Author: ML

The group started in a dwarven hall, long abandoned, having recently held the presence of a large Blue Drake – Charonatar the Dread – who departed after they opened the gate for it (while torching Parallax & [Name Unconfirmed]).

Things found:

The Runes on the Gate, Arcana showed that the runes were tuned to go off in the event of not using the pass phrase

Further Inspection showed that they are also tuned specifically towards a few species of enmity of the dwarves, Dragons, Orcs, and the like.

Nest of Charonatar the Dread‘s nest, really nothing more than a large circle of dust in the back corner of the hall.
Insight – The rats and other random beast carcasses near the door seem to have been placed more for blocking of drafts than for actual waste or feeding, as nearly all are fully intact.
History / Animal Handling – Dragons don’t need to eat to survive.

Dwarven Halls,

Elsewhere in the keep, we didn’t find a large of amount of goods or anything of interest to loot. The Keep itself is quite small, with little else apart from a few dormitories, offices and a small forge.

There was a ledger left on a desk in an office, someone’s attempt at leaving behind an account for anyone coming after them, but apart from messages about dwindling rates of ore coming from the nearby mines, and plans to relocate, there is little of interest to be found within.

Except, upon further review by Senko, there was a small coded message on one of the last panels, it seemed to refer to a location in the main Hall, nearby to one of the pillars.

Finding a stone on the wall that is loose. When pushed further, the stone starts to slide across to reveal a small chamber chiselled out from it.

Senko felt a small wire pull tight as he opened the panel, and was able to unlatch the trigger and open the chamber fully. Combining their Arcana skills later, the guys would determine that was a Chain Lightning Spell Trap, that probably would have finished off the party.

Within was revealed a small treasure trove for an adventurer, a small dagger with a silvery edge, three arrows with bright yellow fletching, a vial of some silvery liquid, a bottle of Grease, and what appears to be 2x potions of healing from their labels

The party was able to identify every item via detection rolls, as below.

Cache Loot:

• A small dagger with a silvery edge – great for managing undead with resistance to normal damages.
• Three arrows with bright yellow fletching, the feathers of the Callipis Canary is known to be used for the crafting of simple arrows beyond that of mundane means. (3x Arrows +1)
• A vial of some silvery liquid, known to be a Potion of Speed
• A bottle of Grease,
• What appears to be 2x potions of healing (labelled)

The Dwarven Way Entrance, noted in several locations in both Dwarven and Undercommon on signs, the Entrance to the ways can be found at the back of the halls, near the mines.

The Entrance has been partially collapsed by a cave in, but has plenty of room at the top for a humanoid figure to fit through.

The Dwarven Way

On the other side of the cave in, they find what is effectively a rest stop.
On one wall is a large rectangular map, carved onto a plate of bronze that is probably 8ft across by 4ft tall.

On it, are shown a number of settlements, and the paths that cross the earth between them, along with notations near certain landmarks and cautions.
Unfortunately, most of these notations are written in dwarvish, however the major towns do have their names also noted in undercommon in brackets and italics. Some of those shown in the local region are SkyShaft, Hammercrack, and luckily, the next destination, Kharak Lohdar.

The Way Ahead shows a small Underfort on the way, although it is set away from the main pass and could probably be bypassed if they wanted to. The Keep seems to be the connecting point of 3 converging paths, the keep you’re in, the one you’re headed to, and one from out to the west somewhere.

The only thing out west is the Waxing Wastes, and the Blood Raiders of Slerikek, so you can’t think of a good reason for there to be a tunnel going that way on the map…
But it could take us to Tangor…

The Cavern Bridge

A long, dimly lit, 60ft long, 5ft wide, stone bridge of terror lied before us. It was great!
The solution was simple: Use Senko as bait.

Parallax tied a rope to him, sent him on his way with a lantern. The Lantern’s light spooked a number of bats, which Senko dodged.

Realizing more must be coming, he dropped down to drive a piton into the ground, while Labrador sized Giant Bats sailed through the space he had just been in, just giving him a bit of a jostle.

Secured, the guys headed on wards, back into the tunnels of the Ways for two days of nervous

The UnderKarak

*A small Kharak, a guardhouse or way station, lies before you.*
*A once solid stone door lays on it side, open to all comers, from within the door you can see a flickering of fire or torchlight emerging. Perhaps an ancient flame, enchanted to stay lit, or perhaps a new friend to meet?*

We had the option to go around, but we wanted to see what was inside.

First Room

The first room was taken to be where a party was sleeping, as per the journal of Helmvor of the Flames, a local wizard.

He notes in recent entries that he was hired by another wizard along with a few other adventurers and local goblins to help defend him while a ritual was cast to reveal and unlock some ancient treasure.

With some deep Insight, Parallax proposed that Helmvor’s prose does suggest that he doesn’t quite believe this wizard, but some references to debts and ‘those looking for me’, which may suggest he doesn’t have a lot of options.

Some Flour and Booze and Bedrolls were found, determined roughly by species by the odor pouring from some.

• 5 Goblins
• 2 Bugbears
• 3 Humans

In one of the packs, some Oil of Sharpness was found, and applied to 5 of Senko’s arrows, making them +3 Magic Weapons for an hour

Second Room

The next room was a hero moment for Senko, sneaking open a door to an old shrine of some old forgotten deity, he saw four goblins.

Three seated and facing opposite towards the alter, the final gobbo is standing behind the altar, arms wide, as he proselytizes to those before him about the glory of the great god “Kallok, Oldest Flame of the Flamey Ones”, with his eyes shut tightly.

Senko snuck into the room, and started surgically taking Goblins out one by one, with rapier sneak attacks to the brain stem.

As the preacher finished his sermon, he opened his eyed to sight of Senko, ten feet away, aiming a hand crossbow at his face. As he died, the Goblin claimed he would have served Senko if he had asked.

Room Three – The Blood Wizard

Moments after the door is cracked open, you can hear a loud inhale of breath from across the room, followed by the words “I smell Scales, Silvered Steel and the blood of a Sennite. Ware the doorway, trouble arrives before us“

*In font of you is an ancient burial chamber, centered around a single large, latched, sarcophagus. Beyond it, is a man dressed in dripping red robes, standing between two altars covered in items and tomes. To either side of the room is three other humanoid figures, one in robes, and the other two wearing armour and bearing weapons and looking ready for a fight”

A sound of movement and snuffling is heard to one side of the door, revealing there might be more to this room than first expected (2 Bugbears)
The figure in the dripping red robes appears to be slightly hazy, as if something is either messing with the air or vision between you two.*

Within, a blood wizard was attempting to resurrect and free an ancient Vampire Lord of the Night Council of old. The fight begins as the whole party takes some form of Haste.

Parallax struck first, and Senko took put the flame wizard Helmvor down to 0hp on the first round, before pulling back and dropping grease in the doorway.

The lady barbarian charges headlong, as does a bugbear, the grease is ignited, and it got messy from thereon out. The Blood Wizard is nearly finished as the guys clean up the room, and some lightning breaths burn him out from the inside to clear the room.

Session was ended there prior to any looting or discovery, and Parallax and Senko push up to Level 5.

A frontier town on the edge of the Waxing Wastes (ex Bloody) to the west, Tos Calos sits on the only river in the very south of the wastes, and is also situated at the mouth of the only pass heading in or out of the wastes.

The town is home to all manner of law-evading peoples, from deep sea pirates, to treasure hunters of the wastes, through to dark priests and sorcerers, and is ruled by the little known figure of the Baron of Wax.

Session Date: 26th July, 2024
Attendees: Parallax (HW), Kangrog (JW)
Missing Members: Senko (BD)

The Crossing

Heading north from Rizden, do the party travel, heading to see Xenth on this endless quest for a mystery goblin we can barely remember.

We are traveling a day or so north, until we are past the river crossing where there will be a signed trail, that heads westward and up into the foothills of this spur of the mountains, to the Windy Vale, where Xenth’s tower has been marked on our map.

At the river, there are also three travelers on the far bank, some looking wet, as though they have recently crossed the river.
Upon recognizing Baelor (who had already recognized them) and his guard, the party rushed the ford, at the same time he was asking (see: screaming at) the armoured figure to “get them” as they had “followed me!”

At that, the Thassian rangers hiding under the Pass Without Trace spell, emerged from the trees and opened fire with crossbows.
Kangrog & Pallarax have to wade slowly across the river, after Kangrog tries to jump all sixty feet in one hopeful, yet mediocre dive.
Putting their respective abilities together including one demonic axe, they create a wall of steam, protecting them from fire (Providing Half Cover).

Unfortunately, the enemy cleric had cast Bless on the troops, and countered the effect.

Finally close enough, Pallarax drags Baelor’s guard into the river with Water Whip into the wall of steam, causing him to die screaming in the shallows as his face slowly boiled off.

Kangrog (too rage-filled to even notice the six or so arrows sticking from his chest) used the screaming guard as a launching pad, leaping at the Thassians with spears and splitting one in half and gaining Inspiration.

A frenetic brawl broke out. and Baelor scampered off on the horses. Kangrog chased the Cleric around the map, Pallarax chose to blow a man inside out by breathing lighting down his neck.

After the combat, the Party found another Cipher Book, this one fused shut by a lock, along with 9 gold.
The armour and weapons were left as they bore Thassian sigils on them.
The bodies were left where they fell, to feed the vultures, one assumes.

The Shrine

The next day, they travel the trail into the foothill’s of the Wardens, the surrounds changing from evergreen to a sparse and rocky vistas. By noon, you are on trails with sheer cliffs to one side, and sheer drop offs on the other, but the trail seems well travelled, and is comfortably wide that you can still walk two abreast without nearing either edge.

A couple merchants have passed you through the day, coming the other way from the valleys above, when asked, they mention there is no dangers ahead on the pass out of the ordinary, that the Baron and the Lady Sorceress keep the area well and safe from most harms.

In the early afternoon, they come across a small Shrine to Kithloth, Lady of Winds, in the side of the pass, that has a strange feeling to it, and under close inspection shows it has been corrupted, with the colours wrong, the symbol of the 4 lines of air was upside down.

An astral projection of a wind spirit is shown to Pallarax, as the cliffs shake and a single dark figure with long red hair blowing in the wind appears emerging from the back wall of the shrine.
She stands draped red in cloth hanging lifeless, staring at you, weeping rivers of blood. Long iron chains, wet with blood hold her wall, and she trashed against them weakly.

Once the source of the curse, a small blood sigil on the rear holding the ward in place is scratched off, she reappears and purges Slerikek from the valley

. As a thanks from the Lady of Wind, another astral presence flutters into your senses, projecting in front of you is many faintly glowing purple lines, fluttering about as if they are the wind itself.

The flicker and flutter for a moment before coming together to form the shape of you, in your monk robes of your home temple. You follow through a series of gestures, that when complete have your form shoot a burst of wind from it’s hands,
The symbols imprint in your mind, and Pallarax now has the Fist of Unbroken Air Monastic Tradition.

The Beholder Lair

Further on that day, as you pass through a small little valley filled with life,
you find first and odd scorch mark and a pile of ash on the ground.
Beyond it a small trail leads off, and as it curves away in the distance, there is fantastically realistic statues a Dwarf and Human, carved in a way to seem like they are running away in terror towards you.

Do you wish to explore the trail further, or continue on your way?
“Fuck that, no”

A wise choice for two level fours.

A visit from Horn

That night, as they setup camp, an unsuspecting gentleman in some fairly nice gear drops by to ask about the mountain of corpses back at the river crossing.

He reveals himself to be Captain Horn of the Nestorian Guard, but you’re pretty damn sure he’s NIS through and through.

He convinces them to sell them the Cipher for 200g, so he can take it back to Nestor for study and possible counter espionage operations as they had been struggling to crack the code the Thassians were talking in (like some random captain would know that).

He admits they were Thassians, and that bad times might be on the way.
Comments he will report in the Beholder’s lair, claiming to have gone inside for a ‘quick look’ on his way past.

A good session, well done all!

Daemon – Alignment Unknown

Slurg is a Daemon, found in a old and dying tree behind Blackthumb’s Roadside Repairs, in the small village of Rizden on the Alecton Way in 1212 NR, trying to sell Tangor’s location for a soul.

Slurg has implied he needs a soul to buy his freedom from his ‘master’, and attempts to bargain for a soul at every given opportunity. What that soul will actually be used for, has not been disclosed at this time.

He also appears geas-stricken as to not reveal who his master is, or his plans.

Player Interactions

Slurg has struck a deal with the Player Character of Kangrog, paying all his gold, a magical keg and a promise of ‘his next magical item’ in exchange for 1d6 fire damage added to the axe.
No greater specificity was given than that, leaving the Daemon fully in control of the relationship for now.

Session Date: 12th July, 2024
Attendees: Senko (BD), Parallax (HW), Kangrog (JW)

Little more than ten buildings in total, Rizden is nothing more than a few houses that have sprung up next to a traders stop along a major roadway.`
Frequented by no one other than the transient and transitioner, the locals are aware of world events outside of their local region, hearing many things from many mouths in passing, and might know a thing or two, if one were to ask…

The party approached the town, and chose to visit the Inn first.

An Alehouse Drake was chained up outside, not showing any visible issues, other than a sign that read “Do Not Feed”
Senko managed to pat said Drake, and also getting his hand back just in time to get away without a scratch
(The sign would continue to frustrate and drive all actions of the party until such time as the Alehouse Drake would be fed)

Went inside the Inn to meet the folk:

Snakebite
Is sitting by the fire, casually trimming his nails with a ridiculously large knife, and humming an ancient long forgotten melody of Mekkia

• Gave 200gp to each player for the Ankheg shells.
• This has been retconned into a Stone Bank account for each player
• We will do the setup process when in town

Kangrog has purchased a Keg of Oskar‘s Booze for 50gp

• Oskar is a Brewmaster of Skyshaft, travelling the lands selling his wares.
• Drank 4(of 20 max)
• Before selling it to the Demon Slurg.-12cp for Ale drinks-10 sp for broken stool after the effects of Oskar’s booze wore off.Tossed 1 gp for Well

The drunk thief approaches the poor child (Purn)
A small human child, maybe 8-9 years of age, that is drinking casually from a wineglass at the bar.
She is a Artificer from the Pirtarvan Duchy, passing through on her way south, seeking the possible help with her reversed age mishap from the Elven Sorcerers in the Ancient Realms of Selendar

• Finds out about her mishap, de-aging too far in an experiment.Found out about the Thassian – Nestorian Conflict in Relast.
• Told them about the Activity in Morvail.
• Offers to Enchant Weapons for 500gp

Kangrog spoke to Inga
Ancient and wizened, she is potentially either short or tall of frame, but it’s hard to say with how stooped and bent over she is.

• She cast Lesser Restoration on him in passing
• Told him about a Wizard that might have work for them in town

Baelor asked Parrallax if he was Rogal.

Rust and Revlor are headed home

• Revlor has lost his sword.
• They’re going a very long way to avoid the Undead activity to the north.
• When asked about it, Rust said the Smith wasnt home when he visited.

The Party leaves and heads over to see Gelpdor the Grand, Star Alchmemist
The Tower Belongs to Gelpdor the Grand, Star Alchemist
A sweet little wizend old gnome, wearing a pink shirt and bright blue pants.
A Registered Alchemist of the Guild of Nestor, he is quick to tell anyone.
Talks a lot about stars and Mani-Spheres, and Magnetti-Spheres and it’s all very confusing.

• He had a quest for Roatating Soil, which was really just summinga huge Ankheg to do the work for him.
• They rotated the crops and got 10gp and 333XP each
• Asked and found out who Rogal is – The Blacksmith who goes by “BlackThumb” in town.

Back to Inn

• Lunch for all – 10cp each.
• They also found out that the Alehouse Drake is just a lil’ fatty on a diet

Heading to the Blacksmiths, Blackthumb’s Roadside Repairs they find it unoccupied.

• As they go to leave, from the empty building noises of furniture moving can be heard.
• Blackthumb comes out, sells some weapon Sharepening, and a Stave to Parallax.
• Kangrog – had Axe Sharpened = -5s (+1 dmg next combat)
• Senko= – 1gp  Rapier, 2x Daggers > Each with +1 Damage in next combat
• Parallax = – 5 sp for a Staff purchased.

They head over to a Demonically Inhabited Tree that has been given suss vibes to the spellcasters in town.

• There they meet a sweet little demon named Slurg who offers to give them the location of Tangor in exchange for a soul.
• They trick Slurg into giving away that he wants to use the soul to gain his freedom.
• Instead, after a while of bantering and bickering, Slurg makes a deal with Kangrog:
  “All his money, the Magical Beer, and his next magic item” for 1d6 Fire Damage on Kangrog’s current great axe.
• Gelpdor gives them 10gp each and a pat on the head for getting rid of the demon, and tells them to seek Xenth for help with finding Tangor in time.

The Thassian Spies

After the party figured out something was up with Baelor and the Blacksmith, they kept a watch.

• Baelor was watched, dropping his packet of letters in the Coal bin at Rogal Blackthumb’s. 
• Senko stealthed in, then tripped, knocking over the coal bin.
• Parallax, seeing this from the Inn window, unleased Kangrog upon the unsuspecting peace and quiet of the inn, creating a distraction to cover the noise.
• Senko stole the packet, snuck off to read it, finding it to be in code.
• He then B&E’d the blacksmith’s house, searched and found the trap door
• (But not the password on the paper, as no one would until too late)
• Went downstairs, with the Party in tow
• Rogal having seen them go, follows and watches from afar.
• They set off the trap, falling for the lure-tripline and missing the actual stone due to some shitty rolls.
• Senko dives from the Boulder, but has his ankle crushed
• Parallax runs too fast, so he gets up the ladder quicker, Kangrog does the same, but with 5ft to spare, Parallax getting him up the ladder with an assist.
• They turn to find Rogal behind them, Kangrog sets his axe on fire and threatens him, and he runs off into the night.
• Later, Baelor cannot be found either.

Meanwhile, Senko, on his own, opens the Cipher on the Altar, having an exchange with the person on the other side of the book:
– Them: What News do you Bring?
– S: [Cant remember, trying to guess the situation]
– T: What News do you bring?
– S: [cant remember, was about the packet of info]
– T: Initiation Phrase?
– S: Wait, there are people in the tunnel
– **Book burns to ash.**

Session Ended There

• • 866XP Each
    • 100 – Demon
    • 333 – Soil Rotation
    • 100 – Discovered the Spy
    • 333 – Found the Cipher

The Gardener

Returning to the Myconid, The Gardener, he gives each a pouch of spores as thanks. The spores will grant 3 rounds of haste if snorted, there are 6 uses in each bag.

The Gardener help’s by showing them a path out, via a channel of fresh air, leading to a series of narrow tunnels that lead upward to a place where it starts to branch out, into chambers of bones and spare carapaces, with the players determining they were in an Ankheg nest.

One returned with it’s feast of a still kicking horse horse, revealing a path to the surface but first getting off an acid spit and a couple of hits bringing Senko to the edge of death, before the cumulative assault of rapiers, lightning and fists brought down the beast.

Running to the surface to get out before stopping to heal, they were met at the entrance by a Hill Giant, Terr, who was quickly goaded into a rage by their slippery words and fast tongues, demanding they give back his child.

Deducing the Ankhegs must have him, they re-enter the nest, finding the child by a sleeping Ankheg that had finished feeding. A surprise rounds of damage smashes the best before it can rise, and they leave, dragging their spoils in the form of the carapaces.

Terr, gives his thanks, and promises to join them in a coming battle when required, and helps them break down the carcasses into a drag-able form of a sled made from a chuck of tree trunk he tears off.

Snakebite and Turbo

On the trail, the players come across a hunter/trader/tourist and his trusty companion, the legendary Snakebite and Turbo, travelers from Sevilla that seek out crazy and insane game and monsters, mostly just to see and witness them, but sometimes to help out towns from threats.

Snakebite has a chat with the players, mostly razzing them up due to their appearance, but he makes some basic trades with them, which will mostly be arranged nest session, but in the meantime they purchased a Newspaper, a Map of the Region, and he gave them directions to the nearest town, some 3-4 days away.

The carcasses were loaded up on Turbo’s cart, and he will join them in a village a day or so after them, as he has some folk to visit further along first but he first gave a warning that “this place don’feel righaat” and that he heard a pack of wolves ranging the plane a few nights back, and a pack of hyena’s the night before.

Inspirations Gained: 1 Each

A small update paper, including some story hooks and side quests.