Meet 125, Adv 15, 5/24/25

Plantmonth the 19th, 1:45 AM, 239 of the 29th age. The group was exhausted and fell asleep in the Hut. When we awoke the next morning (10ish), we broke our fast, grabbed some prayers, and were on the way and out the door right afterwards. We left the chamber with the dead ankheg and decided before we tried the two narrower passages here, to go back to the larger passage on the north and take it that way to the west. The clay passage went for some distance, curved to the left and ended with a mass of roots and a dry area with a single dead elf there.

Skin was papery, mummified. Female, wearing wizard robes. One hand in front of head (face down), other under its body. We took time and flipped her over. Glass shards fell from the front of her, caught in clothes and falling to the ground. She wasn’t cut by them, so it seemed. Had a component pouch, 5 of them – all the strings cut and contents missing. Also a wand case, same – cut and wand missing. Ceremonial robes, mages runes. A detect magic revealed nothing. Read magic had we looking over her mage’s robes.

Ramona Thistle of House Hamsveld. 6th Chair, Order of Water. Wasn’t exact but Nathanial’s elven girl, Kiara, was a mage. And he did remember the name of the house as an elven mage’s family. Shim let us know that the Wizard’s guilds in our time don’t specifically say, Order of …blank. Usually refers to a Tower type (same, earth, air…). 6th Chair? Obviously took her test and is pretty low in the pecking order.

Could not tell what specifically killed her (it was not the glass). But barring the mummified look of her, Connal was sure it was a decade. Maybe 2 tops. Not 250 years ago (when the tree fell). She had all her stuff taken from her, but inside her left boot in a hidden sheath was a silvered stiletto. We took it and gave it to Godric for now. Taking her robes with some idea of maybe finding family and returning it, we left Ramona here and moved on.

Leaving the dead end we went back to the Ankheg room and checked the 2 passages. Sadly, both of them dead ended after a dozen paces. Ok – it was back to the Starlight room and the chamber beyond that the summoned lizard man had died horribly in (by fire?) yesterday.

By 12:25 we were back in the crystal chamber, purple light illuminating it all. We walked around a bit to the west passage and the thought was once again to have Shim send something down there. A quick summon followed and he sent a zombie to head off. It walked slow and was gone about 5 minutes when we heard some distant quick combat and then nothing. Shim let us know the spell was over.

Ok, armor and weapons ready, the group walked off. Passage went south west, curved and went north west. 3 splits here. 1 to the north east and narrow, one to the north but up a 2’ ledge, and one curved along to the west. A weird smell was in the air. It was time. Another summon? We opted for 1 more – hoping to get something that could talk to us. This time an orc showed up, armed and ready. It was given instructions and went first into the west passage.

Big room. Dead Moose. Something coming. Heads. Lots of them. 5 of them! Some combat and then fire sound and over. Hydra. Group was ready, and we went in. Big chamber, passage west and north. Dead moose on the south end, about 1/4th eaten. Rotten and stinks. But a 5 headed hydra with a body like a tank came out of the north corridor and attacked the party, heads all over the place.

Combat ensued and we got bit up. 1 of the heads breathed fire, but the group had planned with at least 4 instances of fire protection and resistance on the front line people. So although it was a 12 hp blast, it danced off of us doing little if anything. We were prepared and it helped us to rip the hydra down, dropping heads one by one.

Nate tried to use his Seshele Trident, activating one of the dormant powers (had 20 – now it has 19), but it was not combat oriented. Instead, it gave him perfect 120’ radius view of every enemy in the area. The hydra yes, north and west, an 11’ tall honey eating cave bear, and going down into the earth some 80’ feet, was a strange creature with a stag body, lion parts, and a wicked beak like bony face.

We took some damage but it did end at long last with a final flurry of swings and the hydra fell over.

Win! We took a short breath and Shim and Godrick were up at the dead beast vials and flasks at the ready to get some blood. The party was discussing what to do next when at 2minutes exactly, the hydra shuddered, 2 more heads grew, and the now 7 headed hydra whirled on the party and attacked. 2 of the heads were now breathing and fire and Shim got caught right in the front by one of them, the gnome’s clothes going up and Shim dancing back trying to not get fried. Godrick tried to get a lightning bolt ready and the party once again poured on the fight.

Eoghan was yelling out that we had to burn the damn thing as soon as it died or it would come back again..and with more heads! The fight took longer and more damage was done, most of the front line fighters had taken quite a number of bites. But eventually the last head was put down. We then dumped 3 flasks of oil on it and Wilhelm set the damned thing ablaze. Combat over.

Nate filled us in on what was around us and how the Seshele Trident worked. We could go west or north. We opted north. Went to a “T” intersection. To the west we could hear buzzing, quite a lot of it. To the east? A wall of glass. Filling the entire passage. And from the distortion, a foot and a half thick. We pried a bit and figured the glass went into the floor, wall, and ceiling. Wilhelm could shatter it, but it was so thick, it might not do any more than a small section of the glass.

We opted to (after much discussion) leave it for now, go back to the Hydra room, and head on to the west from here. Once we got there, the thought was to go back OUT of the Hydra room (to the east) and check the 2 passages there first! Both were dead ends eventually, one with wet roots, one with dry. But nothing for it. So by 10 after 2, we were back to the Hydra room and plotting our way west.

We heard some tinkling like bells ahead, or chimes. The chamber opened pretty large to an area filled with colorful blue and red dwarf elm trees. Their leaves moved in an unseen breeze, ringing off each other, tinkling about the place. The leaves felt normal and they were able to be plucked. But their color faded to orange afterwards and did not have that metallic tinkling afterwards.

We chanced to move through, most of the room was pretty dense and we had to hunch low, filing through the middle. The sounds were soothing and about a third of the way through the group as one decided to just relax and just…enjoy the chimes (everyone failed their save). We sat there for an hour before we had gotten so inured to the sounds that we regained the will to move on.

So we crawled on to the end of the room, turning north, and through the diminishing trees – saw Nathanial’s bear. It was a frightening brute, scarred and bloody muzzle. It was tearing through a barrel of honey, stuffing its face. We decided fighting it was a death sentence (what is they say? Even 1 bear is 1 bear too many).

Wilhelm did a speak with animals with it. We learned the bear was…sad. Depressed. It had a haunted quality about it. It was lost here and it wanted to go home. Home to where there was sky. And trees. And freedom. A place that he was from. Wilhelm identified himself as an elf which meant a lot to the bear.

It had a fairy. A partially crushed fairy that it was sorry it had killed. Dust flew off of it as it shook it about. It hurled the barrel to the west and we decided to play extra nice. Wilhelm did say that he would do what he could and in all his power to get the bear home. That’s why they were going down. The bear admitted that it could not leave. It was limited to 1, 2, or maybe 3 chambers and then it had to stop. It was physically incapable of moving on.

We traded trinkets with the bear. Feathers and rocks and bits of whatever. It did not want treasures but we found other items it would take. Cat toys and slide whistles. Eventually we were allowed to all pass and the bear ambled off to the east to go sit with the bees for a bit, thanking Wilhelm for his words and giving him the time to just talk.

At the western passage, the ground sloped down to an almost 85 degree angle drop. We did the coin trick with light and it was a good 80’ down. We needed rope. Going back to the tree room, we tied a length there, walked back to the hole, and then tied two more lengths down. Captain Asher did a lighten Load spell on our equipment and Godrick did a levitate spell on himself. He then ferried two people down while the rest of the party made their way slowly and with care all the way down to the 4th level. Eventually it was a spider climb spell, untied rope, and by 4:50 in the afternoon on Plantmonth the 19th, 289 of the 29th age, we were all drawn up again and ready to press on.

Meet 124, Adv 15, 5/17/25

Plantmonth the 18th, 2:20 PM, 289 of the 29th age (202 years before our time). We did not want to go back to the Nymph for now. So we opted to head back to the other twisted passages, starting with the first one that smelt of roses.  We followed the twists and turns, coming by an area where a large section of tree root had desiccated, a split here and again followed the rose scent. Eventually a slight uprise and there were a 6’ carpet of roses growing in the dark gloom some 200’ below the ground.

We had Wilhelm check the entire thing out, top to bottom. Stems, thorns, soil, color, scent – they were in all ways normal every day red roses. Just growing completely in an area and environment and depth that made no sense. We backed up and took another passage, coming eventually to more roots. Then we backed up and checked the other side passages. Twists, turns, dead roots.

No way through except the Nymph’s chamber. We discussed options and settled on trying to keep her away from the pool and overpowering her magic resistance with as many possible attacks as we could. We swapped to non magical items, set up who would tackle the celestial lizards, and figured that early on, Godrick would blast the area with a lightning bolt. The group girded itself for a long fight and we got in position.

And entered. Bless was cast, strength was cast, the group moved closer and in place. And Godrick shot off his lightning bolt. It hit the Nymph in the chest, she failed her magic resistance, frying through her, hit the back wall, and shot back again, and again she failed her magic resistance- before charring her to death.

Entire fight with the Nymph 2.0…31 seconds. After that the fight with the Celestial lizards was much easier. Without the Nymph, their regeneration did not function and the party was done with the struggle by 5 minutes to 4.

We reloaded the lantern with oil and peering into the pool, could see it went down 15’ feet. We tied a rope to Connal and let him slip into the cool water. At the bottom was a wrapped burlap bag and an 8’ trident. As he took it, he could feel a pulse run through it and out from him, and runes shot from the base to the tip and winked out. He swam back up and we went through the bag.

A dozen gemstones of a variety of worth (5 to about 50 crowns per), a potion of Perfect Health (permanent 1d4 hp), and the trident. Wilhelm and Shim gave it a once over. According to the read magic and detect magics, it was a Seshele Trident, a magical weapon from a race of aquatic elves. There were 2 powers, a martial one and an elective one – the elective one had 20 uses and was then done. We discussed who would get and it was either Rhygar or Nathanial – deciding to give it to Nathanial for now. He practiced with it and was very happy with its function.

As for the potion, we decided to give it to Shim, the gnome drinking it down and getting 3 fresh new hp for it. Hooray! We gathered everything up, took some samples, and were on our way south. The passage went on a bit and then ended eventually at a large mass of root half in the wall and a hole going down in the gloom. The light coin trick let us know it went down another 60’, 70’, 80’ . And we had no more rope – all 4 coils had been used.

At this point we discussed options. Climbing down without rope was suicide. So the thought was that Wilhelm and Connal would go back to the 2 other passages and using the monk’s normal skill and Wilhelm’s Spider Climb, scale back to the top, and get the 2 sets of 2 ropes and bring them back here.

It took some time (2 hours) to back track the distance, more light spells were cast, including a spider climb. But eventually all 4 coils had been untied and brought down here to the 2nd level. Then, we tied a pair to the root tree here and let it slither down into the gloom. Then one by one, we climbed down the many ledges and switches until we came at long last to the floor of the 3rd level. It was about 8ish as we set ourselves up and went down the passage.

The chamber ahead of us was lit by a steady purple light. 25’ above the ground was a 3’ length of crystal cluster growing from the ceiling radiating the light. The room had 2 dozen small puddles in it, reflecting the light, and there were 2 passages in here – 1 to the north, the other to the west. No one wanted to go in. Shim summoned a Lizardman, and the Saurial was instructed to RUN around the chamber stepping over and through the puddles.

It did so and we expected it to die – but it didn’t! The Saurial ran without issue around the entire chamber and came to the gnome pleased. With just a minute or 2 left, Shim ordered it to run through the western corridor and yell out what it sees along the way. Holding its weapon aloft, it ran off doing so. We heard it keep up a commentary and then say there was something here. Big! My gods. There are 5 of them!

And then the WHOOSH sound like something either went very fast or was set on fire. And then quiet.

Ok, let’s go north.

We took our time, slow walking it until we got to an area that split by a small chamber – northwest or south west. We discussed options and settled on southwest. Going that way there was a chamber here. 9’ ceiling. Some rocky formation on the south end of the chamber looked like a sleeping giant figure. There were 2 thin passages in here, south and west. We had Shim summon again, getting another Lizardman. The saurial was told to run in and run around, heading to the rocky figure. He got there. Assured us it was just rock. Had him hit it a few times. Still rock. Then Shim sent him to the south crack in the wall and he pushed his way through. It was too tight for the lizardman who we assumed got stuck a few times before the spell expired. Infravsion picked up the floor had odd tubes maybe 3’ wide warmer under the ground.

So we had weapons out and entered, heading for the south side of the chamber. But it was the 3rd set of people entering the area triggered an explosion from under the ground. A huge insectoid monster burst out, snatched Wilhelm in its jaws, and clamped down HARD – making the druid scream in pain. It had a poisonous stinger and the group plied weapons and spells against it. Its AC was high, the chitinous plates turning aside all but the most sure of blows. Wilhelm was getting crushed. Connal jumped his way to the top and began to beat the creature from the top.

It then turned and DOVE, taking Wilhelm with it under the earth, and Connal as well, the monk having his foot trapped between plates. We shot and stabbed as it went by. It was getting dire for the druid at this point, barely alive and running out of air. But the Ankheg turned back to the surface, spat out the druid and tried to swallow Darius – just missing the fighter. And then the last of the blows hit and the ankheg died.

We took time with shovels and crowbars to dig Wilhelm out who was down to 2 hp. His shield was lost and some of his equipment was beat up but he lived. We spent time healing him up, and the group gathered around the ankheg. Darius wanted some of the plates – a skilled armorer could make good platemail out of it. But the group had a hard time cutting the plates well enough and free – spending 3 hours before succeeding. Shim used Prestidigitation to clean us up and then we opened the Hut, climbing in and deciding to rest for now, we were pretty beaten up and tired.

Plantmonth the 19th, 1:45 AM, 239 of the 29th age.

2nd Campaign, Session 9. 5/13/25

We awoke early enough to get a fast breakfast before making it to the Docks on the west end of Fort Guido. Here, Teela and her crew of 2 met us with 2 signal logs. We paid the 10 crowns for the passage now knowing that we’d have to pay 10 crowns on the way back. The goblinoid girl made sure we were all ready before she lifted the small sail and they began rowing. It was slow going crossing the icy current of the River Shrill but we made the far end and then made our way northward to the North Beach.

They helped us unload and after making sure we understood the signaling process again to come back, she wished us well and we watched them paddle back to the current and make their way into the fog. We dug out 2 of the 3 boats we had stashed here and then ported them north into the woods and eventually to the stream there. We split into 2 sets, Gun’s and Hrimvar’s and took to paddling our way west in the miniscule current. It was only 2 hours before we came to the turn in the river and before the first falls where the ogre’s camp had been.

We stashed the boats here and checked it out. The Ogre’s were gone but it was obvious they had come a few days ago after we had stolen the boats. Lots of prints and dumped over timber. But they were gone. We followed the water, relying on Cara’s memory to track our way. We went up the carved steps in the cliffs, along the shores of the long lake, and then behind the 2nd waterfall.

Beyond here it was getting darker but we wanted to make the same camp we had taken when we left. Eventually in the gloom of twilight we found it, heading north 80’ off the trail, and set up our camp again. No fire. Cold food. We huddled for warmth and fell asleep. Most of us woke up tired the next day but healthy. Carl mentioned that he had heard skeletons during the night but they never approached the camp.

On Icemonth the 8th we went back to the falls to fill our skins and then went west. We arrived at the major clearing by 1 and walked through the snow northward. The thought was to check out the graveyard we did not go into before. So we cut thorn and sticker bushes out of the way and got to the wall. Vines and trees and time had worn the gates and fencing aside. We climbed over and began to look. The graves were fairly close together and about 3 rows in, looking through the worn tombstones, we found 2 that were dumped over and the ground around them disturbed in the snow.

Yander detected evil, and the paladin got hundreds of pings all below him. Skeletons. But dormant now. We fanned out and eventually found it. Ritual markings had been set up around the cemetery. The clerics in the group let the party know this was a 6 month ritual spell set up and the bodies below would eventually rise. But only when the last trigger was enacted. Someone somewhere has something that will get the undead up. Maybe that Moray Vaco guy? Even if we disturbed the markings here, it wouldn’t change anything.

Ok, we left here, checked the box with the shields, and took a few before we closed it up and went up the sloping trail up the hill to the Monastery…where the Horror on the Hill dwells. It was about 3:30. Not wanting to get into the monastery at this point, we checked out the garden (our cuts and harvesting was still in place), no one had been to the garrison, and we went in there closing and locking it from within. We had another cold night (no risk of a fire) and ate cold rations. But we slept well and no one was bothering us.

Icemonth the 9th, 7 AM. We ate, broke our fast, and studied and prayed. By 8 we were ready to go. Lots of fresh snow and according to Hrimvar, more will be coming later. We took a circuitous route to the monastery to throw off where we had come from. The doors had been opened during the night (snow shoved aside), but no foot prints. We opened up and looked in. One major change? The 2 weapon racks from the Ogre’s room had been dragged here. It had about a dozen sharpened crude spears and a few that had survived the fire in the store room. We were going to mess with them but figured that it was better to leave it for now.

We went to the back of the sanctuary and noticed both secret doors were open. We went to the north one first. The dust room was open and the hall had sticky dried blood piles and some reddish grey chunks of meat. Entering the hall would make footprints. We decided to avoid it and go south out that secret door.

It too was open. There was a 6 diameter of rope set up like a noose, with 4 silver pieces stacked in the center of it. We checked it out, Fjord assuring us it was not trapped – the noose went nowhere. Eventually it was decided to step around the noose, and Nevah did that. As he walked around it though the group all noticed the bottom of his boots were died a dark brown – and would be making a trail.

“Damn it,” the gnome said. He sat down and went to take out his towel when the group all said, NO. He sat in more dye – even outside the circle. Damn it. Now his right leg to his ass, and his right hand. He was going to make a lot of a mess. We called him back. Then he stripped off his stained clothes and the party had a good idea. The group each took him under his arm, lifted him up, and placed him into the bag of holding (it was empty). Then they took him to the front door, opened it to the snow, and dumped him out.

It was cold and he scrubbed his skin and boots until the dye wasn’t obviously coming off. But he was stained and would be for many days. He put on a spare set of clothes and by 10, we were ready once again. Looking at Gun’s map, the room with the goblin’s might be pretty big. The paladin detected evil and got 12 pings – 6 hob, 6 goblin.

We came up with a plan, everyone had a part to play, and the door was opened fast. Hrimvar fired off a bless spell and then Altas shot off his sleep spell – getting a chunk in the middle. It seemed that this was a dormitory too and 6 of the gobs and hobs were just sleeping in here. But there were 4 more goblins that had been outside the paladin’s range in the back.

Arrows and crossbows were shot, the missile weapons targeting those in the back of the room (closest to the door there), taking 2 of them out and wounding a 3rd. The melee hitters slammed in and engaged the front, the bless spell making our blows more accurate. A hob well, and then a goblin. Thobar made sure the door was shut as Cara went to the sleeping goblin in the nearest bed and beat the unsuspecting greenskin to death.

The battle continued on and a few blows were hit back. The distant goblin tried to make for the door and 3 more missiles shot out, tearing him to pieces. As we spread out to do more damage, the tide of battle was turning real fast. The hobgoblin dropped weapons and said, “Surrender. Parley. We give up!”

As we were accepting their surrender, Nevah, Atlas, and Cara were going to kill more sleeping ones when Yander was like, “Whoa! Whoa the fuck up! Battle is over! We don’t kill those who gave up!”

Much thongs and tying followed and some talk to the hobs and the group all about. When Yander did cut off his warrior’s knot, the hobgoblin was wroth. A nemesis was made this day. Fuknha, of the Ahshit clan, was going to accept the loss and be led out of the monastery. But if he survived the cold, he would remember the “Round Ear’s” face and his name. Most of the group came about or accepted that with a paladin in the party, sometime law and good is the price to be adhered to. Nevah and Carl? Nope – not a chance. Let the monster’s die. A discussion for another time. We took keys, treasure, and whatever we could find.

We led Fuknha and his remaining clanmates to the snow, and with no other clothes or weapons, led them to the edge of the monastery and told them to walk. They were lost in the distance and we returned. It seems that a 4 count of Rock Baboons had come from somewhere and were in the goblin room, eating dead bodies and trashing the place. Not wanting to fight them, we hid back around the corner and waited 20 minutes for them to grow bored, head out, and go east to the garden behind the secret door. We had eaten lunch and by 12:30, were ready to go back in and make our way downstairs to the 1st level of the hobgoblin lair.

Icemonth the 9th, 12:30 AM

Meet 123, Adv 15, 5/10/25

Plantmonth the 16th, 289 of the 29th age (202 years before our time). 10:30 at night. We were discussing our plans for tomorrow. We want to get to the Remembrance Overlook about 11ish, easily after the end of the last full manned shift, have all our stuff inside our portable Hut, and make sure that we were not seen. Everyone had about 2 days of travel rations on us – but the thought was that we should get at least 1 more.

But not to wander town and buy a pile of food, since the Speaker of the Sun let slip that he had people reporting to him about our general activities. We were flat out told no for the Crater, and the rebuke should have us leaving Tilani sooner rather than later. So we did not want to ask Cargalane to set us up with food stuffs. Instead a few of us would go and see Captain Twilick and see if the gnomish Captain could get us some more travel rations tomorrow.

We rested well and the next day we ate breakfast and then went through all of our gear, making sure that it was ready to load into the Hut. Captain Twilick had already been sort of approached by the Speaker’s people, wondering how much longer they’d be around since they might be leaving soon. The Gnomish Captain replied that it was up to the Kaiser’s people and he will not be leaving until they (your group) feel they are ready.

We had made some overtures that we might be travelling in the direction of Aysle (next town east of here on the way to Gorok) to throw off suspicion. Captain Twilick would support our play. And he gave us 18 days of trail rations from the Zephyr’s stores to help us on the way (he will use the Kaiser’s scrip later on to replenish it from Tilani, we paid him 2 gold per day for the food stuffs). We then made sure that all the animals were safely in the kennels – house cats and dog. Nathaniel was going to bring Frederico, commenting that he had big plans eventually for the rat.

We ate well and dinner was our last meal, going up to the room to rest and get a few hours sleep. A bit after 10 we got ourselves ready and Wilhelm did a final check with the Reflecting Pool – confirming that the Remembrance Overlook was down to 3 total guards again. The night was dark, the clouds were missing, and we were ready to go.

We snuck out of the room and used the servant’s stairs at the back of the hotel, descending from the 3rd to the 1st floor. A scullery maid was sweeping a nearby storeroom but the back door was propped open with a plant. We took our time and snuck out, one by one. We did make some noise and she stuck her head out of the pantry, calling twice, “Anyone there?” But the random dice were on your side and she went back to her sweeping so the last of us emerged to the night air.

We decided NOT to risk sneaking behind the Speaker’s Palace and instead went up the Cliffside stairs to the upper reaches of Tilani (Called the Canopy) and snuck from tree to tree, keeping in the deep shadows to get us westward. A patrol was maybe a block and a half north but we were quiet enough they did not come to investigate. Finally at the Cliffside stairs near the Overlook, we climbed down and made our way with slow but measured pacing across the northern walls of the Remembrance until by 11:45, we were by the Gift Shoppe, just up from the Crater.

We snuck down without issue and Wilhelm took the carefully made runes they had forged and pulled together on a single page, unrolled it, and placed it inside the recess on the massive stone circular door.

And nothing happened.

Um. Fuck. Ok. Lets try it again. He turned it completely around and pressed it in again. And again. Nothing. Shit. He tried saying Frey. Nothing. He tried twisting it – and the stone moved a moment and then stopped! Um Do that again! He twisted the paper like wheel or a steering yoke back and forth and again – the budged a bit and stopped!.

We were really pressing luck. The thought was to make sure the runes on the paper were the exact same orientation as the display stone. And that did it! The stone wheeled back and away almost silently, but a circle of soft light did come out from the opening.

“In! In!”

The group all filed inside and after 2 minutes, the wheel rolled back in place and at 12:10 on Plantmonth the 18th, we were inside the Crater of the Lifetree. The dome preventing light to pass out so Shim fired off a light spell on a coin and we explored the crater. It was at a slight angle, running towards the center of the pit. There were strange mounds of soil and clay piled high, 5, 6, 7’ tall. The entire feel of the place was glasslike. As if the dwarven explosion so long ago fused the ground into glass.

The smell of fresh mown grass and honey was in the air. And we could hear faint wind chimes. We used that to help guide us.

Eventually we did come to the center where the opening was 8’ wide and went down at a 60, 65 degree angle. We tied the coin to a thong (after notching it), and lowered it down, but it went further than the thong would show. Wilhelm, Rhygar, and Eoghan did check the entire thing out. There were many signs that the Most Beloved of Frey had come here many times. About 2, 3’ down the glass of the soil turned back to regular very hard packed soil and clay. Small holes had been drilled into the soil and they could verify hand and footprints going down at least 15’ feet, maybe 20’ The nearest glassine mound of soil had wear marks as if made by a rope many times along one end of it, more proof that he tied something here and went into the pit a bit.

Shim checked the Desmondian Diamond – one piece was very much pointing straight down here. So we tied two ropes together, tied it to the mound of soil, and Connal went down first, taking the coin with him for light. It was 80’ down. The passage went about 35', then dropped 9’, then went back the other way before coming to a much less sloped area. The wind chime continued on down here. Shim volunteered to go next. Before going down, him and Eoghan set up another light source using his hat and a light spell, 200’ of stonebiter wire cord and a hook to ferry light both up and down for everyone.

It was slow going, one by one going down, not wanting to stress the ropes, until finally by just shy of 2 PM, we were all down the bottom of the pit. We went south for a bit , the ground having the slightest of declines, wind chime noise still ahead of us. Eventually an oval chamber was before us. Damp, some puddles of water in the densely packed clay, and a huge mass of dried roots here.

We examined and went in and back a few times, making sure all was ok. Passage was difficult, swords and axes led the way cutting the worst aside. Eventually there were bones. Mostly animal (small) at first – and then larger ones. Humanoid. Arm bones, leg bone, rib. All bleached white, all from some time ago. The thought was they were not dwarven, but we could not tell anything else.

At the end of the chamber was a mass of busted glass on the floor, decent sized oval, 5’ x 8’. Just shattered there. We took our time and then swept it to the sides so we could pass. The passage beyond wound for a bit, never getting more than 5’ wide. It did split and we followed the direction with the chime noise. It widened a bit, then split again, and we again opted to follow the noise. It also narrowed ahead to about 3’ wide or less. A few of us were going to have to strip off backpacks to get through.

We tried a speak with animal with Frederico and the rat ran off ahead to check it out and see if it could find the chime noises. And he never came back. After 10 minutes we all drew up and stepped closer to the room. It was pretty big, more roots were everywhere, ceiling was 8’ up. 3 massive piles at least 2’ tall. Shim tried to speak with burrowing animals and when he called for the rat – he got something else.

Called itself Megs. Had 2 buddies in here. And did not sound friendly. We crept in and gave the first pile a big swing and a hit to scatter some of the roots and a 5’ long megalocentipede burst out and attacked us. We relied almost entirely on missile fire as it spit and hissed and tried to attack us. And even though it had a fairly thick carapace, it did eventually die – but not until we did over 20 hit points of damage to it.

To a damned bug!

2 others were in here and we did the same, cleared part of the nest aside while three of us engaged it up close, the rest took it out at a distance. We did find the remains of Frederico, and Nate was sad at his friend’s (?) passing.

“It’s just a damned rat,” muttered Wilhelm the druid, further exploring the chamber.

The roots were also tree roots, snarled and old and twisted. Mostly a testament we were on the right path. At the south end of the chamber was another section of glass on the floor, and hanging from a piton driven into the dense clay was a wind chime made of alternating wood and bone lengths (8 altogether). Wilhelm did a detect magic and could tell the chime was magic. As he went to take it down, the rest of the group intervened and advised him to hold off. It was there for a reason. Why?

Shim did a detect magic as well and the best he could say was the magic was defensive. We opted to leave it and look on. Beyond the chimes were more of a passage and then another hole going down down down into the gloom. Shim’s check of the diamond confirmed it was the right direction.

We set up the hut, went inside, and crashed at 3:45 in the morning after Shim did a prestidigitation to get the dirt off of us.

We awoke a bit before noon on Plantmonth the 18th and after breaking our fast and praying, we were ready to go by 1. Darius got out lantern lit and then checking our rope situation we were happy to have a bunch. There was little to mount it to and the ground was very very dense clay – but a spike was a foot long tops.

Nate took his fair (fine!) long sword, had shim cross tie the rope to the guard, and then Darius drove it at and oblique angle into the ground near the top of the hole. Rope went down and once again, it was Connal down the hole first. 60’ down to the base at a 60 degree angle. Passage went south, a bit wide. So we took our time, everyone took a turn on the rope and made their way down. Once there we redressed in armor and by ten to 2, were ready to go on. Lantern had about 2 hours of oil left to it so we went.

At the first split (3 way), we went center, left had a rose smell to it. Then another dozen paces had another split and we took south. Some sort of flower smell up ahead. Chamber was pretty big, a 15’ “D” shaped pool of water in the middle. Butterflies, flowers growing thick on the floor. 2 celestial looking 5’ tall, 12’ long lizards on either side of a ridiculously looking beautiful woman sitting on the edge of the water, wearing only a thin cotton robe held closed by a single tie.

She saw us and Godric was in the front of all this. She motioned him closer. They tried to talk but she seemed to be mute. She motioned him closer and Godric came. They talked about wanting to pass. She had her hand out to his and he took hers. And her beauty almost blinded him, blasting the color out of his eyes. Nate ran in to get Godric, and Connal and Darius were immediately beset by the lizards who attacked.

Shim summoned an Ogre and was just far enough into the room that it could reach the woman. She opened her top and the Ogre stopped – and then WALLOPED the fuck out of her. She crumpled and then looked out really pissed. Magical sling followed – but some of the shots just did nothing to her. Same with Eoghan’s bow. Magic missiles just failed. Wilhelm summoned a lion in and it too failed to hit.

Magic resistance- and pretty high. And the lizards were regenerating. The woman hit the pool and then sunk in. Screw this – the party faded back, retreating down the hall, leaving the lion and ogre to cover our retreat with the lizards.

Once safely away we discussed what we had seen as Asher cured Godric’s blindness (yep – it was permanent). Best guess? It was a Nymph. And pretty tough too. For a fairy/fey race most magic does nothing to them, water heals them, and if we catch her gaze wrong can blind us. Her bare body could actually kill someone as well. Only the most handsome of people can walk by unscathed – and we were not going to win any beauty contests. We talked about heading backwards to check out the Rose passage and see if we could get around the Nymph room that way.

Plantmonth the 18th, 2:20 PM, 289 of the 29th age.

Meet 122, Adv 15, 5/3/25

Plantmonth 12th, 289 or the 29th age, 3 PM. 202 years in our past. We had taken the tour of Remembrance Overlook, getting a feel for it. We had come back to the House of Silk and Smoke where Cargalane hooked us up with Dinner. The thought was that we would want to go and see if we can get an audience with the Speaker of the Sun. There were things we wanted to feel out., So we concocted different ideas and scenarios that would not only entice the Speaker, but also have him grant us access to the Crater.

The matter was taken out of our hand when 25 hours after we arrived in Tilani, the Speaker had sent a herald from the palace to fetch: Wilhelm, Asher, and Nathaniel. We agreed, changed into our finest, and the three of them went to the palace. 6 stories tall, majestic in size and grandeur. Alabaster white and yellow, bathed in sunshine from the Prism that constantly focused the sun’s rays upon it.

The Herald was waiting and eventually led us through the wondrous palace, to the 2nd floor, and eventually to an art nouveau decorated smoking chamber. Three elves were here, each one was older than the next. The first was in his 60’s (if he was human – making him in his late 400’s). Grey elven, silvered gold hair, oversized symbol to Frey on his chest. This was the Most Beloved of Frey – Scortine Honeywine. The next was in his 70’s or so, ageless in his look. The Hierophant Druid, Valerion Silvereyed, Druidic leader of the Vael’Thanar. The last was venerable and looked to be in his 80’s (over 600 years of age). Translucent skin, older than anything. Glasslike visage. Logari Simuscene – the Speaker of the Sun.

They asked some questions of the group and it was obvious that the Vael’Thanar (and others in town) had reported our travels so far to date and what we were doing here, who we spoke to, and what we seemed to be interested in. They talked about their home, Aelfheim is a place of wonder and beauty and light, ruled over by Frey of the Vanir.

When the great dragons came to Midgard to seek riches and power after Ymir’s falling, the various races came here as well to stop the Wyrms from growing too strong. Losing their way home as the gates fell one by one. The thought was though the elven Lifetrees, grow their roots not only here in Midgard, but also back to Aelfheim – and as long as it stands – they can eventually make their way home.

Right now, fuck the dwarves. Fuck them hard. Whatever weird shit they have cooked up has shook the land and turned the southern sky to black fire for 2 days. They are like dangerous children playing with war machines. In fact the palace collects the piss pots and when they get a barrel full, the Speaker laughed about it that he has one of his mages cast Metamorphosis liquid on it, changing it to a stout beer they call “Long Ear Stout” and they supply to Stuntietown. It makes them feel good that the dwarves are drinking their piss.

The elven race here is a race in decline. There are other elven enclaves around Midgard, and maybe they have done better but they are all separated and who knows anymore. Frey and Freya have always been big on fertility so the idea of half breeds is ok in theory, but to the SOS, it’s just the last gasp – another proof of how far their people have come that in order to keep any of the elven race alive, they have to water their blood. The Most Beloved of Frey was damaged after the fall of the Lifetree, Frey stroke a bolt of lightning down, infusing the elf with his divine power but scrambling his brain. He was focused and simple, but dangerous in his questions.

Scortine is big on saying 12, 9, 3, and 1 (12 gods, 9 realms, 3 races (Aesir, Vanir, Asgardians), 1 life tree).

No, they cannot go to the crater. Only Scortine goes and that’s to do every 2 month or so soil and moisture checks. Valarian is aghast at the idea of it and decrees that no one has trod upon that ground for over 250 years. So whatever they think they need to do, it’s not going to happen. The entire place was sealed up and the counter runes to negate the ward are stored at the overlook under glass and key. Sorry but in this case, there is nothing the SOS can do for them and eventually they are wished well.

We all reconvened and discussed what we learned. We wanted another chance to maybe check out the tour again. Also there was the runes there, the words Frey had said when the tree fell under glass. Wanted to check them out.

Plantmonth the 13th, awoke early, ate breakfast (each of us was gaining weight, prompting Darius and Connal to pay more attention to their calorie intake as well as exercising. We got on the tour early and took a more serious interest in how Remembrance Overlook was laid out as well as the people here.

The walled path display was composed of 3 long winding “S” turns. There were flowers, bushes, trees, statues, walls, busts, and other objects and artifacts from that day as well as the years to follow. Every 80 paces or so were guides who could answer questions or just watch the people visiting. The feeling was they were all druids or druid adjacent.

After a bit of walking and slow incline, the tour then extends over the Crater at a height of 75’ feet, fenced so no one can step off or fall down (most likely runes or counterspells to prevent anyone from getting down there. We could see the black prism shell as well as the crater below. From here, the path turned and ran along the side of the walls, dropping down through slopes and stairs to about 15’ below ground level. It turned again and here was a shrine to Frey, 3 druids at least, and the stone that blocks off the Crater.

The stone is 10’ diameter, 4’ thick, and had to weigh 13 tons. Just before it were a series of strange looking runes, supposedly the very words that Frey said after the Lifetree fell, burned into the very rock. A 2” pane of glass was stationed in front of it, preventing anyone from getting a rubbing of the runes.

Shim, Godrick, and Nate had some forgery skill (or at least drawing), so they took the time to study the strange runes. The druids answered questions and at one point, Wilhelm tried to see if they were magic. The runes were not – like not the stones. The actually words themself were.

Past here was a gift shop where you can get small trees, carved animals, homespun, and even some “hanging dwarves” – crude looking dwarves with nooses around their necks on a stick. We bought a few.

We went back to the Hotel and asked Cargalane for some paper, ink, graphite sticks, and quills. Then the 3 of them went to the room and tried to copy the runes – specifically – the 12th, 9th, 3rd, and 1st – as per The Most Beloved of Frey’s oft repeated litany. It was hard going and the quills failed early. So we had to get more. Many hours later they put them together and then Wilhelm used a scrying spell in a bucket of water – taking us to the display outside the crater. He did note that the crater was in a null zone – no scrying through the dome.

After comparing all 3 people’s 4 sets of runes – they were confident that they had 2 and 3  - the 1st and 4th were no good. So they broke for dinner and tried again. They scryed once more and felt the 4th run was now good. Four attempts were made and finally they ended up with a full set. Nate carefully cut them all out and using his forgery kit, made a single circular page that matched the rough size of the Most Blessed of Frey’s holy symbol.

Now to find out when to dare to use it. We scryed carefully over the next few days. There were 3 or 4 guards we had to concern ourselves with – but after 10, it looked like we were down to 1 poorly attentive druid guard. This gave us a 4 hour window. We were going to need a day with no rain, after 10, and as today, it was now Plantmonth the 16th (10:30 PM) – 1 day after the new moon – so it was very dark.

We anticipated trying tomorrow (after a predict weather spell assured us no rain). We were going to load the Leomund’s hut with all our gear and then make our way to the Crater, sneak in, and see if we could find the rip that Shim assured us was there and under the ground.

2nd Campaign, Session 8. 4/29/25

Icemonth the 4th, 10 AM. The group finished talking to the goblin (Aaris, of the Ahshit goblin clan) and decided that this was as good of a time to leave as any. There was 1 more ogre up here that we were told had gone down to the goblin chief (Gavin) and was going to come back soon. We know there is a cleric, Moray Vaco, who was working with Jector and the slavers and was acting as the go between for the Ahshit tribe, Jector, and the red dragon living here as well. If we stayed we risked conflict with more foes than we could deal with.

So the Halfling went to the door with the Neanderthal’s behind it, unlocked it, and took the lock and key. We all then filed out of here, made our way to the sanctuary of Aine, passed through the secret door, went down to the long southern hallway, and then headed to the end to the store room. We unlocked that door (with picks), and entered with care.

We took the barrel full of crossbow bolts, and then in the crate, loaded it up with 12 shields. The 3 goblins outfitted themselves with leather armor, short swords and spears. They filled their pockets with the dried beans and fruits. Then the druid and the gnome used the scrap books they had to make kindling and fire starting places while the rest of us piled everything together and added 3 flasks of oil. The assassin was watching the hall and then we lit the damn thing.

Whoosh.

We left, leaving the door open so the fire would stay hot and spread. We went back down the hall, to the secret door, into the sanctuary of Aine, and then the front door.

To 29” of snow. Fuck. We swapped around to bigger guys in the front to plow ahead. Everyone was wrapped up and bundled tight as we trudged through the cold biting wind. Across the compound. To the wall. Down the sloping path. And then finally the clearing. The druid walked about and picked a tree for us to remember here. We dug out a space in the snow and then placed the barrel of bolts and the shields here. We covered it back up and then relied on Aaris the goblin to lead us to a path he and his 2 goblin friends wanted to use. It would go to the boats. Sounded good to us.

We walked through the cold south until we arrived at the south path, and then followed it eastward until the sun was almost down. We headed south off the path and set up a cold camp in the snow using all the shovels and shields we had to dig out an area. Bedrolls were laid out and blankets wrapped. The paladin and half-ogre were pretty hurt and needed a good night’s sleep. We divided the watch up to 5 and then after eating cold rations, fell asleep.

Icemonth the 5th. Another cold day, but no snow. We broke camp, ate breakfast, and then after creating water, were on our way. The path went on for some time, eventually arriving at the north end of a long lake. There was a 30’ frozen waterfall here, the same one we had seen but from the top! How we were to cross? Aaris and the goblins showed us the large path went under and behind the waterfall. Damn neat – we would have to remember this.

We followed a broken trail north and the goblin’s told us after the next fall there was a small lake and Gavin’s boats were there. The boats would meet merchant ships coming up from Jector when given the name and time from Moray Vaco, and armor and weapons would be taken at that time. The boats were also going to be used for the raid on Guido’s Fort once there were enough ready and armored troops.

And there were usually a few ogre’s guarding the boats. Sometimes. Not always.

It was about 3:30 when we arrived there – and sure enough – 6 boats! Over sized flat bottom row boats. Rudder steering, 3 oars (2 and a spare), 30’ coil of rope. We split the groups into two as the assassin and the half-orc had some skill on the water. We lashed the boats together making a long line, and then took all 6 boats with us into the stream (40’ wide, 5’ deep at deepest). Almost no current.

We paddled on leaving that area behind. It was almost 2 miles to the River Shrill and once there we made the turn into the greater current. The half-orc’s boat handled the swap from no current to wider current with ease, but the halfling’s boat had more of a problem, almost swamping until he managed to unloop a length of rope that had gotten tangled with the rudder but holding onto the side and getting partially in the water to pull it free. Once done, we stayed near shore and eventually made landfall at Northbeach. It was 6 PM, too late to light the signal log, but enough time for us to make camp.

We used the driftfwood to make a big fire to keep us warm, and we ate from our stores again. The next day we broke our fast, set up Aaris and his goblins with 3 of the rowboats and they thanked us. If we get to Jector, he will be working at a cousin’s bakery and no more of this try to get rich by raiding stuff anymore. They went into the Shrill and did their best, rowing south and out of sight.

Thobar got the fire lit, tossed the signal log in, and we waited. 11:30, Tila was coming back across, her single masted schooner coming out of the gloom. The goblin girl and her crew of 3 helped us on, took her 10 crown payment, and ferried us across to Fort Guido. She offered to take across when we were good and ready again.

At the Fort, Guido met us and we talked. He honestly didn’t expect us to survive. Most everyone dies over there. And we came back with a book. Thobar went off to see Enja at the Trading Post to have the 1 tome entrusted there. We all talked to Guido and after coming up with some sort of payment, went off with him to the Lion’s Den.

At his office we sold off crossbows, weapons, and gems. Any other weapons he’d love to buy and at a discount. With some coin in our pockets, we went off to the Trading post and did as much outfitting as possible. The Assassin worked on the Teraniv root, getting 4 decent doses of the poison for his time. The thought was get a good night’s sleep and cross back tomorrow. Thobar was using the Temple’s scrip to buy another 10 days of trail rations so we’d be ready for the next foray. And it should be less time since we now knew a faster way to get there thanks to Aaris and the goblins.

Icemonth the 6th, 6 PM. And leaving in the morning.

Meet 121, Adv 15, 4/26/25

We got a lay of the land from Twilick and disembarked at the Airship docks in Tilani. We got the ok to leave a few things on board should need be and he mentioned that the Kaiser gave him a scrip to pay for food and lodgings for us as long as we stayed at a middle of the road establishment. We asked and were directed to the House of Silk and Smoke in East River district, just shy of the Cliffs.

We went to the aviary first and met with Lady Labades, Mistress of the Aviary. A kindly elder elven woman, she asked how Scotar Bork was holding up. The ravens would be brought to the Vael Th’anar (elven for “The Silver Branch”), the local circle that used to tend to the Lifetree but now make sure Tilani is well taken care of. We learned the ravens will be reimprinted to recognize Tilani as their home base and be made useful again. They are also taught to fight other birds, especially falcons which we found interesting.

We asked about the Winsome Maid, a place that Nate used to know. In this time it's still in existence in West River, but is more of a rough and tumble place with a larger footprint as a brothel.

We went north and arrived at The House of Silk and Smoke. Godrick and Nate let us know this place did not exist in our time. It was an old 4 story tall hotel in what in our time is a manufacturing district. In fact, most of the nicer elven business and homes are pretty much gone in our time. We went in and the proprietor was a middle aged elf named Cargalene and he was more than happy to meet with us.

He knew about the Windshade and asked about a scrip, assuring him it would be here later. He told us that we could two rooms on the 4th floor with an adjoining door to house the 10 of us. Animals over 30 pounds would be in the kennel which we had a chance to see and it was seriously top notch. Room cost includes Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper. Two glasses of wine, beer, or cider with each meal. Laundry service is included for free. Each room had an internal lavatory as well as a full shower. A barber was on staff should need be for a small cost as well as a masseuse. There is no brotheling here at the Silk and Smoke but there is a sister operation at the top of the Cliff that would cater to anyone’s needs.

We were blown away. And dinner was at 4. We went upstairs, dropped our stuff, took a fast shower (how is this possible!?!?) and then went down to eat. Duck and Chicken were the main course meals as well as salads and delicious wines and cheeses. We ate and were served by a young half (maybe ¾?) elven wench named Meena. She was thin and lithe, but her human heritage was on display with a deep cleavage. Asher tried to chat her up but she was unimpressed.

We ate till we were stuffed and then left a large tip. We went up to our room and cleaned up, left and looked around, heading south to the aviary and having Lady Labades guide us to the local druids. They were doing some irrigation to the Farms here and after talking a bit about getting a raven and not really making headway, we headed off to meet with Twilick in a section of the town called Little Gorok.

On the central western part of town, Little Gorok (crudely referred to as Stuntietown to some of the older elven inhabitants in town), is a series of 10 to 12 squat buildings with canopies and lattice blocking the space between the buildings. Gorokian dwarves are a bit agoraphobic so this makes them feel better. We met with Twilick at a place called “The Open Cave” where he introduced us to the Gorokian Representative, Siskel Brawndyarms.

Looking pretty much like a wide shouldered Gorokian, he once again sort of surprised us with how friendly and open he was (something we were still getting used to). He asked if we were hungry and even though we ate only a bit over an hour ago, we were up to get another meal. A meal called “roadkill”, it was assorted goat and lamb meat chopped up and baked in a long trencher with split potatoes and topped with spices and cheese. As for a drink, there is a local elven beer called Long Ear Stout that they’ve been making for a century and a half.

We all drank and he asked a number of questions about the front. Some young Gorokian dwarves want the chance to join the front if need be. Supplies are coming. And everyone is doing their part for the war effort.

Eventually we asked questions as best we could. Sort of narrowing it down to where would you hide something that almost no one would be able to find. Something important. He thought about it and narrowed it down to 3 places. The Palace of the Speaker of the Sun. It’s been there a bit over 5,000 years and Logari Simuscene, the last Speaker, makes his home there along with his household. The Crater, the place where the original Lifetree once stood. It’s now sealed and warded and has been so for a good centuries plus since the tree fell back in ’14. And finally the Schools of Magic. There are chambers and rooms that have not been entered or seen the light of a candle for centuries if not millennia.

We asked about the crater and learned it was sealed. There is a dome that covers it and only 1 person enters every couple of months, Scortine Honeywine, the Most Beloved of Frey. We can look at it tomorrow if we want at the Overlook. He did say that of everything that happened in the Kinslayer wars, the knocking down of the Lifetree is something his people are not proud of. Face it, the dwarves were on the back foot for a large portion of the war, losing to the elven might and magic along with their orcish support troops. The tree had been here since the 14th age – it was supposedly directly related to Alefheim. And the dwarves knocked it down. Yes it turned the tide of the war and they won, but could have done it better.

The elves eventually signed the peace compact maybe 30 years later and agreed to pay reparation to the Gorokian Empire  for 500 years. Since the elven nation is in decline, they have not been able to pay their share. So the High Thane of Gorok about 50 odd years ago agreed that they would take young elven wizards and sorcerers and indenture them in Gorok for 1 year. During that time their magics and mana would be used to help the city under the mountain and then after that time they’d be returned home. Hmmm, things we know…but also not quite how it is in our time.

After thanking and leaving, we headed back to the Silk and Smoke. Nate and Godrick let us know that in our time, the crater is an open thing that everyone can go down, and there is a remembrance pool at the bottom of it. Ok, something has changed since now and then.

At the House we had Meena again and ate…again. The harpsichordist was playing well and we were entertained as well as eating meat pies and cream stuffed berry torts. Eventually we went to bed and were feeling really good. And really full. And Asher went off to sleep with Meena. Ugh.

We awoke early enough the next day to make sure we were going to breakfast. After that we had the barber come where we got shaves and haircuts. Massagers followed and Connal and Wilhelm got directions to a good tailor named Maudilant , and he runs the Thorn and Thread up Cliff in East Canopy.

They walked the stairs and found the place, actually the building was attached to the trunk of a growing tree maybe 15’ off the ground. Mauilant was a tailor of good skill and taste and outfitted the two men in some very nice finery, hats, scarves, vests, boots, and even moccasins. They paid the funds (not too bad) and made their way out and back to the Silk and Smoke.

Meanwhile Eoghan and Nate went off to the druids near the aviary, hoping to talk to the Vael Th’anar about getting one of the ravens. The druids were running the irrigation canals and did not understand why the ranger wanted a fighting raven. It takes months to train and not typically for sale. But they could work with him to train it. Meanwhile one of the druids coaxed a rat out of the fields, made friends with it, and gave it to Nate. “This is Frederico,” he was told, the rat happy to sit with the fighter. Eventually he climbed to his shoulder and sat there, paws holding tight.

“Why did you get a rat?” Eoghan asked. “Dude! This is the best thing ever!” Nate replied, handing Frederico some grain to chew on.

Back at the House we settled in and the party went off to the Overlook to check it out. There was a series of small walls and statues, showing who had been here when the tree was struck and some of the names and deeds of those who tried to save the tree. There are then some art establishments and displays and then eventually the Overlook itself. It extends over the crater. It’s 150’ in diameter and maybe 25’ deep. There is a 20’ down of black translucent crystal covering the entire thing.

We followed the path and trail to the bottom where we could see it closer but not too close. There are guide posts and fences and wards preventing anyone from coming too close. And the Vael Th’anar are always patrolling, weeding and moistening the soil. There is a shrine to Frey here and it is indicated that the God of Sunshine and the Elves helped to erect this dome to protect the place where the Lifetree once stood. A series of complex runes are here in 4 rows of 5, 6, 5, and 6 (22 runes in total). Beyond this is a 10’ diameter circle of stone 4’ thick. Has to be 13 tons. According to the Vael Th’anar, Frey himself put it here and only the Beloved of Frey can move it. Which he does every 2 months to go into the crater and see if the soil is fertile and ready and for any signs of the Lifetree regrowing. No one else is allowed to go and the rock moves for 2 minutes total time, once per day.

We thanked them and left, heading back to the House to discuss options. It was Plantmonth 12th, 3 PM, 289 of the 29th age.

Meet 120, Adv 15, 4/19/25

Plantmonth 8th, 289 of the 29th age, 8:30 PM. Party revisited everything that had occurred during the day, and went back over their purchases, cross checking with one another to make sure nothing was lost or forgotten. Eventually we fell asleep, knowing that we were going on the Zephyr’s Windshade tomorrow to eventually arrive in Tilani.

We awoke early on the 9th as per the Kaiser’s servants, ate a hearty breakfast, and then were escorted out of the center ring to the airship docks on the north end of town. Three gnomish battlewagons, 4 civilian/merchant airships, and 1 smaller sloop were there. The small ship was captained by Twilick One-Eye Taperton who immediately took to Shim.

Introductions were made all around and he gave us our itinerary. The Windshade without stress can make 30 miles easily a day but it was best if it was not stormy weather to end up in a way station each night to load up on water. So we were going to Bork Keep, then Bogon, and then TIlani – expecting to make it to the former elven home city by the later afternoon on the 11th.

We took off and made our way across the massive Enderlyn Bridge (which does not exist in our time), the air ship passing through a set of spell locks to keep it working as it trailed through the mile and a half long expanse. Once across we rose to roughly 4, 500 feet and set off to the east south east. The road below matched what we knew in our time but where Erylond was in our ime, was a much smaller town. Maybe 30 thousand. It was on the same hill, but there was construction going on there. Were told that was Randaz and the Kaiser was using it as a destination for evacuated families and important objects and artifacts.

We sailed along for some time, the road did veer north from where we were used to it in our time, heading to the trees and some hills and small cliffs. According to the map, this was Cradel, and on top of the Cliffside was Mother’s Peak. The Cathedral to Frigga. We passed over what we knew to be Canaslan in our time, just farmers and farm land, and eventually came to Bork Keep.

We were told the Steward of Bork Keep would meet with us, a black orc named Scotar Bork. Not a lord? In our time it’s Lord Corface Bork, and decidedly a human. The grounds were more finished and there were 4 cavalier training encampments below – in our time only one and its inside the keep. We did note the building that housed the entrance to the Terror Dungeon does not exist here.

The Windshade docked and a number of workmen and workgnomes came out, hooking up guides and ropes, eventually some hoses from the water tanks. Twilick met with the Steward’s man and we were invited to dine with the Steward now even though the hour was late. We all went off and into the keep itself.

Scotar Bork met with us. Older, in his late 40’s or 50’s. Again, Black Orcs are not normal for us so this huge muscled, noble looking oversized black/green skin was a bit daunting. We did invite us to sit and eat and we chatted for a while with the Steward.

Bork Keep was commissioned by the Randari Ympire a bit over a hundred years ago. Since Timber comes from Nightwoods and stone from Jarlborrin, it was assumed that these two groups would be handling the building. However, the Jarlborrin were involved in a number of expansive keeps and forts throughout Morata and did not have the time or stone to do the work in a timely fashion.

The Gorokian Dwarves thought they had a lock on it and were already upping their price for stone and laborers. Since the Nightwood Gnomes were tasked this, they contacted their neighbors to the east, the dwarves of Daro. They were willing to do the job for 60% of Gorok’s cost and in the intervening 2 and a half years, the land was reshaped and the keep constructed. This has been a point of contention for the Gorokian Dwarves who have taken a dim view on the Keep.

Scotar Bork currently acts as Steward for the keep. It sounded like he was 3rd or 4th generation to do so and he willingly relinquished his nobility title due to a quarrel his eldest (Gunther) had with a human woman (Litha). She had been enamored with the younger Bork and they had been due to wed but Gunter’s arrogant ways and sense of superiority as well as his racism turned her off. She had sought to get out of the marriage and one of her guards, an ogre named Luddock had agreed to help her out. They grew to love each other and Luddock acted as her champion when they petitioned the Friggan elders at Mother’s Cathedral in Cradel to vacate the betrothal.

It was done but Gunther did not accept it, blows were exchanged, and Luddock was mortally wounded. Gunther then took his anger out on Litha, who was pregnant with Luddock’s child, daring to hit her. Scotar had his son punished, recompense was given to Luddock’s family, and Litha was brought to Cradel where her and her son, Ludson, currently reside. To prevent a shit like his son ever getting the title of Lord, Scotar renounced his own nobility and agreed to act as Steward for his family’s Keep until the Kaiser can find a replacement to take over.

Party is asked to take a crate of ravens to Tilani since they are going there. The Steward ends up collecting the ravens after a time when the animals lose their ability to return to their home. Both locales have an aviary on site, with TIlani having a Druidic Circle as well to reimprint their crate of avians. The orcish lord spoke of responsibility and the 5 circles that command the varying layers of importance. We rested, thinking about this time in the Randari empire. There is a mix of height of Roman Empire and Camelot feel to everything.

The next day we left early with the crate in question. We also did note Gunther. He was a brutish looking black orc with a pretty big “M” branded on his right cheek. He kept his head down, is disliked, and works on the breastworks doing concrete repairs.

The Windshade took off at 8:30 Am on the 10th, heading north to Bogon. There were a number of hills and mountains in the way, so the Captain brought the ship up to 1,200 feet, and reminded everyone that this was flyover country. It’s mostly older dwarven and elven battle sites that have been long abandoned. A few dragons are known to inhabit the area and they have been accorded a mutual protection pact with the Kaiser and the Council of 6.

Bogon, Flight, and Stivil are located to act as midway stops for airships that want to navigate north to south and not follow the trade routes. Right on the edge of the Gameron Woods is Bogon. This frontier style town is home to about 600 people, about a quarter orcs, a quarter human, a quarter gnome, and a smattering of other races. The primary industry here is wooden spars and airship parts. A number of large hydrotanks are on site and the place is pretty rough and tumble.

The mayor is a wormy looking gnome named Harpis Tank Locknut. He talks to the Captain for a bit before turning to the party. After looking them over he asked that Wilhelm and Asher join him for the time being. Twilick and his gnomes were going to make some small repairs here in Bogon and stay at the ship. We would be leaving in the morning by 8, 8:30.

Once inside the Bogon Crossed Arms, Harpis brought the two men to his “office” – a small room in the back of the Crossed Arms. He is not only the mayor, but he manages the Crossed arms? Yep – and some other businesses as well. He started off with questions: Who are they? I hear they are special. Why are you special? They’ve been at the front? Anyone on the Windshade is pretty important to the Kaiser.

Word is they are going to Tilani. Going to try and talk to that angry fossil Logari. (Logari seemed to be the leader of Tilani, a very old elf who was a bit of a racist and skinflint). It seems that Logari agreed to a trade some time ago (3 years) with Mayor Harpis for a number (30) of elven crafted exact specification 4’ silvered engine rods in exchange for some Bogon crafted gnomish weights and scales for skyship crystal gears. The scales have been completed and have been ready to send to Tilani but Logari has not set up a date to arrange the trade. The Mayor doesn’t want to send the weights and scales as he suspects he won’t get paid. The Speaker has pulled that crap before. Letters are not answered or answered tersely. And even the Mayor’s own emissary had been left waiting twice for an audience with the Speaker (3 days and 7) before returning frustrated.

These were not cheap to make and the market for them is sparse at best. If Logari doesn’t want them, say so and he’ll find another buyer at a discount somewhere. Since the group can actually go and talk to Logari (its known he only has interest these days in meeting with elves), he’d like it if they can at least find out about the silvered rods / scales trade and eventually let him know.

Conversation broke down as Captain Asher got upset with the Mayor’s tone and things he was saying. There were some derogatory comments about Hairy arms  bandied about. Eventually the Mayor felt that this was not going to work. Just bring back and answer. 10 Crowns if they come back with a no answer , 110 crowns if they come back with a positive answer. Then Asher asked for something up front. The Mayor felt he was being extorted and tossed a small pouch at the Half-elf. “Here, take 100 brass bits.”

After some back and forth, Harpis took the original contract back and told them to “get the fuck out”. He then stormed out and yelled at his staff, to “Stop serving those fuckers from the Windshade” and “They can get water and fuel somewhere to fuck else. I want those hoses taken off!”

Captain Asher was escorted outside and told to wait in the gutter. The food was taken off the table and we all were like, “Asher, what the fuck did you do?” He tried to explain and Connal and some of the others tried to fix the problem. They spoke to the Mayor and eventually got a place where we agreed to go and ask. Asher was not allowed back in, go sleep in the gutter. Captain Twilick showed up pissed off and wanted to know what the fuck was going on. The Mayor gave the ok to refuel the Zephyr and we were given room at the Crossed Arms – but shitty rooms at the end of the row.

We went to the dirty alley afterwards and set up Leomund’s hut. Then Asher was invited to stay and we all rested well. In the morning we snuck back in and the waitress (new staff in the AM) thought we were the lumbersmiths from Rooms 1 and 2. We ate well, she was named Greta, and was not a good looking woman at all. Fell in love with Darius and we all left, getting on the Windshade and we took off heading north.

We had clear skies and made good time, arriving during the afternoon (3ish) at Tilani. From a distance Tilani looks like a wonderful elven city. There are wide streets and thoroughfares, a small river runs from the forest to the north, south, cascading over a set of falls and then widening to a pond where the local kids are playing. A series of well irrigated and laid out farms on the southwest and the northern part of the city is on a rise of stone like a ledge some 40’ over the rest of the ground. Fanciful stairs run up the sides of the rises as well as counterlifts. There are three wizard towers just north of the pond each sticking 80 feet into the air and connected by gossamer bridges.

A huge elven fanciful palace is in the center of town where an observatory and over sized prism turns slowly across the sky channeling the sun’s rays into the castle. Just south and west of that is a 150’ crater covered by a black prismatic dome, the site of the original Lifetree.

Airship docks are on the southeast part of the town and a number of residents seemingly come and visit.

The city houses about 10k, and is about 1/3rd elves, most of which are very old. There are a number of half elves here and near the river south of the magic school is a tight packed section of squat stone homes and businesses all close together, the architecture is different than the rest of the town and there are covered streets and lattices blocking most of the sun. Twilick let us know that we had 60 days from this point on before he had to take off and bring the party back to the Kaiser and Erylond – Kaiser’s orders. The Windshade came down low and settled in one of the 4 cradles where ground crews came up to attach lines and lay out a gangplank.

We have arrived. Plantmonth the 11th , 289 of the 29th age. 3:13 PM