The Pantheon War Campaign/Session 3

At the Hamlet:
*Tome is no longer suspicious of the townspeople.
Reporting back to the Queen:
*Party returns to camp where Gus (Tome's officer) is waiting.
*Amarak has moved on. Party needs to provide evidence that the wyrms are dead to for our reward and main mission.
*Several of Amarak's men were left behind to help verify. Party takes men to the hamlet. Amarak's men behold the well and determine that the hamlet should be burned.
*Amarak's men ask Tome to dig a well to determine that the water is potable. Haruspex is determined to dig well by himself.
*Villages go about burying their dead. Humboldt attempts to add ceremony to the process, but only drags out the perception of time.
*Haruspex digs well and determines that the well is not contaminated. Amarak's men have villages drink water, they do not die. Villagers fearfully thank Haruspex.
*Tome encourages villagers in a speech to move on emotionally (and maybe physically). Girl from the first house (who called Screecher a death swan and gave Humboldt a pig) asks where they should go. Tome suggests they move into an urban setting and convinces all to leave except for the oldest woman in the village and the miller. 15 villagers join the party. Tome is very suspicious of the villagers.
*Party journeys to the Queen's city, exiting the forest and moving through farmland. Party arrives at Queen's city / capital after five days. More sophisticated construction (stone houses, bridges, 'otherworldly' construction techniques). One of the main gates of the city is constructed from otherworldly metal.
Party arrives at the capital city (Ereneval):
*Queen's name is Erena, city is named after her. Ereneval has a population of around 10,000.
*Ereneval is the first city large enough to support the party's entourage.
*Screecher determines that the city gate was grown and held together by a very powerful force. Gate is made from a fabric-like material treated with chemicals. It is cool to the touch. Lead guard claims that no force can break the gate down when it is closed and in-place.
*Guard says that when the veil of the gate is pierced, the whole world will descend into shadow. The guard may only be repeating local legends.
*Tome sends his men to camp outside the city. Allowed to camp with weapons as long as they do so in seldom used area outside the city. Will not be allowed weapons inside the city.
*Party is allowed to carry weapons as long as they are concealed. Haruspex leaves his scythe with Tome's men, tells them not to hold it for too long.
*Ereneval is a lesser known city in the cosmos.
*Party is met by Amarak, who speaks into the party's minds. Guards around Amarak are Amarak's retainers, do not belong to the Queen. Amarak informs party that the Queen will receive the party in the morning. Amarak invites the party to dinner.
*Party is invited into the palace, which is located in the center of the city. Amarak explains that the palace is ancient, but city was only developed within last 200 years. City gate ('veil') was a gift, but nobody knows its origins.
*Humboldt has heard of structures built in the ether that use 'false skies' to protect themselves from the ether. These are made from the same material as the veil. Material is malleable and can be used to make ships. Humboldt has seen ships made of material. It was referred to as 'canvas metal'. Material is of unknown origin. Canvas metal is conductive to etheric energy. Piercing it in the ether would channel etheric energy inside. Same principle may have been adopted by local mythology.
*Screecher asks Amarak if there is much contact between worlds. Amarak responds that this world is easy to reach from some places and harder to reach from others. It is not a trade world. 2 or 3 other kingdoms also on the same world (Atarkia). Queen Erena's domain is the one most in contact with the rest of the cosmos. Amarak was part of the last movement of people to the world.
*Meal is served which is entirely vegetarian. Screecher is provided a pipe to eat without removing his mask.
*Tome asks Amarak about his horse. Amarak claims his horse is completely fine.
*Humboldt asks why the meal does not contain meat. Amarak says he does not trust meat. Screecher detects dried elvish fruit. Many spices are not grown on this world.
*Tome reacts negatively to spices.
*Water is served in copper cups. Amarak offers coffee to party.
*Humboldt asks Amarak why he doesn't like meat. Amarak makes case that meat pollutes and consumers. Humboldt asserts that these are virtues.
*Amarak came into Queen's service by being able to communicate across language barriers and having knowledge of the cosmos. Amarak's position seems to be ambassador/wizard.
*Amarak tells party that they should expect the Queen to be displeased that the party brought the village with them. Queen will also lay out task for party. Humboldt advised not to bring censer.
*History of planet beings when nomads arrived on planet and formed vassalages.
*Haruspex and Amarak look at each other. Amarak grips his chair as he looks at Haruspex. Color drains from Amarak's face in splotches. Haruspex detects that Amarak is alive, but more like a fungal colony (but still ensouled). Seems to be made of a multitude of life forces.
*Humboldt concludes from splotches that Amarak is a flesh golem (Nat 1).
*Amarak will be present and translate for the party's audience with the Queen tomorrow.
*Amarak questions Humboldt about his origins. Screecher makes slightly off-key noise to represent Humboldt. Amarak repeats the noise back at Screecher. Amarak looks human-ish but unfinished. Not an elf.
*Tome is a true believer in Falamar. Explains that he fought in a war (which is ongoing) after which he became an amateur archeologist and discovered an artifact of Falamar. This is the oracle. Tome shows Amarak the oracle/artifact.
*Tome lets Amarak inspect the oracle. Amarak does not know if the object contains knowledge, but at least contains chance.
*Amarak makes a reference to 'moral' men, implying that he is not.
*Party given lodging in house for guest of the Queen.
*Humboldt hot-boxes room with blue vapor and stares into the eyes of his companion (Mel)
*Tome goes gambling, finds a game to join. Quickly racks up a debt. Tome goes to Gus for money. Gus gives Tome money, but makes it clear that it's the last of his money. Any further money would need to come out of Tome's men's pay. Tome returns to games. Other players offer double or nothing. Tome declines the bet.
*Queen's crier summons party to the Queen's court.
Audience with the Queen:
*Tome is completely fine (not hungover), Elesett and Screecher are fine, Haruspex hurts but is presentable, Humboldt perceives time very quickly (like a video on fast-forward).
*Haruspex drags Humboldt forward. Tome berates Humboldt. Humboldt drags Tome into time dilation. Elesett superheats air around Humboldt. Tome leaves the time dilation field.
*Screecher sings upbeat song to help Humboldt speed up. Humboldt enters court with the rest of the party. Screecher looks for a vantage point in roof to observe.
Next time: Meeting with the Queen
Category:Session Summaries