The Prodigal Son Returns

Written by Chrundle_the_Great

General Summary

Unwilling to forever become mindless lemures in the burnings pits of the Hells, the debtors exhaust every one of their favors to claim Peter's childhood home as their stronghold. The mission is do or die.

Session Notes

• Hutch introduces the group to Osiris at the Red Lion Hotel
1. The Academy will sell potions to the Lanterns, in exchange for passage into the Inner City through Shepherd's Gate
2. The group agrees to set up a meeting with Ansom and Petra
3. Also, he might hire the group to investigate the Pale Man
• Big O scries on Von Drakken Estate, as Peter describes his old home:
1. Alistair, the butler, guides barkers and stalkers towards the estate
2. Griffins and owlbears patrol the keep, which sits on a rocky hill
3. A misty figure enters the family crypt, which is strangely open
• Peter asks for Kragan's help, but he doesn't respond to Big O's sending
• Eldemir and Sarlen hire Glassjaw Jake and Bloodhound with delerium shards
• Grimgar experiments on noxious bombs with the Hooded Lantern engineers
• The group interrupts a meeting between Ansom, Petra, and their officers
1. Sarlen's reputation earns respect (and light teasing) from older soldiers
2. The Lanterns are willing to meet the Academy about a possible alliance
3. Their scouts heard about Freddy and Hutch meeting a von Kessel heir
4. Also, Petra offers to join the group's mission, much to Ansom's chagrin
• That night, Big O casts heroes' feast, which consists exclusively of steak
1. After much "discussion," Ansom joins the group, instead of Petra
• With wind walk, Big O drops the group off on top of the estate's armory
• With bomb and spell, the group incinerates the stalkers in the building below
• As mutants charge, they duck into the crypt and face a powerful undead
• Mortis, shadowy wraith and cryptkeeper of the von Drakken Estate
1. "I am the bridge between you and those who have passed."
2. He leads Peter and Sarlen deeper, where Peter's parents are entombed
3. Finally, he "possesses" Peter's mother's statue, allowing her to speak
• Peter learns the truth behind his abandonment and magical awakening
1. "The von Kessels despised us. They spared us to legitimize their rule... and to keep others from doing what they did to your ancestors."
2. Peter's older brother was betrothed to a von Kessel, but Peter's birth, and claim as von Drakken heir, worried the king
3. Peter's mother made some kind of deal to invest him with magic and protect him from the von Kessel assassins and schemes
4. "You are not mageborn. By blood and law, you are a von Drakken, and we always meant to welcome you home. You were always loved."
• Peter learns how his younger sister was affected by growing up without him
1. "She was resentful after you left. Almost as if she had a heart of stone."
• Before resting, Peter's mother asks Sarlen to protect her son, which he vows
• Glassjaw Jake and Thorak hold off barkers and stalkers at the crypt entrance, while the others search for an old tunnel
• Vanren Broadwing, Hooded Lantern founder and Sarlen's grandfather
1. "You are finally competent enough for me to begin training you."
2. He allowed Sarlen to believe he died while defending the von Drakkens
3. He callously dismisses Sarlen's friends and family as distractions
4. Furious, Sarlen rejects him, and Vanren takes quick note of Peter
• The group battle through basilisks and oozes in the tunnels
• They surface in a courtyard of petrified travelers, as a huge wyvern lands
• The group suffers heavy wounds from the beast's jaws and acid stinger
• After more than a few falls, the group fells the battle-scarred wyvern
• Von Drakken guards and armored owlbears swiftly surround the courtyard
• Lady Emer von Drakken, the current heir, with skin like cracked stone
1. After using magic to confirm Peter's identity, she hugs her brother and invites everyone inside to speak in the great hall
2. Peter notices she feels unnaturally cold

Character(s) interacted with

Hutch
Freddy
Osiris Chronnoly
Alistair
Glassjaw Jake
Bloodhound
Thorak the Lungless
Sergeant Thorne Keller
Captain Amerherst
Ansom Lang
Petra Lang
Mortis
Vanren Broadwing
Lady Emer von Drakken

Report Date

27 Jul 2024

Primary Location

Von Drakken Estate

Related Characters

• Eldemir Barling
• Grimgar Boomshot
• Peter von Drakken
• Sarlen Broadwing