Session 244 - The Games of Demigods
General Summary
18th to 22nd of Kelen (Third month of Spring) 725TR
The story so far
The heroes have investigated the Morski, a sinister ship containing undead horrors, minions of the evil god Morgath. The worst of all was Acheron's fellow Knight of the Argent Order, Halidon. He fell to the Shadow and was transformed into an undead assassin.
The characters have destroyed him, or so they think!
This is the continuation of Session 243 - The Lost Brother.
Location - City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn.
Part 1 - A Deal Too Good To Be True
Moneypenny's contacts from among the smugglers in the city's foreign quarter have a proposition for Avon. They would like him to deliver a small sealed chest to Koral the Bloody, the head of the City of Coranan's Thieves Guild. Avon has many contacts in the criminal world in that city.
The wooden chest is sealed with wax and has a fine lock. The payment for delivery is excellent, so Avon, of course, agrees and takes the container under his care. He resists the temptation to look inside.
Location - Off the Coast of the Kingdom of Melderyn.
Part 2 - Demigods At Play
On the first night, Acheron awakens in a musty tomb. His Warlock patron, the crimson, winged lion, and demigod Mendiz materializes at his side. "Watch," he commands.
The tomb is occupied by a Morgathic Priest, studying some documents. Suddenly a much grimmer black-robed figure appears. His face is mostly concealed in shadow, and his bony, almost skeletal hands hold a wooden staff carved with 13 orbs and 13 skulls. Acheron recognizes Morgath's chief lieutenant Klyss the Necromancer.
The priest continues his ritual and soon becomes weaker, slowly dying. As his body ages and turns decrepit, he transforms into bones then finally dust. Immediately the dust begins to reform, and a man emerges from it, Acheron's brother knight of the Argent Order, Halidon, now an undead monster.
"Klyss has interfered with the world returning your brother back to a state of unlife. The Befouler of the Dead has tipped the balance of Concord the Gods, and his interferences allow me to interfere as well," he remarks.
"On Wary Islet, south of Domid Island, is an ancient doorway between the worlds. It opens to Yashain, the World of the Gods to a forest and a hill. Not far up the hill is a cave and in it a relic to address the balance. Go there and claim it. Use it as you see fit."
Part 3 - Sea Monsters
The Dancing Flounder's voyage is not without incident. Once again, the party is attacked by sea monsters as they travel through the western portion of the Gulf of Ederwyn.
Suddenly, the sea becomes calm, and a storm erupts. Thunder and hailstones batter them. A massive, slug-like monstrosity emerges and leaps onto the Flounder's deck, causing chaos, while large aquatic humanoids emerges from the sea. They put up quite a fight but are driven back by the heroes. The giant slug creature is hacked to pieces and becomes fish food. After its death, the weather returns to normal.
Location - Wary Island near the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 4 - Mantel of Everlasting Balm
The Dancing Flounder drops the characters off on Wary Island days later. Jolanta soon uncovers a magical gate between worlds in a small grove. To her surprise finds it open. This seems too easy; however, Acheron assumes his patron arranged this good fortune. The characters enter and find themselves in a forest, with the only feature being a small hill, which they start to climb.
Half way up the climbers spot a large cave opening. It is guarded. Half a dozen lion-like beasts patrol and aggressively approach the heroes. Their hides seem to reflect light in strange ways, and occasionally, their manes sparkle with a rainbow pattern. Moneypenny's Tongues spell allows Acheron to communicate with them and avoid a confrontation. The Lighbenders grumpily depart.
Acheron and Jolanta investigate the cave; it is smaller than they thought, filled with an extensive collection of petrified tree roots. Draped on it is a large snow-white blanket. Jolanta immediately recognises this as a very rare, in fact legendary, Earthmaster relic. A Mantel of Everlasting Balm. A person wrapped in it will heal any injury or disease. It can even restore life to the dead. This is a potent item.
As the characters leave the cave, two bizarre gigantic creatures intercept them. There massive roundish bodies held aloft on stout tree trunk-like legs wielding long arms tipped with claws grasping hands. The Gugs also have gigantic teeth-filled jaws. They nearly kill Jolanta, who is left vulnerable when the rest of the party turns Invisible and attempts to escape. She is swallowed and has to rely on magic to escape. However, these serious threats are eventually destroyed.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Halidon
Challenges Overcome
1 x Isonade and 6 x Merrows.
2 x Gugs.
Rewards
Mantel of Everlasting Balm.
Created Content
Nothing this Week.
Related Reports
Player Character Status
Acheron - Human - Level 6 Devotion Paladin, Level 4 Hexblade, and Level 5 Divine Soul.
Jolanta - Human- Level 15 Evoker.
Avon- Half-Elf - Level 15 Thief.
Avon
Jolanta
Acheron
NPC Companions
Moneypenny
Avon's able assistant
Blaine
Jolanta's loyal and often drunk bodyguard.
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