The Hallows of Horsia 4 - Old Allies

 

Objective

Continue exploration of the Shadowfell. Current targets are the fort's original location and the town of Ogden.
 
 

Observations

General Notes:
  Do not trust Flora or Fauna of the Shadowfell. Even mundane things can be quite dangerous.
  The River Stix, while not the target of today's expedition, should not currently be in the Shadowfell and it is of great concern that it is.
  Something about Cobb is extremely problematic. We do not know what it is, but we have been advised to not go anywhere near the port in the Shadowfell.
 
 
  Fort Reflection:
  There is a temple to some dark being in the location of the fort
  It is staffed by someone resembling Davos, the man taking care of refugees in Ogden. He appeared to be undead.
  Its purpose is currently unknown, as an aura of darkness consumes its interior, preventing any investigation of the site, even through magical light and perception. The caretaker of the temple seems completely immune to this aura.
 
 
  Ogden Reflection:
  There is a large stone structure at the Ogden site with blank banners decorating it. The entrance seems to be ruined, but the stairs and entrance seem to be mostly intact.
  Purple candles were ignited and once Halar stepped on the stairs, the banners shifted to that of the Horsian Enclave. It is unclear why this occurred.
  A shadow creature exists in the structure, protecting it. Anyone who crests the stairs is attacked with the intent of forcing them away.
  The creature seems to be in a subordinate role to Calliope, the leader of the Horsian Enclave. It is unclear if she is in her right mind, but she did much the same as the creature, forcing us all away from the structure.
 

Follow up

Find a way to penetrate the darkness of the temple.
  Investigate and potentially communicate with Calliope. She is extremely dangerous, but it is too early to write her off.
  Recover the lost tablet presented by the jims.
  Continue investigating the reflections of other landmarks on the island.
 

Preparation Details

We were briefed on some details of the things discovered in our last outing and the compass was presented to Xion for operation.
 

Operation Details

After our briefing, we were granted a tablet from the Jims to potentially test. It was described as some type of teleportation device. Sketch was elected to carry it. We then left the fort via the front door, which caused us to teleport and fall about 30 feet to the snow below.
 
 
  Activating the compass led to our arrival in the Shadowfell near the site of the fort. Upon landing, Halar marked our entry location and we began looking around. Traveling forward, Keegan investigated some local flowers of a purple shade, which rendered him unconscious and seemed to be nourished by his sudden injuries. We pulled him away and brought him back to fighting form before proceeding on to the site of the fort.
  Upon arrival, we found ourselves in front of a semi-ruined stone structure with several entrances filled with darkness. Xion attempted to communicate with the occupants while the rest of us scouted a bit. Shortly after entering, Xion retreated, seemingly frightened. Sketch tried something similar, with much the same results.
  Both reported hearing a voice, I went in after from above to see if I would have some better luck communicating with the individual inside. Descending in, a male voice called out and invited me down to the garden out front. I followed his voice staying in contact with the walls to reach the garden, which turned out to be the dirt patch outside the structure.
  The lot of us discussed some things relating to us being here by chance or being sent. It seems that the man knew of several details that he had no way of knowing about those of us who had entered the temple. He questioned if the others were acolytes or if we had some other business there and after being told that we were in fact there by chance lamented us wasting his time and went back inside.
 
 
  Having no other options, we elected to move on to Ogden, the compass providing a fast method of travel, taking only a few minutes. On the way there, we encountered the kenku that has been reported numerous times by various parties. It was surprised to see us and fled after Halar raised arms in its direction. Further along, we spotted the ruined reflection of some small village of farmers numbering less than half a dozen households.
  Upon arriving at Ogden, a large stone structure presented itself surrounded by mist. Purple candles illuminate the entrance. Halar was the least concerned about this development and volunteered to be the first to approach.
  Upon reaching the staircase, previously grey banners adorning the entrance suddenly shifted to those of the Horsian Enclave. Reaching the top of the stairs caused the candles to go dark and a shadowy creature emerged. It summoned its own shadows and attacked Halar rather viciously. Its aura provided protection and kepted its shadows alive, but my own brighter light via a driftglobe seemed to overpower the creature's aura allowing us to slay the shadows.
  The fight was clearly a losing battle as the majority of the party was brought to the edge of death in mere moments and lightning began striking the far end of the temple. Despite our best attempts, we were only able to gather four of us as Sketch was lifted high into the air by the shadow creature and Calliope revealed herself as the source of lightning, exiting from the main entrance of the structure.
  Sketch was killed by the shadow creature and dropped to the ground, before the creature prostrated itself at the feet of Calliope. With a touch, she sent Halar away and threw Sketch's limp body to the ground at the top of the stairs. Accepting her charity, we took his body and fled using the compass, Halar nowhere in sight. No words were exchanged as she seemed manic, in some kind of battle rage.
  Halar eventually found his way back to the fort, apparently being banished from the Shadowfell back to Ogden.