Wandered Roads 38

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 38
January 31, 2015

Campaign Timeline

Take a Closer Look

Fireday, 5th of Neth

Checking Out the Love Shack

After a good long rest in one of the bedrooms, the group is ready to continue their search for the next fragment of the shattered Sihedron Star. Vexeron summons another magical servant. This one looks unmistakably like the Elf, Daellin, but wearing a butler’s outfit. He is lovingly named D’jour Ch’ker and is instructed to go down the hall and open each door. They open without incident Carefully, the party examins the rest of the rooms in this hallway and all appear to be small yet comfortable bedrooms. The engraving on the end of the hall, which is the same as on all of the non-trapped doors in the hallway draws some interest. Daellin checks it out closely and is ready to touch some of the symbols, thinking they may be connected to some magical trigger but he is dissuaded of this action by his companions. D’jour is asked to go touch the symbols instead while everyone else stays safely back. When D’jour touches the runes, they glow briefly and then a secret door opens in the wall.

The Runelord's rumpus room

The next room appears to be another bedroom, but this one is larger and much more lavishly appointed. The domed ceiling is inlaid with mother of pearl and a four poster bed dominates one wall of the room. Double doors lead to the north. Vexeron casts a See Secrets spell with the plans to maintain it, hoping to find any secret doors, hidden traps or concealed treasures.

Passing the double doors into the next chamber, the group finds another 8 sided room with a high, domed ceiling decorated with fading erotic murals. Stone benches line the walls and the floor is covered with a multi-colored mosaic of a sunburst. Fearing a magical trap, the mosaic is carefully stepped around.

The next room is a small space, 10x10 square with a door leading out of each of the 4 walls. The floor of the room is taken up by a pool of cool, clear water that seems to be fed by an underground spring.

Exploring the Workrooms

Keeping to their protocol, the group takes the door to the left first. This room is large and eight sided, like several previous rooms, with a high domed ceiling. This room appears to be some sort of alchemical laboratory and Daellin and Vexeron are quite intrigued by many of the containers and items on the stone tables. Daellin accidentally knocks over some containers on one table, causing a minor explosion. He continues his search more carefully and manages to find some sort of magical, waxy ointment in a small container.

an ancient alchemical workshop

A large corroded metal urn attracts Vexeron’s attention. Through a dirty glass lid, he can see a thick, grey substance. It seems to undulate and move slowly inside the urn. He examines it through the glass and quickly realizes that it is a magical substance commonly used in the enchantment of weapons and armor. He believes that it could be used to at least temporarily enchant quite a few items, though he does not have the time, material or expertise to make the enchantment permanent. A discussion about the material and how to best transport it is had. Realizing that it would be too difficult to carry the entire urn around (weighs over 300lbs), Vexeron decides to test it out here in the lab and coat some of the parties weapons.

As he opens the lid, he quickly finds out that his initial analysis of the substance was incorrect as a glob of the grey ooze whips out and splats him in the middle of the chest. He can hear the corrosive properties of the ooze beginning to eat its way through his shirt and armor. Quickly, the tendril of ooze is severed and someone throws the lid back on the pot. Embarrassed, Vexeron merely shrugs and the party moves on.

The next room explored is to the north of the fountain room and is another eight sided room, similar to the others with a high, domed ceiling. This room has several stone platforms draped with white sheets. They have sets of manacles set into the stone at each corner. Metal shelves are at the foot of each platform. All are empty but one. A large tome sits on one shelf. A quick examination reveals 3 magical scrolls tucked into the pages of the tome. The book and scrolls are taken.

A Maddening Worm

Next, the group checked out the final door leading from the pool room. Again, the group sees an eight sided room with a domed ceiling. This one appears to be some sort of summoning room and was in a state of disarray. A summoning pattern fills up most of the floor, and broken furniture litters the space. Across the room, a heavy bookstand can be seen, knocked on its side with a large, black tome laying on the ground next to it. Immediately, Daellin enters the room and starts to head for the book, but Vexeron stops him and tells him that something is wrong in this room. He senses unfinished magic, as if the summoning circle was somehow paused in mid enchantment. He tells Daellin that as long as he does not cross the summoning pattern on the floor, he should be fine to cross the room. Carefully, the Elf makes his way along the outside edge of the room but it turns out that just being near was enough to trigger the unstable magic in the area.

except with an axe, of course

A blast of smoke and unsettling swells of sound fill the room. As the smoke clears, a huge worm like creature fills the center of the room. The beast wields an icy axe in one tentacle and a magical wand in the other. The creature immediately attacks, sending an aura of madness over everyone. Having to fight physically and mentally, the fiendish abomination proved to be a tough opponent, though quickly the party put it on the defensive. It’s madness inducing power turned friend against friend or reduced victims into temporarily babbling idiots. The beast utilized the wand constantly, apparently using it to heal its wounds. The battle was long and hard, but eventually the Heroes of Sandpoint were victorious. They took from it the magical axe, the wand and then gathered up the black tome, which appears to be magical as well.

After resting momentarily, the group headed back toward the Chamber of the Grey Flame, having explored everything in this area of the complex. They moved through the chamber, re-lit the torch using magic to float it up to the top of the dais so they would not again trigger the summoning of demon mouth orbs. They got the secret passage to open and followed it. 

Only the Penitent Shall Pass

After following a hallway and descending some stairs, the group ended at a dead end. On the wall was a painting of Runelord Sorshen, arms outstretched as if to welcome one into her embrace. Thassalonian writing was carved into the wall as well, though it could not be read. Magical and mundane searching did not reveal any secret doors but eventually someone noticed that the paint near the feet of the painting was badly worn off. After some time, it was discovered that kneeling and kissing the feet of the painting triggered teleportation magic.

Kiss My Feet!

Everyone took their turn kneeling in front of the painting and eventually found themselves standing on a stone platform overlooking an enormous underground waterway. The room is filled with the sound of water cascading down from an opening in the ceiling immediately to the east of the tower. A fine mist of moisture fills the air.

Underground Lake

the waterfall feeds the underground lake

The walls of the large cavern appear to be covered in pale, glowing moss and lichen. Three rowboats are tied off to the pier. A monstrous carving of a demon justs out of the wall of the cave just to the north of the dock, its hand outstretched in greeting. A Thassalonian word is carved into the stone below the demon. A quick examination reveals that grasping the demon’s hand teleports one back to the mural that they had just come from.

Far across the lake to the south, another stone landing can be seen with a large metal door leading into the stone wall. The lake narrows and continues to the west.

Session Photos

Daellin trips the magical summoning circle

Kallin and Ehlyna join the fray

Session Notes

We played this session over a month ago and it has taken me FOREVER to get it typed up and posted. We are ready to play again this weekend (once a month is SUCH A LONG TIME but it's better than nothing and we do play for about 6 hours at a time!) We are having so much fun on this current part of the campaign, at least I am and I hope the others are as well.

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by +Greg Grady
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder
Vosk, Half-Orc Pathfinder who gets the job done, no matter what - played by +james schaffner 

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 17

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 17
December 1, 2012

Campaign Timeline

More Misgivings

Moonday, 10th of Lamashan

More ghosts!

The group met another adventurer in the area, a Gnomish scout/ mapper by the name of Leela Caardnool. She was interested in some of the recent ruins the group had explored and asked if she could tag along and hang out with the party.

The groups next outing was to be back to the Misgivings to look for more clues and make another attempt to put a stop to the ghoul problem. Ehlyna and Ellie stayed back in town.

More of the haunted mansion was explored and more of the insidious haunts were encountered, causing horrific hallucinations, causing party members to attack one another and so forth until finally, in the basement, they found an entrance to an even lower level. When investigating it, Kallin and Leela were both overcome by a powerful image of Aldern Foxglove digging into the floor and then being surrounded and overcome by ghouls. Kallin and Leela both experienced the same vision, even developing wounds caused by the illusory ghouls! The group was then alerted by Daellin, who had been waiting outside with the horses that they should return to Sandpoint as soon as possible because he had spotted a large pack of ghouls converging on the house!

The group rode off back to Sandpoint to regroup and plan the next foray into the sub-basement of Foxglove Manor.

Session Notes

I'll punch you in the neck!

Added another new player at this session. Lisa (Carol's daughter) joined us as Leela Cardnool, a Gnome cartographer and explorer with psionic power over light energy. Lisa and Leela jumped right in and did a fantastic job of role playing with the group despite the fact that here gaming experience included only games like Monopoly and Uno. 

And regretfully this time, no  Continuing Story again. But just wait for it, I promise, its coming back around!

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina - Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Leela Cardnool, Gnome scout, cartographer and Illusionist - played by +Lisa Smith
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human wizard - played by +Greg Grady
Ehlyna Fuzziface - Dwarven Warrior - played by +Jodi H
Samad Aldhul, Human ex-mercenary - played by +JeCorey Holder
Ellie - Halfling Finder of Things - played by +Megan McCarron

and +Jason Woollard as the DM

Wandered Roads 10

Wandered Roads of Varisia
Session 10
April 21, 2012
Campaign Timeline

You Fight Me

Dark Shadows

Finally recovered from the epic battle with Nualia and her evil companions, the party decides to press on and continue exploring the ancient ruins that had become the base of operations of the foes of Sandpoint. After exploring what appeared to be Nualia's study/ religious sanctum, the group headed back to the L-shaped room where their fallen foes lay. The column of massive gold coins still piqued the curiosity of some, but no one could figure out what it was, while the other half of the group checked out the massive stone doors at the other end of the room. After removing the iron spikes that held the door closed, Ehlyna pushed the heavy doors open to reveal a long, dark chamber lined with sarcophagi and pillars with a statue of the same grim fellow who has been depicted in most of the statuary in this place. Noting some spiritual movement at the far end of the room, Kallin heads over to take a look, hoping to make contact with the restless dead and offer his aid. Unfortunately, the dark shadows had other things in mind and immediately set to draining Kallin's strength from his body.

His friends quickly came to his aid, but not before being sapped of much of his strength. Ehlyna also fell victim to the dread touch of one of the evil spirits before she was able to slay them with help from Kallin's spirit magic.

With the 3 evil shadow spirits defeated, the party continued their explorations, though there seemed to be no remaining doors to go through. Thinking that there may be something behind a blank space in the wall, Vexeron used his magic to see through the wall and sure enough, there appeared to be a secret tunnel there. With this success, Vexeron went back to the giant gold coin column and tried his magic again, and there was a chamber beyond that as well. Choosing to search the other passage first, the party searched and even though they knew it was there, they could not find access to the tunnel. Again, using his magic, Vexeron was able to determine where the door was and Ellie managed to figure out its opening mechanism. The tunnel led off into the darkness and branched off in 2 different hallways both with stairs leading down. Deciding to finish the exploration of the current level before delving any deeper, the group returned to the gold coin column barrier. Another spell casting showed a tiny slot in the wall to the side, just the right size for a coin, and after a gold coin was dropped into it, the column rumbled and sank into the floor, revealing a large antechamber beyond.

Three sets of carved stone doors led out of this room, and exploring them on at time, the party first found what appeared to be some sort of ancient labratory/ operating/ torture room. Finding nothing of real value besides some bizarre tools and sharp implements of pain, they moved on to the next room. This room held an elaborate throne upon which sat an illusory image of the man continued to be depicted nearby. The illusion was of the man sitting there speaking, waving his hands around, though no one could decipher what he was saying, though it did become apparent that the illusion was stuck on some sort or repeating loop of about 15 seconds long. Creeped out, the party moved on to the 3rd set of doors.

These doors were slightly different and in the middle of where they came together, there was a circular indention with carved out shapes of the 7-pointed star that had been seen before.

It was a hand across and half a hand deep and looked to be some sort of arcane key hole. Force would not budge the doors, but then someone remembered seeing something that may have worked back in the laboratory  Originally thinking it was just another tool of torture, the party retrieved the key and fit it into place. With a click and a low buzz, the door opened.

The chamber that lay beyond was warm and humid. A huge pit of fire was in the center of the room. Two wooden racks of burning candles stood in the near corners. On the far wall was a carving of the 7-pointed star nearly 10 feet across. Seeing no immediate threats, the group entered the room and began examining things. Without warning, a huge wolf like beast on 2 legs appeared out of thin air and attacked Vexeron from behind, nearly rendering him unconscious.

Evil Demon Beast

As everyone turned to react, the creature disappeared. Within a moment he appeared again and pressed the attack. Daellin used his magic to allow himself to see the creature when it turned invisible and he called out its location. The beast continued this tactic for a while as the party hit him with sword, arrow and magical bolt, all seeming to have only minimal effect. Hoping to gain the upper hand, Daellin used his magic on Ehlyna to allow her to see the creature as well, unfortunately that was not the only magic being worked on the Dwarf warrior.

As Daellin and Ehlyna moved up toward the creature, Ehlyna unexpectedly turned and swung her axe at Daellin. Using his magic to blink away out into the antechamber, Daellin went on the defensive. Seeing this dangerous turn of events, Calina attempted to neutralize Ehlyna by shoving her to the ground. This only slowed her down as she quickly gathered her axe and headed after the fleeing Elf. At this point, the party, now divided, was on the run as the wolf demon continued to try to tear them to shreds with his razor sharp claws. Everyone headed for the door that Ellie was guarding, and as the murderous Dwarf passed, she managed to get herself tangled up in Ehlyna's legs and both of them crashed hard to the floor just past the door. Daellin had been laying in wait just outside the door and attempted to knock the enraged Dwarf out by pummeling her in the head with his sword pommel, but unfortunately, the Dwarf's head was just too thick.

Once out in the hall, the doors were pulled closed quickly and several folk piled on top of Ehlyna, who was still trying to get at Daellin and no doubt kill him for all the 'stupid Dwarf' comments he had been making all day. As everyone reached to get a grip on the rampaging Dwarf, the Elf continued to bash her in the head with the handle of his weapon, but to no avail.

At least the wolf demon had not followed them into the other chamber.... yet....

Continuing Story Doc

Continuing Story Summary

The Elf, Daellin, continued to bash his companions head in, though he felt that the Dwarf’s skull was just too thick for it to work. Meanwhile, Kallin, Calina and Ellie were all dogpiled on top of the prone Ehlyna, trying to hold her down and stop her from killing Daellin. Vexeron leaned heavily against a nearby wall, heavily fatigued and wounded from the short battle with the wolf-demon-creature in the room beyond.

Calina holds tightly to Ehlyna as the Dwarf continues to struggle against her captors. Calina feels the many memories and emotions of the day wash over her while she attempts to understand the dwarf's sudden fury against the Elf. While it's true that the Elf taunted Ehlyna many times, the Dwarf had never failed to stand her ground against any verbal banter and always happily dished it back to the Elf. The attack on Daellin was different, and Calina is sure that some form of magic must be involved. Friends do not kill friends!

Calina leans close to Ehlyna's head, and begins to hum the tune of a lullaby. She didn't remember the words of the song, only the soothing sound of her mother's voice from so long ago.

After several more moments of struggling, Ellie was able to pull Ehlyna’s heavy helmet off and Daellin manages to get a few good hits in, just enough to knock the raging Dwarf out, but not enough to seriously hurt her.

“She’s going to have a headache when she wakes up,” Daellin remarks then slumps to the floor exhausted.

Everyone sits still, an eerie, deathly silence fills the chamber. The doors leading to the demon’s chamber remain closed and still. Apparently he is not giving chase. Eventually, the silence is broken by the soft sounds of Ellie crying as she kneels next to the unconscious Dwarf.

Characters Present:

Kallin Hawkril, Half-Orc shaman and budding Priest of Pharasma - played by +Daniel Ernst
Calina, Varisian Human archer and scout - played by +Carol Coburn
Daellin Silvanthalas, Elven Farstrider Ranger - played by +Ben Lipe
Vexeron, Human Wizard - Played by +Greg Grady 
Elyna Fuzziface, Dwarven warrior - played by +Jodi H
Ellie, Halfling finder of things not necessarily lost - played by +Megan McCarron

and +Jason Woollard as the DM