Siorra's Journal

## Session 2

I used my connection to the underground here in Woodhope to find an answer to our whole "being wanted criminals" problem. The Fallen Branch is a well-known area to people of lesser morals, and that's exactly where we need to be. I got info on a guy named Solana. Apparently he has a reputation as being a sucker, and his home is often empty and used for a safehouse. I fashioned disguises in case anyone was looking for us before heading to Solana's house. He was home when we got there, so I fed him some bullshit about being down on our luck with nowhere to stay, and he let us in just like that. What an idiot! I think he and Morell must have gone to the same school. He was really digging Ghalen's vibes, and asked for a blessing from Aen before he leaves on another trading job. Hope it serves him well, because based on this dump of a house he really does need some help. I sent a message with Seren to let Tenua and Denua know that we are alright, and at this point we all considered our vow to Morell's safety to be fulfilled.

Speaking of help, we set back to The Fallen Branch the next morning (leaving Morell at home. The idiot still thinks we're on vacation...) looking for some work. A man there said that he belongs to a group raiders that are having a problem with ghosts, and seeing as we have a man of god with us, we might be the right guys to help. Hell yeah, we're the right guys! How bad could it be? Ghalen talks to ghosts all the time and he's not dead. Yet. We swore a vow *to deal with the ghosts at the raider's structure*.

Arriving to the accursed home, I couldn't help but ask, "so what do these ghosts want from you?"

"Blood," the man replied, "they want revenge for their lives being taken."

Oh shit. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to swear that vow. Well, no going back now. As we get to the door, Zlata does his salt thing, and Caleb won't even get near the building. That's a bad sign. Well... a vow's a vow. I open the door and right there in the hallway is a ghost, whose body(?) was torn open and guts were spilling out. Bad way to go. I shudder and freeze for just a second before Ghalen pushes past me. He surmises that these ghosts are resisting the pull to the light, and just need to be convinced to stop fighting the inevitable. He says some spiritual mumbo jumbo about "letting go" and "moving on" and the dude actually bought it! (compel | strong hit with opportunity) And he's so relieved from the weight taken off his ghosty shoulders that he's letting Ghalen assume ownership of his old farmhouse. What the actual fuck. Ghalen really *is* the right guy for this job. At least two more ghosts remain. We'll see if we can't get out of this with a boat and a few women by the end of it.

## Session 3

We headed down the dark hallways looking for more ghosts to pump for swag. Ghalen, the brash bastard he is, opened a door and unleashed literal hell upon us. Hotter than Mama Rita's 5-alarm chili on a summer day in the broken isles. I do what comes naturally and douse the source with my canteen. It's good enough for the chili, right?    Well, that pissed off ghost number 2, and he came out swinging. Ghalen tried to calm the ghost (uggh of course he would), and I jumped behind a couch. I am not having a chat with that icy horror. Just then, Zlata kicked open the door and fired two silver bolts from his crossbow and nailed the fucker. What a badass. While Ghalen mumbled some more, it was my time to shine. I vaulted my couch and went for a killing strike... only to be held back by some mystic force. I saw this ghost's mouth open like a snake, and I could feel my life being drained from my body. I managed to struggle free as Zlata's last bolt hits the ghost square on. My hero! In its weakened state, I was able to hold the dude still so Ghalen could do last rites or whatever. Turns out this guy was burned alive, and that manifested as the intense heat we felt earlier. Couldn't think of a shittier way to go.

I found some medical supplies, and Zlata patched up our burns. I still felt kind of weird from that soul sucking thing though... I'm not feeling like meeting another ghost up close, so I send Seren out to find the next one while this is happening. Well, he comes back hurt :( . Zlata works out that the raiders who use this place must have set boobytraps in the depths of the house, and Seren triggered one. I thought I taught that bird better.

Zlata has an aha moment and pulls two tent pins from our pack, and uses them as divining rods. Like that would ever... oh shit they moved! We follow their movement through a few corridors and they cross each other when we hit the base of some stairs. The last ghost must be up there. Heading Seren's lesson, I spot a trap on the stairway and go to disarm it. Instead I trigger it and take a sharp stick to the arm. Maybe the teacher was the problem, not the pupil... Sorry Seren.

I slip into the shadows and sneak into the attic, minding not to alert the ghost. Hiding near enough to observe, I can see that this ghost is quite intelligent and not as feral as the last one. Ghalen might be able to reason with him. I give the signal and Ghalen and Zlata come in to convince the ghost to move on. However, he knows about The Children of Ereshki and what a plague they are to our lands. He has been watching our moves and pulling the strings that led us here in order to deliver a warning. "Leave Woodhope now. It is not safe here. The cult is not naive; they are on to you. They know your faces, they know your friends. Swear upon the iron to leave town immediately."

## Session 4

Leave immediately. Got it. Doesn't take a lot of convincing to get me out of this damn haunted house. I'll send Seren to give Tenua and Denua the retreat orders. Meanwhile, Zlata is leading the way to Solana's safe house where we left Morell.

The coast is clear; those cult assholes are no where to be found. This should be a quick in and out. Morell can't understand the urgency of the situation, and the dumbass starts packing bags. I tell Zlata to hurry him up and just jam his shit in a bag and let's go. Also, Seren should be here by now. It's not like her to take so long... Unlike Morell, though, I know we don't have a minute to spare. This house is probably targeted by The Children and we need to move NOW.

Zlata asks Caleb to find the scent trail that will lead us to the sisters. Good news, he found it. Bad news, they are in the heart of the city. In case you forgot, we are kind of wanted criminals... It's too risky to go in together, so I cloak myself and shadow-walk-the-dog until I spot Tenua having a cup of tea. I can't walk up to her, so I toss a few items out of my bag to get her attention. She recognized my gear, and could tell that I needed to meet her in private. She heads through the kitchen area and out the back door, and I sneak around to meet her.

"Hey, I know you and your sister are super into traveling to new places, right? Well, Ghalen has a cool new house in the hinterlands and we need to travel out there and throw a house-warming party! No time to lose! Let's go!" She totally bought it. She and Denua follow me back to the designated meeting point with the guys. When a hear a shout from behind. "Hey! It's you!"

Fuck fuck fuck they got me. Either the cultists or the po-lice... half the people in this town want me hanging from a noose it seems. The voice continues, "Siorra, right? How's my home keeping up?" It was Solana, the sucker who owns the safehouse. I don't have time to fuck with this guy right now. People are starting to look at me, and I really hate that feeling.

"Sorry sir, you have me confused with someone else. Please leave me alone."

"Oh... it's just you look just like him from the back. I'm sorry to bother you."

Phew. That was wayyyy too fucking close. That old bastard nearly got me-

"Siorra, why does that man know your name? And why did you lie to him?" Denua is too curious for her own good. Didn't she hear what happened to that cat?

"Nevermind that. We're almost to the others. We can't slow-" I hear a weak raven cry. "Seren! I'm coming baby!" Seren is covered in tree sap and cannot fly. I literally cannot get out of this gods forsaken town any sooner. Now the trees themselves are fucking with my shit. I carry Seren in my arms and reach the others at the agreed upon rendezvous point.

"What happened?" asks Ghalen, "And why is your bird so sticky?"

"I'll tell you on the way. Denua marked a small path on her map that we could use to slip out behind cover. That's our best chance of making it out unseen." Good riddance, Woodhope. Smell ya later.

The journey to our first destination, Stormcrag, is uneventful. Except for that one night Denua walked off to explore on her own. We might have to nail her to her bed. When we arrive at Stormcrag, we head straight for the Inn. Before we could open the door, I hear a booming female voice, "Well well well. If it isn't Ghalen. You couldn't hide from me forever!"

## Session 5

A detour to the bar. Not shabby! Kova sure knows how to welcome a guy. I should go thank her for extending her generosity beyond just Ghalen. They there are now!

"Ah, yes. The artifact! We are still looking for it as well! Let's compare notes." What is Ghalen talking about? This is the first time I've heard of any artifacts. OOOOHHH he's lying. Well, safety in numbers I suppose! I'll help him out.

"Our cartographer friends have been meticulously mapping any information we come across regarding the you-know-what. What is it that you know already, so we don't have to repeat ourselves?"

Kova bites. "I've heard that the Battlestaff of Zakaria is held deep in the tanglewoods in Tishtrya's circle. Those that have gone in, have never come out. I fear the same might happen to me. But you, Ghalen! And Friends! You seem well prepped for an adventure like this. And not to mention, you do owe this to me."

"Right right... I was hoping to find it on my own and bring it to you. I wouldn't want to endanger you by dragging you across the ironlands. We are here in Stormcrag because we are en route to the very circle you mentioned. We plan to infiltrate Trina's circle and collect the battleaxe of what's-his-face." You're gonna blow it Ghalen... DETAILS! "In fact, now that I have some sacred Iron, I will swear a vow on behalf of me and my crew--" *your crew?!* "-- to retrieve the artifact and bring it back to you. Surely this will satisfy my debt." Debt... that explains why he's lying so much. I taught him well.

After a restful night in Stormcrag, we immediately set out west. Tenua explains that she knows where Trishtrya's circle is, but she has not been able to map it. But it is a few day's journey North West of our current location. We decide to head straight for the tanglewood that was mentioned, instead of following the roads. We have enough supplies.

Just as night begins to fall, we come upon a small village. Barely more than 4 buildings, and not one of them is a tavern. Zlata asks if we might borrow some shelter for the night and they kick us into the streets. Remind me to burn this place down on the way back. The next few days are nothing but dirt and trees. The woods get thicker with every step, until we run across a few sentries wearing green and gold. I've got an idea...

Sneaking to a side opposite the party, I get the man's attention. "Hey! Is everyone in this circle so ugly, or is it just you?" When he turns, the team springs into action like a well-oiled machine. I shove the sentry to the ground, and Zlata and Ghalen bound and gag him. I brush the dust off my cloak, and we carry on. Not far from there, we see a small cottage. A guard's house? A quick survey suggests that this is a home, not a station. I send Morell to knock on the door.

TODO: Hermit w/ insignia, overgrown structure w/ disciples, Elder tree, Crafting a staff, Fight with zealots, Head back to Kova

## Session 6

todo: Find Kova, find safehouse, learn alchemy, accept boat vow, lose caleb, run into mafia, question goat man, steal boat, get away safe, next day get picked up by mafia and forced to do their dirty work