Epic Adventures

Red Hand of Doom - Session 53: the Lower Fane of Takhisis

August 10

The cavern thundered as the twenty-foot-tall Bluespawn Godslayer approached.

3,384 Megasphagion 12,
K,

Pericles convinced Aribantes to lead a full on assault against the Shorestalkers in the Triton village! And it was our job to infiltrate the temple in advance and take out the Wave Priest!

3,384 Thriambion 20,
K,

I went on a strange expedition. I hope you would be proud of my restraint.

It all started when Satyr Dawngreets began appearing in the farmlands outside of Neolantika. They were telling of a grand festival they planned to throw at the end of the month, celebrating a day holy to Satyrs called the Xenousia. All who wish to celebrate life were invited.

August 10

As Balthasar performed a ceremony for the deceased drakkenwhyte, he addressed his remaining brothers, “We stand in the shadow of a grievous loss. Brave souls—our kin, our family—gave their lives this day in a battle against an ancient terror. They faced fury and lightning with unyielding courage, knowing that their sacrifice was not for themselves, but for the greater good.

3,384 Polidrysion 6,
K,

Pericles, the High Priest of Heliod in Neolantika and the Polemarch's Spiritual Advisor, recently hired me to be his personal bodyguard. He asked me to join him in exploring the Eldenwood with Kleon the witch. Something about following the voices or the wind. Not really sure what he was going on about. Arktouros and Koal joined us.

August 9-10

The day after the battle, Dameron cast Word of Recall on the Morninglory Temple. Camwise cast Scrying on the Black Bolt and then the War Duke but could not scry on either.

3,384 Astrapion 3,
K,

It was a cool, clear night when I met with Thridax, Anekdotos, Koal, Pericles, Hellen, and six hoplites just outside Neolantika. The hoplites each brought an extra horse for the six of us. Together, we followed the coast south for many hours until dawn when we found we had just reached the northernmost hills north of the Triton village.

August 8

The air grew heavy and there was a foulness in the wind. As forces gathered in the darkness and light, there was a crack of thunder and lightning in the sky. The blood of all those slain, from folk both foul and noble, drained upward into the night sky in a quintet of ichorous streams. As the lighting flashes faded, the Daring Friends gazed up to see that the blood had gathered above the horde and morphed into a massive, shifting image that morphed from a five-headed terror, into a single head with hellish eyes, and finally settled into a mortal portrait of a scaled hobgoblin, crowned with horns. The massive figure in the sky looked down, a sneer of triumph on its face. It was the face of Azarr Kul, warlord and high Wyrmlord of the Red Hand. It’s voice echoed through the night.

3,384 Protokynion 4
Dear mom,

It seems the Shorestalkers sought revenge sooner than expected for the public execution of their fellow that we captured last month. The night before we were to return to the Seaside Grotto to explore its depths, I was awakened by a poisoned urchin spine sword plunged into my gut, held by a Shorestalker whose skin shifted to match its surroundings. I was unarmed and bleeding badly. As it drew back to finish me, I lunged for my spear and stabbed it twice, I called out for Heliod’s divine power to grant me a respite and empower my strike.

August 8

The Fire Elemental thrashed at the Iron Bands of Binding. Jaervellios struck a Redspawn Firebelcher with an arrow. Balthasar was struck by lightning. Gruffudd blasted two Redspawn Firebelchers to pieces with Call Lightning. Camwise blasted a Redspawn Firebelcher with his Wand of Lightning Bolts. Advancing toward the dragon, the Hill Giants tossed boulders at it. Aaqastal rattled the Fire Elemental with Confusion. Dameron sprinted toward the dragon. The Redspawn Firebelchers closed in on the Abyxrla.

3,384 Lyokymion 2
Dear mom,

So much has happened since I last wrote. It has been an exciting break from the tedium of governing. It all started late last year when the heads of the five families came together and agreed the Shorestalkers have disrupted trade routes for too long and the current state of trade cannot stand. They said I have one year to establish safe trade routes with Meletis to the south and Deyda Harbor to the north.

August 7

After spending the day making preparations throughout Brindol, The Daring Friends braced themselves for the impending assault.

3,383 Therimakarion 10
K,

A lot has happened in the past month. According to Athyn and Arktouros, the Polemarch believes the Shorestalkers are planning an assault on Neolantika and asked us to do something about it. Athyn came up with a plan to infiltrate the Triton Village and get more information from one of their wave priests.

August 6 - Day 4

The revived prince introduced himself as Dristan and explained that he was cursed by a beautiful woman who turned out to be one of the hags. The Daring Friends escorted the prince back to the house and discussed their missions, sharing The Chanson of the Grayl with him. Prince Dristan suggested the case could refer to a reliquary and the Meroving sceptre might belong to the old Merovingian bloodline. He also mentioned the passing of Roland, who was betrayed by one of his own and is now remembered in song.

3,383 Necrologion 5
K,

Arktouros, Anekdotos, Athyn, Maia, and I gathered to venture deeper into the necromancer’s cave. Before leaving, we visited Melaina so Maia could deliver a crystal to her. She was thrilled to receive the crystal, which started glowing as she held it.

3,383 Chalcanapsion 7
K,

We had a very successful excursion and even you would be proud. My only worry is that we still don't know if magic using children are being abducted. You see, Arktouros, Autolycus, Athyn, and I met a wizard named Kleon who was eager to join us on our return to the cave. He had an owl named Gust.

3,383 Megasphagion 6
K,

My companion, Anekdotos, was freed after having been briefly locked up for stealing the Brethren’s wagon. It was a merciful sentence considering what we had done. I am ashamed of the part I played in it. It was my plan that went wrong, and we didn’t mean to kill them even though they probably deserved it. Knowing very well what it’s like to be wrongly imprisoned—as you are well aware—I wanted to intervene but what could I do? As merciful as the polemarch might be, my pleas could just have easily made things worse. And then I wouldn’t be able to hunt down the Brethren or whoever’s responsible for abducting these magic users.

August 6 - Day 4

As the crushing juggernaut pivoted to face the Daring Friends, it rammed into Balthasar and Dameron. The priest used his Force of Will to resist it. Camwise hit it with an acid arrow as he retreated north. Dameron withdrew into a side corridor. Balthasar used his Air Charm to cast Whirlwind Kick, knocking it ten feet back, spinning past it, and retreating further into the room beyond.

3,383 Thriambion 4
K,

Hoping to stake out the Brethren of Fate’s monastery, we teamed up with Athyn, a triton rogue.

August 6 - Day 3-4

They each took an item from the large pile of treasure. Gruffudd took the chest of gold and gems, Camwise took a Helm of Reading Magic and Languages, Balthasar took an Elixir of Life, and Dameron took the Staff of Healing.

3,383 Polidrysion 4
K,

After purchasing a map of the surrounding lands from the merchant, Arestes, we left Neolantika to circle the northern edge of the Elden Wood, hoping to find more bandits from Krimnos or clues to the missing magic users.

August 6 - Day 3

After escaping from the Sphere of Annihilation, Sertieren clung to Balthasar’s cloak as the Daring Friends took a different route to one of the remaining tombs.

3,383 Lyokymion 17
K,

We decided to look for adventure and discovered that people had gone missing. After speaking with the watch, we investigated the house of the most recent victim. The neighbor said her husband heard suitors at the house when the victim went missing. At the temple (Karametra) where the victim worked, the priestess, Thea, told us that the victim worked as a gardener and had nightmares recently. The priestess referred us to a philosopher named Anaxomander who had information of the Nightmare Shepherd.

3,383 Lyokymion 11
K,

Since regaining my freedom, I've been toiling away in the docks of Meletis, trying to keep a low profile. But recently the city was devastated by Thassa's wrath. The Twelve have requested emissaries travel to her allies to secure disaster relief in the form of food and supplies for the reeling refugees. When I heard one of those destinations was Neolantika, I felt compelled to sign up. I wonder if I will see you there. Have you moved on? Are you still alive?

August 6 - Day 3

After a short rest, the Daring Friends explored the sacrificial chamber. A statue of a halberd-wielding wearing unfamiliar garb stood to the north. Gruffudd used Thunderwave to destroy the sacrificial circle. Camwise found a map of the grounds and a priest’s journal containing several scrolls (Enervating Light, Dispel Good & Evil, Commune, Raise Dead).

August 6 - Day 2-3

After taking a short rest and exploring the Jabberwock’s cave, the Daring Friends followed the trail back to see Frederick D’Amber with the head of the Jabberwock.

August 6 - Day 2

Waking, the Daring Friends did not recall ever stopping to rest. A wild-looking bearded man stared down at them. Looking around, they found themselves near a small, ramshackle stone building in a clearing with a cave entering a nearby hill. The man spoke in a foreign language while he swung a cudgel in the air.

August 6 - Day 1

Challenging the rock troll, Balthasar dashed atop the log bridge. Dameron hit it with a Sacred Flame as his wolves blasted it with cold breath. Gruffudd hit it with a Thunderwave. Impacted by the cold and thunder, the troll leaped off the log, grappled Gruffudd and Dameron, and took a bite out of the dwarf.

August 6 - Day 1

While they took a short rest in the library, Dameron perused the books on the shelves, noticing one with the image of a sun.

August 6 - Day 1

Balthasar asked Aaqastal about the Castle Amber Miniature and how Rufus is connected to it or the castle.

August 6

In the morning, Camwise cast Contact Other Plane and questioned a being of fire about Aaqastal the Unnumbered, learning what he could for the upcoming duel.

August 5

After two days of flying, the Daring Friends arrived at Brindol as the sun was settings on the night of August 5. Only a few miles from Brindol's western border, the campfires revealed the massive size of the Red Hand horde waiting there. Brindolian workers were hastily retrieving the last of the wheat from the fields and some were being attacked by Red Hand skirmishers. It appeared the Daring Friends had returned just in time.

July 27-August 4

On the morning of July 27, the Daring Friends took off on owls flown by elven riders.

July 25-26

Over the next two days, the Daring Friends made preparations in Brindol.

July 19-24

In the morning, Dameron awoke with a fright at the sight of Balthasar and waved it away as a bad dream. Soon after, the Daring Friends left Dauth along with the three survivors.

July 19-22

After receiving daily updates saying, "The smelters are at work. They will find the truth." on the morning of the 20th they were brought out of their cells to meet Idnerth and another dwarf of noble bearing with a familial resemblance, Idnerth’s well-dressed cousin, Gurhyr.

July 18-19

In the morning, Idnerth explained that a tomb a half-day into the mountain needed to be resealed. The Daring Friends, joined by Idnerth and Ssicarus, a yuan-ti sorcerer, headed toward the tomb. Ssicarus sent his invisible flying snake familiar to scout ahead.

July 17

Dameron’s Premonition: All that glitters is not gold.

July 16

When they woke, Gruffudd trimmed his beard.

July 15

In the morning, the Daring Friends marched on through the ashen rain and difficult maze of broken hills, brier-choked ravines, and massive petrified redwoods that periodically tried to entangle and entrap them. Shadows and other remnants of decaying creatures stalked the area.

July 13-14

Camwise woke from a terrifying vision, moaning: “Flee back to your city. Prepare for Takhisis’ vengeance.”

July 12

In the morning, after the elves departed on their giant owls, Dameron shared a vision: “Taking the path through Dwarf Hold, detours can be worthwhile.”

July 11

In the morning, while praying for spells, Dameron had a Premonition that he would not be able to Dispel Magic on the eggs.

July 9

When Dameron awoke, he recalled his Premonition: “Do not destroy them [the Greenspawn Eggs] in haste—perhaps they may be redeemed. Their destruction would be devastating for your scaled companion.”

July 8

In the morning, the Daring Friends felt much better. Protected by his Monastic Austerity, Dameron cast Transfer Exhaustion, absorbing some of the fatigue from Camwise, who began investigating the various components and arcanum, casting Detect Magic and Identify when necessary.

July 7

As the Daring Friends rowed toward Lordrhest, they passed by the region of ghostly presences and saw a tower leaning in the distance.

Reverb takes a seat in one of the Lamda shuttle’s cargo holds where he made a makeshift bed for Hest’s unconscious body.

“You would have been proud today, Hest. Trager got captured with the droid on the way from Jaden’s ship and we had to retrieve him.

Things were looking pretty grim for Hest and especially Argunta after their 'negotiations' backfired and the crime boss they were hoping to get in with revealed that they were being traded to the empire. That is until Puppy used his newly acquired jetpack to propel himself with Reverb to the roof of the island villa...well actually 14 meters over the roof, but nothing a little tumble action could resolve.

July 7

In the morning, the Daring Friends set off on their folding boat to Lordrhest. Dameron shared a premonition he had as dawn came: “Not every foe is as they seem, those that walk in shadow may aim for the light.”

July 6

As the giant owls circled overhead, one of the riders called down in elvish. Liolkya responded and they landed.

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