Seven Kingdoms Session 7
Players: Iago (Alaric), Kiri (Bill), Perceval (Dave)
Players: Iago (Alaric), Kiri (Bill), Perceval (Dave)
June 5 Thursday (cont'd)
The party regroups no more than 100' away, as nothing pursues them. There is a brief debate, after which Perceval has persuaded everyone that they cannot simply leave Sokar to his fate -- he's one of them. The wounded guard goes back to town to get reinforcements after being healed. Perceval and Valerian go in to try to recover Sokar, along with the other guard, who reluctantly agrees to help pull him out.
Inside, the interior double doors have been closed again. They're barred from the inside, so Perceval and the guard batter them down. Once inside, they face the creature again. This time, Perceval draws him out, fighting defensively. The creature bashes again and again, but Perceval is able to keep him at abay with his shield and sword. Meanwhile, the guard pulls Sokar free. Perceval maneuvers such that Valerian can send fireballs into the creature. It takes only one massive fireball and it is engulfed in flame. Two sword strokes later, it is stretched out at Perceval's feet. Nothing comes from upstairs. They have a terrible feeling that something bad is going on up there.
In the meantime, the excorcist and Kiri debate, Kiri gives in and is sent back to town as the "junior" clergy to call for clerical reinforcements. Iago and the blind mage, whose blindness has returned (the Relive Blindness spell having ended), speculated about what might be going on inside. When Sokar is returned to them, Iago decides to go inside and help stop the dark rituals he supposes are occuring within.
Once inside, they charge up the stairs. Iago firing holy water, Perceval behind him and Valerian and the guardin the rear. There is a brief fight with several cultists, who prove to be no match even for Iago's fighting skills. They are swiftly dispatched. The sacrificial victim, it turns out, is none other than Stan the mage. They fullfill his desire for death.
They proceed to loot before the exorcist, clergy, and town guard arrive. Iago takes Sokar's ring and the other two they have from the mages they have killed or captured. When the clergy and guard arrive, they've already claimed just about everything. Iago gives two rings to have the 3d cleansed, then returns the now non-demonic ring to Sokar. Sokar is taken to the temple and healed.
Victory!
The party regroups no more than 100' away, as nothing pursues them. There is a brief debate, after which Perceval has persuaded everyone that they cannot simply leave Sokar to his fate -- he's one of them. The wounded guard goes back to town to get reinforcements after being healed. Perceval and Valerian go in to try to recover Sokar, along with the other guard, who reluctantly agrees to help pull him out.
Inside, the interior double doors have been closed again. They're barred from the inside, so Perceval and the guard batter them down. Once inside, they face the creature again. This time, Perceval draws him out, fighting defensively. The creature bashes again and again, but Perceval is able to keep him at abay with his shield and sword. Meanwhile, the guard pulls Sokar free. Perceval maneuvers such that Valerian can send fireballs into the creature. It takes only one massive fireball and it is engulfed in flame. Two sword strokes later, it is stretched out at Perceval's feet. Nothing comes from upstairs. They have a terrible feeling that something bad is going on up there.
In the meantime, the excorcist and Kiri debate, Kiri gives in and is sent back to town as the "junior" clergy to call for clerical reinforcements. Iago and the blind mage, whose blindness has returned (the Relive Blindness spell having ended), speculated about what might be going on inside. When Sokar is returned to them, Iago decides to go inside and help stop the dark rituals he supposes are occuring within.
Once inside, they charge up the stairs. Iago firing holy water, Perceval behind him and Valerian and the guardin the rear. There is a brief fight with several cultists, who prove to be no match even for Iago's fighting skills. They are swiftly dispatched. The sacrificial victim, it turns out, is none other than Stan the mage. They fullfill his desire for death.
They proceed to loot before the exorcist, clergy, and town guard arrive. Iago takes Sokar's ring and the other two they have from the mages they have killed or captured. When the clergy and guard arrive, they've already claimed just about everything. Iago gives two rings to have the 3d cleansed, then returns the now non-demonic ring to Sokar. Sokar is taken to the temple and healed.
Victory!
Interim: June 6 - 25
In the aftermath, Valerian & his companions determine the name of the demon (Zav'Zelligoth) from the writings. Perceval tries and fails to save the fomerly demon possessed Sarah, who eventually disappears. Perceval, having completed a brief apprenticeship with Valerian, is released. He goes home briefly to cleanse himself of the taint of spiritual dissonance.
Iago, in the mean time, is able to determine how the suggestions were encoded into text. He tests it on a local chandler, then atones by purchasing many candles. The chandler is not amused, but appreciates the business nonetheless. Kiri receives her sword, and Sokar's armor is completed. The plague seems to disappear, with the few new cases being cured by alchemy, spell, and Iago.
In the aftermath, Valerian & his companions determine the name of the demon (Zav'Zelligoth) from the writings. Perceval tries and fails to save the fomerly demon possessed Sarah, who eventually disappears. Perceval, having completed a brief apprenticeship with Valerian, is released. He goes home briefly to cleanse himself of the taint of spiritual dissonance.
Iago, in the mean time, is able to determine how the suggestions were encoded into text. He tests it on a local chandler, then atones by purchasing many candles. The chandler is not amused, but appreciates the business nonetheless. Kiri receives her sword, and Sokar's armor is completed. The plague seems to disappear, with the few new cases being cured by alchemy, spell, and Iago.
June 26 Thursday
Perceval has returned to town. Valerian is eagerly awaiting him, and calls Kiri, Iago, and Sokar to meet him. It seems that he may well have discovered information revealing the wherabouts of information about the Demon Singers -- possibly part of the same puzzle that caused the plague. The Demon Singers were invaders from across the Western Ocean about 500 years before. They seemed to be able to use demonic power without being greatly corrupted by it. This knowledge has been the "unholy grail" of demonologists and students of demonic lore ever since. Local legend holds that a group of them fled into the Dark Wood very near where Darwood Towne itself lies. Valerian and his friends are willing to pay handsomely for the items, if recovered. They are paying these four to head out in search of evidence, writings, etc., of the Demon Singers.
They spend the rest of the day preparing for a journey. Iago, by way of preparation, tries to create a "disease" stick, in the pattern of the other "pixie stick" items with the clouds of sleep. He thinks he has succeeded, but cannot be certain without a field test, which he hopes he will find along the way. The rest concern themselves with more practical matters, such as bedrolls, tents, etc.
Perceval has returned to town. Valerian is eagerly awaiting him, and calls Kiri, Iago, and Sokar to meet him. It seems that he may well have discovered information revealing the wherabouts of information about the Demon Singers -- possibly part of the same puzzle that caused the plague. The Demon Singers were invaders from across the Western Ocean about 500 years before. They seemed to be able to use demonic power without being greatly corrupted by it. This knowledge has been the "unholy grail" of demonologists and students of demonic lore ever since. Local legend holds that a group of them fled into the Dark Wood very near where Darwood Towne itself lies. Valerian and his friends are willing to pay handsomely for the items, if recovered. They are paying these four to head out in search of evidence, writings, etc., of the Demon Singers.
They spend the rest of the day preparing for a journey. Iago, by way of preparation, tries to create a "disease" stick, in the pattern of the other "pixie stick" items with the clouds of sleep. He thinks he has succeeded, but cannot be certain without a field test, which he hopes he will find along the way. The rest concern themselves with more practical matters, such as bedrolls, tents, etc.
June 27 Friday
Stopping at a roadside tavern, they run into Haley again. She still doesn't really know them, and both Kiri and Perceval are saddened by this. The bartender refers to her as one of his "best earners." Sokar opts to spend some coin to find out why. They press on rather than staying there.
Stopping at a roadside tavern, they run into Haley again. She still doesn't really know them, and both Kiri and Perceval are saddened by this. The bartender refers to her as one of his "best earners." Sokar opts to spend some coin to find out why. They press on rather than staying there.
June 28, 29 Sat & Sun
Travel without incident.
Travel without incident.
June 30 Monday
Walking along the road, Kiri senses low santity. Investigating further, they find a trail. Iago opts to stay behind with the horse while Kiri, in rat form, Perceval and Sokar follow the bath. After about 100 yards, it opens into rocky depression. The path skirts the depression, leading to a house at the other side of the depression.
Kiri hides while Perceval and Sokar head to check it out. There is a man sitting there in a rocking chair. Four other chairs are with him on the porch. He greets them, offers them food and drink. He knows their names, and even knows that Kiri is hiding nearby. She flees at this. After evading the question (asked by Perceval), he finally agrees to tell them his name. Speaking it is like a thunderbolt, and both Sokar and Perceval are overcome, losing consciousness.
When they awaken, he tells them that he has been here a long time, and indicates that he his a god. He tells them they can swear to him and receive blessings, or refuse and suffer misfortune, since they had received his hospitality. Sokar, impressed, chooses to swear to the god dubbed "Thunderbolt", and follows the ritual prescribed, cutting himself and speaking the name of the god in front of a sacred rock at the center of the depression. Perceval refuses.
They ask about the demon singers, and are told that they, too, were offered this choice and refused. They passed to dust as all mortals...
With that, Sokar and Perceval return to the others and leave. Quickly the sanctity returns to normal. That night, Sokar finds a small bag of coins stashed near his bedroll. Perceval accidentally puts his hand into bear dung.
Walking along the road, Kiri senses low santity. Investigating further, they find a trail. Iago opts to stay behind with the horse while Kiri, in rat form, Perceval and Sokar follow the bath. After about 100 yards, it opens into rocky depression. The path skirts the depression, leading to a house at the other side of the depression.
Kiri hides while Perceval and Sokar head to check it out. There is a man sitting there in a rocking chair. Four other chairs are with him on the porch. He greets them, offers them food and drink. He knows their names, and even knows that Kiri is hiding nearby. She flees at this. After evading the question (asked by Perceval), he finally agrees to tell them his name. Speaking it is like a thunderbolt, and both Sokar and Perceval are overcome, losing consciousness.
When they awaken, he tells them that he has been here a long time, and indicates that he his a god. He tells them they can swear to him and receive blessings, or refuse and suffer misfortune, since they had received his hospitality. Sokar, impressed, chooses to swear to the god dubbed "Thunderbolt", and follows the ritual prescribed, cutting himself and speaking the name of the god in front of a sacred rock at the center of the depression. Perceval refuses.
They ask about the demon singers, and are told that they, too, were offered this choice and refused. They passed to dust as all mortals...
With that, Sokar and Perceval return to the others and leave. Quickly the sanctity returns to normal. That night, Sokar finds a small bag of coins stashed near his bedroll. Perceval accidentally puts his hand into bear dung.
July 1 Tuesday
Traveling, they crest a hill and see a distant spire of earth. Kiri and Perceval have heard of this -- it's called Dragon's Perch. As they come down the hill, they see the keep they were seeking. This is an area once held by the Barony of Blythe, before it was taken over and subsumed into County Darkwood. But that area was overrun by orks and later abandoned. The Countess has rebuilt the keep and is trying to expand back into this region.
They arrive at the keep and call up to it. Perceval makes introductions, but it seems his father is "the bastard who betrayed my lord." This misunderstanding persists long after they're admitted. The captain of the watch refuses to "grant satisfaction" -- he needs every man he can get, as the area is "teeming with orks, goblins, and their ilk." Later that evening, the misunderstanding is sorted out and the corporal of the watch apologizes sincerely for offending Perceval, who graciously accepts.
The keep is in need of healers and healing, so Iago and Kiri set up shop, with the encouragement of the watch captain. Kiri meets Jobob, a priest of Arsalon the Just. Jobob was wounded and seems to have lost his marbles, forgetting what has just been told and being given to delusional spells. She is saddened by this.
They spend a bit of time trying to find out information that might lead to the Demon Singers. The only lead they pick up is a rumor of a mystic or madman seen wandering the area...
Traveling, they crest a hill and see a distant spire of earth. Kiri and Perceval have heard of this -- it's called Dragon's Perch. As they come down the hill, they see the keep they were seeking. This is an area once held by the Barony of Blythe, before it was taken over and subsumed into County Darkwood. But that area was overrun by orks and later abandoned. The Countess has rebuilt the keep and is trying to expand back into this region.
They arrive at the keep and call up to it. Perceval makes introductions, but it seems his father is "the bastard who betrayed my lord." This misunderstanding persists long after they're admitted. The captain of the watch refuses to "grant satisfaction" -- he needs every man he can get, as the area is "teeming with orks, goblins, and their ilk." Later that evening, the misunderstanding is sorted out and the corporal of the watch apologizes sincerely for offending Perceval, who graciously accepts.
The keep is in need of healers and healing, so Iago and Kiri set up shop, with the encouragement of the watch captain. Kiri meets Jobob, a priest of Arsalon the Just. Jobob was wounded and seems to have lost his marbles, forgetting what has just been told and being given to delusional spells. She is saddened by this.
They spend a bit of time trying to find out information that might lead to the Demon Singers. The only lead they pick up is a rumor of a mystic or madman seen wandering the area...
End of session...
