Geornan's Fabulous Adventuring Group

## General Information

### Notable Members

Geornan, Thelar the Dawnbringer, Sunni/Rahu Wukong, Valorin Aldiatac, Mara Nathandem, Grimatar, Erathin Isilindell

**Geornan's Fabulous Adventuring Group** was an adventuring band comprised of four mortal beings that participated in a variety of dangerous magical adventures as they tried to make a name for themselves throughout Patamei.

## History

### Humble Beginnings

The constituent members of Geornan's Fabulous Adventuring Group came from diverse backgrounds, but met as most adventuring groups do: in a tavern. Each found themselves sat around a flagon of ale in  Drury's Flagon, a small tavern on the outskirts of Broadford, Enisti in 4678. Broadford was a small town famous for adventurers who wished to prove their mettle and make something of themselves. The four members were thirsty for adventure, and probing the tavern's patrons and eponymous barkeep, discovered that a small group of nearby bandits had been terrorizing the town for some time. The city's militia were considered ineffectual, and so the newly formed Fabulous Adventuring Group set out to bring the bandits to justice.

Venturing into the woods surrounding Broadford, the party camped for the night and stalked by a mysterious creature. Not engaging, the party continued the next day and discovered the location of the bandit camp. Staking it out, they watched the movements of the guards and eventually gained entry. They parlayed with the bandit leader, Clawhell, but were quickly captured and held within the camp jail. Blowing out the wall and setting the jail alight, the party escaped back into the woods, and made their way back towards Broadford.

Stalked again by the mysterious creature, they engaged it in combat, only to discover it was a wendigo. Defeating the beast after some effort, the party returned to Broadford to lick their wounds and find a more palatable adventure. Learning that the nearby  Valley of the Tombs was a common starting place for newly minted adventure-seekers, the group equipped themselves at the local magic shop run by resident wizard  Welfer. They made their way deep into the valley, searching for a tomb to plunder and quickly discovering  one, cleared it of the animals who had nested there. In the bowels of the tomb, however, the group quickly found themselves out of their depths when a group of cultists summoned Glasya, daughter of Asmodeus and one of the  Lords of the Nine. She was amused to see the young party, and gifted them a  magic coin before departing.

#### *Resisting the Call*

Fleeing from the tomb and demon princess, the party took to examining the coin in question, and found that it contained the bound essence of Furcas, a Knight of Glasya's court. He tried to tempt Geornan into joining him, and while Geornan used Furcas's power to get the party out of a tight spot fighting a pair of owlbears, he ultimately resisted the demon's temptations and placed him safely into a carrying bag where he could not influence the party. Desperate for help, the party turned to the local  Cathedral of Reorx where they met the High Priest, Conga. Explaining their predicament, Conga arranged for them to meet the  Master of the Enisti Pavilion, Garihel Trollbender. Giving them a  map, he arranged for them to travel by barge up to Baston, the capital city.

Arriving and gaining entry to the Pavilion, the party met with Trollbender, who assembled a small elite team of wizards to deal with the demon. Using a powerful banishing ritual, they returned Furcas to his dark mistress, and the Fabulous Adventuring Group were praised for their efforts. Geornan is admitted as a full Member wizard of the Pavilion, and the party located  A Wink and an Alehouse in Baston to celebrate their victories where they met Ennet, the owner. Exploring Baston's delights, Valorin expressed a desire to find a local fighting pit so he could test his gladiatorial prowess against the local talent. They got quickly lost in the slums of the city, however, and were quickly charmed by Bradley - a dirty urchin lurking about the slums with his pet (dead) rat Steven. Although they never located the fighting pit, they did smuggle Bradley past the city guards and into the city, placing him in the care of Ennet.

Whilst in Baston, the adventuring group took notice of a strange atmospheric phenomenon: the winds of Enisti were blowing strongly from all directions directly towards the capital. As a result, trade became impossible within the island nation. No air and water-bound ship could fight against the gale-force winds, and the cities and towns were quickly becoming overpopulated with refugees and trapped traders. The flow of goods had also been cut off, and key imports were running low.

### The Vallenatta Affair

#### *A Damsel in Distress*

The people of Enisti were panicked, but no one was certain of the cause of the calamity. The group took it upon themselves to discover the truth of the matter and save Enisti. After an audience with the King failed to bear fruit, his brother Irranatyo, advised the party to travel by foot deep into the mountains and consult with a sage who could commune directly with the gods to discover which god had been angered so greatly, and why. After several days' travel, the group arrived at the base of a mountain in the west of Enisti, and rested within a small village. They hired a young man from the village to be their guide up the mountain, and set off up the snowy peak. At its apex, they found the hermit sage Brahan. Blessed with the gift of prophecy, Brahan told the group that the winds were being fueled by the anger of the agricultural goddess Chauntea. The King of Enisti  Nondemiisus I had angered the goddess by placing the skill of his farmers above those of the agrarian diety. Vengeful, the goddess had cursed the land, and would only be sated by the King's penance: the sacrifice of his only daughter Vallenatta. Brahan offered each adventurer their own prophecy before bidding them farewell.

Angered by the goddess's cruelty, the adventuring party descended the mountain, their young guide being tragically killed by a young white dragon on the way. They returned to Baston and sought an audience with the King and his retinue in order to find a solution, but were rebuffed and were forced to regroup. Valorin, however, did catch sight of Vallenatta while roaming the castle grounds and became quite smitten. To his delight, the princess seemed similiarly taken with the gladiator. Despondent, they returned to A Wink and an Alehouse, where they were met by a paladin and priestess from the local  Abbey of Mishakal. Mishakal, goddess of healing and compassion, seemed the perfect candidate for interceding on the princess's behalf with Chauntea, and so they permitted the pair to bear them to their large abbey.

On arriving, they are led through the corridors and and passed through into the main worship space. An enormous domed circular room, it had the heavens beautifully etched into the stone of the ceiling. At one end of the room was a statue of their deity above an altar with offerings and incense; the rest of the room was lain out in concentric circles with various writings on the floor, and the statuary and devotionals around the walls spoke to the deeds of Mishakal and her followers. Conspicuously, on the altar the statue of Mishakal was carved as if to hold a small item between her hands, but the space was empty.

They learnt that the abbey was a centre for healing in Baston and that many of the poor and destitute from the slums often travelled to the abbey grounds to receive free treatment. The Abbess, Hildegard, greeted them and explained that Mishakal appeared in a vision to her and revealed Chauntea's design and the group's efforts to thwart her. Mishakal was sympathetic to the group's mission and wished to offer her assistance. She revealed to the group that a sacred artifact known as the Light of Mishalkal had been stolen from the abbey centuries before, and if the adventurers could retreive it, she would be able to use the gift to resurrect the fallen princess. Chauntea would be satisfied by the letter of the law if not the spirit, and Mishakal would compel the goddess to uphold her end of the bargain.

#### *An Ancient Evil*

Unfortunately, the intelligence gathered by Hildegard indicated that the stolen artifact rested deep within the ruins of Ptolemy. The Abbess advised the group that she would be dispatching a small cadre of paladins to accompany the group for added support, but the gardener pulled them aside as they turned to leave and advised they track down someone with more experience walking on the darker side of the road. He directed them to the Blind Eye Tavern, a less-than-respectable place with patrons who would be more inclined to take risks involving ancient evils.

There they introduced themselves to Saamri, a Drow who claimed to have plundered the lich's catacombs many times before, and who will ask for half of their takings. He warned them of the catacombs many dangers, and asked for their obedience and trust in his judgement, to which they agreed. The next morning an unorthodox band of Drow criminals, mixed adventurers, and paladins in shining holy armour departed from a Wink and an Alehouse for a 10-day ride. They shared facts about one another, and travelled together to the ruins of Ptolemy.

Descending into the cursed catacombs, the team encountered some ghoulish creatures, but mostly the ghouls within their own minds. Sermé's magic was still present within the underground labyrinth and the group were forced to confront painful memories as they progressed throughout the lair. Sunni was shown images of his childhood home before it was destroyed, and others relived painful moments of loss. Through force of will they pressed on, and found an inverted cathedral, and Mishakal's stone within. With cunning and a few deft flips from the monk, the party retrieved the stone. Unfortunately, their exit had been cut off, and they were forced to descend deeper in hopes of a secondary exit.

After resting in a dead end, the party awoke to a grisly scene: Saamri and his compatriots had their throats slit by an unrecognised man. He was Talpa, a friend they left for dead some years before who discovered the party wandering and sought his revenge. One by one the paladins too were slain until only the adventuring party survived. Eventually they find their way to a great shaft leading into darkness. With no other way out, and at their wit's end, they took a leap of faith and jumped. Falling into nothingness, they drifted in a vast expanse of black for some time, before finding themselves at a disembodied door floating in the same space. Entering, they fell into the Blind Eye Tavern, and were promptly returned back to Baston.

#### *Borrowing a Princess*

Restoring the sacred artifact to the Abbey at Mishakal, the team were then forced to consider how best to get Vallenatta to the Abbey. Geornan rendered Varlorin invisible, and the athetic young man clambered unseen up the castle's battlement's to Vallenatta's chambers. Sunni and Thelar provided the guards with ample distractions, Sunni even dressing in drag for the occasion. Presuming the gladiator in her chambers had come to kill her and break the curse, she did not resist, saying she would gladly lay down her life for her people. Valorin assured her that wouldn't be necessary, and shared the team's plan, which Vallenatta supported. She agreed to sneak from the castle herself under cover of night, and meet them at A Wink and an Alehouse. Sunni's and Thelar's disguises were seen through however, and they were forced to flee.

After nightfall, the princess arrived at A Wink and an Alehouse incognito. From there, the party spirited her to the Abbey in disguise, where she was received by the Abbess and High Priest, and left her there for the night. By the time they returned to A Wink and an Alehouse, however, they were dismayed to find that the tavern had been closed by order of the King's brother Irranatyo. Forced to defect to a new inn,  The Crossed Axes, the party learnt from the innkeeper that when the princess went missing the guards immediately suspected the party given their earlier audience with the King. Knowing where the party was staying, Ennet, Bradley, and the rest of the staff were arrested as co-conspirators.

Late at night, the party awoke to discover the innkeeper had betrayed them and summoned the guards, recognizing the group from their wanted poster. With the door bolted and guards on the stairs, the party fled through the window and into the night. The next morning, the incessant winds had stopped. The populace, ignorant of the cause, celebrated in the streets kissing and embracing. Sneaking to the Abbey, the party were greeted by a priest and entered the compound. They found Vallenatta lain out on an altar in a simple white gown surrounded by candles and chanting priests. The Light of Mishakal rested on her still breast, as Hildegard entered in ornate ceremonial robes. Invoking Mishakal's radiance, the room filled with a divine light that passed over all, and a sense of peace settled in the room as the goddess worked her magic. When the light faded, Vallenatta coughed and sat up, perfectly fine. A tense moment passed, but Mishakal was true to her word and the winds stayed calm and unaffected.

#### *Heroes of the Realm*

The party rejoiced, and Vallenatta expressed her gratitude for the affair. The party discussed what to do, and Valorin, Geornan, and Thelar presented themselves at the Sheriff's office to be arrested, with the hope that they could explain and have their charges commuted. Sunni, once again disguised as an older woman, fled amongst the city's streets and killed two guards in a panic. Remorseful, he fled the city in a hay cart. Meanwhile, the others joined Bradley and an unimpressed Ennet in the city jail. They claimed they'd been held for "giving comfort and aid to enemies of the Kingdom." Though Ennet is concerned, Bradley's spirits remained high.

Irranatyo arrived, and addressed the party, saying that by killing the princess they had tied his hands. The party filled Irranatyo in on the events of the catacombs and the resurrection and asked him to check the Abbey where he would find his niece alive. Incredulous, he dispatched a guard unit to verify the story, and the party spent the night in the cells. The next morning, the King paid a personal visit to the jail with Irranatyo. He thanked the party for their cunning and apologised for his earlier hubris. The party were issued a full pardon for all their crimes relating to saving the kingdom, and asked Irranatyo to arrange a reward. Irranatyo also freed Ennet, Bradley, and the staff of a Wink and an Alehouse with apologies and thanks.

Leading the trio into the Sheriff's office, Irranatyo offers them whatever they wish for as a gift from a grateful nation. The party asked for their own airship, a request that was granted. The ship would take some time to build, and in the meantime Irranatyo and the party must discuss what to do about Sunni - the fugitive murderer. The trio agree to go looking for him, thinking they can bring him back and negotiate terms. The team are advised to return before the following evening however, when a ball will be held in their honour. They left the jail, and attempted to return to their lodgings in A Wink and an Alehouse but are rebuffed by Ennet, who was busy cleaning the tavern after an extended absence. After some bargaining, she allowed them to stay once they'd agreed to cover the costs of her lost inventory.

That evening, a cart pulled up outside the inn, and from it stepped Zhao Coco, a flamboyant tailor and haberdasher commissioned by the King to prepare fineries for the trio to wear to the ball. They chose a variety of expensive and sumptous outfits, and received their invitations before Coco slid away. Sunni, meanwhile, was apprehended before he could get too far outside the city, and was sent to the city jail, where he was treated poorly at the hands of the guards. Irranatyo spoke with him and agreed to negotiate his release, but that it would be difficult given the circumstances. As Geornan, Thelar, and Valorin celebrated in their finery, Sunni was forced to spend the night under lock and key. Much to Valorin's dismay, however, the king used the opportunity to announce that Vallenatta's survival meant that she could know be married to the son of the Duke of Milima to secure their alliance.

#### *A Return to Broadford*

Irranatyo was able to secure Sunni's release with the caveat that the party was to be exiled following the completion of their airship. The team accepted this judgment, but asked if they could return to Broadford before they left to tie up their loose ends before being forced to leave Enisti forever. Irranatyo agreed, but was horrified to learn of Clawhell's presence and influence in the region, and the related incompetence of the Broadford town guard. He asked if he could accompany them to Broadford on their new ship, and the team agreed. The ship was christened *The Devil's Demise* and came with crew in place. Captain Helena Pequod was hired to become the commander of the ship, an elven woman with a tight bob and a serious demeanour. *The Devil's Demise* left Baston behind and travelled the short distance back to Broadford, where it landed in the river and docked on the main docks of the town.

Irranatyo and the party made a beeline for the barracks, and bursting through the door, demoted and dismissed the Sergeant - formerly the Captain - of the milita. In his place he installed  Hargi Marishka, a young and intelligent man, as Lieutenant under his command. The party excused themselves while the soldiers spoke about the administration of the town's milita. Visiting Welfer's shop, they were dismayed to find it closed as a result of his recent death. However, the programmed illusion that greeted them seemed unconcerned, and promised the shop would re-open in just a few weeks. They instead visited Conga at the Cathedral of Reorx, who delighted in their tales and supplied them with Conga's Map as a token of his esteem.

At dinner that evening, the boys decided to venture to Milima to confront the Duke and his son about the marriage to Vallenatta. Before making the push over the ocean, however, they wished to eliminate Clawhell's influence from the town once and for all. Irranatyo and Lt. Marishka shared breakfast with the group the next morning and discuss a strategy. They were to meet at the barracks at sundown and would ambush the bandits under cover of darkness. That evening a small squadron of soliders, accompanied by Irranatyo, Mariskha, and the party surround the bandit's compound. Irranatyo offered mercy if Clawhell surrendered, but was greeted only by silence.

Approaching the camp, the coppery smell of blood was sharp in the air. The main gate was clearly ajar and through it, the camp is carpeted by gore. The bandits have been slaughtered to a man, many missing limbs or organs. Some were unrecognisable, merely smears of gore and collections of red mass on the ground. Investigating, disturbing sights were uncovered: animal tracks that changed mid-stride, and small piles of limbs. They discovered Clawhell sitting on his makeshift throne, perfectly flayed. No traces of residual magic or undead energy could be sensed, but the party did discover the bandits' cleric half-mad and safe within a magic circle of protection. Near him was another perfectly flayed body. He explained that a creature rampaged through the camp, half-human and half-beast. It used powerful magic and vicious claws to decimate the camp, and the cleric only survived by erecting the circle of protection, which protected his phsyical form.

They took the disturbed man and began to head back to Broadford. Oddly, their journey was marked by a complete lack of birdsong, insect noise, or wind. Once, they also noticed a crashing in the underbrush and looking back, saw two wendigoes crashing through the brush in retreat from the party, making no attempt to conceal themselves. Safely back in Broadford, Irranatyo thanked the group and said Sunni's grace period had come to an end, and that they would need to depart the next day, with the guards and Wizards' Pavilion concluding the investigation into the massacre. Before they set sail, however, the cleric visited the ship to thank the party for resucing him, and asked if he could look around. Pulled away by the Captain, the cleric bid the group goodbye and was shown around by the dogsbody.

After settling upon the route, the Captain made ready the ship, and it gracefully lifted off into the Enisti sky, bound for Milima.

### A New Direction

#### *New Friends*

Captain Pequod gently guided the ship into the Milima Skyport, and the Adventuring Group dismebarked and made their way to the city centre. Each split off to accomplish personal goals. Geornan made his way to the Milima Wizard's Pavilion to enquire with Master Wilhelm Meibert there about the provenance of the coin he and Master Trollbender had dealt with prior to his departure from Enisti. Sunni probed the depths of the capital in search of strange and exotic alcohols, while Thelar connected with the local Chief Cleric of Lathander - an elderly half-orc known as Thea Hillless. Valorin, meanwhile, went searching for Garland Meech, uncertain of how to dissuade the alliance between the Secundus and Princess Vallenatta, but determined to confront him all the same.

Geornan was able to meet with the Master on his arrival to the Pavilion, interrupting the end of his previous meeting with Saileach, Champion of the Autumn Court of the Fey. They were introduced before Saileach took her leave, and Geornan was informed by Master Meibert that the Pavilion suspected Sermé might be connected to the lost Prince of Zahra who was privately known by the same name. His alleged death was known to be a cover-up to the Wizard's Pavilion thanks to diaries kept by Makubash, Former Chancellor. Meibert commissioned Geornan to travel to the fallen capital of Zahra, Hadiqa, to see what could be uncovered.

Valorin's quest was quickly brought to a close when he learned that Meech's whereabouts were very common knowledge: he had been assassinated only a fortnight prior to their arrival, and his remains gruesomely lain on the steps of the Ducal Palace with a manifesto nailed into his chest calling for the abolition of the monarchy. His romantic rival defeated, and with little else to occupy his time, Valorin met up with Sunni and the two located the local entrance to the Blind Eye Tavern. Inside they were approached by a pair of dark elves who introduce themselves as Ishava Glynfiel and her partner Marco. They claimed credit for carrying out the assassination of Meech onboard The Cloudsong, an airship formerly crewed by Ishava. They went on to inform the pair that they required an adventurer's aid in acquiring a pair of twinned magical stones. Their research had indicated that Arcturus Meech, the sitting Duke of Milima, had a family heirloom which contained one such stone. The other was lost in the fallen city of Hadiqa, buried below the shifting sands of the Great Desert of Daimeremos. Their request was simple: retrieve the twin of the stone held by Meech so that Ishava and Marco could use it to sneak past the Duke's magical defences and complete their assassination of the ducal line.

Sunni and Valorin accepted, and met up with Thelar and Geornan to inform them of their new commission, which proved a happy coincidence for all.

#### *Desert Dwellings*

The Adventuring Group informed Capt. Pequod of the new journey, and were given the rough location in the desert of where to begin looking. As Hadiqa was mostly lost, only the approximate location of the palace was known, however a small archaeological dig was being carried out in the southern quarter of the former capital, and the group advised to meet a Pavilion commissioned guide known as Vinarth there. The *Devil's Demise* was loaded and provisioned, and set sail for the dig site - a half day's flight.

Unfortunately, not all was quiet and simple as the ship was set upon by sky pirates halfway to their destination. A crack boarding party of the Adventuring Group, Capt. Pequod, and the Quartermaster Alan Tarquom deftly made their way onto the enemy ship. The ship took evasive manoeuvres, and focussed its firepower on the small swarms of flying pirates, equipped with small packs of wings enabling them to glide independently from the larger ship. The boarding party gained access to the ship, and set an explosive charge in the pirates' magazine. Minutes later, it detonated, destroying the pirate ship and allowing the *Devil's Demise* to rush to safety.

Landing some hours later on the outside of the tent camp, they rendezvoused with Vinarth and meet Dr Zheng - the Professor overseeing the dig. They were allowed a small cadre of camels to use as they began to explore the city's buried interior, as the *Devil's Demise* would need time to make repairs. Fighting off some desert creatures, and after a brief encounter with the Life Court of Vampires, they eventually passed over the walls of the former palace. Doing so triggered ancient defences, and they were forced to do battle against two sand golems.

Vinarth did not survive, but the Group pushed further and eventually found an entrance to the Palace's Great Hall and thus a way in. Once inside, Shemitsa, a gynosphinx who enjoyed lounging in the former Palace, confronted them with a riddle. The Group answered correctly, and learned the magical stone they sought was in the lowest part of the Palace, in old shrines and chapels contained far below. They failed to answer her next riddle properly however, and so she vanished. Probing the interior of the ruined palace, they did battle with a variety of ancient defence mechanisms before discovering a secret chamber in the quarters of the Lord Chamberlain. In it, they discovered a summoning circle with a variety of dark runes and trappings, and inside a single burnished silver coin similar to the one they found in the Valley of Tombs many weeks before.

#### *An Alliance Offered*

Geornan confirmed his suspicion by making contact with its demonic inhabitant - a powerful devil called Haagenti. He introduces himself as another minion of the Dark Princess Glasya. He boasted he had helped Sermé achieve his true power and was abandoned after the fall of the Empire. He offered untold power and knowledge to Geornan in exchange for an alliance, which Geornan was all too happy to accept. Taking up the coin, Haagenti quickly overpowered the young wizard, and assumed control of his body. Using his magic and Geornan's body to perform the appropriate rites, he teleported back to the Nine Hells before the remainder of the Group could do anything to stop him.

Haagenti ushered the young wizard through Malbolge until reaching Glasya's palace: an enormous hag's skull repurposed in to a royal residence. There Haagenti presented himself and introduced Geornan as his liberator. Glasya questioned Geornan and affirmed Haagenti's offer could be relied upon, but that it would require him to swear fealty to the devil and serve at his pleasure if the need arose. Geornan considered the offer, but ultimately declined, and was sent back to the ruins of the Royal Palace with the Nine Hells' thanks for freeing one of their more potent Knights with an open offer to return.

Haagenti failed to make contact with Glasya after his return with Geornan, as the Group had bound him back into the summoning circle while they considered their options. After a brief argument, Thelar took up the coin and was transported to the Nine Hells against his will when he declared himself Geornan's protector and a servant of the light. Thelar met with Glasya, and was held prisoner while she attempted to contact Geornan.

#### *Thelar's Dreamscape*

After resting in Glasya's palace, Thelar awoke to familiar surrouindings: his room in the temple of Lathander back in Anvilhearth.

## Relationships

	+ Haagenti - Professional Ally
* Royal Family of Enisti - Allies
	+ King Nondemiisus I - Ally
	+ Princess Vallanetta - Ally/Romantic Partner (Valorin)
	+ Duke Irranatyo - Ally
* The Devil's Demise Crew - Hirelings
	+ Captain Helena Pequod - Skipper
	+ Alan Tarquom - Quartermaster
	+ Marta Inori - Pilot
* Mishakal - Ally
* Wizards' Pavilion - Allies
	+ Wilhelm Meibert - Master of the Milima Pavilion
* Ennet - Friend
* Bradley - Friend
	+ Gethsamane - Adversary
	+ Akeldana - Adversary
* Chauntea - Adversary
* Sermé - Adversary
* Cathedral of Ghuanadaur - Adversaries
	+ High Priest Phyxton Hune - Adversary
	+ Archdeacon Skarai - Adversary