The Mouth of Doom: Session 15
General Summary
Cleared
Report Date
23 Jan 2021
With the doors closed to the courtyard, the group talk about what they are going to do about the giant corvid in the southeastern tower of Castle Calaelen. Their new friend explained that he would be willing to stay on to restore the castle as that was what they were hired to do in the first place. Gorbaz had been hired by their friend, Jedrah, who they did not realize had been a servant of the Master either before or as they came here. As various members of the group talk about what they want to do in preparation, Sibrwd offers to make a discrete scouting trip into the tower by using a creature. Three of the group moved to the tower directly across from the southeastern one, while the others remained with Gorbaz chatting.
The druid reaches out one of their pale hands and summons a large spider that looks like it is summoned through molting of it’s old skin. Looking through the spider's eyes, Sibrwd is able to see that the tower’s bones are strong and solid; however, something large has fallen from the top, destroying the insides. A large nest had been created in the beams where the large raven is perched. There is a hole in the roof on the opposite side of the large nest. From its location, the spider isn’t able to see what is in the nest. Poofing back into their own mind, Sibrwd asks Artem and Leofric if they should have their companion climb up and peer into the nest from the roof. This decision could create problems for the group who plan on taking a much deserved rest.
From the higher ground, the large spider cannot see into the nest but Sibrwd is able to hear a singing. They derive that they are probably singing to their young as the singing sounded sentimental. Artem has them attempt to get a better look into the nest as they must know all potential combatants. All of them can hear the raven shriek and fly up, murdering the spider but as the familiar dissipates they are able to see two large spotted red eggs. Startled, Gorbaz states “Every time with this bird…..” The three join the group as soundlessly as they can. Tactics are discussed with the goblin bringing up another option for the group. He offers that while the raven is out hunting, they go in and take the eggs to set up an ambush at a point they could handle. Lucius asks about a known schedule for the corvid and it seems that they are more active at night. Their new friend also believes that the castle would be a better place to rest as his forge is quite small.
The night passes without any more trouble. Sometime during the night they do hear the raven leave for about 30 minutes. As the morning of the 29th of Zhira rises, they discuss moving and setting up an ambush while the raven is out hunting. They pass the day with various tasks. Leofric and Jarvis shoot the shit with Gorbaz, Zelon and Sibrwd clear the stairs of rubble, and Te’Leyuura spends the day in the library. The day passes without issue and the group readies themselves for a fight. They all take positions in the castle waiting for Artem’s word that the corvid had left for their nightly hunting.
Moving up to the tower, they find the door locked but untrapped. They pile into the tower; Artem covering their tracks not to give away the ambush as the raven returns. The group try to find decent hiding spots and after help from Sibrwd most find great spots amongst the detritus in the tower. Leofric once again anchors themselves to a wall. Even with all the preparations the group had taken with their hiding spots, as the giant bird returned to their nest, they can absolutely notice that it was for naught. Even though they were noticed, they all get the jump on the creature with all of them taking the actions they had discussed earlier in the day.
They find that the creature is resistant to fire, lightning and regular weapons. The wizard is able to Mind Sliver the creature; however, they shake Sibrwd’s Earthbind. Te’Leyuura had thought they were safe behind a wall but the corvid landed on her, taking her down easily. With one of them down, Sibrwd moves in hoping that Leofric would get the Spear up. The druid fires, enters their starry form and fires again. Leofric does indeed heal Te’Leyuura and calls down a Moonbeam on the raven. The warlock glows and grows wings taking flight, Lucius moves and fires at the creature while activating a rune. The giant raven spits blood and bile while shrieking in a dozen languages, with each hit they look up to the nest. Artem nails the creature giving Te’Leyuura time to move safely out of the way while their familiar breathes acid at the wounded creature killing the raven. As the dust settles, the wizard starts to cast Detect Magic while the rest scour the nest and tower. They find five shiny gemstones and two spotted red eggs.
The group is fairly confident that it was smarter than a beast but was still simple minded, it probably understood words but it’s fiendish nature led the raven to violence. It must have had some sort of tolerated agreement with the people here. Extrapolating they assume the baby birds would display the same features as the large fiendish raven. “They should be destroyed, they are affront to Vrokíva and if we keep them, so too will we.” The consensus is that the eggs should be destroyed as humanly as possible. Artem takes the magical shortsword and pierces the babies within. As they are about to leave, the wizard notices a ping on their Detect Magic and buried in the debris they find a magical shield with the rampant unicorn ablaze on the front.
Grabbing the ponies, they head over to Gorbaz to inform them that they would be heading back to Zelkor’s Ferry hoping to be back with reinforcements. The goblin informs them all the items in the castle that need to be fixed and how many people they would actually need to run a castle this size. As they are chatting, they notice a fog bank coming up on the castle from the south. There seems to be some sort of furling under the bank; it could be something coming out from the mist. The mist is moving around them, three robbed figures, it looks like the mist is being buffered away from them. The group calls out “Announce yourselves” but as their words reach the new group they have already stepped out of the fog.
Looking more closely, the fog is not within five feet of the approaching group. Removing their hoods, they notice Arddan, Kobek and Amrith Hogaine approaching. Ansible greets the group who expresses their feelings to the group. They apologize stating that this task was much more difficult than they had previously suspected and they are glad that we were able to fare better than the previous group. They learn that if the funds are provided, they might be able to resurrect some of the fallen. Kobek moves up to keep watch in the tower as Arddan and Amrith move with the others to the inner keep.
Settling in the dining room, they continue their discussion. The group wonders how the Brume doesn’t approach the Mouth of Doom. Amrith explains that to cultivate a leyline one must be part of it and that there is something here attempting to cultivate a leyline to darkness and it isn’t a recent development. The city of Tsar also once cultivated a leyline. Leylines can be affected by strong emotions and Tsar used fear, desecration and violence. Amrith feels personally responsible for not tasking a stronger group in this endeavor in the first place. All of the people of Gylidd know the danger of Tsar and to have it spring up---it would spring up fear and attract the worst of the people to cultivate this corrupted leyline. The Advocate explains how important and why they picked us, even though they also had chosen the others, they wish they could offer more help. Gylidd needs them and will offer what they can and with a quivering lip they bow to the group. Noticing the only injured party member they over heal Te’Leyuura who welcomes the healing.
Artem explains that they found a terrible book that they don’t like one bit. Sibrwd hands over the wrapped book to Amrith who when the book hits his hands, the druid notices his fangs dropping for a moment. The book is a prayer book to the Master which is meant to educate the weak willed to worship the Master. Not the first time a relic like this has been found but they will destroy it. Sibrwd, noticing the entire demeanor of the Advocate change as he learned what the group has found here and that it all pointed to the return of something resembling Tsar, advises that the ley vampire keep their emotions in check as they are part of a leyline and strong emotions can change a leyline.
