Session Thirteen - 10/12/25
1832 AS Namal 6
Aftermath and parting of ways
Gildas shows the dagger to the archeologists and they mention that it is constructed of obsidian. The dagger has a hooked blade that is used more for tearing flesh than stabbing and the dried blood is black in color on the blade. Gildas carefully places the blade in his bag that also holds the fragments of the one power orb and the other orb that we collected way back in Bentrios.
We figure it will be a two to four day trip to the druid retreat.
We decided to camp near the site and set out the next day. That night Corvinas tells us a tale around the campfire.
Corvinas’ Tale
Corvinas was the last survivor from Mistrona after the village was attacked by demons. The only thing Corvinas remembers of that day was being attacked and marked by a demons’ claw which is what gave him the crazy scar/mark that he wears on his forehead. The mark looks vaguely like two crossed axes with blades down and Gildas searches his arcanic references for anything like this. Turns out that our half-orc friend Roon has experienced this symbol before. He knows it to be the symbol of Polachnicindoya - the lord of the seventh level of hell and the demon of rage. Mikani lights a candle that smells of the sea.
1832 AS Namal 7
Hike up the Mountain
After securing our winter clothing and checking on ropes we set off Northward up the mountain. The vista back south was stunning where we could see lush forests, and beautiful vales and valleys and far off we could even see the haze of the northern edge of the gale. It is hard to imagine that we have travelled most of this distance over the last month. We feel the beginning patter of rain against us as storm clouds form quickly. This reminds me of why I hate adventuring when the weather turns against us like this. It didn’t just rain, it poured. Every ounce of clothing I was wearing became soaked through and through. That wet and the wind really formed a misery that is hard to describe. We seek shelter and find it in the form of a shallow cave set against the mountain as the rain becomes a deluge. To ease the cold and cramped quarters I decided to sing and play “Sally and the good day” on my lute to lighten the mood.
A flash of lightning outside suddenly outlines a figure standing in the opening to the cave. A large old man with a large sack. We recognize him as the same man in the Fey woods that met so long ago. Is he following us? Is he cursing us? Is he stalking us? Cole…Cole was/is his name. He pulls a deck of cards from his pack and asks if we want to pull from it. What kind of trick is this? He is now playing games with us! I decide to play along and pull a card from his deck – a dagger piercing a heart – I know this to be “The Rogue”. Cole mentions that this card harbrings betrayal. We suddenly see that a small carving of the card appears on the cavern wall. He chuckles and plucks the card from hand and places it back into the deck and shuffles them. I realize that the illusion of the card on the wall is a simple parlor trick. I do recognize the deck of cards as “pure” magic.
Roon decides to draw a card and pulls “The Star” – the picture of a burning sun dominates the card. Cole explains this card signifies growth and evolution. Roon feels himself get stronger. The man retrieves the card from Roon and turns and simply disappears.
We decided to get some rest after this strange encounter
1832 AS Namal 8
Continuing up the Mountain
The day goes by with no real issues. My feet hurt due to my socks not being completely dry from the previous day’s rain.
1832 AS Namal 9
Not much happens during this day. All around us are the endless mountains of this place and it all has the feeling of an ancient pressure. Mikani communes with nature and feels a solidarity with the conspicuous absence of influence by the planes. This feeling unnerves her. She also finds that there are no powerful beings influencing this area and that the earth itself here contains traces of amethyst, iron, and obsidian. Gildas casts detect magic and gets lots of wispy traces of residual magic of evocation, almost as if powerful spells were cast long ago.
1832 AS Namal 10
As we continue onward and upward, the grasslands become common and the very vines appear to move. An encampment appears in the distance and we approach cautiously. Corvinas gets trapped in the vines as they seize him suddenly. We hear the twang of bowstrings from an unseen archer and an arrow thunks into the trunk of a small tree and has a parchment attached to it. It reads, “Those who seek, harm, or burn, shall face the wrath of many here”. Roon hacks at the vine to free Corvinas. Another twang and a small arrow pierces into Roon’s chest. Roon feels his strength drain from his body suddenly.
I yell to the shadows, “Hale friend!” and elvish archer appears from the brush. She is ancient and handsome in stature. “I am Faban, how may you be called?” “Jennifer” is the response. My jaw drops. The very object of our quest appears seeming out of thin air. We then regale her with our quest to date and talk about the Axe of Urgan and how we are seeking her to find the wand of wells. She seems uneasy when we talk about the axe being shown to the demon and lets us know that she no longer possesses the wand. The wand was stolen recently due to some issues we have been having with magic in general and the unreliable protection spells. I know that the thief that stole the wand is up to no good purposes.
We ask more about the wells. She relates the following:
- Monastery of the Open Hand – Human
- Thataway - Fey Elves
- Hanedal - Birthplace of magic - Tiefling (rumored that he well can stay open)
- Beaches to the East - Pearamon Elves
- Sunken City of Catur - Triton
- Dwarven City of Balrog - Dwarves
The wells are “kind” and don’t seek retribution and are not inherently evil. It is imperative that the cataclysm is stopped and that we seek all the wells.
Jennifer leads us to a large encampment. She explains that this is her “coven” and that we are welcome to her small patch of earth. We press her for more information about the situation and she only responds that the situation is “complicated”. She states, “I am over one thousand years old, and as such, am little use to you directly.”
She continues talking about the wells and the past. She mentions do not put your full trust into the gods. These gods are not perfect and are full of flaws much as mortals have. She also mentions that many people in her coven can help us on our journey.
