Saturday 16 April 2016

Session notes to end of April 2016

After Session 11 - Fortress of the Iron Knight
18/1/1020 AC, winter.
Alexandra Vorloi survived her wound. Baron Vadarin knighted Alexandra, and married Lady Kylene after all.
The group returned to Rugalov, where Jakov studied magic under Baron William. Later, Claudia visited Baron Philip Vorloi and revealed her parentage. Philip insisted he was right to disown his daughter, Claudia's mother Elissa Vorloi, but Philip's brother Gabrionus told Claudia she was a Vorloi and promised her support.
.....
31/7-2/8/1020 AC:

Roseanne Courting, Lighthouse with mad ghost, ruined mansion, gnolls, baby dire weasels: 2750 XP each.

At the back of the dire weasel lair a trap door opens onto a stairway leading down.

I took a look at what magic items you guys have:

Bramble Hairyheals, Halfling-6: +1 platemail, +1 short bow, +1 short sword, 6 +1 arrows, 3 healing potions.

Claudia Morrigan, Thief-6: +1 leather, +2 dagger, +1 dagger, 3 healing potions, +2 ring of protection, continual light sapphire.

Alexandra Vorloi, Fighter-6: +1 sword, +2 ring of protection, +1 trident, 1 healing potion, 1 levitation potion.

Roseanne, Cleric-6: +1 platemail, +2 two-handed 'rune maul' warhammer (d8+2), 10 +1 sling bullets, 5 healing potions, scrolls: 2 cure light wounds, 1 bless, 1 raise dead.

3/8/1020 AC
Grog the Ogre charmed, many smugglers killed, two fishmen encountered but escape, Veiled Society involvement confirmed, smuggler leaders Mortimer & Jared captured.

3-10/8/1020 AC
Smuggler leaders Mortimer & Jared taken back to Specularum while Roseanne, Bravery & William defend Fair Haven against Fishman hordes - Frosto blows back the mysterious night-fog then blasts them with frost breath and slays them in droves, William turns into a Griffon and slays the Fiendish Naga with his beak, killing the enemy fish-priestess too as she tries to flee. The defenders are soon victorious with only two militia men slain. However Grog the Ogre is frozen solid in collateral damage, he is buried with honour beside the fallen militia.
Vast loot is taken from the fishmen leaders, including a fiendish water naga; William gains an Ioun Stone +1 caster level, Bravery takes the fish-chief's girdle of giant strength that doubles his damage. Bravery & Roseanne level up. Back in Specularum the trio are acclaimed, William is named Earl (Count) of Eastron with a greatly expanded landholding, while Roseanne gets in well with both the Grand Duke Stefan and with Baron Sherlane Halaran, Baron-Bishop of Threshold and rival of Bishop Alfric Oderby (disliked by Stefan) to succeed Patriarch Oliver Jowett as head of the Church of Karameikos. She also dances with Squire Quintus Vorloi at the Grand Ball celebrating William's elevation as the first Count of Karameikos, and arranges to go on a wild boar hunt with him.
The Grand Duke Stefan declares that his daughter the Princess Adriana Karameikos (William's wife) shall succeed him as ruler of Karameikos, and one of her children after her - Prince Bravery declares he doesn't want the job, so thoughts turn to Princess Hope.
There are also rumours that with this move the Grand Duke may be close to finally declaring Karameikos a Kingdom in its own right. 

The Grand Duke of Karameikos is sending 400 Elvenguard east to Rugalov to clear the Chaotic Caves.

The Smuggler leaders were due to meet with the Veiled Society in two days (12/8/1020).

XP award is 15000 to Roseanne, William & Sir Bravery.

Roseanne C7 xp 60676/100000
William M9(10) 341726/450000
Bravery F7 68767/120000

Not present
Claudia T7 xp 56051/80000
Alexandra F6 XP 35750/64000
Bramble H6 xp 43521/64000

Meanwhile Roseanne is courting young Squire Quintus Vorloi and letting him show off on Boar Hunts. 
The Duke sends 400 Elvenguard east to Rugalov, where they clear out the Chaotic Caves fairly easily; with the death of the Hobgoblin King the enemy are disorganised and fragmented. 
One day Prince Bravery (who flew to Rugalov on his father's white dragon Frosto) returns to Specularum by ship, with several dozen Goblin warriors disgorging down the gangplank after him! After initial panic in the streets, it turns out that apparently Prince Bravery has succeeded in recruiting the Black Fang goblin tribe, after liberating them from cruel hobgoblin overseers, and they have pledged him allegiance. 
A delighted Grand Duke Stefan makes Bravery the first Baron of Highreach, a large dominion covering the highlands north of his father Earl William's domain of Eastron. Baron Bravery pledges to unite the human hill tribes and goblin tribes of the land under his just rule - and exterminate the hobgoblins.

To 15/9/1020 AC

Claudia has the Guard arrest Anton Radu, Duke Stefan lets him off rather than start a civil war. Following a passionate tryst while boar-hunting, Roseanne gets engaged to Quintus Vorloi. Frosto meets his Chimera son. Baron Gabrionus Vorloi blesses the Roseanne/Quintus union and promises to make the wedding arrangements; his wife Lady Aara Vorloi is cooler and keeps 'praising' Roseanne's 'difficult upbringing'. Back in Specularum Grand Duke Stefan indicates that Roseanne is in line to be appointed to the Order of the Griffon, and asks her to handle a delicate matter...
Stefan asks William to investigate the disappearance of his Herald, Sir Jonathan 'Ironbones' Tendoros; Roseanne volunteers to join him, Frosto and Prince Bravery on the mission.

15/9/1020 AC
Soon after awakening in the foyer of the strange mansion they've been seeking, the party are joined by Claudia Morrigan, dispatched on the same mission while Lord Bramble is deep in paperwork in the Royal Library...

New XP
Count William, Earl of Eastron MU9 XP 358,726/450,000
Roseanne Clr 7 XP 75,676/100,000
Claudia Morrigan Thf 7 XP 68,051/80,000
Prince Bravery, Baron of Highreach Ftr 7 XP 86,767/125,000

Polymorphed Sir Jonathan Tendoros & his shapechanged Gold Dragon friend Areelia

Roseanna & Quintus - Artist's Impression
PCs entered Averoigne through the Silver Gate and lodged at the Inn of Bonne Jouissance, only to be sent back through time by coffee laced with potion of time travel by the sinister 'Lord' Jehan Mauvaissoir, to a time before the Inn existed - and it's raining...

Roseanne Clr 8 XP 114,173/200,000
William MU 10(11) XP 488,497/600,000
Bravery Ftr 8 XP 125,264/240,000
Claudia Thf 8 106,548/160,000

To 15/9/1020 AC

Claudia has the Guard arrest Anton Radu, Duke Stefan lets him off rather than start a civil war. Following a passionate tryst while boar-hunting, Roseanne gets engaged to Quintus Vorloi. Frosto meets his Chimera son. Baron Gabrionus Vorloi blesses the Roseanne/Quintus union and promises to make the wedding arrangements; his wife Lady Aara Vorloi is cooler and keeps 'praising' Roseanne's 'difficult upbringing'. Back in Specularum Grand Duke Stefan indicates that Roseanne is in line to be appointed to the Order of the Griffon, and asks her to handle a delicate matter...
Stefan asks William to investigate the disappearance of his Herald, Sir Jonathan 'Ironbones' Tendoros; Roseanne volunteers to join him, Frosto and Prince Bravery on the mission.

15/9/1020 AC
Soon after awakening in the foyer of the strange mansion they've been seeking, the party are joined by Claudia Morrigan, dispatched on the same mission while Lord Bramble is deep in paperwork in the Royal Library...

15-30/10/1020 AC
The adventurers have been missing for a month when a sad Lord Bramble returns from the Five Shires, having attended the funeral of his dearly departed wife. Having little to live for, Bramble determines to investigate the disappearances linked to the Ghostly Mansion of Sulescu.
After days of searching on the road, one chill autumnal evening he lays his head down by the roadside and wakens to late spring sunshine in a forested glade, to be met by his companions and a strange lady...

Session XP
Moriamis, Inn, horses: 1000
Colossus of Vyones, gain mirror: 60,000(!)
8 Werewolves killed or driven off: 8000
The Beast of Perigon, gain the Eibon Ring: 30,000
Travel & exploration: 1000
Total: 100,000/11 = 9090 to Ironbones, 18,181 per PC.

Lord Bramble levels up to Halfling-7, getting +2 to attacks, +1 damage, and +3 to saves (the final Halfling save array - saves vs Death Ray/Poison on a 2+!). Due to roll d6+1 for additional hp.

XP
Lord Bramble H7 XP 67,568/128,000
Count William MU10(11) XP 506,678/600,000
Roseanne C8 XP XP 132,354/200,000
Claudia T8 XP 124,729/160,000
Baron Bravery F8 XP 143,445/240,000 

The group are joined in Vyons by Moriamis and a young wizard, Ilya, a Traldaran from their homeworld. Lord Bramble has sunk into a fugue state, possibly part of him trapped between worlds. Moriamis hands over the promised Potion of Time Travel. The group travel south by boat to the enchanted land of Sylare, where they defeat the renegade werewolf-mage Malachi and his minions; the Chatelaine of Sylare grants them the Sword, with which they perform the ritual that summons Stephen Amber's tomb from beyond space and time...

Many final tests await in the Tomb, and Roseanne nearly meets her end smothered by a mud golem (emerging EXTREMELY muddy), but at last they reach the crypt and free Prince Stephen Amber from his spell of death. They are returned to their own world; Frosto and his gold dragon girlfriend emerge from the collapsing ruins of Castle Amber as Stephen handsomely rewards the heroes who freed him, before departing.

The group return to Specularum to find much time has passed, it's 7/12/1020 and Bravery has missed his birthday but is just in time to witness the birth of his firstborn son, Zach Karameikos!

XP
Lord Bramble H7 XP 67,568/128,000
Count William MU10(11) XP 506,678+35000=541,678/600,000
Roseanne C8 XP XP 132,354+35000=167354/200,000
Claudia T8>T9 XP 124,729+35000+X=160,000/160,000
Baron Bravery F8 XP 143,445+35000=178445/240,000 
Ilya MU5>MU6 XP 20,000+35000=55000/80,000 

10/12/1020 AC - Drolem arrives from Fire Island
21/12/1020 AC - Princess Corina of Ierendi missing, the Grand Duke asks his heroes to help find her.
28/12/1020 AC - Princess Corina located in a Triton undersea city.

XP

Count William MU10(11) XP 20000+541,678=561,678/600,000
Roseanne C8 XP XP 20000+167354=187354/200,000
Claudia T9 XP 20000+160,000=180,000/280,000
Baron Bravery F8 XP 20000+178445=198,445/240,000

Alexandra F6 5000+35750=40750
Ilya MU6 XP 55000/80,000
Lord Bramble H7 XP 67,568/128,000

28/12/1020 AC The Drolem arrives with Alexandra & Bramble; Battle in the Triton city; Bravery orders it to wipe out the Triton adults which it proceeds to do. Struck by remorse the others help the survivors evacuate. Group return with Koom the storm giant & rescued Princess Corina to his castle (29/12).
6/1/1021 AC After resting a week at the storm giant's castle the group travel to the ruined undersea city of Colhador to find and destroy Hadric, apparent source of the evil plaguing these lands.

7/1/1021 AC
The PCs fight their way through the depths of Colhador (+20,000 XP)

Alexandra Ftr 7 XP 84,000/120,000
William MU 11(12) XP 603,678/750,000
Bravery Ftr 9 XP 240,445/360,000
Roseanna Clr 9 229,354/300,000 XP
Claudia Thf 9

Cohorts
Alexander C7 XP 50,000/100,000
Areelia Gold Dragon HD 8

The group abandon the attack on Colhador and return Princess Corina to Specularum with Koom the storm giant. The Grand Duke congratulates them and gives them all medals. Claudia is pronounced a free woman, Bravery William & Roseanna will have their fortresses funded by the State.

Roseanna's wedding to Quintus Vorloi is set for midsummer's day (21/6/1021), a traditionally propitious time.
Claudia establishes her Thieves' Den under Specularum. She is taking advantage of one of her followers. Extensive advantage...

Construction of the fortresses begins. 150 Church fanatics come to serve Roseanna while 60 crossbowmen and two knights come to serve Sir Bravery.
The mages of the Guild enchant leather armour for Claudia, while the Smith-Priests of the Order of the Griffon at Alfric Oderbry's instruction enchant shining enchanted plate armour for Roseanne; the winged motif on the shoulder guards giving her an angelic appearance.
Rumours from the east are that Thyatis is at war with Master-ruled Ylaruam. Ylaruam has invaded Thyatis' east coast (with its large ethnic-Alasiyan population) with huge wheeled battle-golems and other powerful magic, killing thousands. The Retebius Air Fleet and Knights of the Air are seeking the Master's hidden sanctuary.

15/4/1021 AC, morning
Bravery, William, Claudia & Roseanna are consulting with Teldon & the Grand Duke about the magic weapons believed hidden beneath White Plume Mountain, a volcanic peak on the edge of the Nameless Moor. They are said to have been stolen 70 years ago by a sinister force - Wave, the Trident of Ierendi. Whelm, the Warhammer of the Rockhome Dwarves. Blackrazor, the soul-sucking black sword of Thyatis. Teldon believes they could help protect Karameikos, but none who have ventured to White Plume Mountain have ever returned...

Suddenly a messenger arrives from the north, the young knight Sir Giff in service to Sir Bravery. Scouts report that an army of giants and ogres is marching on Highreach! The heroes leave immediately, flying 105 miles north on Frosto, Drolem and Areelia. That evening they reach Highreach and see the flames of Raladeb, a destroyed Traldaran hill village, and the giant force moving south along the west bank of the still semi-frozen Highreach (Volaga) river. The dragons & riders attack; 11 ogres & 6 hill giants are swiftly slain, one giant, Gulug, is captured, and agrees to serve Claudia. He tells them of an alliance of Hill, Frost and Fire Giants serving the Master... Yellow Snake goblins arrive mounted on wolves; Bravery commands them to go to Castle Highreach and aid the defences there.
The party rest overnight at Vlad's Stead to the south of the battlefield; revelation of Claudia's identity causes some tension with the local Traldarans and she sleeps outside with Areelia.

Meanwhile in Specularum, old Anton Radu is preparing for bed when he is attacked by an invisible monster, ripped apart before his guards can save him.

16/4/1021 AC
Next morning they fly north-east (the Drolem carrying Gulug) some 30 miles to the steading of the hill giant chief, nestled in thick woods at the foot of the mountains. With no sign of having been spotted, most of the group hide in a clearing nearby while Claudia scouts into the steading, killing three drunken, sleeping sentries, and returns with news of a large gathering of giants feasting in the steading's central hall.

16/4/1021

Party are joined by the knights. The Drolem is sent into the giant lair. It does not return. Attacking the giant lair the PCs see the Drolem captured, surrounded by dead giants. The party panic their own side with the Drums of Panic and flee in confusion, Alexander saving a panicked Alexandra.

The party reunite and retreat to Bravery's part-built castle & rest.

17/4/1021
The party return to the giant steading on dragonback. Areelia flames the bonds holding the Drolem, it rises into the air. No sign of giants.

17/4/1021 Party attack and defeat the hill giants despite sabotaged drolem, then explore the steading dungeons before returning to Roseanna's Temple Fortress, where Claudia conducts a panty raid on Roseanna's chamber.

18/4/1021 After breakfast Claudia heads south on her broom towards Vorloi.

19/4/1021 Camping in the woods, Claudia is woken by the green dragon Chloridia, who speaks of revenge, and the power of the Master. Claudia reaches Vorloi castle that night, sneaks in and kills Baron Gabrionus Vorloi and his wife Aara, escaping as the alert is raised.

20/4/1021 Claudia returns to Specularum, her Thieves' Den, and the arms of her loyal henchman. 

18/4/1021 While Roseanna heads on to Specularum, William Bravery Valerios & Alexandra return to the giant steading, they find enemy campaign plans, some orc ex-servants - who William persuades should join his side in return for keeping their lair in the Steading dungeon - and the giants' secret treasure room being looted by some swiftly dispatched ogres and giants. Among the vast piles of treasure they find a map of frost giant holdings in the Altan Tepes, and a chilly black chain with instructions to teleport up to six creatures to one of the giant holds.

22/4/1021 Resting up at Castle Bravery, the Herald Sir Jonathan Tendoros arrives with terrible news - Baron Gabrionus Vorloi and his wife Baroness Aaara have been murdered! A Speak With Dead from the Bishop of Vorloi Town indicates the killer is Claudia Morrigan.

23/4/1021 Group fly south to Specularum, arriving after nightfall. Alexandra consults with Grand Duke Stefan, Trenton the Wizard, and consoles a tearful Quintus, who swears vengeance on the slayer of his parents.

24-26/4/1021 Alexandra begins her enquiries...

26/4/1021 Near midnight - Alexandra meets with Flameflicker, the King of Thieves (actually a woman), who agrees to help her against Claudia.

27/4/1021 Pre-Dawn - Alexandra & co attack Claudia's lair. Quintus Vorloi kills Samson, one of Claudia's men. One of the Thief Princes is ripped apart by a Vrock, the other energy drained by Claudia's succubus friend, before Alexander's Dispel turns the tide.
Most of Claudia's band are killed or captured (including her lieutenant Ezekiel), but Claudia escapes into catacombs beneath Specularum and escapes the city, joining with the green dragon Chloridia and flying north to Ylaruam and the court of the Master, on whom she has romantic designs.

Current PCs
Count William Karameikos MU 11 (12)
Baron Bravery Karameikos Ftr 9
Roseanna Clr 9
Alexandra Vorloi Ftr 8
Valerios Ftr 8

Fled: Claudia Morrigan Thf 10

3/6/1021: A badly gassed Cael Thoradan is brought to the Temple of the White Dame in Highreach. Meets Roseanna & Alexandra. Tells of a lost tomb and a green dragon that wiped out his party.
4/6/1021: Roseanna, Cael, Alexandra & Alexander enter the woods of Trollwood Hill, encounter the green dragon Moldenarthan before the tomb of the ancient Traldar hero-king Karsma Megalos, and kill her in a hard-fought battle. Return home to heal. (Bravery & Frosto attack Hobs' Watch fort - kill 14 hobs & 3 bugbears).
5/6/1021: Group returns to the Tomb and enters, when Alexandra enters a chamber minotaur statues animate and attack. Group kills them in another fierce fight. (Bravery leads raid on the Black Wolf hobgoblins lair - kills 27 hobgoblins, loses 1 Billman. Night raid by hobgoblins on Highreach town is defeated by bravery, with the loss of 5 men; hobgoblins routed).
6/6/1021: Frosto tracks down dragon lair; party kill two young male green dragons and loot a large stash of platinum.
21/6/1021: Quintus Vorloi marries Roseanna at the Vorloi Town cathedral. Bravery's wife Lady Aleena is stunning in 15,000gp of jewelry, rather overshadowing the bride - causing much gossip. Old Ironbones brings word to the Grand Duke, the Thyatian emissary is here in Specularum seeking an audience.
25/6/1021: At the Duke's Palace in Specularum, Thyatian Emissary Sir Cornel Osteric addresses the Grand Duke & the assembled lords of Karameikos; the Thyatian emperor wants Karameikos to launch an attack on western Ylaruam in support of a planned Thyatian offensive in the east on the Tel Akbir front. The Grand Duke consults and agrees, however first Roseanna & co will seek the mystic weapons of White Plume Mountain, & do battle with the frost giants that menace Castellan Keep. Duke Stefan recognises Cael as emissary of the Thoradan dwarves. William speaks with Baron Ludwig Von Hendriks, who promises a thousand elite troops against the Master.
26/6-1/7/1021: The party equip for the expedition to White Plume Mountain.
Seeking a spy, Alexandra the Baroness Vorloi seeks to make contact with the Kingdom of Thieves.
2/7/1021 Flameflicker agrees to help Alexandra by spying on Black Eagle Barony.
2/7-9/7: Cael meets and befriends Flameflicker the Thief 'king' - who turns out to be a Traldar fortuneteller called Alya.
10/7: Group travels to Highreach.
11/7/1021 - first expedition into White Plume Mountain. Wave recovered.
12/7/1021: second expedition to White Plume Mountain.

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