Session 4x3

Session 4x3 occurred on 24 March 2021. The players were LaurenDanger (Bea Naturalis), jschlies8 (Esroh), LannGeal (Ayute), Susan (Rosallia Gravenfoot) and Swargula (Arland). Their goal was to find King Algarod's castle.

## Summary

The party met with a group heading to try and retake Wailer's Hold, led by a dwarf named Delkash. They learned of a trading post called Flamerock <023.018> and that Weatherstone was located at the very end of the valley <019.024>,

The next day they fought a gryphon, which was assaulted with stone by Rosalia, stabbed with a spear by Bea and finally laid low with an arrow through the skull from Esroh as the beast tried to escape with his horse.

The group avoided encounters with undead, traded food with wolves with human features in exchange for being left alone, and a camping mishap with Bea. The next day at the eastern end of the valley, the party ventured into the mountains and discovered Weatherstone! Rosalia communed with the mountain and learned that it is the resting place of the legendary sword Rustbite, which is powerful against demons. The drawbridge had rotted away and entrance to the fortress was not possible, so the party returned to Dryvault.

## In-character tales

Hark to the tale of our quest to locate Weatherstone, the lost fortress of King Algorod. (As told by Bea Naturalis)

On our morning out of Dryvault, we stopped at the swollen river crossing. Rosalia channeled the power of song in a most wonderful display and a bridge shaped itself from the riverbed! It was truly an amazing sight and it made our crossing extremely easy. No worries about cold water chilling our bones!

As we pushed toward the plains, Esroh spotted a group camping ahead of us. We decided to approach them as they did not appear to be minions of Rust. I sang a song and then played a bit on my Recorder as we drew close and it seemed to indicate our peaceful intent to them. Their leader was Delkash, a dwarf who was wary but welcomed us. We shared the camp and exchanged stories.

They told us where Weatherstone could be found and warned us of approaching it for it is cursed, and an army of undead wait there for us. They were looking for an old Dwarven observatory which we could not assist them with but there are suspicions in my mind that Myrkul may have found it at one time.

These fellow travellers were headed for Wolfstone Redoubt, and their plan was to gather with others and then journey on to Whaler’s Hold to retake it. We have heard of this before and now met some of those attempting it. They also told us that the ghost of the elf princess haunts the lake, and there is a trading post at Flamerock Hamlet (023.018).

The next morning, we parted ways with the Whaler’s Liberators, as I now call them. They move northward, avoiding both the hydra lands and the Dread Keep in what they called threading the needle. We move southeast to the plains after skirting the mountain and we are attacked!

A gryphon dove from the sky, catching us unawares. It knocked Ayute from his horse and then unleashed a whirlwind from its wings, flapping and buffeting us! We were knocked down but it did not deter us as we rose up and prepared to fight! Rosalia cast forth a storm of stones that batter the beast and I stabbed it with my spear! Though wounded it fought with fury, latching on to Esroh’s horse, Roach! It lifted off from the ground and tried to flee with the mount in claw. But with great skill and the aid of my war cry to inspire him, Esroh aimed true and launched an arrow that pierced the beast’s skull! It released Roach and fell to the ground, as still in death as it was furious in life.

Esroch took the head for a trophy, and it is well earned!

Later that day, trouble found us. It was my fault as I was watching Ayute deal with the gryphon’s carcass and our fire grew out of control! We scrambled to rescue our gear but Rosalia lost her waterskin. I was happy to share my water with her for the remainder of the journey to make up for my folly.

The next morning, four of the restless dead appeared from the direction of the Dread Keep and our young halfling companion Arland helped us stay stealthy which meant the dead passed us by. That night the strange wolves with humanoid parts such has hands instead of paws came by, but quick thinking by Esroh and Ayute allowed some food to be shared with them, thus they left us alone. One waved with its humanoid hand, a very strange, nay, a creepy experience to see.

Finally, we moved back to mountains (18.25) and Rosalia was able to spot Weatherstone! We had found the goal of our journey. I redeemed myself by making a much better camp without mishap. The next day we ventured down toward King Algorod’s fortress.

Rosalia communed with the mountain, though what she learned from it is for her to share. We explored a bit, finding recent camp sites, recovering a book and a pot, but little else. The drawbridge to this castle has long since rotted away, and it will require stone singing or other efforts to enter what is most certainly a haunted place. It will provide our adventurers a challenge in the future, but it is one that may be rewarded with Rustbite, a legendary sword that has power against demons.

We returned home, alive and tired but in cheerful spirits. We met new friends, battled a gryphon and lived to tell the tale and found the objective of our small quest. Most of all, we have initiated Arland into the ways of adventuring, and thus our numbers grow and we remain strong.