Session 146 - The Staff of Cryptan Seaweave
General Summary
5th to 7th of Nuzyael (First Month of Spring) 722TRThe 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.
While investigating stolen alchemical powder, Jolanta has uncovered a cultist worshipping the trapped sea god Eder. This Warlock of the Deep is seeking some magical staff from a wraith at Ligem Point. The heroes plan to deal with this villain.
Continuation of the Session 141 - A Book and Seagulls.
Location - City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.
Part 1 - Unsavoury Interactions
Jolanta thinks she will need reinforcements for this mission. She contacts the one-legged former sailor (and maybe pirate) Torgon. Torgon and Blaine then visit the cities taverns trying to identify any likely lowlifes or thugs hired by the mysterious Warlock. Unfortunately, they gather very little information apart from getting drunk.
Therefore Jolanta leads her companions to Ligem Point.
Location - Ligem Point in the Kingdom of Melderyn.
Part 2 - Thugs Camp
After a day's travel, the heroes arrive at Ligem Point. They see a series of rocks out in the bay and a man standing on them surveying the sea. This is the Warlock Jolanta observed previously, and dozens of Seagulls surround him. Half a mile away, they see a small camp with five unsavory-looking men. Jolanta sneaks up on the camp. Checking that the Warlock is looking the other way and unleashes her full magical power. A blast of white energy envelopes the men, flowed for a second before they can respond. They are disintegrated.
Part 3 - The Warlock of the Deep
Jolanta checks the wreckage and finds little of value, although there are some notes referring to an ancient Wizard-King, Cryptan Seaweave, from Melderyn's Eldritch Period. The heroes sneak up on the Warlock, hoping to surprise him. Although they are well hidden, he spots that something is amiss at the camp, then sends his oversize pet Seagull to investigate. Jolanta puts it to sleep, and Blaine cuts his familiar in two.
Angered, the Warlock sends the remaining Seagull to mob the heroes while he rapidly closes. These Swarms of Gulls are annoying and easily dispatched; however, the dark clouds appearing above Jolanta's head that rained down lightning bolts are not so easily dealt with. Jolanta is badly injured and forced to use her psionic ability of negation to block his magic. The lightning strikes at Blaine and Torgan, and wisely they retreat into Jolanta's protective barrier. The Warlock disappears in a cloud of mist, then reappears next to the psionic barrier and brazenly steps through. He thrust his trident, enhance by his water magic, at the injured Jolanta. Blaine narrowly deflects the blow, then efficiently cuts him down.
Examining his body, they find two special torches. The stolen alchemical powder is mixed with a resin and coated onto the head of the torches. Jolanta believes when lit, these torches will emit strong, radiant light, equivalent to daylight.
Part 5 - The Caverns
The party investigates the rocks the Warlock was standing on. Jolanta finds a series of runes on the rocks and, using her arcane skills, activates them. A concealed door opens into a dank and dark winding cave. She ignites the torches and they emit an intense warm yellow light as if they were miniature suns.
Among the damp sand are hundreds of crumbling bones that stir and animate. Many of the Skeletons are so decrepit that they are easily smashed to oblivion. However, lurking in the shadows is an incorporeal back shape, a Wraith. It holds a staff, crafted to look like it is warped in seaweed with bits of fishbone sticking out of it. The heroes are blasted by an Ice Storm and are badly hurt. Again Jolanta puts up her Psionic barrier, and balls of Ice directed at her are negated. The Wraith keeps its distance weakened by the light from the touches, traveling through the walls attacking when the characters' backs are turned. It is evasive, momentarily entering into the ethereal plane to avoid damage. Eventually, it is weakened and runs out of tricks, then is destroyed by Jolanta's magic, but not before Blaine almost has his lifeforce drained.
Jolanta claims the staff for herself and expertly re-seals the magical doorway as she leaves. But why did the Warlock want this staff? That is a question Jolanta has no answer for.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Viran Gladryne Dulye.
Challenges Overcome
5 Thugs and 1 Thief.
1 Warlock of the Deep.
12 Decrepit and 5 Standard Skeletons.
1 Wraith, who used a magical staff.
Rewards
The staff of Cryptan Seaweave
For solving the mystery of the missing bags of Alchemical power, Jolanta is given 3 bags for her own use by Gladryne Dulye.
Related Reports
Eder.
Player Character Status
Jolanta - Human - Level 6 Evoker.
Jolanta
NPC Companions
Blaine
Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.
Torgan
One legged former pirate and smuggler.
The Staff of Cryptan Seaweave.
The staff of the ancient Wizard-King Cryptan Seaweave.
You can Walk on Water while holding this staff.
The staff has 5 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC:
Dominate Monster (Water Elementals only) (3 charges)
Create or Destroy Water (1 charge)
Ice Storm (3 charges)
Control Water (3 charges)
Water Breathing (2 charges)
Chromatic Orb (cold only) (1 charge).
The staff regains 1d4 expended charges daily at dawn.
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