The Wilds north of Fallcrest, Late Spring 795

Wherein our heroes fight their north to the ruins of an ancient city.

• Atton, Valeros and Crassius cut west to avoid any more run-ins with Slaan warriors.
• Arriving at the river, they find themselves in the company of a group of Riverfolk (Travelers) who have been attacked by the guardians of an ancient tower.
• The trio investigate and find the remains of many Slaan and men.
• Penetrating the tower, they discover the image of “the Custodian” who explains the nature of the tower (a prison/cage for the Heart of Mormo – one of the Primordials).
• The nature of the tower reacts to those with the Shadow of Azrai upon them – very violently.
• One of the seven seals containing the Heart had been destroyed – evidence points to the identity of the responsible party: Rath of the Iron Circle, brother to Blair, killed by Atton.
• Escaping the tower, the trio witnesses the dragon Bloodscale attack the tower in sheer fury – only to be repelled by the guardians at tremendous cost.
• Taking the horses of those who had been slain by the towers’ defenses, they return to the Riverfolk and warn them not to proceed north. Reluctantly they agreed to return to Fallcrest.
• They head north, avoiding all contact until they are directly across the river from the ruined city. The ford is watched. The find a safe place to leave the horses.
• In the early hours of morning, they stealthily make their way across and into the walls of the city.
• Searching for the location of the Chapterhouse of the Vigilant, they stumble onto a patrol. Surprisingly, one of them recognizes Atton. A fray ensues.
• After much misdirection, the looting of a merchants house and an encounter with a magical beast from within the ancient sewers, the trio holes up in the ruins of an ancient tower and waits for a new day.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: n/a

Session Outcome

Achievements: Ruins of the Nentir Vale (1/5 – the City of Fastromel)

Fallcrest, Late Spring NR795

Wherein our heroes discover an ancient solution to their problem.

• Atton, Valeros and Crassius sojourn in Fallcrest.
• Atton visits the Chapel of Light in Fallcrest and discovers an answer to their abomination issue may lie in the Hall of Fallen heroes within the Catacombs of Fallcrest.
• The trio enter the Catacombs, wandering many hours.
• They encounter a group of tiefling thugs (the Fell Court) who have made their hideout within the old tombs.
• The Fell Court is roundly defeated, but evidence points to more members within the Fallcrest community.
• The heroes find the Hall of Fallen Heroes, where a spirit of a fallen Vigil tells them of the Lamps, wrought with the light of the Creators greatest servants. Under this light, no darkness may be victorious.
• To possess a Lamp, they must pass into the Forge and there create a Lamp of their own. To do so, they must open the forge. The key is held by the Forgemaster within the City of Fastormel. (which lies in ruin).
• The trio retreat to the sunlight and prepare to travel to Lost Fastormel.
• <interlude>
• On the road to the fallen city, they encounter many refugees fleeing an unseen darkness in the north.
• At the Crossroads Inn, they seek more information, but none is to be had. They restock and prepare to continue their journey.
• During the night, a patrol of Night Warders (rangers) passes through the Inn. Crassius heals one (Cadis). During this time, another of the Warders (Hauk) questions him about the Order of the Storm Oak, demanding to know why their calls for help have gone unheeded. Crassius tells them his quest is greater and he cannot aid them, but will send a message to the Order pleading for aid. They are not mollified.
• The Trio receives word of dragons and dragonlings to the north.
• Crassius sends a raven south with a message.
• The Trio starts north, and quickly encounter a patrol of Slaan of Blackscale alegience.. The Trio ambush them after they discover evidence of the murder of a shepard lad. They capture a Slaan, and interrogate him, finding a sole piece of information: they are looking for an iron box in the possession of Galen Hawkwing – the very bandit chief who had enslaved Atton, Thaeven and Jelcor during the past winter. That the iron box matched the description of the Box of Maruon is also disquieting.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: n/a

Session Outcome

Experience:Dispatching the Slaan patrol: 1, Visiting the Hall of Fallen Heroes: 1 Total:2
Glory Roll: Yes
Achievements: None

The Cloakwood, Mid Spring NR795

Wherein our heroes find something that isn’t easy to kill.

• Atton, Valeros and Crassius depart Licinius’ home to find and kill a forest drake. Atton, erring on the side of caution, pays Licinius his requested fee (4 Talents) with the thought of trading that money for the venom glands upon their return.
• The beast is easy to trail: a day south of their journey’s beginning they find drake sign.
• Finding its lair, they ambush the beast but are forced to withdraw.
• Calling it even and unwilling to risk their primary mission (tracking down the Abomination of Azrai) with unnecessary injuries, they repair to Fallcrest.
• In town, the community is active with traders and merchants. They meet old friends and trade for some equipment, preparing to continue their quest.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: n/a

Session Outcome

Experience:0*
Glory Roll: No
Achievements: None

An abomination is set loose upon the Valley.

• Atton, Crassius and Declan beat a hasty retreat, returning to Tarod’s Landing.
• Mona the Seer has no insight into the events, but recommends speaking to Rethe the Necromancer who dwells in the Banestones.
• Declan reluctantly leads them to the Banestones and introduces them to the many personalities of Rethe.
• Rethe agrees to summon the spirit of an a Paladin of Pelor, one of the many dead interred at the Banestones.
• The Paladin bonds with Atton through a blood ritual and explains the method for destroying a servant of Azrai: required ingredient – steel wielded by a righteous man. He points them to the tomb of Gallifar, a paladin in life, whose physical body has been corrupted by the dark presence that dwells within the Banestones.
• Atton, Crassius and Declan defeat Gallifar and his undead guardians, and recover his sword. To their surprise, the blade is surprisingly ancient: an heirloom of ancient Malachor.
• The pair returns to Tarod’s Landing, retrieve Perda and continue on to Fallcrest.
• A joyful reunion occurs between Perda and her sister Khesse.
• The sword of Gallifar is taken to Teldorthan the smith, who agrees to render some of the ancient steel into arrowheads.
• The Box of Maroun is returned to Lord Marklehay. He asks no questions.
• Valeros, Atton and Crassius journey south to Tarod’s Landing and seek the abomination. There they discover no news of a rampaging beast.
• Mona the Seer directs them to Khaal Keep, which overlooks the village: long before, there was some connection between the Mirror and the Keep. Perhaps some record of that connection still exists and could provide a method to find their quarry.
• The three adventurers plunge into the gloom of the long abandoned Keep, finding evidence of dark magic and Risen denizens prepared to defend their home.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: Atton: I’ll never feel comfortable naked again. Crassius: I’m never comfortable when you’re naked.

Session Outcome

Experience: 3
Glory Roll: Yes (0)
Achievements: None

Fallcrest, Late Winter NR794

Atton and Crassius seek to rescue Khesse’s sister.

• Atton gives the counterfeit box to Khesse.
• Some investigation discovers two things: the equipment is from a smith in Tared’s Landing (a small den of villainy on the River) and the facial markings match the clan symbol of the Vode clan of the same village.
• Crassius calls upon the Riverfolk to find a guide down the river: they are pointed to Declan, a talkative rogue who is willing to guide them in exchange for some ale money.
• The journey is unremarkable despite the inclement weather. Upon arrival, they seen Mona, a Riverfolk seer who married a local.
• She tells them the Cult of the Raven had come to town, and that the Vode clan, always ones to seek power, had foolishly allied themselves with them. They were working magic up on the Hill of Sharp Teeth with a druid sorcerer of some sort.
• Mona believes the Vodes are preparing for something big on the night of the full moon, the next day.
• Believing Perda (Khesse’s sister) might be somehow involved (probably unwillingly), they question Declan about possible places to ambush a party traveling between the Vode stronghold and the Hill of Sharp Teeth. During this conversation, it is revealed the Declan is a Vode cousin whose brother and father were killed by Darius Vode, the clan leader.
• The three set an ambush and catch Darius and his men unawares. They kill Herid (a swordthug and brother/son to Darius) and some other minor members. Darius escapes.
• Delcan urges them to go to the Hill of Sharp Teeth, to put a stop to whatever magic might be happening there. Crassius readily agrees (the possibility the Druidic magic belongs to the Circle of the Dark Moon drives him to investigate – Atton requires some convincing but finally succumbs to his curiosity.
• At the Hill, they attempt to approach quietly but are detected. Luckily they are mistaken for Vode clan members, which allows them to kill one the dark Druids before he can react. Mounting the hill, they discover a ritual underway, with a great metal cauldron at it’s center.
• A fray ensues.
• After putting down summoned “dire beasts”, a struggle ensues. The chief cultist is forced into the cauldron, whose magic instantly consumes him.
• It become apparent that the ritual is not interrupted only changed…. a massive abomination suddenly rises from the liquid within the cauldron.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: Bring forth the sacrif…urk (Cultist as he is shot by Crassius, Declan and Atton at the same time.)

Session Outcome

Experience: 1
Glory Roll: Yes (0)
Achievements: None

Fallcrest, Late Winter NR794

A little excitement to clear away the winter gloom.

• Valeros awakens with a vision from Pelor (his first).
• He leads Atton and Crassius to the wall of Fallcrest Keep. There they encounter Risen stalkers and their keeper. A fray ensues.
• Valeros is downed by necromantic magic, but the Risen are defeated.
• A magical enchantment has been laid upon the keep – some magic was at work.
• Atton catches a thief fleeing the scene with an iron box – the thief is revealed to be Khesse, a local scrivener.
• Khesse explains she was blackmailed into stealing the box: someone is holding her sister hostage.
• Atton and Crassius vow to help: Crassius hides the real box, while Atton has the local smith manufacture a counterfeit.

Party: Atton, Crassius
Quote of the Night: None

Session Outcome

Experience: 1
Glory Roll: Yes (0)
Achievements: Valeros (That which does not kill you.)

Fallcrest, Mid-Autumn NR794

A simple task for a new master. And another brush with death.

• The Kin rest for a short while, recovering stamina and looking for work.
• Nimozaran tasks his new apprentice with a task: seek Brolen, the former bodyguard of the mage Larin Karr and inquire about the resting place of the same. The old warrior dwells in the village of Belward, in the shadow of the Grimwood.
• Valeros and Dennon decline to join Jelcor on his quest – other issues keep them in Fallcrest. Crassius has retired to the woods and is also unavailable to travel.
• Jelcor, with Atton and Thaeven in tow, depart and journey to the Crossroads Inn on the old road north to Fastromel. There they stay for a week resting before continuing.
• The road north is the shambles, and rain makes it worse. As they approach the Grimwood, they discover some troubling evidence: signs of violence and raiding. They approach the village with caution.
• The trio discovers bandits have taken over Belward. As they investigate the village, they are detected and violence breaks out. Atton attempts to assassinate the leader of the brigands but fails. Soon they are overwhelmed by assailants….

Party: Atton, Jelkor, Thaeven
Quote of the Night: None

Session Outcome

Experience: No
Glory Roll: No

North of Kassen, Early Autumn NR794

A new ally and a desperate flight.

• The kin welcome another traveler taking refuge from the undead scouring the area: Atton Farlander.
• Probing the undead with arrows, the Kin discover the undead are resilient but not immune to physical attacks. Chasing them back, they make a break for the road. They are not quick enough to escape and a melee ensues.
• It is discovered each of the bone golems has a focus around which their energy is concentrated. Destroying it releases the necrotic energy and destroys the creature.
• Dispatching three of the minions, the Kin makes for the road and escape.
• After five days of hard travel, they arrive at Fallcrest – behind other refugees of Kassen.
• They reconnect with past acquaintances and settle into the Nentir Inn. After some thought they decide to rest before seeking more adventure.

Party: Crassius, Atton, Jelkor, Thaeven

Quote of the Night: None

Session Outcome

Experience: 1 (Escaping the noose).
Glory Roll: No

Unknown, Early Autumn NR794

New allies and a journey to seek an ancient Lorekeeper known as the Spider.

• The Kin encounter a group of renegades within a deserted Nerathi watchtower.
• The renegades are led by Coll, a Commorian merchant-adventurer. With him are Mysira, a blooded Bladedancer, and Sergil and Elspeth, two Anarian nobles. They are journeying to visit the Lorekeeper known as The Spider within the Spiderfell, a wood named for him.
• Coll and the others tell the Kin where they are (the Isle of Valkos) and the political situation (it is governed by the successor House Ordo, an old Nerathi noble family). Coll and his colleagues were attacked by Ordo regulars upon arriving on Valkos.
• The two groups agree to work together. The Kin will help Coll and the others find the Spider in return for passage off of Valkos when the quest is done.
• Coll relates that a seer is tracking them, using magic to track Elspeth. Why is a bit of a mystery (at least to the Kin). As well, he mentions they are fleeing agents of the Black Hand. Crassius uses his druidic magic to conceal her.
• In the Spiderfell the group discovers evidence of sorcery and dark magic.
• After a night of rest, the party is attacked by a Druid of the Dark Moon. They defeat him and his conjurings and he is taken prisoner.

Party: Crassius, Dennon, Jelkor, Thaeven
Quote of the Night: I shall not suffer one such as this to live! -Crassius upon the capture of a Druid of the Dark Moon.

Session Outcome

Glory Roll: No.

Kassen, Early Autumn NR794

Ancient Magics. Lost family. A distrusted apprentice. Unexpected journeys. All in a day’s work.

• The Kin arrive in the middle of a heated debate. Arnama the scout has detected dragonborn in the forest surrounding Kassen. Some argue for evacuation, others for surrender.
• After some negotiation the troupe gets some rest.
• Illimara seeks out Alistar. Discovering him dead, she turns to Dennon.
• Illimara reveals that Holgast left one of the Seals of the Shadow King with her, fearing that he would be taken. He told her that if worst came to worst, to give it to Alistar, whose heroic nature he trusted to do the right thing with it. (Whatever that might of been.)
• She tells Dennon Holgast revealed that he believed Jelcor’s nature too ambitious or curious to resist trading the Seal for magical power. She asks Dennon to carry the Seal to the Council of the Loremasters in Old Nerath to consult with them about what must be done.
• Lastly she reveals that Holgast and she had been lovers for nearly eighty years and that she had borne him three children in that time: Crassius being the youngest. As such he possessed her bloodline, which was of Lost Vailin, home of the Eladrim.
• Illimara gives to Dennon a gift for her son: a moonstone ring allowing the use of the Eladrim Journeystones.
• Dennon convinces Thaeven a parlay will not work and that the Kin must leave immediately and travel to Old Nerath seeking answers to the growing darkness in the Vale.
• As the two of them work to convince the Kin, a dragon attacks the village in concert with the dragonborn from the woods.
• The Kin escape, but witness the destruction of their beloved home. Trying to find a haven to rest, the ford the White River and camp along the King’s Road.
• During the night, they are attacked by a foul creature which Jelcor’s suspect intimate knowledge of necromancy identifies as a skin golem – a construct manufactured with the flesh of the dead and the blood of innocence. His magic defeats the creature but more are heard in the distance.
• Thaeven guides the party through the forest to ancient Eladrim ruins near the King’s Road, hoping to use Crassius’ charm to open a gate and escape.
• As more and more skin golems arrive, they are deterred by some ancient defense built into the Eladrim ruin. Crassius connects with the stone and they are transported… somewhere else.
• The land they are in bears no likeness to anyplace they have been before. They forage and search the area, finding both food and a faint trail leading eastward. After resting, they set off, following the trail.
• As afternoon draws to a close, they find an ancient watchtower ruin and decide to climb it to see if they can get a better view of where they are….

Party: Crassius, Dennon, Jelkor, Thaeven
Quote of the Night: None

Session Outcome

Glory Roll: Yes (0) – but only if the Seal is revealed.