Session 32: The Collingwood Affair
General Summary
In todays recap, Lucky took Erdan and Bob to the Fusty Foot tavern in Collinwood to spread his latest single, but at some point disappeared into the back of the bar.
Figuring this is just typical lucky behaviour, Erdan and Bob left the bar at closing time, early morning.
Meanwhile Shadow and Solas, drag bodies from the airship to the local temple of Tymora, scaring the priest witless in the middle of the night as they drag mutilated corpses to the graveyard.
The pair met up shortly after and took thip Hope 10 miles out of time to have a long rest - reflecting on the darkness of the forest, and the tiny worms visible like a starry night in the ground below.
Bob used his sending stone to Alyssa Wyvernspur in Minroe, to enquire what was going on and got these responses; > Minroe calm. Paladins marched on Espar with an artefact from the south, pulsing even in its crate. Many families returned. Some of the old Purple Dragons now wear Helm’s crest, those who refused… gone. I fear what’s next." > > Alyssa
> "Tallisen controls town now, his second, Lord Herem Leck, seems to be a powerful mage, and has assisted with the Seven Suns Trading Coster plans." > > Alyssa
Consideration was given the giant mausoleum at the rear of Earl Bryton Taysiths manor, and first thing in the morning the Guardians marched into the grounds and knocked on his door loudly. Exclaiming from inside 'No visitors - you've already robbed me blind!!' - Solas intoned that they need to talk about the Mausoleum. "None of your business' squealed Bryton and went silent.
Examining the mausoleum, with no doors or windows, and reflecting on the words of Bryton, that his army can only be summoned with a word from the Crown itself - it was surmised the mausoleum holds his army - thousands of magical items glimmered when detect magic cast.
So the natural course of action was to breaking and entering into his house and rifle through his stuff.
Finding a secret staircase to the attic, they pushed thorugh and found an arcane laboratory - Earl Taysith cross legged in the middle of one of the circles.
So the natural course of action was to attack him with Dispel Magic.
Furious - the lights completely went out as Taysith levitated off the ground, his eyes shone bright white. "Do NOT mistake me for a fool" and it was collectively decided that this potentially ancient Netherese sorcerer might be best to leave well alone for now, and the Guardians retreated back to the Hope.
The next course of action was hotly debated - the information had been gained by Shadow and Solas, that the leader of the Cult of Malyk, the god of Wild Magic - was in fact not a Drow Mage called Wildstorm, but an adult Black Dragon initially put that in the "we cannot handle that - let's do it later" category. However, with the threat of Pestilence infecting and turning more of Cormyr into those creatures, it was opted that an approach was needed.
Flying the hope past Eveningstar and following the river north from Arabel towards the mountains, progress was made towards Castle Kilgrave - a fort in the mountains, originally designed to host dignatories and noble entertainments. Historically Castle Kilgrave was eventually taken over by Bane, one of the Dead Three, god of oppression, terror, and hate and renamed New Acheron. Bane however was vanquished from the castle, and it became the site of an entrance to the Celestial (aka Infinite) Staircase. Guarded by Helm, and where he struck down Mystra as she tried to reclaim divinity. His sorrow at this act resulted in the Guardians Tear, an artifact capable of guarding against all maladies - including the Harbinger of Pestilence.
Approaching the deserted wasteland of the Helmlands, the redwood forests decayed, black tar pits bubbled, and the land was magically charged and full of decay.
Landing the ship near the foot ofthe mountains, the Guardians approached the castle, which seemed to shift from Ruin to Beautiful as time and angle of approach shifted.
Finally entering the courtyard, the party were astonished by an active party, the smells of roast pork, gleeful music, and Bob and Co engaged with a jester called Tym.
It didn't take long to figure out the playful identify of the God of Chance, Luck, to guide them, cryptic messages that Noble, Bane and Malyk will be seen, but not to be afraid.
Entering the castle, an entrance hall in front, was blackened, and on the door to the left, commandments etched into metal detailing the code of Bane.
Pushing further into the corridor on the 1st floor, the castle shifted again into a ruin, craacks in the ceiling, black dust and ash on the floor. An iron grate blocked the way, locked by a giant padlock - Erdan immediately got to work with his tools, but did not check for traps, which magically electrocuted him and blasted him 10ft down the hallway, singed. The room nearby - an opulent lounge with childrens toys, with tubes leading to the next room, which upon investigation, shifted away from opulance back into darkness.
Tymora shifted the corridor into opulance once more to 'help' (and tbh cover up DM mistake on what rooms they had just entered), and the rooms they opened into barracks, kennels, an armourer, of Hobgoblins serving Bane. The party systematically eliminated each Hobgoblin, somtimes together, sometimes patiently waiting outside while Erdan and Bob murdered inhabitants. Bobs axe glowed black - and mostly wasn't aware that wasn't an option for 'glow'.
Finally, after finding a tactical war room and obliterating the general housed here, we rested, considering how to rest up in this shifting castle.
From its building, and host to Noble Cormyerans, to Bane's New Acheron, and the Cult of Malyks ruined hideout - the shifting of time from room to room threatened to block the Guardians from the Tear that they needed to face Pestilence in his home. It would appear that with Tymora around, they need to be more Lucky - now where did we leave that bugger?
Meanwhile Shadow and Solas, drag bodies from the airship to the local temple of Tymora, scaring the priest witless in the middle of the night as they drag mutilated corpses to the graveyard.
The pair met up shortly after and took thip Hope 10 miles out of time to have a long rest - reflecting on the darkness of the forest, and the tiny worms visible like a starry night in the ground below.
Bob used his sending stone to Alyssa Wyvernspur in Minroe, to enquire what was going on and got these responses; > Minroe calm. Paladins marched on Espar with an artefact from the south, pulsing even in its crate. Many families returned. Some of the old Purple Dragons now wear Helm’s crest, those who refused… gone. I fear what’s next." > > Alyssa
> "Tallisen controls town now, his second, Lord Herem Leck, seems to be a powerful mage, and has assisted with the Seven Suns Trading Coster plans." > > Alyssa
Consideration was given the giant mausoleum at the rear of Earl Bryton Taysiths manor, and first thing in the morning the Guardians marched into the grounds and knocked on his door loudly. Exclaiming from inside 'No visitors - you've already robbed me blind!!' - Solas intoned that they need to talk about the Mausoleum. "None of your business' squealed Bryton and went silent.
Examining the mausoleum, with no doors or windows, and reflecting on the words of Bryton, that his army can only be summoned with a word from the Crown itself - it was surmised the mausoleum holds his army - thousands of magical items glimmered when detect magic cast.
So the natural course of action was to breaking and entering into his house and rifle through his stuff.
Finding a secret staircase to the attic, they pushed thorugh and found an arcane laboratory - Earl Taysith cross legged in the middle of one of the circles.
So the natural course of action was to attack him with Dispel Magic.
Furious - the lights completely went out as Taysith levitated off the ground, his eyes shone bright white. "Do NOT mistake me for a fool" and it was collectively decided that this potentially ancient Netherese sorcerer might be best to leave well alone for now, and the Guardians retreated back to the Hope.
The next course of action was hotly debated - the information had been gained by Shadow and Solas, that the leader of the Cult of Malyk, the god of Wild Magic - was in fact not a Drow Mage called Wildstorm, but an adult Black Dragon initially put that in the "we cannot handle that - let's do it later" category. However, with the threat of Pestilence infecting and turning more of Cormyr into those creatures, it was opted that an approach was needed.
Flying the hope past Eveningstar and following the river north from Arabel towards the mountains, progress was made towards Castle Kilgrave - a fort in the mountains, originally designed to host dignatories and noble entertainments. Historically Castle Kilgrave was eventually taken over by Bane, one of the Dead Three, god of oppression, terror, and hate and renamed New Acheron. Bane however was vanquished from the castle, and it became the site of an entrance to the Celestial (aka Infinite) Staircase. Guarded by Helm, and where he struck down Mystra as she tried to reclaim divinity. His sorrow at this act resulted in the Guardians Tear, an artifact capable of guarding against all maladies - including the Harbinger of Pestilence.
Approaching the deserted wasteland of the Helmlands, the redwood forests decayed, black tar pits bubbled, and the land was magically charged and full of decay.
Landing the ship near the foot ofthe mountains, the Guardians approached the castle, which seemed to shift from Ruin to Beautiful as time and angle of approach shifted.
Finally entering the courtyard, the party were astonished by an active party, the smells of roast pork, gleeful music, and Bob and Co engaged with a jester called Tym.
It didn't take long to figure out the playful identify of the God of Chance, Luck, to guide them, cryptic messages that Noble, Bane and Malyk will be seen, but not to be afraid.
Entering the castle, an entrance hall in front, was blackened, and on the door to the left, commandments etched into metal detailing the code of Bane.
Pushing further into the corridor on the 1st floor, the castle shifted again into a ruin, craacks in the ceiling, black dust and ash on the floor. An iron grate blocked the way, locked by a giant padlock - Erdan immediately got to work with his tools, but did not check for traps, which magically electrocuted him and blasted him 10ft down the hallway, singed. The room nearby - an opulent lounge with childrens toys, with tubes leading to the next room, which upon investigation, shifted away from opulance back into darkness.
Tymora shifted the corridor into opulance once more to 'help' (and tbh cover up DM mistake on what rooms they had just entered), and the rooms they opened into barracks, kennels, an armourer, of Hobgoblins serving Bane. The party systematically eliminated each Hobgoblin, somtimes together, sometimes patiently waiting outside while Erdan and Bob murdered inhabitants. Bobs axe glowed black - and mostly wasn't aware that wasn't an option for 'glow'.
Finally, after finding a tactical war room and obliterating the general housed here, we rested, considering how to rest up in this shifting castle.
From its building, and host to Noble Cormyerans, to Bane's New Acheron, and the Cult of Malyks ruined hideout - the shifting of time from room to room threatened to block the Guardians from the Tear that they needed to face Pestilence in his home. It would appear that with Tymora around, they need to be more Lucky - now where did we leave that bugger?
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