Session 440 - The Queen's Crown

5^thof Nuzyael (Spring) 729TR

The story so far

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

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 438 - Destruction of Knight of Death.

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After successfully causing chaos in the vile City of Golotha and destroying an undead foe, the heroes have returned to the City of Aleath via Remy’s smuggling ship, the Aces and Eights. Unfortunately, the city is in chaos, and the various town guard organizations, the Sheriff’s Company, and the White Rose Company are scouring the town seeking out members of the thieves guild.

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Location: City of Aleath in the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 1 - The Queen’s Crown

The inquisitive heroes visit Mylene of Sarin, this influential litigant always seems to know what is going on in the city (and beyond). Mylene is happy to gossip. She informs the heroes that the Queen’s Crown has been stolen in a brazen act of thievery. Several thieves have been captured and are currently being questioned.

Odin visits contacts in the Church of Larani, where a contingent of the Checkered Shield temple guards is supporting the Sheriff's Company in their efforts to apprehend the criminals. Priestess Helara Ablaso, the Mistress of Secular Affairs, is very helpful. She discreetly mentions that one of the thieves was seen loitering around the castle, fleeing the scene, and then the city by the Kedris Gate. She is remarkably well-informed about the criminal events, claiming to have obtained this information from the confessions of worshipers, and for that reason, cannot provide any specific details. However, she implies Remy should contact his “friends.” She seems very much aware that he is an associate of the thieves’ guild and clearly wants this unpleasant uproar dealt with.

Remy decides to consult his fellow thieves and makes his way to the guild’s safehouse in the Alash District. Olflan, the local guildmaster, informs him that the crown was indeed stolen by Silas. Remy knows Silas, a mediocre burglar at best. A job of this significance would typically have to be authorised by the guild, but Silias has been acting strangely and appears to have gone rogue. He was slow to recognise guildsmen or remember passwords. Apparently, he has not been the same since he returned from moving illicit goods to Kedris township.

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Location: In the woods East of Kedris Castle in the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 2 – Menaces In the Woods

With several clues leading to Kedris, the party makes its way there. On the way, they discreetly ask fellow travelers if they have seen someone matching Silas’s description, but they have no luck.

Remy contacts some thieves he knows in the area who operate out of a woodcutter’s camp. Yes, Silas has been doing odd jobs for them, but he disappeared in the woods to the east about ten days ago, and no one has seen him since. The party decides to investigate the woods. This small section of the forest is dense, and Abaddon and Remy feel a strange flicker. Hot and cold patches, along with sudden flashes of light, suggest something weird is going on. The heroes investigate further.

Under a stand of ancient trees, this strange phenomenon becomes stronger, and the investigators spot an entrance to a cave. As they approach, two very robust, tall, plant-like humanoids emerge out of the trees. They open their huge mouths and belch the earth and stone that flies at the heroes, attempting to ensnare them in rock and vines, but the heroes easily dodge. The brutes hit hard, and when Edelina attempts to use her magical healing, she finds it hard to control her magic; some of her spells fizzle or become misdirected. Nevertheless, the tree men or guardians are soon dispatched.

Part 3 – The Heroes Battle Themselves

The heroes enter the cave, noting the air is filled with a haze of fine, floating spores. This is distracting, and soon they hear a moan. A man is trapped in a tree root at the far end of the cavern. It’s Silas, and he is in a terrible state, dazed, gaunt, and very pale. The heroes cautiously investigate.

The half-staved, delirious thief has been here for many days; he could not have been the thief. As the heroes offer help, they hear movement behind them. Odin investigates and finds himself face-to-face with himself and another Abaddon. Copies. Behind them are replicates of Remy and Edelina. The copies attack, and although the way in which they assault the heroes resembles the party's favored means of attack, it is not quite right. The fake Abaddon has no Flurry of Blow, and the fake Remy’s elemental blasts are hard-hitting but pale imitations. Although Odin is caught by surprise, narrowly escaping with his life, the counterfeit party is eventually cut down. Not long after the bodies fall to the ground, they transform into a mass of twisted vines, leaves, and plant material.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Mylene of Sarin - Aleath's best litigant.

Priestess Helara Ablaso - the Mistress of Secular Affairs of Aleath's temple of Larani.

Olflan - Senior Member of the Thieves Guild.

Related Content

Nothing this week.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Player Characters

Odin - Human - L16 Ranger

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetype - Shadowdancer, Investigator, and Fighter.

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Abaddon - Elf - L16 Monk

Background - Martial Disciple.

Archetypes - Druid and Familiar Master.

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Remy - Human - L16 Aerokineticist (with Metal second gate)

Background - Acrobat.

Archetypes - Wizard, Acrobat, and Thief.

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NPC Companion

Edelina - Human - L16 Holy Sage Sorcerer

Background - Astrologer.

Archetypes - Psychic and Time Mage.

Next Session

Session 441 – The Black Tree.