Category: Frosts of Alenostr: Session Summaries

SESSION 35 – February 4, 2018

After Aloshia escapes with the body (? – Is Mydius dead?) of Mydius, we search and find unseasonable crops. This is partly explained by Mydius’ spell book which contains plant growth.

Urman has Puk explore inside the walls, and the healthy hirelings guard the gate, with one atop the wall. Randolf is brought to us with news he hoped would help us in our fight with Mydius, but we moved faster than he expected.

We find nice furniture, a bedchamber and bed, and after the web spell wears off, we find Mydius’ lab and library. Including his spellbook. Urman was too confident. He was assured no magic would harm him, but did not search for mundane traps. A poisoned needle greeted his eager fingers as they undid the clasp.

His body burned and he grew weak. After an hour he was weaker. The bugbear shaman applied a salve that eased the pain, but did not stop its coursing through Urman’s body. It was decided to ride for the druid grove. Only with an application of the healing salve and all the healing Zho Ni had prepared for the aftermath of the fight with Mydiua, kept Urman on his horse.

Batukhan was sent ahead, as a horseman he could make better time. He alerted the druid of the grove of our approach and showed her the spellbook, so she could examine the poison. She agreed to help.

She case neutralize poison and cure disease, and finally a cure light wounds. This removed the poison, and healed the festering wound, but did not restore Urman’s full vigor.

Being so close to Crossing, we rode on in and met Chief Bori at the Stonespear meeting hall. We gave him the news that Mydius was defeated, but may be alive as a prisoner to Aloshia. Urman explained that he had claimed Mydius’ tower as his own.

Soon Randolph arrived and said he would carry word of our success to the south. Urman explained that he claimed Mydius stronghold, and would ally himself with the vale.

Urman put out the word that he needed workers to repair damage and build new structures as he and Zho Ni returned to the tower.

Batukhan and Embrek went with Bori to the Stonespear village to be trained by him for the next week.

Otiben went south by barge to retrieve our gear left at the Freelancer’s Guildhall. He retrieved our winning from fight club, and re-invested them in a fight with a challenger who lasted a few rounds and got some good hits in on Otiben. He bought a vial of magical ink from Urmans’ master, Old Harriman, and acquired a wagon and team, and a load of worked lumber. Lastly, he met with the Thane and Randolf to confirm that the Stonespear claim the lands and he is grateful for our efforts to strengthen the north.

As he drives the wagon north, Otiben stops at Djoside to check the manor, and finds from Brynn the forest full of game and mushrooms. It has an entirely different feel. The manor has been cleaned up.

While Otiben is away we search and find a chest with coin, and gems. Among the coins are ogre gold and ancient orcish steel coins. Mydius’ journal indicates that over time he changed his views, whether by charm or argument is unclear, to seek power. He met the lieutenant of the ogre leader, and was promised power and riches to stand with them. Through the eyes of one of his wolfwere companions/guards he observed the ogres passing through, and noted they traveled north and had many workmen and tools, like they would be digging or building something. We take this to mean they may have found the ancient orc capital and are digging for something.

A carpenter and two stonemasons come to the tower, and Urman makes arrangements for them to be a 10′ diameter 30′ tall tower at the gate so those taking watch have a further view and shelter. Also a wooden barracks/guest house where ten could squeeze in out of the weather. Zho Ni pitches in to have a shrine added on to the structure.

The remaining scarecrow tends its quarter of the fields. We put up the other three scarecrows so they can at least fulfill that function. There is enough food in the storehouse to feed this many men for a year.

The thief Otiben hired didn’t like going up against a wizard, and leaves. Urman takes on the others.

Urman also puts out word for henchmen.

Zho Ni tried remove curse on Urman, since he did not seem to be regaining his vigor, and he pulled the curse away.

After passing Brynn, we find ourselves awakening in a dream with our gear at our sides, only the four of us, Brynn, and Puk. We now faced 3 wights, that Zho Ni turned, buying us time to prepare for a fight. Urman cast magic missile while they were still in range and the archers shot at them. When the turn wore off, Urman unleashed two more spells of pure energy on the wight, dropping it. Finally he shot the last two with lightning bolt, weakening it enough to be dropped by archers. We were then returned to our dreams.

The curse is back. Be it Alosha or some item, we haven’t determined, but we know it is from a time when those of us pulled into the dream fight are affected. From now until we lift this curse, we must always be ready for a fight on the night of the full moon.

Otiben, Batukhan, and Embrek retrun to the tower of Urman, a suitable fancy name to be determined.

We mull what our next actions should be. Urman has learned some of the spells from Mydius’ spellbook.

Urman does not have his former vigor, and argues that we should go after the lying Aloshia, who broke the spirit of our agreement, only “cleaning up” the bugbears who ran, and scooping up the defeated Mydius. She used us for he as yet unknown plans. We could not question Mydius to learn what he knew of the Ogres’ plans.

Zho Ni argues we should consider going north. We need horses and more allies.

Urman agrees there is that need, but to leave Aloshia behind us will allow her to regain her strength and cause more trouble among the lands of the weakened Stonespear tribe.

Perhaps we can make allies of tribes friendly to the Stonespear.

SESSION 34 – January 28, 2018

Urman was peeved that he himself was fireballed, and hurt worse than anything to date had ever hurt him.

We healed and rested, hired more mercenary body guards for Urman, and then made our assault.

Mydius’s tower had a wall around it. Inside were fields with some huts and 4 scarecrows. Otiben climbed the wall and saw this. As he went over the wall, there was a scream. Magic mouth or some such had alerted Mydius to our presence.

Otiben and Zho Ni went over the wall, and all the rest went towards the gate, that the Otiben and Zho Ni were to open.

I decided to let them be a diversion. I climbed the wall, cast dispel magic on the tower to knock down any defensive spells Mydius had cast. I also ruined magic potions, etc. But I was going for broke. He was going down! While the rest of the party, except my new bodyguards were rushing through the gate, I then fireballed the tower. I thought it was an open window, but it had glass, so the bulk of the blast was blocked.

[The other players and the DM were like, “Dude! You are so wicked! that’s cold.” My reply, “That’s what he gets for fireballing me.” (He has at least 3 levels on me, I have to throw everything now, before he uses his amulet to teleport out.)]

The Otiben climbs into the window Urman out with the fireball, and the rest of the party knock down the door and rush into the tower.

I take a moment to cast protection from normal missiles and shield, then rush up.

I get there as the fight is starting. Mydius struck his staff on the ground and four suits of armor animated to defend him. This was in addition to his human/wolf hybrid things. We’re not sure what they are yet.

There was some fighting, but not much. I prepared to cast web in through the tower window, in hopes of preventing him from moving, and activating his amulet to escape. Zho Ni prepared to cast silence 15′ radius at the ceiling of the 2nd floor of the tower.

Before the spells go off, Batukahn rushes the wizard, grapples him, and in a rushing tackle defenestrates the wizard and rides the wizard to the ground. [The half-orc has 50+ hitpoints so is willing to take the damage.] Mydius survives the fall, still grappled, desperately trying to get to the amulet.

The web gets all but one suit of armor, who defenestrates itself to aid Mydius, and one of the human/wolf creatures near the stairs. The silence then goes off, so Otiben is in the web filled and silenced room. He has a 19 strength, so can make his was to auto kill two suits of armor and one human/wolf thing. He climbs out the window to get to the second floor to run to the stairs to go get the last held suit of armor.

The Batukahn manages to prevent the wizard from activating the amulet, so Mydius shouts, “Defend!” and the four scarecrows come to his aid.

One of my bodyguards binds and gags Mydius while the rest of us fight the scarecrows and suit of armor outside. Urman gets the amulet away from him and pockets it.

Inside, the cleric, his dwarf fighter henchman, and some other hirelings, fight the last human/wolf hybrid. The cleric does hold person, and the dwarf finishes it.

Finally, we finish off the scarecrows and last suit of armor.

In the final moments of the fight, Urman, and a bodyguard drag the wizard away from the fight, and I take his staff and any other items he has. All but his robes.

Suddenly, a giant 10′ long shadow wolf, a form of an evil ally of mutual necessity (Alosha) shows up and swallows the wizard. The wolf says, “Thank you for your assistance,” and runs off. Before it can top the wall, Urman pulls out his last scroll, and casts fireball. All it does is make it made, and it says, “I’ll remember that.”

I activated the bear belt for the first time, and ran after the wolf, but it was too fast. All I could do is roar in fury and frustration. I had planned to learn about Mydius working with the ogres before dispatching him. I fear he may yet live.

Next week, cleaning up my new wizard tower, and getting all the oil that the others threw around the tower on their way up the stairs. The furniture should look well polished.

What items, notes, and spell books will I find?

SESSION 33 – January 21, 2018

At our last session, we went up against the bugbear allies of the regional wizard, Mydius. We took out the first camp of bugbears, with minimal losses.

We began this session with a celebration at the Stonespear’s Hall in the town of Crossing, a man with a male and female attendant/guard approach, and all the warriors look concerned. The man is an obvious wizard. Otiben tosses his trident, but enchantments prevent it from causing harm.

Mydius asks if that is the way the Stonespear chief treats his guests. Urman spoke up and mentioned that the bugbears we fought claimed that he invited them here. Mydius dropped his pretensions of innocence, and the fight was on.

First to fall was the male guard, who broke like pottery and fell into dust. Then the same happened with Mydius, and lastly with the woman. (The man and woman had changed a bit into beastmen type creatures.) After the fight Urman examined the remains and determined that it had been made of some sort of magic infused clay.

It was decided to strike the other, main bugbear camp before they could get ready for us. Otiben attempted to scout ahead, but he was heard in a fight with a bugbear scout who shouted a warning. We heard a horn in the distance.

We moved towards the sound and found only tracks that lead to the base of trees with platforms in them.

After a bit of backtracking and change of direction, we walked towards the camp. We were not surprised and evaded the stink bombs they threw at us. We quickly engaged having success in the battle of blades. Urman lit up the night sky by casting fireball on one of the large platform with archers. The bugbear’s morale held, and they continued the fight.

Frike was laid low by an arrow, his horse ran off, and Thogi stabilized him. The chief of the Stonespears was affected by the shaman’s fear spell, and sat atop his horse, paralyzed with fear til the battle’s end.

Puk and his riding dog, Hades, and Rip attacked and felled a bugbear on the left flank of Urman. They did the same to another.

The Stonespear warriors, Zho Ni, and the dwarf held the flank on Urman’s right.

Urman used one of his scrolls to once again light up the night with a fireball cast upon the other platform with archers. Many more huts and tents were fired, and many more bugbears fell. Still their morale held. Zho ni lost his target of the shaman, as the shaman went invisible.

Urman was hit stopping him from casting magic missile at a bugbear he felt was too close.

Otiben and Gunner were working with some Stonespear warriors to get past a few bugbears barring their entry into the camp.

Zho Ni and his war horse and dwarf henchman were making progress.

The tide of battle outside the camp was turning in our favor as we were slowly overcoming the bugbears.Urman got off a sleep that helped clear the way for Otiben’s team to move in. The morale of the bugbears finally broke.

Just then, the shaman showed up with Mydius. Somehow he was able to contact Mydius and bring him here. Mydius cast fireball dropping Stonespear and Bugbear alike. Poor Frike was burnt up in his sleep, never knowing his final fate. Thogi died in the blast while standing over Frike. Both Thogi’s and Urman’s horses died. Urman managed to evade the worst of the blast, but was severly hurt, and ran for cover and an opportunity to use the healing salve.

Urman estimated that Mydius was half again as powerful as himself.

Batukahn charged and got a good hit on the wizard. Mydius had some sort of amulet he used to flee. That left the shaman, who was silenced by Zho Ni. Batukahn got a solid hit on the shaman. Otiben did not manage to connect, but Gunner took down the shaman by ripping out his throat.

The bugbears, and the surviving females and children fled into the night.

We found a glass orb on the shaman that had what looked like a forest in it.

Puk managed to round up Frike’s horse.

Urman set to making a travois to haul out what gear and treasure they manage to find.

SESSION 32 – March 5, 2017

There is a big feast and the old woman shaman gives a message to each of us.

The next day we return to the fishing village and decide to move right away against the closest and smallest bugbear camp.

We approach and Zho Ni, Batukhan and Embreck form a line to the north of the camp to stop any bugbears who flee. Urman is with Frike, thogi, Puk & the dogs and 15 of the Stonespear tribe.

Urman casts fireball into the camp and takes out the majority of the bugbears.

Zho ni fails with hold person, but manages silence 15′ radius behind the shaman.

Urman sleeps two of the 3 bugbears on patrol. One is slain and the other captured. The third along with two others flee in terror, one collapses in fear. Two along with the shaman elect to stand and fight.

One charges out and it cut down by the charging Stonespear. The bulk of the Stonespear force engages the chaman, but only three can get to him to attack.

The shaman throws a vile of acidic noxious stuff that kills the cowering bugbear and knocks down one of the stone spear.

The bugbear archer takes down two of the Stonespear, and Urman takes him down with Magic Missile.

ZhoNi manages to capture the shaman with another hold person.

Puk and the dogs take care of the patrolling bugbear that fled. Embrek and Batukahan each take out one of the other fleeing bugbears.

We loot the camp and bring back what food we recovered.

The next day, we question the captured bugbears. They resist, so Urman charmed them, first the regular bugbear. He tells us the shaman’s name, Junga, who is the brother of the chief, Thrakah. Junga angered Thraka as Junga did not like Mydius, and fears Mydius will kill them all once he takes over the area.

Urman manages to also charm the shaman and learn more of the wolves, actually werewolves in the service of Mydius, there are two or three of them and they live in the forest.

Urman has Junga show him how to make the stinking potion, and Urman makes 4 vials. Urman also makes two more jars of healing salve.

We wait for Otiben to wait for him to finish training. Bori, the Stonespear chief arrives.

We plan to finish off the rest of the bugbears before we turn our attention to Mydius.

Session 31 February 5, 2017

Three souls down on their luck answer Urman’s summon. He hires all three, Gamli Bronso the peg legged and the twins Matia and Kaeso Vademor as guards for the Djoside Keep. Urman balks at hiring the twins since they are petty thieves that fled Vademor the original home of Vorigan the vampire. After charming Matia, he believes the two are no more than what they admit to. He also learns Matia has the skills of a cutpurse and Vademor is a spiritual acolyte. Needed more as security than henchmen, the two stay with Gamli in Djoside.

The Thane sends a chest with a matching pair of dwarven wrought battle axe and hand axe inlaid with mithril. The two are a embassy gift for the Stone Spear chieftain. Urman places the weapons in another chest which he wizard locks, leaving the original publicly exposed as a decoy. Both Urman and Zho ni place Continual Light enchantments on items for the newly hired guards to use in Djoside. Bryn addresses the party after he is presented as a Swordsman. Upon our return to Djoside, he wants to leave our company to stay at home with his Mother and to to assume responsibility as Balenwode Ranger. Otiben insists he include the Keep in his duties, which Bryn acquiesces. Then the Thane’s embassy heads north to Djoside on horseback.

We are greeted first by Orel Mostana the elderly caretaker. In sparkling Apolsede manner, Urman promises to support the caretaker in his dotage, in exchange for a few more weeks supervision of the Keep’s preliminary renovations. Eventually, Urman hires Bryn’s mother to attend to his daily needs. Of course, Bryn peeled off to his mother’s as soon as we arrived. Orel has a copy of the Thane’s writ bestowing the Keep to the party and mentions there is a visitor staying at the Inn who had left word he wanted to meet us. We settle our hirelings and gear in the keep before visiting the inn. There we are greeted as heroes of the community. Shortly the mysterious stranger is summoned, as expected he is Randolph the Thane’s dark hand.

Retiring to a private room, we discuss Randolph’s plans for the embassy. He grew impatient waiting for us so had relocated to Djoside and hired a barge to ship us to Crossing. When we arrive in Crossing, he will make some arrangements then we will deliver the gift to the Stone Spears. After his briefing, he agrees to raise Otiben from Rutterkin to Waghalter over the next week. During this week, we settle arrangement in Djoside so that we leave the day after we had arrived. Urman gives the hirelings their assignments and rooms in the keep are assigned. Zho ni proselytizes to the village and his plans of a new temple are accepted eagerly.

The trip to crossing is without incident and our arrival with no fanfare. Randolp excuses himself leaving the party to explore the town. After a settling in two rooms at an inn, we explore the town perfunctorily and finish with a visit to the a Druid grove north of the town proper. There we speak with Druid Geirnot briefly. He isn’t interested in joining our adventures, even after we reference our partnership with Kymil and the Grand Druid circle in Finnesheim.

Later Randolph introduces us to Dietrich, his field scout. Dietrich briefs us on the bugbear bands threatening Crossing. There is a major settlement in the woods blocking the western Mountain road and a smaller outpost directly west of Crossing. He has investigated several battlefields where the Bugbears confronted Elosha’s minions. Those encounters were inconclusive and don’t seem to have improved either side’s position. Dietrich has very old intelligence concerning Mydius the Hedge Mage. His newest information is that there have been reports of Mydius aiding the Bugbears but never seen travelling from his tower in the east to the areas of engagements in the western woods.

Our embassy to Bori Stonespear is an appearant success. He accepts the Thane’s gifts, confirming the clan’s commitment to the Vale. He pledges up to 50 warriors to confront the Bugbears since their presence also challenges his suzerainty in the region and eminence among the other clans. If pressed, the women can join the men for a force of 75 fighters. We spend most of the time trying to determine the most effective way to defeat the Bugbears and Mydius. Three options seem obvious: a combined assault on the western Bugbear outpost to lure the settlement and Mydius into a confrontation, a clandestine infiltration into Mydius’ tower to lope off the head as it were or a two pronged plan with the Stonespear’s facing the Bugbear outpost and an infiltration team to Mydius’ tower.

We realize our lack of hard current intelligence leaves too many factors in question. Elosha’s commitment to the fray is wholly unknown. What threat she will pose to our newly allied Stonespears during and after confronting Mydius and the Bugbears is unknown. Mydius’ specific behavior and capability since secluding himself is also unknown. Urman is concerned Mydius’s skill outstrips his own. We decide Bugbear hostage(s) will answer some of the open questions. A plan is outlined to procure hostages while Otiben and Randall continue training.

Session 30 January 29, 2017

Andros Ashwind identifies several items from the Necropolis. Of note Otiben keeps a Vampire’s Tooth Dagger and Bryn is carrying a Flametongue Spear. Otiben argues for keeping Vorigan’s staff, it’s powers seducing him. Zho ni is vociferous in opposition with Urman and Batukahn supporting the position that being an instrument in service to He Who Devours, it must be destroyed for the protection of the Vale. Andros Ashwind also purchases Vorigan’s entire library, promising to destroy or bury the most evil tomes.

After the Thane dismisses the party, booty from the Necropolis is pawned off to jewelers and pelt dealers filling our purses with coin.

The party spends the next two weeks training to advance in their professions, administer their various business interests and prepares for their northern embassy/expedition. During this fortnight, Zho ni casts Remove Curse each day from all those pulled into the full moon nightmares. Each casting, the cleric can feel a curse lifted but brave Bryn continues to suffer night nightmares. Kymil the Druid and his retinue bid us farewell and return to Finneshiem to organize a return mission the the Necropolis.

Batukahn helps Bryn become a Swordsman (I think his HP must be rolled), Urman studies to become a Magician and Otiben drills Embrek into a Swordsman. During this week, Zho ni can not pay a discounted tuition to the Temple so he spends the time crafting scrolls. Otiben visits the boxing ring to collect our cut. He also takes a match, soundly knocking his opponent off his feet in the first round.

Zho ni’s ambition gets the best of him and he proposes pawning the Irohnhand shield to the Temple to offset his tuition. His and the shield’s notoriety convinces the Cannon to elevate Zho ni to the same office with a commision. As the Vale’s only other highest Eostaria clergy, Zho ni must spread her mysteries abroad. Specifically, he must also erect a place of worship in Djoside adjacent to the former Ironhand keep.

To pay for Embrek’s advancement, Zho ni had gifted Vorigan’s mace to Otiben, who later sells it to the Thane’s quartermaster then hands most of the proceeds back to Zho ni. Otiben and Batukahn also visit the mine, setting the miners to quarrying stone and digging deeper for more copper or other ore. They return to Mannheim with smelted copper and another partial bar of Mithril. This in turn allow Zho ni to not only pay the pawn of the Apolsede Shield (moniker must have changed the week it was on display with Ironhand a footnote reference on the placard) and make a significant payment to the Thane’s grant.

Otiben considers hiring a barge to open a regular trade route from the mine to Djoside. Urman advises leaving this in the planning stage since we won’t be in country to administer directly. Urman puts out word we are hiring security for the Keep and hopes some prospects will show before we go north.

SESSION 29 – January 22, 2017

We carefully enter the mound, and we encountered a trap that caused bars to drop over the entrance and the doorway into the rest of the tomb.

This also caused 12 shadows to emerge from the walls, but Zho ni handily turned them. We managed to wound, but not drop a couple that fled. We manage after the efforts of several of our party to raise the gates.

We carefully enter the tomb and spirit wolves emerge that Zho ni easily turned. One was slain as it fled.

Batukahn stepped further into the tomb area to look into a passage with no door. He saw a a wight in the form of an orc stand up and exit a sarcophagus. He quickly decided to flee before its fearsome countenance. The wight ran at Zho Ni but could not affect it. Batukahn attempted to shoot it, but hit Zho ni in the shoulder. We re-positioned and Zho ni cast protection from evil and Otiben hit is with holy water and Urman hit it with bolts of pure energy. Thankfully it missed Zho ni again and Otiben hit it with more holy water and it was defeated.

The tomb it was in was scavenged with nothing of used. We found the same in the other five tombs. Urman had the others exit, and used the Unseen Servant he had summoned earlier to grab a spear, but the trap was only related to the 5 tombs with doors, so we decided to leave before the incorporeal undead returned, as there was no easy way to fight them on our terms.

We check out the mines, and Embrek insists the equipment there is so crude he wouldn’t take it as a gift. Zho Ni yells into each entrance that Vorigen is defeated, but is only answered by the echoes of his own voice.

We decide we have done all we can and do not have the ability to carry more, should we find it. We return to where we left our canoes from the first trip and empty them of water and begin the trek back to the waypoint at the wrecked dwarven ironclad.

At the ironclad we set watches and settle in to rest for the night. During Otiben’s watch, we are again transported, this time to a mountain pass covered in snow. However, Brynn is not with us. Zho ni having earlier removed curse as he was still having nightmares. We were faced with two yeti, Urman cast firebal before they could reach us, but did not stop them. Otiben rushed forward to slay the less wounded one. The rest of us gathered together and waited for the other, which charged and attacked Gunnar the dog. Zho ni reacted by bashing in it’s skull. Upon which we returned to our former sleeping places. Bynn and the elves were staring where we had been and were surprised at our equally sudden return.

Brynn mentioned that he once again had nightmares, but they had only just started. Urman suggests that the remove curse is why Brynn was not with us this time. Again, it is during the full moon. We suspect, once again, that it is Aloshia. Zho ni removes cures again, due to the dreams, but senses there is nothing there to remove.

The next day we elect to head for dry ground to make our way to the road and return to Mannheim since it is quicker than fighting the current. We see some stirges a few hundred feet away and Brynn drops one and Urman slays 2 and injures a thired with bolts of pure energy, and Brynn finishes off the wounded one as they fled.

We reach the road and travel a bit and make camp. The night passes uneventfully and we travel until midday and reach Mannheim in the midst of the Yuletide festival, and the city is packed. We go to the Freelancer’s guild to clean up and store our gear and loot. We leave Frike, Thogi, Puk and the dogs to guard our stuff, and head with the elves to meet the Thane.

We are shown into a conference room where we find the Thane, Andros Ashwind head of the Urdjan Academy, and Thorri Redbeard of the Freelancers. We relay our victory over Voragen, upon which Otiben presents his evil staff composed of a large humanoid spine. Andros uses Unseen Servant to examine it, and learns more about it.

Zho ni also relays about the temple to “He Who Devours”, and Andros reveals that he knows quite a lot about him, and other primordial entities and that have a presence in our world from the Primordial Wars: The Soulforged Collossus, Nightmare Child, Tree of Blood, The Crystal Spire, Choir of Sorrows, Spirit Well, He Who Devours, Lustborn Scions, various other demons and devils. This is an impressive list, and he indicates that the Spirit Well is on the Isle of Spirits where his brother leads the local Urdjan Academy and that this is one of the more benevolent such entities. Others have a known location, but many are unknown. Andros further states that He Who Devours could rival the gods and that we were fortunate to be able to seal off this temple without further harm. Further, Andros warns us that the evil staff from Voragen is tied to the power of he who devours, and that we should not uses its powers of cursing enemies, animating the dead, and speaking with the dead. He offers to destroy it for use.

Andros mentions that he will see to further protections around the ancient orc city, when Kymil mentions he will return with more druids to enact their own protections upon the place.

Zho ni asks about the Ironside estate and fief. The Thane reveals that he has thought long about it. While he will not grant Zho ni the fief or title, he grants all of us a share in the Manor and its grounds. We confirm he has no desire to encroach on the forest west of Djoside, and mentions that it is known that forests prevent the spread of the cold encroaching on these lands. That there is a punishment of death for wanton destruction of forest land, and that only that which is needed is taken.

During our discussions, a whirlwind rises up in this windowless room and the doors burst open with a swirling mass of leaves and twigs that resolve into the form of Aloshia. Otiben charges forth, but his massive swing merely passes through this mass of debris and re-forms. All the while, Aloshis looks on us with a wry smile.

Aloshia announces that she knows of the mission the Thane will next task us, after the holidays. To go forth and defeat a hedge wizard who once was helpful, but now has selfish ambitions to make his own territory. He has made alliance with a tribe of bugbears who are drawing in allies and will soon be able to wipe out the northmen tribe of the Stone Spears at the town of Crossing. He has allied with the ogres. Further, Randolph, the Thane’s spy has not learned of ogres coming through that area to increase their forces in the north.

Aloshia continues and announces her desire for an alliance to take out the hedge wizard and his forces, as she cannot do so on her own. She revealed that if she slays and eats the heart of the ogress known as The Seer, she will regain her power.

We all ask questions of her in disbelief, cautioning the Thane not to join her. Aloshia answers our questions of her nightly attempts on us, and merely laughs out our finding some third party curse in our foolish exploits.

In spite of our protests, the Thane agrees to alliance with Aloshia. (She revealed that his forebears had formed alliances with her in the past.) Andros then dispels her form, leaving debris on the floor.

The Thane addresses us admonishing us, “Take what support you can from her, but give her nothing. If the opportunity presents itself, deal with her. She has afflicted these lands for too long.” We all agree with that sentiment.

Urman pointed out the thing Aloshia said about killing The Seer and eating her heart to regain her power. He suggest that if we kill The Seer and destroy her heart, it will deny it to Aloshia and keep her week.

The Thane does not have the coin to reqard us with training, but will put in a word at the temple on Zho ni’s behalf. The Thane left us in Andros’ care. Andros was able to identify the spear from the trapped mound tomb as a firebrand, and the warhammer as having a weak enchantment.

We returned to the Freelancers to count and divide the coins we retrieved and to determine which items we would sell. We know that we have but a week to train and prepare for our next mission to take a gift to the Northmen to seal an alliance before meeting with Aloshia (we assume) and dealing with the hedge wizard, Mydius, and his bugbear forces.

Urman further cautions that we need to all be freed of the curse before the next full moon, lest it draw us away when we can least afford it. Perhaps one of our items is the source, and we may need to destroy it.

Urman begins to scheme, what can he do in the next week to prepare? Scrolls with spells useful for battle, such as fireball, web, and sleep will enhance his effectiveness in battle. He only hopes he has enough coin to purchase all the materials….

Sessoin 28 January 12, 2017

Before resting for the night, we search the vampire’s room and find books, money, and clothes. Some of the books are necromantic in nature. One is about “He Who Devours” and has some magic upon it. We learn that “He Who Devours” is a primordial being and learn of a different creation myth of chaos and demons and other primordial beings before the known deities created our world. It is unclear if “He Who Devours” is a being from before or after the creation.

We also spike doors before resting.

The next morning, Bryn is exhausted by a dream of a giant beast with a broken collar.

We search the rooms to the west. We find some more loot. We gather all the loot in the room with the chests. Zho ni cast detect magic and we find a scroll hidden in a book, and verify what items are magic. [See the loot list for details.]

We re-learn spells and Zho ni casts augury to determine our best course of action is to let the druid use stone shape to collapse the rock above. We also learn that the vampire’s staff is of the sphere, but Zho ni convinces us to take back to his temple for its destruction.

Urman uses wizard lock to lock the doors to the temple.

We take out a room full of ghouls and one ghast. The last skeleton butler is slain.

The other rooms with undead are empty.

Urman cast fireball and destroys the shadows in the throne room.

We exit and retrieve the dwarf. The waters are a bit higher. We elect to search the mound that we were warned is heavily trapped.

SESSION 27 – January 8, 2017

We manage to defeat the giant zombie with spells, missile fire, and close combat. Our only injuries being from a fall Otiben took trying to do a leaping back stab.

We went and checked on Alfbrand and his wife Eliana whom Puk said he saw. They were undead facing each other longingly with their hearts in their hands. Zho Ni was offended by their undeath and destroyed both their hearts, which ended their plight. We left them hanging there until we return from facing Voragen.

We enter the tomb and make our way to the room with the shadows. Zho Ni easily turned all but 3 of them. they managed to wound and weaken Batukhan, but we quickly defeated them.

Zho Ni smashed one of the butler skeletons, but Otiben called the other off, after Otiben had directed them to polish Zho Ni’s armor. Zho Ni is much more forceful in his dislike of undead.

We checked the NE lower level, which is not on the map from the librarian, and it was newish construction, very rough. It housed cells and held a dwarf who had been fed on by the vampire, and the elf noblewoman, Lady Isaria, who was “dead” with a stake through her heart. We secured the stack and locked her in a cell, with an urgent desire to face Voragen.

Since Lady Istaria was captured by Ogres, this is evidence that the Ogres must have been supplying Voragen with “food”, in return for Voragen supplying them with weapons. This steeled our resolve to end Voragen, and further weaken the ogres.

We went the rest of the way unhindered to where we faced the adventurers under thrall or Voragen. We searched two rooms, one with 4 chests 1 of pelts, 1 ivory, and 2 with gold and gems.

We went down the stairs and were faced with a large room with 16 zombies, Zho Ni turned most of them, and we quickly dispatched the unturned ones and finished off the rest. Moving into the room we had one elf and one dwarf fall into pits each with a ghoul. Zho Ni turned the ghouls making them easy to slay. the pattern of the pits helped us find two more, which we quickly cleared of their residents.

We moved forward and soon found Voragen in the rooms of the high priest. He charmed Otiben who tried to hit Zho Ni until Zho Ni dispelled the charm on him.

Batukhan and Otiben charged Voragen, but two glyphs of warding blinded each of them. They soldiered on swinging at Voragen, occasionally hitting. Soon more of us entered the fray. Zho Ni silenced the room and we fought in silence, finally driving Voragen back into his room and “killing” his body. He turned to a gaseous form and was limited to his coffin. As it was now dark, we carried it out to the stream and that was the end of him. We then retrieved Lady Istaria and immersed her in the stream also, to ensure she caused no one grief.

We retrieved items from Voragen of great evil, including a staff. We thought it might be the object of power, but the shadow butler said no, and Otiben had it lead us to the temple sanctuary. This room emanated great evil. It was very had to enter this place without fear, or being entranced and lured forward.

A great cauldron of blood dripped into a pit. Otiben managed to make it into the room, and closed the stopper on the cauldron and found the drops of blood fell into a sphere of inky blackness. He threw a vial of holy water into the sphere and it released a shadow. Zho ni easily turned it. Otiben threw another vial into the blood, with only minimal reaction. Otiben threw more vials into the sphere, each releasing a shadow.

The druid said he could bring down the roof and bury the place, but needed time to rest and re-learn spells. Urman agreed. We left off preparing to rest and set watches so we can seal this place and prevent its evil from aiding the ogres.

SESSION 26 January 1, 2017

The party meets up with the druid, his bear, and two elf bodyguards.

We decide to overnight on the rim, and the druid does stone shape to seal the drain.

The next morning, there are minor signs of flooding.

We tie off ropes to climb down in the shadow of the cliff. We send the bear, and Puk with the 3 dogs to await our pulling the guardians away from the foot of the stairs.

We decide to check on Alfbrand and his place is full of undead, and he is not there, nor his wife. We defeat all the undead.

Urman had to use Web to stop a long line of skeletons, so we decide to wait and re-learn spells.

We then get in position and Urman uses fireball to blast the town. We had seen from above that all the people were now zombies. This brings the bone golem and a bunch of skeletons our way, with one skeleton beating a drum.

The druid used call lightning to blast the guardians on the tomb gate. The regular skeletons are destroyed. All but one superior skeleton is destroyed, and the two bone golems are massively damaged.

Otiben runs to the building we know is full of undead, and arrives in time to see 6 skeletons exit. He rushes to shut the doors and spike them. The skeletons keep missing him, as he drops them.

The rest of the party finishes the guardians at the tomb door/gate.

Urman drops the skeleton with the drum using magic missile. Zhoni turns most of the skeletons. Urman slows the rest with the staff.

Just as we defeat the forces from the town, Otiben is ready to run to re-join us, when he sees the two bone golems and associates that were guarding the stairs.. The bear, and Puk and the dogs attacke the regular skeletons from behinds. They then run arouns on side of the building where Otiben was fighting, and finish off the stragglers that Zhoni turned from the town.

Otiben runs the other way and Helps us finish off the bone golem from the town.

This is just as the force from the foot of the stairs arrives, less most of the skeletons turned by ZhoNi. This force meets our line, with only the bone golems and 4 superior skeletons. Two of the superior skeletons hung back with light crossbows.

One bone golem knocked Frike down, but Otiben was able to back stab one bone golem and we slowly whittled down the remaining ones.

The druid used a second lightning bolt to wipe out most of the turned skeletons from the foot of the stairs.

Once we finally finished off the last attacker, we had the druid blast the roof of the building full of undead. The roof collapsed, and an undead giant stood up in the back of the building. It is a lot taller than normal giants.

Tune in next week to see if the party can live long enough to have the druid use the last two lightning bolts at his disposal. We hope to control the upper city once we finish this creature….