value. He dislocates a finger climbing up but is otherwise unharmed.

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Location - Agadar Circle near Nurisel in the Kingdom of Melderyn.

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Part 6 - The Stone Circle

On the way back to the guildhall, Jolanta decides to visits Agadar Circle, an ancient stone circle which, according to legend, are the remains of an ancient king and his knights after being cursed by a witch. Disappointingly the Barasi Point or magical gateway is not currently active. Jolanta would have like to explore Yashain, the World of the Gods. She does sense the presence of a portal but is unsuccessful in her attempts to open it with magic; however, she is confident that that may change as she learns more of the mystical arts.

NPC Interactions

Viran Ceredig Yerwold.

Shenava Arrilion.

Innkeeper Howaj Tondion.

Admar the Mercenary.

Challenges Overcome

Saved Admar's life and killed 10 x Giant Rats.

Worked out a puzzle

Killed 2 x Inferno Spiders.

Exterminated 2 x Giant Rats

Destroyed 1 x Alchemical Ooze.

Exterminated 3 x Giant Albino Centipedes.

Rewards

Parts of Inferno Spiders and Giant Centipedes.

Remains of a Spell Book with three spells.

2 x Potions of Healing, Potion of Vitality, and Potion of Invisibility.

Related Reports

Order of the White Hand.

Primary Chantry of the Guild of Arcane Lore - updated.

Player Character Status

Jolanta - Human - Level 4 Evoker.