Updated XP

Session 44-45 7875
Session 46 – 3512
Session 47 – 4075
Session 48 – 4400

I’ve neglected to post about the last few sessions so here’s a quick wrap-up.

Sessions 41-42 Guild Rescue

AG 18 is contacted by the leader of the Delver’s guild. Another group of adventurers has gone missing in the dungeons beneath Ptolus. He promises to promote AG 18 to Master Delvers and tell them where they might find someone to lead them to the Drow City if they rescue the adventurers. AG 18 manages to rescue one surviving member of the group, who had wandered into part of Ghul’s Labyrinth. The guildmaster is true to his word and tells AG 18 that there is a Drow under “house arrest” at Castle Shard that might be able to lead them to the Drow city in the underdark.

Session 43 Phon and the Runebearer

As AG 18 prepares to head into the Underdark, they go to castle shard to see if the Drow there can lead them to the Drow city, Phaervoral. The Drow is none other than Shilukar, the mage AG 18 defeated in one of their earliest adventures. AG 18 is able to convince Shilukar to lead them into the Underdark. He is suitably bribed with new magic items and the promise of escorting him back to his own home city, and of course his freedom from Castle Shard.

In the meantime, Apostle’s friend Phon, is about to have her baby. The father of the baby, turns out to be Helmut Issinstein, the leader of the republican movement in Ptolus, and high priest of the watcher of the skies temple. He comes to Brother Fabitor’s chapel in Midtown and demands both Phon and the baby. Brother Fabitor knows of Helmet’s desire to wipe out all Runebearer children in the city and fears that Phon’s child may be one. Callista, Cheava’s sister, is somehow able to drive off Helmut in time for AG 18 to arrive and protect the temple.

Helmut returns, equipped with Chaositech devices, and horrible Chaos-bred monsters at his side. AG 18 defeats him and his minions while Phon’s child is born. The baby is indeed a runebearer. AG 18 convinces the lord and lady of Castle Shard to shelter Phon and her baby for the time being.

After an extended break AG 18 returns to adventure in Ptolus.

In search of the location of the Drow city that contains the dreaming stone AG 18 becomes embroiled in a turf war between the rival criminal organizations on the Old town district. The urchins who work for Cheava and the street children that Apostle shepherds are turning up missing. Investigating the disappearances, the group discovers that Thuella, the local Killraven boss, is both kidnapping the children and waging an all out war against Lerthan Dengstrom, the Balcazar crime boss. Lerthan has sought refuge with AG18 and swears to introduce them to the Balcazar boss if they will protect him from Thuella’s retribution.

AG 18 is lured into an ambush by Thuella using the kidnapped children. Thuella, who turns out to be a were-spider is killed in the battle. AG18 captures one of her underlings and learns that her base is the brothel and gambling hall called the white house.

Investigating the white house, the group discovers a portal that leads to the dungeons beneaht the city. They discover that the lich, Agga-Shan, is the real power behind Thuella and he is kidnapping children for vile experiments and constructing a machine to draw in all of the shadow energy produced by in Ptolus. Ag 18 defeats the lich’s minions, destroys the shadow engine and dispatches the lich. The lich’s phylactery is nowhere to be found though, so AG 18 knows they will have to face him again.

Elanna, Apostle, Cheava, and Yarkblar all participated in this adventure. Each gained 9750 xp.

At the conclusion of the adventure, Lethran is true to his word and introduces the adventurers to Malkeen Balcazar. Malkeen is impressed with the adventurers and makes Cheava the new local crime boss of old town. Malkeen’s vampire bodyguard disposes of the traitorous Lurthan, who had planned to turn the district over to Killraven in exchange for his life.

Everyone played in this session.

Each character receives 2533 xp. That includes the xp for completing your current quest.

Ag 18 continued their exploration of the fortress of Goth Gulgamel, in search of the portal to Dreta Phantas and hot on the heels of a group of Mind Flayers who had invaded the fortress.

The group encountered a being known as a “Soul Rider.” Soul Riders have no corporeal form but are able to possess people and control their actions. The being said that the soul riders lived in Goth Gulgamel, but that they were deathly afraid of the Mind Flayers. The Soul Rider told the group how to find the room with the portal that lead to the Dreta Phantas. The soul rider did not seem particularly good or evil but the rumors of the Soul Rider in Ptolus imply that they are usually up to no good. Many of the more powerful individuals in Ptolus are aware of the Soul Riders and use special magic items to prevent possession.

Exploring further, AG18 entered a large cavern that had become part of the elemental plane of fire. The group battled their way through salamanders and fire elementals to reach the other side. Two passageways led off from the cavern. One to the north, the way the soul rider had told them led to the portal, and one to the south, which appeared to contain a Banewarrens Vault.

AG18, being experts on the Banewarrens vaults at this point, saw that the vault was an imitation of a real Banewarrens vault. Deciding to enter it anyway, the group discovered three unusual magic items: The utterdark lenses, a tablecloth that aids in negotiations, and a window that casts feather fall on anyone who jumps out of it.

Continuing to the north, over paths made of humanoid bones, the group came upon a room containing a statue of a titan. The Mindflayer leader and his Drow and Drider thralls were waiting and a massive battled ensued. Defeating the monsters and activating the portal using the idol of the titan they had found earlier, the group was transported to where the Utheron Adar waited. Here a second portal was opened to transport them to Dreta Phantas and the Dream King.

Cheava explained to the Dream King the problem of his sister’s memory. The Dream King found this to be very interesting. He explained how Dreta Phantas was built to house the soul of the world, in order to keep the evil Galchutt trapped in their prison. (Their prison being the entire world of Pramel.) Before the Elder Gods could transfer the soul of the world to Dreta Phantas, the Drow assault stole away the city and trapped it in the Underdark.

In order to restore Callista’s memory the Dream King needs two artifacts, the Dreaming Stone, and the Cask of Frozen Dreams. These are also the two artifacts he needs to break the Drow magic that holds Dreata Phantas trapped in the Underdark. He surmised that it as not a coincidence that AG 18 had been led here to him, and that it would be of mutual benefit for Callista’s memories to be restored.

The Dream King told the group that the Dreaming Stone is located in a cavern beneath Ptolus and the Drow and built a city to defend it.

He was under the impression that the Cask of Frozen dreams was in the Banewarrens. Since AG 18 did not find it in their exploration of the Banewarrens, either it was removed before they could find it or it is located somewhere else. He promised to have the Urthon Adar begin searching for where it may be located.

AG 18 now has a new quest to retrieve the Dreaming Stone from the underdark beneath Ptolus.

Everyone played in this session. (Including Symba!)

1734 XP each.

Symba acquired a Cloak of Survival +3

Ag 18 began exploring the ancient fortress of Goth Gulgamel, in search of the portal to Dreta Phantas. The fortress appeared to have been sealed at some point but had been broken open in the recent past. The Elder elf had warned the group that some of the more powerful evil beings of Ptolus now used it as a hideout.

Entering the fortress, AG 18 discovered two groups of monsters, both being led Mind Flayers, who were searching the fortress. What they are looking for has not been discovered.

After dispatching he second group, AG 18 found a small idol of a Titan. On closer examination the idol appears that it might be some kind of key or possibly used in a ritual of some sort.

You DID NOT rest after this session.

Everyone but Symba played in this session.

You got 1320 xp each.

AG 18 recovered from their adventurers in the Banewarrens and spent some well earned loot. The necessity of closing the Banewarrens had taken the group away from their original quest, finding Cheva’s sister, Callista. Navanna Vladaam has informed the group that Callista is being held in the Cruciform prison beneath the Dark Reliquary. The same prison that AG 18 themselves escaped from in their very first adventure.

Ag 18 gathered as much information as they could about the Dark Reliquary and headed back into the secret passage they had used to escape months earlier. Fighting their way through the demons and devils that inhabit the Dark Reliquary , AG 18 discovered that Callista was being held in a room near the Cruciform prison.

AG 18 is both rich and somewhat famous from their adventurers in the Banewarrens. Among the adventurers of Ptolus the group is well known. At the Ghostly Minstrel, AG18 has joined the ranks of the “famous adventures” and rarely have to buy their own drinks.

In the city at large, “the heroes who sealed the Banewarrens” are known but not usually by name.

The Delvers guild has now raised the status of all members of AG18 from “Guildsman” to “Master Delver” This includes Aurora. The fact that she wasn’t previously a member of the Delvers guild seems not to bother them in the least.

When the assembled Staff of Shards was used to to destroy the Sealing Rod and Banewarrens key it was not completely destroyed. The remaining piece of the Staff of Shards functions as a Rod of Wonder. (It’s just too cool to let go.)

AG18 has agreed the help Cheava in his endeavor to take over the organized crime elements in the city. Yarkblar also expressed a desire to bring about the downfall of House Vladaam, since the two goals are likely to intersect.

Ellanna, Apostle, and Jevicca Nor have performed the ritual to remove the curse from the Sword of Lies. Again making it into the Sword of Truth. Stats on the sword of Truth are forthcoming.

Jevicca would rather that AG18 left the sword in the Banewarrens but accepts this as a reasonable alternative.

Additionally, Jevicca has extended an invitation to Ellanna to apply for membership in the inverted pyramid.

The Church of Lothian is now ambivalent to AG18. The high temple is not happy that their Avenger is dead and that they do not have the Sword of Truth. The clerics in the other temples have mixed feelings. Brother Fabitor, the priest of the Midtown church (and a former adventurer), supports you completely, saying you “Stuck it to the old codgers in the high temple.” Other priests have less positive views.

Ag 18 has a large number of evil magic items pulled from the Banewarrens that need to be disposed of in some way.

Power, Insight, and Deceit are artifacts. Artifacts only remain with a wielder until they feel they have fulfilled their goals. With the sealing of the Banewarrens Power and Insight feel they have helped Symba and Apostle as much as they can.

Power was very pleased with Symba. When the sword moves on it permanently raises Symba’s STR by one point and permanently adds 1 to his Fortitude defense.

Insight was also very pleased raises Apostle’s WIS by 1 and permanently adds one to her Will Defense.

Deceit does not move on it seems happy where it is.

The date is now the third of Rain as AG18 prepares to reenter the Dark Reliquary and rescue Callista, Cheava’s Sister.

You can purchase any magic item of Level 12 or lower that you can afford. Jevicca will have the Dreaming Apothecary create one level 13 magic item for each member.

Magic Items gained:

Deep Pocket Cloak – Yarkblar

Handy Haversack – Cheava

Armor of Sudden Recovery +3 – Yarkblar

+3 Flaming/Icy Greatsword – Cheava

Battle Standard of Tactics – ?

Imposters Armor +4 – Apostle ( I think? )

Ring of Shadow Travel – Cheava

Rod of Ruin – Ellanna

Ruby Lenses – ??

Rod of Wonder – Cheava

Everyone but Symba played in this session.

Symba gets 1340 xp for his part in completing the Banewarrens and Sword of Truth Quests.

Everyone else gets 3100 xp, which includes the XP for the two quests.

AG 18 started by finally facing the Church of Lothian team that had been sent in to retrieve the Sword of Truth. Not giving the Lothian team any quarter, AG 18 attacked and dispatched the Avenger, Priest, and 2 of the Paladins in the team. The remaining Paladin and their old friend Kalrecent surrendered rather than fight AG 18 any longer. The adventurers allowed the Lothian team to retrieve the bodies of the Priest and the Paladins for resurrection but not the Avenger. Symba and Gary the construct escorted the two surviving Paladins to the surface with the bodies.

AG18 then climbed into the very top of the Baneheart and discovered a huge vault. The group used the Banewarrens key and a giant damaged construct to open the vault. Once the vault was open, the fallen angel, Malificent, shouted in triumph. The angel had been trapped in the vault by contingency spells that were triggered upon the Dread Lords death. Not only was he trapped in the vault but he was also imprisoned in within a magical black egg within the vault. He had been able to escape the egg in the intervening years but not the vault. The Angel used his influence over the creatures of the Banewarrens to damage the warding generator. This allowed the Pactlords to find a way in.

AG18 entered the vault and faced the Fallen Angel, a Draconian, and a group of Wyverns. The arduous fight led to the near death of Yarkblar and Apostle but the Angel was defeated. Among other treasure, AG18 recovered the sealing rod and the last piece of the staff of shards. The group returned to Ptolus and used the sealing rod to seal the Banewarrens. AG18 the used the power of the staff of shards to destroy the sealing rod, the banewarrens key, and the staff itself, ensuring that the Banewarrens remain forever sealed.

As a result of their adventurers, AG18 is now both rich and for better or worse, famous.

Everyone played but Symba and Aurora.

Aurora was proxied so she gets half xp.

Aurora gets 1050 xp.

Everyone else gets 2463 xp each.

AG 18 was contacted by Sharah Nestor, a Holy Avenger of Lothian. She used a sending to inform the group that she wants the Sword of Truth. She stated she would not ambush them and offered to meet them outside the room where the sword was found. Before she could finish the sending was cut off with Sharah exclaiming “Oh No! They wouldn’t dare!” All of the doors in the Baneheart (and presumably the rest of the banewarrens) slammed shut and were unable to be opened. The warding generator also began to hum loudly. This continued for a few minutes and then everything went back to normal. As near as the group could tell, someone had just tried to seal the Banewarrens without the use of the sealing rod, and it failed.

Sharah contacted he group again saying the Inverted Pyramid had just tried to seal the Banewarrens, and to bring the sword to her immediately or she would hunt the group down.

Ag18 ignored this sillyness and continued to explore the Baneheart, in search of the Sealing Rod and the two remaining pieces of the staff of Shards.

Coming to what appeared to be the top of the Baneheart, AG 18 discovered the site of the Final Battle between the Dread Lord and the ancient heroes who battled him thousands of years ago. At the battle site, AG 18 was set upon by a horde of specters, remnants of the Dread Ones dark soul. Defeating the undead, the group discovered a piece of the sealing rod.

Exploring further AG 18 was attacked by a Red Dragon! One of the leaders of the Pactlords of Quan, who have come to the Banewarrens to claim the evil magic items within. After a furious battle with the Dragon and his Bugbear Assassin companion AG 18 rested for the night, making preparations to misdirect the Lothian Avenger still on their trail.