2022-09-10

Mysteries of Mystara 014

The brave heroes explore and battle in the Ethereal Plane, save the infected Archivists, do some research, save a traveling Mage, hear a sad story, and receive a new quest. The on-going GURPS saga of five unlikely companions attempting to unravel the mysteries of Mystara.

Mysteries of Mystara
Session014

The Ethereal Plane, Brain Parasites, and a New Quest

220813

Exploring the Archivists’ Sanctum from the Ethereal Plane is strange. It seems the place is filled with some sort of squirming worms that somehow attach to people’s brains through the Ethereal Plane. The group is immediately set upon by several swarms of these cerebral parasites and is able to eradicate them. 


Then Talyn follows the ghostly figure into the next chamber and finds that it is a ghost of an ancient Archivist known as Madam Zosta. She is not very helpful and only appears concerned with the physical well-being of the Sanctum itself, not necessarily its current occupants.


The group then sweeps the compound, destroying all the cerebral parasites they can find. Each of the Archivists that were earlier discovered seems to have numerous parasites attached to their brain ethereally. Finally they are all taken care of.


Malachai goes back through the portal to the Prime Plane and wakes the Archivists. They are all confused but more or less back to normal. While he is helping them out, the rest of the group continues to the room with the chained up books, but are unable to enter. They check out the office and find that there are many more swarms around one of the locked chests in that area. Once the swarms are destroyed, everyone returns to the Prime Plane.


Inaxx Kuxeor, the now bald Assistant Archivist, thanks the group for their help and says that the Sanctum is forever in their debt. He allows everyone, with the help of one of the Archivists, to peruse and research at their leisure, saying they are welcome back at any time. The group researches such topics as Glitterhame, ancient Nithia, the Dragon Dagger, as well as some other topics. 


Later, calls for help reveal a wounded wizard trying to reach the Sanctum. He claims he was attacked by a Manticore while looking for the Sanctum. His name is Josan d’Ambreville from Glantri, the country of wizards to the north west. He claims that his family, the d’Ambrevilles are one of the most powerful and well known magical families in the Known World. Several of the Archivists are familiar with the name and agree. 


Josan asks to join the group as they return to the Keep and tells them that he is in the area doing some research on a potential quest of his own. He is searching for the stronghold of a long dead wizard that used to be friends with his old master. This old wizard, Eralion, tried and failed to become a lich, and Josan believes that an amulet he has is the key to the dead wizard’s keep, which promises to be a storehouse of magical treasures. He still has some research to complete before he can pinpoint the location of the wizard's keep, though.


Finally, the group makes it back to the Keep. Malachai retires to his camp near the river and the others head to the One-Eyed Cat Tavern to rest and recuperate. Lucky entertains the gathered crowd and after he is done playing, some of the locals tell a story of their own. 


The Lament of Alyce tells of the downfall of a nearby village from three different curses. One of the survivors of Alyce happens to be Charl Skand, the owner of the Mercantile and General Store. He sadly helps in the retelling of it, which includes the loss of his wife in the process. 


After the story is over and most folk head off to bed, Charl approaches the group and shares a bit more information about Alyce. He then tells them that, though he has been too much of a coward to ever return, he would like to hire the group to retrieve his wedding bands that were hidden in his house. When he fled the village, he was not able to bring them with him and he would very much like them back as a memorial to his late wife. He offers each individual 100 in silver if the rings are recovered as well as rights to any other valuables that may have been left in his home. He also provides 100 silver in credit for each person from his store. The group agrees and Josan asks if he can come along. Sadly, Erky shares that he is going to sit this adventure out as he has some other things he wants to attend to.


Session Notes

Another last minute session report posted just before starting a new session!


Cast of Characters:

Malachai, Feytouched, Wilderness Defender - played by JeCorey H
Talyn Dilectus Vanyilam, teenage Celestial warrior on the run - played by Don K
Panya Masika, a Nithian monk stranded out of time - played by Carol C
Vlajic Savago, the Lucky Savage, a Traladaran bard - played by Dan E


and GMJasonGURPS as the DM






 

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