Session 139 - The Stolen Temple

General Summary

10^th to 13^th Kelen (Third month of Spring) 723TR

The story so far

Acheron has completed his quest to recover the Shield of Saint Andrada, located in Sherwyn Keep. While recovering this artifact, he became involved in a conspiracy with Welrys Sherwyn to assassinate his cousin the violent and unstable Valhakar Venril Sherwyn. The heroes were successful. Unfortunately, Welrys Sherwyn did not keep to his end of the deal. The heroes bluffed their way out of the settlement, hastily escaped on a merchant ship to Geldeheim.

At Geldeheim the Heroes plans to recover another holy artifact, this time for Sabretooth.

The continuation of Session 137 - A Warlord's Anger.

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Location - Sea of Ivae Northeast of Sherwyn Castle in the Kingdom of Orbaal.

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Part 1 - Revenge

Welrys Sherwyn, art by Artbreeder

Welrys Sherwyn, the soon-to-named Valhakar of Clan Sherwyn, has no intention of letting the assassins escape. He hastily assembles the clan's Huscarls and Ivinian warriors from nearby villages and pursues heroes in their slow-moving merchant ship in his longship.

The heroes spot the longship rapidly closing. The captain of the merchant ship changes heading for Marby, the holdings of the Sherwyns rivals; however, they are unlikely to make it in time. Even though the heroes are very capable, with many magical abilities and resources at their disposal, they have no hope of defeating such a strong military force. They decide that they have to use all of their magic tricks in their arsenal to slow the pursuit.

Miuruca idol, Art by Attacus

Moneypenny magically gives Avon the ability to Fly for a short period of time and he used this to sneak behind the longship and drops off a stone enchanted with the Darkness Spell on its bow, causing much confusion.

Meanwhile, Sabretooth activates the power he absorbed from the Miuruca Idol, grows webbed fingers and toes, and swims under the longship, wreaking its tiller. He then proceeded to tear into the hull. This damage produces a few leaks, not enough to sink it, but persuades Welrys Sherwyn to order the longship to break off and return to port to assess the damage.

Soon after this encounter, tales of spiteful Maerin (Merfolk) attacking ships and deceiving crews with their dark magics begin to circulate. From now on, Maerin are sometimes blamed for missing or damaged ships in this stretch of the Sea of Ivae.

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Location - Castle of Geldeheim in the Kingdom of Orbaal.

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Part 2 - Finnjon the Bent

The heroes make it to Geldeheim safely and start planning to recover the magical artifact hidden somewhere in the local temple to Agrik. The temple is operated by the Order of Kukshin and guarded by the vicious Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer.

First, they locate Finnjon the Bent, the settlements apprentice embalmer, and Priest of Ilvir. This young man with a twisted leg was the son of Geldeheim's last priest who was murdered when the Agrikians, conspiring with King Alegar I, seized the temple around 20 years ago. He has an all-consuming hatred for the ivinians and any Agrik supporters and, over a few drinks, happily relates his limited knowledge of the temple. He has not been in it for years, and the Agrikians may have made modifications.

• Finnjon draws a crude map of caverns for the heroes to use.
• He is aware that there are caverns under the caverns but has never visited them.
• His father said there was a magical horn hidden somewhere. This is a most potent and dangerous artifact, and only the most moral worshiper of Ilvir can be trusted to wield it. He believes it is hidden in the lower caverns.
• The temple is accessible through the above living quarters or the swamp doors.
• A few weeks ago, the swamp doors were found open. Rumor has it that the Agrikian believe some swamp monster, such as an Ivashu, forced its ways in. Finnjon believes it was more likely an Ivashu leaving the temple.

At the village marketplace, the heroes find a young Agrikian acolyte shopping for supplies. Taking the form of a Jarin peasant, Acheron bumps into her, and all her goods are scattered. She responds by giving this clumsy upstart peasant a hearty cuff across the face for his clumsiness. Avon helps her pick up the goods and slips the sleeping draught into a bottle of cheap wine. Hopefully, the priestesses will imbibe this tonight before the heroes raid the temple.

Part 3 - The Stolen Temple

Late that night, after the lights go out on the living quarters above the temple, the heroes sneak down to the temple's swamp doors. Avon sets off the trap when he opens them; however, when jets of flames burst from the walls, he skillfully avoids injury rolling into the temple.

The temple has a central flaming pit and statues of Agrik's demonic sons lining the walls. Curtains block off the view down a series of tunnels, and a set of elaborate doors open to a stairwell leading up to the temple's living quarters, where it assumes that the priestesses will be sleeping deeply. The heroes block this door with goods from a nearby storeroom and some of the statues.

The heroes do not appear to have set off any alarms and start exploring the tunnels finding magical runes; unfortunately, activating some of them. Mist forms on the wall draining blood from the heroes, a dancing warrior made from fire burns them, and most troubling, a savage amorphous mass of clay leaching some of the life force from Sabretooth.

At the end of the last passage, the heroes find a concealed accessway. This narrow crawl space opens to a tunnel leading down with old wooden pegs inserted along the walls. The heroes make their way down; however, some of the pegs break, and several characters plummet a fair distance down to where they find a large underground cavern.

To be continued...

NPC Interactions

Welrys Sherwyn.

Kalv - Captain of a Merchant Vessel.

Finnjon the Bent.

Challenges Overcome

Drove away the Clan Sherwyn Longship crewed with 30 murderous Vikings.

Poisoned the Priestesses of the Temple of Agrik with a sleeping draught.

Entered the temple.

Defeated 2 Blood Mists.

Extinguished 1 Fire Elemental.

Defeated 1 Clay Golem.

Found a hidden series of caverns under the cravens.

Rewards

Nothing Yet.

Created Content

Not this week.

Related Reports

The Faragen Figurines.

Order of Kukshin.

Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer.

Ilvir.

Agrik.

Player Character Status

Acheron - Human - L6 Paladin, L4 Warlock Disciple of Mendiz, and L1 Divine Soul Sorcerer.

Sabretooth - Unique Ivashu - L7 Ivashu Lord Barbarian, L3 Monk, and L1 Druid.

Avon - Half-Elf - L11 Thief.

Campaign

The Uncivil War - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Avon

Acheron

Sabretooth

Report Date

11 Apr 2021

NPC Companions

Moneypenny

Avon's able assistant

Moneypenny, art by Artbreeder

Ringo

Sabretooth's Ivashu Companion.

Ringo, art by Attacus

Clan Sherwyn

Caln Sherwyn, art by Columbia Games

Order of Kukshin

Evil Clerical Order of Agrik worshiping women.

Order of Kukshin, art by Columbia Games

Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer

Female Warriors of Agrik.

by Columbia Games

Miuruca Idol

Appearance: A 6-inch tall statuette in the shape of the crocodile-like Miuruca emerging from the water, carved from a jade-like Greenstone. Weighs 5 lb. This figurine is secured in the Church of the Yellow Hand in the City of Tashal and available only to devoted worshipers.

Infusion: As an action, you grow webbed fingers and toes with muscles boosting your ability to swim. You gain the ability to hold your breath underwater for 30 minutes and gain a swim speed equal to your movement rate. Any natural weapons you may have will function without penalty in water.

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