Session 2x6

Session 2x6 occurred on 24 Feb 2021. The players were LaurenDanger (Bea Naturalis), Big Spoon (Tyriok), DrWreckage (Galen), PsychoXer0 (Gregor Blackhall) and Veron (Osric). Their goal was to head back to Cragfall Cave to recover treasure and the bodies of the fallen.

## Summary

The party set off towards Cragfall Cave, running across a band of fleeing mercenaries. One of them, having risen as restless dead, was put down near the mouth of the cave by a member of the Iron Guard. Inside the cave, Bulwark had been awakened as undead by the death knight inside, who revealed her name was Jasna the Unconquerable. Impressed by Tyriok's feat of slaying the Lantern Wyrm, she returned the bodies of the fallen adventurers as a sign of good faith, but lay claim to all the treasures inside. She also claimed she would be willing to return to death if Skarn willingly entombed himself with her, since he awoke her during Session 2x4.

After cremating the bodies of the fallen, the party decided to return Bulwark's sword to his family and set off for his village to the north. On the way, they fought and temporarily subdued a spirit. The party crossed the river and made their way to Bulwark's village to be greeted by his wife Avella, a druid and elder of the village. Avella shared information about a crypt to the north-west of Cask, and a major settlement to their north-east called Duskfall.

## In-character tales

### Bea's tale

A tale to tell, of tiring journey, of dealings, of ghosts, of a village to the north... In my hand, a shard, a memory of Wolfkiller, and now in the hand of a fellow elf, to somehow return to the forest. The journey may be long, the destination far to the north, but one day… one day.

A misty morning met us on the 22nd and we strode forth, up the mountain and hoping to confront the Death Knight. Yet on our approach we spotted mercenaries who rushed past us, unwilling or unable to stop and tell us why they were fleeing. Outside the cave we watched as one was put to death by an Iron Guard of the Rust Brothers, but this was no longer a living being. And inside the Cave, Bulwark was standing there, also locked in undeath. We parlayed with the knight through the undead guardians, making a deal with Jesra the Unconquerable to release the bodies of the fallen comrades. In return, Skarn is to return and seal the tomb from the inside.

We burned the bodies and Tyriok wished to return Bulwark’s sword to his home village. Thus we rested atop the mountain. It was uneventful and the next morning we descended to the plains. We saw trolls along the way, and they were busy beating a dead horse which allowed us to slip by. But we entered a dense fog and it drained on us, so we did not reach Cask, Bulwark’s village and were forced to camp. We rested near the foundation of a long-ruined tower, and as evening became night, the sound of a lute carried through the air.

Thus we were forced to fight a spirit, one screaming of betrayal and likely dead for many an age. Gregor unleashed fierce fire magic and Osric leapt forth with a torch, exchanging blows with the apparition. It was consumed by fire and banished, though we knew it was only a short time before it would return. Victorious but exhausted, we waited by the river for morning, cold and wary, but not further harassed by haunting sounds or spirits.

And so the dawn broke and we did return Bulwark’s sword to his wife in the village of Cask, ending the tale of the “little men” who fought the great Lantern Wyrm Demon.

And of Wolfkiller, I shall hold the memory with me now. We only knew one another in passing, but I shall live in hope of one day lending new life to this soul.

### Osric's journal

**22nd of Springrise**

Last night it was decided. We’d head for the caves where Tyriok’s party met their end and recover what we could. We left at dawn. The trek was muddy and cold, but our progress was steady. As we approached the cave, a group of mercenaries came running down the hill screaming, “Run for your lives! Only death lies ahead!” They ran, and our gaze returned to the cave’s entrance where we were met with the sight of an undead Iron Guard despatching a wounded man.

Galen approached the cave with caution, but it wasn’t long before we heard the telltale sound of an alarm being sounded. Galen called for us to take down the Iron Guard… and the risen members of the previous expedition. In preparation to fight for our lives against that undead horror I put on the coral mask. It spread over my body in moments. Whatever I’ve done to myself, I hope it was worth it.
When we approached, Jasna the Death Knight spoke through Bulwark and demanded to speak to the slayer of the Lantern Wyrm. It was tense going for a moment, but Tyriok was able to bargain for the bodies of his fallen comrades. We managed a burial for them as well as the fallen Iron Guard who Jasna apparently had no use for.

Galen wanted to force the dead Brother to spill his guts, but without a name the spell was useless. We succeeded in our goal to recover bodies, and the Brother went to his rest undisturbed. Now all we have left of the dead is their equipment, their stories, and a strange statue that belonged to the Iron Guard.

**23rd of Springrise**

The trip down the mountain was easy going, but we had to divert in order to avoid a pair of trolls beating some poor dead creature. As the hours drew on into the afternoon, my mind began to grow hazy. The coral, and also my own body, hungers ever greater for blood. I only hope I can find some without resorting to something… unsavory.

**24th of Springrise**

Bea had to take over navigating for me. The hunger is growing hard to manage, but the party continued to make good time northward. We camped near a ruined tower just south of the river. Tomorrow we’ll likely make it to Bulwark’s village.

Seems I spoke too soon, we were bedding down for the night when this strange ethereal music began playing. An apparition coalesced and attacked us. Gregor wreathed it in flame and it screamed into the night. All I had to fight was one of Galen’s torches. It was enough, but the necromancer informed us it’d be back. We wait at the river for morning.

**25th of Springrise**

A ferrygoblin named Ada took us across the river, and Tyriok delivered the news to Bulwark’s wife. The rest of the day was spent in preparation for a funeral feast. I was able to finally find some blood from a goat they slaughtered. I can feel the coral growing closer to me.

There’s a shrine to Rust here. Bulwark never told us his wife was a priestess. Then again, she doesn’t seem much like one. We’ll be heading to Dryvault after this feast is done with.

### Tyriok's tale

**Day One**, We traveled out to talk to and deal with the Death Knight. As we ascended the mountainside we were passed by a group of fleeing raiders, screaming that only death was on the mountain. Galen mentioned that he saw the look in their eye and said it was the look of someone who had just seen a dead companion raised against them. We ventured further towards the cave, seeing an undead Rust Brother Iron Guard finishing off one of his erstwhile companions. Galen approached the cave cautiously, being seen by the undead sentinel of Bulwark, and tried to engage Jasna the Unconquerable in diplomacy and was snubbed, the rest of our group approached, ready to fight the dead Iron Guard and our old companion. It was not necessary however, as I announced that I was the one who slew the Lantern Wurm, gathering Jasna’s attention and we spoke briefly.

The ancient dwarf warrior princess seemed confused about the world, asking about ancient wars and how the orcs fared against their enemies. She seemed angry about being left behind by her clan, the Clan of the Sun I think and confused that we all traveled the land without clans to keep us safe asking if Belder still stood, and angry that she was awoken by accident. In recognition of deeds of myself and my fallen compatriots she gifted our companions and the dead Iron Guard, though the treasure of the Lantern Wurm, she has claimed and I fear it is lost to us forever now. In speaking with her of Skarn, the Stone-singer who had awoken her, she mentioned that she could be laid to rest again should he return and entomb himself in with her in recompense and that it was part of Huge’s plan, or something like that. I agreed only to carry the message to him.

We burned the bodies of our compatriots on the mountainside overlooking the rest of the valley, the same place where Bulwark told me that you could see his village, though the fog of the day hid it from view.

**Days 2 & 3 (13.21 14.20, 15.19, 16.19)** We traveled across the plains encountering and avoiding a pair of trolls, avoiding them as they hammered on what might have been a dead horse and rider. We moved into the plains near Blaudwater Lake, finding a ruined tower just south of the river near Cask. On the night of the 3rd day, we made camp near the tower, Gregor began to hear the sound of a lute, and went to investigate, as the party moved to investigate, a ghost appeared looking for it’s lost love. I slept through most of the battle, but I was told, Gregor set it on fire and Osric used a torch and they banished the ghost for a short time.

**Day 4** Moving away from the tower we waited fruitlessly until dawn, and the arrival of Old Ada, a stout goblin woman, who rowed across the river, normally she’d charge a silver per for the crossing, but when I unwrapped Bulwark’s blade, she immediately recognized it and took us across without cost. We met with Bulwark’s wife, the druid elder of this village Avella. Osric’s mask reminded Avella of an old relic that the Sisters of Heme had at Vond, west of Alderland, deep in rust brother territory. We celebrated Bulwark’s life with a hefty feast. Afterwards, Galen pulled Avella aside later and talked to her about the area, finding out about the Orthos Family Crypt, a Ghost had a falling out with Zygofer and might have been cursed. Avella also mentioned there is a large town on the shores of Clay’s Lake called Duskfall (020.016) to the NorthEast of Cask.

### Gregor's tale

Once we got close to the entrance of the cave we saw the reason for they're fear a fully armored Rust Brother and Iron Guard now risen for their death killed one of the ragged tagged mercenaries that clearly had arrive with him to investigate the cave.

Jasna spoke to us through Bulwark one of the fallen companions Tyriok who perished in this cave. Tyriok's action of defeating the Lantern Wyrm clearly impressed Jasna enough to speak with us. After a lengthy conversation Tyriok and Jasna came to agreement of releasing our fallen comrades for burial and she also warned us that the one who broke her tomb needed to come and seal it with them inside it.

After we had said our prayers and burned the corpses we decided to travel to Bulwark's home town up north. On the way we spotted two trolls beating on a dead horse, we made the decision to avoid confrontation with these monstrous creatures. We continued our trek north until we reached the river in the evening and decided to camp next to this remnants of a tower of unknown origins. During evening while I was keeping watch I heard a lute playing and informed the others that something or someone was approaching. Then there they were a spirit of the dead a proper ghost never have I seen one before and Galen tried to speak to it but the only thing it wanted was vengeance for a betrayal we did not know about. We fought the ghost with magical fire and also regular fire from our torches. It was a formidable opponent but we were able to vanquish it but Galen informed it would not be long until it returned. So we rested next to the river that night hoping the ghost would not track us there.

Next morning a elderly goblin came out of the town across the river and ferried us over. This town was very hospitable and also they seem to be experts in brewing. Cask as the resident called their home had a temple for Rust, personally just seeing the temple made me want to gag. Met with Bulwark's wife Avella the defacto leader of the town and also a druid of some capability. Avella also shared some more information with us about a crypt to the North-West of Cask (014.018) which is according to her a lair of ghosts that are starting to cause trouble even close to Cask. She also informed that there is a major settlement to the North-East of Cask called Duskfall (020.016). After a rest Tyriok and I started drinking until I noticed Galen going somewhere with Avella so I decided to follow. Somehow they did not detect me and listening to this conversation first made me think Galen needs to learn to have a filter on what they say. As the conversation went on learned of a pearl he is carrying which has piqued my interest to say the least. I returned back to our feast and continued drinking all day.