Session 96: Red Lady Aftermath Report

General Summary

Session 96 – Wednesday October 2, 2024: Change of allegiance

3.5-hour social session 5:30 PM to 9 PM.

The Stone Bearers. Party of 4:

It is the 15th day of the month of Alturiak (The Claw of winter) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Early Feb.)

• Ajani– High Elf, L16 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda (Absent)
• Cassidy – Human, L16Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L17 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L16 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L16 Paladin – Will Johnson
• Seften Mitcaver – Human, L16 Cleric – Jacob Munson (Sick)

Anything left in the mansion?

The Black dragon had escaped. Cassidy sneezed, Seften vanished and Gazlowe appeared. Juan lamented the death of the Jinn as he didn’t get any more wishes. The party released all the prisoners, but the prisoners were in bad shape and offered no useful information. Isabella realized that her giant size will last for a whole day. They read more details in the Jinn’s journal:

“She grants me power, but at what cost? Is it really worth what I’m giving in exchange for the research I can do? What if she changes her mind? Well, no matter… There’s nobody else to worry about, nothing else to do, nothing I need to fear. I’m stronger than she is; it’s impossible for me to lose. And then, I’ll take her treasure. Oh! Her wonderful treasure, the great treasure…”

The party discussed their priorities including, they already completed the task of killing the Jinn, the Dragon Hoard (but they don’t know where it is), the replacement of the army. They agreed the pressing issue is the Red Lady. They quickly looked around the rest of the mansion and collected a manual of flesh golems. The party took a short rest, healed a bit, and then Ajani cast teleportation to take the party to the citadel of the mists. The spell was successful, but Cassidy sneezed, and Ajani disappeared.

Citadel of the Mists

The party arrived in the citadel of the mists (sans Ajani and Seften) and found themselves in a trap. A rune on the floor was triggered, and a massive lightning bolt struck everyone, badly hurting them. The lighting was designed to knock everyone unconscious. Cassidy was immediately knocked out but her necklace revived her. Bird was again vanquished. Above the party stood 4 mages who all yelled “Do not move!”   Cassidy said, “We’re here to help the Mistmaster.” Gazlowe yelled, “Don’t move, I’m rigged to explode, if you strike me down, this whole tower will go down with you in it!” One of the wizards above removed his hood revealing long greasy black hair. Eversus sneered and said, “I suggest you surrender.” Gazlowe’s eye’s glowed with rage but Cassidy handed Gazlowe a small card that read, “One time use only. Don’t do anything stupid.” Gazlowe glared at Cassidy and then at Eversus and back at Cassidy and said, “I hate you right now. Gazlowe lowered his hands.

Prison

The wizards put manacles of magical suppression on everyone (they had to enlarge the ones for Isabella.) They led Juan, Cassidy and Gazlowe away and kept Isabella in the room because she was too big for the prison. The 3 normal sized Stone Bearers were taken to a prison room that was relatively comfortable. Everyone was stripped of their equipment. Gazlowe, reluctantly stepped out of his armor. Their equipment was removed from the room and put in a storage container outside of the room. The party was locked inside and remained cuffed. The guards left the area and stood at the outside door to the prison area.

The White Lady

After some time, the outer door was opened, and the White Lady came in with an entourage of guards (no Eversus.) She approached the bars and said, “Kneel before me.” She held out her hand with a large elven ring on it for the party to kiss. Juan licked the ring. She said, “You can call me the Empress Tina Palp. Who are you?” The party was very offended that she didn’t remember them.   Cassidy reminded her that they’re the ones who she sent to destroy Niptu’s body. She seemed to remember and asked the party, “Will you server me?” She babbled on about the devotion she deserves. She explained that she is now the empress of the High Forest. She explained the humans have killed her “friend” the Red Lady and the Elves have banded under her banner. She didn’t see any humans amongst the party (at least she didn’t recognize Cassidy as human) and demanded to know if the party is loyal to the conspirators against the elves or the creatures of the High Forest. The party asked for some time to deliberate, and the empress left them.

Escape

The party searched for any hidden sensors and found none. Gazlowe suggested to pledge allegiance and then leave the forest as things seem bad. He suggested they could find another forest to save. Gazlowe did suggest that they kill Eversus first though.   As the party debated, the exterior door opened. The party saw all the guards were gone and in walked Eversus. Eversus whispered to the party, “You are in grave danger. Orist is alive and camped 10 miles to the south.” He handed a lock pick to Cassidy and left. Gazlowe was still torn as he did not trust Eversus. Cassidy persuaded him otherwise (for now.) Gazlowe picked the locks (and kept the shackles.) The party exited the prison room, found the chest of their items and fled.   The guards around Isabella were drawn away. Eversus cast Reduce on her, shrinking her for 1 minute. The shackles fell off and he told her to flee to the south. Isabella fled. The rest of the party fled south. Unfortunately, they didn’t gather all of Isabella’s items since some were still too large for them to carry. As they fled the citadel, they had a quick glance back at the area around the citadel. It was littered with bodies of humans and elves. In the quick glance they did not perceive any vampires or dwarves. In the woods they caught up to Isabella who had returned to her giant size.

Running South.

Gazlowe used the sending stone to contact Orist who did reply and told them where he was, 10 miles to the south. The party heard an alarm back at the citadel. Isabella downed a potion of invisibility and Gazlowe cast invisibility on the others. Elven guards on horseback followed the trail up to the party. Gazlowe cast “Wall of force” around the horses, revealing himself and the others and then ran south. After 10 minutes, the wall of force faded, and the guards were in pursuit. The stone bearers had worked hard to cover their tracks, casting minor illusion along the way and successfully misdirected the guards.

Orist

Three hours later they found the location where Orist was camping. The Stone bearers explained what they learned about Vandore being a doppelganger, the uniforms they found, the Fey’ri being involved and that the White Lady has assumed control of the Elves of the forest. Cassidy filled in the bit of an ancient Black Dragon being involved.   Orist did not know about Vandore, but that bit of information helped him fill a huge gap. Orist explained that the Red Lady was assassinated in front of everyone while Vandore stood near. Nobody saw the assassin, but it had to be someone of extortionary power to kill the Red lady with 3 crossbow bolts to the back of her neck. Only someone like the infamous John Wick is that powerful. Orist also explained that he had recently learned that Niptu has an orb of dragon kind that he’s using to control multiple ancient dragons including a Black, a Blue and a powerful Red Dragon.   Orist explained that Vandore shouted “Victory” after the Red Lady fell. The other humans in the camp seemed legitimately surprised but the elves immediately attacked declaring war. The humans in turn have declared war on the elves. The vampires and the dwarves had not yet shown up to the Red Lady.

Royal Claim

Orist explained that with the Red Lady Dead, the White Lady has a legitimate claim to the throne of a new elven kingdom. Other than the keeper of the tombs (who is now dead) nobody else is known to have royal blood that grants entrance to the tombs of Nithrithvinae. There is nobody else to challenge her claim and now she has rallied the Elves to fight a righteous battle against the human cities of the sword coast.   Cassidy and Gazlowe remembered that Abrash and Ajani have royal blood of the family Minnejab, and they could open the Tombs. Orist asked where they were, but they were currently not available. Gazlowe asked, “Is there some sort of challenge they can do?” Orist asked, “Would your friends be willing to challenge the White Lady?” Gazlowe responded, “Absolutely!” Orist told them the challenge is usually a political one, not a barbaric overthrow, but if they could prove that the White lady was involved in the murder of the Red Lady there is a chance.   They party discussed that they could simply go after Niptu. Orist agreed to help them prepare. He called his friends of the forest, Fauns, Satyrs, Dryads and other forest creatures came and helped train the party (they leveled up.)

Training.

During the training they learned that the dragons will come to the aid of Niptu and they could possibly take out the dragons first to make the assault on Hell’s gate easier. They also discussed a stealth mission to take out the Orb of Dragon kind. They spent time doing research and training.   Gazlowe took blood from Isabella in her giant size to learn attributes of giants and he developed a belt of Hill Giant strength. Juan learned how to cast cloudkill with his extremely bad gas. Cassidy learned how to amplify her crimson right even more.   Isabella spent her time ripping up trees and learned how to be more brutal. One of the trees however was a Treant who was offended by her ripping up trees. She made friends with the Treant Graygramp. who told her that he has cousins who are trying to keep the demons of Hellgate keep at bay. Turlang is the Treant of the north who guards Hellgate keep. Isabella told Graygramp that they could use his help. Graygramp told Isabella that if she used the secret passcode of the Treants they may help: “Bark, Sap, Yew. Bark, Sap, Yew. To your Branch, your leaves, your family be true. Bark Sap Yew.”   In the morning, they decided to take out a dragon before they go after Niptu. Cassidy traveled to the Ethereal plane to have Ajani message the vampires and the Dwarves about the Red Lady’s death and to stand by for now. Orist and his forest friends helped restock Isabella’s weapons and gave her a few potions, a +3 Flail and a shield of poison resistance.

The Glass cavern.

Orist told the party of the lair of the ancient Blue Dragon Xaantikorijek (zan-tih-KOR-eh-jehk) and his lair in the Glass Cavern. He told them of an area of desert where he has made her lair underground and turned the sand into impenetrable walls of glass. He also told them that the remains of the Sunlight legion of Fire Giants have been seen entering the lair.   Orist used Transport via plants to send the party to the desert area. They heard dragon snoring under the sand. They found the secret entrance (through the sand) that teleported them into the Dragon’s lair. They fell into a large pile of sand in a large dimly lit circular room…

Rewards Granted

Treasure

From the Jinn’s mansion

• Manual of flesh golems.

From Orist

• Potion of Invisibility.
• Potion of Superiorior healing.
• Potion of Beter Superiorior healing.