Episode 13: Every Home a Castle

[EvilGenius]

The PCs rested after the battle with the Giants. Sometime during the rest, Aldin, whom you had rescued from the giants, received a telepathic communication from someone, presumably in response the the strange flags he put out. After a brief discussion, Aldin relayed to the other party that he was with one of the 'new dwarves' now, but that she didn't know where the missing Obsidian Bay dwarves were. The discussion ended and Aldin asked the PCs to accompany him to discover the supposed location of a 'new dwarf' stronghold, where they might find clues to what happened to the Obsidian Bay dwarves.

The PCs debated whether to proceed with their goal of finding the mysterious Quirinseyru or to head off to the north looking for the dwarven stronghold. Despite Brigga's palpable excitement about the proximity to her people, everyone agreed to press on and try and find Quirinseyru first, then go and find the dwarven holding.

The PCs waited for another rest period but Aldin's companion, the gnome B'Narl, did not return. Fearing the worst, Bannock set out to track the wayward gnome. He was able to find faint tracks leading off to the northeast. Bannock, Brigga, Quarion and Aldin followed the tracks for the better part of a day until they found further sign of the missing gnome. The PCs entered a small gully, with a steep hillside covered with rocky debris on one side, and scattered trees and underbrush on the other. As the PCs entered the gully, a gnomish voice called out "you'll never catch me, stupid bullies" and with that the PCs saw underbrush rustling, moving away from them.

Everyone called out for B'Narl and crashed after him into the brush, but the voice kept calling out from slightly in front of them and the brush always moved, though they never caught sight of the gnome. After a few moments though, Bannock was able to determine that the gnome was not, in fact, in front of them but had instead lay a series of clever magic mouth and minor illusion spells to lead pursuers away.

The PCs returned to where they first heard the voice and decided to continue through the gully. On the other side, Bannock again picked up the gnomes trail, though the tracks were so obvious and easy to read that even Brigga could have followed them. After a few hundred yards though, those tracks disappeared at the edge of a cliff. Aldin was fairly certain that B'Narl wouldn't have attempted to climb down the dangerous mountainside, though, so the PCs ventured back to where they first heard the gnome's voice.

Examining the area, Bannock and Quarion noticed something strange about the hillside with the rock debris. Despite the time of day, the shadows on the rocks appeared to be going the wrong direction. According to the shadows from the rocks, it would have been early morning when it was now late afternoon. As Bannock moved to investigate the strange hillside, he seemed to walk right into the hillside and disappear!

At his companions startled cries, Bannock stuck his head back out of the illusory hillside and told the others to follow him. Together they walked through the illusion and discovered that instead of a rocky hillside there was actually a field with a small pond in it. As they moved to investigate the pond, twin geysers erupted from either side of the water, curled around and crashed in front of the PCs! As they cleared their eyes, they beheld a gnome rising out of the water, dark energy crackling at his fingers.

A voice boomed, "WHO DARES DISTUR....". Whatever other impressive speech was planned instead devolved into a fit of weak coughing as the dark energy disappeared and the gnome before them crumpled to the ground next to the pond.

The PCs and Aldin rushed forward to help the injured B'Narl. Quarion did a quick assessment, noting the fever and blisters covering the gnome. Uttering a quick prayer to Rillifane, Quarion cured the disease that was ravishing B'Narl, saving his life.

The PCs took B'Narl back to their camp (which had also been B'Narl's camp before the giants attacked). On the way, B'Narl explained that when the giants attacked, one of them hit him with a boulder and when that boulder struck it released a flash of some sort and B'Narl immediately began to blister and feel sick.

Aldin brought B'Narl up to date on the status of their expedition and everyone spent a calmer day talking about the mission to find the missing dwarves and exploring Brigga's different cultural background. On the morning of the second day after the giant attack, the PCs, accompanied by Aldin and B'Narl, set off to the northeast again, searching for the mysterious Quirinseyru.

[EvilGenius]

Things learned from B'Narl and Aldin:

1) Dwarves associated with a free city called Obsidian Bay traveled north to investigate rumors of these 'new dwarves'. The dwarves have been out of touch for several years now and are considered missing. The missing dwarves are named Luc, D'Klar and Moraim.

2) Associates of the missing dwarves contacted the Lord Mayor of this Obsidian Bay place, an elf named Malphas, for assistance. In response, several search parties were sent out. So far, none of the search parties have reported back either. Aldin and B'Narl were actually sent after one of the previous search parties, and also the dwarves if they could find them.

3) Aldin, B'Narl, and presumably this Lord Mayor character would be grateful for assistance from the PCs in locating the missing dwarves.

4) Aldin suspects that the Lord Mayor is also looking for something else that's more important to him than the missing dwarves, but Aldin doesn't know what that may be.

5) One of the missing search parties was supposed to be using powerful monsters to try and dig out a secret lair. (NOTE: the PCs found the remains of this search party below the quarry where they fought the gnolls. There was a secret cave complex and inside they found Onarra and a bunch of umber hulks and a fire troll). This is also where Brigga got her Serpentine Owl that detects dwarves and also something else which is unknown at this time.

[EvilGenius]

Having made their decision, the PCs set off for the rumored location of Quirinseyru. After a few days of hard travel (which took exactly as much time as travelling over a straight flat road due to Bannock's awesome Ranger-ing), Bannock found a small trail. On the trail there were wagon tracks which perfectly matched Lonz's wagon wheels.

After a few hours of following the trail up into the mountains, Bannock led everyone into a small box canyon. At the far end, you see exactly what the Oracle showed you; a large, dark cave mouth in front of you and up to the left, a square tower on the side of the canyon wall, extending above the rim of the canyon. But you again have the strange remembered vision, too, of a snappy blue pennant flying proudly atop the tower, warm, inviting light spilling out from the windows, and a stout wooden gate across the cave mouth.

This memory fades from your eyes and you again see the cave and tower as they are now; cold and uninviting. The PCs unpacked Lonz's wagon, making camp a little distance away from cave mouth. Brigga, Bannock and Quarion decided to enter the cave mouth to see what was there, while everyone else was setting up camp. Inside the cave mouth, there was a large, hemispherical tunnel, which quickly curved off to the right. The tunnel was clearly not natural, though Brigga noted that it did not appear to be worked stone, either. Brigga's conclusion was that the tunnel had been formed out of rock via magic.

The tunnel was undecorated, though it looked like it had been painted. Bannock led the way with his flaming sword providing the only light. After a few hundred yards the tunnel curved back to the left (deeper into the mountain). Proceeding cautiously around the corner the PCs were brought up short by a strong portcullis, blocking the way. And on the other side of the portcullis, it looked like the tunnel angled down, but you couldn't see how far because the tunnel was also filled with still water.

Brigga flexed her hands in her molten gauntlets and stepped up to the portcullis. Giving her best dwarven grunt, she utterly failed to budge the heavy portcullis. "Well, that seems pretty sturdy. Anyone else have any ideas?" No one did so the PCs walked back out to the camp and began to contemplate the silent tower instead.

[EvilGenius]

The PCs contemplated the tower jutting out of the side of the mountain. It was a square tower with a crenelated top. Slender arched windows with leaded glass look out of each side of the tower, at each level. The bottom of the tower tapers slightly and rests on an outcropping from the side of the mountain, about 50' from the canyon floor. The tower itself looks to be five stories tall, the last two appear to extend above the rim of the canyon. The cliff face below the tower is near vertical, and there are no visible doors.

"Well. No way in. We should probably just leave then, right", Bannock joked.

"Hmm, I can give you the ability to climb right up there, Bannock". Brigga muttered a few words and reached out to touch the burly woodsman. "Oh, and here. Take all of this rope, too". Brigga and Quarion handed over several coils of thick rope.

Bannock knelt down and scratched Cur behind the ears. "You stay here, ok? Keep an eye on things for me."

Shouldering the rope coils, Bannock started padding up the sheer cliff face, not even bothering to find handholds, just sticking his hands and feet to the rock, like they were made of flypaper. Bannock quickly made his way up to the bottom of the tower, then up one side to a window. Peering inside he could just make out a dark room with some broken furniture. Looking back down at his companions in the camp, Bannock shook his head, then kept climbing. Upon reaching the top, Bannock crawled over the wide crenelations. There were several wrecked pieces of furniture, a sturdy trap door leading down into the tower, and a cupula over an open circular staircase leading down into the mountain.

Bannock uncoiled the rope and secured it to the roof, then lowered it along the seam of the tower and the mountain. After a few moments, Brigga and Quarion began their ascent. When the three companions were all safely atop the tower, Brigga attempted to open the trap door, but even the prodigious strength afforded by her molten gauntlets was not enough to pry open the door.

Seeing precious few options, the PCs opted for the circular stairs, beginning their descent into the mountain itself.

[EvilGenius]

Bannock, Brigga and Quarion cautiously descended the circular staircase. After about two stories, the staircase let out into a standard 10x10 corridor of worked stone. After about 50 feet, the corridor ended at a heavy wooden door with iron reinforcements, slightly ajar. Bannock slowly pulled the door the rest of the way open, letting his flaming sword light the room beyond.

The PCs saw a stately library-like room, with beautiful bookshelves lining the walls, several comfortable plush chairs and a beautiful patterned Baklunish rug. As the PCs moved into the room, several lamps around the room began to glow with a steady yellow light. As the light filled the room, glowing runes flared to life on several books on one bookshelf, all with the same binding, all of which matched the book that Brigga carries with her.

Brigga gasped in recognition. This was the room from her recently recovered memory, and obviously where she obtained her book!! The PCs looked around more intently and saw to additional doors in the room, one to their left and one to their right. The door to the left was about halfway open, revealing a bare stone room beyond.

Brigga strode to the room to confirm her suspicions. There was a largish, plain stone room with seven bare stone tables. Brigga's suddenly wobbly legs failed her and she fell to her knees. "I remember, the pain! The burning sensation, and .... fear. Fear that someone was coming! That one of YOU was coming for me!! That this room wasn't safe!"

Quarion placed a comforting hand on Brigga's shoulder. "We were different people, with different lives. Do not fear the memories. We have been given a second chance, yes, but we need to know what happened before in order to avoid making the same mistakes."

Bannock held his flaming sword aloft, further illuminating the room, then cried out, "There's another body"!!! The three PCs rushed to the far end of the room where a burley, yet kindly looking half orc lay on the last bare stone table. The body seemed inert, and none of the PCs there recognized the still figure. After a moment or two more, they determined that there was nothing more that the 3 of them could see in the bare stone room, and they returned to the library/study.

Brigga dug out her mysterious book and opened to the first page. Letters began filling the page in a clear, confident script. "CY 635, The year in which I once again walk the world of Mortals, by Quininseyru the Curious".

The companions slowly looked up from the page with dazed expressions. All this time speculating about the mysterious Quirinseyru and Brigga's been carrying around his journal the whole time! Brigga glanced sideways at the bookshelf containing similar tomes, with their own faintly glowing runes. "I think we have a lot to learn here. We should get the others".

[EvilGenius]

A quick perusal of Quirenseyru's journals provides the following information:

1) Quirinseyru met all of the PCs as youngsters and gathered them all together over time.

2) Quirinseyru served as a mentor to the PCs and sent them on missions around Tenh, the Theocracy of the Pale, the Bandit Kingdoms and the Felreev. The missions were always to fight the good fight against bad guys and protect people from evil that would otherwise have overwhelmed them.

3) Quirinseyru noted that one of the group, Gwendolyn, was lost to an Efreeti called the Fire Lord, and that the PCs followed him and confronted him in the City of Brass, but failed to recover Gwendolyn.

4) Quirinseyru noted that the PCs became bitter and disheartened after that and Quirin began to see them less.

5) Quirinseyru then noted that the PCs seemed to be under the influence of someone else, but he could not determine who.

6) For safekeeping, Quirinseyru started to move the PCs clone bodies here, to his stronghold, for safe keeping. He moved Brigga and Balisar first, since they were nearby in the Bluff Hills. Then he recovered Jareth and Mordai's clones from the nearby area of the Felreev, and Quirin notes that Jareth had a newly constructed tower that could not have been built without powerful magic or powerful magical beings. Finally, Quirin retrieved Erk's clone from his solitary tower deeper in the Felreev, but noted that since he had been there last, part of the top of Erk's tower had been destroyed, though there was no rubble anywhere. Quirinseyru was gravely concerned but he was still able to bypass the magical wards on Erk's tower and retrieve his cloned body.


That's all that the PCs have been able to discover thus far but maybe a more thorough reading will reveal additional clues?

[EvilGenius]

Ps, I am slowly working on writing the excerpts from Quirinseyru's journals.

[EvilGenius]

So just to speed things along a little, all of the PCs make their way to the library. The PCs who were there originally, Brigga, Bannock and Quarion, did not recognize the 1/2 Orc in the stone table room. However, Onarra and Mordai do recognize him, the same way that all of you have recognized each other!

Finding no immediate utility to this information, you all set out to explore the small library area. There are many books that are accounts of momentous historical events in the Flanaess, all first hand accounts by people who were there for the events. Quite a few books that deal with the culture, history and politics of this region of the world.
There are also three very special books.

On a shelf, behind a clear glass door, you find a full set of manuals and tomes; the type that increase your ability scores. However, only 2 of them appear to be usable at this time; Intelligence and Constitution. The others have obviously been used already, and Brigga's arcane knowledge is sufficient to inform you that these type of books are usable only once every hundred years.

The final special book that you find is a slim spell book. It has a deep purple colored cover with a thick black binding on the spine, and golden corner guards. In the middle of the front cover is a glowing gold rune that mysteriously changes shape while you watch it. When you open the book you discover it has only two pages, both are moderately thick vellum and both are empty. However, as everyone examines it, Brigga and Jareth both feel a sharp pain in their minds and a strange draining sensation. You look on in amazement as the vellum pages begin to fill with faintly glowing writing. Your spell casters look closer and the pages have been filled as though they were spell scrolls! One page is the wizard spell, False Life, the other page is a druid spell, Entangle. Looking at the front cover again reveals that the changing rune has now become the symbol of Boccob. After a moment of observation, it does not appear that the rune is changing now.

Both Brigga and Jareth know that they have expended a first level spell slot, as though they had cast a first level spell.

[Fen's Ego]

After catching up with the group (geographically/socially) and disclosing her "familiarity" with the half ogre on the stone slab, Onarra will give the books a casual once-over.
For the INT tome, she will say, "Book smarts...meh, not my thing. Makes my head hurt. One of you waggle-fingers should probably do your homework though."
For the CON tome, she flips through more slowly, noting the many anatomical sketches, tables and recipes. "Yeah...I'm a hundred pounds soaking wet AND carrying Cur. I'm more about not getting hit than how to take a punch. Besides, if I put on muscle, that'll only make some of you feel insecure, and Brigga already has that nailed down." Smiling to take the sting out of her peculiar sense of humor, Onarra makes a flourish and produces a small, well-worn journal. "But I WILL take down this recipe for 'Otik's Spiced Potatoes'. This sounds very tasty."

[EvilGenius]

Onarra finds this:

" My deepest fears are confirmed, my friends have indeed fallen under the influence of some evil being. I do not know how such a fate befell them; Naziah alone should have been able to counter any sinister enchantments. But no matter, the deed is done.


Excellent news! There is hope yet! Not all have fallen under this evil influence; Naziah’s noble spirit held true, as did Balisar’s and Bannock’s! They have revealed that the mastermind of this downfall, who they know simply as “The Master”, is none other than Erk’s patron!
Here I must confess my own part in their sorrowful downfall. The source of Erk’s power has long been a mystery (I myself guessed a fey master), but he ever fought the good fight for noble causes, so I was lulled into acceptance. If I had investigated more thoroughly or insisted that Erk reveal his allegiance, this may have all been avoided. I vow to redeem my foolish decision!
We still know little about this “Master”, but my friends have revealed that Erk convinced them to complete some sort of ritual before they started their ill-fated mission to rescue poor Gwendolyn. They still haven’t told me the details (I sense a great shame from them, but I will delve into that some other time) but whatever happened seems to have damaged their very souls in some way. I will think on a cure.


Bannock has proposed a most dangerous course of action. He believes it possible to redeem Jareth, if only we can recover Aegenthal and re-unite wielder and blade. Bannock’s plan requires that I provide a method of permanently transforming Jareth back into an elf. I have some thoughts on that, but powerful magic will be required, perhaps even a wish. Would that Mordai had not also fallen, his weapon could have been recharged, perhaps, and the wishes utilized to help Jareth. Well, alternately, I have a few thoughts on the cure. Perhaps we can utilize the essence of the Singing Pools in the Fellreve? Hmm, it will take more, but I have a few things here that can help. My alchemical skills will be tested like never before, I fear.
Balisar and Naziah will go to Jareth’s tower to attempt to retrieve Aegenthal, while Bannock joins Jareth and the others. When the opportunity presents itself, Bannock will subdue Jareth and bring him back here and we shall see what can be done.
I am off to the Singing Pools! Haste is of the essence so I will need to teleport to Lucky Break and fly the rest of the way."

[EvilGenius]

Then Onarra finds this:

" My alchemy is complete. I believe it is successful, but honestly, we will only know after Jareth takes the potion.
The rest of the news is equally disquieting. There is no word from Balisar or Naziah. They are capable and resourceful, and they may be able to bypass some defenses simply because of their friendship with Jareth. I will not give in to despair yet.



Bannock has communicated with me, secretly, of course. He has joined his companions in Tehna. Bannock is not sure of their purpose, but suspects they are on some mission for the Master. And, he is convinced that one of his companions is also unswayed by the Master! They others do not suspect him. Yet. I fear for his safety though, should they find him out.



I believe it will be wise for me to attempt to retrieve my friends’ clone bodies for safekeeping. This will also allow me to check up on Naziah and Balisar. It has been long enough to worry, now."

[EvilGenius]

Brigga finds:

" I have returned, with troubling news. I was able to retrieve Brigga, Balisar, Mordai and Thulik’s clones easily enough. But I saw no signs of Naziah or Balisar at Jareth’s strange new tower. Since I had several clones with me, I did not delve too deeply. I retrieved Jareth’s clone and came back home. Those five are safe, at least. There is still no word from Bannock, so I will travel to Erk’s Tower next. Perhaps I will gain some insight into this “Master”.

Erk’s clone is now safe, and I have learned more, though I know not what it means. Erk’s Tower has obviously suffered some catastrophe, almost certainly eldritch in nature. The top of Erk’s Tower was simply … missing. There were signs of a magical explosion on the parts of the tower that remained. But large pieces were missing. Not destroyed, missing as though they were never there, or had been transported completely out of the structure, somehow. In fact, there were no debris anywhere around the Tower. I confess, I don’t know what to make of this. Perhaps this is the result of the ritual that Erk performed on everyone before they set off after Gwendolyn?

I was able to enter the Tower basement, though, and retrieve Erk’s clone. When Naziah, Balisar and Bannock return they WILL provide me more information on what happened!!

In the meantime, I’ve placed a charm on the clones, providing them with some small protection against catastrophe."

[EvilGenius]

" All is lost! Let this serve as my final record, and any who read it, spare a kind thought for my companions. They arrived before dawn and staged their assault. I was not caught unaware, though; Bannock was able to warn me. I activated the wards specifically keyed to my friends, my protégé’s.

Erk completely destroyed the tunnel gate with powerful magic. The wards were triggered, as planned, and Bannock was able to run ahead of the others, unharmed.

The others realized then that Bannock was against them and gave chase. When they passed the water trap, I released it. I believe that Mordai was overwhelmed by the trap, his luck had run out.

With Bannock at my side, we fought our friends. I tried to hold back from killing blows but when Brigga’s hammer found Bannock’s skull, when I saw him fall lifeless to the floor, I could hold back no more. I unleashed my full fury upon them.

I assumed my true form and roared like I have seldom roared before, fueled by pain and despair. Even stalwart Quarion seemed shaken. I tore into them then, my friends, my heart replaced with righteous, indignant rage. I was heedless of their counter-attacks. And thus, I am undone.

One by one they fell, my friends. To claw and breath weapon and magic. But Erk had his final revenge.

Wielding some terrible blade, he struck me a mortal blow. It was no ordinary blade. It felt like the thing stole a part of my being. Alas! I understand too late why my friends began to turn. Oh that Erk should have deceived them so!
But more, the blade sundered something in my magical nature. A dragon’s magical nature is fundamental to its existence and this blade somehow fractured that nature. Even now, as my journal records my thoughts, I feel my essence fading, lost to eternity.

I know not what has become of Balisar but Jareth boasted of killing Naziah. The plan was a failure. They are all gone now and I don’t know what will become of the awakened clones. I fear my friend’s wickedness will live on in them. I expend the last of my life-force to give them a chance. I will mask their memories, and hopefully allow them to begin their lives anew. It is the last I can do, and it may well fail.

At least they did not know what is concealed in Farweald by the tieflings ……"

[Hardcorhobbs]

Just as a side note... I do get the basics of what is going on. You were all good, you turned evil (some of you), then you died and were brought back with no memories. Now you are trying to piece it all back together.

Since I've been in and out so much, I'm playing Kage kind of like Shepard Book. Been some places, seen some things... or not... but really not worried about it. He's living in the now and letting the wind take me where it will. Currently that's with you all, because if nothing else you are certainly an interesting lot.

[EvilGenius]

if nothing else you are certainly an interesting lot.