Session 164 - Lost Treasures

General Summary

7^th and 30^th of Ilvin (Third Month of Autumn) 722TR

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.

Continuation of the Session 161 - The Key.

---

Location - City of Tashal in the Kingdom of Kaldor.

---

Part 1 - Mission 9 - Strange Meat

Lady Bresyn, art by Artbreeder

Lady Bresyn Risai, during one of her many social engagements, has heard some interesting gossip. Hemeri Woole, a butcher, has recently acquired some unusual meat. He has carcasses of what looks like strange-looking dog-like creatures. Whatever these beasts are, they merit investigation. Something peculiar is afoot.

Jolanta and Blaine visit his Butchery. It is a busy establishment, cuts of meat are on display, and apprentices are busy making sausages. Hemeri Woole is a huge, fat, boisterous man with an impressive meat cleaver. He is persuaded to let Jolanta examine the dead dogs. They are rather strange, a breed of dog Jolanta has no seen before. Large and slightly bizarre in shape, they have long legs and necks and oddly shaped teeth. Their hide is thick, and Jolanta notes each dog is branded with a symbol she associates with transformation magic. The butcher Hemeri comments that the meat tastes strong, so it is seasoned or ground into sausages. He says the meat was brought from Ethylis Kempt, a cook, and housekeeper of some lord who lives nearby and gives directions.

---

Jolanta visits the lord's townhouse, noting the door has recently been repaired; someone has previously forced their way in. They are met by the housekeeper Ethylis, an unassuming middle-aged woman. She acknowledges that she sold the dead dogs to the butcher; however, she will not answer any other questions and tells Jolanta she should talk to his lordship. Ethylis heads upstairs to check with this noble and returns, saying, "Sir Jirex Mallaber will happily meet with you, Mistress Jolanta, and asks you to bring your staff." Jolanta is puzzled. He can't possibly be referring to her magical staff?

Sir Jirex Mallaber, art by Artbreeder

The charming and confident Sir Jirex Mallaber greets Jolanta warmly. He is indeed interested in Staff of the ancient Wizard-King Cryptan Seaweave. He must have contacts in the Guild of Arcane Lore as he is aware she has requested that this historical character be researched and implies that he knows that she is a member of the secretive Order of the White Hand. He is disturbingly very well informed.

But first, Jolanta wants answers regarding the strange animals, and Sir Jirex is happy to provide answers but promises that he may not always tell the truth depending on the question.

The dogs were imported from another world branded with magical runes that made them act and appear as regular hounds. However, recently his townhouse was attacked, and he was forced to transform the dogs back into their true form to aid in its defense. They were all killed by the intruders. Sir Jirex was able to come to an accommodation with the would-be assassins, and they left peacefully. He ordered the dead dogs to be sold to the butcher, the most efficient way to dispose of the creatures. Jolanta surmises that this man is a very powerful arcanist. As he has successfully appeared to have kept his magical dealings secret from the common folk, the Order of the White Hand has no reason to take action against him. Nevertheless, she can't help but think she is being toyed with.

Returning to the subject of the staff Sir Jirex has considerable knowledge of this obscure ancient Wizard-King Cryptan Seaweave. Examining the staff, he concludes that its power has diminished over the centuries and believes it may be possible to restore it to its former glory. He will happily tell her how but would like a favor in return.

Jugs of the very rare Hepekerian Sunfire Brandy may be hidden residing in the ruined manor of Chelena. This manor was used as a base of King Torastra Elendsa during his ill-fated campaign to subjugate the Kath Barbarians. The Kath overran the manor around 20 years, murdered its occupants, and raising. Sir Jerix would like any remaining jugs of the brandy recovered. King Torastra was reportedly fond of that brandy.

Jolanta agrees to help, and Sir Jirex asks her to join in this afternoon's service at the cities Temple of Larani. There is someone she should speak to.

Part 2 - Attending a Service

Immediately after this meeting, Jolanta updates Lady Bresyn with her discoveries. The pair agree that this Sir Jirex definitely will need to be watched.

Priest Otho, art by Artbreeder

Jolanta finds the religious service at Basilica of King Aidrik IV rather dull, just recounting the life of some saint with lots of moralizing. However, halfway through, Sir Jirex takes her aside to meet with a Priest, Otho Natteres. The good priest of the Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow is also planning on visiting the ruins of Chelena. He is searching for a holy book previously owned by King Torastra. One of the three rare copies of The Beauty of the Warrior may still be in the ruins. Jolanta is happy for the company, and potential magical healing, so she agrees to travel with him.

Part 3 - The Spirit Guardian

The next day Jolanta, Blaine, and Otho make their way to the ruins, and the short trip is uneventful except for Blaine nearly stumbling into a cunningly concealed spiked pit trap.

The ruins are occupied, nesting on the remains of the roof are a flock of Yélgri, although Jolanta's disintegration magic quickly deals with the vicious flying pests. Aware that this building is considered sacred by the local Kath Barbarians, she endeavors to keep the damage to the structure to a minimum. Even so, when they explore the insides, debris from the roof occasionally falls on the characters.

---

In a small courtyard, the characters find a primitive shrine. A preserved boar hide hangs from some broken stonework, the remains of a statue of Larani, surrounded by human skeletal remains. The characters start to hear a beating heart sound. Suddenly, a huge angry boar materializes. It is covered in blood, and although it appears solid, it seems to pass through the walls of the ruins like a ghost. The boar breaths out hot fumes, scalding Blaine and the charges forward. It knocks Jolanta to the ground, nearly killing her. She escapes and blasts it with her Corrosive Rays; Otho hits it with his Shattered Staff while Blaine finishes it off with his sword. The Boar fades away. Otho believes that this was some Spiritual Guardian concocted by the loathsome Kath Shamans. The Party is on the lookout for the barbarians.

The floor collapses from under Blaine, and he falls to an underground cellar. Not at all worried, he looks around and spots a large keg, and rolls it aside, revealing a concealed compartment. Hidden inside finds three jugs of Hepekerian Sunfire Brandy.

Part 4 - The Guardian of Spirits

Jolanta and Otho find a safer way down and start investigating. In the last of the underground chambers, Blaine spots another large keg. He grabs it, but this time his hands stick to the object. The keg begins to contort and move, sprouting stumpy legs and a large fanged mouth. The keg is actually a Llewedarrig or the feared Hârnic Mimic, a shape-changing Ivashu. The creature bites him, spits acid at Otho, scrambles forward, then catching Jolanta with one of its sticky Puesdopods. Blaine strikes back only to find his sword sticking to the creature. It slams him against the wall knocking him out. Jolanta and Otho are worried and retreat. Eventually, the badly Jolantas magically shrinks the large Ivashu to a more manageable size and kills it. It is a very near-run fight.

Part 5 - On the Roof.

The explorers rest a bit and continue searching. They find more jugs of sunfire brandy but no signs of the holy book. So the team moves upstairs onto the ruined tower, taking care not to fall through the floor. They find a copious amount of webbing and spiders but easily dispose of these nuisances. Concealed under the webbing and fallen rocks is a strongbox, and to Otho delight, it contains a book wrapped in an oilskin blanket. One of the precious copies of the Beauty of the Warrior, the Perfect Knight Edition.

Blaine spots movement below, three Kath barbarians have arrived, two women and one man, all appear dangerous and likely more than a match for the exhausted and injured heroes. Attempting to avoid a fight, Jolanta crafts a magical distraction, aided by Otho. They make the boar shrine seems to move and give rise to menacing sounds. The superstitious savages are fooled and make a quick escape. Otho would very much like to destroy this pagan shrine and restore the broken statue of Larani but thinks that it would better be a task for another time, with the support of a dozen knights. The Party carefully makes its way back to civilization.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Lady Bresyn Risai - White Hand Agent.

Hemeri Woole - Butcher.

Ethylis Kempt - Houskeeper and cook for Sir Jirex Mallaber.

Sir Jirex Mallaber.

Matakea Otho Natteres - Priest of Larani.

Challenges Overcome

Discovered Jirex Mallaber.

7 Yélgri - the Hârnic Harpy.

1 Spirit Boar.

1 Llewedarrig or Greater Mimic.

1 Spider Swarm.

Fooled 3 Kath Barbarians.

Recovered Jugs of Brandy and a Holy book.

Created Content

Larani Religious ranks - Matakea(Priest), Serekela (Arch Bishop) and Serolan (High Priest)

Chelena, Ruined Manor

Related Reports

City of Tashal - Updated.

Order of the White Hand.

Sir Jirex Mallaber.

Session 106 - Storming the Peaceful Townhouse.

Kath Barbarians - Updated.

Temple of Larani - Basilica of King Aidrik IV

Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow.

Yélgri - the Hârnic Harpy.

Player Character Status

Jolanta - Human - Level 7 Evoker.

Campaign

Agents of the White Hand - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Jolanta

Report Date

31 Jul 2021

Primary Location

City of Tashal

Related Characters

• Lady Bresyn Risai

NPC Companion

Blaine

Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.

Blaine, art by Artur Sadlos

Clan Mallaber

Clan Mallaber, art by Attacus

The Staff of Cryptan Seaweave

Appearance
An old staff, crafted to look like it is warped in seaweed with bits of fishbone sticking out of it.
Lore
The Wizard-King Cryptan Seaweave ruled the petty Kingdom of Eldersharn on Melderyn's northeast coast during Melderyn's Eldritch Period.
He was obsessed with freeing the trapped sea god Eder from his imprisonment and created many artifacts, including this staff, to aid in his objective. All his efforts failed.
A cabal of wizards eventually undermined his rule and created an uprising. He was sent into exile, never to be seen again.
Properties
You can Walk on Water while holding this staff.
The staff has 10 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.

Hepekerian Sunfire Brandy

This sweet brandy is a cloudy, viscous golden in yellow color. It has a powerful aroma and smooth alcoholic aftertaste. First-time drinkers will cause a serious hangover.
It is imported in ceramic containers sealed with beeswax and sells for 12sp/goblet.
Source - Inns of Hârn by Columbia Games.

Book - The Beauty of the Warrior

A parchment and leather book containing the complied manuscripts of Saint Ercenwall, a knight of the Order of the Lady of Paladins. The Saint claimed to have had visions in which Larani instructed him in the knightly virtues: courage, cunning, prowess, strength, wisdom, and duty. Although not official church dogma, this book covers in great detail the principles of the ideal knighthood. This book comes in two editions.
The Beauty of the Warrior Edition
This is a popular book among the nobility and in temples of Larani. Around 100 copies were made.
The Perfect Knight Edition.
Only three copies of the Perfect Knight Edition were made, each having gold leaf illuminations, six full-page color illustrations, and elaborately decorated binding. In the center of the cover was a beautiful representation of a knight in full armor, crafted from solid silver.
Game Effects
Reading either edition of this book spiritually fortifies a worshiper of Larani for 10 days. They gain a +2 bonus to Saving Throws against Fear and a +1 bonus to Persuasion of the faithful.
Source - Larani Books by Kerry Mould and Joe Adams on Lythia.com

Shattered Spear

Cantrip Transmutation
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Touch
Components: V S M (Staff is adorned at its head with a carved broken wooden spearhead)
Duration: 1 minute
Classes: Priests of the Order of the Spear of Shattered Sorrow.
Your staff is imbued with holy power. For the duration, you can use your spellcasting ability instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of melee attacks using that weapon, and the weapon’s damage die becomes a d8. The weapon also becomes magical, if it isn’t already. The spell ends if you cast it again or if you let go of the weapon.