Session 8

The party pursues the fleeing mage through the forest, eventually gaining on them. You all fought the mage that really stood no chance against all four of you, and he went down, the box tumbling out of his hand. Elswyth picked up the box and inspected it, seeing that there were four animals engraved on the box on each of the four sides. Each side had its own key, and each keyhole looked the same. Meanwhile, the other party members (mainly Curio) looted the mage and found spell components, and one key that had five teeth on it. Realizing there were likely three other keys elsewhere on the bandits you defeated, you all returned to the cart and looted the bandits' bodies as well. The Bandit Captain had a key as well as one of the other bandits, but the forth was nowhere to be found. Using a Detect Magic, Silene found a presence coming from the cart, where they found the final key beneath the floorboards of the cart. Making quick work of the puzzle box, you realized that each key corresponded to the letters in the animals name. Entering each key into the proper lock, you opened the box to find an egg, sparkling a rainbow-like brilliance. Taking some time to loot through the cart, you all found a bag. Turning it upside down, you realized that it contained 140 GP, and a golden statue , a handle of gems. This is a Bag of Holding. After opening the box and seeing the egg, Elswyth once again hears the voice calling her to bring her back her love. She tells the party and says she wants to follow the voice. The voice led you to a cave that looks ordinary from the outside, and, on your guard, you walk into the cave, prepared for anything. Inside the cave, those of you with Darkvision were able to see a curled up enormous form of an adult dragon that seemed to be in slumber. Elswyth approached the dragon with the drake egg and place it in her middle where she was curled around. The egg begins to crack, hatching, and the dragon stirs.

As the dragon stirs, she wakes. She thanks Elswyth for listening to her call and bringing her back her love. She tells the party her story, which is that she is from a different plane called Irrysdan. She grew up under the rule of a vicious dragon who craved nothing more than to get K’ss’th’ora's power under her control. She sought to marry her off but K’ss’th’ora fell for another, a black drake named Or'dynn. They ran away together and lived happily for a while, but before too long, The MOAD found them and came to reclaim K’ss’th’ora for herself. Together they managed to beat back the assault and drive them away, but in the process, Or'dynn was greatly injured and died. K’ss’th’ora had just laid an egg, but in her grief at losing her mate, she cast magic on the egg and herself to fall into a deep slumber. Bandits came to steal the egg, seeing nothing else of value, and upon realizing what had happened, she connected with one she knew to be one with nature, Elswyth, and tasked her to bring her back her love. As she finished telling the story, she says that in her slumber, she saw MOAD ridding the world of Irrysdan of those she deems unworthy. K’ss’th’ora knows she must go back and fight that battle against MOAD, so she gives the care of her young drake to Elswyth, using her magic to create a bond between them that allows her to call forth her drake whenever she needs. She asks her to take good care of her young drake until she can return. She also turns to Ensley and tells her that she should be encouraged at this story - that by working together and supporting each other, great things can be accomplished. He gives her a map he has been working on for her. You all returned and as you left, saw a rainbow - like dragon take to the skies and vanish. Upon returning to Laucian and Liria's camp, Laucian pulled Elswyth to the side to discuss how she came about her new companion, and she explains the story to him. He tells her he is proud of all she has accomplished. (edited)

Laucian gives Elswyth the map he has been creating for her.