Session 435 – A Black Knight Returns

15^th of Nuzyael (Spring) 729TR

The story so far

A group of heroes battle the evils haunting the beleaguered Kingdom of Kanday.

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Sir Odin, a former Erkan of the Order of the Checkered Shield, has been raised to knighthood.

Remy, a former master thief and gambler, has won and lost fortunes.

Abaddon has traveled the wilderness, wielding a weapon of the gods, perfecting his impressive martial skills.

Edelina, a scholarly priestess of the god of Knowledge Save K’Nor, joins them on their adventures.

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This is the continuation of Session 434 – Lair of the Crab Titan.

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Odin, as bailiff of Eryna Manor, has many duties. One of the more enjoyable is officiating over the spring festival. This year, things appear to be going well; the machinations of the nefarious Eder Cult have long been dealt with, and the village is in good spirits. That is, until the sinister knight in dark armor arrives.

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Location: Deadwood Reef, near the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 1 – The Black Knight

While the common folk of Eryna Manor celebrate, during the afternoon, the peasant Normann, at the far end of the village, is assisting his elderly mother in chasing a couple of goats who have escaped their pen. Suddenly, a menacing figure emerges from the nearby woods. A knight in heavy dark armour on a similarly sinister-looking black horse rides in, tramples the old woman, and with a thick rope snares the shocked Normann and drags him away.

Part 2 – The Trail of Destruction

Odin, Abaddon, and Edelina race after the black knight, suspecting tricks and traps on the way. They are not disappointed.

In puddles of stagnant water, a trio of walking corpses hides. But their clumsy ambush is easily detected. Eventually, the brutes are cut down and disintegrate into dust.

Not far along, another corpse attacks, this time it’s a rotting, half-decayed bear. The mindless undead brute tears at the heroes, entrapping them in a disgusting, reeking bear hug, biting with foul fangs, but again, it is eventually dismembered and its parts turn to dust.

Fearing further tricks, Odin decides to take a risk, not following the bloody trail of poor Normann, and instead, using his Knowledge of the local area, swings uphill, attempting to intercept the Black Knight and hopefully avoiding any further surprises. He is correct, bypassing a series of poisoned spiked pit traps, and sees a small grove shrouded in twilight. It's a small logger’s camp scattered with fresh corpses. The black knight throws the rope up a tree and patiently waits for the heroes, while Normann is hanging and choking to death by a noose.

The mounted knight takes off his helm, revealing his identity, Sir Morhgan Cade, the undead knight with whom the party has clashed before (refer to Session 388 - A Black Knight). The ruthless Sir Cade wants revenge.

Part 3 – Death Fights Back

Fortunately, Odin’s gamble has worked perfectly, and the heroes approach the macabre scene from the rear and are undetected by the undead knight. With poor Normann dying before their eyes, Odin takes immediate action, Shadow Jumping up the tree and cutting him down. Sir Cade responds with a snarl and ruthless efficiency, striking at Odin with a sword composed of darkness, then backs off, pointing his gaunt finger. A Ray of Cold hits Odin square in the chest, nearly killing him, draining most of his warmth.

Abaddon joins the melee using his primal magic to grow huge and tree-like. He attacks with his enchanted long spear, hitting from behind, while Edelina enhances the heroes’ weapons with divine light, improving their damage with luminous energy. Unfortunately, in the eerie gloom, the corpses of two dead loggers animate and fight alongside the villain.

The heroes and Sir Cade both fight tactically; the evil knight strikes and keeps his distance by expertly controlling his undead horse. However, the physical and holy damage soon takes its toll on Sir Cade, and as he backs away from Odin, Abaddon lunges from behind, driving his enchanted spear, piercing through the vile knight's rancid chest. After a brief howl of rage, the evil knight explodes into a clould of dust. Sir Cade's undead horse, now free of direction, immediately goes berserk, rearing and savagely kicking Odin in the head, knocking him unconscious. While Abaddon holds off the pair of animated loggers and berserk zombie horse, Edelina rushes to Odin's aid, applying magical Healing, and soon he is back on his feet.

Eventually, the trio prevails, the undead are destroyed, and the evil pall covering the camp evaporates as the sun begins to set.

Part 4 – Clues

Sir Morhgan Cade has been defeated, but as an Amorvin (free-willed undead), he is not vanquished. His physical body will likely reform in a specially prepared unholy sanctum. To truly destroy him, they must find a way to purify his sanctum so that when he attempts to reform, the process will be interfered with and fail. This usually occurs at midnight, any time within he next few days to a year.

Although his body has turned to dust, his belongings have not. All clues lead to the City of Golotha in the evil Kingdom of Rethem.

First, the saddle bears the mark of Idorah of Otorsa, a Golothian leather worker, and his armour looks like the craftsmanship of another resident of Golotha, Hugon of Partus, a smith whose distinctive heat-treating techniques darken and harden steel weapons and armor.

The heroes plan to travel to Golotha, find Sir Cade's sanctum, and exterminate the evil knight forever.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Poor Normann the Goat herder.

Related Content

Amorvin, free-willed undead.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Player Characters

Odin - Human - L15 Ranger

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetype - Shadowdancer, Investigator, and Fighter.

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Abaddon - Elf - L15 Monk

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetypes - Druid and Familiar Master.

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Remy - Human - L15 Aerokineticist (with Metal second gate)

Background - Acrobat.

Archetypes - Wizard, Acrobat, and Thief.

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NPC Companion

Edelina - Human - L15 Holy Sage Sorcerer

Background - Astrologer.

Archetypes - Psychic and Time Mage.

Next Session

Session 437 – A Dark and Evil City.