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Session 5, Cassandra, Nathanial, Elmer, Cave, Rats

Paldegora 

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Session 5 – 2023-01-07

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Summary:

Francesca and Eryn approach the Blacksmith shop. Cassandra greeted them with a quick, ”If you are here to buy a weapon or have one repaired, I don’t have time! Obviously, you don’t need a horse shod, you don’t have a horse. Is there something I can do for you?”. Francesca asked for some nails, short straight nails. Cassandra sold her 10 nails while we talked. The basic gist was, we let her know that we were friends of Dan, that he and his group are okay, and that he wanted us to get a message to Shea, we haven’t found a way into the prison yet and Cassandra said that she hasn’t Been able to see her yet either, other than kicking everyone’s ars’ and going in there, she had no idea how to help. We found out there are probably about 30 guards in town, not counting the prison guards. She told us the Warden is a slimy character, he made a move on her once and she kicked him in the balls. Shea always seemed to like him but she didn’t know why, she did tell us that another contact in town who might be able to help is Father Nathanial. She told us where the temple was. Cassandra also let them know that the graveyard has a few fresh graves, but no one else seems to have noticed. She said, people go in but they don’t come out, except those in the graveyard. Cassandra told them that if they needed help to let her know, we told her the same thing, and told her where we were staying. She gave us the standard, “be careful, everything is not as it seems.”, statement.

Francesca and Eryn left for the temple. They passed through the market, the chicken pens seems a little light on chickens, then they passed the barracks, past the supply entrance to the prison on the eastern side where they saw big double gates and no guards there. They approached the temple and went inside. It is a temple to Phi. The front room was spacious and ornate with doors on the far wall. Francesca spoke to a man expressing a desire to speak with Father Nathanial. The man checked and then let them proceed through the double doors, to the main chapel. Its walls are marble with stained glass windows on the far end and a large statue of gold behind the pulpit, of Phi, holding a brazier with white stones glowing on it. The chapel is very large and near the pulpit was a man reading. They approached and Francesca cleared her through to get his attention. There were cordial introductions as the two priests from different religions greeted each other. Francesca let him know that we came to town to meet up with someone and assist them in moving supplies north. She tells him we met Dan Longmire along the way, and that he helped us when we were attacked on the road. Nathanial indicated he had known Dan since he was a child, and also indicated the roads were getting dangerous. They discussed the steep penalties and mailings of people for seemingly little infractions, about Sir Charles's odd behavior. Nathanial indicated that Charles is a good man but has become cruel lately, ever since that Ahn priest came into town. There was much discussion about how the Ahn priest is misguided, but Sir Charles got a book off of him that has had an impact on him. Charles won’t show him the book or tell him about it’s contents. He would only say that it is something of such great import that he can trust no one else’s eye on it but his own. He did tell him the book is not just old, but ancient, from another age. It talks of things that only people like Charles would understand. He told us that Charles had been through a lot lately, Francesca asked about that. Apparently the roads north are getting more dangerous, there are things moving in the night and people are scared, they aren’t sure what it is, but people outside the town are staying in and locking their doors at night. They agreed to let each other know if they find out anything, and they left, heading back to the Dogg Butt.

They passed by the Graveyard and went in to look around. They noticed 5 new gravesites. There is nothing to identify the occupants. A couple of guards saw them in the graveyard and moved a little closer, watching them. Francesca simple murmured a prayer over each grave and made some hand gestures of a religious nature and they lost interest. As they left the graveyard, they passed the hanging tree and rushed passed it and on to the inn. 

Meanwhile, back at the Dogg Butt Inn, another conversation is taking place. Symon,Xor, Cal-El, and Elmer are sitting around a table and talking. Symon got a lot of questions in, first among them was that Elbert is a farmer and his spread is north near Stonebridge. It’s a good sized farm where he grows corn, wheat, and grains. He was transporting supples he needed for the farm. He comes down here once or twice a year for supplies. He needed help protecting his wagon because the roads north are bad. When asked, Elmer said that we might run into bandits, there has been an increase in wolves, but also something else is moving through the woods. He hasn’t been able to determine what that is yet. Traveling at night is not a good idea. The trip to the farm takes about two days. We discussed the missing chickens and if the wolves had anything to do with that, but that not like a wolf, more like a fox or coyote. Plus there were no tracks, blood, or feathers left behind. Charles had offered guards but Elmer didn’t want to bother him with it, with the trouble he has around here, with the missing people and chickens, bandit activity on the roads.

Symon asked how a simple farmer like Elmer wound up with someone like Alister owing him a favor. After finding out that we just received our badges from the guild right before we set out on this mission. Elmer the confided in them. He told him real name is Elistar, he was a member of the Silver Swords, he has since retired. Alistar was also a member of the Silver Swords but had aspirations to move up in the guild. The reason Alister owes him is because he got the whole team killed, all but Elmer of course. It was not intentional, he is not a bad sort. The guild used to be run by a counsel of three. The Silver Swords were a tight knit group, the best of the best. They were given the elite jobs, they never failed until this last job. That’s where they met their demise. Symon had remember hearing about them. They were the kind of group that toppled kingdoms, and rescued maidens. They changed the politics of entire regions of the country. They were the guys. If you needed something done, something heroic, something good, something right, they were the group you called on. He remembers hear that the group went out to do something big and met the demise. The fact that Elmer is claiming to be one of them is surprising. He is the right age to have been a member. Elmer said he didn’t have the heart to do that kind of thing anymore. He had asked the guild to put him down as dead as well, soon after he met his wife, and settled into farming. Sir Charles knows his true identity, they go way back. 

Charles was a member of King Nordain of the Kingdom of Nordanlun’s elite guard. They were both much younger back then. He has his share of demons as well. Charles does consult with him from time to time on various matters. Symon ask Elmer his specialty. He said he was the greatest swordsman. Symon and Xor determined that they both thought he was being honest. Elmer said that his wife didn’t know about his real identity. She knows he did a little adventuring when he was younger but to her, he is just a simple farmer. Symon explained to Elmer what had happened to us as we travelled here. He tells him about Jade and the men traveling with her. Elmer indicated that if someone could kill her leaving no tracks and such an efficient manor, there is definitely something going on. He asked if there was something Francesca that would be of interest to someone. Whoever’s this is, they are very dangerous. It sounds like the kind of dangers they faced in his day. Symon indicated that we are a new group and really don’t know much of each others past. Yes, she could be tied into some powerful figures. Elmer indicated that we would travel together, the party can ride on the wagon if they’d like. He is also in no hurry so if we need to take care of anything, he can give us time to do so. Symon reminded him that the party’s commitment is to him, when he is ready to go, they will drop everything and go. They can always return ion a few days and do anything that still needs doing.

Symon asked if Elmer knew anyone else in the justice system. Elmer mentioned Captain Murdock is right as rain, good as they come, you can trust him. Lieutenant Wright seems to be a good fellow but he does’t know him that well. Sergeant Harris has a heart of gold but a mouth like a bucket. Warden Blackmoore you should keep and eye on. Something doesn’t sit right with Elmer about him. Symon asked about Theo, revering to the letter that Jade was carrying, but Elmer didn’t know who that was. Symon mentioned Theo’s possible connection to the Broke Lance Mob. Elmer had heard the name of the group before but never paid any attention to it. Sir Charles has never mentioned them to him. They talked more about the Silver Swords, they were a well rounded group with a wizard, priest, and a thief. She was very beautiful and was betrothed to him. He said, she was the best off the best. Elmer said that they had been betrayed by the person who hired them. That’s what sticks in Sir Charles craw. Symon asked if this person was brought to justice. Elmer said no, there is no justice to be brought to him. Alistar assigned the job to them and was paid well for it. The person that betrayed us was Prince Lundor. He was the son of King Nordain, the prince of Nordanlun. 

Elmer then began telling them about the dragon wars, it really happened. Nordanlun was beset by dragon spawn. It was called the Dragonspawn war. Symon indicated it was a tale to frighten children. Elmer said, it was no tale. King Nordain sent his son, Prince Lundor to find artifacts to help then fight the war. They had heard of such artifacts and hired the Silver Swords to help find them, and we found them but where they were, and who had them, there was no way to take them. Lundor would not hear of it so he stole them and left us holding the bag, so to speak. Our group paid the price. Soon after, the items must have worked because the was ended. It didn’t just wind down, it stopped completely. Elmer said, I don’t know if you know this, but all of the people up north, all of the cities, everything, disappeared. They’re all gone and no one knows what happened to them. The King, Prince Lundor, the people, the dragonspawn, gone, all gone. Symon asked after the artifacts. All Elmer knows is that the artifacts we’re an orb, a rod, and a scroll. They were in the keeping if the White priestesses of the White Isle. The White Isle is west of the Emerald Coast. Alistar felt guilty because of our demise, to be betrayed that way. Lundor was never brought to justice and the items just disappeared. 

Symon asked more about the disappearances. He asked that if you go north, will you come upon empty castles and cities. Elmer indicated that he was correct.  It used to be the great city of Coldspire but the spire is down. It’s been down for years. The city of old spire was destroyed by the dragon attacks, building melted, the spire collapsed, decaying, there is not a human anywhere to be found. Charles was assigned to oversee Frosthaven, to build a garrison here, to hold this place as a final place to retreat to in case all went ill up there, and things did go very ill up north. He and his group here is all that is left of the Kingdom of Nordanlun. His wife and two daughters disappeared. That bothers him to this day. He has remarried and has children now, but he never quite got over it. Symon asked about the White Priestesses. Elmer said they were still there, nothing happened to them when Nordanlun disappeared. The priestesses has said, this wasn’t the time, he wasn’t the person to see them or touch them, but because of his thievery, he cost our group, and my beloved, their lives. Symon mentioned the Priest of Ahn that had arrived about a year ago with a book. He was arrested and the book confiscated by Sir Charles. Apparently the book is causing Sit Charles stress and he has hidden it away. Elmer said he had heard about the book but hadn’t talked to Charles about it. Symon asked if it is possible that the book might be the scroll artifact. Elmer said, he didn’t know. If it has Charles wound up this much, it must have something to do with what happened in the past. Symon asked if he thought Charles’ trust in him might gain him a chance to see the book. Maybe he could gain some insight as to why he is acting the way he is. Elmer said he would try to see him tomorrow and see if he’ll talk to him about it.

Francesca and Eryn entered the room at this time. Francesca ordered the special tea blend and Eryn followed suit. Dogger asked if they had seen Tommy. They hadn’t. Dogger asked Elmer if Tommy had found him the day before. Elmer told him no, he had not seen the boy. Dogger indicated that he was a little worried as Tommy is punctual and this was unlike him. He said he was going to run over to Tommy’s folk’s place and see if he is there. Eryn suggested that he check with the constable in case he was picked up for some reason. The tea arrived. Elmer suggested that we might be hungry and should probably eat, then he bid us good evening and headed off to his room. Symon asked Cal-El if he thought he could find Tommy but Cal-El replied that he was a wilderness tracker, not a city tracker. (Damnit Symon, I’m a doctor, not a mechanic!) After a moment of trying to talk about all that had transpired this day, it was decided that they needed to mover this conversation to some place less public. They booked rooms for the evening and retired to one of them to talk more. (Yay, more typing!). Cal-El stayed out for a bit to watch the main room while Symon caught Eryn and Angelique up. They caught up Symon and the others as well.

Symon was a little worried that his slip with Angelique’s name but then figured that Symon may already know our names. Angelique tried to remember if she ever heard her father speak of Coldspire or Nordanlun. He never told her what he did but he had told her dragon stories. She does remember stories about dragonspawn. Eryn, having come from a family on up in the political hierarchy, learned a little more about the spires and the political structure of Philanahn which she passed on to the rest here. Basically, all of the spires have representation within the great counsel. Silverspire is the grand capital of this continent. All of the spires have a seat there. The representative that occupied the seat for Coldspire and Nordanlun, had drifted away and stopped coming to the regular semi-annual meeting, only showing up for major events or votes that’s affected them directly, and eventually not showing up at all. When war broke out up north, they didn’t show up even then. When the war ended, no one noticed. They had seldom been their anyway. The seat sits empty. The main city up north is Coldspire. The ruling family was that of King Nordain. The rest of the continent had lost interest in that region as it appeared that region had lost interest in the rest of the continent. With that in mind, the active seats are the Silverspire seat, the Seaspire seat, the Greyspire seat, the Moonspire seat, and the Stonespire seat. The Stonespire seat is held by Dwarves. The Moonspire seat is help by Elves. The Greyspire seat is held by Humans. The Silverspire seat is helped by Elves and Humans. The Seaspire seat is held by Humans as well. 

Symon said that we needed to find someone that Charles would confide in and that maybe we stumbled onto that person in Elmer. Eryn suggested that another person who might be able to reach him would be Captain Murdock. Symon said that Elmer did speak highly of him. He, being closer to Charles may have insight into what developed after he obtained the book from Rogard. He also suggested that if we solved the mystery of the missing chickens, we might could win over Charles Trust. We also need to look into Tommy’s disappearance and the disappearance of other people as well. Eryn suggested that maybe the reason they don’t let anyone visit the prisoners is that they aren’t there. Maybe they are being used somewhere else as slave labor. Symon was puzzled by the unmarked graves as well. He suggested that Francesca could ask for names to present to her god as part of a ritual or some sort of last right’s prayer over the graves. Maybe they’ll say no, but maybe they’ll give you their names. Symon then suggested that we look into the caves. Eryn suggested that she and Cal-El go out this evening and sneak down there and try to find it. 

Eryn also started a big discussion about the signature on the letter to Angelique from her grandfather. There is a circle orbited by eight circles. The circles had symbols in them. She was wondering of this lined up somehow with the rings that only had 7 orbiting gems. Angelique asked if Symon knew if the color of the stones lined up with the schools of magic. Symon thought a bit and said yes, they could very well be the schools of magic. Blue or Saphire is for Conjuration. Lime Green or Yellow is for Divination. White or pearl is Abjuration. Green or Emerald is Enchantment. Orange is Transmutation. Purple is Illusion. Black is Necromancy. Red is Evocation. 

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The symbols in the circles on the letter also seem to correspond to the schools of magic. Angelique’s grandfathers ring had a ruby in the center. They decide this must meant his specialty must be Evocation. Her fathers ring was the same color. There was more discussion about whether or not her father was a wizard. Eryn suggested that the letter she wants to write to her grandfather should include questions about her father and his ring. Eryn also suggested that she let her grandfather know what has happened to her and if it might have something to do with what happened to her father 10 years ago. Symon wondered if Jade may have been killed because she was holding Angelique’s bag and someone thought that she was Angelique. Eryn suggested that if that was so, that would mean that there would be something she is carrying that is uniquely hers, that can be tracked. Eryn also suggested that maybe Angelique’s grandfather sent someone to watch over her and that person killed Jade thinking to protect her. They suggested that she search her bag for something in it that might be traceable.

Noticing that it’s late out, Eryn asked if Cal-El would like to go with her too find the cave south of Kyra’s shop. They left the inn together and made their way to the river south of the inn and then worked their way toward the area behind Kyra. They found a small cave with with an iron grate covering it with a door with a broken lock. Cal-El searched for tracks and found non-human tracks coming from and going into the cave. He couldn’t make out what kind of creature it was. Cal-El moved into the brush and waited while Eryn went back to the inn to get the others. She made it back to the others and explained what they found and they all made their way back to the river behind Kyra’s via different routes. Cal-El and Eryn went in first, using the infravision to carefully make their way through the cave. There were some dry areas but most of the center of the path was a stream of sewer water running out of the cave. The others entered but needed lighting. Francesca lit her hooded lantern and they kept back from the Elves so as not to affect their vision. A little ways in top the cave, they came to a split. The northern path was dry while the tracks seemed to continue up the sewer path. Eryn moved up to a turn in the dry path to se if she could tell what was down that way. As she leaned her head out around the corner, she was struck by movement of something and the sound of something moving her way rapidly. She tried to let Cal-El know to back out but before she could get anything done, three giant rats came charging out of the darkness. The battle was upon them.

Start the recording!