Grand Duchy 106

Grand Duchy of Adventure

Session 106
November 30, 2016

The Mummy Lord Defeated!

Nytdain 8 Klarmont

Finish Him!

The combat between the Grey Company and the Mummy Lord continues! Ree loses her balance in the wind and falls to the floor, her skirt blows up a bit, but everyone notices she is wearing shorts underneath.Cute but practical.Griffin stumbles, but struggles to one knee again. Iris begins trying to stand. Draven continues chanting, ready to call forth a divine spell. Remar moves to a better vantage point on the outskirts of the wind.

The Mummy Lord shouts something in Hutaakan but no one understands it at all then swings at Griffin's torso with a staff and succeeds! Griffin manages to parry the strike. Griffin stumbles again, but struggles to one knee again. The Grey Company continues to struggle mightily against the Mummy's windstorm!

Remar hurls another magical bolt at the  Hutaakan Mummy's head. The Hutaakan Mummy attempts to dodge Remar's attack and fails! The Mummy Lord seems to be slowing down due to his wounds.

Iris stands from kneeling despite the storm, but misses her attack while Draven continues his chant. The Mummy Lord swings at Iris's torso with a staff and fails! Ree falls again but rises back to a knee.

Remar waits to intercept and interrupt the Hutaakan Mummy's next action with a Magebolt to its conk. Iris falls flat on her behind, then struggles to a knee. Draven’s chanting grows louder still...

The Hutaakan Mummy swings at Griffin's torso with a staff and succeeds! Remar hurls a magical bolt at Hutaakan Mummy's head. The Hutaakan Mummy attempts to dodge Remar's attack and fails! Ree moves up behind Griffin and Iris, hoping to help them stay on their feet! Griffin and the Mummy Lord exchange some ineffective blows and Griffin tries to strike his opponents staff but the Mummy Lord manages to hold on to his staff.

Remar waits once again to intercept and interrupt the Hutaakan Mummy's next action with a Magebolt to its gray matter repository.

The Hutaakan Mummy attempts to dodge Iris's attack and fails but Iris's slash does not seem to penetrate the supernatural toughness of the mummy lord! Draven finishes his casting and the windstorm in the immediate area of the mummy seems to subside. Draven screams out the final chant and suppresses all magic in the vicinity. The other spells in the area also go away! The Mummy Lord screams in anger!

Hoping to use the Mummy’s distraction to his advantage, Remar hurls a magical bolt at Hutaakan Mummy's gray matter repository. He raises his staff and is cut off by a magic bolt! The Hutaakan Mummy attempts to dodge Remar's attack and fails! The bolt snaps the Mummy's head back, causing it to hit the wall. The Mummy pitches forward and falls, nearly crushing Griffin in the process. The creature hits the ground and falls apart into a pile of rags and lumps of blackened flesh. Iris gasps and everyone takes a long breath and slowly the windstorm dissipates. Iris rushes over to Kasiex. Remar bolts the mummy a few more times just for good measure.

Afflictions, Rings and Missing Friends

The Mummy Lord's Staff

Remar asks, "Draven, are you well enough to see to Kasiex' wounds, or have you had to ask for too much already to ensure our safety to this point?"

Draven speaks, "I fear I have asked too much of them. I shouldn't presume further, not before I lead a service in their thanks..."

Remar intones, "Rest then brother. Though my skills are a bit inferior to yours, I will do my best to magically assist him. Then it is off to figuring out how to extract Kifein"

Draven investigates the staff, but drops it immediately as it begins to sap his strength and quickly puts it back down. He suggests, "Perhaps that's a tool better investigated by you, Remar, or Iris perhaps, but ‘ware, it may try to drain you if you handle it."

Kasiex shakes his head and pushes himself up by his elbows and Draven searches the area where Kifein was swallowed up but the stone floor looks like the floor everywhere else in this chamber.

Kasiex says "What happened?” in heavily accented Traldar.

Iris crouches over the staff, eagerly examining what she can see, but careful not to touch it

As he recovers from the fight, Griffin has a bit of a coughing fit. He sits down next to Ree and catches his breath. "You good?" Griffin coughs some more.

Ariadne nods and says "You ok? That cough is new."

Remar says, "We may need to manipulate the staff in order to access whatever magic was used to encase Kifein and undo it. Iris, if you are unable to do it, let me know and I will try. I am familiar with shaping earth...even worked stone, but hopefully it was not a spell such as that used, as she would be suffocating.""

Draven says a heartfelt prayer for the soul of Kifein, just in case she now sits in judgement.

Iris sees that the staff is old and ornate but in surprisingly good condition, except where several sword cuts are in it. Iris replies, "I'm not familiar with any spell that would cause what happened to Kifein; I agree we need to figure out a way to help her. I'm not seeing anything obvious yet other than that the staff is ornate"
Ariadne says "It seemed that the Mummy was using magic from the staff, didn't it?"

Remar says, "Yes. At least, that is what I saw with my Identifying Spell"

Ariadne walks back out of the room toward the steps, bends down and picks up a large tome. She says "We still have this, maybe there is something in here that can help."

Draven, suspecting he is not the only one for whom the weight of the loss from this fight is heavy, attempts to console Griffin and the others as seems suitable to them.

Iris signs in relief, "oh good! I didn't see that from where I was at before."

Griffin examines the Staff but it does not look like anything Griffin is familiar with. It does contain many images he has seen recently in dealing with the Hutaakan. Mostly religious images and such.

Kasiex, still weak from his recent brush with death, looks about. He sees Remar examining the staff.

Remar examines the staff...then after muttering to himself, picks it up mentally focused on making its magic serve the company's cause but as Remar pics it up, he immediately feels it leeching the energy from his body. The mage wonders aloud, “So, is it that you need fuel to bond with this?” He feels absolutely no arcane magic flowing through this item but continues to examine it despite its draining effect.

Griffin says "Hey, Remar, maybe it's a Hutaakan thing - let Kaisex try"

Iris exclaims, "Oh my goodness" t,hen adds nervously, "What if it turns you into a mummy?!"

Draven answers gravely, but with a wry smile on his face, "I fear Remar will see that as the 'next great adventure' Iris..." Iris looks absolutely horrified at Draven's words

Kasiex says "That looks like the Staff of Pflarr, an ancient holy symbol of my people. I would put that down."

Iris says, "Kasiex says you need to put that down, it's a holy symbol of his people!"

Remar says, “Oh, um...well Kasiex, can you take this thing and make it cough Kifein back out of the Stone and Earth that swallowed her earlier? The mummy was using this staff to do that.”

Kasiex takes the staff from Remar and holds it and turns it over in his paws. "This is definitely the Staff of Pflarr, but I sure don't know what to do with it."

Griffin takes off his shield and crossbow and start exploring the rest of the room. He sees that the two large statues have some ornamentation on them that appears to be both valuable and removable.  He stealthily removes the ornamentation and stows it away carefully, making sure that Kasiex does not notice him plundering the statues.

Remar rests and studies his grimoire while he does. Iris sits next to Ree to offer help on interpreting the tome.

Draven and Remar discuss necromancy spells. Iris walks over to Draven. Iris whispers, "he's losing it. he's losing it"

Kasiex says "But what about Kifein?" Iris looks through the ancient tome. Griffin draws a big X on the floor where Kifein was swallowed up.

Iris thinks that she might be able to find something in the book. It actually looks like there are some arcane spells in this tome, among other things. Ree is interested in helping Iris figure this out though she cannot read Hutaakan.

Iris says, "Ok, so if i translate this correctly, the spell will disappear from the book. Or I can try to study this overnight and possibly learn the spell. Or I maybe mistaken and it can only be used as a scroll" She she seems just a bit confused on the actual application of the magic and smiles weakly

Draven sayd, "Worth a try to learn it long-term, if you think it can be done."

Iris says, “I would prefer that method, if only to preserve as much of the tome as possible for the Hutaakans but I did want to run it by you all first though.

Griffin also realizes that he is much more tired right now, his gear is really wearing him down and he feels like he has worked out all day; muscles are just tired out. He coughs and looks woozy. “Uh, Brother, could you take a look at me? I think this yellow junk is not good for me.”

Draven examines Griffin and then asks, "Can someone start a fire? I should make a hot poultice for Griffin's face."

Draven looks down then whispers to Griffin, “Brother, where did you come by that ring on your finger?”

Ariadne says "So, there's this door leading north here. With water coming from under it. And should we think about letting the others in? Or exploring the rest of this area?"

Remar starts a magical fire.

“I do? What ring?” Griffin looks at Draven with surprise. He did not realize he had the ring on his finger at all. He does not remember putting it on.

Such a pretty ring.

Draven works on a poultice for Griffin and answers,  “Indeed you do, look - ornate silver and ebony with a panther head. Here, help me remove it.” The ring, for some reason, will not come off of Griffin’s finger. Griffin and Draven look like they are looking at Griffin’s hand and shaking each others hands.

Griffin says jokingly, "Pleased to meet you!" A concerned look crosses his face when he realizes the ring will not come off. Griffin begins coughing.

Remar examines the door.

Watching Draven and Griffin fuss over this particular ring, Iris covers her mouth with both hands.

Griffin waves his hand. "Isn't it pretty?" He coughs some more.

Iris gasps and looks terribly guilty then exclaims quietly, 'Oh no!" She doesn't meet Draven's gaze.

Draven declares, with some disgust at his light-fingered friend, that the only solution that will save Griffin's life is to cut off the finger. Griffin thinks hard and believes he might remember putting the ring on. It is an ornate silver and ebony ring fashioned to look like a panthers head. It is encrusted with small clear crystals and 2 emeralds for eyes. He also remembers that it was an unknown magic item and it needed to be checked out before anyone did anything with it.

Ree says "That cough really sounds bad Griff." She then looks at Iris with a strange look. "That wound looks bad, Iris. It looks a little swollen and black. You need to sit down.”

Iris gently touches her face and pleads, "Um, Draven? Could you please look at my face?”

Draven agrees, "let's have a look at you..." The priest sees that Iris's wound is also infected with Mummy Rot and explains this to her.

Iris looks like she's going to cry but instead opens up the tome and starts reading, hoping to find a way to rescue their Hutaakan friend, Kifein.

Notes

This part of the Vault is also a Dyson Logos Map. Flear's Temple has been altered a bit and combined with another Dyson map to create the Vault. Thanks +Dyson Logos for all your wonderful maps!

Cast of Characters: 

Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne Jamtgaard 

Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer with help from +Patrick Burke 

Remar Umerus, an Alphatian battle mage that escaped forced service in the Thyatian army currently marshalled by +Patrick Kelly 

Iris Varda, a Thyatian explorer and historian searching for answers and adventure, now guided by +Stephanie Kelly 

Kasiex, a Hutaakan Wildsteward used to ranging the mountains and valleys now led down a new path by +Patrick Burke 

and +Jason Woollard as The DM

Grand Duchy 104

Grand Duchy of Adventure

Session 104
October 4, 2016

This Way to the Egress

Draven senses a great evil

The Grey Company, having recovered the item which they sought, begins making their way back out of the Vault of Elders. Upon retreating from the secret vault, Draven feels the great evil presence he had felt dissipate. 

Slowly the group makes their way through the many passages and doors, having to only open one at a time before the next one can be opened. Just as the group climbing the stairs back up to the main temple room, they are beset by several Hutaakan mummies. 

The Company quickly engages, using their flaming weapons to the best of their advantage. Iris and Kasiex are both wounded by the deadly and diseased mummy claws before Draven summons the might of his Immortal Patrons to drive the undead back into the ground.

Ree calls up from the rear, back by the open door and asks if she should close them so the group can make a run for the front doors and escape. Just as Iris shouts back to her to do so, Draven is overcome with the feeling of great evil again. As the battle rages up above her, Ree closes the door and instructs the group to make a run for the main front doors.

Before this part of the plan can be worked out though, the double doors leading further into the Vault slide open, revealing several more mummies, including one that bears a fancy, bejeweled headdress and mighty staff, some sort of Mummy Lord. 

The Hutaakan Mummy Lord reveals himself

Ree regrets her decision

The battle is raging again, bolts of magic, sunlight and now skull-sized stones from the Mummy Lord fly back and forth across the room. Shouts and curses also fill the air as Ree apologizes for closing the door and allowing these new combatants access to the room. 

As the Grey Company fights for their life, a heavy, dark fear settles over them, terrifying them right to their bones. Some of the members of this brave company find themselves paralyzed in fear.

Cast of Characters: 

Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne Jamtgaard 

Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer with help from +Patrick Burke 

Remar Umerus, an Alphatian battle mage that escaped forced service in the Thyatian army currently marshalled by +Patrick Kelly 

Iris Varda, a Thyatian explorer and historian searching for answers and adventure, now guided by +Stephanie Kelly 

Kasiex, a Hutaakan Wildsteward used to ranging the mountains and valleys now led down a new path by +Patrick Burke 

and +Jason Woollard as The DM

Grand Duchy 102

Grand Duchy of Adventure

Session 102
September 29, 2016

The Knowledge of Elders

Nytdain 8th Klarmont

Griffin steps in to the left and sweeps the room looking for trouble and sees that the rest of the room appears to devoid of unnatural dangers. Debris lines the outer edge of this room. Some dragging tracks can be seen through the dust and dirt in the middle of the room, probably mummy tracks

Iris pokes her head in the room and looks for mummies and Draven begins picking through the rubble near the walls in a search for secret doors. There are no mummies present so Iris searches the room for symbols, text, inscriptions with help from Kifein. Griffin says, "Okay, we can't do any other doors until we're done here." Griffin checks for secret doors too. The search goes on in relative silence and the rest of the Vault remains silent.

While the others search the room, Remar keeps an eye out for enemies approaching from where they came, especially the hole in the ground since it appears the doors seal when 1 is opened. Kasiex remains in the silent vault with Remar, his bow ready.

There are no writings on the walls that are visible but it seems that the debris in the room seems to have been racks or bookshelves and much of what is there is made up of ruined books. Over the course of 20 minutes, Draven and Griffin find no secret doors or anything of the sort though Iris and Kifein find a handful of potentially salvageable writings.

Iris says, in Thyatian, “I think...I think this may have been a small library”

Kifein says to Iris,”I will hold these and we can examine them once we return home,” and carefully stores the writings in her pack.

Draven intones, "well, I hope your searches are more fruitful. There's no way forward in this room that I can find. So, where to next?"

Kifein mentions that there was a set of stairs at the far end of the main vault chamber.

Hearing his friends discussing the search in the next room, Remar calls out, “Thankful to say that my searching out here is also proving fruitless.” Iris giggles at this.

Iris says, “Thanks, Kifein! That's a great idea. Basement does sound good for our next move”

The Company closes the door and moves to investigate the door at the bottom of the stairs.
The group approaches the door at the bottom of the stairs. Kasiex reaches out and pulls the door open. An L shaped room lies ahead. The floor is covered with much debris. It looks to have once been an old store room, but all the contents have been destroyed by time, or other hands possibly. Draven steps inside and glances around, seeing that there is a door off to the left side of the room. The group moves through the debris to the next room and in the process, Kasiex catches his leg on a sharp piece of debris while crossing the room and cuts his leg! He lets out a pained yelp.

The next door is similar to the other doors, dark wood, ironbound, well fitted. Griffin says "Okay, we have another door. Let's skip searching the trash in here and press on."

Kifein closes the door to this chamber then nods to Kasiex to go ahead and open the next one. It reveals a small storage room, possibly a wine cellar or something. The floor of the room is about 3 feet lower and the ground is covered with what looks to be broken wood and debris from a time long past. Bits of broken glass glint in the shining light of flaming weapons

Griffin says "OKay, split up. Let's take both rooms on at the same time."

Remar adds, “Be careful not to allow your weapons to aflame the debris in here”

While searching in the first, larger, room, Ree calls out that she has found what looks like a secret door and Griffin rushes over. In the corner of the room she points out what appears to be the outline of a door in the wall. Iris takes Griffin's weapon in her off hand so he can get a better look at it. He quickly finds what he thinks is a hidden latch. Griffin maneuvers the workings of door and after a moment he hears a click and a section of wall slides away revealing another chamber beyond.

Griffin takes back his sword from Iris with a short bow, then enters the secret room. This next room appears to be much less destroyed and ruined as the others. Iris smiles wide. There are several old tapestries, similar to the one from the homestead, but depicting different images, some intact bookshelves and books. Iris seems anxious to explore this ancient find.

Draven says, "Let the lady through..."

Iris says, “Be careful of your weapons! There are delicate flammables in here. Kifein! You should see these tapestries! And the vaulted ceiling!!”

The door in the northwestern wall is about 15 feet overhead. A wooden ladder leans up against the wall below it. The ceiling in this room is nearly 25 feet overhead, terminating in a decorated dome. Iris and Kasiex gawk at the ceiling from the doorway of the chamber.

Having an idea, Iris asks Draven for the enchanted needle they had used previously to reveal clues from some of the tapestries. The priest holds the needle out to her and Iris accepts the needle, and carefully touches it to the closest tapestry. Each of the tapestries are at least 10 feet high and 3-5 feet wide. They would weigh hundreds of pounds if they had to be carried.

As the needle touches the tapestry, it moves of its own accord and begins weaving itself through the tapestry, pulling a magical golden thread behind it. When it is done, the image remains the same, but the gold accents now give it a different focus. No one has any idea what it refers to though. Kifein scratches her head. This is wonderful, though I do not know what it shows.

Iris muses, “Perhaps we should sketch it?”

Kifein responds, "That would be smart."

Iris produces some drawing material and sketches the tapestry while Griffin checks out the ladder. The chamber contains several other items as well. Several valuable items appear on various shelves. A tea service, a writing kit, some other metal objects, possibly religious implements.
The ladder looks to be many hundreds of years old and probably would not support much weight. Instead, Griffin decides to climb the wall to check out the door

While moving about the room and searching, Draven exclaims that he has felt a terrible evil and blackness wash over him. Iris half turns, clearly concerned and pales visibly. She says, “I mean, you still think you could handle it, right Draven?”

Draven says, "It's not so bad that I feel the need to flee, but we must be vigilant"

Iris nods and furrows her brow. Iris says, “Kifein, do you feel this darkness?” The Hutaakan priestess nods that she does not.

Draven searches the northwest half of the room more closely, looking for anything out of sorts and then activates his boots and floats up to the high door. Draven says, "Let me see... the feeling of foreboding doesn't increase at the door..."

Griffin reaches the door just as Draven floats up and searches around. There is a small ledge at the door. Standing on the ledge, Griffin checks out the door and finds it to be not trapped or locked. Feeling brash, he opens the door. Griffin sees another squarish room. It's ceiling is of normal height. The walls are carved decoratively and to the left, he sees a golden pedestal containing a thick, leather bound tome.

Upon hearing that the object of their desiring is potentially in the next chamber, Iris makes her way up into the room. Iris says, “I'm going to keep looking through this room until everyone else is up, if that's alright” Griffin, Iris and Draven search the newly discovered room. Iris looks at the tome and pedestal, but doesn't touch it quite yet. Next to the book on the pedestal is a golden necklace and a finely wrought ring.

Draven says, "The book and pedestal are not the source of the ill feeling. Hutaakan sanctity which, while different, is not evil."

Iris oh so carefully turns the cover of the tome. Iris excitedly whispers, "This is it!!"

Down below, Remar senses the importance of the discovery and says to the Hutaakan priestess, “KIEFINE REMAR GET YOU HIGH?” in very awkward Traldar.

Kifein calls up above "Have you found the Knowledge of the Elders?" then turns to Remar and responds "Yes, Remar. Can you help me get up there?" though Remar’s unskilled ears hear “Yes, you get me off” while Kifein points up to the door and makes butterfly motions with her hands.

Remar hears, "See, yer a regula lady killa Rema. Fun fer all ages, shapes, sizes, and races"

Iris says, “Griffin, how about you examine the jewelry while I look at the tome?”

Draven looks over Iris's shoulder as she whispers, “That's a special ring”

Griffin examines the necklace, holding it up to the light of his flaming sword. He smiles wide. "This looks VERY valuable. Very fine craftsmanship. Some of the most well made stuff I've ever seen.

Iris seems completely absorbed in the tome. The cover of the book is heavy, written in Hutakan and possibly some other language as well. Iris sees some Nithina writing as well as a third language she does not recognize but have seen in the Hutaakan library back at their village. The book is very old and feels that rough handling of it could easily damage or destroy it. Iris mutters under her breath, "I wonder if this is some kind of codex," then louder, “This is a fragile piece.” Iris walks to the door and pokes her head out looking for Kifein as the Hutaakan priestess floats up to the doorway awkwardly. Iris helps Kifein get her feet on the ground.

Once she gets into the chamber, her eyes widen and she looks around. Tears come from the corners of her eyes. "This vault and this tome have been lost to my people for centuries. Thank you for recovering such valuable artifacts for us.” Kifein carefully hugs Iris, Griffin and Draven, watching out for their flaming weapons. Iris feels freakin' awful and looks at Griffin guiltily.

Griffin gives her an "It's okay" look

Kifein says "How do we get the book out of here? I fear that carrying it in a backpack could damage it. I would hate to have come all this way only to ruin what we need to save the valley and all its inhabitants." Kifein looks carefully at the book and pedestal and the space to either side of the book. Fortunately there are no dust lines indicating the missing items.

Griffin says, "Should we try and glean the knowledge we need from it while we're here? How long would that take?"

Kifein says "Oh no, that could take days. We should return this to Kforedez."

Iris says, “Well...Kifein, I was thinking about transporting the tome. Perhaps if we wrapped it carefully, and carried it by hand, that would be for the best,” then adds  “And it may be a good idea, as Griffin suggested, to read what we can while we are here and it's safe. If Remar could levitate the book as he did you, that might help as well, but I'm not certain as to how much effort that would cost him.” In Traldar, then Thyatian, Iris says, "There are no less than three language in the pages I've already seen"

Kifein gives Remar the thumbs up and has Iris tell him that she no longer needs the magic. Iris raises an eyebrow.

Draven comes back over from examining the other side of the room. "Whatever this evil, we need to deal with it before we leave this place. It is a blight upon all that is good and just."

Iris sighs then  shakes her head and grins

Ariadne says "So what's the plan?" she yells up?

Notes

This part of the Vault is also a Dyson Logos Map. Flear's Temple has been altered a bit and combined with another Dyson map to create the Vault. Thanks +Dyson Logos for all your wonderful maps!

Cast of Characters: 

Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne Jamtgaard 

Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer with help from +Patrick Burke 

Remar Umerus, an Alphatian battle mage that escaped forced service in the Thyatian army currently marshalled by +Patrick Kelly 

Iris Varda, a Thyatian explorer and historian searching for answers and adventure, now guided by +Stephanie Kelly 

Kasiex, a Hutaakan Wildsteward used to ranging the mountains and valleys now led down a new path by +Patrick Burke 

and +Jason Woollard as The DM