Session 176 - Look To The Stars
General Summary
11th and 13th of Peonu (Second Month of Spring) 724TR
The story so far
The heroes are searching the Turmale Hills for a long-lost Elven Holy Groves of Alithani. This grove holds an ancient weapon, a staff, associated with his family.
This is the continuation of Session 174 - A Horned Bear and Glowing Mushrooms.
Location - Turmale Hills in the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 1 - Stampede
The characters are making their way up Tause Hill, the highest hill in the area, to survey the region. They hear a rumble, the sound of a dozen wild horses charging directly across their path. The heroes respond quickly. Remy readies a telekinetic blasting spell to knock them aside, but luckily this is not needed. Odin shoots one of his whistling arrows above the incoming panicked horses. The high pitch scream terrifies them further, and they part on either side of the heroes. No one or any of the horses are hurt.
Part 2 - The Star Gazer
Edelina Sprunstone is a priestess of Save K'Nor, the god of knowledge, on a research project; confirming Loremaster Nessious's hypothesis about the comet Sardura's Arrow. Loremaster Nessious proposed that this comet will return this year, and Edeline claims this is the optimal spot on the island of Hârn Island to observe it. She is also suffering from an infestation of gants. Abaddon quickly prepares a herbal repellent and soothing cream for her numerous inflamed insect bites.
The appreciative Edelina judging the party are no threat and are interesting and helpful people, quickly warms to them. When asked if she has seen anything unexpected with her telescope, she reports that she indeed has.
- In the nearby Oben Bay, she has spotted small flying humanoids, Yélgri. These vicious flying reptiles have an evil reputation.
- At night along with the River Yurdan, she has observed strange lights.
- A small grove of silver birch trees lies to the northwest, out of place among the stumped trees typically found in the heath.
- Lastly, on the peak of Herkely Island, she has seen what looks like ruins.
- She also thinks that there may be a smuggling operation working out of the ruined Termal Manor. The heroes have met these smugglers (refer Session 168 - The Fanatic).
The heroes decide to investigate the first three unusual locations.
For the hero's help and the welcome company, she offers to read the character's horoscope. The heroes take her up on her offer.
Horoscopes
Odin
Hirin the Eagle will be crossed by the planet Alaran.
You will rise high.
The Sable Eye (the planet Mergus) rise under the Tlylus (the Claw)
A great betrayal lies in the future.
Abaddon
Ulandus (the Tree) will cross Yael (the Moon) three times
The cycle of the Three Trees will guide your destiny.
Remy
The planets Epeon and Alaran will conjunct over Lado the gallery.
Its is unclear whether you will have to sink to stay afloat.
Part 3 - Flying Vermin
As the heroes approach the Yélgri nest, five of the small flying reptiles spot them and fly in to investigate. In quick order, three are shot down, and the other two escape and rejoin their flock.
On a rocky outcrop overlooking Oben Bay, the Yélgri have formed a series of interconnecting nests. Over a dozen of the small flying brutes fight viciously to defend their home and eggs. They swoop above the heroes throwing javelins, rocks, and bags of festering dung on the heroes. When their ammunition runs out, they swoop in and mob the characters. They attack with a frenzy tearing at the heroes and prove to be surprisingly dangerous. However, one by one, they are cut down. Remy needs to use every magic trick in his book to avoid injury, while Abaddon and Odin are badly savaged.
Part 4 - Murder Victims
The river Yurdan where the mysterious lights were seen at night, has only one interesting feature, three shallow graves with human bones. A quick examination shows evidence that these are the victims of murder.
That night the characters hide nearby, and not long after dusk, three glowing orbs of light emerge. These baleful undead entities hate life, sense one of the characters, and attack. Although hard to hit, the heroes soon get the better of these Will-o'-the-wisps.
Remy blasts the bones of the dead to oblivion. Whether that will stop these creatures from reappearing is unknown. However, there is no indication of any holy grove.
Part 5 - The Waystone
The heroes arrive at the stand of silver birch trees and look around, finding nothing particularly out of place. Remy checks for any unusual magical signatures. His Detect Magic shows a weak magical aura, concentrated around a small patch of trees and what appears to be a rectangular object a few inches under the dirt. Digging around, they find a 3 ft x 3 ft stone inscribed with elven inscriptions and writing. In the distant past, these stones were used to direct elves used to the nearest groves. However, it has been dormant and lost much of its magic over the last thousand years.
Abaddon cannot decipher a direction from the inscriptions, so Remy attempts to read its magical patterns. A clue is tantalizingly close, just within his grasp. Remy adds a little magic energy into the way stone, and it fires to life. Unfortunately, his magic also angers the nearby spirits of nature, and a dozen small humanoid-shaped plant-like creatures emerge from the surrounding trees. They are hostile and do not listen to reason.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Challenges Overcome
16 x Yélgri.
3 x Will-o'-the-wisp (slightly scaled back for PC's level).
Remy magically activated the Waystone.
Created Content
Related Reports
Player Character Status
Odin - Human - Level 4 Gloom Stalker.
Abaddon - Elf - Level 4 Openhand Monk.
Remy - Half-Elf - Level 4 Bladesinger.
Encounters and Events
Sardura's Arrow
Rowanti (Loremaster) Nessious, of the church of Save K'Nor, proposed that this infrequently comet observed over the centuries was the same astrological object with a cycle of approximately 77 years. If he is correct, the next expected occurrence is in 724TR.
This comet was named after Sardura, the Princess of Golden Wrath, one of the goddess Halea's seven handmaidens. Sardura is known to wear golden armor, and her favorite weapon is the short bow. She deals justice to thieves and those who break contracts.
I don't think I have seen this map before, where did you find it? https://www.worldanvil.com/i/2670773
Maps mine, a recreation of the CG map I did on Campaign Cartographer. This is a very small section of it.
Noice!