Season 1 - The Tear
S01E108: Steelhawk International – "Siegeborn: The Last Bastion" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:
L12 Cleric Druid Sorcerer | Cindella L15 Barbarian Rogue | Munster L15 Fighter Cleric | Thor Odinson L15 Barbarian Fighter | Kargus L12 Bard | Enrick L14 Cleric | Mizutani
So we start in Fort Ironhold, which is under siege by the Brotherhood of Big Stupids. They keep throwing waves of poor souls at us, slaves with exploding collars. If they try to run or don’t fight, their heads go boom. Not pretty, not fun. The defenders of the fort already tired, bleeding, and running low on supplies. Me, Munster, not like sieges. Sieges boring. Too much waiting, not enough hitting. Then, middle of all this, one of the slave people walks up, real nervous. Say the Big Stupids want to settle this the "old way." They want us to send six champions to fight six of their best. Win, we break the siege. Lose, well, we probably dead. We say yes, ‘cause what else we gonna do? Wait to starve? Kragoth, their boss, picks himself and three more Big Stupids to fight us. Big Stupid 1, Big Stupid 2, and Big Stupid 3. Battle starts, and after a few hits from either side Mizutani makes Big Stupid 1 drool like village idiot with a spell. He stand there, mouth open, eyes empty, like he forgot what he was doing. We take him down fast. One down. Then Big Stupid 2, not happy, summons big elemental snake things. Real nasty. They go for Cindella first, but she too slippery. So, one snake goes for Thor, the other goes for Mizutani. Thor, he fine. He big, he tough. Armor thick, axe thicker. He start swinging, cutting into anything that comes close. Mizutani, though, not so lucky. Snake bites her, tries to eat her. Me, Munster, not let that happen. I grab Mizutani, yank her out before she becomes snake food. Enrick, sneaky little guy, is invisible and throwing out healing spells like candy. Cindella? She in back, dancing and healing, keeping everyone on their feet while we take the heat. . Then, we got Kragath. Big guy, bigger ego. He stomps the ground, fire shoots out, burns like hell. Everyone getting cooked, but not me. Me too fast. Kargus, though? He stand there, taking hit after hit, swinging away, yelling at Kragath about his ugly nipples. Not sure why. Maybe strategy? Maybe just truth? Either way, it work. Mizutani, now free, is real mad. She turns around and takes out the snake that tried to eat her. No mercy. Meanwhile, I see Kargus struggling. He got one eye, must be hard to aim, so me, Munster, decide to help. We all gang up on Kragath, and without his backup, he go down pretty easy. Just another Big Stupid hitting the dirt. With Kragath dead, the rest of the Big Stupids lose their minds. Their generals and commanders? They thought they were the best warriors. Now, their best warriors dead. They panic, start running. Most retreat, but some just stand there, confused. Without orders, they don’t know what to do. That’s when we take command. Each of us takes a squad and leads them into battle. Some squads get wiped, but we push forward and win the day. Fort Ironhold still stands! But then, sky go dark. Huge shadow appears. Then, BOOM! Sky splits open, and a giant fireball comes screaming down. Looks like a falling tower, but no, it different. Goliath people start shouting, "It here, the Bloodspire!" We all look up, and as it gets closer, it not a tower at all. It a big, flying squid turned into a boat. A squid airship? Me, Munster, not sure. But it came from the tear in the sky, from somewhere beyond. Cindella pulls out a weird crystal, says it once showed her memories of Goliath people in a big metal box. A "Spacejammer," they call it. It flies through a place called "space." Me did not know there was anything past the sky. And now? Now, we gotta figure out what the hell just fell out of it. --End Session/Report -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S01E107: Steelhawk International – "Siege of Fort Ironhold - The Final Stand Begins" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Mizutani Choumi
1. L9 Druid Cleric | Calla Lili
2. L5 Barbarian | Dax
3. L7Fighter/Warlock | Dover
4. L11 Walock Hadmar
5. L10 Cleric | Mizutani Choumi
6. L11 Artificer/Wizard | Ned
Report done by Mizutani Choumi REPORT START Report date: [-----] Choumi's POV
S01E106: Steelhawk International – "Siegeborn" (Stardust Abyss)
The Fall of Thorrak The party pursued a lead, ignoring the mayor’s summons in the process. With urgency driving them forward, they turned over a captured spy to the city guard. Unable to agree on who could be trusted with such a dangerous informant, they did what any good adventuring party would do: they went to the bar. Florence, the bartender, was the key to their next move. They struck a deal—if the cook, Thorrak, arrived, a runner would fetch them. No names, no details. Drinks followed, but vigilance remained. One member patrolled the area, noting the suspicious locations outside their line of sight. The party decided to investigate. It was in a barrel that they found it—Thorrak’s clothes, abandoned. Realizing they were close to uncovering something far larger, two members searched the back rooms with permission while the others focused on a more sinister problem: slave collars. With their investigation at the bar leading to more questions than answers, the party finally answered the mayor’s summons. But the sight of him was alarming. He was in terrible condition, barely holding himself together. They shared everything they had discovered. His response was clear: Thorrak was the key to fixing everything. The name of Kord, god of the Goliaths, was spoken—a potential path forward, or a warning of what was to come. The plan began to take shape. If they couldn't find Thorrak, they would force him out. The idea of booby-trapping Slatina was discussed, though before setting anything in motion, the party headed to the jail to see the prisoner firsthand. Inside, they met Gladstone, a reluctant cog in a larger machine. He confessed to working for Slatina but wasn’t happy about it. The party pressed him for details, and what they learned was chilling: the collars were activated by the Brotherhood. A snap of the fingers, and—poof—the victim exploded. It was a brutal form of control. One party member slipped Gladstone a hefty pouch of 100 gold, buying his silence—and perhaps, his freedom. With a bold deception, the party staged a daring escape. One member disguised themselves as Slatina, allowing them to be "removed" under the guise of imprisonment. It was all part of a grand spectacle. The execution of a spy was announced. The streets filled with murmurs and whispers. A crowd gathered, some jeering, others watching in silent contemplation. The parade began, the fake prisoner marched through the streets. A member of the party led the chant: "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" Word spread fast. The southwest of the fort buzzed with talk of the execution. Then, amidst the rising tension, Mayor Neotrov of Granite Gard arrived. But so did Thorrak. He stood before the crowd, launching into a speech, his words dripping with conviction, attempting to turn the people to his side. Then—BOOM! The west gate erupted into fire and debris. Explosions tore through the air. Combat erupted. Steel clashed, magic flared, and chaos consumed the fort. Thorrak fought fiercely, but he underestimated the party. As the battle raged, he fell, his grand rebellion dying with him. But victory was not yet in hand. Orin emerged. His presence turned the tide, striking hard against the weary adventurers. Yet, when the dust settled, it was not bloodlust that won—it was exhaustion. Orin surrendered. One by one, weapons were lowered. The rebellion crumbled, their spirit broken. What had nearly been a civil war was now quelled. The party had done it. The fort was secure. But even as the dust settled and the fires burned low, a greater threat loomed on the horizon. The Brotherhood was not finished. Their army was marching on Fort Iron Hold. The battle for survival was far from over. The real war was just beginning.
S01E105: Steelhawk International – "Shadows of Conspiracy" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:samwise
1. L4 rogue Krolk "slipscale" Mossfoot Darkhunter20xx
2. L7 Bard | Mr & Mrs Shlynn Wolfe CG | Spoon
3. L5 Oathbreaker Paladin Rhurac the Mchael MattJFrank
4.L7 Barbarian/Cleric Garacaius T-Hall
5. L4 Fighter/Warlock Dover Brushberry Greatcloak
6. L5 pally samwise the brave Find the halfling!
To: Mr. Frank S. Steelhawk *From: Fort Ironhold* Dear Mr. Frank S. Steelhawk, I am writing to you from Fort Ironhold. It's been utter chaos here sir. I regret to inform you that there was a second assassination attempt, this time on Mayor Stonefist! At the funeral ceremony for the warden no less! Lots of innocent people got hurt- chaos is ensuing the benefit and joy of the brotherhood no doubt. The stage was smoldering and in ruin, debris lay all-about, thick smoke rose from the wreckage, making the eyes sting and smell burning flesh lingered low and filled the nose. Screams of confusion and grief and pain rang over the air. Healers run around trying to heal as many people as fast as they can, but some wouldn’t make it. Krolk and Dover decided to go look for anyone suspicious, meanwhile Garacaius starts piling the bodies together.
S01E104: Steelhawk International – "Fortress of Lies" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Kalmorn
1. L7 Hexblade Warlock | Hadmar
2. L4 Ranger | Elyon
3. L6 Ranger | Erik Bjornson
4.L5 Paladin | Rhurac the Mchael
5. L6 Cleric | Mizutani Choumi
6. L4 artificer| Scylensi Agnostom
7. L7 Ranger | Valdos
The party awakens in the guest barracks to the sound of the morning bell. In the early hours, a surprising event takes place—Hadnmar gets married to Choumi. Shortly after, the breakfast bell rings, and the party heads to the kitchen, where Brogan and Orlock are busy preparing the morning meal. There, they meet Joyce, the cook. Valdos tries to charm Joyce by striking up a conversation about her gear, but despite his efforts, breakfast is soon served, and the group heads out to the North Watch Tower. At the tower, they assess the defenses and discover that three cannons are down and ammunition supplies are dangerously low. They have a conversation with Dorran about the situation at Gladstone, then split into two groups. One group heads to the prison, while the other makes their way to the bar. The prison party speaks with Gladstone and engages in a tense game of poker, losing the first round. As the investigation unfolds, they learn that four key suspects could be involved: Pebbleton, Gladstone, Slatina, and Collin. Meanwhile, at the bar, the other half of the group talks with the barkeep. Their conversation is interrupted by Khan, who bursts in with urgent news—the Steelhawks are needed in the war room. In the war room, Mayor Stonefist informs the party that the Warden has been murdered, throwing the fort into chaos. The tension in the room is palpable. Keshig Guards are dispatched to secure Gladstone at the prison while the party investigates the Warden’s room. There, they find that page three of four from the battle plans is missing. This missing page contains vital details about a trap, while page four reveals the location of the vault. Back at the prison, the party learns about a magical item that can change a person’s appearance. The information is relayed to the team investigating the dead body. During further questioning, Gladstone is pressed about their true motives. A significant clue is found—a footprint outside the window. They also discover that the dagger used to kill the Warden is a **Dagger of Venom**, imbued with necromantic properties. As the investigation progresses, the party speaks to a bee and a horse for more insight. Suddenly, a commotion draws them to the main square, where a large crowd has gathered around a stage. Mayor Stonefist begins addressing the crowd when chaos erupts—an explosion rocks the stage, and figures wearing red scarves appear, their necks strapped with explosive collars. Amid the chaos and devastation, Brogan is caught in the blast and tragically loses his life. The mayor was blown up but one of the Steelhawks revived hi.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- everybody wakes up in guest barracks Hadnmar gets married to Choumi Then the breakfast bell rang Brogan and Orlock is in the Kitchen The group meets Joyce the cook Valdos talks to Joyce and try to wooo her by questioning about her gear breakfast rolls out and we head to the north watch tower down three cannons and ammunition is low or depleting talks to Dorran about Galdstone Half the party goes to the prison The other half of the party goes to the bar Prison Party talk to Galdstone Lost first game of poker Pebbleton, gladstone, slatina, and collin are the suspects that we find out about at the prison Bar Party talk to the barkeep Khon comes in saying that the steelhawks are needed in the war room Mayor Stonefist is in the war room The party finds out the Warden is killed and tension is high Guards come to guard gladstone they were Keshig Guards Go to the Warden's room to investigate the body and room The party finds out that page three of four is missing of the battle plans It's the trap page and we see the vault is on the fourth page Back to the prison Try and talk about Slatina Who has a magic item to change shape of character Describe Slatina to the Dead Body Party Gladstone is questioned about their motives We see a footprint on the outside the window The dagger that was in the Warden was called Dagger of Venom and it has necromancy properties Talks to a bee and horse Sees a big crowd around a stage The Mayor starts speaking An explosion happens within the stage and ppl with red scarfs appears with explosion collars on their necks During the explosion Brogan Dies
S01E103: Steelhawk International – "The Breaking Point" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Kalmorn
1. L7 Artificer/Wizard | Powder
2. L7 Hexblade Warlock | Hadmar
3. L7 Barbarian/Cleric | Garacsius
4. L5 Cleric | Mizutani Choumi
5. L5 fighter | Kharrak | Morcant
6. L4 Ranger | Elyon
7. L5 Rogue | Bombshell the Sleeper
Chaos at the Fortress: A Tale of Explosions, Deception, and…Public Indecency? Our hunt for the saboteurs led us deep into the fortress, tension thick in the air. As we stepped into the courtyard, BOOM—one of the cannons on the southwestern wall exploded, sending flames licking up the stone. We scrambled to rescue survivors and douse the fire, but the true danger had just begun. A shaken cannoneer muttered about a cloaked figure slipping into the tavern. Meanwhile, Hadmar had his own lead—he stormed into the stables, seeking the stablemaster to get a description of the elusive Slatina. But something was off. The quartermaster’s logbook didn’t list Slatina at all…instead, the name Savanah was written for the day the horses were taken. Hadmar barely had time to process this before a shadowy figure crept into the stablemaster’s quarters—clearly searching for the very logbook he had just pocketed. With a flick of the wrist, Hadmar swiped the man's quill before launching into an interrogation. Elsewhere, Elyon, Powder, and Grubs tracked footprints from the explosion, leading them to the rear of the stables. Hadmar, ever sharp-eyed, noticed something suspicious—the supposed stablemaster’s apprentice failed to correct him when he mentioned Rhogar’s name. Pressing the issue, Hadmar called his bluff and attempted an arrest. The man responded with a flash bomb, dodging Hadmar’s spells and vanishing into the chaos. And speaking of chaos, the Steelhawks were doing their part—stoking the fire of tension within the fortress, dividing the people into factions. In the confusion, our saboteur slipped away into the crowd. Frustrated but undeterred, Hadmar turned to another source: Stitch. Through what could only be described as creative persuasion (or, let’s be honest, blackmail), he walked away with 100 gold and some valuable intel. Powder conjured up a series of images of the escaped saboteur, plastering them across the fort in a last-ditch effort to corner the enemy. With leads running dry, the team did what any group of weary adventurers would do—headed to the bar. But even here, the hunt continued. Hadmar, ever suspicious of Gladstone, pressed him again, shoving the saboteur’s image in his face. That’s when things took a turn for the…disturbing. Faced with questions he clearly didn’t want to answer, Gladstone panicked and, in a moment of sheer desperation, dropped his pants and SHAT on the bar floor. Yes. You read that correctly. Hadmar, unfazed by the disgusting display, grabbed the man by the neck and marched him to the bathroom. But something wasn’t adding up—Gladstone’s behavior was too erratic. Deciding enough was enough, Hadmar moved to throw him into the cells. That’s when the fight broke out. Steel met flesh, spells crackled through the air, and when the dust settled—Gladstone was ours. Under relentless questioning, he cracked. They were members of the Mountain Heart Clan being blackmailed by the Brotherhood. Their plan? Weaken the walls. Burn the storehouse. Leave nothing behind. They used fake names—Pebbleton, Granite, Boulderdash, Grounden. And their leader? A mystery woman, the true mastermind behind it all. Hadmar wasted no time. His friend Granith was in danger. With Powder and Grubs at his side, he raced to the storehouse, arriving just in time. Powder’s sharp eyes spotted the explosive device, Hadmar neutralized any magical triggers, and Grubs—oh, Grubs—hefted the dangerous package and bolted. He buried it outside the base just before it detonated. But to be extra sure, Grubs handed Choumi one of his bombs. The flying creature soared into the sky and dropped it on the device—ensuring nothing was left to threaten the fortress. A mission of chaos, deception, and explosions—just another day for the Steelhawks.
S01E102: Steelhawk International – "Web of Shadows" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Kalmorn
1. L6 Ranger | Valdos | DM | Filbert
2. L6 Hexblade | Hadmar | Xanlardis
3. L4 chaplain fighter. Kolmarn Stormsprayer
4. L6 barb/druid/paladin | Funnybot | SDM | David
5. L5 fighter | Kharrak | Morcant
6. L5 ranger | Erik Bjornson | Glow
7. L5 fighter/cleric | Kalmorn Stormsprayer | huggynuttz
You ever have one of those days where you wake up thinking, Yeah, today’s gonna be a good one, and then before breakfast, you’re dragging some poor sod out of a burning building? Yeah. That kind of day. Craterstone Fortress was already a mess when we got here. A hole in the world, ringed by hard stone and harder men, packed full of desperate souls hoping the walls would hold. Mayor Stonefist, a goliath with a voice like an avalanche and a disposition to match, was doing his best to keep things running. He had help—Keshik riders, Stoneguard, and whoever else had staggered in from the wastelands. It was like watching a dozen exhausted hands try to plug a dam made of cracked glass. And then, the Brotherhood happened. The Brotherhood weren’t interested in order. They were interested in making sure nobody had enough food, water, or sleep to fight back when the time came. Poisoning supplies, setting fires, cutting throats in the dark—it was their kind of party, and we were the unwelcome guests trying to kick them out. It started with an explosion. That’s the sort of thing you notice. I don’t know what they hit, but it wasn’t just a distraction—it was a statement. We hauled what survivors we could out of the flames, stitched up the ones who weren’t lucky enough to die on impact, and tried to figure out what in the hells was going on. Valdos, Filbert, Hadmar, Funnybot, Kharrak, Erik, and me—we were in this up to our beards. We managed to track down Gladstone, some poor bastard who might’ve had his fingers in the wrong pie, but nothing turned up. We thought Stitch might’ve been our man, seeing as we found some boot prints near one of the sabotage sites that matched, but—again—nothing. Either the Brotherhood was smarter than we gave them credit for, or they had someone covering their tracks. Meanwhile, the fortress was one spilled drink away from turning into a battlefield. one faction thinks the others were hoarding supplies. then another faction thought yet another faction were letting spies in through the cracks. The refugees were just trying to stay out of the way and not get crushed underfoot. The Brotherhood, no doubt, were watching it all with a grin and a lit match. Then, the bar fight happened. It started the way these things do—with some sharp words, some sharper glares, and a lot of tension looking for an excuse to blow. Nobody died, which was probably the best thing I could say about it. We broke it up before things got too bloody, but the damage was done. Trust here was thinner than desert air, and we were running out of time. We needed answers. We needed Slatina. Slatina was our only solid lead—connected to the Brotherhood, dangerous enough that nobody said her name without checking over their shoulder. If we could find her, we might be able to put a blade in the Brotherhood’s ribs before they bled the fortress dry. That was the plan. Then came the second explosion. I didn’t see what they hit this time. Didn’t matter. The smell of burning wood, of scorched stone and charred flesh, rolled through the air like a funeral hymn. People were screaming. Running. Dying. And that was it. We were out of our depth. This wasn’t a job for a handful of wayfarers with decent weapons and good intentions. We weren’t saboteurs, interrogators, spies. We were swinging in the dark while the Brotherhood cut the legs out from under the fortress. It needs more than us. It needs a whole damn army. I stood there, watching the flames paint the sky in shades of ruin, and I wondered— If the gods had sent me here, had they done it as a test? Or was this their way of showing me how little one man could do against the weight of a world intent on breaking? No answer, of course. There never is. We’d do what we could. We always did. But this fight? This was bigger than us. And if help didn’t come soon— Well. Let’s just say Craterstone Fortress wouldn’t be standing long enough for anyone to remember its name.
S01E102: Steelhawk International – "Web of Shadows" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Funnybot
1. L6 Ranger | Valdos | DM | Filbert
2. L6 Hexblade | Hadmar | Xanlardis
3. L4 chaplain fighter. Kolmarn Stormsprayer
4. L6 barb/druid/paladin | Funnybot | SDM | David
5. L5 fighter | Kharrak | Morcant
6. L5 ranger | Erik Bjornson | Glow
7. L5 fighter/cleric | Kalmorn Stormsprayer | huggynuttz
I am Funnybot. Mission update, to the Tear to assist our allies, the Keshig Riders under Batu and Chief Altan. Goliath on goliath violence is locally known as "Average day at the bar." Sabotage apparently will continue until morale improves, which is worsening due to sabotage. AWKWARD. Goliaths enjoy poking holes in each other. Clarification: with spears and javelins. Almost AWKWARD. Explosion within the fortification walls occurred with insufficient warning for me and click-whirr-pause my best buddies Kolmarn and Kazrak to walk away from it in slow motion looking cool. Dwarves and bears can do effect real-time impressions of beavers in pursuit of decreasing ongoing fire damage. The best graphic representation of the Tear is a large, existential map with "YOU ARE HERE" written everywhere. It is likely that when Funnybot dies, all his clown and clown-adjacent friends will come to the memorial service packed into one car. The bar within the fort is a good place to reminisce with people I have not met before. Clarification: Is that what may have led to the Goliath on Goliath violence and the poking holes in each other phenomena? Possibly AWKWARD. Before, during, and after the brawl in the bar, the Goliaths were blue. That is precisely why Funnybot dabba dee'd and dabba da'd. Hypothesis: An elephant was misplaced in the Fort. Rationale: Goliaths seem happy to beat on each other and poison each other and blow up their own fortifications while a formidable enemy approaches- yet there appears to be no seeing the elephant in the room. Because, while investigating after having put out the first fire within the walls, and saving Goliaths injured and trapped and killed within (which is a good philosophy- a Goliath is a terrible thing to waste), yet another explosion rocked the fort. Conclusion: AWKWARD! Funnybot the Gladheart
S01E101: Steelhawk International – "Shadows Within, Storms Without" (Location: Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Hadmar
1. L7 paladin, Zalir Chaguen
2. L6 barbarian/1 cleric Garacaius
3. L4 chaplain fighter. Kolmarn Stormsprayer
4. L6 Hexblade, Hadmar Zlatar
5. L7 Arfticer/Wizard | Powder
6. L5 cleric mizutani choumi
7. L7 Twilight Druid Goose Test
As I enjoy my meal in the great hall of Fort Ironhold, an unsettling unease spreads. Members of my party begin to convulse violently, vomiting uncontrollably. The hall erupts into chaos as the stench of sickness fills the air. Choumi and Zalir spring into action, using their healing magic to stabilize the afflicted. As the situation worsens, Mayor Stonefist arrives and heads to the kitchens to investigate the source of the poisoning. Choumi identifies the toxin as bloodthorn cactus—slow-acting but deadly. The party heads to the kitchens, where panic reigns among the staff. They focus on Brogan, a new member of the kitchen team who seems strangely nervous. Zalir casts a Zone of Truth. Brogan serves Goose some water and answers the parties questions freely. Suddenly, Goose collapses from the poison, and the party restrains Brogan, who begins to succumb to the same toxin. Choumi paralyzes poor Brogan as they tend to Goose, leaving everyone wondering whether Brogan is involved or just another victim of a larger, darker plot. The party insists that everyone remain in the room, not revealing the reason for their request or mentioning the poison. I suspect that a significant portion of the kitchen staff may have died, though this has yet to be confirmed. After hearing of a suspicious man seen near the storehouse, the party heads there and speaks with Granith, who reveals that the storehouse had been broken into. Among the stolen items was a stash of saffron, and he confirms that all the food in the fort is now poisoned. In response, Goose summons a pack of wolves to help search the fort for any further traces of the poison and saffron, hoping to track down the source of the attack and uncover the full extent of the plot. The tension rises as they prepare to hunt down whatever threat lurks within the fort’s walls. the party explores the fort, an explosion suddenly rocks the structure, causing one of the walls to collapse. Hadmar inspects the wreckage and discovers that the wall had been deliberately weakened—sawed through carefully to ensure its collapse. Among the debris, he finds a carpenter’s set of tools, branded with the symbol of "the Brotherhood," hinting at a deeper conspiracy. Meanwhile, Zalir rushes to help a soldier trapped under a cannon on the wall, using his brute strength to lift the heavy weapon off him and offer aid. The situation grows increasingly dire as the true scale of the threat becomes clearer. Image The wolves lead the party to a chest belonging to Gladstone, which carries the distinct scent of saffron. We bring it to Mayor Stonefist, informing him of its connection to Gladstone. After hearing the news, the mayor sends us to gather supplies, as food is running low, while he continues the investigation into the growing threat. While preparing to leave, we speak with Rhogar, the stable master, who reveals that Slatina took some horses out during the night. We report this new development to the mayor before setting off to hunt down a group of Giant Scorpions, the next challenge in our mission. Upon returning to the fort after hunting the Giant Scorpions, we’re met with an explosive shock as the armory detonates. The blast shakes the entire fort, sending debris flying and throwing everything into chaos. The force of the explosion leaves us stunned, with a new wave of danger unfolding. Who planted the explosives in the armory? What’s the next move of those behind this attack?
S01E100: Steelhawk International: "The Sands of Fate"
Watcher: Kazuma
L7 kazuma kiryuu
L7 Barbain |Zebulon
L6 sorcerer | Arson Fizzlefingers
L7 Hexadin | Sir Jerbeen
L7 Arfticer/Wizard | Powder
L4 ranger | Erik Bjornson
L4 Rogue | Bombshells Grabs the Sleeper (DPS/UTILITY) TiddleyKong
As the Steelhawks recovered from the fierce battles they had dealt with and finally seeing Chief Altan They finally were able to set their sights on returning to the Fort to deal with the eventual attack that was coming up. As they were all heading there, a fierce sandstorm whipped up which started blocking the way of the convoy. Seeing that the sandstorm was tough to deal with they decided to wait it out a bit because they were able to tell that the sandstorm was going to subside in about 2 hours. But then while they were waiting the scouts of the envoy heard thunderous hooves of horses in the sandstorm and a group of what looked like brotherhood members were treading towards the fort. Hearing about this the Steelhawks figured it would be best to let the envoy head to the fort while they try and go intercept the group. So at first the Steelhawks sought it best to attack them head-on until they saw the number's game was better on the enemy convoy since it was about 10 to 6. The Steelhawks then thought it was best if they headed over back to the fort in order to then help get cover from the base just in case anything happened. As they were heading to the fort the enemy group were getting closer to them but before they saw the Steelhawks they decided to trad back and let them go forward before the enemy convoy saw them so they could be pincered between both the fort and the Steelhawks behind them. As the Steelhawks got in position Both Kazuma and Arson let out 2 of their most powerful spells in order to get the jump on them and they successfully obliterated the enemy convoy with absolute ease. But then, what seemed like an easy victory turned into a sudden tragedy! Everything happened so fast they got a call from the sending stone informing them that the people they hit were in fact refugees trying to find shelter in the fort. Unfortunately because they did not wait out the sandstorm completely they were still blinded by the sandstorm and the Steelhawks could not identify friend from foe and tragedy had loomed in Fort Ironhold. With the realization of what happened the Steelhawks immediately went to Mayor Stonefist and told him what happened. Mayor Stonefist was not happy but he understood what happened given that there had been many ambushes from the brotherhood since it was time of war and anything could happen and with the sandstorm they could not properly identify them. The Steelhawks did mention to Mayor Stonefist that maybe there should be a way to identify friend from foe so such tragedy could not happen again maybe something like a secret password or doing something to make signs of identification easier so they have more intel and not act so quick the next time. The Steelhawks promised to try and undo the damage in anyway or form and the Mayor requested them to train a group of Goliath warriors and see how they would fair in battle. The members that we were going to fight who showed great potential were the following members:
- Torik The Ranger
- Vasha the Barbarian
- Zurnac the Barbarian
- Durin the Fighter
- Orin the wizard
S01E99: Steelhawk International: "Echoes of Hooves, Shadows of War"
Watcher: Wolf
L6 Barb/Fighter | Kargus "Lunatic" Rocksplitter (TANK) DM | Ethan
L4 Cleric | Ophidian (HEAL) Kruunch
L4 artificer | Dxxty'eear (????) Find the halfling!
L6 Barbarian | Garacaius (TANK/DPS) T-Hall
L7 wizard | kazuma kiryu (TANK/DPS/SUPPORT) Darkhunter20xx
L5 Warlock | Hadmar (CC) Xanlardis
L4 Rogue | Bombshells Grabs the Sleeper (DPS/UTILITY) TiddleyKong
The Steelhawks ventured deep into the Stardust Abyss on a critical mission to locate Chief Altan and his Keshig Riders and deliver an urgent message from Mayor Stonefist. Guided by Batu’s directions and their own grit, they braved the relentless heat and vast, featureless terrain of the desert, knowing that time was against them. Along the way, the Steelhawks encountered a Brotherhood patrol escorting a supply caravan. Rather than allow the Brotherhood to pass, they boldly engaged, initiating a fierce battle. The Brotherhood warriors fought with brutal efficiency, but the Steelhawks' coordination and resilience carried them through. Exhausted and battered, the Steelhawks emerged victorious, securing the supplies and continuing their search. Finally, after a grueling journey, the Steelhawks found Chief Altan and his Keshig Riders. Delivering Mayor Stonefist’s dire message, they informed Chief Altan of the Brotherhood’s closer-than-expected advance and their heightened state of preparation. Urging them to ride at top speed, the Steelhawks successfully conveyed the importance of reaching Fort Ironhold as quickly as possible. With their mission accomplished, the Steelhawks now prepare for the next leg of their journey, knowing the sands of the Stardust Abyss still hold untold dangers.
S01E98: Steelhawk International: "Blood and Sand" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Hadmar
L6 Druid | Goose Test James Cary
L4 Warlock | Hadmar Zlatar Xanlardis
L4 Cleric | Shlameezle Kruunch /Ra'Zuul/Ophidian
L6 Paladin | Zalir Chaguen Xisle
L7 Shadowmonk/Rogue | Kurt Wagner williebeast
L6 Barb/Fighter | Kargus DM | Ethan
L4 Artificer | Dxxty'eear Neotetrac Find the halfling!
Fury at the Gates As the Steelhawks trudged back from their hard-fought skirmish at the western outpost, a faint rumble of cannon fire split the stillness of the Stardust Abyss. The sound was unmistakable—a harbinger of chaos. Fort Ironhold was under siege. (edited) Realizing the dire situation, the Steelhawks broke into a desperate sprint, urgency gripping their every step. Those with animal familiars sent their companions ahead to scout the battlefield, hoping for clarity amidst the confusion. Kurt, ever the swift and resourceful, teleported ahead, his sharp eyes bolstered by Goose’s monkey familiar. What they saw chilled their resolve to steel. (edited) Fort Ironhold loomed in the distance, engulfed in smoke and chaos. Its stout walls, symbols of safety and defiance, were under relentless assault. Cannon fire roared, and massive ballista bolts screamed through the air, clashing with the onslaught of warbands determined to tear the fort down. Goliath warriors of the Behemoth Brotherhood charged on their war-bred black stallions, their weapons etched with eerie, glowing runes that crackled with arcane power. (edited) From their vantage point, the Steelhawks beheld a grim scene: Fort Ironhold surrounded on all sides, fire and smoke billowing into the sky. The Brotherhood had unleashed their full fury, mounting a final, desperate offensive while the Steelhawks and their allies were scattered across the desert on separate missions. The fort stood vulnerable, its defenders thin and weary. The Steelhawks’ fears solidified into grim reality. While they had been raiding outposts and dealing blows to Brotherhood supply lines, the enemy had gambled everything on an all-out assault. This was no mere skirmish—this was the endgame. As they readied themselves for the battle ahead, warnings from their scouts reached them. Among the Brotherhood forces were sand-dwelling assassins—deadly Goliaths who could melt into the desert itself, striking from below with lethal precision. Their presence added a sinister layer to an already perilous situation. Fort Ironhold was under siege, and the Steelhawks were its last hope. Against the overwhelming might of the Behemoth Brotherhood, they would need every ounce of courage, cunning, and camaraderie to tip the scales of war. The sands of fate churned beneath their boots as they prepared to charge into the fray, their resolve burning brighter than the fires consuming the fort. As the Steelhawks stood on the brink of battle, Kargus, ever bold and brash, charged forward with reckless abandon. His war cry echoed across the desert, a defiant challenge to the Goliaths besieging Fort Ironhold. Yet, the rest of the Steelhawks, tempered by experience, pulled him back from the edge of folly. “There’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity,” one of them muttered, gripping their weapon tightly. “Attacking blindly won’t save the fort.” Their voices rang with urgency, calling for a plan. This time, simplicity prevailed over complexity: "Kill all the Goliaths attacking Fort Ironhold."It was not subtle, but it was elegant, direct, and perfect for a band of warriors whose strength lay in their resolve rather than intricate schemes. Knowing time was their enemy, the Steelhawks abandoned their hard-earned supply wagon on the trail, trading material gain for precious speed. Fueled by passion and desperation, they surged toward the embattled fort, the scorching heat mirroring the fire in their veins. As they approached, a heartening sight greeted them: Batu, their steadfast ally, leading a fierce counterattack on the southeastern flank. His banner rippled defiantly amidst the chaos, a rallying point for the beleaguered defenders. Recognizing the opportunity, the Steelhawks decided to secure his position, knowing that turning the tide on one side of the battlefield could shift the momentum in their favor. With tension crackling in the air, Kargus raised his trusty warhorn and blew a resounding call to arms. The mournful, mighty sound cut through the din of battle, reaching the struggling Kharnarian defenders. It was a signal, a promise of aid, and perhaps even a twist of fate. Karma, divine providence, or sheer luck—it mattered not. Batu the chosen , had come to their aid at the outpost, and now the Steelhawks would return the favor. Batu caught sight of the Steelhawks as they charged into the fray, and with a nod of recognition, he understood. They were here to fight alongside him, to shift the tide of this desperate struggle. The Steelhawks surged forward, pincering the attacking Goliaths in a coordinated strike. Confusion rippled through the enemy ranks as they found themselves ambushed from the rear while the fort’s defenders renewed their assault from the walls. Cannons roared to life, their thunderous blasts echoing across the battlefield. Smoke and fire consumed the air as cannonballs rained down on the enemy. Horses and Goliaths alike were torn asunder, the might of the Brotherhood faltering beneath the Steelhawks’ relentless assault. Panic spread through the enemy lines as their warriors fell in droves, crushed by cannon fire and overwhelmed by the Steelhawks’ unyielding ferocity. The tide of battle was turning, and with every strike, the Steelhawks proved that even against overwhelming odds, bravery and unity could defy fate itself. Fort Ironhold would not fall—not while they stood to defend it The Steelhawks sprang into action, their unity forged in fire and chaos. Kurt, ever the shadow of death, melted into the battlefield’s confusion like a wraith. He struck with precision and speed, his flurry of blows cutting through horses and Goliaths alike. Before the enemy could even react, he vanished into the shadows, reappearing moments later to deal yet another deadly strike—a ghostly assassin amidst the turmoil. Kargus, a beacon of fury and strength, raised his longsword high, his voice a thunderous roar that echoed over the din of battle. With unrelenting rage, he charged into the fray, his ferocity unmatched as he cleaved through enemy ranks. His powerful strikes shielded the younger Steelhawks, granting them the opening to pick off Goliaths on the edges of the battlefield. His battle fervor inspired all who fought beside him, a living force of nature driving the enemy into disarray. Above the chaos, Goose soared, his keen eyes surveying the battlefield. His nature magic twisted the terrain itself into a weapon. Thorned whips lashed out from the ground, ensnaring enemy riders and dragging them from their mounts, some flung into the air with bone-shattering force. His mastery of druidic power summoned massive albino constrictors that slithered through the melee, crushing enemy Goliaths and halting their advance with sheer brute strength. Ophidian the Hungry stood as a pillar of divine might amidst the storm of violence. Channeling the grace of his god into every spell, he invigorated his allies with radiant energy and mended their wounds with divine power. His spiritual weapon—a shining manifestation of holy vengeance—carved through the enemy lines, striking with precision and purpose. His presence was a balm to the Steelhawks and a harbinger of doom to the Brotherhood forces. In the shadows, Kurt continued his deadly dance, slipping in and out of combat with effortless grace. His daggers found their marks with chilling accuracy, every throw a statement of his lethal prowess. (edited) Meanwhile, Dxtr, the oddball of the group, worked his occult magic with his characteristic flair. His homunculus skittered across the battlefield, inexplicably gathering copper coins for lunch, much to the bemusement of his comrades. Despite the peculiarities, Dxxtr’s mystical abilities hindered the enemy Goliaths, turning their strengths into weaknesses at every turn. Every member of the Steelhawks fought with unyielding determination, their diverse skills intertwining like a symphony of chaos and carnage. As the battle raged on, it became clear: the tide was shifting. Victory, once a distant hope, now shimmered on the horizon. The Steelhawks, bound by camaraderie and purpose, pressed forward with unwavering resolve, knowing that on this day, they would etch their names into the annals of legend. The southeast front fell silent, cleared of enemy Goliaths under the decisive leadership of Batu. With a single, commanding order, he rallied his warriors and turned their attention to the north, where the battle raged on. Watching him in action—a leader fearless and resolute—inspired the Steelhawks to follow. Shoulder to shoulder, they marched alongside Batu’s forces, ready to bring the fight to the northeast. But the northeastern front proved far more perilous. Enemy Goliaths swarmed in greater numbers than anticipated, their ranks bolstered by the cunning tactics of the Behemoth Brotherhood. Cannons and ballistae from Fort Ironhold rained death upon the battlefield, but the Brotherhood had their own answer: long-range sharpshooters. The enemy sought to outflank the Steelhawks, mirroring their own tactics to pincer them from all sides. Yet, they underestimated the Steelhawks. Among them was Zalir Chaguen, a silver dragonborn clad in gleaming full plate, his draconic fury ignited by the heat of battle. Charging on horseback, Zalir broke through the line of enemy archers, his raw power shaking the Behemoth Brotherhood to its core. His presence on the battlefield was like a thunderstorm—impossible to ignore and devastating to all in his path. Despite this, the Brotherhood rallied, their leaders steeling their troops for a final push. Their determination to bring down the Steelhawkswas palpable. But Kurt, ever the tactician, scanned the battlefield with sharp eyes. His gaze locked on the ballistae atop the fort, where several Goliath cannoneers had fallen. He vanished in an instant, reappearing atop the parapets. With practiced hands, Kurt manned one of the massive ballistae, turning its deadly power on the Brotherhood’s sharpshooters below. Arrows may have flown fast, but cannon fire struck like the hammer of a god. The tide began to shift. “A grain of sand can tip the scale,” the Steelhawks reminded themselves. And yet, the Behemoth Brotherhood was not finished. From afar, a monstrous Goliath emerged, mounted on a colossal warhorse and wielding a glowing, pulsating warhammer. His aura of command radiated authority and power—a true general among the Brotherhood’s ranks. His charge toward Fort Ironhold was thunderous, his presence enough to make even the most seasoned warriors falter. Batu and the Steelhawks braced for impact, rallying their forces as the Brotherhood leader bore down upon them. The Brotherhood, ever cunning, sought to gain the upper hand by dismounting several Steelhawks, aiming to exploit their newfound speed and mobility. Yet, even amidst the chaos, Kargus stood tall. Despite his small stature, he roared with excitement, his voice defiant against the storm of enemy blows. Memories of his younger, cowardly self flashed through his mind—a version of him that would have turned and fled. But not today. This battle was greater than him, and his comrades fought valiantly at his side. He lifted his head high, ready to face the advancing general. As the towering figure of the Brotherhood general closed in, Kargus squared his shoulders, bracing for the full force of the onslaught. Just then, a calm yet resolute voice cut through the chaos beside him. “Need a hand?” It was Zalir Chaguen, bloodied but unbowed, his armor battered yet unbroken. The dragonborn paladin stepped up beside Kargus, his draconic presence unwavering. Together, they stood as brothers in arms, ready to face the might of the advancing general. The battlefield burned with chaos, but in that moment, their unity burned brighter. The Steelhawks would stand or fall together, and this war would remember their names. Granit, the mighty general of the Behemoth Brotherhood, towered before Zalir and Kargus, his presence radiating power and authority. The battlefield seemed to quiet around them, the chaos dimming as the three warriors clashed in a battle for the ages. Kargusrelentless and unyielding, barred Granit’s escape with a flurry of longsword strikes, his every swing a testament to his resolve. Beside him, Zalir stood as a bastion of faith, his divine strength shielding them both from despair, even as the Brotherhood’s champion unleashed his unrelenting fury. For a moment, amidst the clashing steel and roars of combat, a fleeting thought passed through their minds. Perhaps in another life, under different banners, they could have recognized Granit not as an enemy, but as a fellow champion—a warrior driven by his own unwavering cause. But there was no time for such musings. Batu, the chosen leader of his people, saw the dire straits his comrades faced. Though battered and wounded, he took a moment to steady himself, drawing upon his inner strength and focus. With renewed resolve, he charged into the fray, his presence reinvigorating the Steelhawks as they pressed on against Granit’s onslaught. Kargus, ever enthralled by the sight of Granit’s lightning-infused warhammer, seemed to grow more energized with every strike. His excitement turned to a fierce determination, his rage a blazing inferno that could not be extinguished. Meanwhile, Zalir, embodying courage itself, met every strike with unwavering bravery, his draconic fury bolstering his allies’ spirits. The battle raged on, each moment an eternity, until the tide began to shift. Kurt, perched atop the fort’s parapets, unleashed a storm of ballista fire with deadly precision, raining devastation upon the enemy. Dxtr, with his unorthodox spellslinging and peculiar ingenuity, disrupted Granit’s momentum, turning the tide of magic against the Brotherhood general. Kargus’s relentless fury, Zalir’s stalwart bravery, and Batu’s strategic leadership drove their blades and resolve ever forward. Duck’s arcane mastery and Ophidian’s divine healing provided the critical support that kept the Steelhawks standing. Finally, with every ounce of strength and skill they could muster, the Steelhawks brought the titan of the Behemoth Brotherhood to his knees. Granit’s warhammer fell silent, its crackling lightning extinguished. The Steelhawks, battered but triumphant, stood victorious over the Brotherhood’s champion, their unity and determination proving unbreakable. This battle, like their names, would be etched into the sands of the Stardust Abyss—a testament to their indomitable spirit and the power of camaraderie. -End of report-
S01E98: Steelhawk International: "Blood and Sand" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Hadmar
L6 Druid | Goose Test James Cary
L4 Warlock | Hadmar Zlatar Xanlardis
L4 Cleric | Shlameezle Kruunch /Ra'Zuul/Ophidian
L6 Paladin | Zalir Chaguen Xisle
L7 Shadowmonk/Rogue | Kurt Wagner williebeast
L6 Barb/Fighter | Kargus DM | Ethan
L4 Artificer | Dxxty'eear Neotetrac Find the halfling!
Are expedition was headed up by are leader Goose Test. Followed by Kargus, Shameezle, Zalir Chaguen, Kurt Wagnr, Dxxty’eer Neotetrac and thyself Hadmar Zlatar. He led us through wastelands that is the Lower Tear. From a recent attack on a Behemoth Brotherhood (Henceforth referred to as “The Brotherhood”) encampment, towards Fort Ironhold within the Stardust Abyss. To recover from the recent encounter. The fools we where expecting anything to go as planned. A respite from battle would never truly come. At least not while we resided in this wretched abyss of a land. As we drew closer to the Fortress, we heard the blasts of cannons and screams of battle. Goose decided the best course of action was to scout ahead and sent his flying monkey Jimmy Jong along with Kurt Wagnr ahead to gather information. The report was grim, the Fortress was surrounded on all four sides by the Goliath scourge. The expedition party then decided the best course of action was to charge in from the south-east. As our group began to charge, we encountered Batu engaged with The Brotherhood. Batu seemed to effortlessly strike down the first of the Goliaths, while I myself struggled to even strike at our foes, such was their battle prowess. Dxxty’eer filled their lines with dagger after dagger, her supply of them seemed endless. After a hard fought and gritty battle, we managed to clear the southeastern face of the fortress from the enemy and moved towards the north. (edited) As we approached the north to face their battle lines a force of archers approached from are rear raining fire down on a ballista, immediately slaying its operator. Soon after Kurt moved to intercept the archers and after thinning their numbers dashed towards the fortress walls and began manning one of the ballistae. There he fired away wildly turning one of foes into a streak of blood and gore just mere feet away. While I consider the actions reckless and dangerous to his fellow combatants, his skills and training overcame my wariness, swiftly proving me wrong. Kargus bravely charged into the enemy lines of the north while the rest of the group dealt with the archers on his own and held them until the rest of us were able to assist, while he looked worse for wear his attitude screamed, he only wanted a greater and more challenging fight. Truly bloodlust like none I have seen before exists in this one. And while I doubt, he will ever admit it Shalameezle’s healing and Zalir’s swift charge to support him, seemed to be the only thing leaving him on his feet. As the Brotherhood’s lines began to thin, and our victory seemed imminent. There he appeared, Granit, a massive towering beast even for the ranks of the goliaths, he seemed to nearly a true giant in stature. With the mere swing of his hammer the ground began to shake and tremor. Knocking me off-balance and causing me to faceplant into back of my steed. As we surrounded this monstrosity of a man, he seemed to shrug off are blows. Only for the sudden and strange appearance of what I can only call a flying oven to strike the beast down. As Granit fell the enemy lines broke and scattered. We now sit in the dilapidated husk of Fort Ironhold. As we repair the walls and recover from the hard-fought battle. We plan our next course and action. All the while I feel there is nothing more than a vain hope that they do not return before the repairs can be done. Signed Hadmar Zlatar, Watcher of the Steelhawks
S01E97: Steelhawk International: "The Tide of War P2" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Solrac
1) L6 paladin, Zalir Chaguen Xisle
2) L6 Monk/Cleric Jin Sakai Solrac Doofquixote
3) L4 sorlock Shadow Vesten
4) L7 bardock Mensius
5) L7 shadowmonk Rogue Kurt wagner williebeast
6) L7 Hexblade Razuul Kruunch / Ra'Zuul
"After what felt like hours of planning we secure the western outpost of the Brotherhood. But at a great cost. After what felt like hours of planning we came up with the same plan as before, only this time we were well prepared. We casted Silence on a corner of the outpost, and ambushed the patrols one by one making sure they could not use their whistles, The enemy were none the wiser and we still had the element of surprise. After eliminating the patrols, we planted our barrel of gunpowder and detonated, leaving the back wall exposed. Kurt and I used our abilities to stall the female mage, while the others took out the one main force, the Glaive user try to go after the casters Master Pinky & The Shadow, but was not successful. Victory was almost ours, or so we thought. The enemy had Ryders hidden in the sand and almost caught us by surprise. Thank fully Zalir and Ra'Zhuul managed to hold them off. However, me and Kurt were not so lucky. The Commander ambushed Kurt and I was taken down in a fight against the Glaive user, if not for Master Pinky I would be dead. After an arduous battle that lasted until Morn, we managed to kill the enemy Commander. Sadly, Kurt did not survive. His immediate relatives will be informed and his belongings will be sent to based. In spite of my profession, I do not enjoy killing. I have taken many lives as shinobi and one those that can be consider sacrilege... But t matters not. After killing their Commander, the rest who yet live surrendered. We took them into custody and we took the supplies. We then made our way to the Fort only to discover it is under siege. So it seems the fighting is not over yet. Sigh, Jin Sakai.---
S01E96: Steelhawk International: "The Tide of War" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Solrac
1) L7 shadowmonk Rogue Kurt wagner williebeast
2) L6 paladin, Zalir Chaguen Xisle
3) L6 Monk/Cleric Jin Sakai Solrac Doofquixote
4) L4 sorlock Shadow Vesten
5) L7 Pinky Mensiu
6) L7 Hexblade Razuul Kruunch / Ra'Zuul
The Stardust Abyss teeter on chaos’s edge. Behemoth Brotherhood close in, sharpening their claws for war. Their forces eye Fort Ironhold like wolves circling prey. Steelhawks—us—return from dangerous raid, our packs full of supplies and heads full of troubling news. Kragath Stormcleaver, the Brotherhood’s nasty warlord, is the real problem. Him and that huge greataxe of his? Stuff of legends—bad legends. Warden Kragan scramble for solutions, bold ones. He talk of more raids, hitting Brotherhood where it hurt, but truth is? We outnumbered, outgunned, and plain out of luck. Then Batu and his Keshig Riders show up. Hope? Maybe. But still, we walking on thin ice. Goliaths scattered, their kin in chains. Khanarions—those folks with the big hats—acting like storm brewing ain’t their problem. Then, these weird Goliath artifacts pop up, all celestial-like, tied to the Brotherhood. Me think, “Great, now we got magic mystery in middle of war.” Sands gonna run red, and only thing to ask is: we gonna sink or swim?
Grumbletick’s Report
Arrival at Fort Ironhold We make it to Fort Ironhold. Big place, good name, but kind of dumb. No iron anywhere! Just wood coated in this shiny resin stuff. Probably tough to burn, but me bet me still make it go BOOM! Hehehe. Then me see it—catapults! Big, beautiful siege weapons! But wait—cannons! Me must see cannons up close! But no, stupid Mayor Stonefist call us right away. Inside the fort, they ask us how raid went. We dump all the loot on the table: food, water, adamantine and mithral swords, some armor, and, most interestingly, a box of glowing green gems. Everyone seem pleased, clapping and cheering. Stonefist and his crew ask for details, so we spill it all: Map was good. We hit Brotherhood camp. Fight go bad at first, but Batu and his horsey boys show up. Together, we smash them, take supplies, and run home. Stonefist nod, but then he drop big news: Brotherhood spy report say they prepping invasion. They close—real close. Problem is, Fort Ironhold stretched thin. We not ready for full war. Warden Kragan suggest bold move—strike four Brotherhood outposts at same time. Risky plan, leave fort nearly defenseless. Me like bold plans, but me tell them, “Keep quiet! Room full of people, anyone could be spy!” Presten Causes Trouble Presten Jr, the new guy, not help. He get mouthy with Warden, asking dumb questions, not understanding the big picture. Warden look like he about to smash Presten into paste. Me, Calla, and others step in, smooth things over. Presten lucky. Warden big, scary, and got no patience for nonsense. The Plan So, the plan come together: Four teams hit Brotherhood outposts all at once. We take supplies, smash their stuff, and make them bleed. Fort stays weak while we do this, so we gotta make it quick. Our team get sent west, couple miles to an outpost. Calla mention it got guards with bows and a leader named "General."(She wrong his name different learn later) Plan form fast: blow hole in wall far side, make distraction. Guards run to check, leaving main entrance open for us to sneak in. Risky but solid. Before bed, me stop by store room. Borrow some black powder kegs—me need BOOM! for plan. Hehehe. Journey to the Outpost Next day, we set off. Me ride Garacaius, who ride horse. Centaur on horse! Weird sight, but me love it. Halfway there, Sherbert cast sneaky spell, make us quiet. Then he pull out spyglass, spotting two Brotherhood wagons coming our way. Wagons full of goodies and guards. Perfect! Supplies we not have to steal later. The Ambush We set up trap. Me lay hunting traps to catch horses. Plan simple: hit drivers, stop wagons, loot stuff. Calla yell, “Take prisoners!” but me musket not great for that. Big holes happen when me shoot. One horse dodge trap. Driver try run, but Sherbert and Jin chase him down. Then, big hammer guy step out the back of wagon. Me know big guys usually dumb, but this one do weird stuff—he stun people near him. Calla freeze like statue (she kind of bird-brained anyway). Big guy smash Sherbert hard. Me keep shooting, putting holes in him. Tough guy, but we wear him down. The Trap Revealed After fight, we check wagons. First wagon? Empty. Second wagon? Kazuma check it, and it KABOOM! Massive explosion. Beautiful, but dangerous. Kazuma nearly die, but Sherbert heal him up. Then it hit us—this wasn’t just a random supply wagon. It was bait. Brotherhood smart, not dumb like me thought. They set trap because we been hitting their wagons for months, taking their stuff. They figure we couldn’t resist, and they were right. Me gotta admit—good plan. Sneaky, like me. But now, we gotta be extra careful. Brotherhood know we watching them. Interrogation Time We catch one guard alive, tie him up, and make him talk. Tough guy, but me and team “convince” him to spill: 3 scouts outside outpost. 5 in yard, 3 pretending to be workers but actually fighters. Big leader named "Bouldenstone." These outposts? Part of big war prep. Brotherhood building places like this to launch attacks when time comes. Presten then do something stupid—again. He slice prisoner’s throat without warning. Me not like that. Dangerous guy, not team player. Me make note to keep eyes on him. The Road Ahead Afterward, we rest, tweak plans, and prepare for outpost attack. Me feel that old excitement bubbling up—soon, there will be BOOM!S01E95: Steelhawk International: "The Sands of Fate" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Calla
1) L6 Hexblade Ra'Zuul Kruunch / Ra'Zuul
2) L7 Sorlock - Manipulare vYzion
3) L7 monk Rogue Kurt wagner williebeast
4) L7 artizard, wizz backup Reekah | Wizz
5) L4 Monk/Cleric Jin Sakai Solrac Doofquixote
6) L7 Druid/cleric Calla Lili (Healer) DM | Ethan
The Steelhawks, weary from their previous battles, pressed onward across the unforgiving desert of the Stardust Abyss. Braving relentless heat and dangerous terrain, they pushed forward, knowing the Brotherhood’s forces were growing increasingly aware of their tactics. The Stardust Abyss tested their endurance at every turn, with the blazing sun bearing down on them and their horse struggling to maintain pace. Tensions ran high as every shadow on the horizon seemed a potential threat. During their journey, the Steelhawks encountered a lone Brotherhood wagon seemingly heading toward **Fort Ironhold**. Sensing an opportunity to strike, they launched a carefully planned ambush. However, the situation quickly escalated when two Brotherhood warriors emerged from the wagon, leading to a brutal battle. Despite their fatigue, the Steelhawks dispatched their foes, but their victory was short-lived. Upon inspecting the wagon, they discovered a hidden and deadly secret—a massive bomb designed to detonate upon tampering. The ensuing explosion was devastating, injuring members of the party and revealing the Brotherhood’s growing cunning and willingness to fight dirty. As the Steelhawks resumed their journey to Fort Ironhold, they reflected on the dangers they faced. The ambush underscored how the Brotherhood had begun setting traps to counteract their raids, showing the enemy was no longer underestimating them. Despite the challenges, the Steelhawks recovered valuable supplies and weapons from the wagon, providing much-needed resources for Fort Ironhold’s defenders. However, as they neared the fort, smoke and noise on the horizon hinted at the chaos awaiting them. The Brotherhood’s main force was mobilizing, and Fort Ironhold stood on the brink of war. Exhausted and battle-worn, the Steelhawks braced themselves, knowing their next decisions could shape the fate of the Stardust Abyss.
S01E94: Steelhawk International: "Chains of the Abyss" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Wolf
L6 Rogue| Saugis Saugis/Scotty
L4 Sorcerer| Presston Vesten
L4 Rogue| Aban Boulderbrew
L5 Barbian| Delg Stonewill T-Hall
L5 Druid| Goose Test James Cary James Cary
L7 Sorcerer/Warlock | Manipulare Incerta vYzion
The Steelhawks, torn between duty and compassion, grappled with the weight of an impossible decision. After hours of debate and careful reconnaissance of the Behemoth Brotherhood war camp, they reached a somber conclusion: rescuing the enslaved prisoners from Craterstone and Graniteguard was beyond their means. The camp was too fortified, the Brotherhood too numerous. To attempt a rescue would mean almost certain death and the failure of their mission to warn Fort Ironhold. Reluctantly, they turned their backs on the prisoners, their resolve tempered by the harsh reality of their situation. The knowledge of the lives left behind weighed heavily as they made their way back toward Fort Ironhold to deliver the critical intelligence they had gathered. The Brotherhood's war machine was mobilizing, and time was running out. On the journey back, the Steelhawks' fears were realized. Hiding among the dunes, they witnessed two large squads of Behemoth warriors marching from the war camp toward Fort Ironhold. The column was an intimidating display of power—rows of disciplined soldiers flanked by nine horseback riders, their armor glinting in the sun. At the center of the formation, a massive Goliath loomed atop a fearsome chariot, his commanding presence a clear sign of the Brotherhood's intent to crush Fort Ironhold. The Steelhawks remained hidden, their eyes fixed on the ominous procession. They knew this was only the beginning of the storm that was about to break. Their journey back to Fort Ironhold now carries even greater urgency. The Brotherhood is on the move, and the battle for the future of the Stardust Abyss draws ever closer.
S01E93: Steelhawk International – "Through Fire and Fury" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Cheesy
1) L7 ranger Ian hoff Solrac (ambassador SDM | David )
2) L5 Cheesy the Grater, Spellcaster Mudkip
3) L7 Artificer/Wizard Powder Stoney
4) L4 Warlock Ra'Zuul Kruunch / Ra'Zuul
5) L7 Sorlock | Manipulare vYzion
6) L5 paladin, Zalir Chaguin Xisle
The Steelhawks embarked on a perilous journey through the Stardust Abyss, braving the elements and countless dangers to uncover the Behemoth Brotherhood's plans. After their daring escape from the forge, the party managed to avoid the watchful eyes of sharpshooters stationed along the fort’s outer walls. Slipping into the vast desert undetected, they quickly found themselves battling an unforgiving sandstorm. Swirling dust devils and stifling winds bore down on them, forcing the group to press onward despite the grueling conditions. Their resilience was soon tested when a towering **obsidian titan elemental** erupted from the ground, blocking their path. The massive creature, impervious to many low-level spells, forced the Steelhawks into a grueling battle. As the fight intensified, the titan summoned an **earth elemental**, escalating the danger. Demonstrating incredible teamwork and tactical acumen, the party managed to bring down the titan before retreating from the earth elemental to conserve their dwindling resources. The encounter left them battered but alive, their determination unshaken. As they pushed deeper into the desert, the Steelhawks spotted a group of mounted riders on the horizon. Opting for caution, they evaded detection, slipping through the shifting sands without confrontation. This decision proved wise, as further exploration brought them to a monumental discovery—a sprawling Goliath war camp nestled in the dunes. Using an invisible **imp familiar** for reconnaissance, the party scouted the camp, uncovering critical information. They estimated the camp’s strength at approximately **1,000 soldiers** and observed prisoners being held within its boundaries. Among the captives, they identified a figure who could be none other than **Kragath Stormcleaver**, a key leader of the Brotherhood. Armed with this vital intel, the Steelhawks dispatched a familiar messenger to relay their findings to **Mayor Stonefist** at Fort Ironhold. As the session concluded, the group awaited a response, knowing that their actions could shape the course of the looming conflict. With their success in gathering intelligence and surviving the Abyss’s many dangers, the Steelhawks stand ready for the next chapter of their perilous mission. The stage is set for bold decisions, daring rescues, and the unrelenting fury of war.
S01E92: Steelhawk International: "Wheels of War" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Muenster
1) L8 Moondruid Mira Adaptina Find the halfling!
2) L10 Barbarian/rogue Munster aDM iFAIL
3) L11 Wizard Elara DM | Ethan
4) L11 Cleric Andronicus SDM | David)
5) L8 ClericSorcerer Winston Mensius
6) L9 Champion/Totem fibar Zaraya SDM | Coach
"Okay, we start. Group at big old Fort Obsidian. Everyone talk so much. Many plans, too many plans. Plan this, plan that. No act. Very funny, very stupid. Finally, we check map from wagons. Elara use magic to read it. Turns out, is map of Fort and nearby stuff. One place on map is Fort Ironhold. We know from before that Craterstone people hiding there. Goliaths want attack Ironhold, finish them off. Bad news for them. We search wagons. First wagon? Full of weapons—adamantine ones! LOTS. Whole wagon packed. Second wagon? Random junk... but also jars. Mira say jars full of stuff that go BOOM. Me like boom stuff. Big fun idea: drop jars from high up, make fireworks on bad Goliaths. But Andronicus say, ‘No, no, go quiet first.’ Mira do weird thing. She look like Goliath now. Very strange but smart. Three real Goliaths with us wear uniforms, act like delivery drivers. They drive carts into Fort. Rest of us? Invisible. Sneaky like cheese thief! Me climb crater wall, get high ground. Andronicus turn bat, fly around, spy on stuff. Mira blend in, go mess hall, meet big boss man Bouldenstone Kragath Stormcleaver. (Me think, long name, stupid guy.) Andronicus learn important thing. Underground forges running again. They make more weapons for war. Big problem for good Goliaths and Kanarians (horse people). Plan change: go mine, take boom jars, and make big KA-BOOM. Stop weapons, save day. We sneak into big tent. All invisible except Mira—she act like boss man. Winston stay outside, watch. We go into mine. Run into guards. Mira tell them, ‘Go away!’ They leave. Smart guards. We go deeper. More guards. Mira do her thing again. Then we run into ranger people—uh oh. Almost caught. But no! We pass. At forge, me see secret tunnel. Tunnel not in report! Me explore. It second exit to mine. Useful! Me tell party. They make boom jar plans around furnaces. Me want to check office. BUT THEN... big guy come out. Very big. Me think, ‘Big guy, big stupid.’ Turn out, he is master smith. Big problem. Mira act like boss, but master smith know she not. He spit at her face. RUDE. Mira slap him back! Big slap! Now... BIG FIGHT TIME!" -End Report by Muenster (Still Eating Cheese While Writing This)
S01E92: Steelhawk International: "Wheels of War" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Andronicus
1) L8 Moondruid Mira Adaptina Find the halfling!
2) L10 Barbarian/rogue Munster aDM iFAIL
3) L11 Wizard Elara DM | Ethan
4) L11 Cleric Andronicus SDM | David)
5) L8 ClericSorcerer Winston Mensius
6) L9 Champion/Totem fibar Zaraya SDM | Coach
Yarrrr! We found ourselves sou'east of Fort Ironhold, scoutin' in the lower Tear. Dangerous business, that, but we had Tom and Jerry; recently freed Goliaths whose families are being oppressed by the Behemoth Brotherhood. After some planning in fits and starts, I cast the auguries, communing with my Lord Donblas, the Justice Bringer, because some folk around here are apparently in desperate need of some justice! We then planned to infiltrate Fort Obsidian, a Behemoth Brotherhood stronghold, to gain intel and maybe sabotage their active forge producing weapons for a looming assault on our allied forces at Fort Ironhold. The operation required cunning, subterfuge, and, ultimately, direct confrontation. Team Members: Mira Adaptina: Shapeshifter extraordinaire, brimming with boldness. Munster: Barbarian with rogue instincts; telepathic communication backbone. Elara, Mistress of magical misdirection. Fibar Zaray: Fighter/barbarian I don't know well yet, and Winston, stealthy and steadfast ranger. The mission began with our acquisition of a top-secret map detailing the location and operational details of Fort Obsidian. The forge was confirmed active, churning out weapons at a pace that posed an immediate threat to Fort Ironhold. We agreed the forge had to be neutralized before the Behemoth Brotherhood could tip the balance of power in the region. Utilizing our Goliath allies, Tom and Jerry, we planned an infiltration strategy that balanced deception with direct action: yarrr, we knew we'd not be able to take on the entire fort, but we were determined to do our best. Before advancing, I consulted the divine portents by casting shadows upon a nearby dune, seeking Lord Donblas’ guidance. The shadows foretold a tenuous path, fraught with opportunity and danger—a sign we were on the right track. Elara cloaked the team in invisibility. Mira took on the form of a Goliath, melding seamlessly into the enemy ranks with her customary bravado. Hidden in Tom and Jerry’s supply wagons, we gained entry to Fort Obsidian. Through Elara’s wards and Munster’s telepathic link, we remained coordinated, cautious, and undetected as we scouted the stronghold. The Fort was simple, but secure. Seems they have some entrances screened only by illusion- major ones, by how they prepped. Seems like in a pinch someone ought to be able to blow it out with a well-timed dispel magic, but it's a subtle kind of defense; I approve. Anyway, surveillance revealed the Brotherhood’s increased production capabilities were back on-line, which could not be left unchecked. We resolved to sabotage the forge using alchemical explosives recovered from a prior mission. Guided by shadow and silence, we reached the forge. Mira brazenly distracted the guards, adopting the persona of a commanding officer, while the rest of us slipped into the forge’s depths. The air was thick with heat and smoke, the metallic clang of hammers reverberating ominously. It was here that subtlety betrayed us, or perhaps our luck was doomed to turn. Anyway, Mira’s fiery temper led us down another path entirely at that point. As we prepared the explosives, the Forge Boss—a towering brute of a Goliath—confronted us. His suspicions had outpaced Mira’s charisma, and his presence shattered our veneer of stealth. Before I could invoke the shadows to pacify the situation, Mira took a more...direct approach, delivering a thunderous backhand across his face. Stealth was abandoned. Can't wait to see what happens next, yarrrr! Andronicus Whistleboot
S01E91 – Paths of Peril (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Mira Adaptina
1) Vesten (Ranger, L6)
2) Atraeus Galaxian (Vengeance Paladin, L5)
3) Shadow (Rogue/Wizard, L6)
4) Tuls Lana (Rogue, L4)
5) Pinky (Bard/Warlock, L5)
6) Logman (Fighter, L4)
Mission Overview The party continued their travels in the Stardust Abyss, working under Steelhawk International. Their mission was to investigate the Brotherhood’s activities at Fort Obsidian, disrupt their war preparations, and locate their secret encampment near Fort Obsidian. After interrogating the captives—Tom and Jerry—and gathering intel, and traveling towards the hidden encampment, the group staged an ambush on Brotherhood supply wagons transporting magical materials. The Setup We arrived at Craterstone to find it leveled—reduced to rubble by elementalists who had used earthquake spells. Interrogating two Brotherhood captives, Tom and Jerry, gave us intel about Fort Obsidian, their siege preparations, and their leader, Kragath Stormcleaver. Kragath’s reputation as a fiery orator and wielder of an adamantine greataxe, Stormcleaver, forged from a meteor made him a serious threat. His goliath coalition had turned ancestral hatred of the horse-people into full-blown war plans. The Brotherhood had enslaved clans, slapped magical glyph collars on them, and was cranking out siege weapons and armor for those willing to fight for them. The captives also spilled details about cracks in Fort Obsidian’s defenses, secret forges, and that the collars require command words or actions for activation (such as snapping). They claimed their families were at the Brotherhood camp, adding more stakes to the mission. The Journey The day started overcast and scorching. The party trekked through rough terrain, dodging dangers until the earth beneath us rumbled. An earthen creature erupted from the ground. They were able to destroy it without any casualties. The Ambush During the night, Atraeus spotted Brotherhood wagons approaching, which was eventually learned to be two wagons, plated horses, and guards. He decided on a risky plan, using Tom and Jerry as bait to sell the idea that he was their prisoner. Meanwhile, the party prepared themselves for striking when combat broke out. Atraeus handed over his scimitar and took a staged beating to make it believable. Tom and Jerry asked for one of the wagons to escort Atraeus. The Brotherhood wagon crew hesitated but prepared to hand over a wagon. That’s when the party struck. Battle Highlights:
- Atraeus Fey Stepped onto the wagon, tried to shove the driver off, and rammed the wagon into a Brotherhood fighter, starting the encounter.
- Vesten cast Spike Growth to lock down the battlefield, preventing an easy escape from the Brotherhood.
- Tuls Lana struck with massive damage from precise arrows multiple times.
- The Brotherhood’s magical reinforcements proved tricky, throwing out Hold Person and paralyzing party members or making them grovel with commanding words.
- When the Brotherhood started retreating, Atraeus Misty Stepped onto their horse, reclaimed the wagon or knocked them off their steed, and cut off their escape.
- Shadow Sleep-spelled a caster as they were surrendering, but Tuls Lana killed them due to not hearing that they surrendered.
S01E90: Steelhawk International: Tears of Craterstone (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Mira Adaptina
1) L7 Rogue Naelen Shadowstrike
2) L7 Moondruid Mira Adaptina
3) L7 Rune Knight Duck Test
4) L4 Scribe Wizard Wiz
5) L5 Ranger Saur
6) L5 Ranger Vesten
Auxiliary Report for loot-split “See? I heard it again!” Tom grunted noncommittally. clink clink clink “I’m telling you, Tom, they didn’t search that covered wagon over there. My daddy was one of the best bank managers of Craterstone and I know the sounds of coins.” “Jerry, we searched that wagon. Guaranteed.” Tom frowned, eyes not wavering from the pit they were guarding. “Besides, it's not our job to go galumphing off to look for treasure.” “But the wagon is right there–LOOK! I just saw something shiny flash inside.” Tom rubbed his temple and sighed. “The Brotherhood wants us to guard the prisoners. We are going to guard the prisoners. Besides, I didn’t even hear anything.” clink clink clink Jerry’s eye twitched imperceptibly. “Well, I’m gonna take a leak. Don’t look over here.” “Mhm. And I’ll be doing our jobs, Jerry.” Jerry lumbered over to the run down wagon. The scraps of the fabric roof flapped morosely in the wind, almost as if it knew the wagon’s owners were working in the mine or worse, their head’s had exploded in the raid a few days ago. Jerry took a quick peek back at Tom. “They barely pay us anything”, he muttered, “but Tom’s right. I should get back to work…” As he looked back longingly at the wagon, he found himself walking inside, almost as if an invisible hand had pushed him in. “They still don’t pay me enough.” “Gods damn slacker,” Tom muttered to himself. Jerry had been picked up last week in Craterstone in the recruitment drive. Not that he really had a choice. Either betray his town and get a 2000 gold bonus or get pulverized with the rest of Craterstone. It wasn’t hard to guess what Jerry chose. Suddenly, Tom felt something hit his head. “Ow what–?” More small objects hit him. “Jerry, if you’re standing there with your junk out–” Jerry was standing there with his hand jingling a bag of gold at the time with the biggest, shit-eating grin on his face. He threw another coin at Tom, pointed to the wagon, and skipped–skipped, like a little girl–back to the wagon. “Oh you little–” Tom trudged after Jerry. He’d never hear the end of this. Not only that, now Tom needed to piss too. Jerry searched the wagon. No gold. Just rusted pots and pans, some crushed trinkets and a child’s doll with only one arm. There was a crunching of gravel outside. Tom was probably coming to check on him, and Jerry had no excuses. “Hey Tom, I can expl–” There was a bunny on the floor. A black bunny with the softest fur he had ever seen. It hopped up to Jerry’s leg. “Well aren’t you the sweetest thing… Do you know where the gold is?” The bunny bit him on the leg and lightning flashed from its fur. Shadows in the wagon suddenly morphed into heavily armed crossbowmen. Bolts embedded themselves into Jerry’s armor as he tripped out of the wagon. A shadow blocked the sun. The biggest fairy he had ever seen towered above him. “Night night”, was the last thing Jerry heard before everything went black. (edited) Tom swiped at Jerry. “Gimme the pouch!” He was tired of this buffoon dangling his bag of gold everywhere, but he couldn’t quite get his hands on it. Tom lunged again and was rewarded with the feel of his hands closing around the leather pouch of coins. “Ha! Let’s take a look at what we have here…” He held up the bag triumphantly to Jerry, then nearly jumped out of his skin. Jerry’s skin was shedding?! It turned from a Brotherhood Goliath’s tattooed skin into some strange woman in a blink of an eye. “Wha–?!” Then, a man jumped out from behind a rock and hit Tom with the pommel of his sword. (edited)
S01E89: "Steelhawk International: The Gathering Storm" (Khanba)
Watcher: Mira Adaptina
1) L7 moondruid | Mira adaptina | Find the halfling!
2) L6 Ranger | Valdos | DM | Filbert
3) L4 Ranger | Vestan | Vesten First Game
4) L7 shadowmonk Rogue | Kurt wagner | williebeast
5) L6 Warlock | Tathys Amakiir | MajinSyeekoh
6) L4 Druid | Mortimer Braidwood | Brycebar1
The Steelhawks returned to the Birchwood Camp safely, celebrating their success. However, the growing threat of the Brotherhood loomed large, and the party braced themselves for the battles ahead. Mission: Talk to chief alton. Figure out what to do next. And as always, don't let the new guy die! Mira Adaptina Hey guys, are you ready for another long winded and over informative recap? Cuz this one might not be it. Listen guys, it was a long day- this girl is still recovering from it so lets see what today's tale has in store. Forewarning tho… this book seems to have some damage at the back…some stuff might be illegible. cracks open tome.... When we last left off, the party had safely made it back to the main camp to speak to Chief Alten, and to deliver the boy Darak- to his mother Deboah in hopes of learning more about the Brotherhood's plans. We all remember the moon-riders yes? No? Oh.. well Okay, quick recap for you: The chief of the moonriders is Chief Alten. He also happens to be Chief of the Kshek riders- a group of the best of the best warriors from all four tribes along the tear. Okay, we all caught up? in mario voice HERE WE GOOO! Inside the war tent, this tent is packed with all kinds of people, everyone sitting around in thick seats. The inside of the tent is a commanding structure. While designed for practicality, it easily reflects the prestige of those who inhabit it. Thick hides reinforced with silver threading line the walls and roof, they are battleworn but still exceptionally waterproof. Our party strides into the tent and takes seats among the already gathered party. Chief Alten stands up “Hail Steelhawks” General mimicry goes out amongst the people. “Hail Chief Alten” the Steelhawks reply. “Welcome back from your excursion. How did it go? we recap from episode 86 to now The chief then inquires about Elder Ailuna and the party talks about the Elder being taken prisoner. Talk about Deborah's sons being rescued. Tathys brings up the spy that got away in the woods on the way to rescue Elder Ailuna. Another Elder, after hearing this, has a stern yet slightly quizzical face “It seems they are tougher and more prepared that we thought” We see him stare at a young man “What do you think about it, Batu?” being asked by the man previously described. Batu, a youthful and striking young man, seems unsure of how to respond to this question. “This is Batu” Chief Alten says, “I am entrusting a squadron for him to lead in the army once we are ready” Mira Adaptina I need to provide a little more background about these two.. The elder is Jargal, and he is is the Father of Batu, the kid mentioned above. Jargal stepped down to allow his young son to lead because he believes his son is considered the chosen one (because he bears the mark of he thunderbolt on his chest) enduring the wrath of a thunderstorm. Shortly after, Jargal stepped down as chief and let Batu take over. 2 and a half people believe him, one doubts, and he has about 6 other aunts and uncles (all chiefs in their own right that he has to meet them still to convince) Have you led a squad before batu” ask Tathys Batu shakes his head “No better time than the present to learn just remember to trust your squad” “Good advice” says the chief We need intel, we need to find the home camp, out in the open desert. We need to know how many. Whats going on out there. We know that their supply wagons kept going north. Information and tracking will be difficult because it's an open desert. Are you up to this task Steelhawks?” The party quickly and eagerly agrees to the challenge put toward them. “I have a plan, I've been talking to Stonefist”- he gestures to a massive goliath sitting on the floor almost as tall as those sitting on the benches provided- “representing what used to be known as Craterstone mine- which was destroyed and captured by the brotherhood and their elementals. “Fort Ironhold, which is where a lot of Craterstone residents fled to, is running low on supplies. We helped build the fort because Craterstone was where we mined and smithed the green gems we’ve seen around, hence why the Brotherhood kept attacking. We need someone to protect the wagons heading to Ironhold and we appreciate your willingness to help.” Mira Adaptina The party has 3 choices here- Our new Main Objective is to escort the caravan to the checkpoint to meet people from Fort Ironhold (FI). afterwards, we have three tasks that we could carry out. They are: 1. Straight to Fort Obsidian (where last saw the tracks) (may have to past craterstone to get there) (can go around but more dangerous) 2. Can try to scout out the fort- unsure if it was taken. Just know they were attacking. 3. Need to find out where the main base is Personally, i think we should go back to the place we were- and take out those forges…see a single GP OOO shinny….. What was i saying? “If any of that can be done i would be most grateful” Mortimer, with his pet pseudodragon ester wrapped around him asleep, starts our discussion: “we don't want to spread ourselves too thin, getting the caravan should be out main focus” “This is true, thank you once again. But, I'm sure you're tired after your long journey. Eat rest, we shall prep everything for your journey.” The chief replies, and beckons forward a lady dressed in red. “This is Lady Aluna, and she will help guide you around camp” Lady Aluna leads the party around Party goes shopping(preemptively)!!! Mira Adaptina You guys are good if I skip the montage right? This is a thick tome and i think some of the pages are torn out here anyway. So, after much buying and flirting from both Mortimer and Vesten (but not at each other)... Alara takes us outside, pointing to two tents she says “Dining is here. Bathing is over there. Ill leave you to your business” and she walks off. Mira Adaptina The Weirdos in the party decide to eat before bathing…. So we stink up the joint and have grubby hands. In the dining hall, red and blue clothed members mill about along with a new colour we haven't seen.. Yellow. Party orders food and drinks (the best- mares milk, one mead and a bunch of vodka blueberry). Mira Adaptina The entire party, consuming the alcoholic beverages, suddenly sees a million Miras of every size for a moment. Then all is normal. Wtf is in those drinks? (it was the cups, it's always the cups) Turning into a Mapach, Mira and Mortimer somehow acquire a trenchcoat and walk over to the bar. It's one person all right..Get Mortimer his nuts, berries, and tea. The party manages to overhear several conversations over the trip to the bar and grabbing some seats: some people talking about the war, others talking about horse breeding, a third group just hanging out and talking about an upcoming mission. Mira goes and discusses at length the correct way to breed a horse (btw they’re wrong but who am I to argue). While Valdos goes and talks to the two discussing the wagon mission. “Are you guys part of the wagon expedition? My crew and I are also part of it and we could use a little more information” “Yea, we leave in about 2 hours, it should be dark enough by then” “Are you sure you guys are up for it? The desert and forest are quite dangerous and you could get your ass kicked” the second guy says, eyeing over Valdros and the party. Mira Adaptina okay, remember that folks. “Ass kicking is coincidentally my middle name” Valdos says confidently. After a few more minutes of conversation, Valdros comes back and tells the party that we have agreed to meet on the outskirts of the camp on the eastern side. Finish everything up, the party heads to a bathhouse to clean up. Bathhouse attendant cleans the party’s clothes while they relax. The water is warm, with relaxing epsom salts, soothing the aches and pains from the previous excursion away. We are left alone. Everyone just sits in silence and relaxes. After 20 mins the lady comes back and everythings been cleaned. Everyone gets dressed and preps for the adventure ahead while the lady preps the bath for the next customers. At the outskirts are 3 wagons, a driver for each wagon (wooden with canvas top) with some other guards. Vesten climbs into the first, Mortimer and Esther in the second. The rest of the party is given horses and take up posts around the convoy. Kurt casts Pass without a Trace on the party to ensure their travels are easy. After about an hour the party makes it through the forest. The party manages to make good time, and after 2 days of boring travel the party arrives in the middle of the desert. The skies are clear but hot. Stardust abyss. Ancient wasteland shaped by a cataclysm. Marked with jagged rocks and deep fissures. Prone to sandstorms and extreme temperatures. Also know that shit happens in the desert. Kurt and Valdros take the lead with Tathys and Mira in the back keeping guard. It's just a vast nothingness as far as the eye can see. Valdos sees a sandstorm coming in. Kurt suggests it could be used to our advantage, and then calls the party forward. The desert continues on. We see no one along our travels, cacti every once and a while, varying in size with flowers. Wasteland is going to turn into a desert. Nothing to be (or could be) seen on the horizon. Mortimer using his cartography skills (or lack thereof for this location) leads us onward- only big open nothingness. We make our way further across in a random direction. The landscape starts to get rocky again that rises like ancient monoliths carved out over melinia by harsh winds. It begins to get dark again. Do we go through craterstone? Or do we go the long way around, which is more treacherous for the wagons but less encounters). Party decides to go through craterstone and press on for a few more hours. Trudging forward, dust getting in everyone's eyes, a battle is triggered! Enter battle music- probably darude- sandstorm R1: SURPRISE ROUND! The party activated the trapdoors of 2 giant spiders. Kurt gets attacked first, gets hit with one leg swipe, and misses with another. The second spider hits Valdos and then misses. Kurt goes first: dismounts and the horse runs away. Swings away with a miss and then a hit. Flurry of blows hits, and hits. He backs up and takes no opportunity attacks because mobile. Spider 1 goes next: the target is Valdos who can't be reached, so he aims for Kurt- hits! Kurt goes down. Mira, not able to directly see their friend down but hearing his scream, cast healing spirit beside Kurt, heals for 9hp. Then casts frostbite on the spider in front. Mortimer leans out and casts a guiding bolt on one of the spiders. And it hits. Valdos dismounts, horse runs away. He casts blessing of the raven queen, and then takes a shot with colossus and a bow, hits!, Tathys casts chill touch on the one in front of Kurt, hits. She moves forward. Vesten fires at the one on the right with his new crossbow, hits! His first move is a good one, second shot fired hit! Third shot goes off. It also hits. He moves R2: Kurt stands up and hits with all the fury he can muster! With 2 hits and 2 misses. He runs away. Spider charges Mira and misses with 2 attacks, but the bite nearly kills her. In retaliation, Mira turns into a giant elk while casting a flaming sphere. Mortimer hits the one on the right with a guiding bolt and hits. Valdos Hits with the longbow for a massive hit. A second hit and this bad guys looking pree hurt Tathys casts a spell but it fizzles. The second spider swings out at Tathys while scurrying up to him, lashes out with two legs, but only hits with 1, bites and doesn't manage to poison our buddy. Vesten shoots with the bow, hits! He shoots the second spider after a quick movement. R3: The earth begins to rumble, and then it explodes with a blue beast shooting out. It's a dragon! Runs up to Vesten, swings with 2 claws and a bite, misses it all. Kurt swings with 2 hits and a miss, tries with a stunning strike miss, and one last strike. Mira runs around the first caravan and with a charge attack kills the remaining spider. Only the dragon remains Mortimer casts his ever faithful guiding bolt. And another direct hit Valdos shoots twice, with both hitting hard. We have the dragon's attention now. He roars in anger. Valdos runs Tathys cast chill touch on the dragon- misses. Vesten shoots twice with a crossbow. R4: Dragon sizing up its prey. Flies up 30ft and points down. Shooting Kurt, Mortimer, Esther, and the horses with debilitating breath. Kurt, being unable to swing his fists- throws his ninefold dagger, and then a dart and gets the F out of dodge. Mira the giant elk can only move her flaming sphere 30ft into the air . Mortimer cast moonbeam on the dragon. But stays in the cart Valdos attempts to hide, then uses a longbow, once, and twice for two solid shots. Tathys summons fey, who curses the dragon out for ruining her day and misses with 2 attacks. Vesten moves forward and hits with 2 crossbow shots. R5 The dragon gets blasted with moonbeam at the start of its turn. Flies down to the ground in front of Valdos and misses with a bite, but hits with a claw, and misses with the second swipe. Kurt decides to take the time to heal himself. Mira rushes in to defend her friend Valdos charge attack, hits, knocks dragon prone, then tramples the dragon to death. Changing back into Mira, she casts aura of vitality and heals the party The party then has 3 hours of travel with uneventfulness. We reach our destination. The sun begins to rise, indicating morning. Mortimer brings back Esther during our travels. The party takes this time to discuss what to do. Agrees to check out the mine on the way to Fort Obsidian. As the sun comes up, ahead lays a stark open expanse of hard packed sand. Earth is flat and featureless. Air; dry and heavy, carrying a faint amount of dust. Looking forward, there comes a sound in the distance. Blue men on black horses, both adorned in all kinds of garments. As they come up we can hear the war chant- the song of Craterstone!- distinguishing these people as friends. The party recognized these people as the chef and the bartender, along with a few others as members of Craterstone. As they ride up and call out, the party flashes their Steelhawk badges and exclaims we are friends. They examine the insignia, and ask about the goods. Valdos points towards the wagons and the whole party approaches. They meet up with everyone and pleasantries are exchanged. Goliaths ask what we shall do now. Party says they are going to fort obsidian. The goliath says that they heard it has been overtaken. But let it be known it took us 3 times to take the base last time. Party decides to approach the fort at night. Taking a long rest, Everyone's watch goes by uneventfully, except for Tathy’s second watch in which a dragon roar cries out in the distance. Waking up, Kurt casts past without a trace. We head to Fort Obsidian- stopping at the mine. It takes 3 hours to cross the desert to finally spot the mine. As we approach, we see an open pit with a pit boss hut. All the people in the mine are goliaths. Mira Adaptina I haven't interjected too much this time. There's a lot of new lore to get through. But its important to remember that Craterstone has only been mined by goliaths for 3 months, and used to be run by elementals. Peering over the edge of the pit, they see people from Craterstone and Granitegaurd- they are working…but like slaves. The party approaches stealthy by crawling carefully. We don't see boss people.. Where are they? Valdos climbs down to investigate. Kurt uses the shadows to teleport down. They creep around and looking into the building they see 3 goliaths inside, dressed like the Behemoth Brotherhood- armed to the teeth. Kurt pops back up to relay the information to the rest of the party before returning to Valdos. Mortimer comes up with a plan: “I think there's more than 3 down there… “ the party discusses a plan of action. Kurt casts invisibility on himself and Shadow steps down to the ground floor and begins to look for an ally. Picking a goliath with a collar he begins to whisper. After asking a few more questions- he finds out there's numerous big bosses and that there are 8 non magic users and 2 magic users. There are more slaves than captors He attempts to unlock the chain- only to have the tool break, but luckily catches it before it clangs to the ground. Kurt relays the information to the party and they decide the plan is to attack. The party ties off two ropes for quick escape. Mira Adaptina This is where the pages start to get muddy, looks like too many spilled mead cups. cough cough Kurt bamphs down and, invisible- casts silence on the 3 inside the building. battle music starts Surprise round: Tathys comes down and cast witchbolt on one of the guys- misses Vesten shoots a bow and misses Mira does nothing. Mortimer goes down to the window and casts guiding bolt but misses Valdos goes and takes a shot- hits! R1: A lady comes out, saying something but no words come out- dashes downwards Kurt shadow steps next to the lady trying to escape with a hit, stunning them. Hits again. Tathys uses cloud of daggers in the room- deals damage Vesten casts hunters mark on the one on the steps- then shoots his shortbow. Mira casts call lightning on the one trying to get away. And climbing down to join her friends ends turn Mortimer uses starry form- and glowing like a hot piece of glass- shoots a guiding bolt at the lady trying to escape- misses, turns and shoots an arrow- misses. The guy 1 in room leaves and bashes Kurt with his shield. Hits Guy 3 steps around his friend and hits kurt- 3 misses. Valdos, not letting this lady escape- casts hunters mark- and shoots at her with a glimmering bow shot- she goes down. He turns to the one carrying the glaive and fires again. Another hit! R2: Kurt activates claw tattoo- hits the one in front of him, misses 2 times and backs up, takes an opportunity attack only to miss. Tathys casts chill touch on the one with the glaive. Misses! Vesten moves his hunters mark, and shoots the guy closest to him- fires with hand crossbow- misses Mira moves the lightning and ends turn Mortimer hits the guys with the glaive with an arrow and a guiding bolt on the other Guy 1 goes up to kurt, disappears Guy 3 goes up to Mira and hits 3 times. Mortimer hits with a guiding bolt, Valdos hits with a longbow. R3: Kurt strikes out with all the hits. Missing due to frustration Tathys chill touches the guy in front of mira- HITS! Vesten shoots a hand crossbow- hits the guys on the stairs, and the second one misses. Mira shoots a third bolt of lightning at the one in front of her. Mortimer misses with an arrow in front of Mira- uses wither and bloom to heal mira The bad guy in front of Mira bashes her with a shield 3 times, Mira uses spiny shield to deal the final blow then heals Kurt and herself. The rest of the party notices that the collars begin to glow. Looks as if they could explode at any time. The party then notices all these people half step out. One lady snaps her fingers- and one of the slaves' heads explodes! R4: Kurt casts darkness Tathys also casts darkness on the other person Vesten shoots with hand crossbow- all 3 shots miss Mira casts mage hand and tries to pants the person in front of them. But misses Mortimer fires an arrow and misses- then shoots a tiny flame at it. Also missing. Moves closer to Kurt The bbg 9 steps out of the darkness, snaps their fingers and another one dies A third bbg steps out of the darkness, snaps their fingers and a third person dies Valdos goes- missing wide both shots. R5: Lady bad guy goes, gets out of the darkness, snaps her fingers and a 4th person dies Kurt goes- shadow steps to the lady, hits twice and misses with a stunning strike Tathys dashes. Vesten shoots and hits Mira successfully pants the bbg and runs away Mortimer retreats Bbeg with no pants- snaps, slaves head explodes 3 bbeg snaps- another slave heads explode Valdos shoots- hits, second shot fires,second shot misses R6: Lady snaps the last visible persons next Kurt shadow steps to the top Tathys makes a minor illusion sound of a blue dragon approaching -only one seems frightened Vesten hits 2 times with crossbow Mira runs away Mortimer follows after picking up ester BBg runs after Vesten and hits with 2 spears Bbg3 runs inside Valdos- moves hunters mark, and sucessfully charms the bbg with no pants on- R7: Lady bbg goes- hits Vesten with banishment- but he resists Kurt, seeing he can't do much, runs downs and misses both hits, only 1 hit with flurry of blow, Tathys throws a rock, and deals EMOTIONAL DAMAGE to the bbg Vesten uses disengage- and runs away Mira casts call lightning Mortimer casts spike growth in front of the bbg who is charmed Bbg screams and moves thru the spikes, tries to throw something at Vesten but misses 2 times- saves from being charmed Valdos - hits the lady baddie only once and keeps moving R8: Lady tries to get valdos- cant, so attempts to hold person on Kurt- who fails their save Kurt cant do anything being grappled and paralyzed Tathys uses chill touch- just misses Vesten hits with a bow- only 1 out of 2 hit Mira uses Lightning. Mortimer uses healing word on Kurt BBg guy moves a little bit- take a little bit of damage but reaches Kurt and tries to hit- hits once Valdos- hits the lady with the bow and kills her, freeing Kurt from his paralysis. Hits the guy with his second shot. R9: Kurt turns around and absolutely pummels the remaining guy- adds in a flurry of blows all hits landing. Tathys hits with chill touch- no dice Vesten goes- hits with crossbow- only one hit is successful- in the leg but he goes down Party retreats, tails firmly tucked between their legs. Everyone takes the crying action for free. Mira Adaptina The rest of the pages are too stained to read what actually happens. I guess that's another tale for another time. AND I would like it mentioned that the party DID NOT intend to have casualties of war this early. See you next time after we’ve licked our wounds. We will come back and free them! right??.... Right guys??....Guys???
S01E88: "Steelhawk International: The Captive’s Call" (Khanba)
Watcher: Mira Adaptina
1) L7 Artificer/Wizard | Powder Stoney
2) L6 Druid | Mira Adaptina Find the halfling!
3) L7 Fighter | Zaraya SDM | Coach
4) L4 Ranger | Saur Digi the Bui 5) L4 Naelean darkhunter
6) L4 Warlock | Gramok LimeyBoi
Goal : Rescue the elder from the brotherhood’s hideout, ensure the new recruit doesn't die right away (no redshirts over here!) Mira Adaptina APP Hi everyone! It's your favourite changeling druid Mira Adaptina here with this episode's recap for all you who couldn't tune into the magic orb of scrying! And not to brag or anything, but I think this is a pretty good episode you all missed. SO, grab your tankard of libations, your snacks and pull up a bar stool, because this is one wild ride. fade to black quickly fades in No, I told you I didn't want to do this! Let the people do what they want in their own quarters. Ugh, fine. I have been instructed to remind you all to engage in libations responsibly! We don't need any shattered orbs, or bones for that matter. Are you satisfied? Can we fade out now?? fades back to back (P1)Find the halfling! The party, having previously narrowly escaped with their lives between the birchwood outpost being on fire AND after activating what could quite possibly be every trap in existence in this forest, arrive breathlessly upon an enormous stone slab. Gramok, panting– but recovered looks at our leader, Powder, riding atop her loyal companion Avie, “ma’am, what should we do about the one that got away?” “Nothing to be done at the moment Gramok, if they’ve gone to alert others, we will have to face them when the time comes. Zaraya, check on the others” As Powder steps forward, the party takes a brief overview of this massive structure. This thing is massive, looks like a cube but not door shaped or a door in sight. The edges are symmetrical and precise, it somehow stands out and blends in amongst the trees. This structure is half buried, top almost flush with the ground behind it, decorated by the forest floor with moss and other plants, to not look for it would be to miss it. “Naelen step forward- we could use your precise eyes” Powder calls out, and arriving closer to the cube, Naelen examines it- trying to detect any edges or possible secret nooks or door levers. This time he was unsuccessful, not for lack of skill that is, but simply because there was no lever. Naelen does point out that the door has runes that appear to form a magical locking sequence. Ever the genius, Powder, remembering that when the party tried to touch the cube, a magical force blasted out, sending the party back a few feet, calls Mira forward. “Mira, maybe your magic sense could help us out- let me help you”. With excellent help from fearless leader powder, Mira examines this slab. Lovely it is, a star of David in a circle, with the top of the star pointing at a smaller circle. Surrounding this are the runes previously described- in a lovely geometrical design. While the writing on the slab is faded (or crudely drawn- we all know mira cant read) she was able to exclaim that the words are in an primordial language and was able to make out 3 words, Unity, sacrifice, and strength. The party takes a moment to discuss, and Saur suggests the idea that it is a lock and should be turned. A few more minutes everyone agrees that we should enter the combination in the order that Mira had read the words out. Expand The party arrives on the other side of the slab, the area is cold, a slight breeze and yet some haze. Some torches are lit along the wall providing some dim light. Looking around, it's apparent that the structures around here are either extremely old, or put up extremely hastily. Along the ground are faint walking trails indicating recent use. insert picture Along the wall is a giant symbol in the stone. It appears to be a giant mountain with the motto “Long live the Original Ones” Mira reads this out to the party. As always, our fearless leader, sensing danger ahead, takes our brief moment of solitude to hand Zaraya a ring saying “i don't know what lies up ahead, but this ring shall protect you” Zaraya slips it on and gives thanks. Mustering up the courage, our dutiful rogue Naelen sneaks off ahead into the distance, taking Saur as back-up while the rest of the party spreads out and hides amongst the shadows. Fear and courage swirl around inside the two scouts as they stealth on ahead, afraid that their heartbeats will be too loud, but they press on. They come up short in the shadows as the path ahead leads to a fork in the road, with only a single guard on horseback in the middle. insert photo Should be simple enough right? RIGHT???????????????????? Mira Adaptina APP I dont wanna talk about what comes up next guys. Comeon.. Can we skip it? Fine… fades back (P1)Find the halfling! Putting their heads together, Saur and Naelen formulate a plan. “I’ll go ahead and distract the guard, maybe get him to turn his back…” Naelen begins, but is cut off by Saur saying “while I appreciate the offer, we both know I am of small stature and strength is not my strong suit so to speak, so I shall distract the guard instead while you hide! I will fire an arrow behind us and cause the guard to go searching for the source of the noise, and he shall be ambushed by the party!” “Good idea, let's do it.” (And it was a good plan, If only…) Saur loads up their shortbow and fires backwards into the wall, the tip making a tinging sound as it bounces off and clatters on the floor. The guard, noticing the sound, looks towards the source of the noise down the tunnel …. And disappears! Only his horse remains. What could be happening!? insert battle music Round 1: Powder; seeing nothing but being as close to the scouts as she could be, casts faerie fire in front of the horse to try and illuminate the guard- nothing happens. Saur looks around trying to perceive the guard since they saw Powder's spell fail. They see no sign of the guard, no footprints, no sound. All they are able to do is defend, so they pull out their sword. Naelen moves next, and also does perception check- with the best elf eyes out of the group he should be able to see our target making their move, but still nothing to be seen. He decides it’s best to hide because squishy, and there is nothing wrong with that! Gramok looks around, seeing nothing, mutters “dammit” and runs to a pillar to the left and decides to hide. He finds a good spot and now has partial cover. Mira, looking around and having her 1 good idea of the day, picks up a handful of dirt, remembering that most brotherhood members have a symbol of a mountain on them usually- casts locate object. Finding their target, she runs towards the tunnel to the left and throws a bunch of dirt on the guy creating an outline for Zaraya, Powder, Naelen and Saur to see. Zaraya, seeing a dirt looking outline, illuminates their sword and rages out- being unable to reach the enemy just begins running after them. She shall not have anyone be aware of our presence. Round 1: Powder moves forward and sees our enemy, strikes out with a branding smite, shoots their pistol- shooting a radiant hole into the guard's arm, making him visible! Huzzah! We can see our target fully! Firing a second shot- the bullet going wide. Powder looks happy with their blasting overall “After him” she points and starts the chase further. Saur, realizing their sword is of no use at the moment, pulls out their shortbow and fires an arrow and deftly makes the hit! The guard retaliates by firing 2 shots, missing one but successfully hitting Saur with Da butte, and runs away further. Will he get away? Naelen rushes forward but can't locate the guard fully, he's so far away! Seeing just the faintest of light, he fires an arrow, but it goes wide. Shooting again, the second arrow finds its target. Piercing through their armor, the party hears a grunt as the man keeps moving. Gramok,still hiding, is overcome with enormous courage and doing all they can, dashes out to meet the fray. (you got this!). Mira sees the party lose hope, runs forward and leaps into a giant elk while simultaneously casting a flaming sphere- attempting to block off the fleeing enemies path. She gets right up to him but not close enough, but the sphere will singe this man. Zaraya rushes forward, and attempts to shoots a crossbow to keep the guy from evading capture, slips on a rock and the shot goes wide. Round 1: Powder dashes forward, points at Zaraya; cast vortex warp and a ray of energy dissipates from Zaraya teleporting her to the fleeing man, saying “He's in for it now! Go get him Zaraya”. Saur shoots his shortbow and fires wide into the flaming sphere, where the arrow sizzles into ash. The baddie, mortally wounded- multi attacks Zaraya, swings wide twice with their glaive, and their booty butt attack goes wide. Frustrated, he teleports 30ft, runs around the corner. Naelen dashes 60ft and shoots again, the arrows missing its target. Where is this guy going?? Gramok dashes to keep up- boy he's really getting his cardio in on this first mission! Mira (now a giant elk) dashes as well, and coming up short- makes angry elk noises. Where is he taking us? Zaraya, frustrated we are losing, throws their greatsword, it goes wide, but magically it reappears in their hand, only to be thrown again wide on the other side. Luckily it returns to Zarayas hands once again. Mira Adaptina APP Okay, so it wasnt that bad, but like… WHY DID HE MAKE US RUN SO MUCH. let's take a quick break to refresh those drinks and destress from that battle, all good? Here we go… fades to black (P1)Find the halfling! The party takes a second to look around (and Gramok catches their breath- he ran a lot today) while Naelen searches the body (silly rogue always looting the place). He manages to pry that +1 glaive out of the corpse’ hand, and strips them of their cloak of protection. “Hey guys, look what I found” he states, briefly showing them before stuffing them away for later. Looking around, Mira- still as a giant elk- spies light spilling out of a room up ahead with the familiar sounds of a forge ringing out. Our assigned scouts Saur and Naelen peer into the forge; Saur sees 3 very large people in armor working away, and behind them a door. Naelen sees only the pretty flicker of fire bouncing off the walls. Relaying what is in the room to the rest of the party, Gramok puts their hands on the sides of their face and casts “mask of many faces” , becoming a copy of the guard we just killed. Under hushed tones the party discusses the possible options they have (a dumb decision really, standing still is prime opportunity for an attack) the decision is made to head back the way we came. “...these guys are pretty big” “was this the guards plan all along?” the party mutters before heading back to the fork in the tunnel. Mira the elk picks up the dead trampled body and brings it back to where we found him. Naelen touches the corpse and takes knowledge from him “just in case” The party now heads down the tunnel to the right, leading to another fork in the road. Stopping to inspect the fork a few party members are able to hear people talk to the tunnel to the right. Naelen, Saur head off to investigate, taking Powders familiar with them so Powder can hear and see as well. They creep forward and manage to hear two people discussing what to do with a third person, a prisoner. The voice of a boy replies and the fear rings like a bell thru the air. Heading back, our mission is clear. It seems quite possible that this is the boy of the spy being held captive at the birchwood camp. It was agreed upon that this spy would switch sides and help us if we could free her son from the brotherhood. “Gramok, this is your time to shine, we have the utmost faith that you can distract the guards for us” powder states, and giving an encouraging pat on the back Gramok strides into the room. Entering the room, Gramok sees what are very clearly cells, a cold metal bar plunged into the floor and melded into the ceiling. And standing there, berating the prisoners is a goliath “insert picture* “Your time is up, WE own this land. It is rightfully ours and WE WILL have it back”. Gramok, only noticing the boy prisoner, strides forward with all the confidence that can be mustered (it's a lot, knowing his party members will always have his back) “We need to take the prisoner for transfer” Not a warble of doubt is in his voice. The goliath guard and Gamok exchange in a heated argument “...on my shift things stay as they are written” “look buddy, i get it, but i'm just following orders for those higher up and they will tan my hide if i don't follow through” This deception on Gramoks part works and the Goliath guard asks Gramok to sign the log for prisoner transfer. This causes Gramok to sweat, not knowing if the goliath guard knows the dead guards signature. In an ingenious moment of pure panic, he presses too hard and snaps the tip of the quill upon the ledger, making it useless. The goliath, getting angry and suspicious, states “no sign paper, no switchy switchy” Trying something new, Gramok stands up straight and attempts to intimidate the guard by saying “2gp or Ill kill you” “10 gp or ILL kill YOU” the goliath guard replies. This goes on in a circle for a few moments before both realize neither can be bribed or reach a compromise. Meanwhile Saur, peering in the door reconizes the boy! insert pic He looks a lot like the spy back at camp. * Back at the debate, Gramok somehow has convinced the guard to switch jobs for 2 hours; either the boy or the other prisoner- Wait! That's the elder! insert photo What are we to do??- And the goliath begins to head out the door. The party being told the goliath is heading this way, prepares to ambush and rush into the area. Gramok, as soon as the goliath's back is turned, casts hold person- but the goliath is strong. Powder casts silvery barbs to ensure Gramoks success with the spell but this goliath is REALLY strong. And so the battle begins battle music begins Round 1: Naelen, reacting the fastest, steadies themselves and fires with an arrow, shot misses. The goliath guard- looking all confused, gets angry at seeing the whole party enter and casts fireball on everyone except Gramok, and the whole group gets hurt, taking out powders familiars. Powder lunges forward and, seeing her babies dead, will cast branding smite, then fires away with their pistol, dealing a huge hit. Second shot fired directly at his target, it would hit but an illusionary image takes the bullet. Saur fires their fixed shortbow and hits! A direct shot! This guard takes an arrow to the knee, and is looking hurt. Mira, still as a giant Elk, attempts a charge attack but trips and swings their antlers wide, and just stays in their space.Zaraya rages, and with great prowess runs up and hits with a greatsword, success! Two great swings and the guard goes down! End of battle Mira Adaptina APP Now thats what i like to see! short sweet, and us victorious! (P1)Find the halfling! Mira changes back to her “normal” form and casts Aura of vitality on herself, giving the party some health back, and hands Naelen 10 good berries on top of it. After eating, Naelen pats down the body of the goliath and finds a set of keys, and an arcane grimoire +1 (this guy was a spellcaster?) The party quickly releases both elder Ailuna and the boy (named “Darak, son of Deborah”) and, upon asking, are told that there are no other prisoners here. Deciding that rescuing the prisoners is more important that discovering what else is here, The party enlarges the horse, Mira changes back into a giant elk and the two creatures carry their party and rescuees back to the entrance, where once again Powder and her loyal companion Avie come in handy, and once everyone is out they create a pulley system to pull the elk up. There was no trouble on the way back to the birchwood camp, as the party had the worst luck in the world getting to this slab. And so we end this saga of the adventure. Overall a rousing success I would say. No one died, we completed Both missions, what could go wrong Now? What lies in store for the steelhawks? Will Deborah the spy actually turn over from the brotherhood and help us? And what about that spy that got away? All will be revealed next time on : Steelhawk International: The Captive’s Call" (Khanba)
S01E87 "????????????????" (Khanba)
Watcher: Mungus
1) L7 Rogue Grumbletick aDM iFAIL
2) L6 Cleric Little Mama BobRob
3) L4 Artificer Zero Zero (First Game)
4) L6 Shadowmonk Kurt Wagner williebeast
5) L4 Ranger Saur Digi the Bui (First Game)
6) L7 Sor-lock Grave Digger aDM | Mungus
We begin with our group in route to the Khanabe Camp situated inside the lower tear. We are surrouned by Birchwood trees. There is a broken wagon to our left and Zero investigates it. Kurt begins to move throuh the shadows to keep a look out for threats. The wagon is not in that bad of shape so we frix it relativly quickly. The party loads up the killed Moon Riders (our allies). On the way Kurt take out his disguise kit and begins to "clean up" the blood and injuries to our deceased allies. Someone (perhaps grumble) suggests that between Kurt and I if this whole Steelehawk thing doesn't work out there is a fine future for us in Mortuary services. As we resume our travels we can hear screams and the crackling of fires from the direction of our allies' camp. When we arrive we see dead, and injured (5-8 walking around). There is also a massive tower in the middle that is barly visible from a some kind of plume of smoke. There are several tents and yurts on fire. Without a moments hesitation we spring to action to save the injured. I cast gust to try and gain some viability from this wild smoke. Kurt heads straight up the tower. Barnaby heals a vilager. I resuce an old bed ridden man. Once we have done what we can for the survivors, we try to figure out this smoke situation. Grumble finds the source of this dense smoke and it appeards to be billowing continuously from a bottle. Grumb quickly digs a whole and burys the smokeing bottle and that seems to remove the dense smoke. This was an unorthodox apporach but as an old mentor once told me that if its stupid but it works then it aint stupid. Saur moved to the northside of the camp and discovered the tracks or about 20 horses w/ riders moving towards that direction. We instruct the rest of the moon riders to regroup towards the south and heal each other. I almost forgot all of the survivors kept telling us that "they took her." We know that they are talking about Moon Rider village elder... uh ... We begin taking the rading Bohemath Brotherhoods scoundrals. On the trail Saur finds a scarf that has been tattered and stained with blood. We can tell that this scarf belongs to our kidnapped elder. We reach a point where our trail diverts into 2 paths. We stop to try and figure out which direction they would have taken her. I suggest that Kurt do his fast moving shadow step thing to see if he can quickly move up one path to see if he can find any other evidence of our victim continuing north. He does but sees nothing. Then Saur finds 2 and 3 (chipmonks) and asks them if the radiers went this way with our elder. Of course these little vermin want compensation for any information so we provide them with some food and they tell us the direction the head but also that we should be careful for traps. As a thank you Grumblestick tries to give the 2 chipmunks a bomb. Eventually we do encounter a couple of traps. They are pretty elaborate so it must have taken some time to put these in place. As we finish up with the traps several Goliath Raiders appear. We enter combat and eventually I Tolled the Dead on the first Raider killing it. Then I cast Darkness to protect my comrades from the third Goliaths deadly range attacks. We continued our pursuit and reched this strange stone stump like object. There is some kind of writing on the stone object but no one recognized the language. end of report
S01E86 "Steelhawk International: "Call to Arms" (Khanba)
Watcher: DM | Ethan
1) L5 Moondruid Mira Adaptina Find the halfling!
2) L7 Wizard Vandryn the Magnificent Tronald Zyner Supreme
3) L4 warlock Tathys Amakiir MajinSyeekoh
4) L7 Druid calla OR lvl 7 sardolock Evelyn Vandris DM | Ethan
5) L5 Paladin Burnaby Pickles
6) L5 FIghter Duck Test James Cary
After the intense battle in the shadowy birchwood, where the Steelhawks faced a Goliath arsonist, a towering earth elemental, and a deadly Goliath archer, the group pressed forward, their path illuminated only by the dim light filtering through the darkened forest. Though victorious, their return to camp was not met with celebration but urgency, for the fires of destruction still raged, and cries of pain echoed in the cold night air. The camp was in chaos—flames licked at the edges of tents, and wounded villagers pleaded for aid. Rising to the occasion, Burnaby, with his steadfast warhorse at his side, worked tirelessly to rebuild the charred remnants of the tents. DuckTest, a paragon of strength, heaved massive logs to clear paths and stabilize structures. Meanwhile, Mira and Evelyn moved among the injured, their hands glowing with divine energy as they mended broken bodies and soothed suffering souls. Their efforts turned despair into hope, rekindling the spirit of the beleaguered camp. Amidst the turmoil, the Steelhawks returned with their two captives: the unconscious Goliath spy and the defeated archer. Wary of treachery, they chose to interrogate the prisoners separately, ensuring no collusion could hinder their pursuit of the truth. As dawn approached, the female spy awakened and revealed her story—a tale of desperation and coercion. Her name was Deborah, and her heart was heavy with sorrow. The Behemoth Brotherhood held her young son captive, a cruel guarantee of her compliance. Forced into betrayal, she had no choice but to act against her people. (edited) Through her trembling words, the Steelhawks learned that the Brotherhood, relentless in their ambition, had been probing the edges of the Birchwood Forest. Their ultimate goal was nothing less than the conquest of Khanba itself. Though their numbers remained modest, their resources were vast, stolen from Craterstone’s mines and forges. Weapons of terrifying power were being crafted in secret, their purpose clear: to crush resistance and bring war to the land. Deborah revealed the existence of a shadowy mastermind, Bouldenstone—the person on the other end of the sending stone. Deborah, despite her role as a spy, proved willing to aid the Steelhawks in exchange for her son’s safety. She admitted that the Steelhawks’ intervention had likely saved her life, as the Goliath archer would have struck her down had they not intervened. Her plea for help was genuine, and her desperation struck a chord with the Steelhawks. Meanwhile, in the triage tent, Mira’s sharp mind proved invaluable. A mysterious unconscious figure lay in the center of the tent, surrounded by worried elders and Goliath warriors. With Mira’s careful ministrations, the woman’s breathing steadied. The elders vouched for Deborah’s honor, recounting her history as an exemplary member of their community. Her betrayal, though painful, was born of necessity—a mother’s love weaponized by cruel oppressors. Chief Altan, a leader of wisdom and compassion, listened to their tale and nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Deborah’s plight. As Evelyn relayed the findings from the interrogation, Chief Altan’s face darkened with resolve. He acknowledged the Steelhawks’ efforts and expressed gratitude for their intervention. Then, with a tone that brooked no argument, he summoned the group to his command tent, where plans for the future would be forged. The war drums of the Behemoth Brotherhood echoed faintly in the distance, and the Steelhawks knew their journey was far from over. The fires of war burned brighter, and their next steps would shape the fate of Khanba itself. (edited) After the intense interrogation of the captured blackmailer, the Steelhawks uncovered a grim truth—Craterstone had already fallen. The Behemoth Brotherhood had overrun the mines and now used them to forge weapons of war. Their operations were centered further north at Fort Obsidian, an imposing stronghold hidden deep within the desert, just six hours from Craterstone. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the Steelhawks, but there was no time to dwell. The path forward was clear: they had to act before the Brotherhood’s ambitions could engulf the land in fire and steel. Their next stop was the command tent of Chief Altan, whose presence radiated authority and calm determination. Seated among maps and war plans, the chief revealed a critical task. They were to find Elder Ailuna, a retired Keshig Rider and storied general of the Khanarions. She had taken up guardianship of an outpost near the mystical Moonlight Grove, a site sacred to Chief Altan's people. Recent disturbances at the grove, coupled with the raiding of supply caravans, had raised alarms. Elder Ailuna, with her hair braided and adorned with beads, head jewelry glinting under the desert sun, and a staff in hand, was the key to unraveling these events. “Whatever you do,” Chief Altan commanded, “find her as soon as possible.” To aid their mission, the Steelhawks were granted a rare gift: Greywind horses, specially bred for speed and endurance. These magnificent creatures would carry them swiftly across the treacherous desert. Believing that naming their steeds might imbue them with mystical powers, the group christened their horses with care: Biscuit, Bill, Snuffy, Bill Neigh, Otoya, and Birchy. Curiously, a lone brown horse followed the group, an enigmatic companion who perhaps sought a bond after being offered a simple carrot. Riding through the desert and into the birchwood forest, the Steelhawks eventually came upon a clearing. Here, a serene calm settled over them, as if the land itself recognized its sacred nature. The grove was unlike any other—a tranquil place steeped in ancient power. Scattered throughout the clearing were stones etched with cryptic markings, fortunes whispered by the winds of time. The Steelhawks paused, drawn by the allure of the mystical symbols. As they began their investigation, deciphering the markings and probing the secrets of this sacred site, they felt a deeper connection to the ancient history of the Khanarions. Amongst which are: "The winds carry the whispers of the past; listen, and you shall hear the truth." "Bound by pact, the spirits of air guard the balance between mortal and divine." "Beware the greed of the earth and the silence of shadows; they herald the storm to come." "Only those who tread with respect shall be granted wisdom of the wind" (edited) The Steelhawks arrived at a clearing within the birchwood forest, a place where the air itself seemed to hum with ancient energy. At its center stood a lone stone, ominous and foreboding, etched with runes that shimmered faintly in the twilight. Sensing the sacredness of the place, Tathys Amakiir stepped forward and began a graceful wind dance, seeking to honor the spirits of the grove. But the winds carried more than his intentions—a sudden gust heralded the arrival of an air elemental spirit, its form shimmering like the aurora, its voice echoing with timeless authority. (edited) "You tread upon sacred ground," it warned, its gaze piercing. At that moment, the Steelhawks realized they had stumbled into the fabled Moonlight Grove. The spirit, however, was not welcoming. It spoke of a defilement—a piece of its shrine had been broken off, desecrating the sanctity of this ancient place. Though the Steelhawks' cause was noble, the spirit’s trust was not easily earned. Evelyn, with wisdom and magic, stepped forward, channeling her divine energy to mend the broken stone. As the cracks fused together, the spirit softened, offering thanks in its ethereal voice. It gifted the Steelhawks with a cryptic prophecy: "Do not seek to know all, For knowledge without action is as fleeting as the breeze. Look to the crater—the heart of their ambition lies there. The earth itself shall rise against you, bound by chains of their making. Prepare yourselves, for their reach extends even now, And the winds cannot protect those who hesitate." (edited) Evelyn left an offering of flowers, a symbol of peace, while Tathys added a heartfelt note, an act of sincerity that seemed to resonate deeply with the spirit. With the blessing of the grove, the Steelhawks pressed on, their resolve strengthened by the prophecy. Their journey led them to a scene of devastation—a wagon toppled on its side, broken and partially sunken into the earth. Scattered supplies and the acrid scent of charred wood painted a grim picture. Burn marks scarred the ground, strange and unnatural, as if the land itself bore witness to the attack. Among the wreckage lay three unconscious bodies, survivors of the calamity. As the Steelhawks worked to revive them, a young boy stirred, his voice trembling with fear as he whispered a warning: the Behemoth Brotherhood was behind the attack, and worse—a cyclops had descended upon them. But before they could act further, the Steelhawks found themselves ensnared in a trap. From the shadows emerged three Goliath warriors, pincering the group, while a black, tarry elemental rose from the shadow of the caravan. The air grew thick with tension as the Steelhawks prepared for battle. Vandaryn, eager to display his arcane prowess, unleashed a hailstorm of icy devastation, freezing the battlefield in a spectacular show of magic. Evelyn stood at the vanguard, her shield raised as she taunted the attackers, drawing their ire to protect her allies. Mira, ever in tune with nature’s wrath, summoned a tempest of lightning and thunder, her storm answering the call to arms. Tathys unleashed volleys of eldritch energy, his blasts pushing the foes back into the icy fury of Vandaryn’s storm. Burnaby, the master of polearms, dominated the battlefield with precise strikes, locking the Goliath warriors within the icy radius. And DuckTest, the mighty giant fairy, supersized himself and seized enemies, dropping them from dizzying heights with crushing force. The battle was swift but fierce. One by one, the attackers fell, until only one remained. Turning invisible, the final foe fled into the woods leaving the Steelhawks victorious yet wary. As they regrouped, the distant outline of an outpost came into view, its silhouette a stark reminder of the dangers that lay ahead. With renewed determination and the weight of the spirit's prophecy on their shoulders, the Steelhawks pressed onward, their confidence bolstered, their purpose clear. The journey continued, each step leading them closer to the heart of the conflict—and their destiny.
S01E85 "Steelhawk International: "The Khan’s Judgment" (Khanba)
Watcher: DM | Ethan
1) L7 Ancients Paladin Bonk Orion B.
2) L4 druid, Mortimer Braidwood Brycebar
3)L4 gul barbarian Hollow
4) Lv 5 light cleric mendil Maac [Mendil]
5) Lv 7 wizard ranger jaered Loading...
6) Lv 4 ranger toké
6) L6 sorbader (healer tank) Evelyn DM | Ethan
The Strike of Unity (Khanba) and the Brotherhood’s Spy
The Steelhawks, escorting Batu, the Chosen One, and the weary survivors of the Sunstrider tribe, journeyed toward Khanba as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the birchwood forest in a twilight glow. The refugees were injured, exhausted, and fragile, but Evelyn, with her boundless compassion and expertise as a healer, moved among them, tending to their wounds. Spotting Mortimer nearby, eager to assist, she handed him a healer's kit. Together, they worked tirelessly, bringing much-needed relief to the ailing group. As they approached Khanba, the town revealed itself—a fortified sanctuary nestled within the birch forest. Moonlight glinted off the polished armor of the mounted Keshig riders, warriors of renown who bore the crescent moon as their symbol. The air was alive with the rhythmic beat of drums, marking the cadence of training exercises. Despite their harrowing journey, the refugees were welcomed as kin, ushered to safety with care and reverence. (edited) The Steelhawks observed the bustling encampment, a melting pot of tribes united under Chief Altan's leadership. Amidst this atmosphere of unity, a small scuffle occurred. A brusque warrior bumped into Mortimer, provoking Gul, the ever-loyal barbarian, to seek vengeance. Later, with characteristic gusto, Gul shoved the offending warrior while he was indisposed, eliciting both laughter and groans from the group. (edited) As dusk turned to night, the Steelhawks made their way to the camp's heart. Their sudden arrival and request for an audience with Chief Altan aroused suspicion, but the Steelhawks' emblems, symbols of their honor, convinced the guards to grant passage. The group was ushered to luxurious bathhouses to prepare for their meeting, though Gul stubbornly opted for a mud bath. Once cleansed and refreshed, they attended a grand feast, where Gul defended the group's honor against an unwelcome suitor, triumphing in an arm-wrestling match. (edited) Finally, the Steelhawks stood before Chief Altan. They presented the broken Sunstrider tribe, imploring him to grant sanctuary. Batu, unwavering in his resolve, acknowledged the peril of defying his grandfather, Chief Lorkbold, but argued that inaction would spell doom for the Thunderhooves. Moved by Batu's determination, Chief Altan agreed to offer refuge, along with horses and warriors to aid their cause. However, he challenged Batu to prove he was the Chosen One, urging him to let the moonlight guide his destiny. (edited) The meeting concluded, but the Steelhawks’ mission had only begun. Chief Altan invited them to a War Council, where tribal representatives convened to strategize against the looming threat of the Behemoth Brotherhood. Tensions simmered among the clans, but Altan’s head advisor, a druid named Dorothy, brought focus to the gathering. She shared a prophetic vision: Batu, leading the charge against the Goliath forces, with the Steelhawks playing a pivotal role in the battles to come. As the council deliberated, the weight of destiny pressed upon the Steelhawks and Batu. They were no longer mere wanderers or refugees—they were the harbingers of a conflict that would shape the future of the Thunderhooves, the Khanarions, and the entire Tear. The War Council gathered under the vast canvas of the Khanba meeting hall, its air thick with tension and determination. Representatives from each tribe, their differences momentarily set aside, convened to decide the fate of their people. The stakes were clear: swift and decisive action was needed to prevent the Brotherhood's growing threat from annihilating them all. (edited) The tribes agreed that prolonged deliberation would weaken their position. “We must act quickly,” one elder proclaimed. “The Brotherhood will not stop. If we do nothing, they will destroy us one by one. The solution is simple—we strike directly at the heart of the problem. We cut off the head of the snake.” The discussion shifted to the rationale behind their decision. Historically, many of the tribes, particularly the Sunstriders, had prided themselves on their pacifist nature. Yet, they recognized that peace was no longer an option. The Brotherhood’s relentless ambition threatened all of them. This was a pivotal moment—an unprecedented gathering of tribes united by survival. As strategies unfolded, a surprising revelation emerged. The tribes had been secretly breeding a special line of horses, beasts strong enough to bear the immense weight of Behemoths into battle. It was a symbol of their readiness to fight back. However, a critical obstacle remained: the exact location of the Brotherhood’s base. All they knew was that it lay within a crater, but its precise location eluded them. The Council reached a bold decision: they would strike hard and fast, attacking before the Brotherhood could rally more allies or forces. Their plan relied on overwhelming force, a gamble to end the threat before it could grow larger. Cheers erupted as the war call was sounded, but Evelyn, the Steelhawks’ compassionate strategist, rose amidst the fervor. Her calm voice silenced the room. “Striking quickly is wise,” she began, “but there is a fine line between bravery and recklessness. If we act without understanding our enemy, we risk disaster.” She proposed a daring alternative. The Steelhawks would conduct aerial scouting missions to locate the Brotherhood’s base. If pursued, their tribes’ unmatched mobility would turn the tables, surrounding and capturing the pursuers. This approach would stretch their resources, reduce casualties, and gather critical intelligence. “Divide and conquer,” Evelyn declared. “By forcing their hand, we can weaken their forces and learn more about their plans.” The council murmured approval, but one voice rose in dissent. Gambold, the fiery representative of the Lorkbold tribe, scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as overcautious. “We don’t need such theatrics! We should attack now!” Evelyn, unshaken, seized the moment. “Tell me, Gambold,” she asked coolly, “if we win without your help and split the spoils of victory, would your tribe want to be left out? Would you want to explain to your people why you withheld support and gained nothing?” Her words struck a nerve. Gambold, clearly annoyed, fumed but ultimately relented under the weight of public scrutiny. His grudging agreement solidified the council’s decision. With the plan set and unity restored, the tribes prepared for war. The Steelhawks would scout ahead, ensuring their strategy was grounded in knowledge and precision. This wasn’t just a battle for survival—it was a test of their unity, ingenuity, and resolve. The Brotherhood would soon learn the strength of the tribes and the Steelhawks who stood with them. (edited) The quiet night in Khanba was shattered by a distant, frantic cry: “Fire! FIRE!” The alarm pierced the air, and chaos erupted as flames engulfed three tents. Soldiers staggered out of the blaze, some with their armor alight, while panicked horses galloped wildly through the encampment. The scene was too calculated to be an accident. Jaered, sharp-eyed as ever, spotted a shadowy figure slipping into the darkness of the birch forest. He signaled the group, and without hesitation, Gul, ever impulsive, gave chase on foot. Evelyn, quick to assess the situation, mounted one of the terrified horses, expertly calming it before racing off to intercept the fleeing perpetrator. Meanwhile, Mortimer and the remaining Steelhawks stayed behind to battle the spreading flames, organizing the effort to save the camp from further destruction. As Evelyn closed the distance, she unleashed a spell, immobilizing both the fleeing figure and their horse. Her brilliant maneuver stopped the escape cold. She called for the others to catch up, holding her position to secure the scene. But the forest wasn’t as quiet as it seemed. Without warning, the ground beneath her trembled as an Earth Elemental emerged, its massive fists swinging with destructive force. (edited) As she engaged the elemental, a second threat revealed itself—a Goliath archer stepping from the shadows, firing arrows aimed at Evelyn. Steeled by her experience and focus, she repelled the attacks with precision, holding her ground until reinforcements arrived. One by one, the Steelhawks emerged from the forest, assembling like a band of unstoppable heroes. Together, they swiftly subdued both the elemental and the archer, securing the area. With their enemies defeated, the Steelhawks captured two prisoners—a shadowy rider and the Goliath archer. Upon searching their belongings, the group uncovered several damning items: a detailed map of Khanba, a magical sending stone, and a contract linking the spies to the Behemoth Brotherhood. The contract, found on the goliath, revealed a grim truth—she was being blackmailed by the Brotherhood, who held her son hostage. Additionally, the map included intricate details about the tribe’s camp layouts, resources, and defensive structures. The Steelhawks confiscated the evidence, distributing some of the archer's magical gear among themselves. They brought the prisoners before Chief Altan, presenting their findings as proof of the Brotherhood's espionage. The captured spy and her confession would provide valuable intelligence, possibly turning the tide of the war to come. In the face of fire and subterfuge, the Steelhawks proved their mettle once again, standing as the first line of defense for Khanba’s future.S01E84 "Steelhawk International: Rise to the Khan’s Call" (Khanba)
Watcher: DM | Mungus
1) L15 fighter Talon DM | MaliciousSlayer
2) L14 Barder Tydus aDM | Mungus
3)L13 Sorlockic Sheridan CG | Spoon
4)L11 Cleric Hallow Hollow
5) L14 fighter Stahl Xisle
6) L15 Paladin Sorcerer Oboreru SDM | David
The episode began with Batu, the Steelhawks, and the remaining Sunstriders continuing their harrowing journey through the birchwood forest, racing to reach Khanba and seek sanctuary. Along the way, the group encountered an unexpected threat—a glowing blue portal opened in the sky, releasing two red, flying aberrations armed with nine tentacles. The creatures attacked with terrifying speed and strength, disrupting the party’s progress. During the battle, the aberrations grappled and teleported, overwhelming the group. In the chaos, Talon was tragically killed when one of the creatures teleported him high into the air, where he succumbed to injuries before healing spells could reach him. The party struggled to contain the aberrations, with teleportation and psychic attacks testing their coordination and resolve. As the battle reached its climax, another portal opened, and a mysterious figure emerged—a Goliath clad in high-tech armor from another dimension. The stranger wielded advanced weaponry, including fireball spells and psychic lances, targeting the group with deadly precision. Despite their best efforts, the party was caught off guard by the stranger's invisibility and teleportation, adding another layer of danger to an already desperate fight. In a final act of defiance, the group managed to strike down one of the fleeing aberrations just before it escaped through the portal. As the battle ended, the distant sound of thunderous hooves echoed through the forest. Batu informed the group that these riders were Moonriders, belonging to Grand Chief Altan, signaling their proximity to Khanba. The party, weary from battle and grieving the loss of Talon, prepared to meet the Moonriders and complete their journey to Khanba. The tension set the stage for the critical decisions and alliances that awaited them in the camp.
Key Moments
Unexpected Portal Threat: Two aberrations and a high-tech Goliath appeared, creating a chaotic and high-stakes battle.Talon’s Death: The loss of Talon marked a tragic turning point, emphasizing the dangers of their mission.
Mysterious Goliath: The stranger’s advanced technology hinted at a larger mystery, potentially tied to the Behemoth Brotherhood or other forces in the Tear.
Approach to Khanba: The arrival of the Moonriders brought hope and tension as the group neared their destination.
This episode set the stage for pivotal developments in Khanba, including Batu’s leadership trials, the Sunstriders’ future, and the impending conflict with the Behemoth Brotherhood.
S01E83 Steelhawk International: "Through the Veil of the Tear" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher:Pok
Druid/Cleric Selvos Artenon
Rogue Saugus Saugis/Scotty D
Fighter Merrick Steelblade Ivi
cleric Vanus invertigo - Vanus
Wildfire Druid Pok aDM | Aviator
Witch Kinhesa Prim DM | MaliciousSlayer
Prior Missions: The Steelhawks escorted 45 Sunstrider refugees, trapped between a 500-foot cliff and Lorkbold’s raiders. Shupin, a fierce werewolf, inspired hope with a legend of the Khanarion Daisy Chain Feather Fall. Forced to act quickly, the Steelhawks devised a pulley system with wagon wheels and rope to lower the weakest refugees while preparing for battle. As the fight erupted, Elara’s fireball scattered raiders, Shupin fought in werewolf form, and Nerrith transformed into a Giant Ape to defend the descent. Refugees climbed as warriors held the line, but arrows rained from above, and losses mounted. Shupin saved Nara from a fatal volley, casting raiders from the ledge, just as the elite Keshig riders arrived to turn the tide. Despite victory, ten lives were lost, including Saren’s husband. The survivors moved on, carrying scars of bravery and loss—a solemn reminder of war’s cost Reporting Steelhawk: Pok When we arrived as a relief team, we saw that everyone was hungry after the difficult ordeal they endured. Salvos cast goodberry to feed those most in need and others were given rations to help keep people fed and sated. We then decided to go scout ahead as a party to find a safe route before bringing everyone with us.Selvos then saw a large brown bear pooping in the distance and cast a spell to speak with the bear. The bear said it would help us find food if we helped him wipe and got some burrs out of his fur. As we kept foraging, Selvos asked the party for help and Vanus used mage hand to remove the burrs. While this was being done, the bear told us he hadn’t seen anyone in 28 moons. He then led us to an area to forage nearby. He also mentioned hunting is a little thin now and that there is alot of competition for food. As we kept foraging, the bear smelled elk in the distance and Selvos saw tracks that were 10 minutes old. It looked like the tracks of 3 elk, a big one, medium, and a small one.We discussed what we were doing to hunt and decided the bear will get the weakest and that I will slow the elk down with thickening foliage. After we stealthily got closer we saw very fresh elk scat and Selvos cast pass without trace. Vanus rode on top of the bear, and we were able to sneak closer before trying to get the elk. We used spike growth and plant growth to restrict the elk movement and Kinhesa simplified the later skinning process by burning most of the fur off with a fireball. We decide to butcher the elk in the forest then cleaned ourselves up and headed back to feed everyone. Vanus then fed the bear some honey back at the shelter and convinced him to come along with us and help keep bears away from us. The bear told Selvos his name is Fernando Jr. The name has passed down to the strongest of the litter each generation. Before resting for the evening, we discussed with Chief Altan that there was only one open space left to get to safety. We considered the forest path that we scouted and thus we convinced him to go through the forest as far as we can to shorten the open space After a rest we headed out through the forest and as we neared the edge I cast a spell to make it the last mile of our trail difficult to traverse to buy us some more time. We were able to reduce the plain area to about 5 hours. We made it halfway through the plain when it got very dry and we made sure everyone stayed hydrated. We didn’t see anyone behind us, but the wind ahead of us did start to pick up. In conversation during travel, Selvos learned from Chief Altan that he wants to let Batu define himself as he sees fit but that he will lend his support to whatever Batu chooses. When a sandstorm begane to impede our movement, we decided to have the horses walk behind us and to the sides to help shield people from the storm. Vanus also used cloth to cover the horses mouths to help them keep moving. The sandstorm kept getting stronger and then we heard thundering hooves behind us. After a fiery fight, we were able to succeed and before making it to the forest again, Kinhesa animated one of the enemies and brought them along with us. This is Pok, signing off
S01E82 Steelhawk International:"The Ironhold Accord" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Drevilor
1) Lvl 7 Barbarian - Bardock - StormWatcher
2) Lvl 5 Monk - Aasir - Drevilor
3) Lvl 7 Fighter - Shuck Norris CG | Spoon
4) Lvl 4 Light Cleric - Mendil Maac [Mendil]
5) Lvl 7 Cleric - Orin - SDM | Coach
6) Lvl 4 Paladin - Burnaby - Pickles
We started this session at the Edge of Fort Ironhold We escorted the People to the Fort Last Session and after a Long Journey made it to Ironhold After explaining why we came to Fort Ironhold and what happened at craterstone being attacked by 3 Huge Elementals we were stopped for a while doing their Protocoll. Thankfully after some talk the Mayor explained more and the Guards had some issues letting us in at first. We Started Tending to some of the wounded and managed to get 5 back to shape pretty quickly. The Guards let the wounded and Mayor Stonefist in first so Mayor Stonefist could talk to the people inside. Once they opened the Gate they let us in in a orderly fashion in a group of 2 each in line. The Group went to the Infarmy first and met Healer Orin and offered him help to tend the wounded. After healing the People in the Infarmy 1 of the Healed people lead us to the Storehouse he got his food from because he suffered from Food poisoning. While 1part of the group was clearing the issue in the storehouse Shuck went to the Training yard and met Grev Medrit and started doing some training fights. Buns went to the Smith and checked for Equipment he could potentially use. Bardock in the meantime went into the Mainbuilding trying to get towards the Vault but the Guards quickly told him he wont have access to it without a person with proper authority. Bardock then proceeded to go towards the Room where the Warden Resides but got told off by the 2 Guards of the Warden telling him he needs to wait for a appointment offering him a 6aclock slot but bardock quickly declines. The Storehouse Group checked for poison in the Storehouse and while not finding anything asking around for more places where they could find drinkable water and during that chat the Chef of the Storehouse (Dorran) interferred and asked what our business is and after explaining why we were there they allowed the 2 clerics to pray for purifying the food and water in the storehouse and after that the Chef of the Storehouse gave those 2 sweets. Aasir stayed back at the Storehouse and helped the workers and Dorran back there while Shuck , Mendil, Buns and Oryn went to the Well. While Mendil started Cleansing the Well they got interrupted by 1 of the Workers asking if they are Holy Persons after a brief explanation they continued cleansing the Well and Oryn blessed/cleansed wounds of one of the Workers that was interested. After cleansing the Well Mendil found a poisoned Water Barrel and asked Oryn for help to Cleanse both the Barrel and the Well. Oryn offered to go down the well to check for the Source though Shuck reinforced the Rope first. As Oryn wents down while Shuck was doing the wellwork ontop and arriving after a lengthy while Oryn procceded to Cleanse the Well while turning invisible as a safety precaution. After realising its not gonna work because its to much water down there Shuck reeled him back up and Buns instead went down and used his healing hands to purify more of the water however it still wasnt enough then Shuck reeled him back up. Meanwhile Mendil and Shuck were thinking what if its the Source thats the problem and told the other 2 about it. Quickly during that discussion the Warden called Kragon asked the 4 what they were doing they explained about the cleansing and poison where Kragon told him that that normally shouldnt be a thing since it is a new well and the source was comming from the Canals and invited them to talk in his private room more throughly. They then proceeded to go to the Townhall getting the other party members aswell with Warden Kragon where they met the Mayor, Chief Atlan and their respective bodyguards. The Leaders talked about the problems of the Water and the Siege for a potential counterrattack and had a lengthy discussion how to deal with those 3 Elementals while having a resource scarcity and talking to the clans. The Leaders continued their discussion on how to deal with the Future of Craterstone and Mines while mentioning spy among us and such. They then told the Party that the Steelhawks could deal with the Water Issues while also dealing with some stragglers that need help reaching the Fort. After concluding that the Steelhawks accept the task everyone stood up and left the room doing their work. The Party then went to get some horses and made their way towards the Canals through the same way they originaly came from going back towards the direction of Craterstone. The Party reaching the Canal spotted some Birds across the Horizon but ignored that and slowly tried to go down the Canal where some of the party members had issues getting down without "issues". They found the source of the most likely atleast that time and its 7horse corpses underwater that are weeks old. After further investigation they found tracks that would indicate that there would have been 16horses and that someone most likely dumped them into the canal. After a gruesome dive we managed to get the horse corpses out and started burning them to not have them poison the waters again. Once we managed to get across with the horses we healed up a bit and took a short rest then proceeded to search for the stragglers while it began becoming darker and darker. After a while of horseriding they encountered the stragglers with The Mercenarys lead by Tharok and took a seat with them at their campfire meeting Florence + Brondor again from the Tavern and the Shopkeepers from Cragstone. We took watches where the first watch was Aasir and Mendil then it was just Shuck proceeded by Bardock in the 3rd and then Mendil again at last with no Issues or difficulties. After waking up we packed our things and went back towards the Fort but encountered some rogue Goliaths and we engaged in a Fight. After the reallly really long fight The group and the Stragglers went back to the fort.
S01E81 Steelhawk International: "Steelhawk International: The Final Divide" (Craterstone)
Report in Elaras Mind The Battle of the Tear: A Fairy’s Tale of Bravery, Wolves, and War Oh, darlings, gather 'round for a tale that’s part heroic feat, part culinary lament! We Steelhawks were escorting forty-five Sunstriders, and wouldn’t you know it, we ended up in quite the pickle—between a deadly cliff with a 500-foot drop (quite steep for even the bravest of faeries!) and Lorkbold’s raiders nipping at our heels! Just as the doom seemed to thicken, our wolfish heartthrob, Shupin, regaled us with the Legend of the Khanarians’ Daisy Chain Feather Fall. Quite the heroic tale! And it sparked a glimmer of hope! Time was running out faster than a hot pie at a goblin gathering. So, up I soared, keeping an eye out for those pesky raiders, while Shupin and Hollow inspected the cliff for any hope of getting down. Nara, seeing the direness of our plight, bellowed, “Fight them! Abandon the carts!” So, Shupin gathered every scrap of rope and, oh, the cleverness! We crafted a sort of pulley system from the wagon wheels, making knotted steps to help everyone climb down. Honestly, it was that moment I realized—our Shupin is not just a pretty face! So resourceful and dependable. A real wolf in shining fur. Then, oh, the rumble of warhorses! It was like thunder, but hungrier. As the fight broke out, Winston flew high and proud, Reinhard held the ground steady, and there was yours truly, tossing fireballs like they were cherry tarts. And did I imagine it, or did Shupin—now fully wolfed-out—shoot me a grin when my fireball scattered their ranks? Tactical genius on my part, obviously. Swoon. Meanwhile, Hollow was doing his dance of death with one of Lorkbold’s monks. He was punched in the nuts twice. That's considered a low blow, even faeries know that’s rude! Reinhard was hacking away like a hero from the old tales, and Winston kept swooping in like a majestic pastry, saving children and wounded alike. Then came Nerrith’s pièce de résistance: I whipped out my grimoire and chose from a list of beasts that would make the raiders quake in their boots—a Giant Ape! Oh, the delight! And the chaos! But just as things seemed to be going smoothly, a volley of arrows aimed right for Nara. In a flash, Shupin, half-wolf and all courage, charged forward and cast those raiders off the cliff with the grace of a hero and the strength of a dire wolf. Ah, perhaps life isn’t all about food, after all. (But mostly, it is.) Just when it seemed we’d all be devoured, the Keshig riders, the Khanarion elite, arrived to behold the carnage and lend a hand. Yet even as we breathed a sigh of relief, the cost of victory weighed heavy. We lost ten brave souls that day, including Saren’s dear husband. The battlefield left its mark on us all—a blend of sorrow, courage, and the reminder that, yes, war is no picnic. But fret not! I’ll make sure our next adventure includes a feast. After all, every hero deserves a good meal after a day like that!
S01E81 Steelhawk International: "Steelhawk International: The Final Divide" (Craterstone)
Watcher: DM | Ethan
L8 Cleric Hollow Hollow
L9 Wizard Elara DM | Ethan
L9 Barb Neririeth Drevilor
L9 shupin CG | Spoon
L8 Paladin Reinhard CloverCity
L8 Cleric sorcerer Winston Mensius
Escorting forty-five Sunstrider refugees, the Steelhawks found themselves in a dire stand—a steep, deadly 500-foot drop to one side and Lorkbold’s relentless raiders to the other. Their fate seemed bleak until Shupin, the formidable werewolf, recounted the legend of the Khanarians’ Daisy Chain Feather Fall—a daring tale that sparked an idea amidst the turmoil. With time slipping away, Elara took to the skies, scouting the advancing threat, while Shupin and Hollow inspected the edge of the Tear for any descent option. It was clear: they would have to fight if the survivors were to escape. Nara, witnessing the grim situation, commanded, “Fight them! Abandon the carts!” The Steelhawks quickly devised a plan, rigging the wagon wheels as a pulley system to lower the refugees down the Tear. Shupin gathered every length of rope they had, crafting knotted steps to ease the treacherous descent. The weakest climbers were lowered first, as the warriors steeled themselves for the inevitable clash. As the rumble of warhorses echoed, the battle erupted. Winston, soaring high, and Reinhard, steadfast on the ground, guided the refugees, while the Steelhawks braced for Lorkbold’s brutal forces. Blades met with blood; Elara hurled a fireball, scattering the attackers, while Shupin transformed into his full werewolf form, fighting with ferocious strength. In the midst of this blood-soaked stand, Hollow faced one of Lorkbold’s monks in a deadly exchange, taking a low blow even by fae standards, yet pressed on with grim resolve. Reinhard, surrounded by enemies, fought valiantly, each swing fending off another raider. Winston, swift and airborne, swooped down repeatedly, saving children and the wounded from harm’s reach. With arrows raining from the cliffs above, targeting the descending refugees, it was clear that desperate measures were needed. Drawing from his grimoire, Nerrith summoned a creature of might, transforming into a Giant Ape, a hulking protector who struck terror into Lorkbold’s raiders. But as the fight raged on, their hearts sank. A volley of arrows flew toward Nara. In a flash, Shupin, in his half-werewolf form, charged to her defense, casting raiders from the ledge to their doom. Just as hope waned, the Keshig riders—a Khanarion elite force—arrived, witnessing firsthand the merciless onslaught. Yet, even in victory, a solemn silence fell as they counted their losses. Ten souls had perished in the fray, including Saren’s husband. Guided to safety by the Keshig riders, the Steelhawks left behind the battlefield, marked by bravery and sorrow, a reminder that in war, not all ends in flowers and daisies.
S01E80 Steelhawk International: "Aftershock"
Watcher: SDM | David
L12 Sorlock Jimothy
L15 SorFiCleBa Gaius Valerious aDM |Gaius
L15 Paladin Oboreru SDM | David
L13 Paladin Malcom SDM | Coach
L12 Monk Barbarian | Ashley BobRob
L14 Fighter Stahl Xisle
To those who will find this record, I, Oboreru Kiku, submit a humble account of our mission to protect the people of Craterstone. Our task began in the aftermath of the last Steelhawk team’s retreat. Craterstone had been besieged by formidable creatures—a horde of elementals charged with radiant energy so fierce it seemed to scorch the very air. The attack forced the team to retreat to Jimothy’s sanctum, a library nestled in a pocket dimension, bringing with them forty or fifty of Craterstone’s surviving Goliaths. These hardy people had fought to the last, their numbers reduced but their spirits unbroken... but only by a small margin, considering what they've lost. Together with my companions Jimothy, Gaius, Malcolm, Ashley, and Stahl, we deliberated on our next steps. We understood that releasing the effects of Jimothy’s Rod of Security and returning to Craterstone would reveal devastation and danger; to both us, and to the survivors of the city. Concern was etched on each of our faces, and the sense of danger hung heavily in the air. But we all knew our duty lay in the world we came from, not in the safety of a hidden haven. When the magic of the Rod faded, the sanctuary dissolved into a swirl of arcane energy, and we found ourselves back in Craterstone. There was no preparing for the sight that awaited us—the city lay in ruin, its stout, wooden buildings scorched and cracked, its once-stalwart walls toppled like broken teeth. The dead lay in stark silence, marking the final stand of those who had not made it to the sanctuary. I could feel the grief of the Goliaths like a pulse in the air, their deep mourning a solemn reminder of lives lost defending their home. We led the survivors northward, toward the hope of Fort Ironhold, our path winding through the plains. Together with Gaius, I took to the skies atop one of our animated bronze griffons to scout the valleys to the east and west, my heart heavy as I scanned for any sign of the elementals. The land was eerily still, with no disturbances in sight, so we pressed northward, leaving the dead to their resting place. After days of travel, we reached the desert hardpan. The heat bore down on us, draining our strength, but the Goliaths were strong, and their spirits remained unbroken. The Steelhawks held the vanguard, with Ashley and Stahl keeping the line and the rest of us providing guidance. Yet, as we crossed a stretch of barren ground, the sand itself began to stir. From below erupted fierce sand dragons, their scales rough as stone and their breath a storm of stinging sand. Their attack was swift, their claws and tails lashing with brutal strength. The battle that followed tested each of us. Ashley fought with the tenacity of a wild tempest, his fists striking with brutal precision, while Stahl held the line, his blade flashing as he parried the sand dragons’ strikes. Gaius and Malcolm fought with radiant determination, their skills honed to perfection as they protected our flank and rallied the survivors. Gaius was brilliant in absorbing attack after attack, and I stood my ground in melee as well, keeping our casters safe. For my part, I channeled all the strength and light my oath has granted me. When one dragon attempted to break through to the Goliaths by taking us down, I stepped into its path, calling upon my Divine Smite as I parried its vicious strikes. I whispered a prayer as I reached deep within, unleashing a wave of power that froze it in place, its fierce, clawed foot mid-air. With the dragon held paralyzed, Stahl and Ashley pressed the attack, their strikes merciless as they finished it off. The second beast, enraged, met a similar fate, though its fierce claws and whirlwinds pushed us to the edge of our endurance. When the dust settled, we gathered around the fallen sand dragons, victorious but worn. I knelt on the scorched desert earth, offering thanks to the Divine for sparing our lives and for the chance to protect those entrusted to us. The Goliaths, solemn yet resolute, gathered their injured and regrouped behind us, their gratitude wordless but clear. We press onward now, still bearing the weight of our task but bolstered by the knowledge that, together, we have faced the dragon’s fury and prevailed. In service to the brave survivors, and to the memory of those poor but nobles souls who have been lost... Marquess Oboreru Kiku
S01E79 "Steelhawk International: "Descent into Peril" (The Edge of the Tear)"
Watcher: Elara DM | Ethan
Lv10 Sorlock | Ellyond
Lv11 Warlock | Pickles Pickles
Lv8 Cleric | Hollow Hollow
Lv8 Paladin | Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
Lv8 Rogarian Munster aDM | iFAIL
L8 wizard | Elara cinderwing DM | Ethan
With Batu and Nara leading the way, the Steelhawks set out on a merry (and slightly chaotic) mission, escorting the last of the Sunstrider survivors to Chief Eltan’s camp. As the party ventured down the winding gorge, they stumbled upon a tribe of wary werewolves. Though the start was a tad prickly, they soon warmed up to us, especially when they saw our little convoy of forty refugees. Some marched, others were piled high with supplies—it was a hodgepodge parade of hopeful souls, on a journey to safety. Pickles fluttered up, scanning the horizon like an inquisitive butterfly, spotting hoofprints and signs of riders who had been snooping around these parts, likely in search of us! Meanwhile, Elleyond rummaged in his pockets, producing a funny assortment of magical baubles. While he pondered every little detail, I couldn’t help but think of the important things in life: savoring the world, each meal, and preferably not waiting four hours after breakfast! As we trudged on, Munster rode with Nara, and I fluttered around, showing off my grimoire to him like a fine cheese menu. Munster, being a mouse of refined taste, gave the book an appreciative lick—honestly, who could blame him? After much ado, Elleyond summoned a metal owl, which we eyed as a potential flying companion—although, admittedly, flying can work up quite an appetite! With Chief Lorkbold’s assassins tailing us, we scrambled to hatch a plan. Elleyond, ever resourceful, conjured a grand, pyramid-like house for the refugees, while Hollow constructed a cozy hut nearby. We then nestled down in the grass like sneaky fairies waiting to nab a pie cooling on a windowsill—speaking of pie, I must visit Granny for her famous apple variety soon! The rider party sent part of their forces towards us. When the riders arrived, Hollow vanished into thin air with a long, mysterious stick in hand. Elleyond’s “surprise” came in the form of a rather unfortunate, sickening cloud (likely inspired by the griffin he rode earlier). Not exactly a foodie's delight, but it did the job! Munster, meanwhile, charged in, armed to the teeth with weapons twice his size—a sight to behold! Pickles through his weird smelling picklefolds made quick work with some eldritch blasts while Azure spewing white sticky cotton candy at the horses, holding them in place. As the riders closed in on me with the zeal of hungry barbarians eyeing a prime steak, I couldn’t help but laugh—were they after my secret recipes, perhaps? The skirmish was intense but short-lived. As the last rider tried to escape, Munster launched into action like a mouse chasing cheese, tossing a net twice his size to capture the fleeing foe. And there he was—Toghurl, trapped like a rat in Munster’s net, ready to spill all his culinary secrets (or so we hoped). Onward we march, with a hint of victory, a dash of mystery, and—naturally—a rumble in our bellies! Ahead, the Steelhawks have another challenge they have to face...
S01E76 Steelhawk International: "The Price of Peace" (Craterstone)
Report of Wolf After a quiet journey across the Stardust Abyss, the Steelhawks returned to Craterstone and made their way to the Rocksteady Tavern for food, drinks, and much-needed rest. Amidst their meal, they spotted a large group of Khanarion Keshig Riders, fresh from battle and still bloodied. They quickly learned that these warriors were escorting Grand Chief Altan, who was in Craterstone to meet with Mayor Stonefist regarding the escalating issues with the Behemoth Brotherhood. After resting well and enjoying a hearty breakfast, the Steelhawks headed to the town hall for their meeting. In the conference room, they found Chief Altan already there, ready to discuss the situation at Fort Obsidian with Mayor Stonefist. As the conversation unfolded, a powerful tremor rocked the building—an earthquake. The Steelhawks rushed outside, where they found Craterstone in chaos: buildings lay crumbled, and the ground continued to shake. Off to their right loomed a massive elemental figure, seemingly commanding the quake. Without hesitation, Shivy leapt onto her horse and charged the elemental. Her courageous move, however, was met with disaster, as two more elementals erupted from the earth, surrounding her. Her horse was struck down immediately, and Shivy found herself trapped. The rest of the Steelhawks scrambled to help but were forced to watch from a distance as the three elementals overwhelmed Shivy, bringing her to the brink. Despite their best efforts, the Steelhawks found themselves outmatched—the elementals were too powerful to subdue. Recognizing the imminent threat, Shivy made the call to retreat. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Jimothy activated his Rod of Security, uttering the magic words to transport the Steelhawks and every Craterstone resident he could see into his Dream Library sanctuary. Inside this haven, they could regroup and recover. Yet, while the Steelhawks and the townsfolk take refuge, Craterstone remains unprotected. What devastation might the elementals continue to wreak on the town, and what will they return to once they leave Jimothy's sanctuary?
S01E76 Steelhawk International: "The Price of Peace" (Craterstone)
Watcher: DM | MaliciousSlayer
L13 warlock Gwendilyn CloverCity
L12 Monk, Barbarian | Ashley BobRob
L12 Bard Tydus aDM | Mungus
L15 fighter Talon DM | MaliciousSlayer
L12 Sorlock Jimothy aDM | iFAIL
L13 Fighter/Rogue Shivy CG | Spoon
Our journey began in the arid, unforgiving landscape of the desert. The team's objective was to reach Fort Obsidian promptly to warn them of the approaching threat and ensure that the fort was adequately prepared. Upon arrival, we met with Kragan, the Warden of Fort Obsidian, to discuss defensive measures and share intelligence on the nature of the impending attack At Fort Obsidian, we successfully delivered the warning and held a strategic discussion with Kragan, outlining the defense preparations required to withstand the anticipated assault. Kragan provided insights into the fort's defenses and expressed gratitude for the timely message. We believe the fort will be attacked because of the bounty of green gems and golden mithril Shortly after departing Fort Obsidian, we were ambushed by three formidable Earth Elementals. These creatures, made of dense rock and earth, posed a significant threat. The team engaged in combat, utilizing a combination of agility and elemental resistance techniques to neutralize the threat. After an intense Battle the Adventurers Decide to minimize casualties and Jimothy Uses His Rod of security to Teleport the town to His Dream library
S01E75: Steelhawk International – "Bonds of Blood and Honor"
Watcher: David
L10 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
L9 Fighter Tao DM | Ethan
L9 Sorlock Ellyond Elleyond
L8 Artificer Azure P1 aDM | Aviatorwade
L9 Paladin Fang aDM | Mungus
L10 Fighter/Druid/Wiz Thistle Bloom SDM | David
Thistlebloom Thorntongue reporting Right, so this whole thing started when the Steelhawks and I stumbled on another Khanarion camp. Lorkbold’s bastards had already torn through it, left it in pieces. These were peaceful folk, yeah? No warriors, no fighters, just farmers and horse lovers. And those marauders butchered ‘em—people and horses, both. Cowards. Made my blood boil. (My stomach growled too, but that was how I reacted when I ran with the Ankle Shankers and not these ‘civilized’ mercs, but stomachs say what stomachs say, amirite?) But I’m a Steelhawk now right? So I tell my stomach to shut up, we got to work to do, and then we’re all fixing wagons, patching up the poor sods who survived, moving this, salvaging that. Azure and Elleyond? They’re handy with tools. Korin did some healing and dragging, Fang was pacing around like justice was about to smite someone. He said something about transitioning from Conquest to Justice, but that sounds like some life-coach tryin’ to tell a lion he can be a vegan if he just tries hard enough. Oh yeah, did I mention? He’s kinda a lion, so, yeah, the conquering thing prob comes natch. Oh, and he seemed surprised that “a goblin is our best historian?” Pfft. Lions… they lie around and let the girls do all the work anyway, so who the heck cares what they think, right? Right. Anyway, we got the survivors together and moving (god, they’re sooooo slow, coulda stabbed them all in the ankle in like 30 seconds or some crap), and I did my bit for the enterprise—rode out, messed up our backtrail so Lorkbold’s goons wouldn’t be on us so quick. Was hopin’ to leave ‘‘em chasing their own tails while we hauled these people out of there like by a freakin’ pulley! After hot-footing it across the plains, we hit this massive forest edge. Huge trees, thick brush—you know the kind. Wagons weren’t gonna make it down that escarpment, so we took the hidden path. Seemed smart at the time. But then, things got weird. You ever get that feeling someone’s watching? That’s what hit us. Then came this freaky song, kinda whispered on the wind, right when everyone started gettin’ jittery. Couldn’t put one foot in front of the other without feelin’ like I had a rock tied to my leg. Real magical crap. Then the wolves showed up. Big ones. Eyes glowing in the dark. And wouldn’t you know it, women shifted into dire wolves—yep, bloody werewolves. They started harassing us, growling and circling, and we were about to throw down. Weapons drawn, everyone ready for a fight. But I wasn’t having it. Hell no. Not after what we’d been through, not after dragging these poor Khanarions out of the jaws of Lorkbold’s filth. So I stepped up, big mouth and all. I shouted at ‘em—challenged them, really. Told ‘em who we were, told ‘em we weren’t here to start trouble, but that we sure as hell weren’t gonna take it, either. We were here for the survivors, the ones Lorkbold’s scum left bleeding in the dirt. I made it clear we weren’t their enemy, and if they wanted to mess with us, they were kicking the wrong hornet’s nest. Then their leader shows herself. Granita. Big, mean, and looks like she’s chewed up and spit out harder things than us. She listens, though. Turns out, she and her pack got booted out of the Khanarions ages ago—something about them being werewolves and all. They’ve got their grudges, but Granita’s not a monster. She heard us out, realized we weren’t here to cause problems, and—get this—she actually felt bad for the Khanarion refugees. Kinda surprised me, but hey, even feral wolf ladies can have a heart, I guess. She called off her pack, dropped the enchantments that had us slowed down like we were wading through mud. But here’s the thing—Granita wasn’t stupid. She knew Lorkbold’s men were probably hot on our heels, and this forest wasn’t exactly safe either. So, she made us an offer—help. They took us to their camp, deep in the woods, hidden away from prying eyes. Once we got there, I took a moment to look around. The Khanarions were breathing easier, finally getting a chance to rest from the jouncing wagons and all. The Steelhawks, too. But me? I knew we weren’t out of the woods—literally. Lorkbold’s lot would come sniffing around eventually, and when they did, they’d get more than they bargained for. We had werewolf allies now. But until then, we’d hold, we’d rest, and we’d be ready to throw down when the time came. Because I’m Thistlebloom Thorntongue, bravest of my race, and anyone looking for a fight with us? They’d better be ready for the scrap of their lives. And they better watch their gods-damned ankles, I’ll tell you that for free.
S01E74: Steelhawk International – "Forge of Fate" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Korin
L11 Artificer/Paladin/Sorcerer/Cleric Jig Stoney
L10 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
L9 Warlock Pickles Pickles
L9 Druid/Sorcerer/Cleric Cindella BobRob
L11 Fighter/Monk/fellow stoner Bill williebeast
6/ L8 Warlock/Sorcerer Mavilius Mavilius
To Whom It May Concern, This report details our most recent mission, during which we uncovered a hidden Goliath forge and uncovered troubling artifacts deep beneath the earth. After a brutal battle, we pressed on to reveal secrets that could have far-reaching consequences. The Forge Battle: The mission began with our party standing victorious over the Goliath blacksmith and his guards within a massive underground forge. Despite our exhaustion, we began gathering the mithral and adamantine weapons crafted in the mine. There were more supplies than we could carry at the time, so we left them for later retrieval, ensuring they were secured. Turning our attention to the blacksmith's office, we discovered a strange compass-like device. After further investigation, it became clear that the compass fit into a slot above the fireplace. Jig, with his usual curiosity, slotted the compass into place and twisted it. The runes around the fireplace began to glow, and we heard the sound of stone grinding from the corner of the room. Initially, I moved toward the sound, trying to discern what was happening. Meanwhile, Mavilious spotted a hidden compartment in the mantle of the fireplace. Inside, he pulled out two ancient maps. These maps, as he later deciphered, were Planar maps—depicting different planes of existence. The complexity of this discovery was far beyond anything I had encountered before, yet I could feel their significance. When we laid the maps on the table, they fused into its surface, triggering the opening of another hidden drawer. Pickles, ever curious, reached in and pulled out a shimmering crystal. Mavilious confirmed it was an ancient control core for a "Spacejammer," a ship capable of traveling between worlds. The core, however, was damaged, and it had an eerie sentience to it. At first, I attempted to repair the crystal using my glassblower’s tools and the forge’s fire. During this process, I experienced flashes of what seemed like memories—visions of advanced beings walking among massive metal structures floating in the stars. The experience was unlike anything I had ever felt, and I knew I was dealing with something far beyond my understanding. Recognizing that Cindella, being a Druid of Crystals, might be better suited to handle it, I passed the crystal to her. She immediately began attempting to attune to it, seeking to understand its deeper power. Elemental Assault and Return to Craterstone: With the crystal and maps secured, we returned to the forge to see if the mine extended further. As we re-entered the forge room, massive elementals emerged from the furnaces, attacking us with the fury of the very fire and earth they came from. The battle was fierce, but we held our ground, using everything we had to defeat the elementals and secure the forge once and for all. After the dust settled, we gathered the weapons and loaded them into carts, bringing them to the surface along with the horses. We took a brief rest before setting out to return to Craterstone with our spoils and discoveries in tow. Meeting with Mayor Stonefist: Upon arriving in Craterstone, we immediately reported to Mayor Stonefist. We handed over the mithral and adamantine weapons, a critical discovery that will surely strengthen the city’s defenses. In exchange, we offered etched copies of the Planar maps for Steelhawk HQ, while agreeing to leave the originals with the mayor for at least one night. He seemed intrigued by the maps' significance and grateful for the additional time to study them. However, when it came time to part with the crystal, Cindella made it clear that she wasn’t willing to let it go. She said, "Where the crystal goes, I go." Her connection to the artifact had deepened, and her refusal to part with it was firm. Mayor Stonefist, understanding her resolve, agreed, and they spent the night together—Cindella and the crystal remaining under the mayor’s watchful eye. I will refrain from speculating on the nature of their time together, but both seemed quite focused on understanding the crystal's full power. Final Observations: The Goliaths' forge and the secrets we uncovered within it suggest a much larger and more complex plan than we initially suspected. The weapons alone would have been a significant threat, but the discovery of Planar maps and the sentient control core indicates that the Goliaths may have access to resources and knowledge beyond our understanding. Our next steps will require not only careful planning but deeper investigation into the nature of these artifacts and the Goliath ambitions behind them. The maps and the crystal could hold keys to powers we can’t yet fully comprehend.
S01E73 Steelhawk International: "Rise from Ruin" (Sunstride Camp)
Watcher:David
L9 Cleric Korin (Needs verification have Ashur if needed) aDM | iFAIL
L11 Barbarian Deceus SDM | David
L9 Sorlock Ellyond Elleyond
L10 Bard Enrick Xisle
L8 Paladin Fang aDM | Mungus
L10 bardaladin Captain Thrasios aDM | Gaius
Upon our arrival, we discovered the Khanarion Sunstrider tribe in a state of devastation. The majority of their people were dead or wounded, both physically and emotionally, as this tribe is pacifistic in nature. Their leader, Saran, had been betrayed by her brother Bold, who led marauders to ravage the tribe. Their horses, too, were slaughtered, a grievous insult to a people who consider their mounts kin on top of the cost in tribal lives. We immediately set to work, with Korin and Enrick taking point in stabilizing the wounded. My healer-employee Cornelius deployed my Campaign Field Tent, allowing us to establish a functional triage center. Captain Thrasios led morale efforts, the healers healed, and the non-healer types went to patrol and to ride the backtrail of the bastards who did this to a tribe of pacifists. Our primary concern was the safety of the remaining civilians, especially with marauders expected to return for a second wave of mayhem. After too short a time stabilizing the wounded and trying to establish a functional base of operations after the ransacking and destruction throughout the camp, another raiding party arrived on horseback, attempting to finish what they had started. As predicted. We rode out for combat, knowing only we stood between the marauders of Bold (and Lorkbold) and the already distraught and disheartened Sunstriders. Combat Overview: Engagement: The marauders approached from the north and east, I think. They charged our position in confidence, underestimating the preparedness and will of the Steelhawks. We engaged them head-on. We were almost outmatched from the beginning. Their leader cut into us, with powers inflicting in capacitation similar to how I’ve seen monks stun their foes, and their spellcasters had counterspells and silvery barbs to burn. Elleyond unleashed a barrage of arcane energy, disrupting the enemy's rear lines, while Fang held the western flank with his divine shield, repelling multiple riders who attempted to flank us. Captain Thrasios coordinated with both me and Fang, using his paladin training to shore up our defensive position, and I charged in to fight. The incapacitation cost me dearly, as I was forced to hold position on full defensive mode and to try to absorb attacks so others wouldn’t have to. Enrick and Korin moved to invoke supportive magic as needed, and the twilight sanctuary kept reinforcing us to give us a fighting chance. Enrick delivered several clutch heals, Korin, too, later in the fight, keeping me and the others in the fight longer than we would’ve managed otherwise. Finally breaking out of the incapacitation, we managed to focus fire and take down their leader– I think his team called him Tito, during the fight. With that, Thrasios regained some mobility and charged to take down one of the casters in the rear. Fang held the middle but got taken down, and Enrick was also targeted and knocked down. I was hit by strike after strike of radiant energy, and never had a chance to get to my potion belt. I should’ve fallen on the last one, but no barbarian has ever given in easily to one crippling blow. And that was when we finally hit our stride, just when things looked pretty much darkest. I cut down one, then another on charge with my hooves, and Cornelius, still just a journeyman healer on hire, darted in and brought Enrick back. Elleyond was able to keep peppering with bolts as I got back into the twilit zone around Korin, and Korin managed a healing with one of their few remaining slots to bring Fang back up. When we cut down the twins who had so injured me, and then their final melee combatant with my charge, the last couple bolted. They weren’t fast enough to outrun me– remember, I took down that bloody champion golden chicken, right? With a charge, my eldritch claws extending my reach, I slashed and stomped the first of the fleeing casters, and then cut down the second. I, for one, wasn’t thinking about prisoners; I was pissed enough for the rage that so empowers me to continue for as long as I wanted. Outcome: The marauder threat was neutralized, and the tribe is safe for now. Casualty report: We don’t have a final number on the Sunstrider dead, but Enrick has been searching for a diamond large and expensive enough to bring back Saran and then whomever else might be saved. We took no prisoners among the second wave of attackers, because, frankly, they came to kill their own kind who won’t even fight in their own defense. Bold’s riders deserved far worse, and I intend to make sure he and his bastards know that. In person. Recommendations: Continue aiding the Khanarion tribe with resources and medical supplies to rebuild and recover. Send a scouting party to locate the marauders' base of operations and ensure no further attacks occur. Encourage the tribe to form alliances with neighboring tribes to prevent isolation and future threats. Their pacifist nature makes them vulnerable to such raids. Final Notes: The Steelhawk Mercenaries performed admirably under pressure, proving once again that we can adapt to both combat and humanitarian missions with efficiency and honor, and that we won’t roll over and die at the first blows and spells of an enemy. The bond between this tribe and the Steelhawks has been strengthened, and future cooperation may prove mutually beneficial. Filed by: Deceus Nocturne
S01E72: Steelhawk International "Secrets of Steel" (Stardust Abyss)
Report By Ellyond The adventurers of Steelhawk, renowned for their bravery and skill, had managed to defeat most of the goliaths in the giant crater, but as they believed the fight was over, one of the towering enemies, wounded but determined, managed to slip away into what appeared to be the mining tunnel, half-hidden by the flames and destruction. Without hesitation, the Steelhawk group gave chase, plunging into the dark, claustrophobic tunnels. As Adiphos charges in the mine tunnel first, flicker of torchlight in the mine revealed two goliaths standing ready—one fighter and the other, wielding arcane energy, a mage. The fight erupted in an instant. Soon, the rest of the adventurers came into the tunnel and aided Adiphos to fight back against the two goliaths. Amidst the clash of blades and the bursts of arcane light, something strange happened. Ellyond was warped deep into the tunnel, being seperated from the rest of the Steelhawks group. A third goliath, hidden by powerful magic, had crept into the battle unnoticed—a stealthy assassin waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Ellyond's mind raced, realizing what had happened. With a swift incantation, he touches on his prized arcane vial and cast Dispel Magic, unraveling the invisibility cloaking the assassin.The adventurers rallied. With the hidden threat, the tide of battle quickly turned. The adventurers pressed their advantage, overwhelming their foes with a renewed burst of energy. The goliaths fell, one after another, their immense strength no match for the Steelhawk team’s superior tactics. However, the mine was far from silent as sounds of metal clanking echoes through the caverns. The adventurers exchanged glances, and as they caught their breath, they couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper lay within the mine. The goliaths had fled here for a reason, and whatever it was, the Steelhawk adventurers were determined to uncover it. Gathering around, the group quickly devised a plan. Rather than charging forward recklessly into the unknown, they decided to send their two most skilled members ahead to scout: Ellyond, whose mastery of arcane detection and ability to traverse stealthily, and Cindella, the protector and group's healer, famed for her defensive and unmatched agility. Together, they would be the Steelhawks' eyes in the darkness. The pair moved quietly through the twisting tunnels of the mine, Ellyond leading the way with his steps soundless against the rough stone, while Cindella, ready to protect Ellyond and securing an escape path, followed close behind. They had a clear goal: to find any remaining threats or signs of life ahead before reporting back. However, as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that something was amiss. Ellyond and Cindella hadn’t established a clear plan, and their usual synchronicity faltered. Ellyond moved with the confidence of someone who trusted his instincts, slipping past corners and ducking behind cover without communicating his actions. Cindella, not quite in tune with the rogue’s style, focusing more on retreating than detecting any hidden traps or presence in the surrounding. It was this lack of coordination that would cost them. As they approached a corner, following what seemed to be trail marks on the ground, Ellyond's senses prickled with unease, but before he could cast a detection spell, a sharp twang echoed through the air. Two arrows, swift and deadly, sailed from the shadows. Cindella, her reflexes honed by years of surviving ambushes, rolled out of the way in a heartbeat. Ellyond wasn’t as lucky. Two goliath archers appeared, their massive frames partially concealed by the shadows. They were perched on ledges high above, bows drawn and arrows ready for another strike. Without hesitation, both Ellyond and Cindella retreated, sprinting back toward the cavern where the rest of the Steelhawks waited. “They were ready for us,” Ellyond growled, regreting not taking sufficient precautionary procedures for the stealth operation.The rest of the Steelhawks sprang into action, their expressions grim but determined. They had faced worse odds before, and they wouldn’t allow two goliaths, no matter how well-hidden, to stand in their way. Realizing the tide had turned, both goliath archers tried to retreat further into the mine, but the Steelhawks gave no quarter. Ellyond cast a warping spell, cutting the escape path for one of the goliath, whereas Zarban rush head on to the second goliath, With a fierce battle cry, Zarban delivered the final blow, his sword cutting through the second goliath archer with a mighty swing, whereas the rest of the group completely overwhelmed the archer teleported by the warping spell. As the Steelhawks adventurers gathered themselves after their latest battle, a distant sound began to echo through the mine. The unmistakable clank of metal on metal reverberated through the tunnels, growing louder with every second. The adventurers tensed, their hands gripping their weapons. A faint glow, the flicker of firelight, appeared at the far end of the tunnel. The Steelhawks knew they had come too far to turn back. Whatever the goliaths had been doing down here in this forsaken mine was about to be revealed. Determined to uncover the truth, the group pushed forward, moving as a single unit, every sense sharpened by the eerie silence between the metallic echoes. As they approached, the tunnel opened into a wide cavern. There, waiting in ambush, were two towering goliath warriors, their faces painted with the markings of their tribe. The goliath warriors charged, their immense strength nearly overwhelming the front line, but the Steelhawks held firm. It was then, from afar, stood a third figure—another goliath. Without warning, the goliath, seemingly a mage, raised his staff and hurled a ball of fire toward the Steelhawks, the crackling orb searing through the air. It was the goliath mage that posed the greatest threat, launching devastating fireballs from a distance. The heat from each blast scorched the tunnel, leaving the adventurers scrambling for cover. Realizing they needed to take him out, Korin and Salune pushed forward, hoping to catch the mage before he could unleash more destruction. But just as they closed in, the goliath mage vanished into the shadows, retreating deeper into the mine. With the mage gone, the Steelhawks focused on the two remaining goliath fighters. One by one, the goliaths fell, their massive forms collapsing to the ground. The battle was over—but there was no time to celebrate. The adventurers, weary and slightly anxious , gathered at the edge of the cavern. Peering into the next chamber, they saw the heart of the goliaths' operation. A massive room stretched out before them, dominated by giant furnaces that spewed heat into the air. Goliaths, their bodies gleaming with sweat, were hard at work at the forge, hammering on glowing metal. The air shimmered with the intensity of the heat, and the adventurers could feel it seeping into their armor. The group paused, their bodies aching from the last battle. Spells had been expended, and their resources were running low. The Steelhawks considered resting, but the urgency of the situation gnawed at them. If they waited too long, the goliath mage could return with reinforcements, or worse, whatever they were forging in the furnaces could be unleashed. Finally, they decided: no rest. They would act now, before it was too late. The plan was simple, yet audacious. Adiphos stepped forward, grinning as he began weaving the familiar incantation of Polymorph. In an instant, his form shifted, growing and expanding into something massive—he became a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex. Ellyond, though exhausted, focused his remaining power. With a deep breath, he twin-cast Haste, his magic latching onto both Adiphos and Zarban, amplifying their speed and reflexes beyond what was humanly possible. As the battle raged on, the heat of the furnace grew unbearable, but the Steelhawks pressed on, knowing this was the final stand. It was then, that the air in the chamber seemed to shift. The oppressive heat grew even heavier, and from the shadows beyond the great furnaces, a figure emerged as the final goliath blacksmith appeared to confront the adventurers. The giant roared in response and swung his hammer down with earth-shattering force, but this time, Zarban was ready. As the fight ensued, Ellyond and Salune, summoning the last of their strength, unleashed a barrage of arcane missiles, each one striking the goliath’s weakened form with unerring precision. Salune, sending a bolt of radiant energy crashing into the giant. The goliath leader, weakened and bleeding, raised his hammer for one final strike, aiming to crush the Steelhawks in one blow. But before he could bring it down, Zarban surged forward, his sword raised high, and with a mighty battle cry, he drove the blade straight through the goliath’s chest. The Steelhawks stood victorious, their bodies battered and bruised, but their spirits unbroken. They had done it—they had defeated the goliath leader and put an end to their operation. Whatever twisted plans the goliaths had been forging in the depths of the mine had been crushed, and the Steelhawks could finally breathe. The goliaths' secret forge had been stopped, their leader defeated, and the Steelhawks, despite the exhaustion, remained triumphant.
S01E72: Steelhawk International "Secrets of Steel" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Zarban
1.L10 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer
2.L.10 Sorlock Salune SDM | Coach
3.L8 druid adiphos DM | Filbert
4.Lvl 8 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
1Lv8 Sorlock Ellyond Elleyond
6.Lv 8 sorcerer druid circle | Cindella BobRob
We start our adventure making our way to the tent Adiphos makes his way in first leaving us outside Start of combat Bb2 cast commanding words on Adiphos and it works making Adiphos grovel Bb4 multiattacks Adiphos almost putting him down Adiphos wild shapes into CokeBear and multiattacks at bb4 and misses both The rest of the party joins Adiphos in the action Bb2 makes CokeBear grovel and then cast radiant bolt on it 2 times one hits Ellyond cast hex on bb4 and then cast eldritch blast Cinderella cast bless and gets counter spelled Korin casts hold person and it fails Salune casts eldritch blast 2 times one hits Then quicken spells 2 more eldritch blasts both hit Zarban dashs and trys to hit with his horns and misses Bb2 shield bashs cokebear and misses Cokebear attacks 2 times one hits Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times and both hit Cinderella cast bless on Ellyond Zarban and them self Korin tolls the dead and it hits Selune cast eldritch blast 2 times and both hit Zarban strikes down the fighter and hits the trys to strike down the other one Cokebear attacks 2 times one hits Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times one hits Cindella does nothing Ellyond seems like he's being attacked by ghosts Korin uses cure beads on Ellyond Salune casts eldritch blast 2 times both hit Zarban lay on hands ellyond Adiphos trys to sniff out the ghost Ellyond blessing of the raven queens away Cindella moves around End of combat Ellyond and cindella journey together deeper in the cave and the rest of the party stays behind The team gets worried and goes to check on ellyond and Cindella Start of combat Cindella takes the dodge action Salune casts psychic lance Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times one hits Zarban dashs Korin cast twilight sanctuary and spiritual weapon Adiphos cast aura of vitality Cindella cast healing word Selune cast eldritch blast 2 times and 1 hits Ellyond uses vortex warp and it fails then quickens eldritch blast 2 times one hits Zarban attacks 2 times with long sword one hits Korin tolls the dead Adiphos heals Salune casts eldritch blast 2 times both hit Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times both hit Zarban puts down the last enemy End of combat After the battle we loot the corpses and journey deeper into the cave And stumble into a large opening with a lady that looks like the one at the beginning of the cave Start of combat Selune cast slow and it works Cindella cast aura of vitality We hear a weird sound and the fighter is no longer slowed Ellyond cast vortex warp and it works Korin tolls the dead and gives zarban lightning damage Adiphos constructs Zarban cast shield of faith on himself Selune cast hex and eldritch blast 4 times 2 hit Cindella heals Ellyond cast hex then eldritch blast 2 times both hit Korin charges and misses then spiritual weapon Adiphos constricts and misses Zarban dashs and hits with his horns Salune casts eldritch blast 2 times both miss the tolls the dead Cindella heals selune Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times both miss Korin shield of faith on himself Adiphos constricts and missesand bonus action heals Zarban casts shield of faith and smites the person in front of us Salune lances the person in front of zarban Then there horses dashs Cindella casts mass healing word and heals everyone but salune Ellyond trys to see if anyone comes out Everyone moves closer to the tunnel End of combat Korin tells the group there is alot of enemy's in the next room and there doing mostly smithing stuff Start of combat Ellyond holds action Trex multi attack bites Korin cast banishment Salune blessing of raven queen and then cast lightning bolts Cindella moves and dodges Zarban attacks 3 times all hit Ellyond shoots eldritch blast 2 times both miss Adiphos polymorphs into a trex and takes a bite and it hits Korin cast banishment and fails Salune casts lightning bolts and it hits Cindella casts healing word on the trex and dodges Zanban was lethargic Ellyond casts eldritch blast 2 times both hit Korin casts twilight sanctuary Salune casts eldritch blast 2 times both miss Cindella casts bless Zarban attacks 2 time one misses Ellyond cast eldritch blast 2 times one hits Adiphos cast bombardment of stings Korin casts spirit guardians Salune casts eldritch blast 4 times all hit Cindella heals Ellyond Zarban rams the big guy with his horns Ellyond raven queens away then eldritch blasts 2 times one hits Adiphos casts Wither and bloom on Ellyond Korin tolls the dead and it misses the spirit weapon attacks and hits Salune casts vortex warp and it fails Cindella walks away and massages Adiphos and heals him Zarban attacks 2 times one hits Ellyond casts haste on zarban and Salune Then eldritch blasts 2 times both hit Adiphos casts call lightning and it hits for no damage Korin tolls the dead Salune vortex warps and fails Cindella massages Salune and heals her Zarban inflicts wounds and misses Ellyond casts eldritch blasts 2 time one hits Adiphos calls lightning it hits Korin trys to put them to sleep and it doesn't work Salune does nothing Cindella heals selune Zarban attacks 2 time both hit Ellyond casts eldritch blasts 2 times one hits Adiphos calls lightning Korin tolls the dead and it hits Cindella holds action to heals salune Zarban attacks 2 times both hit Ellyond casts eldritch blast 2 times both miss Adiphos calls lightning it's hits Korin tolls the dead Salune dodges Cindella dodges Zarban ends combat End of combat
S01E71: Steelhawk International- "Saran's Gamble (Sunstride Camp)
Watcher: aDM | iFAIL
L10 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer
L8 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
L11 Barbarian Deceus SDM | David
L8 Warlock Pickles Pickles
L11 Warlock Gwendilyn CloverCity
L9 rogue geter bcs1374
To Whom It May Concern, This report is written with a heavy heart, for the events that transpired have left me in a state of sorrow and confusion. Our journey began in a place of peace and comfort, but by the end, I returned to my home—the Sunstride Camp—to find it reduced to ruin. What was once a place of life, love, and community now lies in ashes, and the person I called mother, Chief Saran, has been taken from me. The Journey and the Ambush: The day began in a surprisingly pleasant manner, as the party and I found ourselves enjoying a moment of relaxation in a hot tub. It was brief but refreshing, and we were soon called to breakfast. A hearty meal awaited us, and it was much needed before we set off on what was to be a long journey. Our mission was clear: to safely escort the groom back to my tribe, the Sunstride Tribe, led by Chief Saran, my mother not by birth, but by bond. Before we left, Chief Erdene came to wish us safe travels. His words, though simple, felt weighty with a sense of finality I couldn’t quite place. We gathered ourselves and headed east toward Sunstride Camp, the journey passing with light conversation until we decided to rest and water the horses. It was then that we were suddenly met with a massive portal, swirling with arcane energy. A large figure emerged, followed by three monstrous wolves—beasts that were far from natural. They attacked without warning, and we were thrown into immediate battle. I called upon Sanctuary, protecting myself as I prepared spells to aid my companions. Gwendilyn, Pickles, and Ellyond unleashed powerful blasts of arcane energy. Geter used his magic to slow one of the wolves with a cone of frost, while Deceus—true to form—charged across the battlefield, engaging a wolf in brutal combat. The beast never stood a chance against him. The large man, covered in magical sigils and wielding enchanted weapons, was a formidable foe. Gwendilyn tried to unsettle him with magic, but it only enraged him further. His blows were devastating, both he and his wolves pressing us hard. Yet, together, we held our ground. Deceus and Zarban fought back the wolves while Pickles kept another at bay with his magical blasts. It took everything we had, and despite our best efforts, the stranger seemed almost impervious to most of our attacks. But as the tide turned in our favor, the man realized his defeat was imminent. He summoned another portal and escaped, leaving us to ponder who—or what—he was. His power, the magical enhancements on both his body and the wolves, suggested he may have been a Goliath. A roided-out one at that, with dark intent. Deceus and I decided to take the bodies of the wolves with us as evidence for Chief Saran, knowing that this encounter could be the sign of something far more dangerous brewing. The Fall of the Sunstride Tribe: With urgency in our steps, we hurried toward my home. But as we approached, I immediately sensed something was wrong. Silence greeted us where there should have been the sounds of life—of horses, people, the usual bustling of the tribe. As we came closer, the silence gave way to a scene of horror. Fallen tribe members lay scattered, and the stench of smoke and blood filled the air. The Sunstride Camp, my home, had been attacked. I ran ahead of the party, my heart pounding in my chest. Fires burned through parts of the camp, bodies of people I had grown up with lay lifeless on the ground, horses either slain or stolen. The devastation was overwhelming. Desperately, I searched for survivors and for Saran. My hope was crushed when someone showed me her body. My chieftain—my mother—was gone. She had been killed, her life taken in a brutal massacre. And at the center of the destruction stood a banner—a symbol I knew all too well. The banner of the Ironhoof Hold. It was a mark of Chief Lordbold, Batu’s grandfather. His forces had done this. A surge of rage rose within me like I had never known before. I had always sought peace, always believed in harmony. But in that moment, all I could think about was vengeance—about taking the life of the man responsible for this atrocity. It took everything in me to remain standing. Batu found me in my despair and managed to calm me down. He spoke of patience, of wisdom. Charging into Lordbold’s camp in a blind rage would be suicide, he told me. And as much as my heart screamed for vengeance, I knew he was right. It’s not what Saran would have wanted. She was a woman of peace, and I must honor her memory, not by bloodshed, but by ensuring that her people survive. For now, I bury my people. I bury my mother. And I wait for Batu’s orders, for the next step in this journey that I now follow with a heavier heart. But Lordbold will pay. Whether by battle or by justice, he will answer for what he has done.
S01E70 Steelhawk International Fortress of the Forgotten (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Geter L9 Sorlock Selune SDM | Coach
L8 Rogue Geter bcs1374
L8 Warlock/Sorcerer Mavilius Mavilius
L10 (5artificer/3paladin/1cleric/1sorc) Jig Stoney
L11 Fightonk Bill N Chinashop williebeast
L9 Bard Enrick Bergomot Xisle
Summary of Events: The Steelhawks commenced their evening in the bustling tavern of **Lucy's**, where the atmosphere was lively with enchanting music and performances. A modest 5gp cover charge granted access to a feast of food, drink, and entertainment. With a little persuasion, Selune secured a large table for the party, much to the delight of her companions. During the evening’s revelry, the lumberjack **Tharok**, overseer of the training efforts, shared updates on the ongoing search for **Higs**, which had yielded no results. In pursuit of further enhancements for their upcoming mission, several members ventured into the nearby marketplace for magical item acquisitions. Tharok relayed news of a conversation with the Mayor, revealing their knowledge of the Steelhawks' mission. He proposed leveraging recruits from **Graniteguard** to mount an assault on the secret forge camp, suggesting they utilize the siege weapons stored in the training yard. With Jig’s expertise in explosives and their array of matching uniforms, an audacious frontal assault was a feasible option. The party examined the siege machines at the training yard, receiving warm gratitude from the trainees for their prior contributions. After securing the weapons for departure, they retired to Lucy's tavern for the night, awaiting the freeing of a room. --- ### The Journey to Graniteguard: In the morning, the Steelhawks set out towards Graniteguard with the siege weapons in tow. Their path led them across a treacherous river, where a few members were unfortunate enough to be bitten by lurking alligators. Once they distanced themselves from the river's edge, their vigilance was tested further when a lone traveler approached seeking food. Despite initial suspicions, they learned her name was **Cakli**, a soul seeking redemption after hard times. Bill’s offer of 500gp for completing their mission swayed her to join their ranks. Upon reaching Graniteguard, the party marveled at the robust fortifications that had sprung up despite the ongoing war. Selune introduced herself at the gates, but the guards, devoted to their deity **Kord**, were not overly impressed. We introduced ourselves as Steelhawks and wer allowed into the city. Geter inquired after Captain **Kaelor Stonehammer**, learning he was at the local pub, **Glacier’s Retreat**. The tavern bustled with patrons and a sense of prosperity. After a brief wait, they were seated and shortly joined by Captain Stonehammer, who consented to a private discussion with Geter in the spa. Mavilius linked telepathically with Geter for real-time updates. Stonehammer identified the alien tablet Geter presented as a relic tied to ancient stories of their ancestors' arrival in ships from the stars. He offered to assist the Steelhawks in recruiting soldiers for their mission, promising 20 troops—15 to manage the siege weapons and 5 for direct support. --- ### Infiltration and Assault: The Steelhawks regrouped after their meeting and prepared to return to the river to retrieve the siege weapons. Once retrieved, they communicated their plans using a sending stone, thanks to Jig's craftsmanship. Selune and Geter scouted the forge camp, confirming previous watch patterns and discovering a crack in the crater's wall—a potential point of entry. Selune transformed into a bat and surveyed the area before returning to relay instructions to the team. As they initiated their approach, Geter, Cakli, and Enrick would infiltrate through the tunnel, while Mavilius, Bill, and Jig navigated in a wagon accompanied by two Goliath guards. Selune continued her aerial reconnaissance. Mavilius successfully deceived the camp guards, claiming they were ambushed, and proceeded to place bombs strategically throughout the camp. However, as he exited one tent, he was confronted by a Goliath, who questioned his presence. Meanwhile, Bill and Jig attempted to assist Mavilius but were challenged by another Goliath. After Mavilius set the explosives, the tension escalated when a guard spotted him lighting the fuses. Jig intervened, stunning the Goliath just in time. With the bombs detonating, chaos erupted within the camp. The Steelhawks fought valiantly, though the initial skirmish saw Bill downed and Jig temporarily incapacitated. Undeterred, Selune unleashed her Eldritch blasts, while Jig summoned an animal companion and grappled, pushing one Goliath into the flames, to eliminate foes. As the tide of battle shifted, Mavilius and Selune continued their magical onslaught, with Enrick bolstering their spirits through healing magic. One by one, the Goliaths began to retreat as the Steelhawks pressed their advantage, culminating in the defeat of the remaining adversaries. Jig had chased an archer into the tent with the hole in the ground and found waiting for him 2 Goliath guards within it. --- ### Conclusion: The Steelhawks demonstrated remarkable resilience and ingenuity in their approach, leading to a successful initial assault on the forge camp. While challenges lay ahead, the bonds of their fellowship have been strengthened through adversity. Further strategic planning and preparation will be essential as they navigate the treacherous landscape ahead.
S01E69: Steelhawk International - Tides of Trust (Upper Tear)
Report by Deceus The chaos of that day is burned into my memory like a brand on the flank. We had just come off a brutal mission in the Tear, my legs aching from the endless miles of jagged terrain, when we were welcomed by Chief Erdene and his horse-nomad tribe. The hot soak they offered us was more than a relief—it was paradise. I remember sinking into the warm water, letting it soothe the tension in my muscles. After a feast that filled the belly and made us sluggish, the last thing I expected was a request to chase down a rogue chicken. Not just any chicken. The golden chicken. The chief’s pride and joy. At first, it seemed like a joke. Shivy laughed, Jimothy cracked a grin, and even Elleyond looked amused. But once that bird tore through the camp faster than a sandstorm through the plains, the humor faded. We were dealing with something special—something fast. Real fast. Jimothy, always quick with his spells, cast Haste on Shivy and George, and the chase was on. I, being fast enough on my own hooves, charged after that glittering, ridiculous bird with every ounce of speed I could muster. The thing darted like a demon possessed, weaving between tents, over fences, and through a maze of hooves and gear. Every time I thought I had it cornered, it slipped away, moving at speeds that could rival the wind. But it wasn’t just the chicken—it had protectors. Five of them. Five giant hens, angry and territorial, barreled out of nowhere like feathered warbeasts. They weren’t there to play around—they were there to fight. The first hen slammed into my side, nearly knocking me off balance, but I’ve taken worse blows. The second came at me with its talons, scratching at my flanks. I lashed out with my fists and hooves, more out of instinct than strategy, dropping two of them quickly. But there were three more, their feathers bristling with rage as they charged at me. One managed to rake my side with a nasty claw, but I wasn’t about to back down. The fight was messy. Claws, beaks, feathers everywhere. I was thinking wings and drumsticks in a nice herbed honey glaze, but put it in the back of my mind (did I mention 'Yum'?) as I took them down one by one, feeling my rage build as I pushed through the pain, the exhaustion, and the absurdity of it all. Shivy had lassoed Big Bird with her whip, but the chicken had magical effects to blow up dirt and sand with its wings, and B-gawk its way out of bindings. Anyway, by the time I’d finally subdued the last of the "little mamas," the camp was a mess. Hells, I was a mess. But the golden chicken? It was still there, taunting us all, running faster than I’d ever seen any living creature run. I roared and charged, my muscles burning, every ounce of strength and speed I had surging forward. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got within reach of my wyrmreaver reach- geared to let me beat down flying dragons, and here I'm using it on a giant Chicken!--- and caught the damn thing, beating it carefully to knock it out rather than kill it. That was when Elleyond hypnotized it so it went nowhere, and my last set of strikes finally brought it to the ground. Alive. The camp exploded in cheers—apparently, this was the entertainment of the decade for them. The chicken coop guy, who'd given it the old college.... well, he was so old it was more like the old retirement home.. try? I swear he was crying. As for the reward? Oh, it was rich. Chief Erdene, grateful beyond words, heaped treasure on us. For my part in the hunt, I was gifted a couple potions, a campaign field tent I'd had my eye on for some time, and a javelin of lightning. (Okay, it's my third, and I'm building the fourth... don't judge me). I’ll admit, I still chuckle at the thought of that day. It’s not often a centaur barbarian has to wrestle chickens to the ground. But hey, I’d do it again for those rewards and with that team.
S01E69: Steelhawk International - Tides of Trust (Upper Tear)
Watcher: iFAIL
L11 Fighter/Rogue | Shivy CG | Spoon
L10 Sorcerer/Warlock | Jimothy Jones aDM | iFAIL
L8 Cleric/Druid/Sorcerer | Cindella BobRob
Lv 8 Sorcerer/Warlock | Ellyond Elleyond
L8 Barbarian/Monk | George George The 2nd
L11 Barbarian | Deceus SDM | David
Mission Overview: You know it’s gonna be one of those days when the most dangerous enemy you face is a golden rooster. Yes, you heard that right—a golden-beaked cock that can teleport and fly, with a horde of vengeful lil’ mama chickens backing it up. It was one of the more “enlightening” missions I’ve had the pleasure of surviving, but I’ll get to that. First, let's start with the basics. Team Lineup: Shivy - Fighter/Rogue, Fastest thing on two legs. George - Barbarian/Monk, Master of grabbing things, though not always successfully. Deceus - Centaur Barbarian, proved chickens have a strange vendetta against horse folk. Cindella - Cleric/Druid/Sorcerer, literally turned into a horse for my benefit (and my old bones are grateful). Ellyond - Sorcerer/Warlock, did his part by making enemies drool, which I fully endorse. Me, Jimothy Jones - Sorlock, professional mind-melter, part-time chicken whisperer. The Return to Camp: We begin this fine escapade just outside Chief Erdene's camp, fresh off our so-called fool's errand to his crazy brother's place. Naturally, we had a quick group huddle to decide how to act after being sent on what we thought was a pointless mission, though it probably made sense to Erdene. We figured it best to waltz back in and act like we'd done our job perfectly. Because, well, we did! As we got closer, chaos erupted. There's a giant rooster with a golden beak running around like it owns the place, and apparently, the entire town thought watching people chase it was their new favorite sport. Imagine the sight—grown men and women chasing a golden cock like it was the last beer at a tavern. Truly a spectacle. We were met by a guard who led us to the bathhouse for a much-needed soak. Let me tell you, that hot tub was divine, almost enough to make me forget the absurdity outside. Almost. During our bath, we learned that this golden rooster had quite the reputation—it made the local chickens lay psychedelic eggs. And yes, that’s as weird as it sounds. Then, in strolls Erdene, asking us to do him a "small favor"—capture his prized rooster. I suppose I should've expected that. The Chase Begins: So, off we went chasing after this golden-beaked rooster. Shivy and George sprinted ahead like their lives depended on it. Me? Well, I figured the youngsters could do the running, so I hasted George and Shivy then decided to kick back and let them have at it. Then, Cindella, bless her soul, kindly giving me a ride. Good to know someone’s got respect for my age and wisdom. It didn't take long before things started spiraling. The golden cock nearly knocked out an old man just trying to go about his day. I shouted at him, "Catch that cock!" but he answered, "I'm too old!" And, reader, let me tell you, that one hit home. Enter the Lil Mamas: Shivy was hot on the rooster's tail, George right behind her with his ghostly fists flailing, but just as they were closing in, a squadron of furious chickens—Lil Mamas—burst from a nearby tent and launched themselves at Deceus. Yes, chickens. Attacking a centaur. I can’t explain it either. Five of the lil' hellions surrounded Deceus, pecking away while the rooster flapped its wings, sending Shivy and George flying. The ground beneath them shimmered, making it impossible to walk, and then—because why not?—the rooster teleported into the air. Yes, this cock could fly and teleport. Because of course it could. Chaos Escalates: Shivy and George got back on their feet and resumed the chase. Deceus, clearly tired of being the chickens’ punching bag, started knocking them out left and right. Meanwhile, I, Ellyond, and Cindella played catch-up. Cindella, still in horse form, carried me through the battlefield, which was quite the spectacle. I felt like the world's least enthusiastic cowboy. As we got closer, Shivy managed to grab the golden cock again, but this time, instead of trying to pet it, she pummeled it with her pommel. But the bird wasn’t having it—more brain-melting screams, more running, and more ridiculous chicken antics ensued. Ellyond tried to warp the bird with magic, but it resisted. I hit it with a Mind Sliver, but of course, the rooster started freaking out again with its brain-melting screech. It ran off, but Deceus, with his ridiculously long arms, was right on its tail. And then… the chickens turned on me. Now, I don’t tolerate poultry trying to peck out my soul, so I did what any sane sorlock would do: I told them to fuck off, psychically. Finally, after some more chasing and a Hypnotic Pattern from Ellyond to make the chicken drool, Deceus knocked the damn thing out. But there was still 1 lil Mama! At this point I am tired of these damn birds, so I showed it the meaning of fried chicken with a Fire Bolt. Apparently, this upset the local chicken keeper, who decided to charge me. An old man. Trying to fistfight over a chicken. This is my life now. "Gramps Grapple: The Battle of the Ages" Now, I’m a reasonable man, but if an old man wants to throw down over a chicken, I’m game. He squared up, and I told him I’d read plenty of kung fu novels. He didn’t believe me. His mistake. I tried to sweep the leg, but my knees weren’t feeling cooperative, so I had to dodge his punches instead. After a few back-and-forths, I put him in a rear-naked choke, whispering sweet nothings of submission. Victory! Mission Complete After Cindella revived the chicken I’d roasted, we returned the golden cock to Chief Erdene. He started questioning us about the journey to his crazy brother’s camp. We gave him a rundown of what happened, but I wasn’t content with just surface-level talk. With a little bit of mind prodding, I learned that Erdene does support his brother Batu—not because of some prophetic nonsense, but because of more practical reasons. He doesn’t actually believe in prophecy, though he keeps that to himself. The man’s a schemer, no doubt about it, and he grilled us on what else we saw, clearly trying to size up the situation. In the end, he rewarded us with gold and sent his general’s daughter with us to Saran’s Camp as a sign of good faith. But something tells me this whole situation is far from over. Let’s summarize: We chased a golden cock. We fought off five enraged lil’ mamas. I got into a fistfight with an old chicken keeper. Erdene is playing a deeper game than we thought, and his loyalties aren’t tied to prophecy but rather practicality. But hey, at least his daughter is coming with us back to Saran’s camp as promised. This has been a long, strange day, filled with bird-related violence and unexpected diplomacy. Still, we’ve got valuable intel. The road ahead looks about as dangerous as that golden rooster’s beak, and I, for one, am not looking forward to more surprise teleporting poultry. Conclusion: Mission: Success Casualties: None (except my pride) Enemies Defeated: 1 teleporting cock, 5 mama chickens, and 1 cranky chicken keeper Intel Secured: Chief Erdene’s secretive support for Batu, no belief in prophecies Personal Takeaway: I’ve had enough chickens for a lifetime.
S01E68 Steelhawk International: Lines in the Sand" (Stardust Abyss)
Report from the Steelhawks: A Perilous Expedition After vanquishing the fearsome goliaths along with their earth elemental, the Steelhawks commenced a meticulous search of the camp. Among the spoils, we uncovered weapons forged from mithril and adamantine, alongside mystical green gems, shimmering with enchantments that promised to enhance our arms and deliver devastation. In a stroke of fortune, Blerc discovered an invasion plan within the tent of the camp's commander. The parchment detailed a dire threat looming over our allies. Among the spoils, we also encountered a strange, almost alien tablet inscribed with cryptic symbols that bore no resemblance to any known tongue. Fang and Adiphos scoured the area surrounding the camp, discerning several tracks leading northward. Upon further inspection, Adiphos noted that the path to the north showed signs of significant passage. Additionally, the commander’s tent yielded letters indicating that the last of their arms and supplies had arrived, suggesting that this camp was to be dismantled shortly. After deliberation, we resolved to gather as many weapons and crystals as our strength would allow, alongside the invasion plans and letters. We aimed to return to the mayor, armed not just with supplies, but with vital intelligence regarding the impending assault. Jimothy and Blerc wielded bags of holding, adeptly stowing the volatile crystals, which seemed to react dangerously to our mithril weaponry. ### An Assault from the Skies Our journey back, however, was marred by an unexpected ambush from five malicious Deep Crows, shadowy creatures of darkness. They descended upon us with piercing beaks and slashing talons, lifting us aloft only to drop us, inflicting further harm. Fang endured severe injuries from their relentless onslaught, while Blerc activated his Twilight Sanctuary to mitigate the damage inflicted upon our beleaguered party. In a fierce struggle, we felled four of the foul beasts, but the fifth seized Caskin, attempting to carry him away. Despite his assurances that he was unharmed, we pursued with unwavering resolve. Salune, exhibiting remarkable courage, dimension-doored to the beast’s back, yet her grasp slipped, sending her plummeting to the earth with a sickening thud. Miraculously, she survived the fall. Blerc unleashed a flurry of arrows, but the dark creature evaded his aim. Caskin, undeterred, fought valiantly against the Deep Crow, which, realizing the futility of its meal, released him from a perilous height of 180 feet. Defying all odds, Caskin employed his Monk and Barbarian skills, emerging from the fall with nary a scratch. ### A Grim Return Upon our return to the town, we concealed the wagons brimming with weapons in a secluded alley. We presented our findings to the mayor, revealing the invasion plan and the letters procured from the commander’s tent. His countenance darkened at the news, for he had believed that the worst was behind him. We discussed our next steps, and the mayor, filled with resolve, instructed us to take the camp nestled within the crater, rumored to be their secret forge. Recognizing the need for greater resources, he directed us to recruit volunteers from a nearby settlement. He also requested that we discreetly consult a sage about the alien tablet, enjoining us to keep our discoveries secret. As a token of his appreciation, he offered us an adamantine weapon of our choosing. Blerc accepted a formidable adamantine battleaxe, enhancing our arsenal for the challenges ahead. We then parted ways, some members of our band engaging in the acquisition of magical artifacts, while the rest sought refuge in the local tavern to rest and recuperate, preparing for the trials that lay ahead. After a brief rest and a couple of Ales Blerc went to the stables to give the horse that safely carried him back to the town and extra rub down and some treats.
S01E68 Steelhawk International: Lines in the Sand" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: Jimothy Jones
L9 Sorlock Salune SDM | Coach
L10 Sorlock Jimothy Jones aDM | iFAIL
L8 Druid Adiphos DM | Filbert
Lvl 8 Paladin Fang aDM | Mungus
L11 Monk8/Cleric3 | Blerc bcs1374
Caskin lvl 10 barb/monk Mensius
Well, well, well... if it isn't another day in the frying pan that is the Lower Tear. It's hot, it's hostile, and I’ve got more sand in places than I thought possible. But you don’t want to hear me complain, you want the mission deets. So let’s dive in, shall we? Camp Shenanigans: Paperwork and Green Rocks We kicked off the mission searching a Brotherhood camp. Blerc, our resident eagle-eyed bookworm, dove straight into a tent and didn’t come out for a minute, so I followed him in, naturally. Turns out the man found my second-favorite thing: paperwork. And not just any paperwork, but supply lists showing a serious build-up of goods heading to some ominous location. Classic bad guy stuff. We also uncovered a metal tablet with strange markings that I’m pretty sure were science-related (which means I ignored it). The best part? An invasion map with troop movements. The Brotherhood is gearing up for something BIG. Then Blerc found a bunch of green gems mined in Craterstone. We filled up our carts, intending to haul this loot back to Craterstone, but… you know how it goes. We couldn’t shake the feeling that following the supply trail might lead us to something juicier. Messages, Deserts, and Purple Worm Nightmares Before leaving, I sent a quick message to Steelhawk HQ (you know, keeping it professional): "Urgent. Craterstone faces imminent invasion. We can return with supplies now or continue tracking where they’re headed. Need message delivered to Mayor immediately." We got a typical vague reply: "Message delivered to mayor. Use your best judgment." (Best judgment? I’m a warlock with eldritch tattoos, not a life coach.) So we hoofed it toward Craterstone because, let’s face it, if you’re already 60% there, you may as well commit. The desert was boiling hot, but you know the saying: "If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the desert." Then, during night watch, Salune (in bat form) spotted some purple worms. And I’m not talking about tiny garden worms. No, these were big, bad, "eat-you-whole" worms. We woke everyone up and hit the road again. No one’s got time for worms. Raven Birds & The Great Caskin Sky Adventure As dawn broke, so did our luck. We were attacked by giant raven-like birds (because why not?). They tried to turn us into their next meal. Naturally, we fought back, but one of them decided to make Caskin its to-go order and flew off with him. Here’s the problem: I had Haste on Caskin, and if that dropped, he’d be in big trouble. So, like the responsible sorcerer I am, I kept concentrating and let the young’uns do all the running. Blerc and Adiphos chased after the bird, while Fang galloped after them. Meanwhile, I stayed back to guard the wagons (totally not an excuse to avoid cardio). In the end, Caskin pummeled the bird from the inside, and both went crashing down. Salune tried to help with some fancy teleporting, but… let’s just say gravity won that round. Caskin, and Salune survived, though, and after patching them up, we continued to Craterstone. Craterstone: Stone Elementals, Recruitment, and Mysterious Tablets We debriefed Mayor Stonefist and learned something surprising: the Earth Elementals working with the Brotherhood come from the Craterstone mines. They’ve been here forever, and the Goliaths are using them to mine ridiculous amounts of ore. Makes sense why the Brotherhood’s getting all those shiny rocks without breaking a sweat. Stonefist also mentioned needing new recruits and fort-building help. But more importantly, he directed us to take that weird metal tablet we found to some guy named Thaldrin Stonevein, an elder and storyteller. (I, for one, am very excited to meet him—who doesn’t love a good tale?) But before all that… we rest. Even a warlock needs his beauty sleep. End Report
S01E67: Steelhawk International - The Breaking Point (Upper Tear)
Report of Tao After being promised that no harm will come to us, we left Tuvshin, with suspicion and some malice in our hearts. On horseback, the party makes their way onward to help unite the tribes while instilling some confidence into Batu. Pickles being the suspicious watcher he is, soars into the skies, making sure he doesn't stray too far from the party. Carefully, watching, thankfully, there was no one trailing us. This gave the party a sense of relief… momentarily. We spoke too soon as suddenly, the party heard the sounds of a group of charging horse-bound tribesmen. Seeing as they’re intersecting us at breakneck speed, the party brace themselves for a confrontation. “If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they’ll get” - famous last thoughts as Itho with his confidence and recklessness charged at them. There is a mixed expression shared amongst all the party members. Some of concern, some of amusement, some of worry, some of interest. It did not end well for Itho… The party leapt into action, spreading apart to not get pincered, flanked and overwhelmed. Everyone had a gameplane.. Well, more or less everyone.. Ashur, like a prince of darkness on his mighty steed, maneuvered into an advantageous position to not obscure the party. Pickles being the aerial tactician he is provided aerial support with some of his tricky spells and beams of magic. Vandryn the astute, stood behind and provided firing support of the eldritch variety. Bobbi the lucky threw a wrench into the enemy's plans by just being luckier than the common man. Gunny, on horseback, was more beast than human as he aided the party with his surges of healing, ensuring the party was kept healthy. Tao, bracing himself, sorta feeling like a cavalier of sorts, waits as he precisely times his attacks and strikes to hinder the enemy’s movements. Itho, being the tank he is, took the punches of two beautiful monks as they beat him into submission. As he laid there, some say you could see an expression of serenity and glee as they tied him up. The skilled enemies on horseback ran circles around the party. Some pillage the party’s equipment making sure they’re out of reach. The female monks skilfully maneuvered the party on horseback by dismounting and remounting to get into advantageous positions. The male combatants had even more tricks up their sleeves through Heating Metal and transforming to a rampant fire elemental. However, one thing was clear, this was an assassination attempt. One of the monks managed to free themselves and wandered into Cart despite Asher’s cloak of darkness obscuring their vision. Fortunately, The party survived the ordeal and managed to get a captive to question their motives. Their target was the messenger, but why?... Loot: wraps of unarmed prowess, ring of protection, ring of protection and +1 trident, +1 longsword, moonsickle +1, very rare barrier tattoo She informed us that grandpa was the real chosen one. However, Batu stepped up and showed his pulsating lightning tattoo. After being convinced, she thanked us for sparing her life and rode off into the distance to spread the word. The party took a short rest at an idyllic meadow. After some time, we reached the outer edge of Erdene’s camp.
S01E67: Steelhawk International - The Breaking Point (Upper Tear)
Watcher: DM | MaliciousSlayer
L7 Fighter/Warlock Ashur aDM | iFAIL
L4 Warlock Itho DM | MaliciousSlayer
L7 Warlock Pickles Pickles
L6 Wizard Vandryn Tronald Zyner Supreme
L4 Rogue/Cleric Bobbi @BananaBread
L6 Artificer/druid/cleric Gunny Stoney
L4 Fighter Tao DM | Ethan
We set out on our mission headed west with the shaman as we get into the beautiful grass plane we hear loud thundering hooves As we turn around we realize there is six people charging in on horseback START OF COMBAT Pickles cast eldritch blast hitting Gunny cast Starry form and bless Vandryn cast flaming sphere Ashur cast darkness on himself Bobbi attacks with short bow and misses Itho runs in like an idiot F5 multi attacks 3 times at Itho 1 hits F4 multi attacks 2 times at Itho both hit putting down Itho F3 multi attacks both miss T3 attacks 2 times with multi attack both hit Tao attacks 3 times all hit F2 ties up Itho Pickles heals Itho and eldritch blasts the horses one hits Gunny heals himself Ashur cast eldritch blast 2 times Vandryn cast Tasha's mind whip and it finally hits Bobbi takes a shot with short bow and it hits Itho cast toll the dead but they pass F5 hits Bobbi alot of times F4 attacks 2 times with javelin and both hit F1 cast heat metal on Tao F3 trys to hit Tao 2 time and misses both T3 trys to hit Vandryn 2 times both hit Tao attacks 3 times 2 miss F2 makes her way to the wagon Pickles attacks 4 times all hit putting F4 down Gunny cast Cure wounds on Vandryn Ashur attacks f2 with crystal greatsword and it hits Vandryn cast eldritch blast 5 times all hit Bobbi attacks with Rapier and misses Itho teleports towards f2 amd trys to Bonk with mace and it hits F5 hits Itho and puts him down again F4 attacks 2 time 1 hits F1 turns into a fire elemental and does what it does T3 attacks 2 times hitting both times Tao attacks 2 times both hit F2 walks deeper in the cart Pickles cast hold person on F1 and T3 and it works on t3 and doesn't on F1 then cast eldritch blast 2 times and first hits Gunny heals Vandryn Ashur sneaks up on F2 and hits her 2 times Vandryn cast ray of Frost 2 times both hit Bobbi attacks F4 with Rapier and misses Itho passes first death save F5 attacks Ashur 3 times and misses all F4 attacks 2 times and 2nd hits F1 takes dodge Tao attacks 2 times both miss and then second winds F2 trys to hit Ashur 3 times all miss Pickles cast hex and eldritch blast all hit Gunny pulls out his wind companion and heals Vandryn Ashur bonks F2 scoring the crit putting her down then attacks F5 Vandryn cast ray of frost of F1 and puts out his fire Bobbi takes at shot at F1 missing Ithos passes 2nd death save F5 multi attacks ashur and misses all F1 changes back to human form and trys to hit Tao with Heat metal Tao attacks with halberd 2 times on F1 and all hit Pickles attacks 2 times with eldritch blast both hit Gunny heals Itho for 27 and Tao for 10 Ashur takes out F5 Vandryn Fireballs F1 almost taking him down Bobbi attacks with Rapier and it misses Itho fails at his job once again F1 trys to run and fails Tao attacks 2 times first misses 2nd puts him down END OF COMBAT We search the body's finding Are we're done searching we head back out on our journey together passing through so beautiful country scenery we also release our prisoner we finally make our way back to Erdenes camp and the crew goes on a shopping spree
S01E66: Steelhawk International "Tremors of War Part 3" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: DM | MaliciousSlayer
Level 7 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer
Level 4 Bardock Rhapsody @Rael
Level 6 Fighter Kurohito aDM |Gaius
Level 7 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
Level 7 Sorcerer, Yomnir Kegstone Xisle
Level 7 Sorcerer Winston Dusk Mensius
We start getting interrogated by the goliath And we spring outta the cart START OF COMBAT Aetvius cast invisibility on himself and enboldening bond on Xioma and Itho hops out of the wagons runs up and bonks the goliath Xioma cast twilight sanctuary Tao attacks with halberd and hits Zebulon attacks with whirlwind shield 2 times and both hit. Big boy walks closer shaking the ground as he moves BB13 cast spirit guardians Tango dashs Un named trys to attacks Zebulon 3 time 2 hit Aetvius Flys 15 up 15 over and attacks un named and it hits then cast healing word on Zebulon healing him Itho attacks with great club and misses Xioma turns into a giant toad and then attacks and it hits grappling and restraining the target Tao attack with halberd and misses Zebulon attacks 2 times the first one hits and 2nd does not Big Boy attacks Itho and it hits really hurting Itho badly Tango cast healing word healing Itho then casts vicious mockery and the goliath passes the save Aetvius cast guiding bolt and it hits Itho attacks with great club and it hits Xioma trys to bite and misses Tao attacks with halberd and hits the gets hit by op attack Zebulon attacks with silvered razor whip 2 times both hit then attacks with whirlwind shield Big Boy attacks Itho and hits knocking him prone Tango cast true strike and healing word healing Tao Aetvius tolls the dead and fails and then healing words zebulon Itho tolls the dead on big boy and it hits EE Shattered strikes Xioma and hits hard Xioma attacks with bite and misses Tao attacks with halberd and deals a critical then misses the second attack Zebulon attacks with silvered razor whip 2 times and it hits both times then attacks with whirlwind shield and it misses Big Boy attacks Tao 2 times first misses 2nd hits BB13 attacks with spirit guardians and hits Tango does alot of casting (Tasha's Hideous,silvery barbs) Aetvius tolls the dead on healer chick (his words) Itho tolls the dead on big boy then hexs him EE trys to grapple Zebulon and fails Xioma cast see invisibility Tao attacks with halberd 2 times and both hit Zebulon disengages and moves away Big Boy knocks Tao and Itho prone Bb13 trys to attack Xioma and misses then trys to command Aetvius and is successful Tango cast mirror image and inspires Itho Aetvius gets closer to BB13 and ends turn Itho trys to hit Big Boy with Toll The Dead and hits EE trys to grapple Xioma poorly Xioma casts Gust of wind and fails then trys to run getting hit in the process Tao yells Itho duck as he swings his Halberd and hits with first attack and misses with number 2 Zebulon attacks BB13 with whirlwind shield and hits then throws it again and hits a critical Big Boy attacks with Shield bash and hits trys to poke Tango and Tao and both hit BB13 trys to hit Aetvius with maul and hits then cast holy fire and hits Tango uses L2 healing word on Tao and heals him Aetvius uses disengage and Flys away Itho misses his attack EE hits xioma Xioma turns into a rocktopuss and grapples Tao swings his mighty Halberd and takes down Big Boy Zebulon attacks and puts down BB13 Tango cast healing word on Itho and heals him Aetvius cast mass healing word healing everyone Tao misses his crossbow shot Zebulon throws his mighty shield and puts down the EE END OF COMBAT We clear the camp and do some party mending We find some crates of weapons and strange green gems Wow this was a stressful first mission with STEEL HAWK INTERNATIONAL Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? We are upon the ship Obsidian Serpent after our Victory towards the mimic ship and it attracts sharks and other creatures of the ocean to consume it. Captain Ekaterina Diego said to continue sailing. Gaius put the banner of his castle to the middle sail and said that from now on everyone is inspired and will not be so easy to be frightened. At some point Captain Diego said that there is something strange in front of us. We encountered an enormous waterfall that is dropping literally from the sky. The water is fresh and massive. Gaius rides his Gryphon and flies up to the top of this waterfall. He saw that there is an icy structure there and reported back to the rest of the crew. Shuden is examining this phenomenon and he explains that there is an involvement of water elementals. The magic on this place is really very intensive. Captain Diego is calibrating the ship to travel around this waterfall. Then she informs us that she cannot go any closer. It will be impossible to venture through the waterfall. She is using a maneuvering technique and she boards on a specific place that looks like an opening. Bild Inside this opening there is a humongous spiral staircase consisted from ice. We start climbing this place and at some point we encountered some icy fey creatures. One of them speaks to our language and says: “So you have accepted our invitation.” We were more puzzled than before. We explained that we are coming with peaceful intentions and he invited us to their palace. Their leader is an ice Giant and he is addressed as Hod. We are climbing further the icy staircase for 2 miles and it feels an exhausting procedure. Here the climate and the terrain changes dramatically. The scenery looks icy and beautiful on its own way. In front of us there is a colossal palace consisted from ice. Hod is leading the way and he navigates us to the court room. Inside the court room our breaths feels very cold and there are standing a lot of bizarre creatures. One of them is sitting on an icy throne and she introduces to us as queen of the cold. She explained to us that she requires a representation the spirits of the waves. But first she needs to get a proof if we are worthy. There is a game they have that is called Tubig at Lupa. There is a board 5 x 5 grid. It is a 5 game pieces. She will play the earth and we will play the water. Probably she wants to see if we can understand better the ways of the water. The queen also explained the rules of this game. In short terms it is 2 sea, 1 lake, 2 river, 2 land, 1 desert, 2 lava flows. Bild Alexei took the initiative to place the tiles of this mini game and apply some of us upon those tiles. The queen was doing the same thing from her side and she was placing some of her people upon the tiles. At some time our tiles and her tiles were crossed. This initiated a battle and Shuden was the first among us that will face one of the queen’s followers. Shuden is very patient with his opponent. He does not rush to hit his opponent and he keeps always a spell for a surprise factor. His opponent tried really hard to wound Shuden but it seems he did not have any chance. At some point Shuden defeated his opponent without any scratch. It is time for Alexei to make his next move. He wants to claim a lava terrain. He sends Sir Malcolm on that tile and the queen puts a fire demon on that spot. Sir Malcolm needs to fight this demon so that we can claim the tile. Sir Malcolm as Gaius remembers was a very efficient companion. He unleashed some smite attack abilities and he weakens his opponent. The fire Demon emanates a big hotness from its skin and it causes small burns to Sir Malcom’s Skin. Apart from that the Demon unleashes a magma barrage but Sir Malcolm was much focused and avoided those powerful blows. It was sir Malcolm’s turn to unleash a sequence of smiting attacks to weaken the creature and his radiant type of damage eliminates the demon. Bild It is the Queen’s turn and she placed an effete and Alexei chose Gaius to fight this Demon. Gaius was calm and very confident. He faced Demons and before. His strategy was to use a teaching from the knights of Solamnia and booming blade. He was very capable on defending against his opponent attacks. At some point he used the ability of his blood sword and managed to cause a devastating damage to his opponent. After that Alexei earned putted Stahl to an empty square and our team won the contest. The queen smiled and she gave a boon to Alexei, her chosen champion. It was a set of crystalline boots that allows him to do many things when he ventures on the water terrain. Alexei asked the queen was is the grant scene. The next description she has given us was beyond Gaius comprehension. It was time to get out from this realm. We saw some ripples of water on the floor and a gigantic dragon consisted with water manifested in front of us and then it became water. This is the power of this place. That was our first interaction with an elemental lord. We returned back to the ship and the captain transferred us to the shrine of the water creatures. We entered the shrine and there was a gigantic statue there and gradually from the small pools of water manifested again the same dragon consisted from water. He steered towards us and he saw the crystal boots of Alexei. He spoke in to the primordial language to Alexei. So you will be the representative for our negotiations. He said he will give us a list of five requests he will demand from the representative of the mortal realm. Creation of shrines on coastal areas dedicated to the water. Restoration of marine ecosystems. Replenish of fish population. No human interference on the island. A ritual of reconciliation. There should be taken oaths for keeping balance from mortals to the water creatures. To interfere on selling goods that belongs to the sea.
S01E66: Steelhawk International "Tremors of War Part 2" (Stardust Abyss)
With a stolen Behemoth Brotherhood wagon, we head off into the direction the former wagon owners were going. We send some familiars to scout ahead, with Shivy tracking wagon trails while driving the wagon. We make our way across a vast, dry desert plain under the cover of night. After several hours go by without any incident, daylight hits and we needed a rest. We set up two houses of cards, one for the wagon and horses and the other for people and take turns watching for a long rest. We skate through several hours until Enrik feels rumbling and out pops a Sand Snake. The party wakes up to Enrik's screams and jumps into action. The Sand Snake proves its danger quickly by inflicting Enrik with Corpse Cough. We start to gain confidence beating on this one Sand Snake when Shivy damn near pops it head off with her pistol. Then the ground started rumbling again and three more Sand Snakes join the festivities. These things are nasty. They continually spray us with radiant diseased breath, spreading Corpse Cough around. On top of that, they have a putrid aura that'll sour your horse milk clean across the room. We chop these beasts down to sushi and we lick our wounds. Jig lays some hands and Dew Drop drops some restorative powers to wash away the Corpse Cough. We all head back to sleep and piss the day away. Just as dusk is setting in, another horse-drawn wagon comes up the path and we start to freak out. Malcom Greywater takes charge and rolls up to their driver with a greating as a distraction. Meanwhile, Shivy sneaks behind the cart and unlocks the back door of the wagon with Mage Hand Legerdemain with ease and then immediately pops off two shots into the face of a large earth elemental sitting in the back. Combat ensues. This elemental is a legendary ass and the Goliaths driving the wagon turn out to be accomplished spellslingers. You know what they did first? They downed the damn Bard healer. Ashley, Shivy and Jig have the Earth Elemental trapped in the wagon, so the Elemental just starts baching on the wagon until it collapses. We take the Elemental out and a Goliath, then the last Goliath makes a run for it on a horse. Fortunately, Malcom chased him down and smacked him into oblivion. Malcom notices the destination camp in the distance after chasing the last Goliath down. We all backtrack a bit and take a rest to prepare for what's next.
S01E65: Steelhawk International "Tremors of War" (Stardust Abyss)
Watcher: DM | MaliciousSlayer Level 7 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer Level 4 Bardock Rhapsody @Rael Level 6 Fighter Kurohito aDM | Gaius Level 7 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL Level 7 Sorcerer, Yomnir Kegstone Xisle Level 7 Sorcerer Winston Dusk Mensius We set out to the northeast through the desert Zarban and Yomnir almost fall off there horses we stop to re strap the saddles and to get a drink for us and the horses and settle in for the night 1st watch Zarban and Winston Nothing happens 2nd Kurohito Nothing happens but the wind slows down 3rd watch Korin The storm starts to slow down 4th Rhapsody Nothing happens We start to see the Crater on the horizon Winston flies up to try and get a better look if the air to hopefully get some advantage for the fight ahead Winston comes back to the group and reports the Crater doesn't look natural and the group decides Winston sends a message back to lagertha saying "Behemoth bros found somthing in crater more than stolen ore probably space jammer vessel with unknown tech will attempt to take a cart. Party is awaiting response We start to see the Crater on the horizon Winston flies up to try and get a better look if the air to hopefully get some advantage for the fight ahead Winston comes back to the group and reports the Crater doesn't look natural and the group decides Winston sends a message back to lagertha saying "Behemoth bros found somthing in crater more than stolen ore probably space jammer vessel with unknown tech will attempt to take a cart. Party is awaiting response The team decides to let the goliaths play distraction START OF COMBAT Yomnir cast vortex warp on the convoys horse Winston cast firebolt and it hits Zarban dashs Korin puts up his temp hp and trys to pull the bad goliath and he doesn't move Rhapsody casts eldritch blast Winston uses mirror image Zarban attacks twice and both hit Rhapsody uses eldritch blast and hexblades curse Yomnir cast fireball and it hits Winston uses fire bolt Zarban attacks 2 times both miss Korin cast spirit guardians (minimum damage) Rhapsody casts eldritch blast and it hits Kurohito attacks 2 times on hits Yomnir cast fireball and it hits Winston cast Ray of frost and it hits Winston heals Zarban Zarban attacks 2 times both hit Korin uses toll the dead on ee1 it hits Korin uses spirit guardians Rhapsody uses eldritch blast and it hits Kurohito attacks 4 times all 4 hit Yomnir uses freeze ray but it misses Winston uses healing word on zarban and chill touch Zarban attacks 2 times 1 hits 1 misses Korin uses moon beam Rhapsody attacks and hits and heals zarban Kurohito attacks 2 times both hit Yomnir casts chromatic orb and misses then ray of frost and it hits Winston cast dispel magic gets counter spelled and conterspells the counterspell then casts firebolt and it misses Zarban attacks 2 times and misses both Korin cast toll the dead and misses then spirit weapon attacks and misses Rhapsody uses eldritch blast and hits Kurohito makes 2 attacks and both hit Yomnir cast banishment and it works Everyone gets close and bumbarts the elemental with attacks.
S01E64: Steelhawk International - Into the Heart of Dreadrock (Camp Dreadrock)
Report by Vandrin: Batu's mission is to escort a convoy from Chief Erdene to Chief Tuvshin as a favor for his uncle, and to deliver a message. The party began its journey after a long rest in the plains, having been ambushed by raiders the day prior. The sky dreary with fog and mist marked a clear shift in the sunny plains of the Thunderhooves, with great pine trees and coniferous flora dominating the otherwise grassy hills. Batu had not seen his uncle, Tuvshin, brother of both his other uncle Erdene and father Jarval, in 13 long years. Leading to the party being weary that Camp DreadRock would not recognize Batu or be friendly to his quest. A debate broke out on how best to approach the lands of Tuvshin and it was decided the most charismatic of the party would approach first. After a short travel on horseback, the party encountered a scouting camp, and hailed down the camps leader, approaching in a peaceful manner. It had begun raining and the camp seeing outsiders as an omen of bad tides was apprehensive to let the party pass, however Shuck, greasing the palms of the leader with a composite bow he made, was able to convince the scouting camp to escort us to Tuvshins yurt and harbor safe passage. Upon the path, the tribesmen talked to us of Tuvshin, said he rarely leaves his yurt and even more rarely does anyone enter, he rambles, and has an affliction he refuses treatment for. an affliction of the mind, no less. We arrived at the camp to discover it was ill formed, lacking the uniform organization of erdenes encampment, and with the rain still upon our shoulders, continued towards the chieftans Yurt. The locals hands never leaving the knocks of their arrows nor the hilts of their swords. The locals did not attack, allowing us to reach Tuvshins Yurt, and we were greeted by the head guard. A study man with callused hands, and a face long weathered by his nomadic lifestyle. We sought an audiance with the chief, and it was granted after a stressful conversation. The guard entered the tent, and chief Tuvshin exited shortly after. His hair unkempt and with eyes sunk deep into dark sockets denoting many restless if not sleepless nights. The information given to us by the scouting party was clearly accurate, as Tuvshin began going on tirades understandable only to himself. No sentence seemingly tied to one another and no context seemingly fitting for each insane word. An amulet hung upon his neck bearing the same symbol as Batus mark. The party suspected it to be cursed or at-least magical. Tuvshin declares that HE is the chosen one to unite the tribes, and that everyone is out to assassinate him or undermine his seniority. None of our persuasion nor delicate speech able to convince the clearly sick Tuvshin otherwise. He hears voices, far more convincing than our own and declares us as attackers! A fight breaks out, and the camp descends into chaos as warriors emerge out of tents. in the midsts of the battle the guard of the main tent reads out the scroll we had been tasked to deliver. A single sentence from erdene.. "I gotcha." Aetvius is hit critically as the battle draws on, yet the steelhawks, veterans to both battle and ambushes, emerge victorious. Sir Phillip loads the convoy with the knocked out wariors of Tuvshin, and Xioma acting on a hint from a suspicious woman barrels towards a yurt in the corner of the camp, forcing his way through the door only to encounter Tuvshin. The party following Xioma's lead rush into the yurt also, its dreary, dark, an atmosphere of sickness and morose feelings. Tuvshin, defeated stands apprehensively in the middle of it. The party delivers Erdenes message, "I gotcha" which clearly has some meaning to Tuvshin which is lost to the rest of us. This enrages Tuvshin who declares he "will be coming for erdene" and before the party leaves a spell of truthfullness is cast, proving not only our innocence but also that our mission was genuine and that we meant no harm to Tuvshin. A few key pieces of information were granted here. Tuvshin is genuine in that he does not think he is sick, it is unknown what madness ails him. he suspects all to be his enemies, genuinely, in an apparent schizophrenic breakdown. -The amulet was mundane and made by craftsmen of the town, it is likely not the source of his affliction. -He genuinely thinks HE is the chosen one, by some phrophetic manner. The conversation would however have to remain brisk, as Tuvshins men were on their way to the camp, a disaster waiting to happen for the injured steelhawks. Tuvshin, knowing that we meant no harm, grants us passage out of the camp and promises no one will chase us. We depart. As we do, the woman from earlier who tipped of Xioma to the yurt which contained the chief after the battle had started approaches us slyly. He name is Oyonna the Whisper Blade, and she informs us she is a covert agent working for Erdene, and a friend to our mission. She cannot blow her cover as her life would be forfeit, and hands the party a stone of sending. Presumptively to communicate at a more opportune time. The party flees the camp, with Sir Phillip dropping off the 4 bound and captured warriors in the center of camp before all of us continued on our way. This is clearly not the last we will hear of Tuvshin...
S01E64: Steelhawk International - Into the Heart of Dreadrock (Camp Dreadrock)
Watcher: Aetvius
Lvl 6 Druid cleric Xioma George The 2nd
L4 Cleric | Aetvius bcs1374
Lvl 4 Paladin Prince Phillip SDM | Coach
Lvl 7 Paladin Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
lvl 6 wizard vandryn the magnificent Tronald Zyner Supreme
L5 Fighter | Shuck Norris CG | Spoon
In the shadow of the foreboding camp Dreadrock, the Steelhawks ventured into the camp, where the air was heavy with suspicion and unease. They were met by a guarded sentinel, who spoke of Chief Tuvshins long absence, casting a pall of uncertainty over their arrival. With persuasive flattery and a finely crafted composite bow as tribute, the Steelhawks secured passage, assured the guard of their peaceful intent as mere escorting fellows. The path to the main encampment was fraught with whispers of the chief’s declining sanity. The guard shared unsettling tales—of a mind tormented by invisible demons, of a chieftain refusing aid despite the camp's growing concern. Dreadrock was unlike any camp the Steelhawks had known; rather than the customary circular arrangement, this campsite sprawled chaotically amid ancient trees, with the bulk of its inhabitants sheltered within their weathered yurts. Among the flickering campfires, Batu, an esteemed member of their party, unraveled the bitterness that festered between U'dan and his brother Tuvshin. Their father had entrusted U'dan with the mantle of orchestrating a raid, leaving Tuvshin to command only a humble scouting party. The seeds of jealousy had taken root, threatening to rot the very fabric of their kinship. Approaching the chief's yurt, the Steelhawks were met with cautious scrutiny. Batu was questioned fiercely, forced to recount secrets known only to their tribe, his lineage granting him some measure of credibility. A vigilant guard, wary of disturbing the chief, sought reassurance that Batu’s presence was no mere trifling. As they stood before the chief’s domain, a cloaked figure among the locals discreetly gestured toward a specific yurt, suggesting unseen machinations thrumming beneath the surface. Suddenly, Chief Tuvshin emerged, a spectral figure, his presence unsettling. Clad in frayed ceremonial garb that bespoke past glory, he was armed with both sword and staff; his disheveled mane and bloodshot gaze told tales of sleepless nights and mounting paranoia. A medallion hung heavily around his neck, a relic perhaps of brighter days, while his trembling hands threatened to dislodge the sword from its scabbard. As respect dictated, all but Batu knelt before the chief. Batu greeted his uncle warmly, but Tuvshin's eyes glinted with suspicion, veering into a frantic babble of conspiracies. Accusations flowed like venom—he presumed Batu to be a foe masquerading as kin, suggesting dark alliances hidden in the bounds of the woods. Maniacal whispers filled the air as Tuvshin proposed a horrific test of loyalty—demanding that they slay one of their own to prove their innocence. In the fraught silence that followed, the Steelhawks turned to Peayuk, urging him to deliver their message of goodwill to the chief. In a fit of rage, Tuvshin dismissed their words with violence, striking down the parchment. Chaos erupted as half his followers turned against the Steelhawks, madness gripping both sides. The battle was tense; while Tuvshin’s warriors sought to subdue their foes, the Steelhawks endeavored to uphold a spirit of peace, striking only to defend. Through grit and determination, the Steelhawks emerged victorious against the onslaught, eventually uncovering the chief hidden within the designated yurt. Amidst the debris of conflict, a fragile truce was brokered, and Tuvshin, though still caught in the web of his own delusions, allowed for their departure, albeit with newfound tension simmering in the air. Clutching his medalion declared it was the symbol of him being the chosen one destined to lead their clans. The medalion having been crafted by his own skilled artisans. As they retreated from the disorderly camp, a familiar figure approached—the same discreet local who had once gestured to the yurt. She revealed herself as Oyunna the Whisperblade, a spy loyal to Batu, unveiling her mission of vigilance over Tuvshin. In an act of solidarity, she gifted Batu a sending stone, urging the Steelhawks to remain in contact as they navigated the treacherous paths ahead. Thus, with bonds forged in adversity and shadows of insanity lingering, the Steelhawks departed Dreadrock, their journey far from over, threatened on all sides by whispered conflicts and hidden alliances.
S01E63 Steelhawk International: "The Silent Favor" (Camp Dreadrock)
Watcher: aDM | iFAIL L7 Rogue Geter bcs1374 L7 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer L4 Fighter Shuck Norris CG | Spoon L6 Cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL Lvl 6 Sorcerer/worlock Ellyond Elleyond Lvl 4 Ranger @Druid To Whom It May Concern, I write this report in good spirits, having just emerged from another challenging but ultimately successful leg of our journey to unite the Thunderhoof tribes. We have recently concluded our business with Chief Erdene and were tasked with a new mission: to escort a shaman, acting as a messenger, from Chief U'dan’s camp to that of Chief Tuvshin—another of Batu's uncles. The reputation of this particular chieftain, known for his erratic mood swings and deep-seated paranoia, added a unique layer of anticipation to our assignment. As always, I feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Each new meeting with Batu’s kin offers more insight into the nature of our alliance, and it is both a pleasure and a challenge to learn from them firsthand. Our Departure and Journey: Chief U'dan graciously offered us a place to rest and eat while preparing a wagon for our journey. After some time, we set off with the shaman in tow, carrying sealed documents whose contents remain unknown to us. The trip began smoothly enough; we made good time for about 5-6 hours before stopping to rest. Our horses needed a brief pause, and so did we. During this break, the shaman kept to himself in the wagon, but his mysterious air did not distract from his duty—he even took the time to prepare sandwiches for us. With a quick meal in our bellies, we pressed on for another few hours until the sky darkened, and a storm began to gather on the horizon. Sensing the need for shelter, I cast Tiny Hut—a new spell I’ve recently mastered. I was pleased to see it worked wonderfully, providing a warm and comfortable rest for us all. We completed our watches without incident, and, after a restful night, we set out once more at dawn. The Fog and Ambush: Our journey took a turn as the rain began to fall heavily, soon turning the ground to thick mud. A dense fog settled in around us, almost blinding in its thickness. Zarban, our Minotaur companion, proved invaluable as he led the way—his innate sense of direction was a blessing in the mist. Suddenly, riders emerged from the fog, their silhouettes barely visible against the swirling mists. Arrows flew from all directions, the attackers concealed by the fog. Ellyond seemed to lose himself in the mist momentarily, while Batu responded swiftly, his arrows striking true against the hidden foes. A rider charged in close, attempting to strike Batu from horseback, but his armor deflected the blow. Remaining near the wagon, I focused on supporting our group, calling down a beam of moonlight upon one of the riders. Shuck charged in, his blade finding its mark, while Ivellios loosed an arrow, demanding the raiders leave us in peace. Their leader sneered in response, insisting we surrender all our possessions. When Ivellios’s arrow missed, I could feel the frustration mounting—this fog, it seemed, was as much an enemy to them as it was to us. More attackers appeared, one wielding a warhammer, aiming for Geter. The fog continued to obscure their vision, and Geter managed to fall back behind the safety of the wagon. The fight grew chaotic—blades clashing, arrows flying, and spells illuminating the fog in bursts of light. It was difficult to track the battle’s progress amid the mist, with so many voices and movements blending into one another. Turning the Tide: Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the fog lifted. Clarity returned, and with it, our sense of coordination. We worked as a team, focusing our efforts and striking down the remaining raiders with precision and unity. In the end, we prevailed, capturing one of the would-be attackers. Under a Zone of Truth, the captured raider revealed they belonged to a larger band of marauders who favored these fog-covered lands for their ambushes. She confessed that their camp was located about a mile west of our position, confirming our suspicions of more trouble ahead. Conclusion: Despite the chaos of the ambush, we emerged victorious, proving once more that we can weather any storm so long as we stand together. Our destination now lies in sight: the camp of Chief Tuvshin, nestled among the jagged rocks on the edge of the forest. I do not know what to expect from this encounter, given Chief Tuvshin's reputation, but I trust in Batu’s leadership and our collective strength. May the spirits of our ancestors guide us in the days to come. Korin, Twilight Cleric of the Sunstride Tribe Steelhawks Company
S01E62 Steelhawk International: 'The Forge of War' (Stardust Abyss Wastelands)
Report By Andromeda Listen- you can take the girl outta the wastelands, but you can't take the wastelands outta the girl, ya dig? The sun was brutal, even by Stardust Abyss standards. Heat shimmered off the hardpan below us, twisting the air into a rippling mirage, so we waited until dark. The team talked about our options- sneaking in (my vote, because I'm sneaky!), direct assault, or some other magical shenanigans. We ended up in a not-very-well-planned approach to the caldera where the bad guys were staked out-- talking Behemoth Brotherhood and Thunderstone clanners. We weren't half as careful as I imagined we could've been, and we rushed to the lip of the caldera to see what was going on. I crouched on the lip of the crater with Jimothy and the rest of the Steelhawks, my heart already racing with excitement. The camp spread out below us like a nest of angry ants, tents scattered between jagged rocks, Goliaths moving around like they owned the place. Twenty, maybe thirty of them. Perfect. I turned to Ursula, who was all business, squinting through the heat and tension. “There’s more of them than we thought,” she muttered, tentacles shifting in that way she does effortlessly. I grinned, my tail twitching behind me, thinking; “Yeah, but doesn’t that make it more fun?” Of course, the others were probably thinking Andi, we are not here for fun. But I didn’t care. I could already feel the rush building in my chest, the thrill of it, the chaos we were about to unleash. The goliaths knew we were there, so stealth mission :ppppppppppp out the window and into a 500 foot fall to jagged stones, if you can dig it. The rest of the gang was ready to rock. Ursula shuffled her deck of cards, calm as ever. Tydus was gripping his sword like he was already picturing all the Goliaths he wanted to skewer. Blerc looked like he was about to explode if we didn’t get moving, and Shivy—well, Shivy had been a freaking quetzalcoatlus until less than a minute ago, so I didn't see how she felt. Then, anyway. But that's okay, she felt different after they shot her with a few arrows after things went completely sideways. Which, of course they did. The moment the first arrow zipped past Jimothy’s ear, I knew we were in it. The really handsome and pretty goliaths apparently thought we'd make nice pincushions, and set about doing just that. “Run,” Ursula snapped, and that’s all I needed to hear. I took off, my hooves skittering on the rocky edge of the crater as I leaped into action. Gods, but I love this part of the mission: the exact moment everything goes to hell, when the plan crumbles, and it’s just instinct and motion—there’s nothing like it. I let out a whoop as I darted between the others, the sound of arrows hissing past making my heart race faster. “Time to go!” I yelled, laughing like we were at a party. We scrambled for cover as the Goliaths below started mobilizing. I could see them clearly—huge, hulking figures grabbing weapons, barking orders, and rushing toward the tents. Archers were aiming for us, their arrows deadly accurate. This wasn’t some unorganized band of marauders. These guys were pros, rangers for certain, and that meant maybe a harrowing chase when they came after. More arrows came flying, and I twisted, dodging one that would've buried itself in my chest but I wasn't born yesterday, and had been dodging from the get-go. “Woo! You missed!” I called down to them, even though they couldn’t hear me. Trash talk was half the fun when everything else has gone to the shit, ya dig? Jimothy, looking all serious and focused, cast one last glance at the camp. The Goliaths were already moving to protect the tents—exactly what we needed to confirm. Stolen materials? Check. More than we could handle? Also check. Ursula scooped up Blerc and Jimothy and climbed/fell down the mountain. I looked at Shivy, and said "You're okay to get out of here?" "Sure," she said. I grinned. “I’m way ahead of you!” And with that, I jumped off the lip of the crater. That sixty-foot drop felt like pure freedom. The wind rushed past my face, my horns cutting through the air, and for a moment, it was just me and the sky. I twisted mid-air, controlling the fall like I’d done a million times before, and landed lightly on the desert hardpan below with barely a thud. Then we could hear Shivy take a coupla broadheads in the chest and shoulder, Jimothy too, who looked a lot like he was regretting our recent life choices. Shivy took off, flying overhead with a screech with Tydus. Pretty sure Jimothy cast haste and sprinted into overdrive, which is about half as fast as I go. Ursula and Blerc nearly caught a coupla arrows, as did I, but I know how to block those. Will admit doing it with live arrows instead of blunted practice ones is a freaking kick though! Arrows were still flying, but we got our heinies in gear to get back to the remuda of horses, kicking up dust as we bolted across the desert. Arrows whizzed past us, one grazing my arm just enough to sting. I didn’t stop, though. If anything, it made me laugh harder. “Keep up, slowpokes!” I felt like shouting, but didn't because I wanted to avoid making anyone feel inadequate. The Goliaths were hot on our heels, though, and firing, but with the early lead away from the crater, flat hardpan to pound, and the risk we'd pick them off if they came far from their buddies made the pursuit falter and end. I glanced back over my shoulder, watching as the massive figures got smaller and smaller in the distance. The adrenaline was still pumping, my heart pounding with the thrill of the escape. “Nice work, everyone!” Jimothy panted, catching up to me. His voice was tight, his face a mix of exhaustion and relief. I'm still buzzing with energy, thinking “That was fun, right?” Not sure the rest agreed, but there you have it. Well, the wind kicked up and we split up to rest the horses, and finally got back to the Goliath town. Alive. And with all the horses alive. Horse drover appreciated that a couple of us rested the horses when we returned them, which was cool. Mayor gave us cold cash and a room temperature whiskey with a bit of healing kick to it, said something about intel worth it even if we couldn't recover the goods. Money in my pocket, and a magic shop to spend it.... Holding onto coin is like holding onto a stream of water for me; it comes in, it goes out, woo hoo! But that’s the thing about being a Steelhawk—ya gotta embrace the chaos. Me? I live for it. And the goliaths were some pretty eye candy, which is just a nice bonus, if ya can dig it.
S01E62 Steelhawk International: 'The Forge of War' (Stardust Abyss Wastelands)
Watcher: @Nephril
L11 Barb/Paladin Ursula @Nephril
L8 Sorcerer/Warlock Jimothy aDM | iFAIL
L11 Bard/Sorcerer Tydus aDM | Mungus
L9 Monk/Cleric Blerc bcs1374
L11 Fighter/Rogue Shivy CG | Spoon
L11 Monk/Sorc Andromeda SDM
The party gathered around and discussed how best to take on the challenge of the behemoth brothers and goliaths. They decided to do so under the cover of night boosted by Blerc’s prayer for incredible night vision. But they failed to stealth and the whole camp was alerted before they could even go over the wall. As the party came over the wall they were met with arrows that rained down with pin point accuracy. Cutting through the pitch black and finding their marks. Ursula called for a retreat grabbing her allies and climbing back down. Shivy cloaked in the pitch of night still managed to catch nearly enough arrows to go unconscious. We all fled away trying to dodge the rain of arrows some 300 feet away. This precision and ability led ursula to believe the enemy goliaths are far superiorly trained to those she has been working with. They pushed on. A sandstorm came up. They pushed forward. Light came came back rest was offered and yet they pushed forward. Ursula told the mayor about what happened and then everyone went shopping.
S01E61 Steelhawk International: "The Ties That Bind" (Karakorum)
Watcher: DM | Kyuutie
L5 Paladin Zarban DM | MaliciousSlayer
L6 Dewdrop Sharptail DM | Kyuutie
L7 fighter/Barbarian nova @KayBee
L7 Paladin Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
L4 Wizard Deuffy green George The 2nd
L4 cleric Korin aDM | iFAIL
Ooh! We’re in a tent! It’s so pretty in here, there’s a table in the middle, surrounded by little pouffes, a few people in here too, It’s such a good place! The bartender asks Korin if he wants a drink, Sadly Zarban feels uncomfy in here due to all the glass. :c They ask me if I wanted something and oh goodness me! I possibly couldn’t! But it seems like Zarban is having a panic attack! I go over and help him, poor Zarban :c Dueffy introduces himself, he’s a lil wizard who likes fire, he wants to.. See the world.. Burn? Reinhard goes next, he’s a fighter, always there for his buddies! Gunshow goes next, they’re about 6ft, she wears alot of wrestling gear, her fists are wrapped, and is always looking for a grappling session! Oh how fun!! Korin is a 7ft tall centaur with armour, wielding a shield and a mace, he seems pretty holy! Zarban is a minotar recently released from his labyrinth, he’s trying.. Reinhard starts talking about buying a horse.. Horses are maaaasive!! He gets told to go meet someone called Etra and leaves… Byee!! I go over to Korin and start talking to him! Soon we get told we can move to the meeting place so we go! I make someone very nervous by flying so I land, but they thank us for getting the prized mare! She gives us money! It’s so shiny!! Zarban gets called up to the front and comes to sit down, Saran explains that we should not be violent and hugs him! How nice!! Zarban makes Korin his second in command and Korin asks if the guy is grumpy, and she says no but there is tension! We get told to go talk to Bayar. WE have a big uphill battle apparently.. That doesn’t sound good.. But I’m sure we can get over it! We find out Alta gets left at the Altar.. The poor person.. We get lead out too a tent where there're many different people with so many wares!! Gunshow and Reinhard buy horses, while Zarban goes to buy some armour. I buy two potions! After shoppin, we head down to the edge of the campsite and start on our way! Walkin buy we walk through a pasture filled with lush green grass and horses!! As we travel, it starts getting darker then all of a sudden it rains! It’s storming! Oh god! As we keep travelling it gets darker and darker, the rain has stopped by now, and we set up camp. We eat, and House of cards gets used. Reinhard goes first, his shift passes by uneventful, Next watch. Zarban and Gunshow, Zarban plays his instrument, but their watch goes by uneventful. Dueffy goes next, his shift goes by uneventful. Korin goes next and hogs appear! He wakes us up and battle ensues Battle (Pokemon style:) -Enemy uses Lightning bolt on Kerin. -Gunshow uses dash, then rage. Korin uses Spiritual weapon -Enemy uses lightming bolt on dewdrop -Dueffy uses Jims magic missile- -Dewdrop uses Thorn whip followed by rage. -Reinhard uses bless, Followed by Longsword x2 Followed by Sheild master. -Zarban moves closer -Enemy uses Lightning tusks followed by Thunder hooves on Gunshow. -Gunshow uses rock elbow, followed by stunning strike, followed by forearm smash, grapples the hog, flies up. -Korin uses Spiritual weapon followed by toll the dead -Enemy gets lightning bolt back and uses it on dueffy -Dueffy uses hypnotic gaze -Enemy uses lightning bolt on dewdrop. -dewdrop wildshapes into monke and uses fistx2 -reinhard uses longsword x2 followed by shield master -Zarban uses magic weapon followed by Glaive x2 -Enemy fails to get lightning bolt back, Uses Lightning tusk and thunder hoof on Korin (Was super effective) -Gunshow uses dragon sleeper, then backhand chop then stunning strike, Followed by Nova Stunner. Then uses FLurry of blows for backhand chop x2. -Korin uses death save! (It was ineffective) -Enemy uses lightning tusks and thunder hooves on Dewdrop. -Enemy uses lightning tusks and thunder hooves on Zarban -Monke uses fist x2 -Reinhard uses longsword x2 the shield master. -Zarban uses inflict wounds -Gunshow uses rock elbow, jumping kick then uses stunning strike..back hand chop, another stunning strike, and another rock elbow(super effective) -Korin uses warhammer(super effective) We all talk about the battle for a little before the rest of us go back to sleep, leaving Korin for the watch once more. This time it’s good Nothin happens! We wake up, Korin goes for a nap, Reinhard and Gunshow do work outs. We start travelling again, soon getting to a camp. Standing on the edge we make a plan and then get closer. Korin takes lead and speaks to the guy at the front of the camp. The guy leads us to the tavern, and goes to see if our story about Saran sending us here checks out. (Missed about Five minutes due to medical reasons) We get escorted to the Chiefs tent, and go in. We start a conversation (i missed a lil bit of it once again due to medical reasons) Batu reveals the mark on his chest to his uncle. (I’m really sorry this is patchy I wasn’t expecting this.) She shaman had a dream. Batu is the chosen destined to bring the tribed together and to lead them through trials. As batu tried to unite the tribes a shadow is behind batu, the shadow is growing and threatening to engulf the united tribes, there is a river and in order to get past a sacrifice will need to be made. In order for Him to trust us, he needs a couple things, An escort of a wagon going out to his brother and a messenger, But we have to fight some of his men. BATTLE 2: (Pokemon style) -Gunshow uses Rock elbow, Forearm smash, Stunning strike x2, Open hand Technique. -Enemy uses longbow x2 -Korin uses Twilight Sanctuary, Shield of faith Zarban uses Polearm master, and glaive -Enemy uses unarmed strike x2 -Dewdrop uses thorn whip, -Enemy uses slow -Zarban uses glaive x2 -Enemy uses Spear -Reinhard uses Searing smite, longsword x2 -Enemy uses spear, shield bash. Spear. -Gunshow uses rock elbow x2 -Enemy uses sure shot, longbow x2 -Korin uses Hold person, spiritual weapon. -Dewdrop uses thorn whip -Zarban uses, Glaive x2 -Reinhard uses longsword x2 -enemy uses shield bashx3 -Dueffy uses Gust barrier -Zarban uses Glaive -Enemy uses Longsword x2 -Gunshow uses Nova Stunner, Rock elbow x3, stunning strike -Korin uses hold person -Enemy uses multi attack, longbow x3 sure shot. -Korin uses Spiritual weapon, sacred flame -Dewdrop uses thorn whip -Enemy uses Psychic lance -Zarban uses Goring rush. -Reinhard uses Prayer Beeds-cure -Enemy uses spear x3 -Duffey uses shocking grasp -Gunshow uses Rock elbow, Backhand chop -Enemy uses longbow x4 -Korin uses cure wounds, spiritual weapon -Dewdrop uses Thorn whip -Enemy uses Fireball -Zarban uses inflict wounds -Dueffy uses Prayer beads-Bless -Reinhard uses longsword x2 -Enemy uses Shield bash x3 -Dueffy uses burning hands -Enemy uses Longsword x2 -Gunshow uses Rock elbow, Open hand tech, Rock elbow, backhand chop. -Korin uses Toll the dead., spiritual weapon -Dewdrop uses thorn whip -Enemy uses Firebolt -Zarban uses hand axe -Reinhard uses longsword x2 -enemy uses spear -Enemy uses Shield bash x3 -Dueffy uses quarterstaff, gust barrier -Enemy uses Longsword x2 -Gunshow uses Nova stunner, punch. -Korin uses Sacred flame, Spiritual weapon. -Dewdrop uses Healing word, thorn whip -Zarban uses Glaive, Hammering horns -Enemy uses Spear -Reinhard uses Harness divine power, longsword x3, shield master -Dueffy uses Quarterstaff -Korin uses Sleep. The chief comes in and stops the battle saying that we had proven worthy. WE leave and go to the edge of the campsite.. Gosh this day was tiring.. I just wanna sleep.. Dewdrop siginin out!
S01E60 Steelhawk International: 'The Clash of Clans'
Location: Craterstone
Watcher: Tydus
L11 Paladin/Barbarian/Sorcerer Ursula @Nephril
L11 Bard/Sorcerer Tydus aDM | Mungus
L9 Barbarian/Monk Caskin Mensius
L9 Cleric/Druid | Rasa @KayBee
L11 Wizard/Fighter/Sorc Diyd Diyd Stoney
L10 Fighter/Rogue | Shivy CG | Spoon
A breathless, and exhausted townsperson runs up outside the tavern where the Steele hawks had just neutralized some hooligans. “The mine has been robbed”. Without hesitation Rasa, and Tydus take flight to investigate from the air in order to find the missing resources. Ursula, Caskin, Shivy, and Diyd Diyd, made sure all the other townsfolk were safe. Once Tydus and Rasa return we all decide to go investigate the rest of the mine. The lack of security controls at the facility were quite evident. According to some of the injured workers and shift supervisors several teams were able to slip in during shift changes, move down several levels and eventually subdued an entire section of workers long enough to make off with three rail carts worth of resources. The group is lead by the shift supervisor to 2 options the bandits could have egressed too. Option 1 has reports of poisonous clouds. Option 2 is reported to be flooded. With time already not on our side we begin to prep for the poisonous tunnel only to have Rasa reach out to Selune and ask which will deliver us to what we are looking for. Her answer is “Take the flooded tunnel”. When a good tells you go down the flooded tunnel you go down the flooded tunnel Ray. So we start down the flooded tunnel. We move through with our own precautions of breathing caps, cloaks of the manta Ray, ect. Further down the flooded shaft Tydus and Ursula almost get sprayed with a jet of oil. Tydus attempts disarm the trap and instead takes a full stream of oil Ursula looks around and finds a barrel. She rolls in forward lets it trigger a trap then we follow avoiding the discovered trap. Next we come across several crates full of rocks. Surprise the crates are all traps as well. We triggered a few, disarmed a couple and eventually make our way out of the tunnel and back to the surface. Tydus calls for Screech and we pick up 3 wagon cart tracks in 3 different directions… Our investigative skills deduced that there was one set of tracks that seemed deeper and with more people and so we decided that’s the one we should follow. The fight at the festival, the two tunnels, the traps and now these three carts. It is very clear that whoever did this invested a lot of time efforts and resources into this heist and what they are in the most need of night now is time. The Steelhawks are making quick work of this however, we follow the trails for the better part of the day and right before we reach the maximum of hourly travel before needing to rest we discover 2 large cockroaches, and several rival clan members. The specifics are a little hazy but Tydus, and Ursula took care of the human like beings on top of the ridge, while Diyd, and the rest took on the nastiest roaches that also were incredibly difficult to hit. Eventually we neutralized the enemies with only one left if Ursula’s grasp. She offers him a way out because her oath requires it or something (Paladins amiright) So this guy yields because he wants to live. We ask him questions and Tydus casts speak with dead to confirm the answers. Then we find out they took the adamintine to forge weapons in a secret underground forge. So do we attack the 20 bandits and take it back. Or infiltrate their ranks and find this secret forge. These are above Tydus’s pay grade.
S01E59 Steelhawk International: “Gathering the Storm”
Location: Karakorum
Watcher: Geter
L5 Artificer/Druid/Cleric Gunny Stoney
L4 Fighter/Warlock Ashure aDM | iFAIL
L6 Rogue Geter bcs1374
L6 Monk/Fighter George II George The 2nd
L4 Monk Amar Khair AresOfZion
L6 Warlock Mavilius Mavilius
We arrive Sarins camp, the Sunstride tribe, with 2 captured raiders in toe. Jargon approaches a guard on the outskirts of the camp, and he introduces Batu as the new chief of their tribe and asks to meet their chief. The guard asks us to wait and goes into the camp and ducks into a tent. He comes back and says we can proceed to meet Saran, leaving our horses behind. A couple of people approach to take care of the horses as we enter the camp. We are guided to a large tent and invited in by Saran. She greets Jargon and Batu warmly. She interduces Polilar, her daughter, to Batu. Batu reveals he is the chosen one and now the chief of his people. He tells her plans on uniting all the tribes and replace her father. We told her the Steelhawks are partnering with him with intentions to trade with their people. He tells her he wants her to join her cause. She points out she is a peaceful leader. We point out that she may be at risk under the current leadership, she wanted us to give her some time and directed us to go check out the tavern while she considered things. She seemed confident that the other tribes needed her since she raises horses for them. We headed out. We spend time in the tavern. The bartender seemed nice enough. There was some palm reading gong on and we socialized with the locals. Geter recalled the story of The Great Horse Migration. There was a horrible drought going on, and the herd was at risk. They were at the point where they were thinking of killing of some of the herd to save the others. Sarin suggested they migrate far to the east for better lands. There was resistance, but eventually she talked them into it. She was not the chief at that at that time, but convinced them. IT was an arduous journey that bonded them and their horses even closer than before. Eventually they made it out of the drought striken lands. We brought up Gandbold, they mentioned they try to avoid him. They thought he might be in Khaldune at the moment visiting the storm riders. We asked after Chief Lursa as well. Eventually Saran sent for us. We proceeded to try and convince her to back Ba'tu. He revealed the mark that shows he is the chosen one. She told us she had a challenge for us to complete to gain her support. She then told us of the marrage of her daughter to one of Chief Erdenes commanders, as part of the marriage agreement one of her sons was going to start a breeding program in Erdenes tribe, and he was supposed to have one of his daughters marry one of her commanders as well as start a peace treaty between their two tribes. He failed to keep his end of the bargain and made her look foolish, he needs to make this right. We agreed we could make an attempt to talk to Erdene and talk some sense into him. She said she would make arrangements for us to leave in the morning and provided us with accomodations for the night. At that point we retired for the night to our tent and discussed our options. Amar tried to cook us some food for dinner, it was mostly edible... Amar tried again for breakfast, it turned out much better this time, gourmet lvl glatbread. Someone came in as they had finished and asked us not to fill up as they had food ready for us. Chief Saran had invited us to a breakfast. The breakfast spread was impressively extensive. One of them served us what ever we wanted from the spread. Buuz (Steamed Dumplings): A plate of round dumplings filled with seasoned meat, likely mutton, arranged neatly on the table. Khuushuur (Fried Meat Pies): Golden-brown, crescent-shaped meat pies, crispy on the outside and filled with a savory meat mixture. Boiled Mutton: A large serving of boiled mutton, a staple in Mongolian cuisine, presented as a central dish. Traditional Soup: A bowl of hot soup, possibly containing noodles, vegetables, and meat, steaming gently in the cool air. Airag (Fermented Milk): A small wooden cup filled with fermented mare’s milk, a traditional Mongolian dairy product. Bread: Traditional flatbread, slightly golden and thick, perfect for dipping into the soup or enjoying with the other dishes. Saran told us that her prized mare had dissapearaed in the night. She asked us to investigate this before we left. The girl(Mie) watching the horses fell asleep on watch and it disappeared. Saran agreed to have Mie guide us to where the she fell asleep and the horse disappeared from. The horses were tied together, but in the morning the prized horse was gone and the rope appeared intact. Mav was able to cast speak with animals and the horse told us that the ohter horse just tugged away and the knot wasn't good enough, it went to the north. We were able to find the tracks and followed them north. Mie didn't feel safe out here so headed back. We headed north and found a small lake, and the mare was slowly swimming towards the center. As we entered the water Mav was mesmerized and stared into the water. Amar swam towards the horse and was attacked, battle began. Invisible creatures in the water kept grappling us, a couple that could be seen charmed a couple of us to have us swim out to them and drown. Someone punched the prized mare in the face and it came to its senses. George took a friendly fire great sword to the face to get him to come to his senses, exactly 1 round before the creature charming him went down :). George managed to take down one of the invisible ones finally after coming to his senses. We finally were able to finish off the last of the invisible water elemental creatures and escorted the mare back to the camp. We were greeted with jeers as they saw us returning with their prized mare.
S01E58 Steelhawk International: “Silent Thunder” (Craterstone)
Watcher: DM | Kyuutie
Level 5, warlock,fighter / Araceli Hydris DM | Kyuutie
L6 Rogue | Geter bcs1374
Level 4, ranger, Novotari Ina @rouca
Lvl 6 Paladin Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
Rowen Howler | Lv 5 Hunter Ranger Rowen
L4 Rogue, Sorceror | Banandit NanaBanana
We start at headquarters, it seems like a normal, ordinary day. It’s around 7am, the party members are scattered around headquarters when we hear a call asking if we’re interested for work to head down to the command centre, so naturally we make our way down to the command centre. Bumping into each other in the hallway, some make light conversation on the way down. Upon reaching the command centre, Lagertha welcomes us in, she has her hair pulled back and is adorning some studded leather armour this morning. She mentions the huge fort project in Craterstone, and how it’s being built to protect the mines. The mayor has asked for us to come back so we can work because we are a big part in the project. WE have responsibilities to help train the people to be able to fight. Upon being asked a question regarding what craterstone is, Lagertha delves into the history of the town, telling us about the four clans, Stonewolf, Mountainheart, Thunderstone and Graniteblade. On our way out, she throws a sendingstone to Reinhard. WE make our way down to the teleport room, meeting with Endora. We drop into Mayor Stonefist’s office. He asks us on what we thought was more important building the defences or teaching people how to fight, and we decided very quickly on teaching people to fight was the best route to go. The office becomes a corner claiming area for a short time, because the corners are simply comfy. But as we get back on track we get told to talk too, Tharok Stoneaxe. Mission: Find Tharok. We travel into Craterstone, head to the tavern on our mission. Mission :Find Tharok. We get told he had just left the tavern heading to the leathershop, so naturally we make our way over. We meet a lady called Stitch, who tells us Tharok picked up a new belt and something for a canteen, She told us we might find Thorak at the blacksmith or magic shop as he was making arrangements inside. We keep talking to Stitch about her wares. Banandit whispers to gater about who he can pickpocket. Some of us buy some wares. Still on Misson:Find Tharok. We head to the blacksmith only to miss him once more. He’s a sneaky mans on a mission and we’re told he might be at the magic shop. Mission: Find Tharok a-go again. We head back out and head to the magic shop. As we head into the magic shop we complete our mission of Find: Tharok. He’s on the shitter and might have fallen in, so we take a look at her wares. Being lead by Tharok, He tells us he needs to make a pitstop at the rocksteady as he needs to pick something up out of his room. We head into the tavern, and talk to Florence about our training session. Some of us order drinks, some others (Araceli) Sits in a corner. As we’re about to leave the tavern three people call out the Steelhawks. Theres two people with Hammers, they’re twins. And theres a person behind them. We decide to come out. Battle: (Pokemon style) -Geter uses Steady aim. -Enemy uses their longbow -Reinhard uses their longsword -Banandit- uses thorn whip -A hidden man uses slow. (Araceli Passes, Reinhard, Novotari, Rowen and Gater fail) -Rowen uses A hand crossbow (Rolls out of slow) -Enemy uses multiattack three unarmed strikes Then Patient Dodge -One of the enemies uses Spirit guardians -Enemy uses multi attack with it’s mace. -Novotari uses longbow -Araceli uses Sanctuary on Reinhard, The lightning lure. -Enemy uses opportunity of attack on Araceli, But misses. -Geter uses crossbow -Enemy uses longbow -Enemy uses longbow -Reinhard uses wisdom save to get out of spirit guardians -Enemy uses mace -Enemy uses mace -Enemy uses Wisdom save, then uses tactile discipline, uses wisdom save -Reinhard uses potion of greater healing -Reinhard uses Wisdom save -Banandir uses Thorn whip -Enemy uses Fire bolt -Rowen uses Spike growth -Enemy uses Unarmed Strike -Enemy uses Unarmed Strike -Rowen uses shield -Enemy uses Unarmed Strike -Enemy uses step of the wind -Enemy uses Guiding bolt. -Enemy uses guiding bolt -Novotari uses Longbow -Araceli uses Misty step -Geter uses potion of greater healing, then wisdom save -Enemy uses longbow -Enemy uses longbow -Reinhard uses Prayer Beeds-Bless. -Reinhard uses Potion of greater healing. Then uses wisdom save -Banandit uses Shortsword then Cunning Action to Disengage -Enemy uses Dash -Enemy uses firebolt on Banandit (It was super effective) -Rowen uses Crossbow -Enemy uses Unarmed strike -Enemy uses Unarmed strike -Enemy uses Unarmed strike, Then patient defence. -Enemy uses Mace -Enemy uses Mace. -Novotari uses Spear -Araceli uses Levitate -Geter uses Shocking grasp -Enemy uses longbow -Reinhard uses Dash Then uses wisdom save -Banandit Uses Death save (It was ineffective) -Enemy uses Firebolt -Rowen uses Ensnaring Strike (it was effective) -Rowen uses crossbow -Enemy uses attack of opportunity -Enemy uses Dart x2 -Enemy uses Mace -Enemy uses Mace at Novotari (it was super effective) -Enemy uses sacred flame -Novotari uses death save (It was effective) -Araceli uses eldritch blast x2 -Geter uses Wisdom save (it was ineffective) (gets downed by spirit guardians) -Enemy uses longbow -Enemy uses longbow -Reinhard uses Longsword with radiant (it’s super effective) -Banandit uses Deathsave (it was effective) -Enemy uses firebolt on Araceli (it was super effective) -Rowen heals Banandit -Enemy uses Strength check (it was ineffective) -Enemy uses sacred flame -Novotari uses death save (it was effective) -Araceli uses Death save (It was ineffective) -Tharok joins! -Tharok uses healing on Geter -Tharok protecc -Geter uses crossbow, with a wisdom save -Reinhard uses potion of greater healing -Enemy uses opportunity attack -Reinhard uses lay on hands on Novotari -Banandit uses Potion of greater healing and tries to hide with stealth (its effective) -Enemy uses firebolt -Rowan uses wisdom save (Guardians) (It was ineffective) Followed by crossbow x3 -Enemy uses dart x3 -Novotari uses longbow -Araceli uses Death save (it was ineffective) -Tharok uses Greate Axe -Geter uses crossbow -Enemy uses flee -Reinhard uses wisdom save (it was effective) Followed by longsword -Banandit uses minor illusion followed by stealth -Rowan uses Ensnaring strike followed by crossbow. -Enemy uses dart x3 -Novotari uses longbow -Araceli uses death save (It was super ineffective) -Thorak uses dash -Geter uses crossbow(It was super effective) Battle ending: Deaths in battle: Araceli Hydris Araceli gets revived. Banandit uses Greater healing on Araceli, upon receiving her healing, she goes into her bottled respite. Someone comes rushing in on a horse shouting that the mines have been robbed. We start managing to piece together information and realise the fight was a distraction, the enemies adorn the color yellow and reside in the thunderstone clan.
S01E57 Steelhawk International: “Rock and Revel” (Craterstone)
Location: Craterstone
Watcher:iFail
L7 Cleric/Warlock/Sorcerer | Sheridan Shenanigan CG | Spoon
Lvl 7 Sorlock Jimothy Jones aDM | iFAIL
Lvl 7 fighter talon DM | MaliciousSlayer
L6 Monk/Fighter | George the 2nd George The 2nd
Level 4 Warlock/ Araceli Hydris DM | Kyuutie
Lvl 4 Fighter | Voros Galanodel @Jmark
Morning Routine, Interrupted So there I was, minding my own business, scanning the library for a book I haven’t read yet—no small feat considering I’ve probably read more books than most of these young whippersnappers have hairs on their heads. I had just settled on an old tome about the mating habits of dire wolves (fascinating stuff, really) when the damn alarm went off. Now, let me tell you, there’s nothing worse than being dragged away from a good book. Well, maybe running out of whiskey. But this was close. Of course, the alarm meant all hands on deck, so I had to haul my old bones to the war room. I got there a bit late—cut me some slack, I’m no spring chicken—and who do I see but Lagatha, standing there looking like she’s about to announce the end of the world. Turns out, it’s not the end of the world, but a party. Yeah, you heard me right. Some big celebration for the defeat of Malakar. And they want us to attend. I immediately get that feeling, you know, the one where something doesn’t smell right and it’s not just the cheese left out too long. But, Lagatha insisted. So, we—the usual gang: Voros, Talon, Araceli, George, Sheridan, and yours truly—made our way to the teleporter room. Off we go, straight to the Mayor’s office, where he greets us like we’re the entertainment for the evening. And wouldn’t you know it? He drops the other shoe: Keep an eye out during the festivities, he says. I knew it! Of course, it wasn’t just an invite to a party. They wanted damn security. We’re adventurers, not rent-a-guards, but fine, whatever. The Village of Goliaths and the Tavern of Doom (Drinks) After the mayor’s little chat, we stroll through the nearby village of Goliaths. Now, these folks are massive, friendly, and—most importantly—drunk. Seriously, it’s like the whole village is one big, celebratory tavern. Speaking of taverns, we find ourselves at a place called “Rock Steady.” Inside? More Goliaths, more drinks. Naturally, we sit down and start drinking. The Goliaths are in high spirits, and why shouldn’t they be? The itinerary for the event is packed: Battle of the Bards: Where bards from across the land perform—singing, playing instruments, telling tales. Winner gets a special Goliath-made instrument or some such nonsense. The Shaman's Drum Circle: A massive drum circle led by Goliath shamans. It’s supposed to symbolize the heartbeat of the Goliath people. Or something like that. Rock Chants and War Songs: Goliaths do their traditional chants and war songs, complete with fire dancers. Sounds more like a show to make sure you don’t get too close to the fire. Mountain’s Echo Stage: A natural amphitheater where the acoustics are supposed to be unmatched. Just what I need, my eardrums blasted by the echoes of bards who don’t know when to stop. Giant’s Dance Arena: Where everyone dances, led by Goliath warriors. I’m old, not suicidal, so I’ll be sitting this one out. Feast of the Fort: Now this is something I can get behind—tables laden with roasted meats, stews, and stone-baked breads. You had me at roasted meats. Artisan’s Market: Goliath craftsmen sell their wares. Maybe I’ll pick up a new walking stick. Mine’s got a bit too much mileage on it. Storytelling Circle: Elders share tales of Goliath legends. Might have to listen in; could be good material for my next story. The Great Forge Fireworks: Fireworks display. If it’s anything like the Goliaths, it’ll be big, loud, and probably end with someone losing an eyebrow. After getting our fill of Goliath ale, we decided to make our way to the Battle of the Bards. Now, it’s only a ten-minute walk, but apparently, that’s too much for these young ones—they rented horses. Me? I walked. Slowly, but I walked. We passed through some rolling dunes and arrived at a massive crater with a stage carved from stone. Mayor Stonefist gave a speech to kick things off. It was… beautiful. For a Goliath. Battle of the Bards and Beyond First up was a Goliath bard. He performed a piece about his ancestors and their survival in the wastelands. It was surprisingly moving. Then, Sheridan gets up and does a little jig. The crowd loved it. Honestly, the kid’s got rhythm. The rest of the performances were fantastic—everyone had a blast. Next up was the drum circle. Now, I’m no drummer, but I decided to join in. And you know what? I didn’t ruin it! We jammed for a good while, and then it was time for the dance contest. Sheridan, again, took the floor and broke it down like he’d been possessed by the spirit of dance itself. It came down to him and another dancer, and it was close, but Sheridan won. The warrior-type Goliaths came out next for the chants and stomps. I’ve got to say, it was terrifyingly beautiful. After that, the Mayor approached us and introduced us to something called Siege Ball. Siege Ball (And Winning, Because Of Course We Did) Naturally, we signed up. We even placed bets on ourselves. The game dragged on forever without a point scored, and I was starting to regret not faking an injury to get out of it. But then, Araceli gets a clean run up the middle with the ball, and with a solid kick, lines it up perfectly for Sheridan to drive it home. We did it! We won! Honestly, I don’t know why I was surprised; we’re a bunch of damn good adventurers. Ending the Day: Drunk, Exhausted, and Back Home We finished the day by participating in the rest of the activities. The feast was as glorious as I’d hoped—meat, bread, and more ale than I could handle. By the end of the night, we were all either drunk, exhausted, or both. We retired back to the HQ,
S01E56 Steelhawk International: “The Keepers’ Call: Reassembling the Past” (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: Stoney
L9 Paladin/Sorcerer | Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L10 Wizard/Fighter/Sorcerer | Diyd Diyd Stoney
L11 Barbarian/Monk | Ashley BobRob
L8 Cleric/Druid | Rasa @KayBee
L9 Blood Hunter/Monk | Shupin CG | Spoon
L8 Waradin | Aenig Fatum vYzion
PERSONAL PRELUDE Diyd Diyd thinks to herself, "I started off this mission, literally was the first exposition leader when this all started, and I mean to see it through, no matter the cost. I have been lost for so long, finding the Steelhawks, finding purpose, finding myself, all these things mean something now, but what? I have been through many trials with my good friend Enrick. I hope I don't let him down. Should I die (again lol) I will know in my soul that I left nothing behind and I hope that Mystra finds a place in the weave for me." STARTING POINT We start off with where they left off last session, on the 2nd floor of Arranis's Tower with Vespera the "alien bug" druid with us as well. Our Fellow Steelhawk and close personal friend to many, Enrick, only has about 30 minutes left to live according to our best calculations. THE DEBATE We had to figure out our next move. Time is of the essence and we know this. We quickly discuss our best route to take and come to the conclusion that we do not want to teleport right on top of the final shrine as we feel it will be an ambush, so we land about 10-15 minutes away. Yes we realize this puts even more of a time crunch on our friend Enrick, but if we die, so does he. It was a calculated risk. Will it pay off? We will find out in about 15 minutes. THE PLANS Ashley carries a very important piece of this puzzle, the seeds to the final grove that will power the final ritual for eternity. These "magical" trees create the life magic needed to power the Lay Lines and the Lay Lines power "lock juice" to keep Malakar put behind "adamantine coffin bars" for good. If we defeat him and knock him out, we have to plant these magical seeds right away. So even after this mission, we still have 0 time to save Enrick, EVERYONE is feeling the pressure. We all gather around and Arranis teleports us to a location close to (but not right on top of) the final shrine (see screen shots). Flukes was carrying the adamantine casket that is to be the final resting place of Malakar should we succeed. Well, since Malakar apparently can not die, we certainly hope this will be the final resting place. THE SET UP With all the shrines cleared out and purified, they are now ready for the final ritual. We approach this massive ritual shrine, where once before (per Arranis), Malakar was sealed away beneath the Lay Lines. This time, it is our turn to make the story AND to make sure the story is not forgotten. We must succeed to seal this evil being away for all time. Should we win the day, we will NOT let this story turn to legend. We will ensure the future generations know what this evil is, and make sure it never sees light again. Coffin in hand, our final hunting party moves up to this final ritual resting place. This place is majestic. If you ever had a final resting place, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful place. I almost feel dirty knowing that evil son-of-a-bitch is going to have it so good. But maybe that will be his torment, being evil and all. After a quick set up based on Arranis's instruction, we all separate out. I certainly do not like to be so far away from my friends but this ritual calls for it (see screen shots). Arranis then has a little surprise for us. He gives us a short speech about how this is our time to be the hero's of this world, how it is up to us to put the final nail in the coffin (yes..PUN very much intended), but to do so, we must show that we are committed to the final outcome, we must sacrifice something valuable to us. Aranis approaches everyone separately, explaining the meaning of each of the ritual's outer posts and what it will do to ensure Malakars demise. After Aranis completes his lore drop, he asks for something important. (each player gives up something valuable to start the ritual) 1. Flukes lays down his Lightning Razor Whip and prepares himself. 2. Diyd Diyd lets her Magical Gunhand (mage hand) touch it’s +1 Pistol one last time and it lays down the pistol 3. vYzion gladly gives up a Guardian's Emblem. It seemed fitting that this item would be guarding something. 4. Aenig Fatum also gives up a Guardian’s Emblem, now we will have 2 guarding items! 5. Shupin lays down his Dragonhide Belt +1 and shape changes. 6. Rasa also gives up a Dragonhide Belt +1. ANOTHER SURPRISE Wouldn't you know it, just when you think you know what is going on, the other shoe drops. Come to find out, the only way to trap Malakar in this coffin is to give a life, for a life. When we found this out, and we found out that Vespera was the “volunteer” to sacrifice her life, we all said hell no, we tried to throw out last minute ideas and even volunteered to take her place, but the druids would not have it. Arranis and Vespera have been planning this a long time, they know their shit and who are we to tell them it can’t be done. I understand this sacrifice more then most and as much as I hated to see it happen. I respect it too. In the end, we decided to complete the ritual as planned, and every Steelhawk there knows the price. We must carry on to honor those who died for our freedom. THE FINAL RITUAL Everything is in place! The runes light up and create a most beautiful display of energy and magic! It didn't take but a few moments to get the attention of this evil lord Malakar. He flies up to these ritual grounds in his full spike plate armor glory. He monologues about how he is above everyone, and this ritual used to be able to hold him, but his powers are too much now, blah blah blah. Then, he shows us what he means. Malakar's armor SHEDS!!! I was expecting to see one of the most vile creatures you could possibly imagine, but when the distraction of the armor falling off ends, I find one of the most handsome elves I have seen in my lifetime. It's such a shame to waste such a beautiful creature, but evil is evil! He moves in and puts down this HUGE area of necrotic darkness and the battle commences! THE BATTLE After a rather dull display of power dropping this circle of nastiness on us, I expected more...Yep, there was more. For some reason this guy had a hard on for me and came right up to me. He starts using these evil necrotic powers and I must say it was definitely something impressive, but sometimes fate is for you, I manage to stay one step ahead of him, for now. I don't know if it's the rush of getting here or the knowledge that we must be swift to save lives, but there seemed to be a lot of confusion all of a sudden from our team about what we can do. I personally didn't know if we were supposed to leave our circles. I know we had to protect the chosen items but how can we stand up to such an evil being alone and away from the group at such a distance. Eventually everyone starts moving in on Malakar as he summons his undead minions to attack us THE PLAYERS Malakar - Big Bad Boss with massive necrotic damage/legendary actions/mystic actions/multiple attacks/abilites/spells/aura 4 Necrotic Sentinels - Protectors of Malakar - aura’s and multi attack with bad procs Shupin transforms into the amazing being that he is and moves in for the kill. Flukes uses his lightning horse to make his way around the battlefield freely dropping havoc with him as he goes. Rasa does an amazing job healing everyone, it's too bad we are so far apart, making her job impossible. Aenig Fatum is definitely the loud mouth of the field. I could hear him talking shit all the way across the battlefield to these undead minions. It was very motivating to hear how little he feared this situation. I (Diyd Diyd) personally just held on for dear life. Taking the blunt of the first 18 seconds of Malakar or so in combat. Ashley does her barbarian monk thing and steps up to these bastards. She was doubting herself before we got here, thinking perhaps another person with more healing would be more helpful...Oh how she didn't know how much we needed her. THE BATTLE CONTINUES I’m not bragging when I say this, but a lot of the time I feel very important to the party, but watching my fellow Steelhawks in action was amazing! After I finally missed seeing an attack coming at me and got his/wrecked, I spent most of the first part of this combat just useless, from being paralyzed, to getting rocked by Malakar and then unconscious. But I could not have asked for a better gift as when my eyes opened, I watched my friends start to piece it together. After I went unconscious for a few seconds, I opened my eyes to see Rasa glowing with star power and all of a sudden I was feeling much better. I look over to see Shupin standing toe to toe with one of Malakar's Minions and just tearing it apart. Rasa continues her display of holiness as she darts around the battlefield healing everyone she can and causing confusion for the bad guys. We desperately needed her healing and she answered the call. I could barely keep up with watching flukes as his mount majestically carried him around the field. He was smiting the enemy and landing those hits hard. How can we lose now! Well this is how. The minions had some awful aura about them and it started to pick us apart. These guys are not joking, and then Malakar on top of it all? This guy was earning the Evil Lord title with some authority. Aenig Fatum was doing the best he could against at least 2 of the minions for probably 24 seconds or so, but after moving across the field to get closer to the rest of us, he finally succumbs to 4 of these guys that piled up close and personal with him, and he falls unconscious. Rasa wants to heal Aenig, but Aenig was in a bad situation, unconscious, infected with a power that he could not receive the holy gift of Rasa AND stuck in all these aura's. In the end, it was too much and Aenig gave one last breath before dying. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but this triggers something in one of our players. Any other night, I would call her out as MVP as Ashley makes her presence known. She moves in beside Aenig (Shupin was also close by) and takes position to distract all the bad guys, with her ability to resist the necrotic damage AND her combination of magic items with monk abilities, she just layed down the law. I have never seen anyone take a beating like she did AND SHE WASN'T EVEN BLOODIED! I was sooo very impressed with her work, all I could do was stand back and watch as she put the smack down. From the corner of my eye, I watched Shupin do the EXACT same thing as Ashley…only different! (lol)... Standing up to at least 2 or 3 of these minions after Aenig Fatum fell, and not backing off, just BRINGING IT! Again, any other night, this would have made Shupin MVP in my book, amazing work! Ashley and Shupin clear a path for Rasa to teleport out Aenig Fatum and then Rasa uses Revivify and brings our lost soul back to his body. AENIG FATUM IS BACK! (yes, the shit talking then continues! I love it!!) Even with the unfortunate death, and the miraculous way that Shupin, Ashley, and Rasa managed to bring back our fallen comrade, this fight was not over. I finally decide to show up and start laying down some damage on these guys, I get lucky with a few shots and manage to drop a couple minions myself. In the end, Shupin gets knocked unconscious, I mean come on, that many bad guys using that many aura's all together, it was too much for 1 hero to handle, but I was determined NOT to let him die. I managed to get the killing blow (or shot) on the minions in range of Shupin so he would not be taking the aura damage anymore. Lets not forget about Flukes. I watched Flukes stand up to Malakar longer than I could, he even got knocked unconscious, and somehow his Lightning Horse lived!!! In the end though, that aura killed his horse too and sent it back to its own plane but Flukes managed to catch a great heal and jumped right back into action! I commanded my horse Black Powder to run down and obey Flukes as he had a knack for riding, and he hopped on after getting some healing and again started wrecking shit and killing minions. Flukes was definitely the MVP of movement on this field, and those smites were spot on critical. NOW Malakar, that evil son-of-a-bitch seeing his end is getting close, with only 1 minion left moves to the middle and starts attacking the coffin. He is trying to interrupt the ritual by destroying the coffin! He reaches in and removes Vespera's dead corpse from the coffin! We need to hurry and stop him! We make short work of his last minion, and move in on him. With all of us back on our feet, some of us with a score to settle, and with our Steelhawks' pride, we WRECK HIS ASS! As soon as he drops, we waste no time and toss his ass in the coffin and it seals, trapping him inside!!! We rush to the grove and plant the magical seeds and immediately the power of the Lay Lines starts to replenish and repair the damage done by the lumberjacks cutting down the previous magical grove. In the end, the Steelhawks survive! What an amazing display of talent from multiple hero's on this battlefield tonight. It is something that I will never be able to live down. I'm not sure how to show my respect, but if it comes to it, I am ready to lay my life on the line for the Steelhawks. We are greeted with a hero's welcome, and rightfully so. Steelhawks just saved the world, and who knows, maybe even multiple planes of existence. Malkar's evil has been stopped for now. Arranis gives us more information about the Ley Lines and the towers. Due to the deaths of his druid brothers, they are in need of those willing to answer the call and be a tower guardian so that Malakar does not somehow escape again. Rasa volunteers immediately, and though we will hate to see her leave the Steelhawks, no one deserves to do this more than her. Thank you for your service Rasa, and we hope to see you back again someday! The rest decide to hold off on any quick decisions. With Malakar gone, we just enjoy the day and get some much needed rest. STEELHAWKS SURVIVE!
S01E55 Steelhawk International: "Harmony’s Edge: Sealing the Darkness" (Emerald Oasis)
Andromeda reporting I didn't know it was going to be a pool party! Oh, sure, the Cascadon and its minions were gropy and gripy, but... maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here? I mean, everyone's up to speed on the whole Malakar thing, right? Bad guy, gooey black tarry stuff in the woods, good guy druids who sacrificed themselves to put the hammerlock on an adamantine coffine... the whole shebangeroo? Of course you all do; you're too cool not to read reports and keep abreast of the situation. So, there we were, heading to the 'final' shrine, that of water. We did a ritual to empower the last piece (Remember when I mentioned that pool party?) Ursula, Caskin, Tydus, Rasa, Gwendilyn, and I walked to explore the shrine and got jumped. And not in that good way you might expect at a pool party! Then the Cascadon came up out of the depths and the water began to rise, and then we fought- all around the now flooding chamber. Rasa and Tydus got pounded a few times, Caskin put down his bow to mix it up in hand to ... er.... watery tentacle thing?... combat. Ursula was pretty brilliant, but got tagged by about 6 Cascadon juniors, and things looked pretty bad. But Rasa got everyone back up for the dance finale in time. 'Cause there was this "There can be only one", thing, and we figured that out finally and I think it was Ursula who went alone and put the coffin piece in... And then we got out of there. Crossed a dead forest, but there was at least none of the sludge. And we came to a house in a tree, and a hunky elven druidy dude at the door, and we're nearly at the last step of things, I think, so good luck us....
S01E55 Steelhawk International: "Harmony’s Edge: Sealing the Darkness" (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: Ursula
1). Lvl 10 Warlock Gwendilyn-Mitore CloverCity
2). Caskin lvl 11 barb/monk Mensius
3). Lvl 11 monk/sorc Andromeda SDM | David
4). L 8 Cleric/Druid | Rasa @KayBee
5). Lvl 10 bard rogue Tydus aDM | Mungus
6). L10 barb paladin Ursula @Nephril
Ursula Killgraven's Battle Report: The Water Shrine Saga Well, here we are again, writing down the chaos we somehow survived. I wasn't there for the first two encounters, but I've read the reports back at Steelhawk International, so I'm caught up on the madness. Two sessions ago, the team found themselves staring down three colossal crystal elementals, sparkling like they'd just strutted out of a high-end jewelry store. U'Vas, bless his diplomatic heart, tried to sweet-talk them in their ancient tongue—probably complimenting their shiny bits or something. But, as usual, things went south faster than a Goliath on a sled. Next thing they knew, U'Vas was swinging away, and they were knee-deep in a rock-and-crystal brawl. Talon and The Gunshow took the front, trying to smash those elementals into dust, while Yomnir and the others turned the place into a fireworks show with their fireballs. Geter hung back, picking them off with shots that'd make any archer jealous. And wouldn't you know it, after taking a few solid hits, they managed to grind those shiny boulders into rubble. Victory felt sweet, but they all knew better than to celebrate too early. Pushing deeper into the mine, they found themselves in some twisted dimension where water decided gravity was optional. They kept going, and soon enough, stumbled upon a massive shrine, every inch covered in symbols telling the story of some ancient battle against Malakar. The druids who built the place went all out, sacrificing themselves to lock away this dark entity. The team got themselves a history lesson, realizing they were standing in a glorified museum exhibit. The real shrine was further in. After Gunshow, in true Gunshow fashion, triggered a glowing pool, they were greeted by a trident-wielding water beast. A fight broke out—naturally. Gunshow and Talon took the lead, while U'Vas and the others did their best to keep everyone standing. Yomnir's quick thinking saved the day, and Geter nailed a perfect shot to finish off the beast. Last session, I finally joined the team as we made our way to what I thought would be the final stop—the Water Shrine. Spoiler alert: it was not your typical pool party. The Cascadon, that giant water beast, and its minions gave us a run for our money. We fought tooth and nail in a chamber that kept flooding, with Rasa and Tydus taking some heavy hits. Caskin decided to jump into the fray, mixing it up in melee—gutsy move, considering he was up against a creature with more tentacles than a kraken. I did my part, but when six of those Cascadon juniors ganged up on me, things got dicey. But then, when I tried to put the coffin piece into the shrine, that's when things really went sideways. The moment I moved to place the piece, Cascadon himself showed up with a near army of smaller elementals at his command. We quickly realized these little elementals were more than just a nuisance—they were healing him every time we landed a hit. No matter how hard we fought, it became clear that we couldn't outlast him. He could summon those little fiends faster than we could cut them down, and we were just wearing ourselves out. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but we had no choice—we had to retreat. Vespera had mentioned someone who might be able to help, so we decided to follow her advice and track him down. We made our escape and crossed a dead forest, free of that cursed black sludge for once, and eventually found ourselves at a house in a tree, greeted by a hunky elven druid named Aranis. Aranis had been keeping the water shrine running, but it was clear he was barely holding it together. With no more sludge in sight, our hard work seemed to be paying off. Aranis teleported us back to an altar, now empty, and then led us up to his tower. At the second level, we found where we'd activate the coffin. We placed the pieces on various pillars, and, just like that, they flew out of our hands and reformed the coffin on a central altar. Now, we've got ourselves a big adamantine coffin, ready for whatever's coming next. As for Vespera, she's been our odd but reliable guide through all of this—a bug-like druid who's been trying to help us from the start. She's got some alien features, but at this point, who doesn't? So, there you have it. We're almost at the end of this hellish journey. Here's hoping we come out of it in one piece. —Ursula Killgraven More info about Andromeda: As Andromeda stood atop the tower, facing the massive form of Cascadon, the water elemental, she knew the odds were against them. The swirling mass of water and stormy fury loomed before her, an unstoppable force that had already pushed her and her companions to their limits. The tower trembled under the elemental's relentless assault, and the stone beneath her hooves was slick with water, making every step treacherous. With a deep breath, Andromeda ignited the power within her. Asharalon's Stride enveloped her body in a brilliant blaze of blue and silver flames, the heat so intense that it caused the water on the tower's surface to hiss and steam. She was a living inferno, ready to burn through anything in her path. But even as the flames roared around her, she knew this battle was not one they could win—not today. Charging forward, Andromeda became a streak of fire and fury. She tore through Cascadon's watery minions, her unarmed strikes landing with the force of a tempest. Each punch, each elbow, each headbutt sent waves of water splashing and evaporating around her. Her curled horns, sharp and deadly, cut through the elementals like blades, but no matter how many she destroyed, more rose to take their place. Cascadon roared, a sound like a crashing wave, and a massive torrent of water surged toward her. Andromeda met it head-on, her flames blazing brighter, but even as she held her ground, she felt the overwhelming power of the elemental pushing her back. The tower shuddered, and she knew they couldn't hold out much longer. In the midst of the chaos, Gwendilyn, the druid whose wisdom had guided them through many trials, shouted the order to retreat. His voice, calm yet commanding, cut through the noise of battle. "Fall back! We can't win this here!" Andromeda hesitated for a fraction of a second, her warrior's spirit railing against the idea of retreat, but she knew Gwendilyn was right. Cascadon was simply too powerful to defeat in this moment. Their only chance was to regroup, find the druid in the temple, and return with the means to destroy this elemental menace once and for all. Turning on her heel, Andromeda sprinted back toward the tower's edge, her flames still flickering with the last vestiges of her power. She covered the retreat, using her fiery speed to create barriers of steam and flame that momentarily halted Cascadon's advance. Her heart pounded with the tension of the fight, but she never wavered. Her mission now was to ensure they all survived to fight another day. As she leaped from the tower, her flames dissipating in the air, Andromeda cast one last glance at the raging elemental. This was not the end—merely a postponement. They would return, better prepared, to face Cascadon once more. But for now, their only hope lay in finding the druid and uncovering the secrets needed to defeat this powerful foe. Took a few creative freedoms with the actual occurrences from the session.
S01E54 Steelhawk International: 'Tides of Purification: The Guardian's Trial' (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: aDM | iFAIL
L7 Ranger/Cleric | U’Vas Black @Rompface
L6 Sorcerer | Jimothy Jones aDM | iFAIL
L7 Monk/Fighter/Barbarian | Nova @KayBee
L6 Sorcerer | Yomnir Kegstone Xisle
L6 Rogue | Geter bcs1374
L6 Fighter | Talon DM | MaliciousSlayer
“So there we were, face to face with three massive stone giants, all decked out with crystals like they’d just rolled out of a fancy jewelry store. U'Vas tries to sweet-talk them in what I assume was some ancient rock-speak—probably complimenting their crystals—but something must’ve gone south because the next thing I know, he’s swinging away, and all hell breaks loose! Talon and The Gunshow are up front, doing their best to smash these boulders into pebbles, but they’re also getting smacked around like they owed the giants money. Meanwhile, U'Vas is keeping them patched up, and Yomnir and I are tossing fireballs like it’s a fireworks show. Geter’s in the back, picking them off with pinpoint shots. Somehow, against all odds, we manage to turn these walking quarries into rubble. Victory! After our brawl with the stone giants, we venture deeper into the mine, and everything starts getting weird—like, water running uphill kind of weird. We press on, and soon enough, we find ourselves standing in front of this incredible natural fountain. It was like Mother Nature decided to show off. We move past these carved waterfall stairs, and what do you know, Talon and The Gunshow decide to drink the water. No instant death or magical curses, so we keep going. We eventually reach this enormous shrine with symbols etched everywhere, all telling the story of its creation. Turns out, it’s not just a pretty decoration. These symbols are a historical record, depicting a battle between light and darkness, with Malakar as the central villain. The shrine was built to honor the elemental forces and the druids who fought to contain this dark entity. The Gunshow starts giving people lifts around the shrine, trying to get a closer look at the symbols. I, being the sensible one, remind everyone that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn’t tick off whatever’s guarding this ancient site. Yomnir, our resident brainiac, figures out that this room isn’t the actual shrine—it’s more like a museum exhibit that tells the story of the shrine. And what a story it is. We find details about a ritual used to bind Malakar, a nasty piece of work that these ancient druids had to put down. This ritual wasn’t just a simple spell; it was a full-on sacrifice. The druids poured their life force into it, binding Malakar in a deep, magical slumber. After some more searching, I find a separate pool of water leading to a long cavern. This cavern ends in a massive drop-off, and down below, there’s a huge rune carved into the ground, glowing with an eerie light. This, my friends, is the real deal—the shrine we’ve been looking for. We climb down and start investigating. The shrine’s story is etched into the ruins, detailing the Binding Ritual in all its glory. The symbols are arranged in a perfect circle, representing the unbreakable nature of the spell. Each element—water, earth, air, and fire—has its own rune, all linked together to channel their combined power. The Central Seal in the middle is where all the magic came together, focusing the elements’ power to overwhelm Malakar and lock him away. Surrounding the elemental runes are smaller symbols, the Chanting Runes, representing the ancient druidic incantations spoken during the ritual. They’re designed to be read in a continuous flow, much like how the spell had to be recited in one breath. The Sacrificial Glyphs near the edges of the circle represent the druids’ ultimate sacrifice, their life force given to fuel the spell. Finally, there’s a dire warning etched into the ruins, cautioning anyone against tampering with the Binding Ritual. The symbols show a broken chain and a released shadow, a stark reminder of the chaos that would follow if Malakar were ever freed. Gunshow grabbed some pieces of the sarcophagus and dove straight into the glowing pool, hoping to activate the shrine. What followed wasn’t exactly what we expected—but in hindsight, it probably should’ve been. "Out of nowhere, the water started swirling like a toilet that just wouldn’t quit, forming this giant whirlpool. And still, no sign of Gunshow! Then, the water kept rising, twisting into this massive, trident-wielding water monster. Our guide, Vespera—who, by the way, is this insectoid shrine guardian I gave a back massage to (don’t ask, it was weird)—tries to sweet-talk the big guy, but it’s clear he wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. So, naturally, a brawl breaks out. The creature goes straight for Gunshow, nearly turning them into a soggy mess. But, to their credit, they got some good hits in. Then, out of the water, these smaller elemental goons show up, and things start looking pretty dire. I figured it was time to kick things up a notch, so I gave Gunshow and Talon a speed boost, because who doesn’t love a little extra zip in their step? At some point in the chaos, I got hit with a watery blast, knocking me out cold. But not for long, thanks to U'Vas’s sweet words of healing. Though my speed boost wore off, leaving Talon and Gunshow in slow motion for a few seconds—bit of a spell side effect, whoops. And then, boom, another blast, and I’m back on the ground dreaming of dry land. Meanwhile, the fight’s looking grim. U'Vas is up on a ledge, probably contemplating his life choices, while Gunshow, the absolute unit, charges back into the fray with Talon. Yomnir, always the quick thinker, teleports Geter to safety by U'Vas, who—now with a height advantage—lines up a shot and nails the water beast right in the head. Finally, the creature dissolves back into a harmless puddle. With the danger passed, Vespera finds the path ahead, leading us closer to the actual water shrine...
S01E53 Steelhawk International: "Thunder's Call"
Location: Karakorum
Watcher: Flukes Johannes
L9 Paladin/Sorcerer Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L8 Monk | Blerc bcs1374
Lvl 9 warlock Gwendilyn-Mitore CloverCity
Lvl 11 paladin/sorc Oboreru Kiku SDM | David
lvl 9 bard, Enrick Bergomot Xisle
L10 Wizard/Fighter/Sorcerer Diyd Diyd Stoney
Lvl 9 Bard/rogue Tydus aDM | Mungus
The party returns to the Turukai tribe led by newly appointed Chief, Batu. With his assassin’s dealt with, they reconvene at Steelhawk International to deliberate the next steps. They meet in the library with Jargal (Batu’s Father), Khaluin (Chief War Advisor) and Batu. Jargal reiterates the importance of Batu, and his prophecy to unite all Thunderhoof tribes as he bears the symbol of the Thunderhoof. However, to start to gain traction, he would have to make allies. His family members, all children or grandchildren of Lorkbold, were all for the most part in charge of subsections of the Turukai tribe. Jargal suggested that he travel to these family members and convince them of his cause, as he bears the symbol. It was said to be best to go in this order to have the most effect per Jargal: Chief Saran (Pacifist Horsebreeder) Chief Lursa (Chaotic Good Warrior) Chief Erdene (Strategist) Chief Bold (Youngest, Lorkbold’s Favorite) Chief Tuvshin (Evil, Struggles with Mental Illness) Chief Gandbold (Largest Tribe, Chased Jargal) Batu's Family Tree gt1-chat Before continuing, Batu explains he needs to help his people return to a safe location. He does not want to appear weak and as if they are hiding. He suggests leaving his people with Chinggus at Jargals camp, to train and prepare them for the future battles. Batu expresses the importance of getting his people properly trained and outfitted to handle the dangers afoot. The party all chip in 500 GP to have his entire tribe outfitted with spears, longbows, arrows and leather armor. We work out a deal with the Quartermaster to acquire high quality gear for his commanders. Batu intends to fund his campaign by selling the Thunderhoof horses across the sea and creating a large horse trade market. We return the Turukai and Batu back to Jargal’s camp, to meet up with Chinggus who had agreed to train the healthy adults of the tribe. After getting everything set-up at the camp, the party heads first in the direction of Saran, Batu’s aunt. On the way, they spot the tracks of a large herd of horses passing slowly across the plains led by 3 mounted riders. They are going in the same direction so the party heads along aware of possible threats. They come upon a battle, the herders of the horse were being attacked by a party of bandits. The Steelhawks felt it their duty to step in and the battle ensued. Once two bandits were laid to rest, one incapacitated and the last cornered by three Stealhawks, the remaining two surrendered with their lives. They appeared to be members of the Behemoth Brotherhood, identifiable by their black horses, a clan of Goliaths and Khararion’s. The party agrees to bring them to Saran as a symbol of their mercy, with hopes to convince her to join Batu’s cause.
S01E52 Steelhawk International: “Clash of Titans: Earth Shrine and Beyond”
Location: Emerald Oasis
Watcher: U'vas
L7 Warlock Mina Elisabeta @Nephril
L5 Ranger U’vas Black @Rompface
L4 Monk George The 2nd George The 2nd
L? Warlockx Sheridan CG | Spoon
L4 Ranger Elron Ug
L7 Healer Rasa @KayBee
The party starts this session at the peak of the Tower of Echoes which is located in a large cave holding the Shrine of Earth. The previous party had solved the riddles to obtain the four separate pieces used to activate the Shrine of Earth. Once they had gotten everything into place, they were attacked by Malakar! His monologue was sinister, hinting at potential pitfalls to befall our group. As his speech comes to an end, his form shifts and he is surrounded by a malicious aura. Roll for initiative! The battle was intense, starting with the arrival of many small insects that surrounded the party. As battle ensues, each player takes turns attacking the bugs and Malakar, as he fires back with a necrotic scythe and the powers of darkness. Several insects attempt to obtain the pieces to activate the shrine and take off running. They are quickly shot down, making the party able to retrieve the pieces at a later time. Rasa, using her Beacon of Hope and Golden Lions, keeps the party standing while defending against a swarm of insects. Elron, with the help of Jeffrey, lay on attacks against the insects and Malkar, eventually landing the final blow to dissolve Malakar into black ichor. Mina using the Form of Dread strikes fear in the Insects as she fires Eldritch Blasts at them in hopes of freeing Rasa from assault. George lays down cover fire with his crossbow, eventually approaching Malakar and laying down several blows with his fists. Sheridan uses his Eldritch Blast to keep Malakar at a safe distance and out of his Aura while chiseling away at his health. Lastly U’Vas fires shots from a raised ledge overlooking the platform, attempting to push Malakar into the descending pit. Vespera provides healing to the party, swearing revenge on Malakar for the harm caused to the Elderglow Conclave. The fight ends, the insects disperse, and Malakar in his oozing state shifts below the stonework of the Shrine’s platform. After halting Malakar, the party is able to return the pieces to the respective towers to activate the shrine. Sheridan reads this verse to activate the ritual: “By the strength of stone and the whisper of the roots, I call upon the spirit of the earth. Awaken and grant your power.” The second to last piece of the Sarcophagus is charged now, leaving the party 2 final hours to retrieve the final piece to seal Malakar away again. Vespera leads the party further below as they descend into the depths of the cave finding a stream untouched by Malakar’s corruption. It is evident that his powers haven’t reached this area as the water is clean and the signs of corruption are less evident. Vespera informs us that the final Shrine, the Shrine of Water, is located as the very base of the cave. They party starts their descent, but are interrupted as three earth elementals, covered with various crystals, rise from the ground. Unsure of the intentions of the elementals, the party ends there, both fearful and prepared for what’s to come.
S01E51 Steelhawk International: "Unity in Arms" (Karakorum)
Location: Karakorum
Watcher:Flukes Johannes
L10 Barbarian/Paladin Ursula Killgraven @Nephril
L9 Bard/Rogue Tydus aDM | Mungus
L8 Paladin/Sorcerer Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L8 Blood Hunter/Monk | Shupin CG | Spoon
L8 dmg/tank Jigg Stoney
Lvl 9 Warlock Gwendilyn CloverCity
The party finds itself in the communal tent of the Turukai tribe, located at their encampment in the Upper Tear. They are there to protect Batu, the prodigal son of Jargal, and the destined leader of the Turukai tribe. Jargal, and his pacifistic ideologies, lead the Turukai tribe(Thunderhoof sub-tribe) away from their brethren led by Chief Lorkbold(Jargal’s Father). He was able to do this with the help of the Keshig Riders (Collection of Elite Thunderhoof Soldiers) and their leader Chief Altan. The party collects itself after the failed assassination attempt on Batu, left with questions about who else might have infiltrated the encampment and questioning the trust of the people around them. The party consoles the screaming and crying civilians, as Jargal demands everyone leave the tent aside from the Steelhawks sent to protect him and his trusted family and close friends. Tydus and Jig head to the tavern tent with the group to usher them out of the tent and gather information of any suspicious activity among them. Jig finds a love interest in Higuquo(Hig for short) who he woo’s methodically, while Tydus engages with Keshig Riders to keep a watchful eye on them while occasionally performing an epic dance party. Ursula, Flukes, Gwendylin and Shupen gather around the remaining Turukai in the communal tent to collaborate on the next steps. They agree to reconvene at Jargal’s tent to consolidate their position and provide a more adequately defensible location. Gwendylin retrieves Jig and Tydus from the tavern and disappears into the night, to return later in time to take turns watching during the long rest. They enter the tent to find only the following people allowed inside along with the Steelhawks: Shuden’s Baby Suden’s Wife Batu Jargal Jargal’s Wife Jargal’s Mother The family Gaaltmaa (Trusted Tridal Elder) Jargal speaks about getting intel on Lorkbold’s plans and if they will send another party of assassins to threaten Batu’s life. We speak of potentially sending a spy to Lorkbold’s facility as well as an emissary to various other Thunderhoof tribes to earn their support and protection from his Father. Jargal suggests asking the Goliaths of Craterstone, but he fears that may lose the trust of his greatest ally in Chief Altan. Jargal fears that their forces have dwindled significantly and are insufficiently weaponized to manage a full out assault with Lorkbold’s forces. Ursula suggested a trade, weapons and armor in exchange for exemplary Thunderhoof horses. After deliberation, Ursula pulls out a deck of cards, lays them about the tent, and they spread to form an outer fortress to keep out intruders. Gwendylin returns and the party proceeds to take watches as they safely perform a long rest. The party wakes in the morning and meets together at the communal tent for a typical Turukai breakfast of Buuz and meat pies. They stay very close to Batu and keep vigilant as the tension is still high from the previous assassination attempt the day before. We ask Batu what is to come next and he says that first they must burn the bodies of the dead as tradition as well as to send a message to Lorkbold and his followers.They eventually make there way to the corpse pillars, and stand in silence as Batu gives a speech to rally his people before setting them ablaze. He is interrupted by Altan, one of his trusted allies (Not Chief Altan - Common Name), with word of an oncoming ambush about half a day out from camp. This inspires Batu as he speaks on his grandfather's tyranny as well as his fear of Batu’s destiny. The burning ceremony comes to an end and Batu along with the Steelhawks meet with the tribal counsel to deliberate. Ursula does a sweep of the interior with her Lantern of Revealing as Batu relieves everyone from his command except for: Lork (Batu’s Cousin) Khaliun (Batu’s Brother in Law) Jargal (Batu’s Father) Narin Nomin Uyanga Anu (Batu’s Mother) Batu’s Sister (Head Healer) Erdene (Chief Strategist) Batgan Ursula uses her divine sense to try to see if there is anything unnatural hiding in disguise, revealing those people all to be what they appear to be. The party deliberates with Batu as he doesn’t want to engage with Lorkbold’s forces until he knows his people to be safe. Ursula suggests that we teleport them with the help of Chinggus and his carpet enchanted with sigils to return to Steelhawk International via a teleportation circle. Batu agrees and also chooses to go with them and be removed from the current challenges they face in the Upper Tear. As the party has completed their mission to protect and aid Batu, they travel to the location of the expected ambush, analyzing the map given to them by Altan, and plan to ambush them instead. The party gathers their horses and proceeds to the location, setting up a pincer maneuver behind several sets of clustered boulders. The battle starts, initially with a darkness spell being casted over half of their party, and followed up by a decimating Command spell. They strike back, but are held in place by the massive arms and tentacles of Ursula as she throws them and their horses into a cloud of daggers. Shupen flies over the heads of the assassin group, striking feverishly with his claws. Jig grapples and trades blows with their tank, effectively taking him out of the fight until he is eventually cornered and taken as a prisoner. Tydus lowers his darkness, raising a cloud of dagger which shreds the horses and soldiers as he takes massive stabs at the soldiers. Gwendylin torments them with a hex as she launches eldritch blasts at them and effectively keeps on pressure. Flukes trades spells and blow with their caster in a magic slugfest. A massive blow knocks Tydus down, but is immediately brought up by a Shupen. The fight ends as Jig, Ursula and Flukes corner their final soldier, and return to Steelhawk to prod him for answers... and never forget, she'll see him..."When the jig is up..."
S01E50 Steelhawk International: "Roots of Renewal"
Watcher: bcs1374 L 5 Sorcerer/Artificer | Lorelei
@Tee
L 7 Sorcerer Warlock Cleric | Sheridan
CG | Spoon
L 5 Warlock | Mavilius
Mavilius
L 5 Paladin | Reinhard Van Astrea
CloverCity
L 5 Barbarian | six2six
Ug
L 4 Rogue Trickster | Geter
bcs1374
he group begins in a greatly contaminated swamp that looks completely ruined. We notice both poison mushrooms parasitic vines, Sheridon experimented with freezing some of the water/icor. Vespera informed us we would need to head north and go through the earth shrie on the way to water. Sheridan helped firm up the west bank of the river of icor as we headed north, then northeast. We tried to be stealthy, but Lorelei kept stomping on every twig she shaw for some reason. Vespera spotted an opening in the ground created by branches and roots. We headed over to the entrance discussed if we should take a short rest before venturing within. Lorelei noticed a mosquito following us but everytime we approach it, it dips into the water. We decided to leave the water for a short distance away and used a house of cards to have a short rest before goinginto the maw of the cave. We were able to complete a short rest without incident. Vespera gave us some background on the tower of echos. It was designed to harness the power of sound. They cordinated the efforts against Malakar. The tower itself was within the cave. From the mouth of the cave there was a 100' drop to the bottom. We were able to secure some rope to a tree and repel down to the floor of the cave. Both Geter and Lorelei slipped and fell of the rope, but Lorelei was able to save them with a feather fall spell. There were broken columns scattered around, and the tower rose up in the distance arcoss the stream. We crossed the stream and approached the tower. As we approached the tower it was surrounded by a moat. We had enough rope to tie some to a broken pillar on this side, fly was cast on Lorelei and she was able to tie the rope to a broken statue on the other side. She also ended up carrying a couple of people across. We approached the doors and noticed some notes on the door that spelled out a message. Lorelei was able to figure out the missing section. “Echoes of the earth, hear our plea. Through notes of old, we set you free. By melody’s grace, the barrier falls. Unveil the path within these walls.” After Sheridan spoke it aloud some things began to form out of the mist. A fierce battle ensued as a couple of large and a couple of medium creatures attack the group. During the battles Vespera asked Geter to play the toon again, he struggled to remember it correctly, but eventually played well enough that the creatures faded back into the mist and the doors began to open. The first room of the tower had a massive circular table and the walls were lined with bookshelves. On the table there were several books, one of them included instructions on how to activate the earth shrine. 1. Pillar of Roots Location: A pillar inscribed with carvings of roots and plants. Challenge: Task: You must find and plant a special seed. Action: Once you have the seed, you need to plant it in the soil at the base of the Pillar of Roots and nurture it with a growth spell or an enchanted water. Activation Phrase: “From the earth, life shall grow. Reveal the seed to let it sow. 2. Pillar of Stone Location: A pillar featuring intricate carvings of mountains and rocks. Challenge: Task: You must move a heavy stone blocking a hidden compartment in the tower. The stone can be moved using strength or a specific earth-related spell. Action: After moving the stone, you need to retrieve a crystal from the hidden compartment and place it at the base of the Pillar of Stone. Activation Phrase: “Steadfast as the mountain, unyielding as the rock. Find the hidden strength and unlock.” 3. Pillar of Crystals Location: A pillar adorned with glowing crystals. Challenge: Task: You must find and arrange a set of crystals in a specific pattern to match the carvings on the pillar. The crystals are scattered throughout the tower. Action: Once the crystals are found, you need to place the crystals into corresponding slots on the pillar, aligning with the runes and carvings. Activation Phrase: “Crystals of the earth, align your light. Reveal the hidden power, shining bright.” 4. Pillar of Metals Location: A pillar featuring carvings of ores and metals. Challenge: Task: You must smelt a special ore found at the top of the Earth Shrine into an ingot. Action: Once the ingot is smelted, you need to place it at the base of the Pillar of Metals. Activation Phrase: “From the heart of the earth, metals flow. Smelt the ore, let the power show.” Final Activation: Central Altar: Location: In the central platform in the middle of the four pillars. Action: Once all four pillars are activated, you must go to the central altar put your hands together, and say the activation phrase. Activation Phrase: “Elements of earth, we call your might. Unite your power, and restore the light. With roots deep and stone strong, crystals bright and metals long, awaken now, the earth’s true song.” “Bound by earth, we stand as one. Roots, stone, crystals, and metal, our journey done. Awaken the shrine, let the power run.” Vespera explains that we will need to create holy water for the planting of the seed action and provided us with instructions on how to do that. Luckily we had someone with us that could bless the water. SixbySix finds the Metal pillar, and Lorelei found the pillar or roots and activated it, we then found the pillar of stone, and Sheridan used mold earth to find the hidden crystal and activate that one. While we searched for the pillar of crystals SixbySix started smelting an ingot. We spotted it and Lorelei Geter went to activate that one. Geter fumbled it a bit but finally got the crystals in the right order. SixbySix then finished smelting the ingot and activated the pillar of Metals. Vespera leads us to the center and we say the final activation phrase. We then hear a voice speaking. Malakar himself gavea an over confident blowhard speech trying to discourage us. Claiming our efforts will be for nothing. After his speach he appeared before us and we rolled for initiative...
S01E49 Steelhawk International: "The Awakening of the Thunderhoove"
Location: (Karakorum)
Watcher: Sakaala
L9 Wizard/Fighter/Sorcerer Diyd Diyd Stoney
L8 Wizard/Artificer Sakaala @KayBee
L8 Warlock Gwendilyn-Mitore CloverCity
L8 Sorcerer/Paladin Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L10 Fighter/Rogue Shivey CG | Spoon
L8 Bard Enrick Xisle
In the Steelhawk Headquarters, everyone was engrossed in their projects or training when a voice called out over the loudspeaker. The team headed to the director’s office, where Commander Lagertha was waiting with a new mission: to head to the Upper Tear, specifically where the Turukai Tribe resided. She briefed us on Jargal, and his son Batu, who might be a chosen one, though chosen for what remained unclear. We also learned about Chief Lorkbold Durase of the Thunderhooves. Lorkbold had split the Thunderhooves among his children, including Jargal, but Batu's older brother Khaliun had chased Baku and his father out of the steppes. Chief Altan, head of the Moon Riders, had intervened to protect Batu, giving them horses and helping them reach safety. The four tribes include: Moon Riders Storm Riders Thunderhooves Step Wind Tribe The Keshig Riders, formed from these tribes, respond to dangers and threats faced by their people. Chief Altan had taken the Keshig Rider leadership from Lorkbold through a horse race. Jargal tried to keep Batu's martial skills a secret from his father and grandfather. Lorkbold resented Altan's interference in Khaliun's pursuit of Jargal. The team was invited to participate in the ceremony and provide assistance when necessary. Jargal's tribe, the Turukai, would host us, and we would meet Chingus, a former Steelhawk from the Tear who had retired to his homeland. We prepared their gear and mounts in a lounge waiting room before teleporting to Chingus' hut. Jargal explained the Trial of Thunder, where Baku would stand on a pillar on top of a mountain in a storm. If successful, he would receive a sacred tattoo, symbolizing the tribe and fulfilling a prophecy of greatness. The team’s role was to ensure Baku reached the top of the mountain safely and that the ceremony was not interrupted. Chingus handed Jargal a gift for Baku before departing with Lagertha. The team and Jargal walked through the camp to the horses. We geared up and rode for about 40 minutes to reach the top. After some ceremonial words from Jargal, Baku began his climb alone as a storm brewed. Despite Jargal's worry, the Steelhawks reassured him he’d be fine. Baku climbed down, showing his new mark, and seemed more confident. Shivy helped him clean up, and we returned to the food tent for a celebration. There are performances, music and various contests like horse racing and wrestling. Baku walks in with and ahead of Jargal. Sakaala and Enrick join the performance. Shortly Baku stands and the room falls silent. He begins to speak on his gratitude, that he had been taught by the best, particularly Jargal. He offers thanks to all and says in his culture, coming of age is about embracing the responsibilities that define their tribe. He carries the stories and lessons of his ancestors and honors the legacy of Ulaan, the great warrior who defended their tribe. It wasn’t just about physical prowess but serving those he loved. He promises to uphold the values and traditions that were passed on, to strive for the betterment of the community and to defend it. We’ll continue to honor the past and embrace the future and accepts the gifts humbly. To our future, unity and shared journey ahead! Shivy, staying alert, noticed suspicious individuals at the party while checking the food for poison. A fight ensued, and though Batu was badly injured, the Steelhawks and Baku defeated the would-be assassins. Outside, they saw more attackers fleeing who must have been waiting outside the tents for people to come out. Investigating the bodies, we found a plethora of magic items and coins signifying Lorkbold's tribe, and we were able to deduce that Lorkbold had attempted to assassinate his grandson.
S01E48 Steelhawk International: "Corruption’s End: From Stars to Earth" (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: @Rompface
L 6 Monk | Blerc bcs1374
L 3 Paladin | Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
L 6 Paladin/Sorcerer | Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L 6 cleric/druid | Rasa @KayBee
L 3 Warlock | Mavilius Mavilius
L 3 Sorcerer/Artificer | Lorelei Iathrana @Tee
The party finishes their short rest after returning to the Tower of Silence. They returned via the leyline they had previously activated. As they rest, the party all do various things about the room. Rasa is making sure everyone is healthy, Mavilius is investigating books, Lorelei takes a sample of the corruption ichor, Reinhard is keeping a keen eye out while investigating the room, and Flukes is translating and staying alert. Lorelei burns her hand collecting a sample of the ichor, discovering its acid and necrotic nature. Mavilius finds a book revealing information about the Astral Codex. The book reads as follows: "In the heart of the library's forgotten wing, where the stars align and the night sings, seek the The Astral Codex. Marked by the Guardian's Embrace, it rests upon the highest shelf, untouched by time's embrace. Within its pages, the path to the artifact will unfold.” The party further investigates the Tower of Silence. They come out of the room with the secret passage to the leyline, and look into the remaining rooms. Lorelei finds a room filled with discarded rubble and debris. Mavillius searches the next room revealing nothing but old scrolls and discarded parchment, nothing of note. Flukes looks into the next room and sees an ominous wooden chest. He sees it’s locked and smashes the chest open, finding a crystal ball used for scrying. Rasa and Reinhard find a room with a large rug that they lift up to reveal a hidden trap door. The party reconvenes and descends into a large ceremonial meeting area that is dark. They pull out torches and investigate the room, finding various boxes, a large round table with many seats around it and various shields with names on them along the walls. Lorlelei inspects the shields and discovers the name of Alfred, and Rasa suggests we search for Malakar. After a couple minutes they are able to find the shield, and break it in an attempt to remove it from the wall. It holds no value, but signifies what this order was, and that Malakar was part of it. Mavillius and Blerc search through various boxes, revealing a pristine helm that Blerc is able to identify as a Helm of Teleportation. A magic item that requires attunement and holds two charges of the Teleport spell. Reinhard initiates attunement of the helm, while the party returns to the basement to double check for any other information. They are able to find an insignia and identify this tower as a location run by the Elderglow Conclave, an old Druicic sect that Malakar was at one point affiliated with. Reinhard is able to attune to the helm and uses it while holding the shards of the sarcophagus, and brings them just outside of the Tower of Light which holds the Shrine of Stars. The party separates into two groups to effectively search the bottom floor of the Tower. The first group finds a room filled with scrolls that appear to be star charts of the constellations at different moments in the past. Rasa starts shoveling scrolls into Blerc’s bag of holding as the other group finds a large library. Flukes uses a wind gust to disperse the dust from all of the books in an attempt to find one that stands out, revealing the candles in the room are enchanted. As they scour the room, Mavillius is able to spot an undamaged tome amongst the decaying library. It is safely identified as the Astral Codex, and is opened to reveal a set of Star Touched Glasses. Lorelei uses the glasses to look through the book, revealing information about a specific constellation associated with the activation of the shrine. It refers to a scroll called The Scrolls of Heavenly Paths, with the constellation known as “The Guardians Embrace”. They continue to search the tower, finding little but a storage room holding a barrel of mead. Leaving all options exhausted, the party ascends to the top of the Tower of Light. They reach the top, finding an observatory-like layout, with various telescopes and a raised platform above. Rasa uses the crystal ball to attempt to scry for Malakar, but it bore no fruit as there was something blocking the ability to scry. She then switches her focus to Enrick, our dying comrade in an attempt to keep an eye on his condition revealing he is unconscious with a severe fever. The party proceeds, looking through the telescopes revealing various constellations but no information used with the shrine. They climb a ladder to the top of the tower and see a glow coming from the center leading towards the sky. They try to identify anything that would signal a mechanism to activate the shrine, but it all seems to be for decor. After trying multiple options, Rasa puts on the Star Touched glasses and looks up, showing in the center of the sky, the Guardians Embrace constellation. She hands the glasses to Lorelei, who walks to the center of the shrine, and sees a bright light shining brighter and brighter as it comes lower. She lowers her eyes, hands the glasses to Rasa, who places them on the center of the shrine. The light falls, until the party is attacked! Roll for initiative. A massive fey creature descends onto the party, knocking Blerc unconscious immediately. The party tries to land blows, but the beast appears to be too powerful. The beast initiates a plant growth, bringing a swarm of hornets to attack the party. Rasa keeps everyone alive, as everyone tries to defend themselves against the bees or sees them as a distraction and attacks the creature who summoned them. The creature descends on the party again, knocking Flukes unconscious immediately. Realizing the party is outmatched, Rasa attempts to call out in Druidic to communicate with the beast. As she speaks, the beast lowers its guard, and hears the party out about their mission and the request for its help in using the shrine. The beast known as Vespera agrees, activating the shrine and allowing them to activate another fragment of the adamantine sarcophagus. Vespera then gives the party information it has on Malakar and the remaining shrines. Also, they find out that Vespera is also a member of the Elderglow Conclave. Due to the dire situation, Vespera teleports the party through time and space, bringing them to a severely corrupted forest. It informs us that we are very close to the Tower of Harmony which holds the Shrine of Water. The Tower of Harmony is located at the nexus connecting all of the leylines to its centralized location. It is the location that was used to trap Malakar in his prison the first time the druid conclave attempted the ritual. The party ends session there, leaving the option of resting to the other members, with 4 hours left to visit the last two shrines and activate the fragments.
S01E47 Steelhawk International: "Corruption’s End: The Great Shrine Race Cont'd " (Emerald Oasis)
Extra Report from @vYzon As the descended the tower's spiral staircase, each step echoed louder than the previous as the approached the floor. As an Agent of Order, dispatched by the Planar Philosophers, it was obvious that there was an element of Entropy at work. Black ichor, such they were now seeing seeping through every crack on the floor and walls, was often correlated with Actors of Disorder. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, there were several, non-descript doorways to choose from. With less than 16 hours remaining to secure the rest of the shrines, and no knowledge about which door would leak to the greatest chance of success, deliberation was kept to a minimum and a path was quickly chosen. After walking a winding hallway for a short time, they came to a dimly lit room with some sort of large tool, apparatus, in the center. To the right, alongside the wall, there were several bookshelves. Whle the rest of the party occupied themselves with the "shiny new toy" in the center of the room, Manipulare investigated the bookshelves, looking for any information about who inhabited this tower? What's the cause of the corruption in the forest? Who is responsible for it and how to stop them? After a few minutes of skimming the text of worn, ancient tomes, he came across what claimed to be a journal written by a Guardian of the Tower of Silence. Is that where they were, the Tower of Silence? Reading through the tome, it contained knowledge about the cause of the corruption (Malakar), notes on previous battles with Malakar and strategies that had been used in the past to defeat him. "Manipulare, can you make sense of these markings?" He carefully stowed the book away, certain it's contents will be of use in the future, and approaches where the rest of the party is staring at the device in the center of the room. Primordial characters, same as the journal, adorned the device and floor surounding the device. It took him seconds to translate: "--The moon's phases guide the path, waxing and waning, reveal the math. Follow the sequence, night to day, only then will the door give way."-- The druid, as expected, quickly solved the instruction riddle and adjusted the device, which opened to another spiral staircase leading even deeper into what Manipulare presumed to be the Tower of Silence. The room below was darker than the one above. Searching the contents of the drawers and chests they found, what appeared to be a map, was discovered. After a quick translation of the Primordial, it was confirmed to be a map of all the shrines' positions, relative to each other. Unintersted in the map, Manipulare began investigation the rest of the room. They had been informed that this particular tower held some sort of secret that could help them beat the deadline, but had no indication of what it was. But with less than 15 hours remaining, they were "pot committed" as the saying goes to finding something. Further investigation revealed a hidden room that had transportation circle in the center. "It must go to the Moon Shrine" thought Manipulae. After all, the instructions to the devices discussed moon phases, and the journal mentions an ambush at the moon shrine.At this point, the party had a discussion about whether or not to split up and cover more ground. Arguments made by Rassa were essentially that we weren't 100% sure where this circle led (Manipulare was certain beyond reasonable doubt) and that even if it does take us to another shrine, we don't know where it goes next? So, it'd be more efficient to use our time to split up and cover more ground...hoepfull getting all the of the shrines...hopefully alive. Manipulare never quite understood "hope" outside of statistical probabilities. Apparently Flukes had similar confusions, because before Rassa could finish speaking, he stepped onto the circle and disappeared. He was quickly followed three other party members, including Manipulare. When the six of them had reassembled on the other side of the circle, they themselves at the bottom of a staircase leading up to what was obviously once a well-crafted, beautiful shrine, which had been severely corrupted with the same black ichor they had encountered everywhere. Manipulare immediately began searching the area for signs of the Ambush the journal spoke of, and for the moonstones that were used to secure the victory in said ambush. During this same time, Killer Whale Paladin Flukes detected the noxious odor of an evil presence. The creature, whatever it was, unprovoked by our presence, remained hidden. After a full investigation of the shrine, it was determined to in fact, be the Moon Shrine (no surprise!). Furthermore, the moonstones were all embedded at the base of 8 30ft tall pillars, each inscribed with a phase of the moon. After reading another set of Primordial instructions, stating that the activation must be be performed from "light to dark and back again," the druid once again directed us to the proper sequence to activate the shrine.Upon activation, a group of corrupted elementals...presumeably, as they were covered in black ooze and impossible to identify...rose from the corrupted lake surronding the shrine and attacked the party. The attack was swift and fierce, and grievously wounded Manipulare, who took the first hit. In fact, had it not been for the that woman's so-called "gift," that wa bestowed upon him less than 48 hours ago, he would have been slain outright. He barely noticed that his mind made a mental not to question the coincidence of his recieving the Wellspring dice right before the very mission that they would save his life...but "distraction" is not an activity that Agents of Order engage in. In battle, Agent's exceled at restoring Balance and exerting Control over all parts of the battlefield. And Manipulare was a prodigy among them. He was always the best at making the cold, methodical, battle calculations required to balance maximized chances for victory. The secret, is to play between the lines of clockwork certainty and chaotic indeterminism. Of course, he'd never tell anyone about this...chaotic indeterminism is an affront to the Plane of Mechanus and a threat to the existence of all planes. Which why he could never let anyone know about that woman and her "gift." A combination of masterful battlefield control, synchonized teamwork, and straight up grit won the day against the ambushers. Another investigation of the shrine revealed that it was fully activated, and there didn't seem to be any other corrupted or evil entities lurking about. With no exits, and no idea where there were, geographically speaking, the decision was made to return to the teleportation room and take stock of the new information they'd uncovered to plan their next move...the clock still ticking
S01E47 Steelhawk International: "Corruption’s End: The Great Shrine Race Cont'd " (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: @Rompface
L 6 Monk | Blerc bcs1374
L 3 Paladin | Reinhard Van Astrea CloverCity
L 6 Paladin/Sorcerer | Flukes Johannes @Rompface
L 6 cleric/druid | Rasa @KayBee
L 3 Warlock | Mavilius Mavilius
L 3 Sorcerer/Artificer | Lorelei Iathrana @Tee
The Quest: The Steelhawks discovered that there is a strong corruption killing everything living inside of the blighted forest. The investigation led them to finding out there are 5 shrines associated with 5 artifacts used to cure this corruption. It stems from a corrupted druid by the name of Malakar, and through his warped sense of “fixing” the problem, has exacerbated the corruption. The Steelhawks discovered through further investigation that this corruption stemming from Malakar can be cured by sealing Malakar back into his adamantine coffin that had been destroyed and split into 5 pieces. To mend the seal, they must bring each of the 5 pieces to the associated shrines to have them activated. The Sun Shrine - No Associated Shard Activation The Wind Shrine The Moon Shrine The Star Shrine The Earth Shrine The Water Shrine However, they are in a time crunch as the corruption is spreading exponentially through the land, killing everything. The Sun Shrine The Steelhawks made their way to the shrine located in the Tower of Vigilance. As they investigated the tower, they were introduced to Seraphina Solarflare, a druid tasked with protecting the shrine from Malakar and the forces of corruption. A battle ensues with a party of elementals which the Steelhawks deal with effectively. They discover a book with various journal entries written by Malakar to Elena giving insight to the corruption. They also received the 5 adamantine shards to the coffin that seals Malakar. They made their way next to the Tower of Silence. The Wind Shrine As the Steelhawks approached the Tower of Silence, they decided to scale the tower to the top, discovering a shrine. They activated it as well as the first associated shard, causing a party of elementals to attack. The party is victorious, and they descend into the lower parts of the tower. They discover a mechanism showing various constellations as well as a book written about the strengths and weaknesses of Malakar from a previous protector of the shrine when Malakar was initially sealed away. This book also spoke of the Tower of Echoes which is associated with the Moon Shrine. They solved the puzzle, revealing a staircase descending into a lower room. As they scoured the room, they discovered a map of the leylines. They were able to discern that there was a leyline located just a bit further into the tower. They walked into the leyline portal, taking them through space and time, leaving them at the Moon Shrine. The Moon Shrine The Steelhawks investigated the shrine, finding a riddle related to the cycles of the moon. They solved the riddle, opening a compartment in the shrine and were able to activate the second piece of the coffin, leaving just three pieces left. As they removed the shard, they were attacked by a party of elementals, which seemed to be after the shards of the coffin. The Steelhawks were able to defeat the elementals, leaving them to take a short rest at the Moon Shrine and strategize the next move. Currently they have 15 hours to seek out the final three shrines and activate the final fragments of the adamantine coffin of Malakar. They are located in the Tower of Echoes, which is the location of the Moon Shrine.
S01E46 Steelhawk International: "Corruption’s End: The Great Shrine Race" (Emerald Oasis)
Location: Emerald Oasis
Watcher:Stoney
L15 Cleric Volare Dipodops @Nephril
L12 Wizard Bladesinger Blade Stoney
L12 Sorcerer/Cleric Arashi @Angel of Fire
L12 Rogue Bard Kaivalya vYzion
L12 Fighter Stahl Xisle
L14 SorFiCleBa, Gaius Valerious aDM |Gaius
We start off by the tower of silence. We are looking for more hints to these shrines listed prior. We decide that we will just get to the top of the tower. We know that each tower is a place where the ancient druids that monitored the shrines stayed, so each tower is not far from the corresponding shrine. We decide to fly and spider climb up the tower, as we get to the top we get blasted by a huge wind knocked off one of us. Quick response with feather fall saves Stahl from any damage. He makes it back up top and Volare wants Blade to investigate. As he investigates he sees no traps and we determine that the runes are primordial in language. There is a wheel that we have to turn in certain ways to match the wind and...it was confusing as hell but we ended up figuring it out. When we get the puzzle to click into place, we get attacked by some type of elemental beings! INITIATIVE The battle ensues! Blade gets messed up by all the effects that are happening and then gets beat down by the elementals. Valore sets up healing and keeps everyone topped off. Gaius did all sorts of trickery and set up attacks for everyone. Stahl was a huge meat shield for everyone soaking up some big damage. Arashi did some brilliant stuff with his wind/lightning control that really took out some of their aoe capability. Poor Blade didn't do much from being countered to just missing, but did get a good counter spell in. In the end, our resources saved us and we managed to stay alive. Valore had 1 more gift for the rest of us and uses his connection to his house to get us a long rest. We then enter the stairs from the top of the castle after determining there are no traps. We move toward the bottom and see the "black ooze" has contaminated this location. Once we reset the layline however, the ooze started shrinking or running away. It appears the layline is healing this corruption now as expected. Conclusion! We have found the next shrine. The Wind Shrine. We now have 4 left we need to reset. Keep going on guys!
Title of the session S01E45 Steelhawk International: "Winds of Change:
Extra Report by Rasa We find ourselves gathered at the grand table on the first floor of the Tower of Vigilance. As introductions are made, I notice another Aasimar, Azuriel, among us, a presence I had not previously seen, something which piqued my interested. We've delved into the journal of Seraphina, uncovering the dire nature of Malakar’s threat and the urgency to reach the remaining four shrines with haste. Seraphina offers to guide us to the top of the tower for a clearer view and direction. She informs us that Malakar aims to destroy the shrines to prevent his defeat. Before departing, Blerc and I collaborate, using our maps to chart a course to the Wind Shrine that reduces our travel time from three days to a day and a half. Venturing into the corrupted lands, we retrace our steps to the river we had previously crossed. After navigating through entangling vines, Azuriel executes a remarkable leap, securing a rope to help the rest of us cross without falling into the black ooze. Blerc showcases his agility, and we continue along the path we have found. As we draw nearer, we are ambushed by necromancy-infused elementals. Several of us are struck down, but through mutual aid and divine intervention, we emerge victorious. I whisper a prayer to Selune for healing, and with the help of others, we regain our strength and continue towards the tower. Night falls, and the stars illuminate our way. Utilizing my star map, we navigate towards the tower. Exhausted from the recent battle, the task of ascending the mile-high structure seems daunting. We devise a plan, tying ropes around ourselves for safety and organizing our ascent to protect the less able. Trebon ingeniously uses his tools to assist, another ally carries a weary companion, and I wildshape into a baboon to facilitate climbing. Reaching a landing, we encounter strong winds. Rocks tumble, breaking my wildshape, but the party remains unscathed. Nearing the tower, we discover a cave and decide to take a short rest. While resting, a few of us explore the cave further, finding metal crates deep within. Draxis, Shooter, and Azuriel investigate while Trebon, Blerc, and I recuperate. The trio descends without issue, though the surrounding mists cause Azuriel some harm. They fashion makeshift masks and proceed. The cave is adorned with stalagmites and stalactites, one of which has formed on a crate. Upon touching both crates, Azuriel collapses. Shooter fears him dead, but Draxis determines he lives, albeit barely, and interprets runes on the box: “He who enters cannot leave.” Shooter attempts to break the lock with his crossbow, but unfortunately succeeds. In his unconscious state, Azuriel envisions a pristine landscape with a young druid, Malakar, altering the terrain, hinting at the forthcoming confrontation and Malakar’s allies. Awakening, Azuriel and Shooter fervently attack the lock. Upon opening the box, Azuriel is knocked out by a thunderous wave. Shooter revives him with a greater healing potion, and they recover three books and a scroll. Azuriel, sensing more, discovers two superior healing potions, a +1 wand of the war mage, and a potion of speed. One book and the scroll are in Draconic. As the scroll case is opened, a letter falls out. Reading it aloud, it says: “I hope this letter finds you in better spirits than I. It pains me to recount the events that have brought me to this dark path, but I feel you must understand the reasons behind my actions. Do you remember the days when the forest was our sanctuary, a place where we learned the ways of nature from our elders? Those days seem like a distant dream now. The turning point for me was the day the druids betrayed us. They claimed to protect the forest, yet they let our family suffer, standing idly by as our village was consumed by the blight. I watched helplessly as the plague took our parents, our friends, and left us with nothing. In my search for answers and power to avenge our loss, I discovered the ancient tomes buried beneath the roots of the oldest tree in the Emerald Oasis. The knowledge within them spoke of a power that could reshape the very fabric of life and death, a power the druids had hidden away, fearing its potential. I sought to harness this power, not to destroy, but to cleanse the land and punish those who let the corruption fester. The rituals I performed were dangerous, yes, but necessary. The initial results were promising. I felt the energy of the ley lines bend to my will, but something went wrong. Instead of purifying the forest, the power I unleashed began to twist it. The ley lines, now tainted with my own anger and sorrow, spread the very corruption I sought to eradicate. Elena, I never intended for this to happen. The darkness that now grips the forest is an extension of my own pain and rage. Every day, I feel it consuming me, turning me into the monster the druids always feared. But I cannot turn back. There is too much at stake, and too much blood on my hands. I know you still reside somewhere in these woods, hiding from both the corruption and from me. I beg you to understand that my actions, though misguided, stem from a desire to make things right. I will find a way to reverse this blight, even if it costs me my life. If the old texts are true, there is a hidden shrine that holds the key to cleansing the ley lines and restoring balance. I have not found it yet, but I believe it is my only hope. Should you find this letter, know that I never meant to hurt you or anyone else. My love for you and our lost family has driven me to the edge of madness, but it is also my last tether to humanity. Stay safe, my dear sister. Avoid the corrupted areas and trust no one but yourself. Perhaps, in the end, you will be the one to save us all. Yours always, Malakar
Title of the session S01E45 Steelhawk International: "Winds of Change:
Location: Emerald Oasis Watcher: bcs1374 L 5 Fighter/Warlock | Shooter Logman L 4 Fighter| Trebon @Rockgamma L 5 Cleric/Druid | Rasa @KayBee Lvl 5 Monk | Blerc bcs1374 L 3 Sorcerer | Draxis Frost fire @EmperorJerod L 3 Barbarian | Auzril goat7 We are in the forest within the Tear region, the forest has become sick. This guy named Malacor has been spreading the sickness via the insects, and water. We have been tasked with helping resolve this problem. There are a series of shrines interconnected by lay lines. In ancient times some druids used the lay lines to defeat Malacor and keep him contained. He is imortal so they trapped him in an adamantine coffine. Some people unfortunately cut down some trees that supplying power to the lay lines keeping him contained. Unfortunately the tree over his coffin was cut down. We need to get the pieces of the coffin, get them charged at the shrines, put them back together and somehow get Malacor back into it. We start within the Tower of vigilence. We need to complete this with urgency as affected people will be dying within a couple of days. Normal cure disease does not work on this sickness. It'some sort of natural disease that has been perverted by nectrotic magic. We have the 5 piecews of the coffin, one of which has been charged at the sun shrine. We are now to head to the wind shrine. Sarafina led us to the top of the tower to show us the direction to the wind shrine. Blerc tried to find map that might help them with a shortcut, but failed to do so. As we were aout to depart and Rasa suggested we try again and we were able to find one that will save us some time. We left the tower and made our way into the sickened forrest. We ran into some water to cross which we managaed to get across with the help of some rope. As we traveled along in the distance we see what may be a tower or a castle carved out of the mountain. Rasa pulled out a star chart and on a cloth map, and used it to help make sure we continued to head the right way. But it was hard to confirm. While traveling along the water we noticed some large mosquitos above the water. Trying to be quiet and keep our distant from the water we unfortantly made a lot of noise. Shortly after that three creatures emerged from the water and attacked the party. For some reasone Auzriel started counting the roots in the tree... After one of the creatures took a hit he snapped out of it and rejoined the fight. Rasa was kept busy healing us throughout the combat. The larger creature was throwing fireballs and magic missles and managed to knock Rasa out while surround by multiple party members. We finally dispatched the last one, they were some sort of evil necrotic elementals. As we continued on we started to get into the mountains and really struggled even using ropes to climb, and found a narrow area where again we struggled with the less dextrous in the company. We found a cave where we decided to take a rest. The cavern was huge and went further in. One of us spotted some large crates. Aurile, Draxis and Shooter decided to go investigate the crates. They used ropes to start heading down. They began to be affected by the air as if poisoned. After covering their mouths with some torn cothes that was good enough to proceed. The cases were embedded withing the rock formations. They appear to have been there for a very long time with the stalagmites growing on top of them. It was about 12 minutes to get down to the crates. Aurile stepped up and touched one of the crates, he decides to touch 2 crates at once. Suddently he falls unconscious. They checked him out, he was breating shallowly but his eyes were rolled up into his head. They were able to interpret some words in Draconic on the crates that say he who enters shall never leave. Shooter tries shooting the lock with a crossbow bolt, it appeared to cause some damage to him, so he continued to shoot. Aurile has a vission of being in pristine forest with Malakar present. The forest begins to wither and die. Then the vision shifts to Malakar by a nexus of lay lines deep in the forest. Aurile calls out to him, querrying if he could hear him, or if this was an illusion. Malakar and his followers began a chant/ceremony. He sees that there will be a battle at that intersection of lay lines, and Malakar will not be alone. Aurile then wakes up and they decide they try and finish breaking the lock. They open the box and a burst of thunder engery burst forth. Aurile is knocked unconscious. They poored some potions down his throat to revive him. Within the box were 3 books very thickly bound in leather. There was also a scroll case with a scroll in it. In addition there was 2 superior healing, 1 potion of speed, and a +1 wand of the war mage. The scroll and 2 of the books are in draconic. In the scroll case there was a letter. "My Dearest Elena, I hope this letter finds you in better spirits than I. It pains me to recount the events that have brought me to this dark path, but I feel you must understand the reasons behind my actions. Do you remember the days when the forest was our sanctuary, a place where we learned the ways of nature from our elders? Those days seem like a distant dream now. The turning point for me was the day the druids betrayed us. They claimed to protect the forest, yet they let our family suffer, standing idly by as our village was consumed by the blight. I watched helplessly as the plague took our parents, our friends, and left us with nothing. In my search for answers and power to avenge our loss, I discovered the ancient tomes buried beneath the roots of the oldest tree in the Emerald Oasis. The knowledge within them spoke of a power that could reshape the very fabric of life and death, a power the druids had hidden away, fearing its potential. I sought to harness this power, not to destroy, but to cleanse the land and punish those who let the corruption fester. The rituals I performed were dangerous, yes, but necessary. The initial results were promising. I felt the energy of the ley lines bend to my will, but something went wrong. Instead of purifying the forest, the power I unleashed began to twist it. The ley lines, now tainted with my own anger and sorrow, spread the very corruption I sought to eradicate. Elena, I never intended for this to happen. The darkness that now grips the forest is an extension of my own pain and rage. Every day, I feel it consuming me, turning me into the monster the druids always feared. But I cannot turn back. There is too much at stake, and too much blood on my hands. Wolf's Den 1 (GM):I know you still reside somewhere in these woods, hiding from both the corruption and from me. I beg you to understand that my actions, though misguided, stem from a desire to make things right. I will find a way to reverse this blight, even if it costs me my life. If the old texts are true, there is a hidden shrine that holds the key to cleansing the ley lines and restoring balance. I have not found it yet, but I believe it is my only hope. Should you find this letter, know that I never meant to hurt you or anyone else. My love for you and our lost family has driven me to the edge of madness, but it is also my last tether to humanity. Stay safe, my dear sister. Avoid the corrupted areas and trust no one but yourself. Perhaps, in the end, you will be the one to save us all. Yours always, Malakar" And at the entrance to the cave we wrapped up this session.
S01E44 Steelhawk International: “Runes of Revelation” (Emerald Oasis)
Location: Emerald Oasis
Watcher: Shooter McGavin
L3 Cleric/Druid Rasa @KayBee
L3 Fighter/Warlock Shooter McGavin Logman
L5 Bard/Cleric I dont know @Roland
L5 Sorcerer Yomnir Kegstone Xisle
L6 Warlock Gwendilyn-Mitore CloverCity
L7 Monk Lil Miss Mojo SDM | David
Our mission began at the sun shrine, with blinding lights and a puzzle in front of us, a place where it seemed the sun would never stop shining. There were five scrolls, each holding ancient druidic text. We believed they were one of the first pieces of evidence of an ancient druidic religion. The fragments read as follows: Fragment 1: "In the beginning, the great Sunburst heralded the dawn of light, casting away the darkness and bringing warmth to the world." Fragment 2: "But soon, the mighty Eclipse veiled the sun, a shadow falling upon the lands, testing the resolve of its followers." Fragment 3: "From the darkness emerged the Comet, a celestial herald, marking a new era and guiding the way forward." Fragment 4: "The stars formed the Constellation, a map in the sky, guiding those who looked up with hope and reverence." Fragment 5: "And in the zenith of its power, the Solstice celebrated the sun's highest glory, a day of eternal light and joy." While we examined these fragments, one of us realized that the solstice was only 36 hours away, putting us on a tight time schedule to find the remaining shrines. Upon being read aloud, stones around the room began to light up. After trying to touch the stones in certain orders, and my hand receiving some 3rd degree burns, we found the solution to be a simple one. We simply had to touch the stones in order, from manuscript one to five. After the code was deciphered, the sun altar began to spin and the adamantine fragment from the previous group of adventurers popped out and appeared to be charged in some way. In addition, we reactivated the sun nexus shrine. We now had a new goal in mind, find one of the towers, which each contain a secret. We decided to find the Tower of Vigilance. Upon our journey to the tower, we traveled through the forest. The further we went, the worse the corruption got. We passed animal corpses in pools of blood, victims of the plague. When passing by a large corrupted tree, we found an elven-centaur woman passed out on the floor, who Rasa diagnosed with a concussion. We also found boils on her body, signifying that she had the plague. Once we cured her of her concussion and she woke up, she spoke to us, telling us her name was Seraphina Solarflare and she had nowhere to go, no family left, that all had died to the shadowblight plague. Due to her lack of having anywhere to go, she accompanied us as a guide on our way to the Tower of Vigilance. She said she had only ever heard of it, and had no knowledge of its location. As we continued forwards and the corruption in the forest worsened, we came across a lake of a black viscous liquid that bubbled ominously. While trying to cross it, 2 giant creatures called Corrupting Oozes emerged from the liquid. We all began hurling spells and swinging weapons at the creatures as more little flying creatures surrounded us. In the end, we vanquished all of our foes and continued on our way towards the tower. We finally arrived at the enormous tower, topped with some sort of peak overlooking the corrupted forest. The door was surrounded with runes and writing and we entered the tower, awaiting what was inside. Once inside we found ourselves in a vast multi floor tower, with shelves full of books. Upon investigating the bookshelves, we found a journal written in the ancient druidic language. When we opened it and tried to read its contents, Seraphina entered the room and transformed into a bright flash of light. She told us that she was the guardian of the tower, and we had passed her tests. She told us about her family and how they were dedicated to protecting the Emerald Oasis. They had made these towers as safe spots from the corruption, and from the top, we could see the wind shrine atop a mountain in the distance.
S01E43 Steelhawk International “Illuminating the Past”
Location: Emerald Oasis
Watcher: Gaius
L15 Cleric Volare Dipodops @Nephril
L13 Multiclass Gaius aDM | Gaius
L12 Wizard Blade Stoney
L12 fighter Stahl Xisle
L15 druid/ wiz Soledad SDM | David
L8 DPS Tydus aDM | Mungus
We are located in the deepest and darkest corner of the forest. The Steelhawks killed some locusts and Volare collects some samples. We are standing around the tainted lake that is consisted with black glue water. Soledad cast shape water to gather or remove the water from this lake. For some reason the spell does not work. It is as if the water does not want to move. Volare Conjures Badgers to dig some holes and remove this tainted water from this pit. Unfortunately below the pit runs a river that replenishes the glue substance. Soledad tries a different approach. As a druid she tries to commune with nature. She wants to understand more about the Sludge. She understands that there is a mix of water, a necrotic energy and a life force. It seems to be alive. The sludge is consisted by a variety of many different creatures. Our investigation are not fruitful and it seems we are stacked. Suddenly Soledad remembered that she had a vision about some nexus points inside the forest. Those points will guide us to those locations: Shrine of the Sun: Located atop a hill surrounded by ancient standing stones. Bathed in perpetual sunlight. Guarded by fire elementals and sunward constructs. Central altar glows with radiant energy, illuminating solar glyphs on the stones. Shrine of the Moon: Situated deep within a serene, moonlit grove. Surrounded by luminescent flowers and glowing fungi. Protected by moonlit spirits and spectral guardians. Central altar emits a soft, silvery light, revealing lunar glyphs. Shrine of the Stars: Found within a high mountain cave, open to the night sky. Star patterns etched into the cave walls. Defended by starbound entities and celestial constructs. Central altar sparkles with starlight, displaying celestial glyphs. - Shrine of the Earth: Embedded within a dense, ancient forest. Surrounded by massive, ancient trees and entwined roots. Guarded by earth elementals and treants. Central altar is covered in moss and vines, with earthen glyphs glowing faintly. Shrine of the Waters: Hidden within a secluded, misty glen with a clear, tranquil pond. Surrounded by cascading waterfalls and gentle streams. Protected by water elementals and nymphs. Central altar shimmers with water, showing aquatic glyphs. Shrine of the Winds: Located on a high, windswept plateau. Surrounded by ancient stone pillars carved with wind patterns. Guarded by air elementals and storm spirits. Central altar swirls with gusts of wind, revealing wind glyphs. In order to reach those shrines we need to find the appropriate glow trees. Soledad started communicating with the dead tree that is located next the sludge pit. She asked the location of the glow trees and in returned we will help the tree and the residents to get rid this tainted pit. We start traveling away from the tainted pit and we traveled from the road we came. It was afternoon and we decided to make a camp on a healthy part of the forest. Soledad cast Druid Grove spell so that the spirits of nature give us protection to an area outdoors or underground. We have a safe camp and we were divided to tasks. All of us were doing patrols as a security duty. Soledad was searching for food and Tydus was playing his instrument to keep our spirits high. Our watches were Stahl, Gaius, Blade and Soledad. In Soledad’s watch something peculiar happened. She described it to us later as she was watching us hearing us mumbling in our sleep. We were visited in our dreams from a forest spirit. It looked like a white beautiful fox surrounded by flowers. The spirit recognized us as protectors of the forest and it asked how it can help us. Volare said how we can get rid the sludge. The spirit cannot answer to this question. Stahl asked for an image of Malakar and the spirit showed us his true form. It looks like a tainted wizard holding a powerful staff. The spirit specified to us that his form it is not complete. At that point the spirit suggested that we need to connect the lay lines inside the forest. Gaius asked the spirit about Malakar’s incomplete form. What does it take to complete his form? The Spirit said that he will require destroying the altars we are seeking. The history behind the shrines is that powerful druids performed a powerful ritual and bound their existence to those shrines. Since then they guard the shrines. They created a nexus shield to protect the forest from Malakar. Stahl asked the location of a shrine. The sun-shrine located in the forest but in a different spot a small mountain on top of the mountain there is an entrance to the sun shrine. - We woke up and Soledad asked us if we are ok. We described her what happened to our dream. We had exactly the same dream. Soledad took a map from her backpack and we started navigating towards the location of the sun shrines. Our team is very perceptive and manages to see the marks that lead to the shrine. At some point we reached the entrance of the shrine. There is a big symbol of the sun above the door. Volare pulls a wand from his back pack and casts Detect Magic. He understand that this door is protected by magic. After that he gets concentrated and he casts dispel Magic to remove the protective barrier. Tydus seems that he has some delicate hands and he rotates some symbols to unlock the door. After some time spinning a combination of symbols the heavy stony door opens. Inside the shrine there is an Altar and Stahl run directly to the middle of the Altar and we initiated something. The center of the circle is really bright and we see some shapes. In front of our eyes emerge two solar creatures consisted from fire and having humanoid shape. Every one of us tried to communicate with them before interfering to battle. Unfortunately the creature felt that we violated the shrine and attacked us. Gaius charged towards the creatures to grab their attention. The shrine by itself throws to us sun beams with a purpose to blind us. Soledad got in this beam and she was blinded. Soledad got enraged and she transformed herself into an earth elemental and sent her dragonic spirit to attack the solar creatures. Blade attacked with a technique that is called Steel wind Strike and dealt a good amount of damage to a solar creature. Volare moved in and cast lesser restoration to Soledad to remove the blindness effect. Stahl dashed towards a solar creature and activated a Storm rune. One of the solar creatures with the name Blazeborn is causing an area blast that is called Solar Eruption. This hurt most of our people. We need to reposition ourselves. - Stahl tried to grapple blazeborn but the creature is very strong and managed to resist. Our opponents hit us very fast wounding Blade, Soledad and Tydus. Volare, our experienced priest cast mass cure wounds managing to keep us alive. Stahl seems pretty hurt and he will require some healing. He used a potion of superior healing to recover from his wounds. Unfortunately the Blazeborn used solar eruption and scorched him down. The rest of us surrounded Soil Flare trying to bring him down. Volare moved towards Stahl and provided him a great amount of Healing bringing him back to his feet. Tydus tries hard to find an opening to their defenses and unfortunately he cannot hit them. At some point Blaze born executed a great attack and Gaius manages to redirect it with his Cloud rune to Soil flare and causing him to fall down. Blade found a great opportunity and delivered to him the final blow. This had a very negative effect and that creature scorched us while he was dying. The tides of battle changed dramatically and now we have only one solar creature to fight. We surrounded it and we delivered powerful blows. Blade and Soledad delivered some critical hits. We had a suspicion that this creature if it dies it would explode. So we kept our distances before we kill it. We managed to bring the creature down and it did not explode. Afterwards we explored the chamber and Soledad found 5 inscriptions written in scrolls. They were written in a druidic language and she could read them: - In the beginning, the great Sunburst heralded the dawn of light, casting away the darkness and bringing warmth to the world. But soon, the mighty Eclipse veiled the sun, a shadow falling upon the lands, testing the resolve of its followers. And in the zenith of its power, the Solstice celebrated the sun's highest glory, a day of eternal light and joy. The stars formed the Constellation, a map in the sky, guiding those who looked up with hope and reverence. From the darkness emerged the Comet, a celestial herald, marking a new era and guiding the way forward After reading the scrolls we saw some runes started glowing and we thought that there is a connection between them. We will need some time to decipher of what is going on.
S01E42 Steelhawk International: “Shadows in the Dark” (Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: Isabel
L11 Wizard Bladesinger Blade Stoney
L11 Sorcerer/Cleric Arashi @Angel of Fire
L9 Figher/Monk Bill N Chinashop williebeast
L10 Wizard Isabel @Nephril
L11 Barbarian/Fighter Tugg @Shhmoker
L8 Bard Enrick Xisle
Mission Objective: Investigate the blighted forest, assess ley line disturbances, aid afflicted goliaths,aid afflicted shifters, and uncover ancient artifacts, hopefully find powerful magics for research. Team Members: Isabel Arcanum (Vedalken Wizard) Blade (Dhampir Bladesinging Wizard) Enrick (Halfling Bard) Arashi (Air Genasi Storm Sorcerer) Bill (Minotaur Fighter) Tugg (Thri-kreen Fighter) Detailed Report: Exploration of the Blighted Forest: Our expedition into the blighted forest commenced with meticulous observation of ley line disturbances. Signs of decay and corruption grew more pronounced deeper into the forest, accompanied by the ominous presence of a thick, black ichor replacing natural water sources. Encounter with the Nyxgrob and Parasitic Threat: During reconnaissance near a giant stump matching the descriptions of Glowing Trees, we encountered the Nyxgrob—aggressive insectoids this researcher believes to be carriers of a parasitic affliction plaguing the goliaths, shifters, and now Enrick. This validated earlier theories proposed by Volare regarding a parasitic origin behind the goliaths' mysterious ailment. Combat Engagement and Strategic Response: Combat ensued as we repelled waves of Nyxgrob assailants, led by five emergent figures each with unique abilities. Blade swiftly contained the first figure with walls of force, allowing Isabel to deploy debilitating spells while Enrick provided crucial healing and disruption magic. Arashi's elemental prowess with lightning and the stalwart defense of Bill and Tugg in melee ensured our party's survival and eventual victory. Retrieval of the Adamantine Coffin: Following the intense battle, we successfully retrieved the adamantine coffin from a pool of ichor at the base of a Glowing Tree. Upon touching it, a collective vision unfolded, revealing an ancient civilization's utilization of ley lines to construct temples and seal away the malevolent wizard, Malakar. Fragmentation and Strategic Insight: Upon removing our hands from the coffin, it fragmented into pieces, imbued with latent ley line energies. Intuitively, we recognized that dispersing these fragments to other ley line sites across the forest would amplify our abilities and aid in restoring balance to the blighted land. Conclusion: The mission has provided invaluable insights into the interconnected forces at play within the blighted forest. From combating parasitic threats and deciphering ancient ley line mysteries to harnessing the power of artifacts like the adamantine coffin, our journey continues with renewed purpose and strategic clarity. Though sadly we are no closer to curing the affliction. Future Endeavors: Moving forward, our focus shifts to strategically distributing and harnessing the fragmented coffin pieces at the remaining ley line sites. This endeavor holds the promise of unlocking further arcane knowledge and capabilities essential to our mission's success. End of Mission Report
S01E41 Steelhawk International: “Trail of the Afflicted”
Location: (Craterstone | Graniteguard | Emerald Oasis)
Watcher: Gaius
L14 cleric Volare dipodops @Nephril
L14 Pal/Fight | Klepse @Angel of Fire
L 14 druid/wiz | Soledad SDM | David
L13 Sorficleba | Gaius aDM | Gaius
L 12 Fighter | Stahl Xisle
L12 Rogue/Bard Kaivalya vYzion
We finished the fight and we made back to the base. Afterwards we arrived to a giant canal that helps to bring fresh water to Craterstone, it is a passage for boats from the city and to water the trees of the forest. There is a group of Goliaths of the old ways that protest about this canal and they insist to stop it. The strange thing is that our workers got sick and we decided to examine them and see if it is possible to heal them. Soledad had an inspiration that this sickness might be connected with natural elements. She performed a ritual that is called Commune with Nature but still she did not manage to get enough information to treat the sickness of the workers. Still his estimation is correct. The sickness is connected with nature. We tried a combination of abilities. Volare cast the spell detected magic through his magical wand, Klepse our Paladin used his lays of hand, Soledad made some insights about Nature and our priest used medicine to jump up into some conclusions. At the end Kaivalia because of the ring of Puzzler’s wit got an idea. We need to act very quickly because the workers get deteriorated with the suspicion that it might be a necromancy sickness. For sure we need to get rid the corpses to avoid becoming the living dead. - Soledad grabs a Keoghtom’s Ointment from her backpack and applies it to a sick person and he doesn’t seem to get better. Gaius as a cleric of Order casts ceremony and he uses words of funeral rites, to prevent the corpses to become undead for one week. Xisle asked from Gaius if there is a way to communicate with the town and inform them about the necromancy spell. Unfortunately Gaius does not possess an item like this but Soledad can teleport us through plants. Volare alternatively can use his raven to inform the people of the town and send a message. He summoned a silver raven from his Figurine. The message we sent was like this: Steelhawks at Canal near Craterstone; disease here. Restoration/Keoghtom's/Paladin ineffective. Necromancy detected in the ill. ? water/canal dirt. Volare started separating the sick with the healthy. Then he started asking question, on what things they were exposed. For instance what they ate, or what they drunk, if they had injures. One of the sick people said that everything starts with nightmares, the madness, and the paralysis and eventually comes the necrosis. Volare estimates that possible hallucinations, paralysis of different parts of the body parts. The sick goliath mentioned that everyone went to a party at the emerald forest and has plenty of food. At the same time Gaius observed the surroundings and we found that in a long distance there are lurking some dust devils. He assumed that those workers are exposed on this canal area and he used an item that is called marvelous pigments and he painted a bridge to connect the two edges of the bridge. This will help the workers to have easy access from of side of the canal to the other side. It might be handy for an alternative escape route. Our job finished here and we decided to go to the logging camp. We needed to find a plant here in the desert. Kaivalya starting flying to check the area around and found some cactus plant. We need a plant to teleport as fast as possible with the spell Transport via plants. We arrived at shape shifters camp and they were mourning the death of their leader Thalon. He got sick by the fort. That means that the shifters got first the sickness. They have the same symptoms with nightmares and madness. We got invited on the Druid’s hut so that we get informed about the sickness. He described us that this sickness comes from the ancient forest. It seems as if the forest got mad. The Druid also told us that he got some blood samples. Soledad said that we have some bold samples too and now we can compare them. After that, the druid said that there is a similar story with this outbreak. Back to the day there was a dark sorcery and the protectors of the forest dealt with the sickness. They cured the forest and put the sickness down. They speak of secret druids that use a holy altar and it is buried inside the forest. If someone performs a ritual it can contain the sickness. This part of the forest is very dense and it will require exceptional skills and tools to reach it. We remembered that we met an ancient tree protector and we took a mission to kill his brother that was influenced by dark sorcery and became corrupted. It was a dark spell that corrupted this tree. The Druid informed us that he heard the name of Malakar. Soledad was sure she heard that name from her personal library from her fortress but still did not ring a bell. - Our party members started asking questions if they tried to speak with the dead or to bring back one of the dead people. The Druid said nothing of this worked but he can accompany us up the deepest side of the forest. The Druid led us safe to the place where the Altar lies. We cast comprehend languages to the runic inscription upon the Altar and we realized that there is a warning about Malakar. He has some extraordinary powers and the most important is that he is immortal. Also he is buried underneath a tree in an adamantine coffin. The people that buried Malakar wanted to ensure he will stay there, forever. Soledad cast a spell to locate animal or plants. This will help us to track the burial place of Malakar. She gets a faint signal into the darkest part of the forest. In the beginning the forest was alive with songbirds and nice green leaves. The deeper we venture the darker the forest becomes. We see only dead black trees and decay. We reached a river that had black waters with a glue sensation. Gaius putted a spear inside to see how deep the waters were and the spear got sucked very deep to the waters. Volare summoned a flock of giant owls and we managed to pass from this very hard terrain and we reached a spot were all the trees were cut down. There is a small pit filled with the same black glue substance and Xisle decided to poke a stick the black water and it was melted instantly. We decided to investigate this place a little further.
S01E40 Steelhawk International: “Fortunes and Afflictions” (Craterstone)
Suplimentar Report by SolidVibes After walking through the portal with all the recruits. Mayor Grandor was overwhelmingly surprised and slighly annoyed that so many were in his office. We quickly gathered the recruits and moved them out. He offered a handsome bonus for every head surpassing the goal. Also Mayor Grandor offered two Druids to help with construction of the Fort. After meeting with Mayor Grandor we moved into town to stock up on supplies and gear for the trip, made a stop by the mine as well to gather all supplies that were available to us. Before the trip we had gathered 60% of all needed tools for our recruits. We aquired three wagons and horses to match. During our travels to our construction site 2 bouletts and a Umber Hulk come rising out of earth from benith us. After defeating our attackers we gathered food from the creatures and moved onto our destination were we set up camp, ate and took a long rest. we crafted some more tools during our rest. During our time of rest Dik gatheres many Goliaths around the fire as Sakaala begins performing a blade juggling act then upping the anie by adding flames to the blades. The crowd hims and haws overs the excitment. over the next two days construction moves nicely, making progress on the beginning steps to the fort and digging of the canal is moving swiftly as these Goliath's show their might and prowless at moving earth. While resting after construction began. It came to our knowledge that three Goliaths became ill, and perished by morning. Unaware of the causes we because to investigate what could have caused such a deliemah. We were unsuceessful at locating anything at the camp. We approched the canal work area and started to investigate the dirt piles and canal. (we ordered all Goliaths to stop digging and take a long break as search for clues on the issue at hand) While we were attempting to uncover the truths of the earth or find some sort of curse, a small band of Goliath Nomads fly in on horse back attacking us. Several of us were all spread out investigating and helping Goliaths in need of medical attention. These Goliath Nomads proved to be very challenging having excellent magic and strong armor. After a long battle with these enimies, two managed to get away on horse back. One was killed and one was taken prisnor. we also collected two horses from their party. The captured Goliath yelled out "Behmouth Brotherhood!" Through all of the excitment and commotion we can not lose focus. We must find the cause of this illment. Maybe this prisnor knows something. Time to get to the bottom of this and keep moral high amost the Goliath's. Still have not discovered the answers at this time.
S01E40 Steelhawk International: “Fortunes and Afflictions” (Craterstone)
Location: The Tear, Craterstone
Watcher: Jig Stoney
L7 Artificer/Paladin/Cleric Jig Stoney
L5 Cleric Grammon @Jeremiah Thaymes
L5 rogue/fighter Conexio @Solidvibes
L4 wizard Sakaala @KayBee
L3 rogue Dik @Rockmyzombie
L6 artificer/ranger d'Nep @Angel of Fire
We start off back in Mayor Grondar Stonefist office dragging 193 workers with us. Although impressed, the mayor Grondar was also a little upset that we drug them all through his office. Nonetheless, he did pay us handsomely a sum of 400gp per worker above the original 120 contracted (73 workers x 100gp each / 6 players). We need to escort the 193 workers to the location they will be working within the Stardust Abyss. We are going to be building the canals as the woodpile is backed up and we will also be . We will also be mining. We will basically be supervising the workers and keep everything running smoothly. Kyle (a random goliath) talks with Dik the kid. Strangely he is warning him about his mental health, not sure what that was all about. Either way we headed onward to the bar. As we make it in, some random goliath stops us and asks for an entrance fee. Jig reaches out to shake his hand and the goliath takes it. Jig starts squeezing him down. Once the goliath gets the point, he apologizes and backs down. Jig tosses him 50gp for his efforts and asks him to stop harassing people. After that situation was handled we all got some drinks and chilled. Dik talked with a bunch of different goliaths. After a short conversation between d'Nep and barkeep we all decide to start discussing how we are going to get these workers working. We end up deciding to have 2 groups. One will be working on building the fort, the others will be digging the canal. We decided to help and supervise the digging and we will dispatch our backup "pc npc" to supervise the building of the fort. We are going to find some druids to help us as well so we start asking around. Also we hit the magic shops to try and get some of the newer people some gear. Once everyone is geared up, we head over to supply shops and start filling up carts so we can get after it! The shop owner agrees to get everything into some carts for us and we gather all the goliaths in the middle of town so we can explain who is going where. We also get some druids from the mines (random druid goliaths). Off we go!!! We head out to the desert and are making great time. Then all of a sudden some Bulette's jump us..then an Umberhulk! Initiative! The umberhulk definitely looks badass, but wow, those Bulette's hit really hard. A couple of our guys about get boot stomped, but quick thinking with silverbarbs and good healing from Gammon keeps everyone up. We take down the Bulette's first, then gang up on the umberhulk. After dispatching the monsters that attacked, we made it to the camp location. We set up camp and start building. We had teams start gathering everything we needed, like wood, metal, stone, etc. We spent the night resting and making tools for the next day's work. Everyone pitches in and works, even us steelhawks from time to time, but we are mainly here to supervise. We work all day building the canal. An update from the fort being built..basically things are going well. Things are coming together quickly for the canal too. These goliath's are just shoveling like an umberhulks. They are just plowing through this field. We ended up resting the following night and we, the steelhawks, put on a show. Between Sakaala and Dik we had everyone in high spirits. Unfortunately this comes to an abrupt end. “OH MY GOD HE'S DEAD” a lady goliath screams. We all go and investigate what is going on. After many thoughts and theories, and some good investigation rolls, we determine that this outbreak is arcane in nature. The druid's due tell us they believe it is natural magic. We started to look at where everyone was working and started to narrow this down some. But ultimately we don't know what is going on. We start collecting blood samples and quarantining the goliaths. Hopefully we find what is going on. d’Nep gets an idea that he can investigate these canal's that we just dug so he climbs down to the bottom. Jig follows him down to the bottom as well to help out. As they are investigating and taking notes, they hear large horses coming. Jig knows all too well what that means. Goliath Raiders!!! The rest of the group was back at the camp as the goliath raiders came running in and started attacking our working goliaths. The battle was grueling. Casters hitting d'Nep with fireballs but he got his too, running around on his steed and shooting them up. Daman did a great job taking opportunity attacks almost every round trying to keep everyone up. Sakaala tanked one by herself but finally fell to the damage (everyone, she was level 3 to put that into perspective). Conexio basically ran all over using his bird and dropping some good hits. Jig held his own against the legendary Mira and her friend but was close to falling a few times as well. He did manage to throw Mira off a 50ft cliff 2 times before she finally ran away. After a grueling battle, we captured only 1 enemy, Dorran, and that was because he gave up before we killed him. We did "interrogate him" but nothing sinister. We learn the name of the Goliath group they are part of and they attacked us because they see the water and the land as sacred and we are digging this canal and defacing their beliefs. We end the session here. Will you find out what is going on here? We will see. Next time though!!!
S01E39 Steelhawk International "Day of the Brave"
Location: The Tear, Granite Guard
Watcher: Nephril
lvl 14 druid/wiz Soledad SDM | David
L14 paladin/fighter Klepse @Angel of Fire
L14 cleric Volare @Nephril
lvl 12 fighter, Stahl Xisle
L13 Wizard | Shuden CG | Spoon
: L12 soul whisperer Kaivalya vYzion
Today, our journey to Graniteguard began with a blend of anticipation and caution. As we approached the town, the guards initially barred our entry. Only upon presenting the leather insignia of Mayor Stonefist did they grant us passage. Their demeanor shifted dramatically once they recognized our affiliation with the alliance, and they provided us with maps of the sprawling town. Their enthusiasm was palpable; Graniteguard is a place where master craftsmanship thrives, built impressively in just three months. The town is a testament to the skill of its builders, their work evident in every structure. We learned of Mara's Magic Shop, which brought a mix of curiosity and caution given our past encounter with a different Mara. Faith plays a significant role here, with the townsfolk observing a day of rest every seventh day in honor of Kord, the god they revere. Mayor Neotrov Echib oversees Graniteguard, working diligently towards recruiting 120 new members, of which they have 53 so far. Our task was clear: to bolster the ranks of Graniteguard's recruits. The builders here are currently out of work, creating an opportunity for us. We drew upon the methods employed by previous groups: setting up an arm wrestling match by the well where the losers were obliged to join the Steelhawks, offering beer to entice the Goliaths, and Grammon's impassioned speech promoting the worship of Kord over drinking. An offer was also extended to make the mayor's family supervisors, adding a layer of personal investment to our cause. Success in Recruitment! Our efforts yielded substantial results: We recruited 20 individuals through gambling activities. 10 men were recruited with promises of beautiful women and jobs in Craterstone. Our performance in the tavern attracted 78 recruits. Regeneration spells healed three heavily wounded individuals, who then chose to join us. One individual joined after we provided monetary payment. 53 recruits came from the drinking and arm wrestling competitions. Competitions and Triumphs Graniteguard's training ground buzzed with activity, hosting several competitions. Our party, consisting of Shuden, Kaivalya, Soledad, Klepse, Stahl, and myself, participated in all the events: Boulder Toss: We emerged victorious. Obstacle Course: Despite our efforts, we lost. Cross Country: Shuden barely clinched the win in this challenging race. Javelin Throw Tug of War Arm Wrestling These activities not only served as entertainment but also as effective recruitment tools, attracting participants and spectators alike to join our cause. Mission Accomplished With our recruits gathered, we escorted them back to Craterstone. The journey back was filled with anticipation of the rewards awaiting us. Mayor Grongar Stonefist greeted us upon our return, his approval evident as he rewarded our successful efforts. I cannot express enough pride in my Steelhawks. Each member—Shuden, Kaivalya, Soledad, Klepse, and Stahl—gave their all in every endeavor. Their determination and spirit were evident in every event and task we undertook. The recruits we have gathered are not just numbers; they represent the future of Craterstone. These new hands and hearts will help build up the city, making it a beacon of prosperity and security. The people of Graniteguard and Craterstone, primarily Goliaths, and our diverse party of various races, all members of the Steelhawks mercenary band, have come together for a greater good. Our mission, under the guidance of Mayor Stonefist, was a resounding success. The strength and unity we have fostered here will serve us well in the days to come. As I reflect on our journey and the accomplishments we have achieved, I am filled with a sense of pride and determination. The alliances we forge and the strength we gather will undoubtedly shape our future endeavors. Our work is far from over, but today, we celebrate a significant victory. The recruits we have brought back will fortify Craterstone, ensuring that the city thrives and its people live better lives. This is the heart of our mission, and it is why I am so proud of my Steelhawks.
S01E38 Steelhawk International: “The Road to Fortification” (Craterstone/Granitegaurd)
Watcher: Stoney
L 6 cleric | Winston Mensius
L7 Blood Monk Shupin CG | Spoon
L 7 arty/wiz | Ned crotic williebeast
L 4 Rogue | Conexio @Solidvibes
L 5 Fighter/Rogue | Blitz @Shhmoker
L5 Cleric | Grammon @Jeremiah Thaymes
L6 Arty/Cleric/Paladin Jig Stoney
We start off in Graniteguard. We are picking up where we left off trying to recruit manpower from this location. We moved to the front gate and let them know Mayor Stonefist from Craterstone sent us to see the mayor from Graniteguard. Mayor Neotrov Echib is mayor of Graniteguard. The guards hand us a brochure (scroll) of the town and then let us in after we reveal our insignia from Cratorstone. As we enter, we drop the horses off in the entrance and start traveling through the town. We talk to some of the locals and they regale us with information about their god Korg. Grammon heads to the church that way he can use one of his spells. (invoke the amaranthine). Ned heads to church to pray. Priest Kibreck gives them some info about the general store and the owner Garruk who he thinks might help Conexio out with his request for stoneworking. Meanwhile Jig Blitz Shupin and Winston head to mara's store. We are greeted by Ussiaxi. After a short conversation about the name of the shop, Jig and Winston purchase some items. Then Jig opens his big mouth about Ussiaxi getting off work... tries to hit on her...and fails miserably. Nate Dog had to kick him out of the shop. After everything that happened we end up meeting in the marketplace. We decided to go see the mayor. But on the way first stop off at The General Store. We are looking for Garruk but he has taken the day off. Vavy advised us of this, he is working the store for Garrik. After a conversation about the town and needing work, Vavy advises us to seek the Stonehammer Guild House. This is where we will find workers. He also gave us 6 names of persons who are looking for the work. We eventually make it to the mayor's house and head on in. Some guy meets us at the door leaving and says, "the mayor is inside" and hurries past us. Quick thinking by Winston to try and remember the man, Jig see's this and uses Magical tinkering to paint a picture of the man. We ignore him and go inside to see the mayor. The mayor Neotrov Echib greets us. We discuss why we are here. He even gives us the names of 4 persons that would need the work, all family. As discussions continue we decided to join in the festivities that are happening later today. We know they are extremely competitive so being able to best them respectfully in front of everyone would spread our names far. The Mayor also gives us a full endorsement after disclosing information that everyone is going broke. So we set up our booth. In 2 places actually, one by each well. Jig, Blitz and Conexio set up by the well in the south east. Conexio talks with one guy and seems to persuade him to at least consider it. Jig sets up at a table and hollars for arm wrestling challengers to warm up on. This gets their attention and Jig pays them each a gold to warm him up. After that he persuades people to start signing up based on fair wages. At the other end they set up a beer table and the goliaths start rolling in. Might be a problem because Winston only had 1 gallon of beer. Then Grammon starts preaching and they seem to respond decently. They start lining up and he gets 6 recruits himself. Well the time has come for the games, and before we start we head over to the location that the general store guy Vavy, told us to meet his people. Grammon again speaks with the 2 that were outside. After a short conversation he already convinced those two and they head inside to discuss with the other group. Grammon nails it. He ends up with 33 more here. Adding all groups up, we ended up with 19 recruits at the booths and 33 more at the store for a total of 52 recruits. After checking back in with Mayor Neotrov Echib he pays us 742g each for assisting in his town's people. We end the session here. Next time we will be starting off DOING THE GAMES BABY! Great stuff see you then!
S01E37 Steelhawk International: “"The Druid's Dilemman” (Craterstone/Granitegaurd)
ADDITIONAL REPORT – CAPTAIN THRASIOS The Druid's Dilemman We are at the Mayor’s office and we mentioned us he will require a lot of man power to build a canal and a fort. But right now he does not have the appropriate numbers of men. The mayor mentioned that they are some Goliath clans that have a specific occupation. Those clans are: The Stonefist Clan The Ironhide Clan The Flintstrike Clan The Earthshaper Clan The mayor belongs to the Stonefist Clan - Mayor Grondar Stonefist. This clan is known of being the builders and they have very hard resilience. The Ironhide are smiths. They create weapons and tools. The Flintstrike Clan is like engineers. They build the mines. He mentioned also that chief Altan will come to inspect the facilities around here and he fears that he is not ready with his tasks. The people that lives on this town they are a collection from all Goliath tribes. Ursula made a suggestion to motivate people to come to the town and work. He said that we found a valuable green stone. If the mayor announces that we will require workers to extract it, then it will bring more workers. The mayor was excited and he said that this is a great idea. After that we went to the bar to drink and eat something. Every one of us ordered something to enjoy the morning. Captain Thrasios orders a rum and a delicacy to eat. After that he uses his pipe and smokes it in a way that creates a monster. A young lady is impressed by his skills and asks him if he can do more. Captain Thrasios creates a Dragon and asks why people are not working on the mines. The dragon is dealt with. The lady that was reading book said people do not work because it is holydays. She asked to make of those monsters. Captain Thrasios created a Kraken and with the tentacles of smoke they touched her face in a very friendly manner. She liked that very much and Captain Thrasios got the Attention from 8 people. - Stahl is making some questions on what it will take to put people back to work. Unfortunately he did not get a response. On the other side Ursula made a proposition to a young lady Goliath that if she can handle some missions for Steelhawks she could join our organization. Tugg one of the cooks of our organization made an exhibition on how to cook a delicious meal. He used his scimitar of speed to make an impression and cut really fast the ingredients for the pasta he is preparing. This meal is very delicious and some people of the tavern look impressed. Our members are doing various staff to attract the attention of the people inside the tavern. Captain Thrasios proposed to move on and get out from the tavern. We lost some valuable time here. We need to recruit people for this town. We decided to sleep during the day and venture through the night in the desert. We slept and some of us had a nightmare. Stahl got frighten on his nightmare. Captain Thrasios is a doomed captain for the last 150 years, his fiancé was transformed into a seal, and his clan was burned alive by pirates, so the nightmares do not affect him. We went back to the ground floor to eat one more meal and we decided to go out the tavern and continue our mission. Some of our members remembered that there is a local shop that sells magical items. Stahl asked for wraps of unarmed prowess, Ursula got a rope of Climbing and Cindella got a magical shield. Once we get out the shop we see a sandstorm is coming towards the town. The Steel hawks seem to know what to do because they move on specific locations against this dust storm. Suddenly we can listen the sound of the steppe horses and chief Altan arrived for inspection. The Mayor salutes chief Altan and he said that he was waiting for this inspection. Chief Altan asked how things are going with the mineral extraction. The mayor tricked chief Altan and he said that things go well. He said that they found Adamantine, Mythril, the productivity is up and the morale is very high. - Ursula made a notion to the locals to stick with the story of the mayor, because otherwise there will be changes on this town. One of the town’s people brought us six black horses, it is afternoon near the sunset and we are ready to ride in the desert. We left the town and we see the open expanse. We ride in the desert and the ground has some cracks, probably of a rain. We are searching and scouting the area for possible dangers. Suddenly we heard from the earth a giant colorful snake emerged. Captain Thrasios went in front the giant snake and used his Divine channel ability to increase the moral of his companions. Blade and Cindela position themselves into the battle, until another snake emerges. The second snake cast acid breath an everyone tries to avoid it. Tugg used a combination of abilities and attacked 3 times the snake. He delivered a significant amount of damage to him with his scimitar of speed. Captain Thrasios was prepared and he delivered a devastating blow with with booming blade, hunter’s mark, Psychic blades and smite attack. The snake got a little away from captain Thrasios. We continue to deliver power blows towards the snakes, with blade using the same technique as captain Thrasios and Ursula using her whip. During our turns we use the same fighting abilities until we bring it down. We spend some time to check the holes from where the snakes emerged. We checked and investigated the cavern and it goes really deep. At some point we found a spot where there was a pile from bones of the creatures those snake were eating. - We continue our journey and at some point we reach a large river. Ursula does not like the place. It seems too peaceful. She uses a polearm weapon to disturb the waters, but nothing happens. Captain Thrasios decides to swim through the water as an aquatic creatures and everything looks clear. We continue the journey through this desert and at some point it looks we are getting out from the wasteland. Now we listen sounds like crickets and the terrain is grassland. We secured the horses and we created a camp. This terrain is more affordable than the desert. We got rested and we hear the sound of the civilization. We enjoy traveling the green valley and we arrive in a small town that is built with stones. There are two guards keeping the entrance safe. Stahl realized that there is a great craftsmanship for the Stone buildings.
S01E37 Steelhawk International: “"The Druid's Dilemman” (Craterstone/Granitegaurd)
Watcher: Ursula
L11 Wizard Bladesinger Blade Stoney
L11 Fighter Stahl Xisle
L8 Barbarian/Fighter Ursula Kill Graven @Nephril
L9 Paladin/Barbarian Captain Thrasios aDM |Gaius
L8 Sorc/Cleric/Druid Cindella BobRob
L10 Barbarian/Fighter Tugg @Shhmoker
The steelhawk forces met with Mayor Grondar Stonefist after the encounter in the depths of the mine. The mayor was appreciative of the work the Steelhawks had done but found himself still frustrated at the current predicament. He had recently received word that Altan the High Chief of the Khanarians would be coming by for an inspection. With the city in its current state, he was hoping to put this off until things were moving forward. But for things to move forward, he needs more people. Mayor Grondar gives a brief history of the tribes so the Members of the party better understood the options they had. "The Goliaths have four main tribes. The Stonefist, a tribe that I had led previously until leaving them to start this city. Now Hrothgar leads them. Stonefist clan is widely known for its gathering and mining abilities. The Ironhide clan, led by Torin Stoneseeker, are master craftsmen and have acted as protectors for the clans for quite some time. Partially because of their access to quality weapons and tools. Then we have the Flinstrike clan, led by Thalor Rockshield, They excel at scouting and gathering intel. Gragar Earthshaker leads the last of the four clans, the Earthshaker clan. They specialize in building and mining." Pausing after giving a moment for the information to sink in. Before beginning to speak again. "I formed this city after the alliance with the Khanarians. It is made up of members of all four great tribes. Trying to blend our specialties so that we could produce a civilization. But we still have far too few people. I need you to travel to Graniteguard and recruit members for us there. We need everything but builders would be especially helpful right now. The Mayor's Name is Neotrov Echib. They are good people and we could use their help." The group took the order and headed out for a much-needed night's rest. Heading back to the tavern the group was able to get a good meal and make contact with their new friends Florance and Ursula had become fast friends and were looking to become more. Brock Ironhide was a skilled warrior turned cook who was looking forward to shaking the dust off his axe and rejoining the fight. Thallius enchanted the tavern patrons with stories and illusions while the rest prepared to bed down. An evening was spent carousing with the locals before each member found their own rest. The following morning Thallius was in a rush to get everyone back on with the mission so breakfast was packed and taken with. The group went to the south of the city and prepped to leave when the clamor of hooves was heard in the distance. Flying into action the Steelhawks feared the return of the marauders but to their surprise, they saw human figures riding in. Khanarian figures at that. Remembering that Altan was expected soon the group snapped into a makeshift reception party and welcomed the newcomers. Chief Altan, Enkhbat, Bolbdaatar, and a scout Khuylan The party received the leader of the Khanarians and escort him to the south of town where Mayor Stonefist met them and played a dangerous game. Choosing to feign success he hid the truth from Chief Altan and promised him things were going well. The Chief and the Mayor heading off to speak in private left the remaining three to put away the horses. It was when the remaining Khanarians set off for the tavern that Ursula used her Sending stone to contact Florance and let her know about the ruse and to spread the word. While other party members whispered the plan to the civilians they implored them to spread the word. Choosing to leave town and follow the mayor's last directions the party set out hoping to help in any way they can. Setting out in the evening left the sun low in the distance. Slowly sinking behind the horizon. The cool air enveloped the party making travel much easier. Ursula produced a magical item. A Driftglobe produces light for the horses to travel by. Rushing through the desert to make good time the party was set upon by two vile serpents. A father and son pair hunting in the dead of night sprung up from the sands and attacked. Killing one of the party's horses but not managing to delay the adventurers much past that. Several members of the party sought to explore the cavern these creatures came from to ensure there was not a clutch of eggs preparing to hatch and wreak havoc. To their surprise, they found no eggs but a wealth of magical items. Traveling until daybreak the party set up two houses of cards and took a much-needed rest after such a long travel. Through the early morning, the watches continued until the sounds of civilization echoed in the distance. The perceptive ears of the party pick up on it. Not seeing any reason to disturb the member's sleep they continued their rest and set off fresh. By horseback, it took little more than an hour to find their way to a large town with advanced structures and stone walls. They could tell by the craftsmanship they had made it to Graniteguard.
S01E36 Steelhawk International: “From Ashes to Action”
Location: Craterstone
Watcher: @Nephril
L8 Fighter/Barbarian Ursula Killgraven @Nephril
L 10 Barbarian/Fighter | Tugg @Shhmoker
L 11 fighter | Stahl Xisle
L8 sorc cleric Arashi @Angel of Fire
L8 Waradin Aenig Fatum vYzion
L 8 Wizorc Akiza @FinalPrinc3
In the Tear the Goliaths strive forward. After their copitualation to the Khanarians they have been trying to find their place in the new regime. There new h om eof Graniteguard has given them the opportunity to prove their value and cut out a section of the Tear to call their own. But this process has been fraught with problems one after another. Issues getting building materials, issues with other local people, raids by their own kin who refuse to accept the new way, and all the while the elementals have bubbled up from the depths bringing with them havoc where it hurts their operations the most.The city smolders as our heroes collect their thoughts. Mayor Grondar Stonefist stands in a stupor watching as the panic continues to wash over his people. The group sprung into action taking watch, tending to the wounded, and grouping up for a possible second wave of attackers. Ursula seeing the bewildered leader strikes him across the face forcing him to reconcile what had happened. As he takes a look around he begins to gather his thoughts and move into action. The group of mercenaries collect back together choosing to hunt down the attackers and put an end to this. But it was the Mayor now recovered from the shock that pleads with them to assist with the immediate funeral rites. In true mercenary form, the Steelhawks follow the directions of the man who is paying them and help collect the dead to head out to a nearby burial location.On the way, the Mayor thanks them for their contributions and begins to explain his frustrations with the time frames of what has been happening. Wanted the building of the town's proper defenses and the new Temple to Kord to be done so that they can properly train a militia. Ursula here's mention of a prolonged opportunity to get away from Steelhawk HQ and offers to stay on, if Frank will allow, and train the Goliaths. Arashi offers his service in training the magical disciplines as well. The other members were happy to continue on with the mission they had been entrusted with defending the Goliaths and trying to resolve the issues with the other people that were causing problems.Kord God of Competition and Strength. Coming to the burial site the Steelhawks helped pile the bodies of the fallen and wait for the ritual to be over. Each takes part in their own way. Stahl and Tugg choose to keep watch. Akiza offered magic assistance to make the event less macabre, Arashi and Ursula giving prayers in their own unique ways, while Aenig watched on. The event had a surreal effect on the Steelhawks who were no strangers to loss in the line of battle. But among the people here a deep attachment to the earth could be felt. The runes on the gravestones began to glow in response to their turmoil as if the very desert itself was comforting them and letting them know that their people were returning home to whence they came. As the funeral comes to an end and the Steelhawks discuss the future options with Mayor Grondar screaming comes from the town. All of the members collected here fly into action running towards the screams expecting a second attack, but the attack was not here but within the mines. Coming from below in Tunnel 49. Those delivering the message explained that the goliaths were still fighting at this moment. The steelhawks hardly broke stride as they continued to run jumping over the edge of the mine pit, dropping to the floor uninjured. Ursula screams at each Goliath she sees having them point the way towards the danger. Down tunnel after tunnel until a trail of bodies formed. 5 in all lost in the fights. The culprit, an elemental made of a liquid metal coursing with lightning. Our heroes surrounded the creature but were unable to save the few in its reach who were destroyed by the repeated elemental blasts from the powerful monster. While the creature stole their weapons and locked many of them in place pulling on their metallic armor our heroes were forced to beat the creature to death with their bare hands. Luckily they all came prepared for the job. After completing the challenge the group returned to the Mayor to report the loss of life and completion of the task. He rewarded them with gold and praise choosing to leave the rest for another day.
S01E35 Steelhawk International: Craterstone Under Fire
Location: Craterstone
Watcher: riper
L10 Frogue | Shivy CG | Spoon
Lvl 9 fightonk bill williebeast
L10 Monk/Barbarian | Ashley BobRob
L10 Wizard | Blade Stoney
Caskin lvl 8 bonk Mensius
L9 Barbarian/Fighter | Tugg @Shhmoker
We start where we left off last session...Under attack by raiders! Who are they? Why are they attacking us? Only one way to find out! We discuss quickly what we need to do, cast a couple of spells and head outside ASAP! Bam, right into combat! Initiative! ENEMY LINEUP Rafe Blackthorn - leader/charmer Mara Stonefist - fighter/barbarian Thorn Flintstrike - archer Flo Flintstrike - archer assassin Drok Ironhide - fighter type Granite Earthshaper - wizard caster Kara Earthshaper - druid caster Upon stepping out, we of course see multiple enemies (goliaths). The fighter/barb types are all female for some odd reason (might be important, probably not) and the fighter-monk/caster (wizard-like) types were all male, but the druid-type was female...Again odd. The range/archer types were a mix, 1 male, 1 female. Not sure if any of that matters but it might in the future. On our end we did have the help of this "supposed" great fighter, you all know him as the logger camp boss Tharok Stoneaxe, more on him later. So to start off with, we seemed to react pretty well. A couple of us seemed to move first, but these goliaths were tricky. The casters were hiding around corners so we couldn't see them, and unfortunately, Granite steps out and hits most of the party with a slow spell, and wouldn't you know, most everyone failed to avoid it. So our people were just all sorts of confused out the gate now. Ashley did manage to not get affected and on her next turn (she was the quickest to react in the combat), she ran all the way to the caster and went face to face with him. Blade seems to think that if he goes on top of the building, he can lay down some spell fire and avoid additional AOE possibilities, but, as he moves to the top, the fire seems to chase him and he manages to avoid it this time. However at the start of his next turn, it continues to burn at him and he falls through the roof but manages to catch himself. So now we have to watch out for these fires too. Our Lone Ranger (Shivy) got affected by the slow, but this sure as shit didn't slow her down. She manages to start off with a monster hit! (almost broke the century mark with 98 points on her first attack (critical), I know numbers aren't a thing, but wanted to document this one). Even with that massive hit on Mara, she stayed alive...crazy stuff! Bill starts off by tapping into his magic tattoo and extends his reach on his attacks. Unfortunately he was slowed as well, so his reactions seemed delayed. Man we got to do something about that slow. Caskin, also slowed, couldn't do much but save his rage by tossing a Javelin. Tugg managed to shake off the slow effect and he gets after it. Raging/Wreckless/Razor Whip grapple...Ahhh it's a beautiful thing. Ashley, after failing to avoid a charm effect from Rafe, uses her monk ability to simply shake herself out of it, then she does a great job after move across entire map controlling the caster Granite, unfortunately for her, she ends up spending most of the fight asleep as he manages to get an Eyebite off on her. Some confusion for Blade not realizing that he could have had his Fey Spirit "wake" her up with a simple action. Hopefully a lesson learned. With Granite being controlled. He drops concentration on his slow spell and now our people can get after it. Caskin moves up and starts putting the beat down on Drok and Mara. Shivy continues her bursting shots and does some good damage. Poor Tugg was such a threat that Rafe charms him and he spends his time beating down Caskin. Blade brings out the meat by dropping a Marble Elephant, Shivy follows up and does the same thing. Hell even our “amazing” logger boss goliath Tharok Stoneaxe started dropping some bombs (took him the entire combat, just saying lol) Now that we have meat in the game, it's time to start killing these freaking goliaths. We didn't do a great job of focus firing, but we did do a great job of controlling each individual area. With 2 casters on the enemy team, it was a tall order and we did well. Once we showed our dominance, these goliaths turned tail and started running. Kara uses some type of druidic teleport thing and just before Rafe dies, manages to misty steps into the center of the grassy area and disappears. Bill and a couple others see this and start trying to protect this area to keep the rest from getting away, unfortunately 2 more manage to slip into this teleport grass. Bill even drops his Onyx Dog to see invisible creatures but nothing comes the dogs way. In the end, it was a rough battle, but we did a great job and managed to come out victorious with 4 of the enemy team casting "CURE YELLOW" and running away. Now, the entire town is on fire. Everyone is scrambling to try and find water to put out the fire. Shivy has the answer, one of her magic items summons a water elemental and we manage to save almost the ENTIRE town! They only lost 1 building! After saving the town, we search the dead goliaths and find some pretty good loot. This brings to question how the hell this "ragtag" band of bandits get their hands on such great loot? We discuss some possibilities but really come to no conclusion as of yet. We end the session here! Do we go after these bandits? Do we help rebuild? Do we continue our original plans to help get more supplies? What is the "best" next step? This will be your decision for the next session!
S01E34 Steelhawk International: "Alliance and Betrayal"
Suplemental report by Blade After getting beat up pretty bad by the rogue bandit goliaths, we finally got to rest in a small wooded area along the way to meet the goliath loggers. We had to watch our attackers flee on horseback across the plain. It was frustrating knowing they were on the way to some meeting with other rogue bands of goliaths, but that is something we decided to wait on. The more pressing matter is to stop the deforestation of the shifters' home land. Thalorn Windclaw accompanied us to meet with the mayor and try to broker a peace between the nations of the shifters and the goliaths. The last thing Thalorn wants is war. That being stated, if there could be no peace, war we shall have. We hear the sound of a camp being set up and as we get closer, we see Thorax Stoneaxe, the leader of the camp. He greets us and advises that he got our message sent via familiars and magic stone tinkering. He wanted to know why they had to stop. We explained the situation and with Thalorn there with us, it was believable. Although Thorax hesitates stopping, we manage to persuade him to stop until we can consult with the mayor. So off we go back to town. As we are heading to town, we discuss this rogue band of goliaths. Thorax advises that these goliaths are just doing what they know, in their eyes we are the aggressors and they didn't ask for change. Are they right? Probably not, but none-the-less he understands their position, but he is also in favor of change. Maybe someday we can get the rogue bands to understand and join us. We will have to see. Either way we remain vigilant on our watch incase anymore of these guys show up. It is now getting to be mid-day again and once again, it is ridiculously hot. Blade has a house of cards that is used to keep the exhausting heat away. We are quite comfortable while we rest and wait for night to move. During this time the group discusses battles past, adventures taken, and many more personal stories. It was definitely a kodak moment. We make it to Crater Stone and are met with a bit of suspicion. We identify ourselves and are let into the town. We went to the local bar where we noticed that some of the womenfolk had changed their attire. Specifically they have painted their ears. Upon inquiring about this, we basically learn that it was just a new fad that caught on. Not sure if this is the truth, but this is all we have at the moment. Needless to say we have more pressing matters to deal with, but the mayor would not be available until later, so we decide to stay the night and we had a mini party. Drinking and eating our fill before we head to sleep. The next morning comes and we meet up with the mayor. Upon disclosing all the information about the shifters and the forest (or to be more specific the "deforestation") he was not happy, but willing to negotiate. Now that we have all parties at the table, we can broker a peace. The discussions took place between Thalorn Windclaw and the Mayor Stonefist Gondar. Thalorn did not want war, and neither did the mayor, so they came to an arrangement. The goliaths would be allowed to continue gathering wood IF they are willing to replant what they take and it would all be supervised by the shifters. The gathering of standard herbs would also be allowed in exchange for protection from the outside world (such as bandits, etc), but for the special herbs, they would need more. Mayor Stonefist really wanted these Luminara Blossoms but had to give up a big item in return. He had to get the shifters a "place at the table" which he seemed more than happy to give! We have finally come to an agreement and both parties seem to be extremely happy with the end result, but happiness seldom lasts long. "WE ARE UNDER ATTACK, BANDITS!" a guard yells and he comes crashing in upon us. With little time to spare, we briefly discuss what is happening and prepare ourselves for battle! As we start to head outside.... We end the session here. The next session will have to deal with these pesky bandits. GOOD LUCK STEELHAWKS!
S01E34 Steelhawk International: "Alliance and Betrayal"
Location: Craterstone
Watcher: Arashi
L8 Barb fighter Ursula Killgraven @Nephril
L10 Ashley Monk Barbarian BobRob
L8 sorc/cleric Arashi @Angel of Fire
Lv 11 fighter Stahl Xisle
L10 Wizard Blade Stoney
Lvl 11 sorcadin Oboreru Kiku SDM | David
After a lot of fighting and running the day before, we finally got a short rest and then started wandering around the woods again. As we walked, we saw a double rainbow, adding a touch of magic to our journey. Hearing a lot of stomping and movement, we eventually came upon a camp with a newly built log house. There, we saw Thorax Stone Axe, a figure of significance. Thalorn Windclaw and his people are always present in the rest of the woods. Thalorn had come to speak with the mayor due to the looming threat of war between the Goliaths and his people, the Shifters. These two groups had already been at war recently, and tensions remained high. We knew we needed to speak with Mayor Stonefist Gondar. We also planned for the druids to help with reforestation after significant deforestation had occurred. As we headed to the mayor, we remained cautious of bandits and other potential issues as we traveled through the plains. Thorax Stone Axe informed us that the bandits were relics of the past, unable to adapt to the changing world. Clinging to their former ways, they sought to sow chaos rather than move forward. We had heard rumors that these bandits buried themselves and their horses, ready to ambush travelers from the plains. The harsh wastelands posed a risk of heatstroke, so we decided it was best to travel at night. We set up a temporary camp and rested in a house of cards, sharing stories and poems from the past to pass the time. As darkness fell, we resumed our journey and came across some cactus flowers named Shadow Orchids. These flowers had dark purple and black petals with a velvety texture. We gathered one flower and part of a cactus, and Oboreru and Arashi found the cactus juice to be quite refreshing. Continuing through the desert, we spotted wooden walls and crater stones in the distance. We had arrived at the location where the mayor should be, but we decided not to disturb him that night and headed towards Crater Stone instead. Upon reaching Crater Stone, we were asked to identify ourselves before entering the Tavern/Inn. Inside, we noticed that some women had painted their ears, a trend among the local females. We enjoyed food and drink, courtesy of Oboreru, who generously covered the costs. While some of us stayed up talking, others went to bed. Oboreru, Ashley, Ursula, and Blade spent time conversing with some Goliaths, the bartender, and Thorax Stone Axe. Ursula and Florence, the bartender, struck up a friendship, and Florence gave Ursula her sending stone number. The next morning, we woke up to the smell of bacon, ate well, and drank some before heading out to see the mayor. We finally met with Mayor Stonefist Gondar, who was unhappy about the deforestation issues. We moved to a more private part of the mine to discuss the matter further. The conversation centered around the woods and the mines needed for building the fort. The mayor had one of the sacred herbs, which Thalorn was unhappy about sharing. Ursula suggested giving Thalorn and his shapeshifting tribe a seat at the table with the Kahnarians to help protect and replant the trees that the Goliaths took. After much discussion, a deal was struck. Returning to the mayor's office, we concluded the long quest to broker peace and arrange the gathering of wood and herbs from across the wastelands. Just as we thought we were done, a young Goliath burst in, yelling, "RAIDERS, MAN THE WALLS!" The urgency of the situation was clear, and we prepared ourselves for the imminent threat.
S01E33 Steelhawk International: "The Timber Truce" (Emerald Oasis & Craterstone)
Watcher: Diyd Diyd
L7 WFS Diyd Diyd Stoney
L3 Cleric Grammon @Jeremiah Thaymes
L7 Sorc/Cleric/Druid Cindella BobRob
L6 Artificer Ned Crotic williebeast
L7 Lock/Sorc/Pally Sixx @Shhmoker
L7 Bard Enrick Xisle
We start off in the Shifter camp. Both sides have a lot of questions and we discuss how to best help everyone both the Shifter people AND the Goliaths that are cutting down much needed resources for building a defense. In the end, we "think" we might have a way to work both groups for peace. So we head out to go to the main logging camp of the Goliaths, Shifter5 AKA Thalorn Windclaw as we find out, is the leader of the shifters and heads out with us. Along the way we decide to go ahead and use multiple means of delivering a message to ensure no more forests are cut down until they at least get the info we are trying to get to them about the shifter clan. Our artificer uses the stone speak ability and it is carried by and accompanied by our familiars as we send them off in front of us to deliver the message. As we could hear what we thought was the camp marching our way, from out of nowhere a fireball hits part of the group, and 2 large horses come charging in on us...INITIATIVE! These "beings" are Goliaths, and our first thought is "WE HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!" But after closer inspection by Diyd Diyd, she realizes that the group carries no symbols of the logging camp and in fact, they carry symbols of other clans. Needless to say we are severely outnumbered and outgunned to start with. I know everyone was shaking in their boots. These goliath's hit HARD and they move very quickly for being so big (multiple attacks). Not to mention a healer AND a fireball king. Things don't look good. Cindella, Diyd Diyd, Grammon, Sixx and Ned for some reason got VERY LUCKY. for a good 4 or 5 rounds these guys could not hit us, and if they did, we all protected each other very well. Now Enrick, poor Enrick, was just target practice for these guys and seemed to play whack-a-mole with him. But man, he did nut up on them! with 5 exhaustion points, Enrick fights on and lives! Diyd Diyd got a couple of lucky bursts on the caster, incapacitating him 2 rounds in a row! Enrick was laying down the healing, keeping everyone topped off. Cindella seems to be saving her spells for later rounds when needed, planning like a champ and tanking like a champ. Ned was giving us advantage and just trying to mess with the goliath's action economy. Sixx did some of everything, tanking, pushing, hexing, you name it! And Grammon, oh Grammon, he was our newest addition (level 3) and just stood up to all of them with no fear. He did get knocked out a couple times near the end, but did a great job taking swings and hits for us. In the end, our healing depth was too much for them, and after we finally killed a few of them, they buggered off leaving as fast as they came in on horseback. After scavenging over what they left behind and digging through the dead bodies, we do come across a scroll (not magical). Upon reading the scroll we find out some VERY important information... Scroll says… Roving bands of Goliath bandits, disgruntled and rebellious members of the four tribes, refuse to work in the Craterstone mines under Khanarion rule. These Goliaths, led by renegade leaders from the Stonefist, Ironhide, Flintstrike, and Earthshaper Clans, have joined forces to raid and plunder Craterstone and its surrounding areas. Their primary goal is to disrupt the mining operations and seize control of valuable resources. Report conclusion: BE ADVISED NOT ALL GOLIATHS FEEL THE NEED TO BECOME CIVILIZED! We end the session in a grove a tree's just taking a short rest while we watch the enemies that jumped us run off on their horses, but we are too beat up to really pursue them. We know they are going to a meeting, perhaps we can rest up and see what we can do about that. In the meantime, our top priority needs to be getting to the logging camp before they start cutting more sacred forest down. GOOD LUCK STEELHAWKS!
S01E32 Steelhawk International: "From Stone to Stronghold: The Great Construction" (Craterstone)
Supplimental Report by Dyid Dyid So after saving Athos, we head back through the teleporter based on Lagertha's request/command that we help the goliath tribes out with their mining/building defenses. We are to seek out the mayor Grondar Stonefist and check in with him. We are warned that the mayor likes to use us for his little side quests so we were prepared for a request to help with something odd, and he doesn't disappoint. He asks us to head to one of the logging facilities that is being used to help build up the defenses. However, he also wants us to keep an eye out for strange flowers (herbs). Along the way Enrick does manage to get a few of the herbs he was requesting while we are traveling to this facility. As we approach the mining facility we can hear the sounds of logging ahead, and so we announce ourselves loudly. After a short verification of who we are, the head logger Tharok Stoneaxe comes out and greets us. He is as big as they say he was going to be with a huge axe taboot. We discuss with him why we are here, and he lets us know that this area is cleared and they will be moving further into the forest the following morning. He asks us to scout ahead and make sure it is safe. Tharok lets us know that his crew have been hearing strange noises coming from the woods deeper in. People whispering and trying to goat them in, kinda like a siren call if you will. So we discuss strategy on this and decide its best to go in, investigate, and then come back before they decide to move on so we can advise Tharok of the situation. Well...you will see what happens next. We head deeper into the forest and are moving along when Diyd Diyd basically stops everyone and tells her people to do their thing. After some really good investigation and survival abilities were used, we come across a cat-like humanoid beings that are speaking a language that only Asako Karachu understood (Sylvan). After a brief buffing round, we decided to try and talk to these beings. Come to find out, this is their home (forest) and they have been extremely forgiving to the loggers as they tear through their sacred grounds logging. We tried to negotiate an understanding between the goliaths and the cat people, but in order for us to even be considered, we had to prove ourselves. And how do we do this you ask?... They requested we retrieve a flower that we were already hunting, a Luminara Blossom. We need to show respect for the forest and ONLY take 1 flower, leaving the plant intact and not damaging anything else on the plant/s. They did advise this was being guarded but didn't say anymore about what was guarding it. So off we go, Triple agents in the works... As we approach this flowered grove based on directions given to us, we see the flowers, they are pretty beautiful to be honest. We discuss how we are going to take this flower, and Enrick (being our best herb guy) is the clear choice. He moves up to pick this flower very delicately when BAM! BIG BAD GUY! INITIATIVE! A HUGE Pumpkin King emerges and grapples Enrick. We start off shaky with Diyd Diyd getting confused by an arrow shot from a tricky Pixie and the Pumpkin King grappling 2 or 3 of our players. To add to this craziness we had a hag pop up and slow half the party. Things are not looking good. But one thing you should know about us Steelhawks is, we don't like to lose. Our healers do their thing, Enrich and Winston keeping everyone alive and Delaous steps up and tanks the big buy pumpkin like a champion! Diyd Diyd finally comes to her senses and gets some gunburst incapacitation for the bad guys. Winston had it pretty rough as the pumpkin king seemed to focus on him a lot, but he manages to stay alive after being knocked out and even interrupts the concentration of the slow spell on the hag! Asako uses his wizard side to do no-miss damage to the big guy and keeps that caster hag in check as well. In the end, we manage to drop these guardians and save the flower picked by Enrick. So we head back to the camp where the cat people are. Once we return, they are satisfied that we have proven ourselves. This opens up a new possibility for us for allies/friends. We discussed what actions need to be taken next, but basically, these forests belonged to Catfolk before everyone else showed up. We need to find a way to continue building defenses with the Goliaths but not taking away from the sacred forests of the Catfolk. They are willing to overlook what damage has already been done, but are not willing to let it keep going. To the next group! Good luck! Let's find peace if possible. Find that solution to keep both of these nations from war!
S01E32 Steelhawk International: "From Stone to Stronghold: The Great Construction" (Craterstone)
Watcher: Karachu
L7 FWS Diyd Diyd Stoney
L5 Cleric Winston Mensius
L6 Monk/Wizard Asako Karachu aDM |Gaius
L7 Lock/Sorc/Pally Sixx @Shhmoker
L6 Cleric Delaous Curidad @FinalPrinc3
L7 Bard Enrick Bergomot Xisle
What happened? Returning home victorious over Vexorath, the dragon of Tunnel 30 in the Craterstone mines, the team was debriefed by Lagertha, Head of the Command Center. Frank Steelhawk then gathered them in the war room, revealing strange occurrences at Steelhawk International and the disappearance of Athos. Without hesitation, the team began an investigation. They discovered Athos' obsession with a mysterious object and found a hidden room containing a black and green idol. Touching the idol simultaneously, they were transported to the lair of a High Mage. There, they witnessed the idol's creation and the twisted souls within it. Despite a fierce battle, the High Mage escaped, but the team managed to rescue Athos and return him to Frank. Now, with some of the mystery unraveled, the team prepares to return to Craterstone to resume building the fort and improving relations with the Goliaths. Where are we now? We are in our bedrooms and we just woke up. Karachu is climbing 30 feet height on a diameter of 1 foot standing on his one foot trying to meditate and empty his mind. Suddenly his meditation is interrupted by the announcement of Lagertha. She announced all the available Steelhawks to come into the command center. We are informed that we need to communicate with some Goliath tribes and ask their help for constructing a Stronghold into the mines area. We will require to guild an aqueduct, store facilities, more dorms and even a small keep. - Lagertha also mentioned that the dragon that was his nest inside the mines got away and we need to have our minds that he might lurk around. Frank was not so happy from this outcome. We need to explore the around area to gather more materials and eliminate any potential threads. The mayor is seeking foe herbs and plants so that he can provide them to his healers. Until now we know that only werewolves venture into those forests. The area we will explore is called the forest of the Emerald. Lagertha terminated the meeting and we went to the teleportation room. There a fancy blue sorcerer was waiting for us and she teleported us to the Mayor’s office. The Mayor Grondar Stonefist was surprised that we managed to come back very quickly. He informed us about the forest and he required from us to collect some samples of rare herbs. Also there are some ruins from an ancient civilization. Our guide will be a lumberjack with the name Tharok Stone axe. At some point of the day we arrived on Crater Stone and we were very welcomed. Some of the miners asked and some autographs. The most interesting place on this small town is the Rocksteady Tavern. We got some provisions for the desert. The vast desert is a harsh environment and it is difficult to navigate across it. After some miles the terrain changes and we found some vegetation here. We realized that there are some raindrops on this area and this is the reason of the green bushes. Some of us are not feeling alright traveling through the desert and we already feel exhausted. We decided to venture towards the vegetation so that we can take a rest and to stay away from the hotness of the sun. We found a great spot to establish our tent. At the same time we are searching for some rare herbs. One of us found a herb with the name Luminara Blossoms. - Luminara Blossoms: These flowers emit a soft, luminescent glow at night and are believed to have powerful healing properties. Alchemists use them in potions to accelerate wound healing and boost vitality. We established our tents and we did some guard duties during the day. Fortunately nothing happened. It has become night and the longer we travel the more greener becomes the terrain. After some hours we are passing a forest. There is a clear pathway where it seems people pass from here. One of us warned us that he tracked signs from wild life here. So we need to venture with more caution. We made some observations but the place looks quiet and we can continue our travel without any problem. The forest has big trees on this area and we can listen clearly the chopping of the trees. We understood that it is the lumberjack we were searching for. We shouted towards his direction. We mentioned we are the Steelhawks and we were sent by the mayor. It seemed that he was expecting for us. He answered to us to come closer. We ventured near and we were welcomed into the Lumberjack’s camp. It is a place where those workers stash the cut trees. He informed us that the last days they got some disturbance and some people from the camp listen siren calls. Those who hear the call they do not want to come back. He doesn’t mind if we can look into this matter. The lumberjacks are singing a rhythmic music so that they can get synchronized while the cut the trees. Some of them are cooking a goat meat with some spices and it smells very delicious. Asako took one piece of meat and he enjoyed its taste. - The Lamberjack said that we need to advance and scout the area. Winston checked again for footprints. He found footprints with big claws so we need to be alert. Diyd Diyd sent his owl to scout ahead and from above and we found something on a specific location. We got ready for combat. We listen from that spot some voices saying: “Trespassers. Leave now. We do not want you here.” Those voices are echoing around us and we feel somehow surrounded. Dark cast Light upon us so that we have visibility. Winston put Bless upon us and he asked from the hidden people to get out. To give us an explanation of what they want. The creature looks like a human panther and he said that we are defiling their land. They are connected with the nature and not even dead trees are allowed to be taken. We asked what we can do to them so that we can prove ourselves. The creatures invited us to their camp. Their leader, the panther like creature asked from us to find for them a special flower. The name of the flower is called Moon Shade. They need one piece of this flower. Asako asked those creatures why they do not claim this flower by themselves. He said that it is a test we need to execute for them and find out. Asako came to the realization that it is a greediness test and as much we need the same flower, we must take only one piece. Also there is a guardian that guards the flower and we need to show how capable are we. If we succeed to this mission we will build a trust with those shape shifters. We accepted the challenge and we went deeper into this forest. We can listen clearly the howling of the wolves. We followed the directions of the Shapeshifters with the feline form and we found an opening that bloom those flowers. The moon sheds light on this area and there are dozens of those moon shed flowers. Asako remind the group that we need to take only one of them. - Once we got one flower something triggered the area of this place and a gigantic scary bush of vines emerged from the ground and as head it has a scary smiley pumpkin that emanates red light from its inside. One of its vines grappled one of our companions and we got engaged to combat. Asako shoot towards it with his Kensai Longbow and hits it on its head. There is no reaction or any feeling on this damage. The creature is moving around us, trying to grapple us with its vines and squeezing us. At the same time some flying pixies appeared on the field of battle with short bow shooting us with their arrows and the worst part is that when the arrows hit they cause confusion to our members. Winston one more time blesses us so that we can be efficient on out attacks and at the same time. The Living pumpkin creature created a difficult terrain around us filled with thorns so that it can harm the people that are fighting it on a melee range. At the same time appeared a scary hag from the woods and cast slow against us so that it will be difficult for us to get out from the thorn field that the giant pumpkin summoned on its turn. Enrick is struggling to break the grappled but even if he succeeds it is impossible for him to get out from his reach. Asako cast magic missile towards the pumpkin creatures and makes him bloody and then he attacked the hag with his fists, delivering great amount of damage. Sixx is hitting with eldritch blast the pumpkin creature and it looks more wounded. - The battle is getting intense and we got a lot of injured people. Enrick provided us a mass healing spell and he restored some of our health points. Dark is fighting on a melee range the pumpkin creature getting a lot of hits, but still standing. This vampire creature delivered a necrotic blow to the pumpin creature and left it lifeless on the ground. Diyd Diyd concentrated his blows towards the pixie and he managed to shot it effectively. Dark used guided bolt towards the Pixie and it looks very injured. Gradually with the collective cause of actions we managed to kill the guardians of the Moon Shade. We took only one flower and gave it to the shapeshifters and they were pleased by the course of actions. We have established a new connection with this tribe. The panther Ryndar Stormclaw told us that still the Goliath cannot cut any more trees to the forest. We asked if there is another forest nearby to cut woods. The other forest if far away and it will be difficult to carry woods. We will deliver the message to the Goliath Mayor to stop the tree cutting.
S01E31 Steelhawk International: “From the Ground Up: New Beginnings”
Location: Graniteguard
Watcher: MrZzipper6
L6 Blood Hunter Monk | Shupin CG | Spoon
L6 bard, Enrick Bergomot Xisle
L7 FWS Diyd Diyd Stoney
L5 Paladin/ Zray the light @MrZzipper6
L4 Sorlock Jaina @FinalPrinc3
L5 Fighter Warlock Sorcerer Aurum Scalis @Nephril
Stormhawk D&D .Ironhide .Goliaths .Mayor Grondar Stonefist .Lysandra a cleric We had a drink with group We learn about a trap set in a bedroom with poison daggers Learn that ethos went insane Touch the orb and got transported to a dark dream spot with a priest controlling dark spirits Went into battle where two teammates were down We found ethos and take the orb to the office to frank
S01E30 Steelhawk International: "Descent into Darkness: The Battle for Tunnel 30" (Craterstone)
Watcher: > Gaius
L11 Paladin | Klepse @Angel of Fire
L9 Warogue | Jovial @FinalPrinc3
L11 Sorcadin | Oboreru SDM | David
L8 Barbarian | Shena CG | Spoon
L10 Monk/Barb | AshleyBobRob
L9 Paladin/Barb | Thrasios aDM | Gaius
Frank made an announcement: "The dragon has Barret and demands a tribute. After visiting Cratertsone and Mayor Grondar Stonefist I decided it would be a waste to offer tribute. We won't really get anything out of it other than an entitled dragon. We are going to send a strong team and we are going to put that dragon out of its misery. It has no place in the mines and it has stopped production. The choice is easy. Put together a team of Veteran Steelhawks and send them on a search and destroy mission." Klepse put together a good team to venture into the dragon’s lair. The mines are located in a small village that is called Craterstone. We are at Steelhawks base and everyone is making their last preparations for the mission. Captain Thrasios delivered a report to the director’s office from his last naval mission to uncharted lands. At some point we are gathered at the command center and we see Frank with dirty boots. He did some research and he decided that the best outcome with the dragon is either to kill him or to force him to leave that place. Frank gave us more Intel about the dragon. His name is Vexorath and he is very old. The legends say that he never dies. The dragon has a son with the name Kyrax and he looks very protective towards him. Our mission is to save the captured miners and Barret. We will teleport to Mayor’s office and then we will venture directly to the mines. Also there is a rumor for the miners that there is a Dragon inside the mines, because they lost a lot of people. We need to keep this information secret until we fulfil our mission. Inside the mines there are glowing crystals and he values them a lot. He will not leave them aside. From the previous mission we have the additional information that the dragon is not scared of the corrupted earth elementals. He mentioned that he has friends and the elementals are not a threat to him. - We teleported to the Mayor's Office. He does not seem surprised. On the contrary he looks as if he was waiting for us. He looked happy when he saw us. He said that he will reward us with additional resources once we do the job. He is waiting for chief Altan to come for inspection of the mines and he needs to put his workers back. We entered inside the tunnel and the corridors look very wide. We see the trails on the floor and we assume that small wagons with the ore pass from here. We explore the mines and we need to find the location for the underground level. We are heading towards the north. After some exploration we found a crane that can lift us to the underground level. The underground level seems to be burned out. There were some bridges, wooden furniture, Tools, Wagons and now they looks damaged and burned. On this level there is a chasm that has 120 feet height. Our expedition leader has very acute vision into the dark and he mentioned us that he can see the bottom of this place. We are discussing on how we will get down to the chasm. Every one of us has a way to go down. Ashley managed to tie a rope into a sturdy rock. We tied two more additional ropes so that we cover the height of the chasm. Jovial was exploring the area and was checking some of the crystals on this cave. Also he did something incomprehensible for captain Thrasios and a heavy item was dropped to the chasm, provoking a big noise. - Klepse started climbing downwards using the rope we prepared and our companion seems to be stacked as if something gluy is holding him. Captain Thrasios cast a spell to see invisible targets but it seems that nothing invisible is holding Klepse to the rope. Klepse feels restrained as if something is holding his back. He used his STR and he got rid this stinky thing and he climbed down the rope. Gradually we find out that there are more of those worm creatures and they attack individually every one of us. Oboreru has two creatures upon her and those creatures try to bite her. Ashley our martial companion managed to deliver a powerful kick and she killed one of those creatures. One of those wormlike creatures bitted really hard captain Thrasios and even if he used a defensive spell, it was not enough to avoid the bite attack. The biting of the worm was infused and with an acidic substance. Captain Thrasios, Sheena and Jovial are on the same location and are handling 3 worms like creatures. Ashley is punching and kicking another worm creature and it goes down. At the end Oboreru and Sheena managed to finish the last worms. We need to grab Jovial and bring him back. At the same time we see some snare lines that cover the chasm and Klepse is trying to cut them down. Those lines look like silken ropes and we assume that the worms use those lines to move upon. This is the reason why they could reach us in short time. - We climbed down the chasm using the rope. We followed a corridor that is covered full with crystals. This is one of the reasons the Dragon did not want to leave this place. The people that got inside a cave at the end of the corridor and they got a drop fall from those crystals. Thankfully our members got some scratches. Captain Thrasios found on another corridor a gigantic egg inside some of the crystals. As we decide of what to do with the egg the crystals around it are glowing. At the same time the ceiling seems unstable and there is a crystal fall. Some of our members got hurt. Captain Thrasios advised the members to get out from there because this might be a defensive mechanism to protect the egg. We decided to venture further the caves and we see the same scenery with the pulsating crystals. At some point we found the dead body of a miner. On a random spot the ceiling seems unstable again and crystals fall. Captain Thrasios gets suspicious about the ceiling and he is watching towards the ceiling as all the party is exploring the cave. Before we enter on a new sector of the cave Captain Thrasios warns the party on which spots the ceiling gets unstable. This sector is a dead end and we returned on the spot we found the dead bodies. Those miners died from bites of a large creature and piercing damage from the crystals. Klepse put a dead body into his back of Holding for further examination back to the base. - We decided to venture further the caves and we see the same scenery with the pulsating crystals. At some point we found the dead body of a miner. On a random spot the ceiling seems unstable again and crystals fall. Captain Thrasios gets suspicious about the ceiling and he is watching towards the ceiling as all the party is exploring the cave. Before we enter on a new sector of the cave Captain Thrasios warns the party on which spots the ceiling gets unstable. This sector is a dead end and we returned on the spot we found the dead bodies. Those miners died from bites of a large creature and piercing damage from the crystals. Klepse put a dead body into his back of Holding for further examination back to the base. Suddenly we saw one of the bodies started to move. Klepse used his Paladin ability of Divine sense, but he could not feel any evil emotion. The body is a middle aged Goliath. Some of our party members used their supernatural healing abilities to restore him. This Goliath got his senses and the first thing he asked was what are we doing here? We told him that we came to kill the dragon. He was surprised. Also he warned us that the dragon is not alone. He said that he is surrounded with younger dragons and a lot of worms. The Goliath’s name is Darrin Iron hide and explained that he came here to find his brother Borakk. He is determined to stay with us because he will have a better chance to find his brother. Oboreru understands that this guy is in shock and traumatized. He will need some time to get his normal state of mind. - Jovial said that he will do something to distract his attention. Jovial gave a magical ring to Darrin and it automatically adapted on his finger size. The Goliath seemed somehow that he recovered from his shock. We gave the goliath an advice to stay hidden for now. We gave him an advice to throw a rock towards the crystals on the ceiling and the crystals will fall down. This is only when he will get in danger from creatures. We entered deeper the cave and we found various type of treasure. There is a big amount of gold, more bodies but no sign of the dragon. Suddenly we felt the ground shaking and everyone gets ready for battle. Jovial saw that somewhere in the Gold pile, the gold is moving. And from the pile of gold we saw a red dragon got emerged. The creature spoke to us with its deep voice. “You should not have come here. My father will make sure that you will pay the tributes to him”. After this statement we got involved into a battle. Jovial started shooting to the creature with his eldritch blast. Afterwards he was throwing threats and curses to grab the dragon’s attention. Captain Thrasios cast bless for 5 of his companions. Ashley engaged the dragon on melee range. He got stubbed with spikes from the tail of the dragon and it is difficult to engage him on melee range. Behind us the friendly Goliath transformed himself into a gigantic dragon and he spoke to us. “Where is my tribute? Did you see the tribute my dear brother?” We have one dragon in front of us and one dragon behind us. Klepse cast Armored Formation spell and this gave us great boost on defense and offense. At the same time he got enlarged in size and he tried to grab the dragon. Unfortunately he missed. The Young Dragon used his Dragon Breath inflicting us a poison damage. Captain Thrasios did not manage to avoid this type of attack and he lost his senses. At some point during the battle Ashley manage to provide a healing potion to Captain Thrasios and he got back on his feet. He used his channel Divinity ability to inspire his companions and everyone got sturdier against the dragons. Klepse looked Determinate and he managed to grapple the dragon. His intension was to immobilize this creature so that it cannot attack us. - Shena got enraged and delivered a critical hit to the big Dragon. This gave us more courage to continue fighting. Jovial summoned a powerful spell. It is called Psychic Lance to the big Dragon and he succeeds. Jovial delivered a great amount of damage and the lance incapacitated the creature. Oboreru used a magical trick of cards and she sprayed the dragon with magical cards. Those cards deal force damage and the dragon got more wounded. Our Party managed to spread on the battlefield without giving the opportunity to the dragons to be efficient with their breath weapons. Jovial got the attention of the young dragon and he manages to attract his attention away from us. This gave us time to concentrate our blows to the big Dragon and deliver a great combination with attacks. The pattern continues exchanging attacks and defensive spells. The young Dragon executed on last dragon breath attack to poison us and then he burrowed on the ground. We are barely alive and exhausted. Ashley charged upon the big dragon and delivered small amount of damage. Captain Thrasios got inspired by Ashley’s intention and he gathered all his magical and holy essence and charged towards the Dragon. He hit with a critical attack the Dragon and he used a holy smite, managing to Deliver a Final blow to this monstrous creature. The Dragon had a hidden card on his sleeve and he managed to recover some of those deadly wounds. The dragon looks vulnerable and he lies to the ground. We reacted very fast and charged towards the beast hitting it with whatever we have. The big dragon cast a Teleportation spell and he spoke to us. “Alright you defeated me but the next time I see you I will eat you alive.” - Afterwards he disappeared from our sight. Then the young dragon appeared behind some mists and it attacked us with a breath weapon. Thrasios thought how coward was the big dragon. He left his son vulnerable against us using him for his escape. The battle continued with the young dragon and because we had significant numerical advantage we brought him down. The lair is empty and we found some prisoners with handcuffs. Jovial had Thieves tools and we managed to release the miners. Klepse dived on the pile of gold to collect the coins. Unfortunately the piles were trapped with seals of warding and some of us got wounded even more. From this cave we found 60.000GP and a lot of magical items.
S01E29 Steelhawk International: "Graniteguard: The Rise of the Stone Goliaths" (Graniteguard)
The group approached the town gates and identified themselves as Steelhawk employees. We were told to check out the town and participate in the big even Siege Ball event. We shopped for a bit with a couple of deals here and there. Eventually everyone finished and headed to the field. After a brief explanation of the rules we were ready. Immediately we took the tip and started setting up ourselves up for a push to score. Several buffs and a hypnotic pattern were used to help position ourselves while incapacitating several people from the other team. Within a few rounds we were able to push through their defense to score. After a quick rebound we scored again this time breaking the post to win the match.
S01E28 Steelhawk International: "Peace Parley" Gloomwater Garrison
Additional Notes from Volare: Volare composed himself, understanding his role in the negotiations to come. Standing in the courtyard of this wooden river fortress He kept his mind busy looking over the stalls of finely crafted magic items. Thinking to himself: “For being so far out in the sticks they carry an impressive assortment of equipment. And the number of cores they have on hand is impressive. I wonder what threats of such high levels befall this base so readily that they can keep this kind of stock.” At the end of their shopping spree, a man named Zoltan came out to address the Steelhawks and extend the invitation to a meeting. Zoltan’s frustration visibly grew as the Steelhawks continued to indulge in their shopping. Volare apologized and attempted to smooth things over by offering a variety of compliments on the man concerning the base, its people, and the quality of its wears. The Steelhawks were escorted down a long wooden hall towards a meeting room with a huge round table. Inside, a number of people waited for the meeting to start. Among them, Lt. Grayson and two what seemed to be civilians, as well as a new class of Grey Knight Volare had never previously seen.The meeting began with a tense conversation as Lt. Grayson seemed to try and pick a fight with the Steelhawks and the Khanarion Ambassador Erdene. However, the Steelhawks held strong and Volare kept the talks coming back around to the purpose of peaceful resolution. When words turned out to not be enough to spurn the Steelhawks into retaliation the deplorable Grayson resorted to a grand gesture. Having the corpse of the Khanarion spy brought in and thrown upon the table. Referring to him as a piece of trash and then Erdene in a similar manner. Volare explained that they had been traveling with the corpse for days and its appearance here would do little to anger anyone. Again asking Grayson, Andrew, and Zoltan to calm themselves and to avoid resorting to such inflammatory speech if diplomacy was their goal. It was at this time that Zoltan took his queue and plunged a dagger into Erdene’s side. Grasping at the straws of peace Volare tried one more time “I understand that an ancestral rivalry exists here that your grandfathers father was likely killed by Erdene’s people. I assure you we will accept this act of violence as your personal attempt to even an old score. Allow me to heal him and we will move on with these talks ignoring this ever happened. But Zoltan was not settling an old score. He was starting a fight, one that the villainous Lt. Grayson reveled in like a possessed child “While the Governess is away the soldiers will play.” Infuriated by his childish and dishonorable behavior the Steelhawks flew into action. Spells were slung alongside bullets. Counters to spells erupting from both sides, Armor clanged with the sound of heavy weapon strikes. Prayers were offered and answered as one Greyknight fell after another. By the time the Steelhawks had cut a swath through twice the number of Greyknights as the Steelhawks had brought representatives, Volare finally made a plea to speak to the governess offering his own blade as a sign of ernest desire to stop the senseless fighting. At that point, a woman covered in tattoos carrying herself with a modicum of dignity and civility that the Grey knights had been lacking to this point entered the room and ordered the fighting to cease. Accepting the Steelhawk's offer to speak peacefully explaining this was not her intention. Volare brought Lt. Grayson back from death hoping to see the man stand trial for his crimes. Then the Steelhawks accompanied Governess Elara to her private quarters where they began the long conversation about the approaching forces and their desire and ability to pay tribute to avoid any confrontation.
S01E28 Steelhawk International: "Peace Parley" Gloomwater Garrison
Watcher: > Mensius
L9 Volare Dipodops Cleric @Nephril
L10 Alexei rogue/ ranger Mensius
L8 Shivy Fighter CG | Spoon
L9 Bill Fighter/monk williebeast
L8 Wizard Blade Stoney
L10 Bard Rogue Kaivalya vYzion
After arriving at the Gloomwater Garrision the group was advised the governess was not quite ready. The party passed the time by carousing with the merchants. The business deals took so long that Zoltan had to wait while we made our deals. We were escorted to a meeting room and greeted Andrew, Penelopy, Peter, Lieutenant Grayson, and several knights. We were asked how the trip was. After we described our journey a body (the one from a previous session) was plopped down on the table. Grayson said we found his trash while referring to the body. He then stated there is other trash in the room while referring to Erdene. Zoltan walks up to Erdene and stabs him. Lieutenant Grayson then tells his people to "have your fun". The room erupts in battle as diplomacy melts down. Erdene is changed into a giant snake and told to hide. The party mows down Penelopy, Grayson, Peter, and several knights are downed. Amid the chaos more knights make their way into the room as the fighting rages on. Several large animals are summoned to block the door and prevent more knights from entering. Volare eventually says this has gone too far and says he's willing to turn himself in. Andrew says he will need to jail us to sort this all out. Just as everyone is preparing to surrender, Governess Elara comes into the room. She explains that this whole episode was not her wishes and that Grayson acted on his own. She offered to let us rest in her room as she sorted through the carnage.
S01E27 Steelhawk International: "Alliances and Ambushes: Navigating Greymere" (Verdant Vale)
Watcher: >Sixx
L6 Armorer Isabel Ferris @Nephril
L7 Bladesinger Blade Stoney
L5 Bard Enrick Bergomot Xisle
L.6 Bard Captain Tivius Bluebeard SDM | Coach
L 6 lockadin Sixx @Shhmoker
L 5 Moon Samurai Creatio vYzion
The party started their journey by a river, where Erdene awaited us with a large boat and discussed our plan of approach as we head towards the Chivalric Kingdom to the east of the Verdant Vale. We followed Chief Altan's idea for peace and negotiation as this party of SteelHawks act as the ambassadors for the Kanarians to the governess. The boat was large enough for the party to all fit in but not quite large enough to include our mounts, so Captain Bluebeard and Sixx had to leave without their mounts in the care of the other Moonrider Horses. Erdene informed the party about the recent spy that was discovered and killed, and that there were keeping an eye on the activities of the city and the governess. The spies were connected to a thieves' guild nearby, lead by Jessica Stokes. After some discussion, the party got on Erdene's boat and headed against the current to their destination. The party was quite cautious of their surroundings as each member kept an eye out for signs of danger along their ride. Bluebeard attempted to communicate with the fishes in the water to help navigate the boat through the river safely. Sixx tried to call out to the nearby snake creatures by using his innate ability for information about the swamp, but to his surprised, he was greeted by a group of Iron Cobras. Although the converstation didnt start out well, as different customs caused some misunderstanding between SIxx and the Iron Cobras. Sixx tried to win over Brahh (He named the Iron Cobra) with his personal blend of perfume/colone, but he had instead slightly angered the snake, as it found his perfume/colone offenseive. Luckily Isabell was there to smooth things over with the snakes as she took the time to explain the clash of customs between the snakes and Sixx. As the situation was cleared up, the Iron Snakes gave the Steelhawks some information about the Bullywugs that inhabit the swamp and warned us to keep our guard up as we made our way deeper into the swamp. Although they were warned, the party still managed to get ambushed by a group of Bullywugs and their mounts, and even a Froghemoth. The surprise attack started when the Froghemoth emerged from the bottom of the river and pulled Enrick out of the boat and into the water. This party of Steelhawks were no pushover as they fought valiently against their ambushers. Sixx was hiding towards the front of the boat, under the foliage that he gathered as they went into the swamp, kept the frogs at by with his Elditch Blasts. Bluebeard gave up on talking to fish and focused his pirate-y magic to unleash the power of lightning onto the enemies. Creatio took some hits before Wildshaping into an Allosaurus to fight back. Blade and Isabell worked in unison with their attacks, to take care of the Froghemoth that pulled Enrick out of the boat. Enrick was quickly shaken back into reality when he got pulled out of the but was able to collect himself and supported the party with healing. Erdene was almost killed by the Bullywug as they charged from their mounts and onto the boat, luckily the adventurers reacted quickly enough to get him out of harms way. After a long and hard fought battle, the SteelHawks once again, emerged victorious and continued on their journey to the outpost. It seemed tightly guarded with heavy armor wearing guards and archers, but the SteelHawks weren't deterred. With the intelligent Isabell doing the talking, the party was allowed entry to the outpost to speak with the governess. While they waited for her, the SteelHawks made their way to the shops of the Greyknights.
S01E26 Steelhawk International: "The Parley of the Gray Knights"
Enricks Report: After taking care of the corrupted treant allowing our party safe passage to the river and upriver to our Greymere, which is part of the Chivalric kingdom. This stretch of water is called the Verdure Run. Erdene warns us that Greymere is filled with criminals and convicts, rulled by the Grey Knights (captained by Cpt Rowan Gaunt, currently MIA, current replaced by LT Grayson) and is run by Elara Umber. Gaunt is said to be wise and honorable but is missing, a fact that is being kept secret. (He is valued and would demoralize the troops if this was known). If he is dead, his soul would be hidden in his ring, making his recovery a paramount mission (also very sercret). He was said to have fallen in the far north near a town called Snow while seeking a cult of wyrm. Our first obstacle is the fact is we are near a river with no boat. It would take 3 days overland and 2 days by boat. Lil Miss Mojo pulls a boat off her Robe of Useful items for us to start rowing. After a few hours we discover another boat near the river. It was not tied, only stuck in the weeds. A body of a soldier is floating downriver nearby, already bloated. Odd that it survived the local gators long enough to bloat. Casting Speak with Dead, we find the corpse of a spy checking on Elara. He found there was an amount of money sent to a nearby outpost. Who’s outpost and the reason for the money sent is unkown. As we finished interrogating the coprse, we were attacked by samurai crabs and flashy fish from the river controlled by a humanoid water elemental. After the battle we saved the boat, loot the body and took a short rest. Along with the loot was a scroll case containing a letter to whoever found the boat, to bring it back to Elara Umber. So, armed with her letter, her boat, and the corpse of a person who spied on her, we go to negotiate with her.
S01E26 Steelhawk International: "The Parley of the Gray Knights"
Watcher: > Salune
L5 Isabel Ferris Artificer Tank @Nephril
L3 Creatio Druid Fighter vYzion
L6 Krum Fighter @Rageance
L4 Enrick Bergomot Xisle
L7 Lil Miss Ranged Monk SDM | David
L6 Delaos Curidad @FinalPrinc3
Our heroes have set out ahead of the main forces of the Kanary raiding party. The Kanarians fueled by recent victories in their homeland began the push south around the mountains and began heading east. Believing this bloody pilgrimage to be their ancestral right they move forward in mass. Eldene in an attempt to minimize the loss of life has taken a small team of Steelhawk Mercenaries ahead of the main force. To offer terms to the Chivalric Kingdom. In their travels, they went into the woods near Graymeer where the spiritual guidance of Eldene and the appearance of friendly Willow-Wisps led them to meet an ancient treant who implored the company to aid him. His brother had become corrupted by warlocks and had become a cancer in the forest. Poisoning the very heart of the home they had long protected. The Steelhawks agreed and moved forward under the guidance of Eldene. They found a clearing surrounded by a barrier where the corrupted treant sat and dispatched him for the greater good of the forest. Now the group continues their trip east. Waking in camp after a full night's rest the group gathers their belongings, breaks camp, and prepares for the travels necessary. Erdene continues informing our heroes about the men and women of the Chivalric Kingdom Referring to them as convicts and criminals. But Lil Miss Mojo added an alternate perspective. Explaining that while many of the Grey Knights are REFORMED criminals giving service to the kingdom it is not generally true of all of the people of those lands. She continues to Explain that under the Leadership of Governess Elara Umber, the many factions of the Grey Knights operate with strict codes upholding tenets of chivalry, righteousness, and protection of their kingdom. From the reports back at base Lil Miss also informs that the Governess is hiding the fact that Captain Rowan Gaunt has gone missing presumed dead in the northern areas. He is a key figure in holding the many factions together. In his stead, Lieutenant Grayson is helping keep things together. The group makes use of the Moonrider horses provided by the Kanarians and speed off towards the River Verdure Run. Lil Miss produced a magic patch from her clothing converting the fabric and thread into a row boat large enough to house the group. The trained moonrider steeds took off into the forest keeping up with the boats moving downriver. The river is an easy travel and a straight path to their destination. It isn’t until Lil Miss from the back of Mr. Toothy Face scouted an abandoned boat ahead that the party stopped their travels to investigate. Approaching the boat and surrounding area cautiously the Steelhawks investigated the area. Discovering an empty boat meant for 20 people and a single corpse in the water. Pulling the body from the waters Krum propped the corpse up on the land for the Cleric Dark to bring it back to answer some questions. Five questions could be asked and the answers would hopefully hold some information to help aid the party. What is your name? I have many names. What group are you affiliated with? The Chivalric Kingdom This is a region, not an organization be specific: I have worked all over the kingdom What series of events over the last 5 days have led you here? I was discovered, my cover blown, then captured and killed, only to be thrown in the water. What info did they seek? They wanted to know why I was a spy. Who were you spying on? I was spying on Governess Elara Umber of Greymere I discovered a shipment of money, someone was giving additional support and that outpost not far from here is going to be laden with gold. The body returned to a corpse as the wind picked up ominously and the large boat began to drift downstream. As the the Steelhawks casually discussed the information and the prospect of keeping the boat they were assailed by a bright display from a malicious aquatic foe The fish attack left many stunned and dazed, Several large crabs carrying katanas lept from the waters targeting the stunned members. The adventurers lept into action defending their allies and fighting against the ambush. The final combatant joined the fray a water elemental hurling hardened blasts of water from an incredible distance. The crabs continued to flurry all of our heroes prioritizing the stunned. While the water elemental picked off those wary enough to keep their distance from the crabs. The Elemental made its first mistake by coming to rest in the boat out of the safety of its watery retreat. Seizing the opportunity Isabel opened a gate between the monster and the powerful Magical Knight Krum. Allowing him to step into melee with the creature protecting the softer targets up shore. The Druid Creatio Jumped around with mirthful abandon seeming to be unconcerned with combat the very sight of this caused crab and fish alike to begin laughing distracting them from their task of assault. The Cleric Dark and The Minstrel Enrick supported the combatants with magic healing and curses on the enemies. It was Miss Mojo and Krum who delivered devastating blows on the enemies finally dashing them away and forcing the last of the Samurai crabs to flee into the water. Wounded and expended the Steelhawks took one last chance to evaluate their findings further searching the boat and the corpse. The boat had a Brand in the front showing ownership to Elara Umber. After searching the body it was discovered to have several magical items. And a sealed scroll case containing a missive for Eldene and his ilk. To whom it may concern, Let this be a message That we are aware of your presence I sent this boat as a welcoming party use it and come to me Elara Umber (Governer) From this, the group was able to identify the spy as a Kanarian advanced spy. Confirmed by Eldene as their standard operating procedure. Deciding to accept the invitation The group latched the smaller boat to the larger one and prepared to rest before heading further up stream.
S01E25 Steelhawk International: "***MISSING EPISODE***"
Watcher:??
***MISSING REPORT PLEASE STAND BY***
S01E24 Steelhawk International "Winds of Change"
Location: The Tear
Watcher: > Kaivalya
1) Lvl 8 Warogue | Jovial @FinalPrinc3
2) Lvl 11 Sorcerer | Cody @Just Gene
3) Lvl 8 Rogue Bard | Kaivalya vYzion
4) Lvl 8 Monk Barbarian | Ashley BobRob
5) Lvl 8 Fightarian | Milug @livebysin
6) Lvl 10 Wizard | Shuden CG | Spoon
Kaivalya always slept well in the rain, and last night was no exception. The cloud cover blocking out light from the moon gave her a geater sense of protection. The scent of the environment intoxicated her senses. The steady, unyielding, pitter-patter of raindrops held her hypnotized...until she drifted off to sleep. When sleeping in the rain, she doesn't even have nightmares. When she awakens, the sound of raindrops become a discussion about Fodder. She knew of Fodder, but never personally met her. She had heard that a team was being fomred to retrieve her body and attempt a resurection, but truth be told, with the new influx of adventurers, she's been so busy with her duties that she hasn't had time to pay much attention to anything else. As she tries, with limted success, to stifle a yawn, her body begins to tingle, then explodes with life. She opens her eyes to see Cody, whom she had never met, buffing the entire party. Such amazing magic, she thought. Soledad had said that her magic was special too, but Kaivalya honestly couldn't see how hers could even compare to something as wonderful as what many of her friends at Steelhawk, including Cody, could do. Her thoughts are interrupted by a small girl entering the yurt. She was cute little girl, and apparently Shop Master Jovial thought so as well. Kaivalya chuckled as he taught her how to use his Cloak of Billowing. After making sure that everyone was awake, the little girl, and her similar-in-age brother, led the party outside the yurt to begin preparations for the upcoming raid, which Ashley seemed to very opposed to participating. Kaivalya, on the other hand, had been on both sides of a raid, and was content to do whatever would be in the best interest of her friends at Steelhawk. After having been around both Steelhawk Adventurers, as well as the Keshig riders, she felt that both groups of people were generally, and simply trying to make a better life for their friends and family. And really, what's more important than that? She'll help her friends in any way she could. After navigating through the various pathways formed by yurts littered about, the party reached the vilage center and went to the mess hall for breakfast. Upon entering, Kaivalya spotted Coy. "Perfect," she thought. "Now I don't need to go find her." It had been a while since they last spoke, and and Steelhawk Int'l was now in need of horses. Not only had Commander Saxx requested a steed, but there was quite an influx of new members that would all require mounts as well. She approaches Coy and explains the situation, that the Steelhawk Stables are now complete and they're ready to take possession of the horses that were discussed quite some time ago. After some har negotiating, it was settled that the Moonriders would sell 10 of their illustrious steeds for 8,000 GP. And not only that, but 4 of them were already trainied with a variety of tricks, including one that was enlightened. OF course, Kaivalya felt that this incredible deal had less to do with her "negotiating skill," and more to do with the fact that the Coy and the riders viewed Steelhawk as allies, and saw the value in providing their allies with the best mounts The Tear had to offer. Kaivalya's real negotiation was with Shop Leader Jovial, convincing him to pay Coy the 8,000 GP upfront so they could transport the horses back to the Steelhawk HQ. Kaivalya actually considered Jovial one of her closest companions among Steelhawks, justified by the way he went above and beyond to craft the Luckstone she purcahses some time ago, into the magnificent piece of art, with a timepiece on it, no less, that now accompanied her on all of her missions. Perhaps he'd have done the same for anyone, but he still did it for her as well. And once again, Jovial proved to Kaivalya that despite mischievous, gruff demeanor, he's actually a pretty big softie. After breakfast, Shop Leader Shuden cast a telepathic bond on everyone so that they could go about their business while staying in contact. Shuden went to see his wife, Milug shared a beer, or two...or an hour's worth...with a Cloak of Protection he was attuning to. Cody and the others went to the Battle Yurt to discuss the raid plans. Kaivalya herself went to go check on her recent purchase. H1 - Enlightened + Ride + Aid H2 - Work + Fetch H3 - Ride + Aid H4 - Ride + Help H5-10: No tricks She was amazed at the quality. "One day, I hope to train horses as well as Coy can," she thought to herself. Upon meeting the Enlightened horse, she thought for a moment that she might keep it for herself, but decided against it. It was a much better fit for Commander Saxx, since a normal intellegence horse likely would be frightened of having a snake around it. Which reminded her, she needed to design a Saddle of the Cavalier that the Commander would be able to use...normal saddles aren't really designed with snakes in mind. Once preparations were made, and Cody convinced Ashley was convinced that the raid was justified, since it was against a criminals that had routinely caused problems in his homeland of the Chivalric Lands, the party mounted up to make their way to the rendevous point. The Keshig Riders believed the rain was a gift from their gods. "I guess they were right," thought Kaivalya, as she sensed danger brewing beneath the earth as soon as they passed the boundary of protection the rain seemed to provide. She did her best to warn those that were riding in front, but it was too late, as a group of earth elementals rose from the ground and attacked them, killing two of their horses, including her own, right away. With a combibation of good crowd control from the casters, hard hits from the melee fighters and amazing heals from Cody, the elementals appeared to be outmatched by the party. Kaivalya herself, was able to channel her own magic through the Pipes of Haunting, frightening two of the elementals, greatly reducing their effectivemenss in the battle. Just as it seemed the battle would be over soon...the battle began. The five elementals, including the dead ones, were absorbed into the ground, after which a huge elemental, towering 15ft tall, emerged from the ground. The battle was long and fierce, as the elemental was seemingly impossible to hit. After watching her friends miss, time and time again, she got an idea. She had always thought of Faerie Fire as spell to be used in darkness, or against invisible creatures. Perhaps it was because of the distraction of battle, but, she couldn't think of any reason that it wouldn't work against this well AC'd elemental to provide her friends advantage. Except for that Legendary Resistance...her heart sank. A precious spell slot, swallowed up. But it did prove her right. The Faerie Fire would work. Now she just had to manage her remaining slots to draw out the rest of the resistances, without and still be able to cast it again. As she was calculating her plan, a wave of energy stunned her, causing her to fall to the ground, unable to move. "Move," she told herself. Her body didn't respond. She watched, as her friends struggled against the elemental. "MOVE," she screams at her body, as Milug falls in battle yet again, unable to help. Still no reaction from her muscles. While laying prone, she watched the elemental use it's last resistance. "Now's my chance!" she says to herself as she musters every once of resolve she had to force her body to move and cast her last Faerie Fire. As soon as the elemental was draped in the pinkish-purple light, the tide of the battle changed. Shuden used his Elven Accuracy to full effect. THe twice-downed Milug was able to take his revenge in the form of removing chunks of earth and stone from the elemental with each swing. Ashley stood her ground, pummeling the elemental with a flurry of blows and Jovial...did Jovial things. When the dust had cleared (did she just make another joke?) the party was battered and exhausted, but alive. They rode to the edge of the forest and set up camp for the night. Kaivalya fell asleep near instantly, completely drained, but content, that her contributions had played an important role in their victory.
S01E23 Steelhawk International:"Where we're going, we don't need roads, but allies might come in handy"
(Supplemental report: Oboreru Kiku)
It was an evening unlike any I had known, sitting in the warmth of Leif Skaldsson's hearth, our hearts light with the joy of storytelling. I had the honor to sing the tale of Chikatta Shinjitsu, whose name means “Sworn Truth”: truly a hero whose honor blazed like the rising sun. As my words danced upon the air, I was moved by how rapt the attention of Chief Skaldsson and his people. How fortunate we were, I thought, to find allies for whom stories are also like the food they eat to survive! But the gods, in their wisdom, had more in store. Barber Ian and Tytharion told their own tales of wonder, before our host began his tale of ships and battle. As Leif's words turned to thunder and storm, I felt the earth shift beneath me, and with but a blink of my eye, we—my dearest companions—were no longer listeners. We had stepped into the very heart of the legend our host told over. I had read the report of our Steelhawks who had participated in such a tale previously, but that did not prepare me for the experience! It was wondrous, like waking inside a dream. The air was thick with myth and mystery, the sky above painted in colors it seems I had never seen, as if the clouds themselves were whispers of forgotten legends. The ground beneath our feet was rough, but not of this world, for it seemed woven from the same magic that flowed through the tale. I glanced at my comrades—Tytharion, fierce and unshaken; Shuden, ever thoughtful and keen, a storm of potential so self contained; Tydus, thoughtful and talented; Barber Ian, with a cunning eye and silken hands brimming with health and virtue; and Talon, cautious but determined and steadfast. Their faces reflected the same wonder… and quiet determination.
S01E23 Steelhawk International:"***MISSING EPISODE***
***PLEASE STAND BY***
Title of Session__S01E22 Steelhawk International:"**MISSING EPISODE" (
Watcher: ??
***MISSING EPISODE PLEAE STAND BY***
S1E21 Steelhawk International "***MISSING EPISODE***"
Location:
Watcher:
***MISSING REPORT PLEASE STAND BY***
S01E20 Steelhawk International - We are going to need a bigger boat- Additional Report
by Soledad Wildfate, Tactical Ops (lead)
I'll first admit that the Wild Hunt is always an enticing event to be a part of; it's so very primal. And, I will also admit, that there is a thrill in pitting oneself against a capable predator, especially when it's a true apex predator: the danger factor alone will provide thrills (if not chills), but the chance to see one of these magnificent creatures in the flesh, and in action, well.... Apex predators are literally at the top of the food chain. They control prey numbers, which limits smaller predators and helps maintain a diverse ecosystem. When apex predators are removed, it can have far-reaching effects on the entire ecosystem, including the landscape. For example, I have seen over-predation of seabirds by foxes, and seen grassland turn into tundra over the course of years. Apex predators also play a role in natural selection and disease regulation. My teachers in Golgotha's Gate showed me that healthy shark populations actually increase the health and diversity of life in and around coral reefs. When reef sharks are removed from a coral reef system, smaller predators increase and the plant-eating fish decrease. Those fish are critically important to coral reefs because they eat algae that otherwise smother young corals. In essence, disrupting an ecosystem can cause ripple effects everywhere, so it was with some sense of excitement, trepidation, and even awe that we set out on this hunt. (Note: excellent report by Blade on the details of the mission should also be read- reports) The Astral Dreadnought was every bit as awe-inspiring a creature as I had come to expect. The battle was fierce, and while we took our damage, tactically we did almost everything exactly right so we lost no one. (cont) The appearance of an opportunist to siphon energy out of the corpse of the Dreadnought is concerning; I have no idea from an arcane perspective how that was done. Of course, it's also true that when an apex predator dies, all the smaller predators do well off the remains, until a new apex predator rises to the top of the food chain. All in all, it's probably best to be near the top of the food chain whenever possible. Soledad
S01E20 Steelhawk International: "We are going to need a bigger boat" (Astral Planes)
Watcher: > Stoney
L13 Wizard Bladesinger Blade Stoney Armor of Safeguarding
L13 Paladin | Tytharion SDM | Wolf
L15 druid/wiz Soledad SDM | David
L15 Wizard | Shuden CG | Spoon Protective Versus
L12 sorc/cleric/druid/bard | barber Ian @Angel of Fire Cli Lyre
L14 SorFiCleBa Gaius aDM | Gaius Elven Thrower
We start off speaking with Xynthal. He is a retired "hero" and is kind of the local expert on the Legendary creature Paku that we are hunting. We ask questions about this "unkillable monster" Paku from the astral plain. He is informative as much as he can be. We find out that it is immune to lots of different conditions and resistant to most types of damage (immune to some). We also learn about some of his natural ways, such as eating habits, travel paths, and things of that sort. It seems this beast is unstoppable. We definitely have a chore ahead of us. Soledad gathers everyone and we all take part in his very powerful spell. It takes an HOUR to get this thing done, but man, when we finished and the energy flows into the Steelhawks, we all feel invincible and ready for the hunt. We find out later this spell was called Wild Hunt. As some of us reflect on Xynthal's ability and living ways, we find out that he is just that, a very simple being. He just wants peace and quiet and to live till he doesn't anymore. We see his simple lifestyle, such as small living quarters with 1 bed. Think "bare minimums" and you would be rich comparingly. Xynthal is just chillin out here, living the simple life. We decide to try and find out if there is a location that will be advantageous to attack this creature we need to dispatch. We look across this terrain and it looks different than expected...there is more color, there is more "stuff" happening than when we first got here. We spot like 4 different options that we might see fit, A pit, A floating islands in the mist, a misty area with square islands floating as well, and last location is a shipwreck location. All these locations seem to be the best possible spot to try and ambush this thing. Ultimately we decided to go with the shipwreck location. It seems to be the best spot for us. We head that way and take a look around. We end up finding 3 charges of cannon balls we can use from all these wrecked ships. We also locate at least 3 working guns. NOW we got some firepower! We discuss shortly how we can handle this situation. We decide to go with the old "Bate and Switch" plan and basically make him run to us. We can shoot the cannon balls that way too, hit hard and fast! We get everything set up and Tytharion moves up to get this big thing's attention, but things don't go as planned. First off it ends up being a lot further away than expected, and then Tytharion's horse gets eaten so this is bad. We all jump our mounts and move as fast as we can to save Tytharion. We move very fast and make it up to there and just our presence was enough to make it move away from Tytharion and toward us. I like to think it was the juicy fat Marble Elephant that Blade brought, but we couldn't be sure. Either way this thing is on us! We start to combat this thing! Everybody prepares to face their doom. Tytharion is already beat up but Blade is first to act. We contemplated as a team really quickly and decided against using a force wall, instead we dropped a mass of radiant clouds that engulfed at least some of that big creature. Some of us are quick enough to beat Paku out the gate, but he catches up quickly, and unfortunately Blade gets wrecked in 1 round by one hit of his claw and then the blast of his physic power. Our team was prepared for this and Soledad responded by healing some of the damage taken by Blade before he could even hit the ground, keeping Blade conscious and upright. Tytharion steps up as well, not fearing the fact he was hurt. Shuden did some trickery shit, so did his simulacrum. Shuden tried to psychically strike this being with a little spell from Tasha's magic book. Her Mind Whip would keep Paku from doing so many things all the time, unfortunately the beast didn't seem to be affected by the whip. Shudan's Sim disappeared after a small chant. Ian ride's his gallant steed and moves up to save Blade's life with some massive healing. Although Soledad kept Blade from falling unconscious, he still took a lot of physical damage as well as mental damage from the psychic wave of Poku, so Blade was ever grateful to his friends for saving him. Gaius and his griffon take the right flank. They stand up to some of the evil beings that were falling out Paku as it attacked. So now he was surrounded by creatures and Paku! He stood the test of time, but his griffon did not fare as well. Either way, this thing could really hit hard, but we had a great team to face him and with Xynthal's help, even this unkillable beast was bested pretty quickly. Now that the beast is dead, Xynthal is very impressed and invites us back to his place. As we start moving away from this monstrosity, we see another being appear above it and this being seems to "suck" the “juice” out of this legendary Paku that was dead. We inquired about who this man is after a noticeable recognition came across Xynthal's face. Xynthal says he knows this being and that he was approached a while back by this being. His name was Morgarath Darkbind, or at least that is the name that Xynthal was given. Although Xynthal refused the job of trying to kill Paku, he did say the guy was pretty persistent. We just happened to have an expert on this being with us… Shuden. With some fancy knowledge recollection, he was able to use his skills and determine that this being was in fact a gnome! or that's what we believe. How interesting! Either way, Xynthal takes us back to his place and gets out the only chest he has. This thing wasn't even locked and had magic items all up in it! We are all wondering why he didn't have this thing locked away somewhere, his answer was simple. "I have no fear that anyone would steal from me." Basically no one is stupid enough to mess with him. He then gives us a little pep talk about our performance and what it has done for him in reminding him of the old days with all this excitement! Xynthal then shared a story, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I once traveled on these planes with five companions, all Githyanki like myself. Together, we faced unimaginable dangers and forged unbreakable bonds. But time claimed them, one by one." He gestured to a small chest at his side. "Each of them left behind something to remember them by, treasures they intended to pass on to those worthy." Xynthal revealed the items: a wizard’s spellbook, Protective Versus, the cleric's Amulet of the Devout +3, the bard's Cli Lyre, the barbarian's spear, the Elven Thrower, and the fighter's Armor of Safeguarding. "These belonged to my friends. Now, they are yours, a token of thanks from both them and me." We end the session here...STEALHAWKS SURVIVE!
S01E19 Steelhawk International: "Beyond the Duskbone: The Quest for the Thunderhooves"
Lower Tear
Watcher: Hekregal
Lvl 5 Sorcerer-Druid | Persephone @Aether Princess
L7 Ashley Monk/Barbarian BobRob
Lvl 4 Artificer - Armorer @Corey_Tenenbaum
Lvl 6 Fighter/Warlock | Sylvanas @FinalPrinc3
Lvl 5 Sorcerer | Jihn @Hekregal
Lvl 4 Warlock - Maia @JediMermaid
REPORT Beyond the Duskbone: The Quest for the Thunderhooves This is Jihn Hellregal reporting in from the Silent Sentinel stronghold. Today was a day of sorrowful victory. There was life lost and glory gained in a battle against the strange and fearsome earth elementals. We found ourselves at the end of our journey up the River Duskbone, headed into the cliffs where the Silent Sentinels and Jargal’s tribe reside. However, calamity was afoot and the goliath guards had been slain by a peculiar dust elemental. It was evident to our party of brave adventurers that the jig, as they say, was up. After we saw to the wellbeing of nearly dead guards outside, Ashley bravely rushed in with the Maia, Persephone, Orvak, Sylvanas, and myself trailing behind, afraid as to what we may find lying in wait inside. We set foot into a massacre of the tribe and goliaths alike. The earth elementals had thrashed the guards but good and were now setting themselves upon the tribespeople. We acted fast and began to take on the mud men, hoping to dispatch them quickly. This was folly. The mudmen were soon joined by the dust elemental we’d beheld outside. The mudmen, during the chaos, were able to absorb several tribespeople and do substantial acid damage to them. Maia and Sylvanas were able to deal with the dust elemental while the rest of us took the mudmen down one by one. Ashley fought valiantly, nearly succumbing to her injuries several times but soldiering on nevertheless and thrashing multiple mudmen. Sylvanas heroically saved Maia from the worst of the dust elemental’s wrath and fought the beast through blinding and choking dust, though it was ultimately in vain as Maia was taken down by it several seconds later. Sylvanas rallied however and was able to win against terrific odds to take the bastard down. Orvak portrayed an air of might, using his thunder gauntlets to pummel a snake elemental into submission before rushing to Maia’s aid and rousing her back to battle. Maia, our troublesome child, shot the elementals with blast after blast of dark energy. Persephone was resplendent in her starry form, launching volley after volley at the terrible creatures. As victory was nearly in sight, a talus (a sort of huge rock snake) burrowed up from beneath my very feet. It took one look at Old Jihn and decided on lunch. I was battered nearly to death and lost consciousness for several seconds before regaining my composure and setting the rock snake ablaze. Ashley was able to hold the snake's attention by savagely beating it so that our ranged fighters could beat the bricks off of it, quite literally. I am ever so proud of our troupe of adventurers, we relied on each other and through perseverance won the day. This day did come with losses as I mentioned before. Several tribe members fell to the beasts. Jargal was distraught at the loss of life but relieved that we were able to dispatch the creatures. We then discussed how to best get the tribe, and most importantly his son, to Khanba safely. It looks as though the Steelhawks will be running a diversion on horseback while the Silent Sentinels break for Khanba down river. This is Jihn Hellregal, signing off.
S01E18 "Beyond the Battle: A Quest for Unity and The Tear"
Supplemental report: Deceus Persephone Hero wrote a solid report as Watcher, but I think I can add some tactical considerations. There's enough opportunity to make sure we've all got what we need to manage a variety of needs in the field. Like repairing a hole in a boat, for example; an earlier team managed to patch a hole near the keel with an improperly cured leather hide, cactus needles, and cactus sap. It lasted for just about as long as a bleeding sucking candy, okay? Of course, some assist from Hugiin to freeze the water outside the hole to give me a period of dry time to patch the hole with board and peg using my tools made it so we didn't need drydock, but creative teamwork and preparation should help us deal with crazy situations in the field. We should all know our best roles during a mission, but also be willing to step out of them for the good of the team. Very little slows me down, but when our ship, nestled down in the river between steep banks, came under fire from Goliath archers, I knew that if we didn't confront them they'd probably put more holes in the ship because men on horseback can go faster than a ship going against the current. I leapt to the banks using the most feral gifts of the ancient gods, and gave the goliaths something to shoot at other than the ship and my companions; it was the only way out of the situation, and I made the leap hoping my companions would follow my lead. Fortunately, they had enough resources not to get spell-bound for long, and while the goliaths focused on me, it kept everyone else in the game. From fast-moving striker to target, all in order to keep the team from getting hit; it worked. There's a lot of incapacitating magic out there that can be most efficiently managed with a wee bit of damage to offset effects- Hugiins used a thunderclap to wake 2 of 3. Magic missile would get 3/3 for a low level spell, and a trained pet cheapest of all.
Location: S01E18 Steelhawk International: "Beyond the Battle: A Quest for Unity and The Tear"
Watcher: > @Aether Princess
L7 barb Deceus SDM | David
Lvl 5 warlock Vengine Xisle
Lvl 5 Sorcerer/Druid | Persephone @Aether Princess
Lv.7 Druid Hugiin
SDM | Coach
lvl 5 sorc Jihn @Hekregal
L5 Warlock Paladin Aenig Fatum vYzion
Report Authored by: Persephone Hero We began our journey in the early evening, sailing up the Duskbone River. Sunlight was failing fast but assistance was needed with keeping wind on the ship’s sail in the stagnant heat of the desert. Higgins, a rather charming albeit snarky large crow creature, and I used some of our innate ability to manipulate the winds to quicken our pace just enough that we made a decent amount of progress. Higgins was a funny one, and it was compounded by the fact that he didn’t realize he was being funny. His fairy friend Fifi went airborne to scout out for any signs of danger. She reported nothing of significance, but I could see from the corner of my eyes the blur of green abounding around us in the water, the deadly alligators of the desert were hungry, and they smelled our flesh. It got them well worked up. Is it a good time to mention that I don’t like giant apex predators hiding under the water waiting for us to make one wrong move before they snatch us and slowly eat us alive? Suffice it to say I tried staying away from the ship's edges. Deceus used his brilliant artistry in engineering to help reinforce the patches in the ship that had been stitched up with leather before we initially set off. Given the scarcity of resources available to us sailing upstream, it seemed like an impossible task, but he ingeniously improvised. After a few hours of progress, we banked our ship and tied the boat up to get a rest. It was good timing because the light had just completely vanished in the sky and the stars were beginning to peep out in the clear dusk sky. There was a definite charm to it, the night desert sounds, the stars, the smooth passing of the water. The only problem was the knowledge of the congregation of alligators creeping beneath our boat. I had an unrestful sleep that night tossing and turning, having vivid dreams about them.
Title of Session S01E17 Steelhawk International: MISSING EPISODE
Location: (Verdant Plains- Marano Mountains)
Watcher: > Mr Critical Jr
****MISSING EPISODES***
S01E16 Steelhawk International: "Sentinels and Shadows" (The Lower Tear) - from Caskin's view
Getting Jargal is really turning out to be a pain in the ass. After we dragged ourselves out of the river with the gators, we had to cross a barren area again. The same tactic of dropping things from the air and shatter spells made sure we didn't run into any elementals. We were able to get into another forest area by end of day. As we made our way a big ol elk crossed the path. We figured this was the perfect opportunity to hunt and setup camp. The elk was tracked and put down pretty expediently. The Silent Sentinels are vegans (HOW???) but weren't against hunting for sustenance. We got the elk setup to smoke overnight and took turns watching. It finishes by dawn but for some stupid reason Vegine took it upon itself to throw it on a blanket barehanded at the end of the last watch. We divvied up roughly 60lbs of meat then set off again. After we broke from the forest the trail lead through a lightly wooded valley. To lighten the mood I asked Stonegrace if there was a tavern, winery, or such on this trail where a fella could quench his thirst. Ask one question and those Goliaths get all up in your business and start making accusations. She not so subtley suggested I was an alcoholic... geez. Too bad she doesn't understand the finer points that imbibing from time to time can have on society, comradery, and the like. She should spend a few years in a Dwarven city for a better perspective. We got about 1/2 way across this stupid valley when several Goliaths tried to ambush us. Thankfully we weren't caught too of guard. That was a mean fight and no one got out withou a few new scars. We finished them off, buried them in a shallow grave, then setup camp to lick our wounds. I hate this place.
S01E16 Steelhawk International: "Sentinels and Shadows" (The Lower Tear)
Location: The Tear
Watcher: > Caskin Mensius
Level 5 Cavalier | Elias @Just Gene
Level 5 Paladin | Bonk Orion B.
Level 5 Warlock | Vengine Xisle
Level 7 Barbarian | Deceus SDM | David
Level 6 Bonk | Caskin Mensius
Kevek 5 Cleric | Kildrak SDM | DMOverlord
Desert stretched for leagues around the small watercourse. The Silent Sentinels pointed out the forest some distance away- we took the same precautions as earlier to try to foil the tremors-ense of the Goliaths' elemental allies. Hit the tree-line and finally got some relief from the sun. Moved with some attention to the trail, but felt sun-blinded for a bit. Made our way in, and caught a tell-tale that showed us a set of antlers that made my mouth water. Wasn't the only one either, just the fastest off the blocks. Got there, tore into it fast, and think it was Vengine who got the kill. Dragged the carcass deeper into the woods and dressed it. Gave a hunk of liver to Guthlac, my favored of the ancient gods, in tribute- figured they'd appreciate it even so far from the Lingrahan Forests and Equ'us. Buried entrails for the small life of the forest to find away from where we set up camp. Team effort to get the fire up, a roasting lean-frame, and cook. Vengine caught the thing when a chance wind would've set it into the fire after was already asleep following my own watch. Next day we're making fair time towards where the Silent Sentinels have this Jargal and his folk are living, and a bunch of Goliaths launch an ambush at us. Had just enough warning to not get caught flat-hooved and -footed, but it was a messy, brutal fight. Now, like myself some messy and brutal, but there was a sorcerer, a priest, couple fighters with lances on horseback, and a coupla low-down, poison-using back-shooters, and we were behind the 8ball when the Goliath sorc slowed 4 of us in the center before they'd chance to move. Raced in, coupla tossed javelins spoiled the slow so we weren't dead in the water. Caskin fought great, durable for a two-legger, though he whined a bit about no beds nor taverns. Cap'n Thrasios did a bunch of damage. Vengine and Elias sniped. I beat wholesale ass.
Title of Session: S01E15 Steelhawk International: MISSING REPORT
Watcher > vYzion
****REPORT MISSING****
S01E14 Steelhawk International: "Echoes of Valor: The Sundered Expanse Campaign" (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Gaius
L8 Monk Tasnera | DMOverlord
L8 Rogue/Bard Kaivalya | vYzion
L7 Rogue/ranger Alexei | Mensius
L9 druid/wizard Soledad | David
L8 fighter Stahl | Xisle
L8 fighter cleric Gaius | Gaius
We got a Goliath prisoner with the name Gorak and we are trying to gather information about the reinforcements of the next giants. We removed his war equipment and our party asked him where the location of their armies is. Gorak started counting 5001, 5002, 5003... He seems that he is not afraid from us. No matter how many questions we asked him he keeps counting. Tasnera the monk of our party touched Gorak forcing him to tell only the truth when he answers our questions. Alexei asked which will be the Goliath’s next target and he answered it will be in the city of Khanba. Also we got an answer that the entire goliath agrees to fight this war. They want to expand so that they can live. Those are very enigmatic words from Gorak and we need to understand their deeper meaning. He also gave us the information that he is the strongest of his tribe, but not of the entire race. We decided to keep alive Gorak and we headed on the tent where all the chieftains of the lower tear are gathered. We reported of what happened and that the Goliaths are planning to hit the city of Khanba. Chief Altan said we need to go back to the wasteland. We suggested venturing to the city of Khanba and reinforcing this place. Commander Chuluun agreed that this is a good idea. Also Chief Khulan Khatan that somehow came back from the dead suggested that we want a buffer zone. Some of us had an objection on attacking them straight. Gaius proposed to burn down the city of Kanba and when the Goliaths come they will find nothing. And as times passes they will feel hungry. If the horse riders manage to cut their supplies they will feel more exhausted and more vulnerable. Tasnera suggested that this plan will not work because they have the earth elementals by their side, to provide them food and they taught them how to upgrade their war equipment. Tasnera also suggested changing their tactics against the Goliaths. The Goliaths changed and adapted new strategies and that gives them victorious battles. Chief Altan has some valuable information about the elementals. He said that they want to secure a specific location that has valuable stones and metals. This area will make them stronger. This place is called the greater crater. Also chief Altan mentioned us that there are some people among the Goliaths that they do not want to act like the rest of their race. They want to resolve things in a more peaceful way. This group is called the silent sentinels. The chef has arranged a meeting to a specific rendezvous point to negotiate. Gaius and Tasnera talked privately that this meeting sounds like a setup. Tasnera mentioned that her skills are focused for gathering Intel and doing infiltration. She said that if she was in the Goliath position they will use this peaceful meeting to entrap a high value team. In that case it will be us. After some minutes the leaders and their commanders came outside the tent and they seemed to decide about their plans. They said also that the elementals can detect for enemy activities in a radius of 300 feet. One of the commanders said that they have some magical protections against that supernatural ability. Additionally a good plan is to create a lot of horse tracks on different directions so that they cannot track easily the main strike force of the warhorses and their riders. Chief Lorkbold insisted about the meeting with the silent sentinels. He said that those Goliaths proved that they are reliable. They showed their way for finding him his lost son. They did not have to do this but it was the first step for making them seem trustworthy. We discussed a lot around this matter and we decided to volunteer for going on this meeting even if we have the suspicion that this might be a setup. We crossed a desert land heading towards the meeting. It will take place on the next two hours. Soledad summoned her hawk to scout the area from above. It seems an empty vast desert environment. Tasnera remembered this location and she showed us where to march. We checked with Soledad’s Hawk the rendezvous point. It flew 5 crates and they looked abandoned. One of those crates on its shadow had an entrance to a cave. We entered inside the massive big cave and there were some magical lights illuminating the area. We heard one female voice and she invited us deeper the cave. We saw 4 female Goliath figures and Gaius reassured them that they are the people on behalf of the moonriders. They came here to share information that might be valuable for the chief Jargal. Soledad asked how they know the chief. Rockgrace the leader of this small female Goliath group said that they provided a safe passage for chieftain’s brother against a Goliath attack. Soledad thanked them for giving help to our allies. Rockgrace mentioned that they were living in peace. Soledad said that the chieftain has a proposition. They want to extract the valuable stones from the greater crater to craft better equipment and enhance the trading bringing big profits for their race. At the same time he is willing to give a big cut on the shares so that and the Goliath people can take advantage of it. Rockrage took into consideration all this information and she said that they should not exist. They live underneath the cliff and no other Goliath is aware of them. She also said that there they need to show us some things and we should follow them. Soledad suggested sending a message to Chingis about our status through a sending stone and informing the people of the lower tear for our progress. The trick here is that the message should be 25 words. Her message was: “Contacts met. They're interested in peaceful options. Tell Altan possible partners. Proceeding with them to where they gave refuge to Jargal. We urge restraint.” We followed the ladies and got out from the crate. -End of Report-
Additional Report: Submitted by Soledad
I won't reiterate the details that Director Gaius has provided in his Watcher report, but I would, as I often do, like to add some analysis and context.
The Silent Sentinels--these bold lady Goliaths we met--reported that they 'shouldn't even exist'. I believe it was Alexei who first asked what they meant by that statement, and they answered that most of the Goliath nation think the same way and are unified by their allegiance to the Earth Elementals we've reported on earlier, and are committed to war. These ladies seem of kinder, and more open disposition, and are looking for alternatives.
- they've offered safe haven for Chief Jargal and his people, after we (Steelhawk) helped them flee across the continent from Jargal's murderous nephew Batgan. They've found common cause and cooperation while living together with Jargal and his clan, and believe they should be able to do so with the Khanarion's as a whole.
- they've separated themselves from the Goliaths, based on their attitude and self-determining goals. These ladies are, for lack of a better term, 'good', and seem unwilling as both individuals and collectively to throw themselves into the war effort when there are alternatives--better alternatives--to pursue.
They found Chief Altan's path towards peace of interest, a cooperative venture of peace and autonomy for the Goliaths in exchange for trade, of interest and evidence of a thoughtful opponent-to-hopefully-be-turned-ally.
We reported in, hoping that Chingis would also communicate with Mr. Steelhawk to get guidance from above, but the path we're on feels like one of more hope than what we've pursued so far.
We have agreed to go with them to meet up with Jargal and potentially extract them from Goliath territory; I can't help but implicitly trust these Silent Sentinels as they seem to be and think much like me.
Time will tell- further reports to follow.
Soledad
-End of Report-
S01E13 Steelhawk International: "Echoes of the Lower Tear: The Khanarian Legacy and the Goliath War" (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Dusk
L6 Dranger Shivy | Spoon
L6 Artiferic Dusk | TwitchRabbit
L4 Wogue Zovish Thorne | Drizlek
L6 Fighter Bill | williebeast
L5 Bard Kindroth | Coach
L6 Wizard | The Oracle Aether Princess
After our meeting with the Goliaths we made our way down the Tear toward the tribes to pass along the message that the Goliaths wanted nothing of peace - they wanted to lay claim to the entirety of the southern region of the Tear. On our journey back, we heard loud drums moving in the direction of the tribes and were intercepted by an advanced guard for the Khanarion army and were escorted to meet with chief Altan and the commanders. We passed along the message from the Goliaths and then discussed various options for combating their invasion before settling on a distraction as our tactic of getting the jump on them. We moved with the Khanarion army and had them set up in a small valley-like area in waiting, in case we needed to fall back. The Khanarion archers would be set up in various high ground positions to give us a means of defense if needed. We set loose many, many horses to circle around them from the east and meet them head on while we approached from the west - surprising them and engaging them in battle. We had a party member go down and quickly be brought back up and eventually dispatched our combatants save for the chief named Gorak the Indomitable, who we captured and turned over to chief Altan and the army. We also investigated the newly captured stronghold for ourselves and after some investigating found a prisoner named Tobias who was freed by Zovish and pledged a life debt as thanks. We now find ourselves resting in our new stronghold and preparing for next steps. We also find ourselves in possession of new horses and additional horses we have managed to wrangle from this post.
S01E12 Steelhawk International: "Echoes of War: The Pact Between Titans" (The Lower Tear) Supplemental report
Watcher: Soledad
It's always rewarding when theories become proven fact. This time, we got the proof we needed. Right in the face. Elementals. Specifically, big, honking Earth Elementals, some of them gigantic. These things move through earth and stone like we do through air, and 3 of them popped up to attack us inside the fort we'd liberated from the Goliaths. One was humongous, another cast spells; they seemed as varied as we do, sometimes. The fight was brutal, but we prevailed, as Shuden reported. When we saw the Goliath force drawn up outside the outpost, probably knowing their elemental allies had been dispatched, my initial thoughts of burning the outpost to keep it out of their hands as we retreated were replaced by a bolder plan to march out and attempt parlay. I'll be honest here; I didn't think we'd get anywhere, except our heads on pikes, maybe. Early skirmishes, no heavy losses, and they were going to get the fort; we weren't bargaining from a position of strength at all, and they've not suffered anywhere near the losses would be required to make them even consider peace with the Khanarions. I was right, but I'll posit we weren't wrong to try. I think we learned that they're pretty resolute about this, and as I suspected a few reports ago, a lot more people are going to have to die to convince both sides that peace--especially Chief Altan's thoughts to cede the lowlands to the Goliaths while getting them to mine rare metals and gems for them and make everyone economically happy--is the best course to pursue. Soledad Wildfate
S01E12 Steelhawk International: "Echoes of War: The Pact Between Titans" (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Shuden
L8 Paladin Malcolm Greywater | Coach
L9 Wizard Shuden | Spoon
L9 druid/wizard Soledad | David
L8 fighter cleric Gaius | Gaius
L8 Monk Tasnera | DMOverlord
L7 Rogue/Bard Kaivalya | vYzion
We left off with the party having just eliminated one Goliath raiding party, rescuing two tribal warriors. We will likely ride on and either intercept more raiding parties or fall into war formation under a questionable tribal captain for full on war with the Goliaths. We all decide to take a short rest to recover from the battle. Soledad begins ritual casting Speak with Animals and I ritual casts Detect Magic. Gaius looks out into the distance from on top a tower and sees a large and wide moving ploom of dust miles away. I come up to help investigate and notice it's a bunch of smaller creatures among the dust. The goliaths!! I had mentioned to the group that I detected some magic by a downed goliath by the well. Kaivalya inspects it and finds a magic spear. Sir Malcom detects some evil underground, so we all brace for an ambush. Out from the ground erupts three Earth Elementals. The gargantuan elemental smashes into the tower that Gaius and Shuden were using for scouting. The enormous stone club used by the elemental let out a thunderous boom that caused damage to all nearby creatures and structures. Gaius and Shuden teamed up to lay waste to this creature. A large elemental appeared near Kaivalya and Sir Malcolm and attacked them with the Earth beneath their feat! Kaivalya was already in flight, so she avoided the area attack and let loose a barrage of psychic blades, with great effect. Then, this large elemental molded into the ground and reappeared near another elemental. A huge elemental appeared by Soledad and Tasnera. Soledad trasnformed into a huge polar bear to level the playing field while Tasnera reacted with a flurry of blows, revealing the elementals' weaknesses to the team. Once the large elemental joined this huge elemental, they started to really deliver some damage. Eventually, I was able to gallop overto finish off one of them while Sir Malcolm smited the final Earth elemental into oblivion. After we disbatch the Earth Elementals, we see the Goliath's are now 1 mile away and they suddenly stop. The goliaths chant while their horses stomp in unison. They appear to be waiting for us. Gaius, Malcolm, Soledad and Shuden go out into the open to make contact. As we approach a handful of goliath's on horseback, we see the Earth move and many more goliath's emerge from the ground. Gaius moves forward and meets with the goliath representative. Gaius tries to be peaceful, while the goliaths are very aggressive and bloodthirsty. The goliaths want use to walk away and stop supporting Chief Altan Narantsog. The Earth Elementals look after, protect, train, and provide focus and direction for the goliaths. They are leading them to take over the Lower Tear. The Elementals brought them from near extinction to vast expansion. The Goliaths want us to tell Chief Altan that they're coming for them. They will kill them all. The only path for peace is for the tribes to leave, give up the land, and pay reparations. We head back to the outpost to discuss this with the party. We debate razing the outpost, staying to defend, or leaving to meet up with the tribes and inform them of the goliath's intentions. We decide to head back to the tribes and deliver the news. We don't like where this is going, but it was the best of all the bad choices we had. -Shuden
S01E11 Steelhawk International: “The Cull” (The Lower Tear) Supplemental report
Watcher: Soledad Wildfate
Location: (The Lower Tear) Shuden did a wonderful job detailing the mission report as Watcher. What I'd like to add are some subtle insights that are worth sharing with the next team/expo leader to take on events here in the Tear. 1. I can't stress enough how good it is to know that Chief Altan has a plan ahead for what to do after hostilities with the Goliath, and it's a plan with a solid chance of succcess given that it hinges on economic and quality of life benefits for both the Khanarrion Warriors (the Riders) and the Behemoth Brotherhood (Goliaths). While we're going to be in for a heckofa fight, knowing that the leader of the Khanarrion's is both willing to pursue peace and be sure that the Goliaths have an opportunity to gain from negotiation means that one side doesn't have to kill the other to see the budding war done. 2. The sudden understanding that the Goliath 'early warning system' may involve creatures which have the ability to tremorsense was a very useful insight by our newest member, Vanadium. (Commendation for him; out exploring alternative information sources among the local fauna, he helped save 3 of the Khanarrion's horses from the Grimsteed virus with lesser restoration. Kudos.) So far as I'm aware via my Circle of Mutation colleagues, it's mostly beasts, monstrosities, and elementals that gain such abilities, and it strikes me as highly plausible that the Goliath-organizing agency we're looking for might be either a monstrosity which came with them from space, or, what seems more likely, an elemental lord or proxy they developed a deal with here on Karagatan. Certainly, the time line of the Goliath behavior is more in line with the latter theory, and given how events have played out with the Dao lord Kragoth the Stonebound in my homelands of the Kopav alliance, worship of such an elemental by the Goliaths would empower it, enabling such an elemental lord to deploy its agents with ever more power due to the Goliath devotion. Our plans to create distractions, and to draw out these tremorsense-watchers/early warning systems of the Goliaths is even more pressing in light of point 2 above. More important than any tactical victory would be the strategic one of learning about the agency--and its minions and abilities--organizing the Goliaths. Because that's where this game is likely to be won or lost. Soledad Wildfate
S01E11 Steelhawk International: “The Cull” (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Shuden
L8 druid/wizard Soledad | David
l7 warrogue Jovial | FinalPrinc3
L8 wizard Shuden | Spoon
L8 fighter Stahl | Xisle
L8 Paladin Malcolm Greywater | Coach
L4 Druid Vanadium | dragondad90
After Chief Khulan Khatan of the Stormriders fell at dinner with a mysterious malediction and while interrogating the dinner guests, inadvertently exposing Chinggis Bold's devious plots (Moon Riders), we resume in the feast yurt on lockdown. Chinggis and his wife are restrained. Chief Khulan Khatan is still turning blue and stiff. Sir Malcolm tries Laying of Hands, to no effect. I attempt to detect arcane effects on Chief Khulan, but fail to notice anything so I begin a ritual to detect magic. Soledad casts lesser restoration, but the Chief's condition does not improve. Soledad offers to revivify Chief Khulan if he were to die, but we hope it doesn't come to this. Vanadium speaks to a horse just outside the tent and gets a hint that there may be some necromancy inflence nearby. I detects magic and determines that there is a spell effect from the school of necromancy affecting Chief Khulan Khatan. After we finish interrogating and clearing everyone that was in the room, we are summoned to Chief Altan's tent. When we arrive in Altan's tent, we are told this is a secret Moonrider meeting and are introduced to his Commander Enkhbal, advisor Ganzorig, and shaman Narantuya. We also see Yagaan in the corner, who is not introduced, and she procedes to serve us tea. Chief Altan begins by asking us what we think of all of these discoveries of betrayal. He says he must shed weakness and show a strong front. He asks if we will cntinue to serve him. We agree and he extends a "very special" invitation to a public hanging of his wife and General Chinggis. Then we will head out to battle. Chief Altan suspects Commander Chulun Ochir of fowl doing and needs us to watch him closely during the great battle against the Goliaths tomorrow. Soledad suggests we be assigned to Commander Chulun's division so that we can serve under him and watch him closely. Chief Altan says Soledad read his mind and explains the plan. Soledad then presses Chief Altan for more information about the valuable resource hidden in the cratered land. The Chief has heard rumors of otherworldly metals strewn about the land from alien crafts crash landing. Soledad then brings up the unusually sound tactics and strategy the Goliaths are using and asks if he knew anything about an external power influencing them. Chief Altan had suspected such and sent out parties to investigate, but nobody has returned. The Chief has plans of taking advantage of the valuable resources in the wastelands. He wants to make deals with the Goliaths and pay them to mine/collect the resources for him. We head back toward the guest tent, but Soledad, Jovial and I head out to the bar to get the temperature of the tribes. Jovial startes with storytelling with a magical flair and entertains the crowd thoroughly. Vanadium pops in naked I buy an old man a beer and start talking. He's worried about how far Chief Altan is going to go to prove that he has what it takes, referencing the hanging coming up. I ask him what he thinks of Commander Chulun, but he says he can't speak his feelings in public, but motions that he does not approve of Chulun. Soledad buys a round of drinks for the commanders and gets to talking. Commander Nergui explains that the Goliaths have some sort of early warning system that alerts them very far in advance and gives the Goliaths the jump on them. They don't know that it could be. Soledad learns that Pass WIthout Trace does not prevent their detection, nor do other magical items of non-detection. He suspects it's the sound of their horses hooves that are being used to alert. They may have tremorsense! Soledad suggest overwhelming the tremorsense with Shepherd herds and all kinds of stampeding in multiple directions. He also suggests we could have a Druid barrel in with a large hooved animal shape to trigger their senses, but then shapeshift out to essentially diappear and force them to show their hand searching for the source of the tremors. We head back to the guest yurt and sleep the night away with no further events. We have a traditional breakfast and head out to the hanging. Chief Altan gives a speech and at the end of it, the wife gets hanged. Chinggis goes next to te gallows. Chinggis's last words were "Death to you and your family" directed to Chief Altan. Then we march NE to grab our horses. A keshik rider from Steppewind came rushing towards us and alerted us that the Goliath's attacked this morning and it's a massacre at the outpost. We race out there and find 4 Goliaths and two tibesmen alive. We witness one Goliath kill one of the two tribesman on his way to us. We handily take out the Goliaths while healing up the live tribesman and then revivify the other tribesman immediately after combat to save two friendlies!
S01E10 Steelhawk International: “Strands of Betrayal” (The Lower Tear) Supplemental report
Watcher: Narccisse
location: the Lower Tear Non-Watcher Mission Report Once you realize what a joke everything is, being a Comedian is the only thing that makes sense. I mean, take this mission Steelhawk is into in the Tear: we're getting in the middle of a war between the Khanarion Warriors and a bunch of canny, cunning, and tenacious Goliaths... and the Khanarions don't even all like each other. Reminds me how mortal-kind's been trying to kill each other off since the beginning of time. Nobody's interested in peace here, figuring they finally have the power to finish the job. But there's weird stuff going on in the background, and once you lose solidarity of purpose, there's much more room for everything to go off the rails. I'm one of the Wobblies, and we know what it's like when a train goes off the rail- trust me, you don't want to be anywhere near that shit. And we're right in the middle of that shit now. So the weirdest of the weird things going on is that the Khannin Stormriders, under Khulan Khatan, outnumber the rest of the gathered Khanarions. He thinks our employer, Chief Altan Narantsogt of the Moonriders, is weak for hiring us, and hasn't been bloodthirsty enough to go hit the Goliaths hard. But we heard word that Khatan and his crew believe there's something valuable down the Lower Tear, and they want it before the Goliaths know it's there or that it has value. So, they want to fight, but I think it's because they see a get-rich-quick scheme in the making, not in solidarity with Narantsogt or the other Keshig Riders. Then, we meet a bunch of the Goliaths, fight them, learn they're not just dumb brutes, and that they have discipline, strategic and tactical ingenuity, and a grudge for the attempts at genocide by the Khanarions. Add to that what happened to one of the chiefs at a dinner, and we've got a smoldering powderkeg of mixed purposes heading into a war with a ferocious, organized enemy blessed with strategic and tactical strengths. I wanna know what's valuable in their territory. I wanna know if the economics of trade might be a logical place to aim for once the killing part is done, because if you're going to go to war, might as well make a profit. And if you're going to make peace, it ain't your friends you do that with, but your enemies. And I really freaking want to know who's 'running' the Goliaths. Because, it's my estimation that someone is laughing at the huge joke this situation is, only he/she/they ain't a Comedian; they're a strategic- and tactically- trained individual who's forged the Goliaths into a literal army with all the tricks of any modern army. Wonder what their short term and long term games are, what they bring to the table, and what they are... otherwise we'll never figure out this hairball. If we're able to do that, at least, maybe after all us mortals are done trying to kill each other off, we'll have some survivors here interested in peace. And a way to get there. Narcisse Mysterioso
S01E10 Steelhawk International: “Strands of Betrayal” (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Kaivalya
L7 Barbarian Sheena | Spoon
L6 Rogue/Bard Kaivalya | vYzion
L5 Bard Narcisse |David
L7 Warogue Jovial | FinalPrinc3
L7 fighter Stahl | Xisle
L7 Monk Tasnera | DMOverlord
Watcher notes: Checked horses for grimsteed before entering town. Tribe received our warning (+1 HP). Narcisse had to learn how to mount his horse. Met with Beastmaster Koulan and and Chingis to relay the ambush and discovery of the very large Goliath settlement. In disbelief the could train horses to lie dow and ambsh (go against their nature). Discussed the Goliath's needing a leader, not smart enough to organize. Gave Koulan the reindeer blood sample. Chinhis hints that the "walls have ears". Grand Chief Moonrider being criticized, especially by Chief Khulan Khatan of the Khannin Stormriders, because he lost a horse race during a night of drinking (I'll never drink alcohol) We learned that Chief Bataar Bey of the Steppewind Tribe, whose son Erdene is betrothed to Altar Narantsog's daughter, Sarnai. Steppwinds in the pocket, Thunderhooves in pocket, only Stormriders are trippin'. Discussed internal vs external (tribe conflict vs goliath). Goliaths came from meteorites that hit the Stardust Abyss...call themselves the Behemoth Brotherhood. Rumors tha the lower tear is loaded with precious stones and metals, possibly open up trade channels, but with whom? Took a short rest before heading to the meeting. Narcisse suggests that we go look for a contingent of Stormriders, since 150 won't be enough if something were to go down. The others go into a bar, I go hang out with the horses and try to talk to Coy Narcisse buys drinks and makes statemetns to get a rise out of the crowd. Talking up Khulan Khatan to see what's people react. Group of Steppewinds don't look pleased about it (prolly cause they support Narantong). Jovial does magic card tricks for the group, to get info, asks them about Goliath's, they don't seem care about them, but want to support Altar. They like Altar becuase he's wise, good tactician, and not a "bloodthristy monster" like Stormrider's Chief. Bar Tent closes for the meeting. Make our way to Chalun Ochier. Tasnera stood watch outside, I hide in the yurt. A power couple walks in, guards snap to and salute, The girl seems to have many friends. Meeting starts, Khulan gets aggressive about the Goliath problem. Meeting goes without issue, we go to dinner...Tasnera warches outside. At dinner Khulan Khatan started choking, turned blue and passed out, mayhem ensues as we frantically try to revive him, turns out the wife and other Chingis were having an affair and Chingis was setting up the Moonriders to the Goliaths, to weaken his power. We never discoverd why Chief Khatan was choking/turning blue/dying.
S01E09 Steelhawk International: “Rolling Thunder” (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Aschente
L6 Rogue/Bard Kaivalya | vYzion
L7 fighter, Stahl | Xisle
L7 War Mage Aschente | Just Gene
L? Name? | Mensius
L6 Barbarian Shena | Spoon
L4 cleric Drek Dreky | Livebysin
Steelhawk Activity Report: Scouting and Intelligence Gathering in reference to the Goliath people
Prepared by Aschente Vizeron, War Mage of the 3rd Circle
Objective: Find the location and number of the Goliath people in the Tear and determine their threat
The party has received your directive Sir Steelhawk, to ensure the security of the upcoming Khanarian Tribes Meeting. Rest assured, the Steelhawks' elite were dispatched, and our group set out to scout the Goliaths in the vicinity.
Route and Scouting:
Forest Navigation:
River Crossing and Ambush:
Interrogation and Familiar Reconnaissance:
The Goliaths proved mostly uncooperative during questioning. However, my familiar, was able to track their fleeing horses, revealing the location of the Goliaths' home as I worged into my familiar’s mind. The party decided to spare the Goliaths, hoping for future diplomatic negotiations, and we allowed them to collect their dead and leave.
Outcome and Future Plans:
The information that the Goliaths did give us is that they were vying to expand their territory to cope with their growing population. The Goliaths chose to expand south, as there were mysterious goings on in the Northern Tear, and because they felt that reparations were owed to them by the Khanarians due to the almost genocide by some tribes. With the obtained information, we are heading back to the Khanarian Tribes Meeting, aiming to arrive before the evening session.
Recommendations for further negotiations:
- 1. Continue to monitor the Goliaths for any signs of an attack now that we have the location of their home. 2. Send an expedition to the Northern Tear to discover what is going on, and deduce whether the land there is viable for living.
Best regards, Aschente Vizeron
S01E08 Steelhawk International: “Echoes of the Gathering Storm [P2]” (The Lower Tear)
Watcher: Soledad
Spoon
Just Gene
boomstick
White Chocolate
David
Xisle
Steelhawk Activity Report: Intel Gathering and Steppe Conquest
Prepared by Aschente Vizeron, War Mage of the 3rd Circle
Objective: Secure Information and Ensure Security for the upcoming meeting
Upon concluding a challenging game of Steppe Conquest, our party advanced to the championship round. While awaiting the evening's match, we prioritized security measures and gathering intelligence on the Goliath's activities. Following directions from a Keshig Rider, our focus was to locate Delger, Delbee, and Purev at the bar tent for vital information.
Incident Management: Diplomacy Prevails
On our way to the bar tent accusations of a rigged victory surfaced, notably from the previous year's Steppe Conquest champions who issued a challenge. To defuse tensions, the party collectively decided to extend an olive branch by purchasing a round of drinks. This diplomatic move effectively mollified potential conflicts, ensuring a smoother wait for our upcoming challenges.
Intelligence Gathering: Insights from Comrades
Meeting with Delger and Delbee proved fruitful, garnering essential insights into their experiences. Purev expressed a desire to join our expedition, driven by a quest for revenge. Despite Purev's determination, the party unanimously decided to decline the offer, maintaining our focus on the task at hand.
Crisis Aversion: Calming a Riot
A sudden revelation about Stahl's identity as a Goliath led to unrest among onlookers, sparking a potential riot. Utilizing diplomatic finesse, Herbert managed to pacify the crowd, preventing any untoward escalation and maintaining the integrity of our mission.
Strategic Alliance: Soledad’s Spicy Rendevous
Soledad established a “strategic alliance” with Jeral, a woman possessing valuable knowledge of terrain. Jeral provided a detailed route through the trees to avoid potential ambushes, enhancing our strategic advantage.
Material Acquisition: Gauntlets of Ogre Power
Felix's fascination with magical artifacts led the party to a magic shop. Through the generosity of myself and Shuden, a loan was extended to Herbert, enabling the acquisition of Gauntlets of Ogre Power for enhanced capabilities. While at the magic shop I took some time to ask around about my clan’s missing Moonblade to no avail.
Tactical Victory: Steppe Conquest Championship Round
The awaited championship round commenced with a tactical approach. Herbert's fear-inducing abilities and crowd control were complemented by Stahl's physical prowess, Soledad's summoning and shapechanging skills, my own supportive magics, and Shuden's whip expertise. The coordinated efforts resulted in a decisive victory, our 24 points to their 1, and Steelhawk collected the winnings.
Post-Game: Preparing for the Next Leg
With victory secured, the party decided to proceed to the urt town to acquire horses. The reliable horse trader, Okora, whom we had previously encountered, became our next point of contact as we prepared for the subsequent phase of our journey. The adventurers remain poised for the challenges that lie ahead.
End of Report
S01E07 Steelhawk International: “Echoes of the Gathering Storm”
Watcher: Soledad Wildfate
L7 Bladesinger Shuden | Spoon
L6 Fifghter Cleric Gaius | Gaius
L7 druid/wizard Soledad Wildfate | David
L6 fighter, Stahl | Xisle
L5 Rogue Kaivalya | vYzion
L4 rogue Felix Asanguard | boomstick
Location: The Lower Tear We meet with Lagertha for our mission brief- we get some special thanks from Frank Steelhawk for our efforts in keeping the Turukai alive, increasing Steelhawk's presence and rep in the Tear, and for respecting life and local traditions there. As a special reward, Lagertha gave us Frank's special thank you for our capable efforts, a bunch of assistance for our ongoing crafting projects. We also get our next mission briefing; a return to the Tear, only this time, not just for the Turukai tribe. Instead, this time it's the Moonriders that are willing to go out on a limb to hire Steelhawk personnel, and it's really all because we did so well in our first mission with Jargal and his people. To review, so all of Steelhawk has this intel, all the tribes of the Tear are collectively called the Kahnarion. The Turukai and other tribes of Jargal’s brothers and sisters are collectively the Thunderhooves. Our job this time is to go help the Moonriders- they’ve been having issues with the Goliaths. There is a beastmaster of the Moonriders we’re going to see: Khuylan Tenger. He’s our contact and has a lot of local rep. Meanwhile, we're to teleport from the Steelhawk offices to Chingi's new setup, a yurt on the lower Tear where the tribes have gathered. Lagertha seems to be operating the teleportation carpet herself, but hey, it works, and we find ourselves back with Chingi, Frank's old adventuring buddy and our main contact in the Tear. Chingi tells us the story is that the Chief of the Moonriders felt he needed the Steelhawk assistance, but his war-rider and wife were dead set against it, feeling it makes him look weak to the other Khanarions. On the other hand, his head Shaman apparently 'saw' that we were going to have some important role to play in the tribes' upcoming challenges, and since the chief is superstitious, well, here we are. Chingi goes on to tell us all the tribes are coming together: the Moonriders are bringing the Thunderhooves, the Steppewinds, the Khanin Stormriders and all. The get-together is to deal with the recent ascendancy of the Goliaths, which have become more numerous and are living among the craters of the Tear. They’re big, strong, and reproducing quickly. Fortunately, not as intelligent or cooperative usually, only NOW we’re seeing that they are organized- riders and investigating parties have met attacks and suffered losses against the Goliaths. As an aside, there apparently is a prophecy: a boy will rise and bring the Thunderhooves back to strength, after the recent internecine struggles which have weakened them. Anyway, Chingi gives us really useful intel: the Moonriders are having some internal issues- they’re trying to deal with the Goliaths. Because they’re not raiding and bringing back money, they’re losing status, and losing status for calling the meet and for bringing us (Steelhawk) in. The key players in the Moonriders: Chief Altan Narantsogt (Moonrider Chief)- our nominal employer. Superstitious, and taking a bit of a rep hit (war-rider was against it), and the chief’s wife is also against hiring us. The Shaman was for it because of a foreshadowing. Mandakhai Jargalan (Moonrider Shaman)- saw the foreshadowing that his chief bringing us in would be for the good, so a potential ally if we don't mess things up Batbayar Erdene (Moonrider Scout) Chuluun Ochir (Moonrider Warlord)- against the idea of hiring us Sarnai Tsolmon (Moonrider Enchantress) Khulan Tenger (Moonrider Beastmaster)- our contact We learn that each tribe sending ~ 150 keshig riders to assemble as a military force to the Khanarion force to go crush the Goliaths. War council we’re attending and providing security for, though mostly we're a token against the hundreds of warriors we see among the yurt-city encamped here. Moving through the camp after Chingi’s briefing, we run into a young lady Keshig rider. She tells us the Goliaths now have horses, and have been pretty organized. They've learned to ride, so there's parity on speed of moving forces across the Tear. We also find out that even though Stahl was with us and in Steelhawk attire, he was greeted with a fair amount of distrust because he's a goliath... like their enemy. Serious stuff going on, of course. We move on- we meet Khuylan and get invited to a game of Steppe Conquest. We do some shopping and socializing, everything from beer to magic items to personal liaisons (I'm looking at you, Felix), and we gather some intel about the game and the other competitors: The Khanin Stormriders- fast, hard to get hands on them The Steppewinds- big brutes, hard hitting The Thunderhooves- have a young fella (15 or 16) ‘coming up’, ‘a natural’, and may be the odds-on favorites... but that's a little hard to tell. We decide to bet on ourselves to win when we learn we're going off with 3 to 1 odd, with Shuden plonking down 4k gp to go big or go home poor. I muster up 1500 gp, because we played this game (or a version of it) in an arena a few weeks back, and I figure we're no slouches, even though we're not tribesmen. Might even gain us some standing in their eyes, we think. Of course, he is married, so the extra income should come in useful AND his wife might even give him some allowance from his own winnings. (Hah! I was just checking to see if you were reading this, Shuden!) Anyway, we get our game. We Steelhawks pull together to work hard against this experienced Steppewind team at a game which is a long-standing tradition. I think it was our diversity and flexibility that made it all work out. Stahl's runes made him big and really effective in a push-pull-grapple contest of terrain. I summoned an agreeable polar bar, and shifted to giant toad form for effectiveness. Shuden's whips helped to bind and pull our opponents into position, and Gaius made sure to trip and goad the Khanarions in productive waves. When accidentally downed one of them with a bite, it was Felix who helped heal him so we wouldn't take a penalty, and Kaivalya kept herself in the game while picking away at the enemy. I dropped 2 into the sands behind our starting position, and while Gaius got triple-teamed and pushed to the sand off the side, we rallied and Stalh's greater size and strength pushed at least 2 more off the side. At the end of the game, the score stood 10 to 1 in our favor. We did pretty well... incredibly well when you consider our winnings, the magic items we found in the bazaar of the yurt-city... and ridiculously well when you consider Felix's follow-on date with a hottie daughter of the Khanarions, a Keshig rider herself. I'm guessing there will be quite a bit of 'horsing around' and 'grappling' in their future. Soledad Wildfate
S01E06 Steelhawk International: “The Enemy of My Enemy” (The Upper & Lower Tear - Turukai Tribe)
Watcher: White Chocolate
L5 Divination Wizard | The Oracle Aladrin
L5 Druid Hugiin
L6 Warmage | Aschente
L5 Rogue | Kaivalya
L6 Bladesinger | Shuden
L4 Paladin Bonk
Location: Outskirts of Hulunbuir Woods, Eastern Side of Perilous River Objective: Evade pursuit by Batgan's pursuing Steelhawk Party, reach Tuslakh (Desolation), and ensure the safety of the Thunderhooves Tribe. Summary: The Steelhawks find themselves on the outskirts of Hulunbuir Woods, positioned along the eastern side of a treacherous river. Led by Jargal, they successfully crossed the river with the help of a Hugiin’s potent magic. Their destination, Tuslakh, lies beyond the challenging cliffs leading to the Lower Tear. The pursuit by Batgan and his Steelhawk Party remains a looming threat, and the well-being of their horses is at risk due to a mysterious sickness afflicting them. The Steelhawks must continue their journey without pause, as their lives, and the lives of those they escorting, depend on it. Steelhawk Party Members: The Oracle: Aladrin, a Divination Wizard known for their serious and intimidating appearance. Shuden: A Bladesinger Wizard from the elven settlement near The Tear, wielding a Viper-style bladesinging whip. Married to Princess Nomen and a member of Steelhawks International. Kaivalya: A Winged Tiefling with a gargoyle-like presence, known for her compassion towards animals and helping others. Hugiin: An animated city of Talameduic, a water-loving Druid resembling a raven humanoid, who embraces both old and new practices. Bonk: A talking snake with arms and legs, with a fondness for fighting and reptiles. Ashante: A male elf with greying hair, skilled in crafting, and proficient in both wizardry and artifice. Accompanied by his pet owl, Edlin. Previous Events: The Steelhawk Party had encountered trouble at their old camp, resulting in the death of a tribal chief, the brother of Jargal. The pursuit by Batgan's Steelhawk Party, led by the chief's crazy nephew, intensified. After a confrontation with a werewolf posing, they crossed the river with the aid of Hugiin's magical abilities. Shuden received news from a spirit that his wife was now with child. Current Situation: Having taken a risky long rest despite the enemy's proximity, the Steelhawk Party and their wards awaken near a mountainside at the beginning of the steppes. They attend to their needs while discussing their strategy. Hugiin emphasizes the importance of preserving lives and staying ahead of the enemy, avoiding combat if possible. Shuden reminds the Steelhawk Party that their primary goal is the safety of the 40 innocent people they are traveling with and trying to save. Aware of the approaching enemy, the Steelhawk Party prepares to travel a beaten path leading to the steppes, away from the river. Orion, utilizing his Yanti ability, summons snakes to assist the Steelhawk Party, adorning two adder snakes around his neck. Hugiin takes responsibility for covering their tracks using his spell. Ashante employs his owl familiar, Edlin, to scout ahead for any potential threats. Meanwhile, Jargal summons the entire group and invokes a blessing to protect them, boosting morale among the Steelhawk Party members. However, during the initial ride, The Oracle faces trouble as her horse stumbles, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. Falling behind the group, she employs her phase step ability, attempting to teleport onto the back of a horse ridden by a companion. In that moment, she feels an unusual vibration beneath her feet, capturing her attention. She deduces that it is the pounding hoofbeats of their pursuers. Amidst the chaos, the Steelhawk Party quickly realizes that dropping their gear is necessary for their survival. Jargle's objection to leaving their possessions behind is met with urgency and a shared understanding that their lives are at stake. Bonk, utilizing his Lay on Hands ability, focuses on healing the injured horses. He tends to four of them, providing much-needed relief. Shuden, in a desperate plea, asks Hugiin to use his magic to save more horses. Reluctantly, Hugiin complies and casts a healing spell, mending the wounds of three additional horses. Unfortunately, the sickness among the horses persists, and the Steelhawk Party realizes that time is running out. With enemies closing in, they push their horses to the limit, riding with all their might towards a location known as The Tear. The pursuit is relentless, and maintaining control and balance on horseback becomes increasingly difficult. As the Steelhawk Party races towards The Tear, both Bonk and Hugiin lose their grip and fall from their horses. They hit the ground hard but quickly recover, knowing that they must continue the treacherous journey. Finally, they reach The Tear, a cliff overlooking a vast ravine. They waste no time and employ a Feather Fall spell to descend safely into the ravine. Hugiin, in an attempt to create a barrier between them and their pursuers, casts Plant Growth to obstruct the approach. His sprite is sent to scout the sky and alerts him to the approaching enemy forces. Hugiin prepares for battle, casting a protective moonbeam and urging the Steelhawk Party to expedite their descent. The Oracle takes the lead, utilizing Feather Fall to descend down the steep cliff with her horse. The rest of the group gathers at the top of the cliff, readying themselves for the descent. However, just as the Oracle begins her descent, she falters momentarily, fearing a fatal fall. In a stroke of luck, she uses her portent ability to alter the outcome and continues her descent safely. Shuden follows suit, guiding his sister-in-law and some of the chief's family down the cliff. He calls out to the group to line up for the descent. However, a moment of panic strikes as Shuden loses control, and his sister-in-law slips from his grasp. Acting swiftly, the Oracle casts Feather Fall to slow her fall and save her from harm. Hugiin rushes to aid the others who are still waiting to descend, while Bonk stands guard, ensuring the safety of the last group. Aschante directs the next group of five to prepare for their descent, enchanting them with Feather Fall to ensure a safe landing. The enemy forces draw nearer, and the prospect of a battle looms over the Steelhawk Party. Shuden and his familiar fly up to stabilize the last group during their descent. Shuden's familiar soars into the air and assists others, providing crucial support. Just then, a figure appears on the ridge, accompanied by a horse. A fireball detonates in the distance, targeting the Plant Growth spell cast by Hugiin to impede the enemy's advance. Kaivalya and the boy she is protecting, Batu, find themselves separated from the rest of the Steelhawk Party. In a bold decision, Kaivalya carries the boy, leaps off the cliff, and activates her flying ability, descending safely, but slowly. Hugiin's sprite dashes ahead while Hugiin himself prepares to cast Misty Step, teleporting to a better position. The tension escalates as fierce-looking enemy warriors crest the ridge. The Steelhawk Party notices that the enemy has dismounted, leaving their horses behind. Bonk and Kaivalya brace themselves for battle at the top of the cliff, ready to defend against the encroaching enemy forces. Aschante guides the another group, ensuring that they mount the horses enchanted with Feather Fall for their descent. Tragically, amidst the chaos, the enemy warriors target the elderly and sick, striking down one of them fatally. Shuden, fueled by a desire to protect the vulnerable, fires his heavy crossbow at the attackers. The Oracle casts Feather Fall on the descending wards they are protecting, ensuring their safe arrival. Batu, resourceful and quick-thinking, prepares an explosive arrow loaded with gunpowder and hands it to Kaivalya. As enemy warriors engage Aschante in combat, narrowly missing him with a greatsword swing, another adversary charges towards Bonk. Reacting swiftly, Bonk employs his Compel Duel spell, diverting the warrior's attention and giving him an opportunity to protect an older ward. Bonk then engages the enemy warrior wielding the greatsword, but his attack misses its mark. Amidst the chaos, Aschante scoops up a ward, deflects an incoming enemy attack, and casts Feather Fall on his horse, Dawa, and Dawa's horse. He gazes toward Bonk, silently communicating their need to jump off the cliff and escape. Meanwhile, the group that was descending earlier successfully reaches the bottom of the ravine, finding temporary refuge. They regroup and tend to their wounds, taking a moment to catch their breaths. They anxiously await the arrival of the remaining Steelhawk Party members and hope that they will make it safely down the cliff. Back at the top of the cliff, Bonk and Kaivalya stand their ground against the enemy warriors. Bonk, using his strength and agility, parries the attacks of the greatsword-wielding warrior, keeping him at bay. Kaivalya takes aim with the explosive arrow provided by Batu, hoping to create a distraction and buy them some time. With precise aim, Kaivalya releases the arrow, which soars through the air towards the enemy archers positioned on the ridge. The arrow strikes true, hitting its mark. The sudden chaos and confusion among the enemy forces create a window of opportunity for the remaining Steelhawk Party members. Recognizing the diversion, Aschante and the others at the top of the cliff seize the moment and jump off, activating their Feather Fall spells to descend safely. They know they must move swiftly and find a way to outrun their pursuers. The ravine provides some cover, but they are aware that their enemies are relentless and will not give up easily. As the arrow misses its target, Kaivalya swiftly takes action, using her wings to fly towards the enemy archer. With her agility and speed, she closes the distance quickly, drawing her weapon to engage in combat. Bonk, seeing an opportunity, charges towards the distracted enemy warriors, aiming to disrupt their hold on the Steelhawk Party members. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the ravine, hoofbeats thunder forward as a new group of aggressors appear. One of them yell out to the Steelhawk Party “Get off of our land! We know your type, you come here to kill us.” Shuden calls out to them “We come in peace. We are fleeing aggressors. We have old and weak. We are not here to fight.” The man replies “Then it won’t matter if they die. They won’t last long here. You need to go back up and leave” The party look to Jargle who says “What he says is true. We have come here and killed them before. However, we are also being persecuted and seek peace.” The men lower their spears. Another horserider appears, he is wearing excellent gear, and surveys the battlefield. He is clearly the leader of these men at the bottom of the cliff. He shouts out to his men to try to enbolden them, but they have no reaction. At the bottom of the gorge, Jargal steps forward, attempting to reason with the leader of the group. He explains that they have come seeking refuge, fleeing from aggressors who seek their lives. He emphasizes that they have no intention of causing harm and that they are willing to negotiate for peaceful coexistence. The leader of the group listens intently, his expression softening slightly. He studies the faces of the Steelhawks, assessing their credibility. After a moment of silence, he finally speaks, "Prove your intentions. Lay down your weapons and surrender yourselves to our custody. We will ensure the safety of the vulnerable among you, but the rest must face judgment." The Steelhawks exchange glances, knowing that their options are limited. They have been cornered with the enemy closing in, and their priority is to protect the innocent members of their group. Reluctantly, they begin to lower their weapons, one by one, showing their willingness to cooperate. Meanwhile, at the top of the ridge, Ashante and Bonk fight fiercely against the enemy warriors. Ashante uses his artifice skills to create a magical shield, protecting himself and deflecting incoming attacks. Bonk, with his snake-like agility, strikes swiftly, using his bite against one of the warriors. Attackers at the top peer over the edge, seeing Batu Kaivalya and Bonk still descending. Several fire arrows and bolts at Batu, missing. However, one does strike Bonk. Just when the arrow looks like it will strike him fatally, The Oracle uses her portent to cause the arrow to miss. Arrows rain down on Bonk from above, but none strike him. The Oracle watches vigilantly from below, ensuring everyone safely descends and gets into the safety of the cave. Kaivalya and Batu, using the Wind Wall for cover, continue to descend. With the Steelhawk Party all now safely on the ground in the ravine, they flee into the cave. The chief at the top, peers over the edge, sneering. Recognizing the craftiness, determination and bravery of the Steelhawks he whistles, and raises his hand, signaling his warriors to halt their aggression. "Enough!" he commands. "We have no time for this battle. We will withdraw for now."
S01E05 Steelhawk International: “On The Road Again” (Karakorum - Turukai Tribe)
Watcher: Coach
Spoon
Coach
David
I0b13ns
Ug
Gaius
We start off on the run from Jargal fully loaded and traveling in a open grasslands. We awaken to crazy noise and screams. We see dying horses everywhere. We bring all horses back to life and heal them all. They are all back to normal. They also receive healing from some legendary healing Owawa. We set pace to Tuslakh Desolate with speed and we begin to have breakfast. Chingya rides in during breakfast with great news, We are told by headquarters that we must protect and stay with you. Soledad discusses the future of all horses. We leave with our horses and make way . We are now about two hours away before we reach the craters. As the party travels through the open grasslands, the peaceful morning is shattered by chaotic noise and screams. Dying horses litter the landscape, their lives hanging in the balance. Acting quickly, the druids channels their magical abilities to bring the horses back to life, and legendary healing Owawa lends its power to restore them to full health. With the horses revived and the immediate danger averted, the party gathers for breakfast. Chingya, a messenger from headquarters, arrives with urgent news. The group is tasked with protecting a vital figure, and their journey to Tuslakh Desolate is now a mission of great importance. During breakfast, Soledad, the party's wise and experienced member, discusses the future of the horses. Plans are made to ensure their well-being as they continue the journey. The party sets a swift pace toward Tuslakh Desolate, with renewed purpose and a sense of duty. As the party approaches the craters, the landscape changes, revealing mountains and a treeline. Suddenly, Sherry falls off her horse, drawing attention to a massive dust cloud in the distance. Huggins, ever vigilant, realizes the need to reach the safety of the treeline. The party accelerates toward the trees, reaching the shelter just in time. With the safety of the woods surrounding them, the group decides on their next course of action. Aware that they may be pursued, both druids cast "Pass Without Trace," shrouding the party in an almost supernatural cloak of stealth. In the heart of the woods, the team moves quietly, communicating with each other in hushed tones. The sounds of rutting deer and chirping birds surround them as they navigate closer to their destination. Upon nearing their goal, Gaius, a strategic thinker within the group, offers to pay tribute as a diplomatic solution. However, the price proves too steep, prompting a shift in strategy. The decision is made to confront their adversaries aggressively. The party braces itself for heavy combat, standing united against the impending threat. Working seamlessly as a team, they engage in a fierce battle against their foes, determined to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. The fate of their mission hangs in the balance as the fantasy adventure unfolds. We battlenon stop and eventually destroy everyone. As we celebrate and enjoy the emotions of victory. We hear the sounds of hooves beating on the ground. Soledad cast plant growth and we leave. We cross the water with great teamwork and take a long rest. At the end we save two horses.
-Addition Report: Submitted by Soledad
Having read the Watcher report for this mission, I'm impressed by the things that Hugiin didn't say- like going full-on 'Moses' and parting a deep waterway with the sublime and creative use of wall of air to let the horses and survivors of the Turukai tribe get across a deep river which couldn't be forded by the mounts. To be sure, everyone assisted in their own way, including the gift of flight through magic, and me wildshaping to a giant frog and mutating it to titanic size to act as a ferry. But at the end of that day, it was Hugiin who handled the lion's share, wresting one more day of pursuit against the galloping marauders of Ganbold's son Batgan, and his vengeful people.
Of course, that was at the end of that long day.
Much earlier, we were awakened after the night of the umber hulk attack, faced with the horse-plague called the Grimsteed virus afflicting 3 of the horses. As the Turukai called out in distress for the dying horses, we raced over. Sizing up the situation quickly thanks to the intel we got from the horse nomads of Torgi whom we met the prior day, I had prepped lesser restoration to heal one while one of the elders healed another. The third had progressed so far, so quickly, that it was dead before we could heal it.
Enter again Hugiin, and his clutch intervention to revivify the horse, which woke in pain, but seemingly healed. We stripped clothes and washed, and buried the tainted garments under the turf of the plain.
It was such a clutch intervention because it saved one of the tribe's other horses from carrying double, and speed remained of the essence. Breakfast was nuts, fruit, and curds, which was at least both quick and nutritious, and saved me casting multiple goodberry spells as I had the day before as we raced south and east.
We rode again, at speed. As Hugiin reported, Sherry was thrown when her horse took a jump to clear the irregular terrain, but she wasn't braced for it. Eggnut or Shuden caught hold of the horse, and we went back for her, and restarted the dash for the forest ahead. A look back showed Batgan and his folk visible as a cloud of dust, perhaps a couple miles behind.
I couldn't make out numbers, just a group, but we know that their warband probably outnumbers the 8 or so combat-ready folk of the Turukai and us, so we resumed our rush for the edge of the forest.
Once we hit the forest line, teaming up, Hugiin and I both put up pass without a trace, and deviated off the main trail with the group. We hoped we could get our pursuers off our track and create a bit of breathing room, but that was when someone living really rough stepped out to challenge us for a toll to pass through 'his' woods.
Then 5 wolves/dogs came out to add some oomph to the credibility of his demands.
But the price was too high for the caravan we were leading, and he and we all pulled the trigger around the same time.
Of course, as it turned out, his trigger was 'were' it was at.... because he was a werewolf!
The fight was a challenge, but here's where Shuden and Gaius really shined, moving in and out of melee like dancers. Hugiin dropped the pass without trace in favor of a moonbeam, and between him moving it to pin and transform and damage the werewolf, and me thornwhipping him and some of the wolves into the moonbeam, we got him down before he did any of us with that cursed bite of his.
Sharry and Eggnut sniped from all around, helping to take down the wolves, though Sharry got swallowed by one giant one. When the wolf was taken down, she crawled out, weakened and burned by the gastric acids, but I was able to heal her as Eggnut guiding bolted the last wolf, and Sharry put it down with an eldritch blast.
That got us back on track, and we remounted and rode, our casters pretty depleted. We hit the unfordable water, and with all hands helping, made it across.
We camped, desperate to rest, and hoping the scant lead and deep water would buy us that interval from Batgan's pursuit, but found that the Grimsteed virus wasn't yet done with our horses. Rapid fire lesser restorations from me and Hugiin saved those two, but the disease is among us.
Only a matter of time before it strikes another horse, and all with a vengeful, murderous warband on our trail.
Gonna get some sleep now, see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully a break or two; I'll see if I can maybe slow the pursuit enough for us to stay ahead of them a bit.
Soledad
S01E04 Steelhawk International: “Now What?” (Karakorum - Turukai Tribe)
Watcher: Soledad
L4 Bard | Rhetus Werewolf Darius
L4 Rogue | Kaivalya Kaivalya
L6 Druid | Soledad David
L4 Rogue | Alexei Mensius
L5 Diviner | The Oracle Persephone | The Oracle
L5 War Mage | Aschente Justgene
We meet in the aftermath of the return to the Turkai with the dead boy, Lork, child of the tribe abducted by the bandit lord Ganbold. We recovered the boy but couldn't keep him safe during the rescue attempt; he fell from the sky when an enemy caster incapacitated Kaivalya as she sought to fly him to safety. With the bodies of both Lork and Ganbold--who is Jargal’s brother!--the Turukai are primarily concerned with the repercussions/fallout that might be expected. Jargal asks us why this is problematic- answer: no justice to be had in the Tear. Jargal’s father doesn’t care, he encourages the strife between children and tribes run by his sons. Also, Batgan is the son of Ganbold, and is likely successor. He is, per Jargal, a bad person-sadistic, and looking eagerly to take control. One of the Turukai's fears is that he would be worse than his father towards them. As it turns out, Jargal has 8 brothers and sisters- he gets along best with one of his sisters, as they are simpatico on life and the pursuit of a peaceful existence. We speak about the politics of bringing Ganbold back to life at the same time as raising Lork; he’d have the strongest claim besides his son, after all, but there’s issues there as well; we killed him, so he might have lost credibility among his people for that. Either way, as they are now reduced by the recent attack to 8 warriors, the Turukai make ready to pack and run to keep children and elders safe. We go to a private meet while the people pack and bring back Lork, and do their best rescue/packing. We’re asked what our intention is. Chingi (Chingus) shows up. He’s going to let our bosses know about the risk. Overnight, while we camped with the remnant of the Turukai, a couple of umber hulks burrowed up and attacked. We fought back hard, but the battle was challenging, even with only two of them. The team rallied, and focused fire finally brought down one of them, but not before we were all pretty marked up. The second one tried to burrow away and flee, but Aschente and Rheteus threw themselves down the hole after them; the combined concussive damage broke the thing enough to kill it, and we brought Aschente back with some healing. The Turukai were impressed with both the willingness and speed of our group in defending them from this menace, and made sure we were all healed. We went back to our rest to finish the long rest before the next leg of the cross-country slog gets underway. Of secondary note, I've opened at least a dialogue with Jargal on a business opportunity for their stock of horses, since the conflict with his brother will close that market for their animals. I suggested that the Kopav Alliance would love to get their hands on the Turukai horses for breeding and general use- the animals are pretty special. Perhaps, given the long distances, Steelhawk can act as a middleman and make a profit on arranging the deal and facilitating transport? With respect, Soledad Wildfate
S01E03 Steelhawk International: “How Much For That Horse?”
Watcher: Soledad
L5 Bladesinger | Shuden Spoon
L5 Druid/Wizard | Soledad Wildfate David
L4 fighter | Milug Livebysin
Lv 4 Druid | Huggin Coach
L4 Rogue Kaivalya Vision
L 5 Divination Wizard | The Oracle Aether Princess
Auxiliary report by Soledad Wildfate Our mission in Karakorum among the Turukai continues to be exciting. Unfortunately for the Turukai, of course. After we'd recovered Batu, son of Jargal the chief, we returned to the scene of a raid against the Turukai in which many tribespeople were killed by the marauders, and a boy named Lork was *literally* (and how strange is that?) kidnapped by the raiders. As the enemy tribe fled, we saw the Turukai begin their battlefield triage, working to save the wounded across the campsite. We consulted with Jargal as to where we would do the most good, and elected to give immediate chase to the kidnappers as the Turukai felt they could handle the post battle care. We leapt to our borrowed horses and gave chase, Shuden and another of Jargal's son-in-laws riding with us (think the name was Khailun, or close to that). We crossed the grassy plain on the way to distant hills following the uncareful tracks and horse 'apples', and riding hard, we saw them ahead of us. They, in turn, saw us, and the chase was on as they dashed to evade us with their prize. Figuring that the best we could do would be to free the boy, I jumped from the horse and shrugged into my moorbounder form, one of my favorites- the speed and strength of the beast is so much superior to my own, it's a joy to run and feel the wind, smell all the scents... but I digress. I managed to catch up to them as some of the enemy fired arrows at me, but only one hit, and when I got there I used my Eladrin fey step to 'port the boy back behind me where the rest of the team were coming in hot pursuit.
Additional Report:Submitted by Shuden
We resume at the slaughter at the tribe.
We ask Jargal if we should go and chase the Bandit Lord or stay back and help the wounded.
Jargal said his tribe has the wounded covered, so we decide to set chase and recover the boy, Lork. Jargal mentions that the Bandit Lord is actually his brother.
We borrow some horses from the tribe and dash off after them.
With some quick tracking, we find the b-line path of the Bandit Lord and move as quickly as we can to gain on them.
We encounter the Bandit Lord with 5 of his companions and attempt to cut them off.
They notice us closing in, so they double their pace in escaping.
Solidad abandons their horse, transforms into a Moorebounder, and dashes up along side the Bandit Lord.
The bandits unload on Solidad, but are mostly uneffective.
Soledad Fey Steps Lork out of the Bandit Lord's hold and back 30 feet away.
The Bandit Lord doubles back to scoup Lork back up and continue his retreat, but he has lost precious distance.
The Oracle takes advantage of this and upcasts sleep on the Bandit Lord. This knocks Lork and the horse unconscious and launches the Bandit Lord off and prone on the ground.
The Oracle then Fey steps off her horse and runs up to the boys side.
Kaivalya rides up, snatches Lork, and flies him up 20 feet into the air to safety with her Tiefling wings. An all out brawl ensues as a result.
Shuden lassos the Bandit Lord to keep him from escaping.
The bandits incapacitate Lork and Kaivalya, forcing them both to drop 20 feet from the sky, killing Lork. Kaivalya takes Lork's body up onto a horse and rides him out to a safe clearing before returning back to the battle for revenge.
Hugiin ramps up the heat on the Bandit Lord with some corrupted ground while the party attacks him. Suddenly, the Bandit Lord Misty Steps out of Shuden's lasso and dashes toward his massive camp. Shuden teleports to his brother-in-law's horse with the Blessing of the Raven Queen and the two of them take off after the Bandit Lord. Between the corrupted ground and the shroud of spirits dancing around Shuden, the Bandit Lord can't quite shake them.
The bandit druid forces the grass the overgrow in a massive area, aiding the bandits in their retreat. Then, Hugiin paralyzes the Bandit Lord while Shuden lassos his Warhorse, firmly condemning their leader to death.
Slaughter ensues and Shuden's brother-in-law takes down his own uncle-in-law, ending the Bandit Lord's rein.
After dispatching another bandit and leaving the rest of them to retreat, the party takes the bodies of Lork and Jargal's brother back to the tribe and sadly break the news to Jargal.
Jargal is saddened by the loss of the boy, but is frightened by the killing of his brother.
Jargal has another brother that is even worse that will take revenge. His other brother wants control over all of the tribes.
Jargal thinks it's best to pack up and leave.
The tribe will head out to the Tear, which is the last place any tribe will go, in order to protect his people from his brother's wrath.
What strange anomalies caused the great Tear in the terrain?
What does this mean for the Turukai tribe?
TO BE CONTINUED
S01E02 Steelhawk International: "The Ties That Bind" (Karakorum)
Watcher: Loyus
L4 Druid Hugiin | coach
L4 Paladin Loyus | Deceptivelotus5V
L5 Bladesinger Shuden | Spoon
L4 Paladin Herbie | White Chocolate
L4 fighter Stahl | Xisle
L4 Divination Wizard The Oracle | Persephone
BEFORE SESSION: Shuden gave a recap of the prior mission as he was the one who went out on it. The Oracle got to start their first mission with the group. Shuden got married to the daughter of the tribe. Shuden is now a taken man from the Tear Region. The enemies have now started to attack and that is where we take up arms to protect Shuden and his new wife. FIRST ACT: Each player was able to give what their character was doing in the new Steelhawk International. Herbie and Loyus went looking for a place to set up a bar. Loud voice yelled at me for roll call in the Command Center… I do not know if I would be considered a new recruit after all I have worked with these people before. Some beautiful blonde woman who seems to be about 19-20 but wise beyond her years. I wonder if this is what geniuses are like. Jargal was pleased with our lasts group performance and now they are calling us back to The Tear. Thanks to Shuden they are letting us come back and given Steelhawk a better grasp on the Turukai Tribe which gives us a foothold in The Tear. Shuden is engaged to marry Princess Nomin of the Turukai tribe, daughter of Chief Jargal. Lagertha she is the pretty woman who has been our handler giving us money and the contracts. Mr. Steelhawk enters the room. Man is a badass he looks harder than steel his name. Lagertha says our next quest is to make sure Shuden gets LAID he needs to make sure the sheets red. We need to make sure the whole marriage goes off without a hitch. These kinds of things are usually private matters, but we must make sure this alliance goes off without a hitch. Mr. Steelhawk says there should not be another tribe, but we need to make moves to the entire Tear and make sure we get alliances with other tribes. Mr. Steelhawk wears snakeskin boots form the desert. Very fancy and very much something I need to have myself. I think Lagertha likes me! She smiled at me! She has good interior design skills. Hugiin cleaned us all up for the wedding. We are teleported using the carpet. Chingus greets us at the satellite office. THE ORACLE IS A WIZARD! People who live in the Tear are called Torgutian. Mr. Steelhawk Frank “The Hammer” according to Ching who is a long standing friend of him. Both are old “retired” men, but Mr. Steelhawk might show himself in the field whilst looking for potential.
Wedding Rituals:
- The rituals
- Khonin Tsamts- Gift bearing ceremony to the wife’s family.
- Khoomei Singers- Throat Singers
- Morin Khuu- Fiddle Player
- Wedding Vows
- Bloom Kahdag- Tied onto the couple to represent unity
- Offerings- Dried Curds Brings good luck to newly weds
- Feast
- Elder Blessing
- Horse Ceremony- Groom must prove himself on a horse
SECOND ACT
We have arrived at the tribes nomadic village. Herbie and Shuden went to the fur keeper to purchase a gift for the bride. Seems they wanted to find a leather jacket. Billy Gun is the tanner they are trying to purchase from. Sthal bought a cloak of panther fur. The Oracle went to an old lady to buy something. Steelhawk International has been around here before with a strong presence. For an unknown reason their influence faded away. Old lady seems to be excited that Steelhawk is making a comeback. Virgorosa The ROOT of stamina or aphrodisiac for males picked in the Tear Mountains. Loyus purchases, Baylees, Absinthe, Gojo (local Berry) Hollow Purple. Shuden gets a talking too and fitted in his robes. Lork is going to teach Shuden how to ride. He does a good job learning how to ride he seems to be close to ready however it could go well. We are setting ourselves into Jergal’s tent and we are greeting the family before the ceremony. On the way up the mountain Shuden was giving all his secrets to his future wife.THIRD ACT:
The Wedding is on and Shuden starts to give his wedding vows. They were beautiful and powerful. He was giving his all while he stated that he was producing a future and securing an Alliance with this tribe. The Shamen claimed Shuden’s heart is pure and was sure that he would be able to start a family. They are welcoming the new blood and the old ways are not always the proper ways. New times should bring about better and bigger change. Nomin promised to not give up on Shuden and that she will care for the family.- Shuden’s Vows
- Now we will feel no rain
- For we will be shelter to each other.
- Now we will feel no cold,
- For we will be warmth to each other.
- Now we will feel no loneliness.
- For we will be comfort to each other.
- Now we are two persons,
- But there is only one life before us;
- We will go forward from this place.
- To enter into the days of our life together.
- THEY KISS and are married and are now ONE!
ACT FOUR:
BANDITS ATTACKED!!!! Many elders have been killed when we came back down from the mountain. At second glance they are being invaded by another tribe. Time to kill. Combat starts! We managed to fend off the bandits. A lot of elders and people died. Lork was kidnapped by the leader of the raid group. Herbie was able to save one person. They come from the Khoton tribe. We are setting a warband.S01E01 Steelhawk International: “Batu” (Karakorum - Turukai Tribe)
Watcher: Soledad
L5 Druid/wizard Soledad David
L4 Fighter Gaius
L4 Rogue/Warlock Jovial FinalPrinc3
L4 Bladesinger | Shuden Spoon | Shuden
L4 Fighter Bill N. Chinashop. williebeast
L4 Fighter, Stahl Xisle
Been wandering the floating islands where the Steelhawk headquarters is for some time now, since the earlier arena testing of our abilities as new hopeful recruits, and the drinking contest that a bunch of us went off for. I’ve been studying what’s here, which is exciting, because one would guess the islands didn’t always float. That would mean that whatever’s living here would be evolving to the new conditions, and seeing evolution in action is exciting! For instance, without a terrestrial source of water, the islands have to rely on rainfall alone. Not too much a problem considering the tropics, but the few brooks and streams dry up in between rains, so there’s no real freshwater fish. There are amphibians, of course, but…
Alright, I don’t need to get carried away; this is mostly about my first real mission as a merc, and a few of us are called to meet at Steelhawk center, the main house and office. There, we get our mission brief, which is to head by teleportation way west and north than I’ve been, all the way to to the Tear: Jargal of the Turukai tribe hired us- his son went out to the edge of the places to graze their herds, and has gone missing, about 18 hours elapsed. Our time limit is to find him within the next 30 hours before the trail goes cold. Boy’s name is Batu. Mother’s name is Anu.
We meet Chingus (“Chingi” one of the Steelhawk folk, at the company yurt in Khalkha after we teleport in. He helps us with equipment, including bandoleers, which is hugely appreciated by all, because none of us could yet afford one on our own. I’m thinking about how I’ve never been here before, and the first thing I ask Chingi is what local laws or taboos should we know about so we don’t immediately transgress and need to get drawn and quartered? Or worse.
Important info for my fellow Steelhawk folk: stealing and disrespect are hugely frowned upon in the Tear, and punished severely. Horses are incredibly valuable and respected- the tribe takes their care very seriously, so when they loan a horse, accept it with great respect and feel honored, for they are sharing a part of their culture and wealth.
The Turukai tribe is very integrated, split up the land amicably, work it together as grazing for their herds. They are nomadic, not here all the time, but clearly they are now.
The boy apparently went into the “Ukhlees”, a forest, maybe enchanted, at the edge of the tribal grazing lands. Ukhlees means ‘Death’...it’s a forest, always dark, even in daylight. Has been there about “5 grandfathers ago”- so at least a couple centuries.
Amu, his cousin, saw Batu (age 13) go to the edge, and he went into the Ukhlees because he was missing a horse, and was worried. Few have ever returned from inside, and those that do tend to come out ‘broken’, affected by something “DREAD”ful. Batu’s father and brothers went in, tracked the boy for a ways (about 15 minutes), but it got even darker inside and they backed out and called for us. Temulun is a young man of the tribe, who will lead us to the Ukhlees. Jargal also loans us horses, which we of course accept with respect and humility.
We meet a pair of tribesmen, male and female, alertly watching the tribe’s horses on the plain and we get directions to the Ukhlees, and info on what they know, but it’s not a lot. On the other hand, their herd of horses are gorgeous specimens, healthy and in fine shape- these tribesmen have excellent animal husbandry skills.
We turn north to head to this Ukhlees, and arrive at its edge. Once inside, it seems the forest has a shroud of darkness over it. We find tracks of a number of men, and follow them 15 min in, and find a flock of ravens watching us. It’s clear to me that this is likely a flock of familiars- my wizarding skills are rudimentary, but at least good for something.
I shift to lioness wildshape to better scent-hunt the boy from there. Further in, we found an ancient stone roadway, and a crumbling old estate with a family name in Primordial.
We found a magical decanter, and some wizardly notes, enough to know it IS a wizard that made them, but not enough to decode. We found the residual of an ancient tower, with none of the above-ground structure still standing. Instead, we went down stairs into the foundation of the ruins of a tower. Found kobolds, and killed them where they were camping. The scent of the boy came from lower, so we went down 2 more levels, and quickened the pace when we heard the boy calling out for help.
Went down in a sprint, and found swolbold kobolds, tough fighters, and a canny wizard in the background throwing fireballs and magic missiles. It was a challenging fight- I was knocked out of lioness shape, rolled into Moorbounder, and got knocked out of that. Team effort to take down the tough kobold guards, and then we finally teamed up enough and killed the fireballing wiz.
The boy Batu was in a back room. We freed him, but no knowledge of the horse he was pursuing. I hated to do it, but we wrote off the horse because our mission was to retrieve Batu, and the Ukhlees was certainly hazardous.
Back in the Turukai yurts, we got rewards, including a marriageable daughter whom Shuden agreed to marry and have a long-distance relationship with. Her name is Nomin, Targal’s daughter. As we were taking stock, appreciative of the gold that the Chief gave us for the successful rescue, a tribesman came in to report there were intruders.
More to follow with a next report.
Soledad
-End of Report-
Extra Letter:
Greetings, I am Jargal of the Turukai tribe, known as Khalkha, and I have sought the assistance of Steelhawk International to locate my missing son.
Batu, my son, learned the skills of horse taming and sheep herding from me, displaying a deep affection for horses. Our day began like any other, with my wife Anu preparing a morning feast of yogurt, cheese, milk, fresh fruits, nuts, and Borts.
After breakfast, Batu tended to the horses, preparing them for the grazing fields. Together, we set out on horseback, each taking charge of a portion of the herd. I headed to the western fields, while Batu, accompanied by his cousin Amar, went to the southern fields.
That was the last time I saw Batu. Amar, Batu's cousin, reported that Batu ventured into a forbidden area known as Ukhlees, an unfamiliar part of the grazing grounds. Despite Amar's warnings, Batu sought a horse that had strayed from the herd. Ukhlees, which translates to death in our Turukaian language, is a place we avoid.
Amar last glimpsed Batu as he disappeared into the forest. Amar, mindful of his responsibilities, left the area temporarily. Upon his return, there was no sign of Batu or his horse. As the day progressed, the absence of Batu became increasingly apparent, and a deep worry settled in my heart.
Mounted on my fastest horse, I scoured the expansive plains for my son but found no trace. Returning to the camp, I rallied the tribe to organize a search party. Night fell with its starlit veil, yet there was no sign of Batu. Concerns murmured through the air like an evening breeze.
I persuaded three young men to venture with me into the Ukhlees. We followed a set of tracks for 15 minutes, only for them to abruptly cease. With darkness descending swiftly, the younger Turukais urged me to return to camp for the night. The next morning, I dispatched a message to Steelhawk International through our regional outpost, and now you are here to assist in the search.