Session 295 - Tournament of Chivalry
General Summary
10th to 13th of Larane (Summer) 726TR
The Story So Far
The heroes make their way to Castle Olokand so that Rycon can enter the Royal Chelebin Tournament of Chivalry, a nine-day event and Harn's largest and most prestigious jousting tournament.
This is the continuation of Session 294 - The Mark of Set.
Location - Castle of Olokand in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 - A Bloody Scene
With the Castle of Olokand in the distance, the characters note a disturbing scene not far off the well-trodden road. Some of the Sheriff's men, led by Sir Aunray Gravic, are investigating a commoner's mangled and half-chewed remains. As Dryueh investigates, Sir Aunray and his men try to block him, but Rycon persuades the studious lawmen that Dryueh is a skilled physician and may be of assistance.
The farmer was killed early in the morning, and it appears to be a savage wolf attack, a huge wolf from the bite and claw marks. Sir Aunray mentions this is the second corpse found in the last few days. Dryueh is unconvinced. He notices the paw prints are elongated and have some unusual features.
Furthermore, Valeria starts randomly scribbling on her notepad. Her Automatic Writing shows a crude picture of the vaguely humanoid figure, with his left side being that of a man and the right a wolf. Also, hidden in the scribble, she later makes out the crude alchemical symbol for silver.
Part 2 - The Standing Bear Inn
After resting up for the night, Rycon registers with the tournament marshals, confers with the old knight Sir Gowan Karondal, and loses another chess match to the slightly senile veteran. He has a wealth of knowledge and knows much of the strengths and weaknesses of many of the leading contestants in the upcoming tourney and a lot of gossip.
Sir Gowan believes Sir Mirald Harabor, son of the Sheriff (and eldest bastard son of the King), is overrated and would not be surprised if his friends "Arrange an easy path through the lists."
Rycon is surprised to learn that Sir Crya Dezzeller, a man he recently maimed in a duel, older brother Sir Kathel Dezellar, won last year's Tourney. "A crude, uneducated, brutal man," Sir Cowan mutters. "Good that he has gone into exile." Pressing further, it appears he wrote disparaging comments about his grace, the King, in various letters, which found their way into the King's hand. "Sir Kathel thought it best to relocate to Chybisa for a few years." Sir Gowan mutters with distaste before riling on about the notoriously poor quality of Chybisan food for twenty minutes.
Part 3 - The Night People
The party then visits the Night People camp, and Valeria has many questions. She asks for a reading from the camp's Matriarch, Lenora. The elderly seer sees the darkness in Valeria, which is unsurprising given she is a Shadow Sorcerer. Valeria shows her scraps of paper, transcribed with portions of text copied from the mysterious book she acquired in the burst of magical energy which gave her powers. They are written in Old Elbythian, the script used by the Night People occultists, and are parts of various rituals. The rituals involve summoning and manipulating darkness; however, Lenora must see this mysterious book to be of more help. Lenora's Aura Reading of Valeria reveals swirling shadows and a dragon made from darkness, the source of Valeria's magic.
While looking among the objects on sale, Rycon asks if the camp has any silver weapons for sale. "So you know of the Werewolf," they respond. The gypsy group found a dead body on the way to the tourney five days ago. A farmer had been ripped to shreds and partially eaten. The Night People's magical powers revealed the perpetrator to be a werewolf but can offer nothing else as to its identity.
Rycon
Dryueh
Valeria
Clan d’Audrieu
The camp has no silver weapons, but an expensive oil called Silversheen is for sale among its concoctions. This coated onto a weapon will imbue it temporarily with silver properties. They are willing to give the heroes some vials but want a favor in return. They want a bag of M'nogai, yellow-green fungi known to dissolve flesh. This dangerous fungus grows in the nearby Ona-Setrum, a 120-foot deep limestone sinkhole, the home of the sinister Murath. The Murath is a unique Ivashu crafted by the god Ilvir from slime, turtles, snakes, and fish. For some reason, the creator god despised his creation and rejected it. In turn, the Murath hates all life, especially the Prince of the Fatherless Multitude (Ilvir) and his worshipers.
The party agrees to help.
Part 4 - The Murath
That night Dryueh is lowered down the sinkhole and finds a grotto filled with debris and human skeletons. Some of the skeletons have residues of yellow-green acidic slime. Very carefully, he sneaks forward, looking for patches of the corrosive green fungi among the rocky maze-like caverns. He hears movement and freezes, expertly avoiding an ugly, huge, tortoise-shaped creature with a rock-like shell. Dryueh is so skilled the feared Murath does not notice him and passes by. Dryueh continues searching, finding a growth of suspicious fungus. Assisted by his minor magical talents, he employs Mage Hand to safely collect the fungus and makes his escape, again stealthfully avoiding the Murath (DM's note: the player rolled three 20s in a row, then a 16, then another 20).
The Night People are delighted to have the bag of M'nogai fungi and will put it to good use. They reward the party with vials of Silversheen as agreed.
Part 5 - Troubled Knights
First, he introduces himself to a strange foreign knight with a reputation as a superb jouster, Sir Rollard d'Audrieu, who hails from a kingdom no one has ever heard of called England. Sir Rollard is friendly but has a very strange accent.
The next meeting is not so amicable. Rycon previously met the enthusiastic and cheerful Sir Miren Tereneth briefly during the Solora crusade. Unfortunately, he is now sullen and unfriendly, which is quite a personality change. Sir Miren rebuffs any of Rycon's efforts to make conversation or offer advice.
Part 6 - The Jousts
The next day the jousting begins at dawn. Rycon is fortunately high up in the draw, enabling him to challenge Sir Cellos. Sir Cellos is an experienced knight in his late fifties who has fought in many tournaments. Unfortunately, it is not Rycon's day; the skilled knight knocks Rycon to the ground on the third pass, and he is eliminated in the first round. Hopefully, he will have better luck in the Melee.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Sir Aunray Gravic.
Sir Gowan Karondal and Haselun the Innkeeper.
Night People camp and Madam Leonora.
Sir Rollard d’Audrieu.
Sir Miren Tereneth.
Challenges
Dryueh recovered some M'nogai and avoided the Murath.
Valeria learned information from the night people.
Rewards
Nothing this week.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Player Characters
Valeria - Human Magical Experiment - L5 Shadow Sorcerer - Beastmaster.
Rycon - Human Rebel Knight - L5 Fighter - Liberator Champion.
Dryueh - 1/2 Elf Scout - L5 Thief Rogue - Vigilante/Medic.
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