Session Two - 3/2/25
Second Entry
1832 AS Apollal 11
Visit to the Temple of Knowledge
The party seeks out the clerics of the Goddess of knowledge in the city after a night’s rest. We enter the ancient wooden structure of the temple of knowledge and can smell the age as we walk along foot worn cobblestone paths and well attended lawns. We see clerics and paladins and monks and acolytes all scurrying about their business within the grounds. A large statue of Siath dominates the courtyard of the area before the inner sanctum. We see monks training in martial arts in the courtyard. We see scholarly activity of study, preparation, and meditation all around. A degree of somberness and peacefulness seems to hang in the air about this location. We ask an acolyte about who is in charge and someone who may be able to answer questions about certain knowledge. We are directed to the inner sanctum and told to seek out Father Joseph. We enter into the sanctum, it’s doors adorned with the open book symbology of Siath. We enter into a massive library with bookshelves everywhere one looks, surrounding a small sanctuary in the center. We are further guided by yet another young scholar towards a small reading nook in the back of the library. We are a man in simple clothes reading a book entitled God of Order, what you should know. He looks up and greets us.
Meeting Father Joseph
We ask Father Joseph about the orb and explain the encounter that Gildas had with the demon within. Father Joseph explains that this was most likely an artifact from the Demon Lord of Rage. Father Joseph asked Gildas if the construct that attacked us was being controlled by the Demon Lord and that this type of powerful magic is usually controlled by another being “pulling the strings” like a marionette artist. Gildas responded that he is not certain that this was the case for things that attacked us in the streets. Father Joseph goes on to explain that most construct magic is somatic, however, there is far rarer and stronger magic that can create a self aware construct.
As to the storms and the encounter with the mayor in the tower, Father Joseph believes that the Demon Lord of Lightning (Salazar) probably has nothing to do with the Demon Lord of Rage seen in the orb. He also recommended that we convey the orb with a padded carrying case.
We ask him about the Great Axe of Urgan. He says that the fey wood is the best place to look for it. Be careful using magic due to the wild effects the fey wood has on spells. Gildas also mentions my burden and that he thinks that I – Colon Faban – might be under its spell. I am perturbed by this insinuation and take great offense. I distract myself by singing “The Song of the Silent Queen” which brings the mood down to a solemn crawl.
Father Joseph turns to Makani and asks why a cleric of Namalou is here. She answered “I am here to find answers to questions”. Father Joseph nods at the non-answer and recommends she try going to any pantheon for her answers.
Settling in from the day
We leave the grounds of the temple and seek out a leathersmith to purchase a padded container for the orb. We decide to head back to Alexandar’s and tuck in for the night. Brigita finds a few flagons of ale and I busk a bit before sleeping. I will say that the Sea Chanty “The Fate of the Emerald Eel” was a huge hit this night.
1832 AS Apollal 12
Setting off for the Fey Wilds
The morning finds us assembled, rested and ready to travel. As we walk through the city, we see the strange world it has become as most of the mechanical things have stopped working and many old ways are coming back such as sundials and oil lamps. We set out on a trail that is hard to find and I sing a few travel songs to help pass the time.
We come across a man beating a lifeless metallic corpse of a warforged. He seems to be of noble stature. We find that he is a blacksmith and is trying to get his now failed warforged to carry on. We ask him about the Great Axe and where it is. He doesn’t know but he did share that it was crafted by Dwarves a millenia ago.
We travel through the day and settle into camp for the night without incident.
1832 AS Apollal 13
During our second day’s travel we encounter an old man wandering not far from the fey wilds. We ask him about his knowledge of the area. He mentions don’t make deals with the fey. He also mentions a pack of gnolls that he encountered about a half day from the woods. He asks me a riddle: what runs around a castle but has no legs. I answered a moat. He gives me a potion of healing. I ask him a riddle: what treasure had no lid or hinges, yet inside a golden treasure is hidden. He couldn’t answer which is “an egg”
The Outer Fey Woods
We approach the Fey Woods and it appears to be constantly shifting as if the entire woods is a single creature. We do expect this behavior from the Fey Wilds. Gildas and Brigita discuss blazing a trail through the woods, so I pull out my flint and steel and attempt to get a fire going. If we are to blaze, I will get the fire going! A nearby tree moves and smacks me upside my head and I ask “Who are you?” My name is Oak and I am a dryad. I persuade her to help us and she says she has made a deal – a vow of silence on where the axe is and that she cannot tell us more. She explains that Fey are normally hostile to outsiders. We ask if she knows anything about the Demon Lord of Rage. She responds about a provocation from a demon lord of Malice. She also mentions that a hag or a gnoll could be of more help. And that we should ask assistance from a Satyr or Centaur for safe passage through the woods.
I try to persuade her further to take us there, but she mentions she cannot be far from her home tree. However, she did mention the centaur of a small lake and that we should find a tree that looks like it was struck by lightning and then go westward to find the lake.
Further into the Woods
We head west until nightfall. During my watch with Brigit I see Alexander Veder in the distance. The man owes me a small sum of money so I follow him into the woods to have a word with him. I get lost and return when I hear Brigit’s voice calling my name. I of course insist that I was not lost. During the other folks' watches they also have visions and see various people from the town. We wake in the morning and are confused by these visions we saw and discussed.
We hear a voice say “Stay awake” and see a blue skinned fey creature. She says “I know about the Axe, but need something in return. I need you to lead the gnolls to the Satyr camp”. We all agree that this is something we can’t or shouldn’t do. She responds “It is unfortunate that it has to come to this!” She brandishes claws and an encounter begins.
