Session 379 - The Forbidden Hill

_{Based on the scenario in Harn Pottage IV by Mike St-Pierre found at Lythia.com}

General Summary

10^th Kelen Spring 728TR

The story so far

A group of Heroes re-enter the stage after almost four years since their last adventure.

---

Sir Odin, a former Erkan of the Checked Shield, has been raised to knighthood.

Remy, a former master thief and active gambler, has won and lost fortunes.

Abaddon has traveled the wilderness, perfecting his impressive martial skills.

Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the god of Knowledge Save k’Nor, joins them on their adventures.

This is the continuation of Session 225 - Dogs of War.

---

Location - Hebon to Gimon Road, Ternu Heath, in the Kingdom of Kanday.

---

Prologue

King Andasin IV, in an uncharacteristic decisive mood, has laid a bounty on the head of any orc in the kingdom. The foulspawn have been sighted on the Ternu Heath, but the heroes find that hunting is sparse. These pitiful excuses for orcs do not thrive in the heathland with poor hunting and few trees or caves to protect them from the biting sun. What few orcs the party finds are the small spotted orcs variety, half-starved, and their tribal bands are weakened by infighting and cannibalization.

Giving up, the party returns to civilization with a small bag of gargun heads. They are ambushed by another band of hunters with even worse luck and have turned to banditry, but they are quickly dealt with.

After dropping the heads off at a royal toll booth, the heroes plan to visit the free city of Aleath. When traveling through the Barony of Gimon, a new adventure begins.

Part 1 – A Priest in Peril

Father Habus, art by Playground

The party hears a cry for help. The road they are traveling along twists around an embankment, and behind it are the ruins of an old stone building. From within, they hear movement and spot a man in green robes attempting to conceal himself. Stalking around the crumbling structure are two pony-sized predators, muscular quadrupeds, with a head that resembles that of a snapping turtle, and instead of feet, the lower half of each leg is tipped with a bony scimitar-shaped hook. The Skaigeth spot the heroes, giving up on the green-robed man, bound toward the party over the embankment.

The ferocious Ivashu leap forward and their hook-shaped limbs nearly impale Odin, catching him in its vice-like grip, but the sturdy knight pushes free. Remy is also caught but escapes with a blast of air and sparks. Edelina’s magical healing keeps the heroes in the fight, and her psionic divination talents are of some assistance. The Skaigeth are eventually slain. 

The relieved man in green is a Peonian priest, Father Habus. He explains that he is looking for adventurous types, just like the party. The Lady of the Posiar Manor urgently needs their help. Intrigued, the party agrees, and the good priest cheerfully escorts them to his village.

---

Location - Posiar Manor in the Kingdom of Kanday.

---

Part 2 – Lady Erane's Dilemma

Lady Erane, art by Playground

Posiar Manor is a small, well-ordered village. What is most noticeable is the small, wooded hill, ringed by a 4-foot-tall stone wall. It looks like a great tree at the top of the hill has recently fallen over.

The local peasants are unhappy; as the party enters the village, they fall behind them, grumbling and arguing. Some look pale with black rings around their eyes. The party is let in through the manor gates into the large lord’s hall, where servants offer hospitality and a light meal. Lady Erane Erden arrives shortly after, accompanied by her elderly chamberlain Turryl of L’sean.

Turryl, art by Playground

After a brief friendly conversation, she gets to the point: something strange has happened in her village, and she needs help. Her husband, Sir Maild Erden, would typically deal with such a problem. However, he is away after volunteering to fight orcish hordes in the Kingdom of Kaldor.

Ten days ago, a ferocious storm struck the settlement. It was so severe that it knocked the great tree over on the Forbidden Hill. A few days later, strange things started to happen. The small animals, birds, and insects were seen fleeing the hill, and shortly after, sheep and cattle in the nearby paddocks became frightened, moving to the far side, as away from the hill as they could.

Then, several villagers had difficulty sleeping, and a few days later, the whole village was suffering terrible nightmares. Prayers and holy rituals do not seem to help, and one young girl attempted suicide. The desperate Lady Erane sent Father Habus to find help.

Lady Erane and Father Habaus suspect the Forbidden Hill is believed to be the source of the nightmares. However, the villages whisper that the fiendish minion of the god Naveh, Karshula, haunts the settlement. A local law dating back hundreds of years makes it illegal to climb the Forbidden Hill, but the reason for this law has been lost. The heroes, not being part of the village, are given permission to investigate.

The heroes agree to help and spend the afternoon investigating the hill's perimeter and talking to the villagers. Edelina examines the hill using her brass telescope. It looks like a large hole was created when the great tree toppled. One young village girl, one of the least affected by nightmares, dreamed of a beautiful woman trapped in cold and darkness; however, none of the other villagers remember their nightmares. 

Part 3 – The Hole in the Hill

The party spends the night in the villages. Odin and Remy sleep poorly, beset by bad dreams, while Edelina is unaffected. The slightly arrogant researcher explains that she has a highly disciplined mind.

The following day, the party ascends the hill. At the top, they examine the hole, which appears to lead down to an opening, possibly a cave or chamber. Carefully, the party climbs down, but the loose, wet earth moves under their feet, and they slide down uncontrolled into darkness.

Their landing is cushioned by mud. Edelina mutters an incantation, and glowing Light appears from her hands, revealing a wet, muddy chamber. What looks like rotting wooden statues flank an old altar. Suddenly, the mud begins to move. Animated rocks and muck take on vaguely humanoid forms and attacks. These elemental earth spirits are weak; however, the heroes are off guard and stuck in the mud. Nevertheless, the elements are quickly destroyed.

While Edelina tends to the party’s cuts and abrasions from the fall, they notice that the air is stagnant and foul. It is getting hard to breathe.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Father Habus - Priest of Peoni.

Erane Erden - Lady of Posiar Manor.

Turryl of L’sean - Chamberlain.

Created Content

Manor of Posiar.

Related Reports

Kingdom of Kanday.

Skaigeth - The Hooked Hound.

Player Characters

Odin - Human - L5 Ranger

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetype - Investigator.

---

Abaddon - Elf- L5 Monk

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetypes - Druid.

---

Remy - Human - L5 Kineticist (Air and Metal)

Background - Acrobat.

Archetypes - Acrobat.

---

NPC Companion

Edelina - Human - L5 Holy Sage Sorcerer

Background - Astrologer.

Archetypes - Psychic.

Next Session

Session 381 - Tears in the Night.

Posiar Manor

by Attacus

Campaign

Games of the Gods

Protagonists

Remy

Abaddon

Odin

Report Date

02 Oct 2024

Primary Location

Manor of Posiar

NPC Companion

Edelina of Sprunstone

Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the Church of Save K'Nor, who wanders the world looking for subjects to research. She has studied psionics and astrology.

Edelina, art by playground

Clan Erden

Clan Erden has held Posiar Manor for 170 years and recently expanded their holdings to include a nearby hamlet at Traven.

Their liege lord is the Baron of Gimon.

Clan Erden, art by Attacus