Session Fifty-Seven - July 5, 2008

[Matt]

Azura 16, 731

Imarë leaves before first light to complete her scouting mission to Bejist. The rest of the party gathers around the camp preparing their weapons, horses and themselves for any news the elf may bring.

Imarë, after some very careful thought, decides to come around the area of Bejist from the northeast. As the party was camped somewhat to the southeast, this requires a bit more time, as she needs to do an arc to be in position to scout the temple area from behind. Imarë starts out on the flat land, quickly reaching the hills half a league away. She eventually comes to a small copse of trees. As these are the first trees she has encountered in her semi-circle scouting mission, she decides to climb up and see if the height advantage combined with her elven eyesight will yield the position of any sentries. As she approaches one of the few trees, she notices several large mushrooms growing in a notch where the roots have grown up out of the ground, near the base of the tree.

These mushrooms are of an odd colors and do not seem to be like the ‘normal’ mushrooms the elf is aware of. While trying to get a better look, two burst open spraying an acidic substance at her and onto her foot. The substance quickly eats a hole through her leather boot and injures her foot rather severely. As she uses her knowledge of healing spells and a portion of the bandages she always carries with her for such an emergency, she begins to contemplate the type of omelet that she could make with these mushrooms for Sir Ewen, as it was his bright idea to send her out on a scouting foray. As she moves on away from the tree, climbing it a forgotten idea, the recipient of the omelet is now Havard, as Ewen was just doing his job as fearless leader by sending her out on her own, the dwarf on the other hand was … a dwarf.

She continues down the bleak terrain of the heath, making her own trail as no established trails or paths are visible. She notices that the small hills provide excellent cover for the valleys to the north and east that perhaps the rest of the party could lie concealed as they formulate their next plans. As she moves along the edge of the hills, scanning the area ahead and behind, she sees the towers of Caer Harmenel - Bejist at last. She gets close to the old Caer and does not see evidence of lookouts in the towers. As she creeps as close as she dares to the temple, she notices that she is not alone in the stakeout of Bejist.

There are bands of Pagaelin arranged in a rough circle around the complex, armed, ready for war, and facing the temple. She counts about 18 different groups, identifiable by the banners they carry. Within each group the warriors’ numbers range from 30 to 90 and there is no evidence of any Navehan priests (or augurs) with any of the groups. Knowing the plans her “friends” would make, she lies within the ruins of the Caer and calculates the odds. If she excludes Quinn, the young squire not ready to be counted on, the odds are 1 (party member) to 145 (Pagaelin). She creeps a bit closer, hoping to overhear anything useful. She hears nothing of interest by the time she must leave to rejoin the rest of the party. Following the same route back, avoiding mushrooms, she reaches the party’s camp a few hours after dark.

After giving the party a briefing and a description as best she can, the group tries to contemplate their next course of action. Baris, upon hearing the odds, decides that they are doable, and Havard agrees, it should be no problem for them. Kaelyn begs for a map so that she may visualize the area better, but Imarë is unable to give enough description to Baris for the knight to draw the map out. Ewen would also like a visualization of what they would be facing, and Cekiya suggests that he should just read Imarë’s mind. He decides that a meditative trance would greatly increase the odds of getting the clearest picture and using his cubes as a focus would greatly improve the odds of a successful meditation. After the necessary preparation, Ewen reads the information of Imarë had gathered from Bejist. Kaelyn asks for a map again, and gets a bit more description with Ewen giving out the information, but both the knight and elf don’t think the map looks right enough to make a decision on. Havard, meanwhile, has taken up the mantra, of “let’s just go!” and surprisingly, everyone agrees. They’ll go and leave the horses and Quinn in a valley nearby, under the assumption that no one will notice, and the rest of the party will move closer into the ruins of Caer Harmenel and make a decision based on the information at that time.

Azura 17, 731

In the morning the party sets out following the route the Imarë used the day before. She points out the mushrooms to the party, so they do not get near the acid. After a brief moment of thought, Imarë wonders if she could pick on telekinetically to use as a weapon later … and for the omelet. As it detaches, it squirts it’s acidic puss out. Luckily the party is far enough away that none are hit. Cekiya, wondering if it would eat through metal (obviously thinking of daggers), tosses a penny into the puddle. The penny doesn’t completely dissolve but it is obviously corroded and Cekiya doesn’t try to coat her daggers with the substance. The party avoids the rest of the mushrooms and continues toward the area Imarë scouted earlier.

When they reach the valley where Imarë suggests that Quinn waits with the horses, she points out the tops of the Caer mentioning to the rest of the party to travel carefully as from here on out they will be visible to any alert sentry. The party moves toward the Caer with stealth (with the exception of Kaelyn, who contrives to trip over a tree) and manages to reach the ruined gate house with out incident. Once there the party sees a disconcerting site. The Pagaelin that Imarë noticed earlier are now engaged in a fierce battle with a small number of Navites. Despite their small numbers against the large force of tribesmen, the Navites appear to be holding ground. As the party scans the battle they notice one of the larger groups of Navites (6 or so) to the west of the temple has a Navehan that is using what looks to be a sword made of glowing ice. The Navite using the sword is fighting in a more rapid manner than his compatriots.

A quick consultation between certain members of the party creates the plan of Baris, Ewen, and Imarë entering the battle on the west on horses with Cekiya entering the temple to look for the sword of Calsten. As the rest of the party runs back to Quinn to gather the horses, Havard sneaks forward toward the ruins. His first thought is just to run in attacking the Pagaelin, but that changes as he comes to a three and half foot wall near the cover of a small grouping of trees. He can barely see over the wall, but he does notice a group of six Navites fighting against 90 Pagaelin. He settles into position and waits for Cekiya, as his new plan is to provide distraction as she enters the temple.

The rest of the party finally returns to the gate temple, orders for Quinn to keep the horses ready for a quick getaway were forgotten to be given, and the party had to retighten a few cinches. At second glance of the battle and the surrounding area, it is thought it would be rather homicidal of Ewen to send Cekiya alone into the temple, so she is to accompany Kaelyn to the tower in the southwest to check for an underground passageway, or clues to the location of the sword. Ewen, Baris, and Imarë will still enter the battle as originally planned. They will come from the south, around the orchard, and enter the battle on the western side of the temple coming from a grouping of trees, where Imarë will dismount and use her skill with the bow to pick off any offending Navites. The hope is that being mounted will give the knights a significant advantage over the hand-to-hand skills of the Navites. Ewen, feeling a little elated at the prospect of battle, decides that riding in with his aura blazing in all its colorful glory might give him more of an edge, or at least distract those fighting enough for him to get at least one good shot in.

Kaelyn and Cekiya break off from the trio to inspect the temple at the southern portion of the orchard wall. As the trio nears the point of battle Baris turns to Ewen and says “This has to be the craziest thing we have ever done, and we've done some crazy things.” Baris then hits his armored chest in an odd sort of salute to Ewen and intones “Sarajin be with me.” Ewen nods and his aura flares to life as the knights take the road through the trees that will bring them into the fight. Imarë dismounts once in the trees and begins to look for a target with her bow.

They notice that there are four banners of the Pagaelin surrounding this fight: a monstrous looking creature of no discernable origin, a hawk, a cat and a sea monkey. As Ewen and Baris come riding out of the trees a few tribesmen from the “monster” tribe notice them and a few fire their short bows at the rapidly moving knights. Luckily, their shots miss and the two knights continue to ride in. A small hole forms in their wake and members of the cat tribe move to fill it. The Navite using the ice sword notices their approach and merely holds up his left hand and ice cone emanates from it as he continues to cut down the Pagaelin with the sword in his right. Ewen moves slightly out of the blast and is only hit in left forearm and his prized Iblis is hit in her left foreleg. Baris, not moving quickly enough out of the way is hit in the face along his right jawbone and his unnamed horse hit in the right rear quarter. This gives Ewen all the excuse he needs to use his inherited nature, as he launches a blast of mental power toward the offending Navite. The Navite immediately collapses and the sword vanishes just a quickly. Baris also not one to hesitate, throws his spear at a Navite within his view. The Navite notices the spear and quickly dodges. Baris shouts at the Navite to ‘Hold still! That was a good throw.’

One of the Navites begin to chant. The song makes Baris and Ewen feel slightly uneasy, but they continue. The Pagaelin also seem affected as about half of them flee, leaving only the tribes of the hawk and sea monkey in the fight. As the Pagaelin flee, a bright flash appears from the orchard, almost on cue.

Imarë scanning for a target, quickly realizes that she is not going to get a proper opening through all the tribesmen and begins to move out of the trees towards the battle. She notices that the Navites are all dressed loosely in fitted black robes with skull masks. They all carry small daggers and several are wearing white sashes while the rest wear black. Havard, having watched in confusion as Cekiya rode toward the tower instead of the temple, decides to go help Baris in the battle and begins to move cautiously around the outer wall of the Orchard toward the west side of the temple.

Ewen needs to move closer to the chanting Navite priest to attempt another blast of power. He calls to Baris to cover him as he moves toward the priest. Two Navites move toward the knights, one coming from the north to intercept Ewen and one from the south to for Baris. Ewen sees the Navite headed toward him and attempts another blast, but the Navite is aware of the attack and deflects it and quickly covers the distance between them. Ewen is able to take the first swing by pulling back on Iblis and taking a broad stroke at the Navite’s head. The Navite is able to move out of the way and lunges straight out with his dagger. Ewen, almost expecting the attack, is able to move him and his mount out of the way, taking the time to deliver another blast of power at the Navite in front of him. This time the Navite is unaware of Ewen’s mental attack and Ewen watches the eyes behind the mask roll back and a gurgling sound is heard as the Navite falls over, dagger falling from his hand.

Baris notices that the Navite headed toward him, in addition to his daggers, has a sword sheathed in its scabbard at his hip. But that is all Baris has time to notice, as the Navite feints left and then slashes Baris’ horse across the muzzle. Baris jumps clear of his horse as it dies. The Navite quickly sheathes and draws his dagger back out freshly coated in some foreign substance. Baris now attacks the Navite on foot. He misses his target and the Navite slashes at Baris with his dagger. Baris blocks the slash and counter slash, hitting the Navite in the left forearm making his fingers shake slightly and only for a moment. Baris quickly takes another swing at the Navite, but once again the Navite proves to be too nimble and dodges out of the way. The Navite then swipes at Baris, but the knight is able to block the poison-coated dagger. Before any more attacks upon each other can be launched the Navite falls over dead as Ewen decides to help his companion out with another lethal mental blast aimed at his foe.

As the knights look around for more Navites they notice that the remaining Navites, including the chanting priest, are moving back inside. Baris picks up the sword his opponent was carrying and realizes it is a broadsword and has runes carved into the blade.

As the knights begin their ride into the middle of the fight, Kaelyn and Cekiya reach the entrance to the temple unnoticed and with out incident. As the two ride closer they notice the temple appears pink and seems to shimmer in the light, but as they close in they building becomes grayer. The tower is approximately 10 feet tall with a five foot dome that retains the pink semi-transparent shimmer as the ladies inspect the tower. There are four entrances. Neither woman sees anything or anybody inside, but they decide to be cautious. They each grab a pebble and stand at opposite entrances; Cekiya in the south and Kaelyn in the north. They toss their pebbles in but nothing happens. They enter the tower. The tower is about 60 feet in diameter with four pillars, one in between each entry way. There is a hole nine feet diameter in the middle of the tower with a narrow wall about one foot high surrounding it. The hole appears to be about 100 feet deep and in the center at the bottom there is a platform which is whiter than the surrounding stone. One of the women glances up and notices that she can see straight out into the sky, the dome appears to be an illusion. They realize that there is nothing of interest, or at least nothing that they can get at with just the two of them and a quick glance to the north shows them that the battle appears over, so they decide to join the others.

Back at the western portion of the temple, Imarë is moving towards Ewen and Baris. The Pagaelin clear a path for her, saying ‘devil, devil’ as she passes. Havard is now reaching the knights as well, (running on short legs will only take you so far so fast).

One of the Pagaelin walks over to Ewen, “Hail, great warrior who kills with a look.”

“I am Sir Ewen, Hail to you great Chieftain.”

“I am surprised to see one of the Northern folk here.”

“I seek a stolen sword that the devils of Bejist stole.”

“I know nothing of a sword.”

“Are you casting off the yolk of your masters?” Ewen asks, trying a new tactic.

“I guarantee that none of my people or those that fight with me were ever under their sway. We have come to burn it all to the ground.” The chieftain replies with indignation in his voices and draws himself up to his full height.

Ewen sees his opening and after a few moments suggests that they fight together like brothers. The chieftain agrees but tells Ewen he has to talk with the other chiefs. Ewen nods and the chief walks away. Ewen then looks over at Baris and tells him to get another horse. Imarë offers hers and returns to the trees to retrieve it.

Baris shows Havard the sword. Havard takes a look and asks Baris if he might have it so that he can study it later. Baris says that Havard can have it after the battle. Ewen has noticed that the sword has cloth tightly wrapped all around its pommel, even around the guards. Baris passes the sword over Havard’s head to Ewen and Ewen removes the cloth. As Ewen unwraps the sword, Imarë moves toward the body of the Navite that had the ice sword and finds a leather case which has a tube inside. In the tube, Imarë finds a substantial scroll, she quickly unrolls it and finds it is written in a language that she doesn’t recognize. She shows the scroll to the others as Ewen finishes unwrapping the sword. They don’t recognize the language either and then their attention is taken up by the sword. The hilt is inlaid with silver metal and six large gemstones: two large blue stones on the hilt to either side, two smaller red stones above the blue, and the smallest of the large stones are two green stones above the red. Once Havard sees the sword he asks for it again, but Ewen says that Baris will keep it until the battle is over and then they’ll decide. Havard says he needs time to study the runes and to determine the approximate value of the stones. Ewen reminds him that this entire episode is about finding the sword of Calsten. Havard gives a “humph” and looks at the sword again and looks back up at Ewen and tells him that the runes say ‘Calsten.’ As Havard is making his announcement, Kaelyn and Cekiya ride up. Ewen decides that they have what they came for so they should just leave. The rest of the party agrees. As they are leaving Cekiya notices a group of people moving from the northern ruins and large trees jump the wall into the orchard. Baris decides go after them on the assumption that they maybe Kryste and company. Ewen calls out to Baris to stay put, but Baris ignores him Ewen reigns in his horse to watch. Baris jumps the wall rides to the spot along the orchard wall where Cekiya saw movement. He sees nothing so he rides back to the south end of the stone wall. As he prepares to make the jump back over, his horse balks and throws Baris into the wall, spraining his ankle. He gets back on the horse and tries again, this time succeeding and returns to the rest of the party dejected. The party returns to Quinn and gathers up the rest of the horses. They travel southward, planning to reach the river and then follow it back to Chybisa.

Once they camp for the night, Imarë attempts to heal the injuries the party sustained. She starts with Iblis, telling Ewen and Baris she is starting with the most sensible of the injured. After Iblis is healed she heals Ewen’s left arm and finally deals with Baris’ ankle and will attempt to heal his jaw in the morning. As Imarë is healing Baris, Ewen tries to object read the sword, but gets nothing. Kaelyn and Cekiya take a look at the scroll, while Kaelyn doesn’t recognize the langue Cekiya does and informs the group that it is in Neramic script, and a language used by the Navites. Cekiya doesn’t understand the meaning of the text, but it becomes apparent to Kaelyn, as Cekiya reads a little out loud that the scroll contains spells and she prevails upon Cekiya to continue to translate as she transcribes the scroll in to a more useable language.

Azura 18, 731

Ewen is the first of the party (with the obvious exclusion of Imarë) to awaken. Taking advantage of the quiet of the morning, he attempts to meditate, but fails as the rest of the party awakens and begins their noisy morning chatter. Imarë, hearing the rest of the party awaken attempts to heal Baris’ jaw from the frost. She is unsuccessful, but she does manage to completely heal herself from the damage done to her by the acid mushroom. Before the party moves on for the day Ewen attempts once more to object read the sword, but can not. The party sets out. It is raining, humid and hot. Around four in the afternoon they reach the outskirts of a much swampier area. They agree to rest here for the night before continuing on. Cekiya and Kaelyn continue their transcription work, working on the Neutral spells. Baris, restless from sitting in the saddle all day, works with Quinn a little on the young squire’s swordplay. Havard, Imarë, and Ewen go out to forage. Imarë and Ewen return empty handed. Havard comes back with some berries and edible roots, enough to feed two people for two days if those two people had to live off of Havard’s find only. He mutters something about bird food, and needing meat, but no one is really paying attention. Soon the party settles down for the night, and the elf decides to go out hunting. She comes across a boar trail that is, by her best guess, around twelve hours old. She follows the trail and seven hours later, after following the many twists and turns a wild creature is bound to take, she hears the boar. She gets her arrows ready and soon sees the boar and shoots the animal in the thorax, wounding it. The boar runs from the elf and her bow. Imarë follows, not wanting to waste an arrow or seven hours running around in the dark. Another hour passes before Imarë is able to take another shot at the beast, but her shot proves to be good as the boar falls to the ground. After taking note of her surroundings, she determines that she is no more than half a league from the rest of the party. As moving an adult boar by herself would be hard and slow going, she strings the animal up and returns to camp to get help. Baris is on watch when she returns. Baris wakes up Ewen to inform him of Imarë’s kill, and Ewen, in his infinite wisdom, wakes the rest of the party up and they all move back to the place where Imarë strung up the boar.

Azura 19, 731

Kaelyn is not happy at being woke up early, but the rest of the party follows Ewen without grumbling. They butcher about two or three days worth of meat, taking up most of the day to do so. They decide to ride on with little daylight there is left. It is still raining, so most of their tracks should be washed away by morning as they ride due east before stopping for the night.

Azura 20, 731

The morning dawns cool and foggy as the party prepares to set out. It becomes warmer by the afternoon with some of the fog burning off. By the end of the day the party reaches the Ulmerien, and across the river is Lerenil. As the party looks at the river ahead of them a voice over their shoulders says “Well, very interesting.”

Baris whirls around and upon seeing who spoke, attempts a misguided punch, but of course the blow merely passes through Merren.

“I’m following to let the people following you know where you’re going,” he says calmly. “I put them on the wrong track. I saw to that, as I want to draw this out,” he continues on about being deprived of the sword and how the party are thieves. After a few more minutes of his rather narcissistic speech he waves to the party and disappears. Kaelyn exclaims that they need to talk to priest as soon as possible.

Azura 21, 731

The morning is slightly overcast as the group sets out along the riverbank, which is firmer ground to travel on than the swamp there were just traveling through. Just as it is getting dark they come upon the first of the Chybisan ruins, Forstane, on the other side of the river. They decide that the best course of action is to continue with the plan to travel straight through to Burzyn.

Azura 22, 731

About mid-morning, as they just pass a tributary of the Ulmerien Cekiya notices there are some people ahead. It appears to be a hunting or forester group of about 18 people. Ewen decides that running and hiding would look highly suspicious and that they should continue to ride forward. The party is eventually noticed and one of the men calls to the party to ‘Hold there.’ The party waits for members of the group to ride to them.

“State your name and business in the King’s forest.”

“We are the party of Sir Baris Tyrestal. I am Ewen and we are merely headed north.”

“I am Taurat Geledoth, Constable of Onden Keep. Pleased to meet you Ewen vassal of Sir Baris. Does not your lord speak?”

“I am Sir Baris, and my man speaks the truth. Is it not reasonable to merely travel through the King’s forest?” said Baris huffily.

“Why are you traveling at all through the King’s forest? It is normally forbidden.” The constable replies, eyeing Baris and Ewen with some small suspicion.

Ewen answers that Baris wished to go hunting Pagaelin and had spoken to the Baren of Caermel about their habits, and the good Baron had warned it was foolish to attempt such an undertaking with such a small party. The constable looks askance at Baris, and says ‘You didn’t listen?!’ Ewen replies for Baris that no they did not; they have seen the error of that and felt lucky that the only casualty was the good knight’s horse. The constable commiserates about the fate of being unhorsed, and warns the party not to poach as he lets them pass.

Azura 23, 731

The party arrives late day at Brigmer Manor, and crosses the bridge into Burzyan. They return to the Blue Horse for their stay in town.

Azura 24, 731

In the morning Baris sets out at first light (it’s not raining!) and buys a new horse. At breakfast Havard gets into an argument concerning the sword with the hated elf. Havard wishes to claim his fair share of the treasure, which in his mind is all of it as he is the Khuzan. Imarë argues that the mission isn’t over yet and everyone has to share, and that Havard didn’t actually do anything. Havard argues that Imarë didn’t do anything either, other than having a mushroom explode on her foot. After a listening to the two bicker back and forth for far longer than enjoyable, Ewen manages to calm Havard down suggesting that Havard knows that Ewen can read memories, so why doesn’t Ewen read Havard’s memory and see exactly what Ewen had promised Havard, and whatever is found is what Havard will get. Havard thinks a moment and agrees. Ewen’s first attempt at rapport with Havard fails. Ewen tells Havard that he needs to calm down some more and relax a little. Havard slams the rest of the contents of his tankard and Ewen tries again. This time the rapport contact is a success and Ewen takes control of Havard’s mind and wipes it clean of any and all memory of the party and Havard’s involvement with them. For good measure, he implants in Havard’s mind the notion that he intended to join in the Solori Crusade. Havard seems to wake from a trance and wanders off. Ewen and Imarë seem satisfied with the result.

Kaelyn, meanwhile, has walked over to the temple of Peoni, in the hopes that maybe this time she’ll talk to someone who will help. She is greeted at the door by a priestess who asks how she can be of assistance. Kaelyn doesn’t mention Merren by name but asks the Peoni if she could help with a ghost problem the young Odivshe has. The Peonian looks at Kaelyn as if she grew another head and merely says ‘Of course, step into the chapel and the blessings of the goddess will heal all that troubles you.’ Kaelyn smiles and asks if the temple happened to house a library. The Peonian replied in the negative. Kaelyn thanks her for her help and departs.

Azura 25, 731

The party, with the sword of Calsten safely in Ewen’s gear and minus one surly dwarf, gets ready to depart for their home in Kaldor. They purchase five days worth of provisions using the money they received from Shamus. Ewen attempts one more time to read the sword and succeeds. He senses the sword has an ego and is sleeping, but would wake up in a battle. Ewen gets a bad feeling from the sword, as if it is somehow tainted and its ultimate purpose, as all magic swords have an ultimate purpose for which they were created, is not a good purpose. Ewen informs the rest of the party of his findings and the party sets out thinking over the information.

Azura 28, 731

After a few days of travel the party is not far from Oselbridge. As they approach Imarë spots someone on foot and tells the party she will catch up as she spurs her horse towards the person on the road. When she returns she mentions that she just needed to get caught up on the news from home and the party deduces that the person on foot was kin of hers.

Halane 1, 731

As they near Tashal, the party decides that it wouldn’t be a bad idea if they take the other road and head to Varayne Manor for a few days. Lady Afaewynn is delighted to see everyone, but does mention her small displeasure of not being told that this company of men, who are currently eating her out of house and home, was arriving. Ewen manages to smooth things over and before dinner takes a tour with Afaewynn around the manor.

Kaelyn and Cekiya manage to finish transcribing the scroll taken from the Navite.