Session 4x2

Session 4x2 occurred on 21 Mar 2021. The players were LaurenDanger (Bea Naturalis), PsychoXer0 (Romeron), veerserif (Otilar), SaintEsteban (Aravor Enfiel), and Silvyr (Valdenar). Their goal was to destroy the Bloodlings infesting the Tomb of the Elven Queen in hex 016.021. As Eric was unwell, DrWreckage stepped up to GM at the last minute.

## Summary

The party left Dryvault for the Vera's glass city and arrived there that evening. There Vera agreed to make them a "Sun Cannon" that could absorb and emit sunlight in exchange for their return with blood mist-filled jars she provided.

The group returned to Dryvault the next day. The day after, they set out north and camped in 014.021. A failed hunting attempt allowed Otilar and Valdenar to spot Blood Mist coming from 015.021, forcing the group to retreat to 013.021. The next day they continued, unrested, through the Shattered Forest and up through hex 015.021 where they saw an orc-human wedding in a festival grove in the forest. Deciding against investigating the group carried on to the Tomb in 016.021. There they found some bandits and considered attacking them but decided instead to parley.

The next day passed uneventfully as the party was hoping for a sunny day. After some rainy weather, their second day at the Shrine turned out sunny. Opening the front of the tomb, they were able to slay the Bloodlings and collect Blood Mist in Vera's jars, although Aravor and Bea were infected with a demonic disease as a result.

Venturing into the tomb itself they found an altar with coins and a space for an elven gem on it, a decaying ship, and many frescoes on the walls. Deciding that the money would likely be stolen anyway they took it and, finding nothing else after a thorough search, returned to Dryvault with the Sun Cannon in tow.

## In-Character tales

### Aravor's tale

In our quest to purify the Shrine of the Elf Queen, we visited Vera, seeking a tool to aid us in focusing the sun to clear the Blood Mist pouring from within the sealed chamber. She crafted us a device which Otilar promptly named the "Sun Cannon" in exchange for our agreement to collect samples of the Mist for her in specially designed jars.

The Mist was upon us sooner than expected, however, nearly catching Valdenar and Otilar while they were hunting. We fled the Mist and eventually came upon a curious site: the forests next to the Cragfall Cave had been greatly affected by the collapse of the mountain. This Shattered Forest was torn asunder in many a place, and we witnessed ancient undead, clad in garb the world likely hasn't seen for decades or even centuries. We moved carefully through the area, Romeron guiding us slowly but surely to the other side. Clay clearly willed us to continue our journey, for eventually we reached an idyllic forest with the type of ground I'm fond of: soft dirt, little undergrowth, edible mushrooms, and a distinct lack of undead.

Within the forest, we stumbled upon a wedding between a human and an orc. Neither party paid us much mind as we politely excused ourselves and continued on past them. The rest of the journey was largely uneventful until we reached the shrine, where we were surprised to see three men, bandits based on their bloodstained garb and ill-gotten goods, camping there. They initially reacted to our presence with hostility, but Valdenar convinced them we could share the camp for the night, and told them to move on from this wicked place in the morning. Romeron was unhappy with this solution, feeling we should kill these men before they preyed upon others. In truth, I agreed, but this was Valdenar's quest, and he had entered into parley with these men. We learned their names were Bobbum, Fremnall, and Robbie. The forest floor would have made a fine resting place for scum such as they, but we honoured Valdenar's parley, and the bandits left without further issue. I suppose I should be thankful Cigfran was not here to recruit them.

We waited several hours for the Sun Cannon to fill up, and arrayed ourselves outside the warded door to the shrine. Our moment was upon us. Valdenar dug a small trench, and Romeron easily rolled the massive stone into it, opening up the shrine. Blood Mist poured from within, sizzling as it contacted the sun, and we saw two pairs of malevolent eyes stare out at us hungrily. After all of the time spent learning about this place and preparing for this journey - not to mention hauling the enormous and heavy Sun Cannon all the way out here - the time for battle was upon us. As is my custom, I stood behind men better suited for such a thing.

Romeron and Valdenar charged into the Shrine courageously, while Bea remained a short distance behind to support them, and Otilar and I held the Sun Cannon, ready to point it where it was needed. Between the natural light and the beam of the Sun Cannon, there was enough room for our two warriors to stand without being affected by the Blood Mist. Valdenar lashed out with his torch, which seemed highly effective against the creatures, while Romeron tried a more traditional approach of hacking at them with his axe. To his credit, I've yet to be in a situation where such a tactic has not worked. The pair made quick work of the first Bloodling, bolstered by a battle cry from Bea which set our blood to pumping.

The second moved in to strike Valdenar, raking its claws along him. Between my friend being in danger and the blood coursing through my veins from Bea's song, I had half a mind to jump into the fray myself with my staff. Cooler heads prevailed, thankfully, as Otilar called for my help turning the Sun Cannon. We fixed its beam upon the remaining Bloodling, and with an awful sound, it dissipated into nothingness. The threat had passed.

We noted, with alarm, that the Blood Mist was rapidly dissipating, as well. I recalled our promise to Vera. I had suggested we dig out the entrance through the roof that Ribes had found on our last journey, but the others had preferred a frontal approach - and while we were discussing that, I had forgotten about my plan to safely fill up the bottles through the vent.

Bea and I both throw caution to the wind and rushed into the Mist. I pushed myself to move as quickly as I ever have, and managed to fill my bottle, as did Bea. This success did not come without cost, however; we both felt a demonic sickness take hold of us. I recalled hearing of Mez, a druid schooled in the healing arts, and decided that would be my next area of study. The reason for this trial is unclear to me, but I'm sure I'll be stronger for it in the end. Clay's tests serve a purpose. That is the way of things.

With the Mist cleared, we looked around the shrine. The boat was long ruined, and would likely never be seaworthy again. A shame, as several in Dryvault had been seeking to build ships to sail to Cask more easily. Before the boat was an empty slot for an elven ruby, no doubt intended for the queen this shrine was dedicated to. There was also an offering of a significant amount of coin. We debated what to do with it for some time, but in the end, decided not to leave it here. After all, bandits had already found this place once. The coin would do more good in our hands - it would be no service to any god to allow such a fortune to fall into the hands of Bobbum and his men, or their ilk.

Before leaving, I placed my hand upon the boat and swore an oath. This fortune that we took would not be simple thievery. I swore that at one point, when the shrine is restored and well protected, we would resume the pilgrimage to gradually offer wealth again. In addition, I vowed to continue the queen's search. We shall see where the clues lead us, and if we can recover this artifact, it may be of great help to our survival.

### Bea's tale

Harken to the tale of Valdenar and his brave companions, who treated with Vera of the Glass Mountain for a boon we named the sun cannon. It collects and beams the sunlight where we direct it, and it was helpful in defeating the bloodmist.

In our journey toward the sacred tomb of the quest, we were forced to run from bloodmist, and when we arrived at the shrine, we parlayed with bandits who camped atop the mound. Rather than fight, we struck a deal. We’d share the camp, and these ruffians would depart in the morning. They abided by the parlay and left with their ill-gotten, blood-stained gains. Romeron would have preferred to slay them but we avoided unnecessary battle.

We waited a day for rain and cloud to pass, and then this glass projector was set in place. Romeron rolled the stone from the entrance and we held our breaths. Blood mist billowed out and dissipated, and we focused the light within, creating a safe space for Valdenar with torch and Romeron with axe to fight the bloodlings! They worked together to slay one while staying in the safety of the reflected sun.

The second bloodling attacked Valdenar, who valiantly parried with his shield. The thing recoiled, and then Otilar and Aravor moved the sun beam to illuminate the remaining bloodling and dissipated its power. When defeated, each bloodling split into piles of fleshy goo, minced remnants of the sisters of Heme who transformed themselves into these foul creatures.

Now this shrine, this memorial to the elf queen is cleansed of its corruption, but new quests remain to discern the fate of the queen and her quest for this legendary mace.

Sadly, both Aravor and I have been afflicted with a demonic disease, and we will now have until the first full moon of summer to avoid its consequences. What shall befall us? Will we become demons? While I am not directly afraid, I am sad that my music may somehow fade from this world.

### Romeron's tale

Valdenar was keen on cleansing a shrine he found, but before that he wanted to go and chat to Vera the insane glassblower. Once we got to the glass city Vera was interested in Valdenar's proposition and agreed to help building him something to enhance the rays of the sun, she also gave us another Jug to fill with bloodmist. The device she made was a massive glass bowl with a dragon-head on it and my god this thing weighed more then an elephant.

As we left the mountain and started our journey once again from Dryvault, we headed north and as we camped for the first leg of our journey we were accosted by bloodmist that seeped through the forest tot he plains. We narrowly avoided it and traveled more southward to the forests next to the former Cragfall mountains. These forest were broken open, calcified and the holes in the ground showed movement of the undead. We hurried our way safely across this forsaken broken forest and arrived at our final destination.

At the shrine or burial mound as it looked there already was a camp with three occupants in it. Cutthroats they were but Valdenar wanted to parley with them and I resisted to my core from just charging in and taking these foul things out. Everyone else slept at their camp under the protection of the parley, I on the other hand decided to stay in the forest and keep a watchful eye on them. My worries were naught as they did as they promised left on the first light, so I finally slept feeling exhausted for the overnight vigil.

The next day we waited for some sunshine and opened this tomb. As I pushed the boulder aside blood-mist poured out but dissipated quickly and inside we heard speech that only something demonic could understand. Valdenar and I held the door as the other used the Dragonhead-Sunray to light up the room, these things maybe once were people now they were just blood-mist and guts, even my most powerful axe blows barely dented them. Though Valdenar had the smarts to use an torch to light their core and it seemed to be working extremely well and helped me to finish off this jello like creature. As it died it was carved in to meat sacks of unrecognizable origin. There was another in the room but Aravor and Otilar aimed the Dragonhead-Sunray at it and took it out in a single hit. After the fight Bea and Aravor went and collected the blood-mist for Vera and it seems they were punished for it as now they seem to have some sort demonic disease.

In the back room we found a tomb to someone who might be dead but sure as hell wasn't buried there and I saw in Valdenar's eyes the feeling of not wanting to disturb the place. Bea made an excellent point "That if we don't take someone else will come and loot it, also we could do a lot of good with this gold". I agreed and started collecting the coins up before we left back to Dryvault, unfortunately I had to help carry the Dragonhead-Sunray back to Dryvault and let me say that thing got even heavier on the way back...

### Otilar's tale

I know my journeys in these lands have been touched by the gods. I only ask, which ones?

The folk in this place called "Dryvault" are odd, but generous and welcoming all the same. The human Valdenar spoke of a holy mission, and I thought there was no better way to start my career as an adventurer than by helping out the cause of a god. One of them, Romeron, was extremely generous to me, gifting me an old battleaxe and silver to get it fixed. It's a larger weapon than what I'm used to, but ever since I lost my knife in that scuffle across the border I'm glad to have something if the fighting gets close. Not one of them made a comment about my stature or my orcishness, which was a welcome relief from the other groups I've journeyed with.

We journeyed south to meet a strange dwarf called Vera, who made a beautiful glass dragon for us. Valdenar explained it was a weapon to channel the power of the sun, and that it'd be key in purifying this shrine to his god Raven. Which was also a tomb for some elf queen. I am still not sure which it is. In return, she wanted us to capture some of the Blood Mist in glass jars she gave us, which was strange payment - but it wasn't silver, which was certainly beyond my ability to provide. I kept watch as we moved north, the rest of our company carefully carrying Vera's contraption over the field, when I had my first true encounter with the gods of this land.

We had set up camp and I decided to try my luck with the local game, Valdenar coming as my hunting companion. We sighted some boar, and in my pride I thought they'd make a fine dinner. What a foolish thought! I was fortunate that the gods of the forest took pity on me, because they were sent as a warning. Instead of charging and goring us, they led us to notice the Blood Mist rolling in with the Springwane mist. It was only thanks to the boar that we managed to avoid being torn apart by demons - or worse. Valdenar and I ran back to camp as fast as our legs could carry us, and we ran through the night to avoid the Mist.

The next day, we carefully hoisted the glass dragon through the strangest forest I've ever walked in. Aravor and the others explained to me that this forest rested on top of a network of tunnels, and that there had been a recent earthquake. Whatever happened had shattered the land around us, and more than once we had to steady each other to keep from falling through unexpected ravines, to be torn apart by the restless dead below. The sight of all that Rust Brother gear, even on bodies I knew were not alive, sent a shiver down my spine.

Compared to that, the rest of our forest journey was a relief. The others tried explaining to me that the tunnels full of undead were probably still underneath us, but I didn't care so long as I didn't have to see them crawling around. I was happy to focus on the sounds of the forest around us rather than dwell on what lay beneath. When we neared our destination we narrowly skirted a wedding party, an event that probably should have filled me with joy, but mostly made me grind my tusks in worry. What on earth were they thinking, holding a party so far in the woods away from any guards?

We reached the shrine that evening, which turned out to be a barrow, which makes me think that this Raven is not very picky about her holy places. The others spotted some idiot humans who had set up camp on top, but I volunteered to stay back and guard the glass dragon. I'm told there was a tense conversation, but I spent most of that evening cleaning it and decorating it with flowers, the way the mothers back home would bless a foreign idol to convince the god to give us luck.

Maybe the flowers did the trick, because we only had to wait one full day for the sun to rise over the Springwane rain. As soon as it appeared we sprang into action. Romeron and Valdenar took up position near the barrow's main door, with Aravor, Bea and I hanging back. I volunteered to work with the glass dragon, on account of the time I'd spent earlier in the day trying to get its blessing for our adventure.

The moment the sunlight touched the orb on the dragon, a beam of light shot out of the dragon's mouth. It was so bright I nearly had to turn away. Romeron heaved on the stone door, pushing it aside, and I saw the Blood Mist inside wither under the light of the beam, the way the sun banishes the morning fog. Emboldened at the sight, and bolstered by Bea's awesome war-cry, our party sprang forward and demolished the bloody figures within.

I will never forget Valdenar, standing proud with the knowledge of his god's favour, bringing the full light of the sun to bear on the creatures inside. We managed to catch one of the figures with the beam of light, and it gave a terrifying screech as it collapsed into a bloody pile of giblets on the shrine floor. The others went inside to consecrate it but I hung back. I'm not ashamed to admit that even the remnants of the Blood Mist give me pause, and the warm sunlight gave me great comfort. Bea and Aravor dashed in to fill up Vera's jars, and they paid dearly for our dragon's creation. Both of them came out with a haunted look on their faces, and I am afraid to ask what happened.

I forfeited my share of the loot. Instead I've asked that it be dedicated to the spirits of those boar, to Valdenar's Raven, and to whatever spirits of the sun looked out for us. The journey back to Dryvault was a rough hike, but I've never been more proud to bear a burden than this glass dragon that now resides in Dryvault's shrine.