Session 32 Demonic Incursion 2/2/1480 DR

Ashara of Akanul and her apprentice Amara deTrevani return to Loudwater after 6 months in Akanul, only to find themselves in the midst of a demonic invasion...

Amara deTrevani

2/2/1480: After several days' rest at the Tower of Treona, Lirael Halvath Jareth and Palias ride the 14 miles back west to Loudwater. Leaving their horses at the Stables they head north towards the docks to book transit on a ship downriver, entering the open market square in front of the Moonfire Mansion. There Lirael meets Ashara and Amara deTrevani, newly arrived in town via phantom steeds. Having completed her apprentice training, Amara plans to use her powers to retake Castle deTrevani from the Orcs and restore her family fortunes.
Meanwhile a Bard, Quinn, has newly arrived in Loudwater by boat. Passing through the gate from the docks ward he enters the square, and senses a twisted portal opening below 'him', somewhere nearby. Meanwhile a local doomsayer, Malineus Bleak, has ascended the stage in front of the mansion and is haranguing a small crowd with warnings of DOOM!! - certainly true in his case, for suddenly he screams and is consumed in fire. Standing on the stage is a roaring pillar of flame and blackened bones - an Immolith demon! Quinn notices too late as flaming zombies disgorge from the open storm drain behind him and attack. The Immolith orders them to seize the Ring, and attacks Jareth.

The Immolith Appears

A fierce battle ensues, the crowd flees in panic and Quinn is hard pressed. Malineus Bleak stands back up, now a flaming zombie, and is engaged by Palias. After a fierce fight the heroes are triumphant, Ashara leads the way down into the sewers, seeking to close the demonic portal before it can open further. But more demons lies in wait...

Demon Toad Minions are Lurking!

Toad demons in the water, Mezzodemons on the pathway and a hideous sleep-inducing Chasme fly demon scurrying on the walls attack the party, but ultimately prove no match for the heroes' power. Ashara and Amara press on and find a glowing demonic portal, about to disgorge the enormous form of 20' tall Carnage Goristro. Focusing their arcane powers, they close the Portal before it can disgorge the brute.

Flies & Toads

Demon Horde vs Ashara

In the aftermath, Ashara and Amara bid farewell to the others, heading east to Trevann to raise a force and take back Castle deTrevani from the orcs with fire and sword. In the smoking ruins of the castle they plan to establish a Conclave and train a new generation of Fire Wizards.
Lady Moonfire approaches Lirael and thanks her for defeating the demons and saving Moonfire from having to unleash the power of Karsus the Failed God to save Loudwater from the demons. Moonfire implies that would have been a Bad Thing.
The group reach the docks and book passage to Daggerford with Tollun, a river merchant Lirael knows (Esmerelda once helped him bargain with an Orlbar trader over some cheap wine). The group plan to go to Wyrmscrag Fortress and loot the wealth of Emerald Dawn before taking the Ring of Nemeia to Hallomak Stromm in Waterdeep.

XP
Courtyard: Immolith & 5 flameborn zombies, inc Malineus Bleak: 3700
Sewer: Chasme, 3 Mezzodemons, 4 Canoloth Harriers: 3600
Closing the Portal on the Carnage Goristro: 1200
Total: 8500/6.5 = 1308 + 21,132 = 22,440
26,000 for Level 11 (Paragon Tier)

Session 31: Reach Lvl10 - Fall the Dawn 29/1/1480 DR.

29/1/1480 DR
The group are rested after a day at the Shrine of Mielikki. Waking that morning, Lirael finds her bow has been granted a Thunder boon by Mielikki, the forest goddess, Lady of the Gray Vale.

Arya the Wizard arrives from Loudwater; Lirael fills her in on the situation. The Ring speaks with Arya, telling her that her destiny is to free Thay from Undeath and its 'false god' Szass Tam. The group depart Brownstone, reaching Loudwater at lunchtime. They luncheon at the Green Tankard; Halvath visits Father Halvath visits his friend Brother Griffon at the Temple of Silvanus, while Lirael takes several others to see Lady Moonfire, leaving the Ring of Nemeia behind Lirael tells Moonfire about the Ring, and asks why it is seeking her. Moonfire reveals a shocking secret - that she is drawing on the dark energies of Karsus, the Failed God, to protect Loudwater. Lirael confers with the others and informs them of this.

The group leave Loudwater that afternoon and ride east, reaching Treona's tower at dusk. Just before sunset Lirael and Tassan spot a large draconic shape approaching from the south-west, flying over the South Wood. Treona examines the Ring and says she lacks the power to destroy it - only her old friend Halamak Stromm, the demon-hunting Savant-Sage of Waterdeep, might be able to do so.  But she can cast a Ritual of Non-Detection that might shield the ring.

Treona

With a thunk, a large green dragon, Emerald Dawn, lands on the roof. Jareth goes up to negotiate with it, but an epic battle soon ensues. Lirael, Halvath and Tassan are all brought near death before Jareth's glaive and a magic missile from Arya finally slays the beast.

XP:
Roleplay XP: 150 each.
Defeat Emerald Dawn: 6000/7 = 857 each.
Total: 1,007 + 20,125 = 21,132
LEVEL 10 REACHED
26,000 for LEVEL 11 (PARAGON LEVEL)

PCs reached Level 5 in Session 11, the first session of 2012, and reached level 10 in Session 31, the penultimate session of 2012.

2011: 10 sessions, 3 level-ups (2, 3, 4) = 1 per 3.33.
2012: 22 sessions, 6 level-ups (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) = 1 per 3.66.

Session 30: Blood on the Snow 27-28/1/1480 DR

27/1/1480 DR

Lirael & Halvath arrive back at the dell at dusk, and discuss taking the Ring to Treona the Wise-Woman. They have not been there long when an Ettin attacks the camp from the cliffs above. Jareth of Orlbar hurries back to assist the others, and they defeat it after a fierce fight.

With the temperature falling, the group decides to head north to Brownstone, using sunrods for illumination as they travel through the night. On the way through the woods, passing a ring of standing-stones they are ambushed by a group of five fire-breathing dragonborn warriors - skilled combatants, but they prove no match for the heroes. Four are slain, the last surrenders - Jareth wants to slay him, but he promises to leave the service of the 'Emerald Dawn', his green dragon mistress, and is granted quarter. He leaves, heading south.

28/1/1480 DR

The group reaches Brownstone before dawn; Halvath has the guards open the palisade gates and they repair to the shrine of Mielikki for a well-earned rest, waking that afternoon.

XP
Gulthog the Ettin 2500

5 Dragonborn Warriors 2500

Total: 5000/6=833

833+19,292=20,125

Need: 20,500 for 10th.

PCs
1. Lirael Sirocco, Half-Elf Archer Ranger
2. Jareth of Orlbar, Human Slayer Fighter
3. Dunstan Ironforge, Dwarf Knight Fighter
4. Halvath, Human Cleric War-Priest of Mielikki
5. Palias, Elf Archer Ranger
6. Tassan, Elf Monk

7. Not present: Arya, Human Mage Wizard

Session 29: The Ring of Nemeia 26-27/1/1480 DR

26/1/1480 DR

Descending the steps, the heroes battle a zombie hulk, flame braziers, reanimating skeleton archers, and their Draconian Necromancer master, a sort of Lizardman/Dragon crossbreed. Victorious, on the dead Draconian is a silver ring with the symbol of Asmodeus, Arch-Devil of Hell. They recognise the Signet Ring as the Ring of Nemeia, 'Demon Empress of Netheril' said to be buried deeper in the cairn.

The party return across the High Moor to the forested dell where they left their horses; the horses have been scattered and need rounding up - Lirael finds the tracks of a large Ettin. The Ring speaks in a silvery female voice to the mind of each hero who holds it, tempting them with promises of power, and punishing them with green Necrotic energy when they refuse. It tells them that  "The Scaly Ones are Coming" which proves true a few hours after nightfall, as two Yuan-Ti hunters find the camp, but are spotted by the elven Ranger Palias. Despite their speed and power, both are slain.

27/1/1480 DR

Next morning Lirael leaves the others in the dell with the ring and heads north alone to Brownstone, where she recruits Halvath, the local priest of Mielikki, and brings him back south to the dell to examine the ring. 

XP:

Draconian Necromancer, Zombie Hulk & skels: 1650/5=330 each

Yuan-Ti Abomination & Malison: 2300/5=460 each

Environment, Interaction with Ring of Nemeia etc: 200 each

Total: 990+18,302=19,292

Need: 20,500 for 10th.

Session 28: The Empress Cairn 25-26/1/1480 DR

After weeks of heavy snowfall, the last few days have been cold but bright and clear. In Loudwater's Green Tankard Tavern, Lirael Sirocco is having a drink with the High Forest elf Ranger Palias and a dwarf Fighter, Dunstan Ironforge.
The old white-bearded hunter Trapper John enters, covered in scratches and bony shards. He reports that the Empress Cairn west of Highstar Lake has been broken into, he followed tracks and when he entered he was attacked by exploding skeletons. He asks Lirael, his old friend Dunstan, and Palias to check it out - there are old tales of a curse that will arise should the resting place of the Netherese Empress Nemeia ever be violated. Palias tends to John's wounds, then he goes to get a hot bath and a nice rest.
Palias talks with local man Sunsteen Urbeth about rumours of Najaran Serpentfolk; last year Sunsteen's niece Penny Tavistock was among those rescued from human slavers in the ruins of Zelbross by Lirael and the Burning Hand adventurers. The slavers were aided by a snake-headed lizardman shaman or adept. The Orlbar Royal Guard Jareth turns up and joins the group.
Lirael purchases horses for the group, they ride west to the stockaded village of Brownstone where they spend the night at the villa of the local knight, Sir Halvard Brooke. Brooke seems worried by rumours of 'frost goblins' in the woods. He seems to keep his attractive daughter Amanda under close watch. Lirael has private quarters, the other three sleep in the main hall with Brooke's retainers.

26/1/1480 DR
Next morning the group ride south from Brownstone through a snowy landscape, Lirael following a trail. They ride up through leafless woods to the edge of the High Moor, where they leave the horses in a hidden dell, then treck for four miles across knee-deep snow to where the Empress Cairn rises on the west shore of Highstar Lake. They reach the Cairn at dusk, as the sun is setting behind the distant ruins of Wyrmscrag Castle to the west. Clear tracks show a group matching John's description - a humanoid reptilian, an ogre, and human-sized tracks, some with bony prongs, approach the cairn. John's tracks can be seen approaching the tomb, then fleeing.
The tomb's stone door has been forced and broken. Inside, undead guards await - wights and boneshard skeletons attack fiercely. When they are defeated, the urinous Dunstan activates a gas trap in the entrance chamber. The group skirt the gas. Down a sloping passage are more guards, burning skeletons and frost zombies, but these are swiftly defeated. Palias uses his Fey Step to pass a portcullis then open it from the far side, while the rest of the group jump over a sheet of weird glowing ice. They stand at the top of a long flight of stairs leading downwards. From below can be seen a baleful red gleam...

XP:
Roleplay & Travel 100 per PC
Boneshards & Wights: 1000/4 = 250 per PC
Blazing skeletons, chillborn zombies & ice: 1300/4=325
Total: 675 each + 17,627=18,302
Need: 20,500 for 10th.

Dragons of the Gray Vale

Dragon Typical Level Range (Solo)
Young: 3-8 (Large)
Adult: 9-16 (Large)
Elder: 17-23 (Huge)
Ancient: 24-30 (Gargantuan)

Central Gray Vale (2)
Bitterstrike (f): This Mature Adult (Large) White dragon entered the Dire Wood from the north, ca 1/1/1480 DR. Commands the Tigerclaw Uthgardt clan.

Tyristix: (f) Elder (Huge) Verdigris Dragon (Copper/Green Cross): ca 600 years old, approachable, dwells by hot springs in the ruins of Kiris Dahn, on the north side of the Southwood. 1479 DR handed over the Slaying Stone to Ashara the Genasi. Rumoured to be a daughter of Grax Rekaxx. Copper mother unknown.

Emerald Dawn - The Wyrmscrag Dragon: (f) An Adult (Large) Green dragon of Najara, seen hunting in the northern High Moor around the ruins of Wyrmscrag Castle and into the western Southwood. Served by Yuan-Ti and Draconians (Lizardfolk Dragonborn). RIP 29/1/1480 DR. May have been a daughter of Tyristix.

Grimnoshtasdrano (m), the “Riddling Dragon" (Large adult green), ca 200 years old, made his residence in the ancient lair of Grax Rekaxx (m), an Ancient (Gargantuan) green dragon (slain by elven adventurers from Evereska ca 950 DR), in the Endless Caverns where the river falls a short distance to join the Unicorn Run.  Grimnosh is rumoured to be the offspring of Tyristrix, making him 1/4 copper and perhaps explaining his unusual temperament. That might also make Grax Rekax his grandsire. RIP M4 1480 DR: Grimnosh is reported slain by a pair of Chimerae, who seize his treasure.

Eastern Gray Vale (3)
Ice Fang: (f) Adult (Large) White Dragon, dwells atop Stonefang Mountain between the Gray Vale and Bleached Bones Pass. Considers herself mistress of the mountain. Ward Pact with Severed Eye Dragonskull clan Orcs; the deva paladin Shawna Carter persuaded her not to attack.

Nightshade: (f) Adult (Large) Black Dragon, former leader of the Poisoned Shadows gang of Shadar-Kai assassins. Last seen in the sewers beneath Llorkh 1479 DR - killed three heroes in battle including Karvol; Arya & Lirael narrowly escaped. 1480 DR: Rumour places Nightshade in service of the Mountain King.

Azaegal: (m) Huge (Elder) Red Dragon. This great red wyrm lairs somewhere in the Graypeak mountains far to the north or north-east, but has occasionally been spotted flying over the lands of the Mountain King, as far south as Wyvern Mountain. Centuries ago Azaegal and his father, the legendary Xhitigal (m) (Gargantuan two-headed Red, near Luruar), united to slay the Elder White Dragon Slevyas (f) that had claimed Wyvern Mountain in the aftermath of the fall of Ammarindar.

High Forest
Elaacrimalicros (m): Gargantuan (Ancient) Green Dragon. By far the eldest living dragon of the High Forest, this ancient green wyrm has a cavernous lair among the highest peaks of the Star Mounts. He sleeps for decades at a time, but when awakened his hunger drives him to devour widely before returning to slumber. Possibly brother to Grax Rekax.

Chloracridara (f): Huge (Elder) Green Dragon. She came to the High Forest from the Far Forest around 1360 DR. She has had several children by Grimnoshtasdrano the Riddling Dragon ca 1370-1430 DR, some of whom have survived to adulthood and departed to seek their fortunes elsewhere.  Her lair is located among the ruins of Mhiilamniir, between the Lost Peaks and the Nameless Dungeon. She is known to attack non-dragons on sight.

Deathsleet (m): Huge (Elder) White Dragon. The mate of Bitterstrike, Deathsleet is particularly large and powerful male. He lairs high atop the Lost Peaks, descending to the High Forest to search for game.

Young Dragons: Adventurers have occasionally reported encountering young Green dragons in the Southwood, young Red and White dragons in the Graypeak Mountains, and young Black dragons in the High Moor. Typical Level range 3-7.

Hunting Range: Typical range for an adult dragon is around 700 square miles, a 15-mile radius around the lair. Young dragon ranges are much smaller, around 7.5 mile radius or 175 square miles, while Elder dragon ranges are vast, around a 30 mile radius or more than 2800 square miles.

Session 27: Death in the Sewers 24/10/1479 DR

In the sewers beneath Llorkh, the party finish off two Shadar-Kai warriors; the Paladin Calloway hacks his way out of the massive gelatinous cube in the sewer intersection. After a short rest, Karvol hacks a hole in the iron grate of the inflow pipe that the Oni fled through in gaseous form, beyond which a faint blue phosphoresence can be seen.

Karvol leads the way past the grate down the pipe to a large chamber lit by lumescent moss upon the ceiling. A barrel bobs in the sewer intersection. There is an acrid stench. Karvol emerges from the pipe - and spots the enormous black dragon hiding under the water. Battle ensues, the Oni emerges from the far side of the chamber and blasts the party with sleep-breath, while the black dragon scorches them with acid. Lirael fells the Oni with an arrow to the throat, but the dragon Nightshade proves too much for the heroes. Karvol, Calloway and Dardalion are slain. Desperately, Arya drags Lirael's unconscious body down the pipe, pursued by the dragon. Somehow Arya dodges Nightshade's bites and gets Lirael back through the hole in the iron grate, which blocks the dragon long enough for Arya to get a healing potion into Lirael, restoring her to consciousness. The two survivors flee round the corner as clouds of acid-breath from the angry dragon fill the sewer behind them. 

Lirael and Arya flee back to the surface.

Party XP

Start:16,947. 

8-2: Defeated 2 shadar-kai, gelatinous cube, & Maiko the Oni: 1,900/5=380.

8-3: Fight and defeated by Nightshade, Adult Black Dragon: 1,500/5=300

Total: 680+16,947=17,627

Need: 20,500 for 10th.

Lirael:

Lirael, quite chastened by her near-death experience, has had just about enough of Llorkh. As Esme has retired to rule the land along with her doting Pig King hubby, she wonders if she and Arya can take their share of the spoils from Llorkh's treasury (including that Rod of Hope Triumphant--just in case) and move on. She does not mention it to Arya, but she is convinced that they need to find some trustworthy companions. While she feels confident she can protect herself in the wild, it is easier to move quietly about the countryside by herself than with a (rather squishy) companion like Arya, who she would never desert...especially after Arya risked her own life to drag her out of the very maw of the dragon. She ponders where best to find some...as "trustworthy" is not something one associates with the people who frequent Llorkh. ...
Lirael also sends word to Calloway and Dardalion's (sorry if I spelled that wrong) superiors letting them know what happened to the brave warriors and including a subtly worded suggestion that if they wish to continue their hunt of the dragon Nightshade they can damn well do it themselves.

Llorkh:

Kitana and most of the Banites return from a glorious victory over the Severed Eye Orc outpost to the south, west of Stonefang Mountain. They surprised the orcs and killed dozens of orc warriors, cornering and slaying their leader, the human female alchemist Dreus Matrand - who Lirael might remember sent a Severed Eye Orc party into the ruins of Kiris Dahn after the Slaying Stone, months ago. Only one senior Banite, Oskim, fell in the battle, further convincing the Banites that they enjoy the Blessing of Bane and that the Banechild, Esmerelda, is truely the Chosen One to usher in the Age of Bane. 

Esmerelda in her wisdom sends the Banites back south again to man the southern frontier, fortify the orc caves, and defend the Victoria Mine from any renewed Orc threat.

The twelve men who Esme sent east after ex-King Boris do not return. Word soon comes from the village of Irondawn east of Llorkh that Boris apparently convinced the twelve to join with him (OOC: rolled a 31 on his Diplomacy check! [:D]) and they re-equipped in Irondawn before heading east over the Dawn Pass into the Fallen Lands.  

Session 26: The Poisoned Shadows 24/10/1479 DR

The day after Esmerelda becomes Queen of Llorkh, most of the bandits are sleeping off the effects of the Great Feast. Esme has dispatched 12 men east to kill Boris, while sending Kitana and the most fanatical Banites south against the Severed Eye Orcs.

Two followers of Bahamut, the Cleric Dardalion and the Paladin Callaway, have arrived in Llorkh from Waterdeep searching for the remnants of the Poisoned Shadows, a group of Shadar-Kai assassins who had slain the Vice-Patriarch of Bahamut. They are spotted by Lirael and brought to the Palace via a rear entrance. After consultation with Arya and Karvol, they agree to help in investigating the theft of the Ammarindar dwarven rune-plates from the tower of the deceased Transmuter Olaris Vlakos.

Investigating the abandoned Old Curiousity Shoppe on the north-west side of Llorkh, the group find three Shadar-Kai in the cellar, including a vicious Witch who clouds Lirael's vision.  In a fierce fight another Shadar-Kai arrives from the sewers below, and a fifth attacks Arya from behind, but eventually all five Shadar-Kai are dispatched. One falls, spilling the contents of a chest - treasure, assassination contracts, and recent notes from Oro Loroth, the evil dwarf Mountain King, addressed to "Nightshade, Mistress of the Poisoned Shadows" commanding the theft of Olaris' plates (600gp) and preferably the killing of Olaris (2000gp). Old contracts from Waterdeep indicate that the murder of the Vice-Patriarch of Bahamut - and desired murder of the Patriarch - were commanded by the Ashmadai, devil cultists serving Asmodeus.

The group enter the sewers, where they swiftly encounter an Oni disguised as Olaris, and two more Shadar-Kai. Battle rages, and Callaway tries to cross a slippery sewer-pipe, only to fall into the water, and the submerged Gelatinous Cube waiting there...

Photos by Kimberly Pauley:

XP: 1,700/5=340 each.  
Total: 16,607+340= 16,947. 

Need: 20,500 for 10th.

The Fallen Lands ca M10-11 1479 DR

This area, roughly comprising the territory south of the Far Forest, north of the Graypeak Mountains, and west of the Deep Maw, is crisscrossed by ridges of low foothills, dotted with scrubby stands of pine and barren plateaus. Craters, fissures, and fault lines make navigation and orientation difficult. Sheer ridges force travelers along endless twisting paths, and the fractured topography makes good vantage points few and far between.

Rain is rare in the summer and sporadic in other seasons, but the Fallen Lands are by no means a desert. Small streams are common even in the height of summer. Winter sees a light dusting of snow but only the occasional blizzard or heavy snowfall.
The Fallen Lands, as they exist in the aftermath of the Spellplague, remain largely unexplored, but here are a few facts every traveler knows.

✦ Somewhere near the center of the Fallen Lands stands Stormkeep, a mysterious castle surrounded by magical squalls of electricity that never dissipate.
✦ Orcs and goblins live in scattered bands throughout the region. They mostly war against each other, though different tribes occasionally unite under a single banner to raid over the Graypeaks and strike the frontier communities of the Gray Vale.
✦ Travel by day is reasonably safe, although particularly bold bandits sometimes menace travelers who don’t appear capable of defending themselves.
✦ Some explorers speak of a site known as the Plateau of the Reverse Obelisks, which they say is safe to approach and travel through by day. In fact, the denizens of the Fallen Lands grant this area a wide berth, making it perhaps the safest part of the journey to Spellgard. However, it is unwise (if not downright foolhardy) to make camp or spend the night anywhere near this place.
✦ Spellgard lies atop a ridge at the eastern edge of the Fallen Lands. Its ruins are visible from miles away on a clear day.
✦ Spellgard was once known as Saharelgard, a great fortress of ancient Netheril. It is home to Lady Saharel, a ghost who has the gift of prophecy and insight. She speaks of the future or the past to anyone who chances upon her in the Spellgard ruins.
✦ At the edge of Spellgard stands the Monastery of the Precipice. Treasure-hunters and seekers after Lady Saharel congregated there.

Rumors

✦ Spellgard has fallen to wizard-led soldiers of the Empire of Netheril. The brave knight Sir Calard fell defending the Monastery of the Precipice, now occupied by Netherese troops, who have ordered non-Netherese to leave the ruined city. The Netherese are now investigating the Sceptre Tower.
✦ A half-finished castle in the Fallen Lands is haunted by the ghost of the lord who died before it could be finished.
✦ The great treasures of Spellgard were taken from the place years ago, in the final days of Low Netheril when the fortress was sacked. However, rumors persist of undisturbed chambers there, and of ancient relics that have not seen the light of day for centuries.
✦ Spellgard has lain in ruins for more than a thousand years, but the castle has never been truly abandoned. A shifting population of treasure hunters and prophecy seekers occupied the aboveground ruins, and the old tunnels beneath the site are home to kobolds and fouler creatures.
✦ In the middle of Spellgard is the Scepter Tower, one of the few structures of the old castle that still stands complete. Mystery and legend surround the Scepter Tower, and it is said that no living being can pass within its walls.
✦ The magic of Netheril lingers within the stones of Spellgard. Before the castle fell, its arcanists focused incalculable power within the Scepter Tower, and the chambers of old Saharelgard were warded by magic locks that no one could defeat.
✦ Not all who look for Lady Saharel left when the Monastery of the Precipice fell to Netheril.  Seeker camps still dot the ruins, and some of their residents are as dangerous as any monsters roaming the Fallen Lands.

Session 25: Reach Level 9 - The Ousting of King Boris 23/10/1479 DR.

Battle in the Throneroom - Kitana launches herself at Boris, but is swiftly knocked unconscious. Aided by the Banites among Boris' men, the heroes overcome him before the bulk of his forces can arrive. He is stripped, tied up, then banished, along with 'Piggy', his one remaining loyal man. The brigands hail Esme as their new queen. Sir Galtos of the 'Pig Lords' (Timbervale) arrives from the south with 75 men. Esme appoints Karvol her chief of guards, Arya her Magist, Lirael her Huntress (& advisor). She sends off Kitana, consults with Galtos. On Lirael's advice, Esme proposes marriage to young Galtos, he delightedly accepts. Esme has Kitana send in Valtar, Boris' most loyal man. Instead of executing him she appoints him to a position. At his suggestion she has him gather a squad and chase off after Boris to eliminate him. Esme announces a celebratory feast.

That evening as the feast is due to start, Arya visits the ramshackle tower of Olaris Vlakos, only to find a mysterious thief stealing the old transmuter's Amarrindar dwarven records, scribed copper plates. He escapes through a window and runs off; Arya fetches Lirael and Karvol and they track him to an 'Old Curiousity Shoppe' on the north side of Llorkh.

Battle in the Throneroom

Start XP: 15707/16500 for 9th Level
+500 for fight, roleplay
+400 for level 9 major quest - overthrow Boris
Total:16607 - PCs 9th level
Need: 20,500 for 10th.

Rituals in Olaris Vlakos' Ritual Book, 42/128 pages used.

Lvl 1 - 7 pages 

Create Beer (Nature) Ritual components: hops, yeast, water: creates large quantitites of fine beer within a few days.

Brew Potion (Arcana or Religion) - PHB

Comprehend Language (Arcana) - PHB

Magic Mouth (Arcana) - PHB

Make Whole (Arcana) - PHB

Secret Page (Arcana) - PHB

Tenser's Floating Disk (Arcana) - PHB

Lvl 3 - 3 pages

Detect Secret Doors (Arcana) - PHB 

Lvl 4 - 4 pages

Enchant Magic Item (Arcana) - PHB

Lvl 6 - 12 pages

Disenchant Magic Item (Arcana) - PHB

Sending (Arcana) - PHB

Lvl 8 - 16 pages

Analyze Portal (Arcana) - FRPG pg 142

Linked Portal (PHB) - details on using Portals as teleport destinations from anywhere (ie Linked Portal doesn't require an origin Portal). Olaris' notes detail the use as teleport destinations of (1) the Zhent Portal to Darkhold in Llorkh (currently blocked), and (2) a dormant Portal of the Ammarindar Dwarves, outside the ruined dwarf-hold of Tannheim, by a lake shore on the north side of Stonefang Mountain. This is 18 miles south of Llorkh, 10 miles from Timbervale, past the entrance to the Stonefang Tunnel. Olaris' notes speculate that the Tannheim Portal's active destination-link may have been severed in the Spellplague.

In the Realms, Portals are permanent teleportation gateways, typically archways. They often require a key or arcana check to activate. Active or Dormant Portals can often be used as teleport destinations via the Linked Portal ritual (PHB). The Analyze Portal Ritual can be used with an Arcana check to block a Portal so that it cannot be used, the way Olaris blocked the Zhent portal to Darkhold.  A blocked portal cannot be used, either from its active link Portal, nor via the Linked Portal ritual from elsewhere. A portal can be 'unblocked' via another casting of Analyze Portal at the portal itself.

Useful Stuff in Olaris Vlakos' chambers

Blank 128-page Ritual Book (sale value 25gp)

Ritual Ink for Inscribing Rituals into Spellbooks: 3,000gp (sale value 600gp)

Alchemical Reagants for Arcane Rituals: 9,000gp (sale value 1,800gp)

Large Quantities of Water, Hops, Yeast for Create Beer.

Chest holding 450gp in assorted coin.

Per PHB page 298: Mastering a Ritual takes 8 hours of uninterrupted study. You must be equal or higher level than the Ritual. You must either have the Ritual Caster feat, or (house rule) have Training in the Key Skill. If you have both you can make any Ritual Key Skill checks at +2.

Eastern Gray Vale page.

Kingdom of Llorkh Average Monthly Revenue & Expenditure

Boris' levies are about double 'typical' tax rates, eg the sorts of amounts Queen Valeris levies on her subjects.

Victoria Mine - 280gp cash

Carlsen Mine - 360gp cash

Jozan Mine - 340gp cash

Irondawn - 320gp cash, plus food levy (about 320gp at market value)

Timbervale - 300gp cash, plus food levy (about 300gp at market value)

Merchant Tolls & Taxes (Llorkh) - 200gp cash, plus misc food, wine, slaves etc (about 1200gp worth at market value)

Total Income: 1800gp cash, plus food, wine, textiles, slaves etc

Most local cash income is silver from the mines; merchants are expected to pay in gold.

All food, wine, textiles etc levied is distributed to the 'army', used to feed slaves, or otherwise consumed.

Cash Expenditure: -1320gp (6gp cash per man) distributed to the 'army'. Each man also gets a similar amount by value in non-cash benefits (food, clothing etc), which is a pretty cushy deal for them (twice the typical soldier or miners' pay, four times the pay of an unskilled labourer), and attracts plenty of 'soldiers' (bandits).

Maintenance/Upkeep Expenditure: 0gp

Net average monthly cash income: +480gp (5760gp/year)

Session 24: Fall of Koptila (23/10/1479 DR)

Esme is attacked by Koptila and his zombies and KO'd inside the Necro-Monolith; Arya has returned from Orlbar with news of Valeris' refusal to send troops, and is taken down to the catacombs by Kitana, where they encounter and battle more time-travelling ogres.

In a fierce fight Koptila kills old Olaris Vlakos the Transmuter, but Lirael and Karvol save Esme and the undead ogre king and his minions are defeated; 2 of the time-travelling ogre women escape Llorkh. Karvol throws the Blue Sun Disk into the Monolith and destroys both, then evades the stasis chamber. The group return to the surface, where Esme confronts Boris and initiates rebellion in the name of Bane...

XP
Chamber of Koptila (Koptila, 2 Zombies, Necro-energy Monolith): 3550
5 Time-Travelling Ogres: 350x5 = 1750
Total: 5300/7 - 5 PCs (Lirael Esme Ardan Arya Karvol), 2 NPCs (Olaris Vlakos, Kitana)
= 757 XP
Level 7 Major Quest: Incite Rebellion Against Boris: 300 XP per PC
Total: 1057 +14650 = 15707
Need 16500 for 9th Level

Session 23: (23/10/79) "To sleep, to dream, to rise again..." - Olaris Vlakos the Transmuter, M10 1479 DR

Thousands of years ago, the Ammarindar Dwarves defeated Stonefang, the Primordial Titan, vanquished his armies, and carved out a mountain realm that would last for millenia.
But not all of Stonefang's forces perished in that war. Some, it is said, retreated into the earth, to sleep,  to wait, until Stonefang should rise again...

Boris' Hall

Time-Travelling Orcs and Ogres face Gray Vale's finest heroes.

Karvol of Orlbar delivers a smackdown to some unfortunate Ogre Savages.

Hill Giant Hulk fells Esme and Ardan.

In the Chamber of the Necro-Energy Monolith, the undead Ogre King Koptila faces Esmerelda of the Burning Hand. Poor Koptila!

Chamber of the Energy Monolith.

23/10/79: Arya has returned to Orlbar to report to the Light of the Sun. Llorkh's old coot of a Transmuter Olaris Vlakos is telling anyone who will listen that the rumblings from Stonefang Mountain presage the Return of Stonefang, and that time-travelling ogres will soon descend on Llorkh! King Boris is sceptical, but Esme, Lirael and Karvol decide to check it out (Esme warning Boris' daughter Kitana to prepare the Banites for war) - as does the elven Ranger Ardan, who knows Olaris and has more faith in the prophecies than most.

Descending into the deep catacombs beneath northwest Llorkh, orcs and ogres suddenly pop into existence! These apparent time travellers are soon defeated; further on two ogre women and a fierce hill giant also meet their end. At the end of the catacombs stands a blue necrotic energy monolith guarded by ogre zombies - the thing that is bringing the ogres forward through time? Here the party face the undead Ogre King, Koptila... 

XP 13,884+766=14,650

 XP for 9th level: 16,500.


Esmerelda's Missives
A letter carried by Arya, back to Queen Valeris:

"Dear Sister,

I find myself in the vipers den with Boris, I beleive it is time that we rid your borders of a threat. I beleive that I can get Borris's forces to betray him, or at least a good portion, in the name of Illmater.

If we can gather Borris's forces with yours on the northern Border to the Mountain king. I beleive we could destroy Borris's reign quickly and efficiently. I could become the queen to the East of you, reigning in Llorkh.

Esme.

Your eternally trusted Ally.

PS, I have enclosed a lock of hair, please forward onto Marsh in Loudwater."

A letter sent to the Pig Lords (Timbervale - Lord Sevrym, Sir Galtos etc):

"Dear Brave Sirs, I know you have been gathering swords and men in preperation for a great battle.

Myself and Borris have great need of your services. Please start to bring your forces to Llorkh to join with the kings men. 

For we are to move against our greatest enemy.

Hugs and Kisses,

Esme."

Session 22: Fall of Stonefang (27/9/79-22/10/79) Reach Level 8

27/9/79: As Stonefang crawls from the Pit of Doom he is assailed by binding rituals and the attacks of dwarves, Esme, Arya, Karvol and Shawna, and is soon defeated.
28/9/79: The party rest overnight, then head south with the dwarves to Citadel Yaunaraoth, Shawna mind-talking with the watching dragon Ice Fang, then through its tunnels and across Bleached Bones Pass to one of the High Delves of Clan Glintshield. 

Month 10: Leaf-fall

There is a fortnight of feasting and celebration (29/9/79-12/10/79), the dwarves present the party with gifts. Esme receives a letter from Boris - the Zhentarim adept Vale has escaped. Then the dwarves escort them back north through the tunnel to Timbervale (14/10/79). Esme discusses plots against King Boris with the young knight Sir Galtos, Lord Sevrym's son. There are rumours that in the Fallen Lands east over the Graypeaks, the Sceptre Tower of Spellgard has fallen to the forces of Netheril. A brave knight (Sir Calard) fought long to defend the Monastery of the Precipice, but was at last overcome.
Then the party return to Llorkh (15/10/79) and the welcome of King Boris, who seems much taken with Esme. Arya meets with Boris' eccentric and ancient greybeard magist, Oralis Vlakos, and inspects the wards he has placed on the Zhent Portal beneath the ruined Temple of Bane. Oralis instructs Arya in the rituals of Transmutation, in particular how to turn mere Water into purest Beer! Meanwhile Esme talks with and charms Boris' daughter Kitana, a capable warrior in her own right, and a fanatical Banite who sees in Esme fulfilment of a prophecy long foretold.
16/10/79-19/10/79: As the days pass, Shawna Carter feels the pull of her Deva heritage - it is time for her to return to the Crystal Spires and be reborn in some future time and place. She bids a moving farewell to her comrades in arms and heads west, into the Sunset.
23/10/79: Ardan arrives in Llorkh

XP 12,384+1,500= 13,884
PCs reach 8th level (13,000).
XP for 9th level: 16,500.

Session 21 27/9/79

Session 21 XP
Orc Prison Guards (Rampager, 3 Archers, 3 Reavers): 1714
Orc Dragon Chief Hyzkzag & 2 Orc Wolf Shamans: 1454
Persuading Ice Fang the Dragon not to Eat You: 1000
Total: 4168/5 = 834 XP each.

Party XP tally: 10,000+650+500+400+834= 12384.
Need 13,000 for 8th level.

S22: Defeat of Stonefang
XP 12384+1500= 13884

Sessions 18, 19, 20 episode summary (26-27/9/79)

S18 26/9/1479 DR 

Lirael, Arya, Shawna Carter & Karvol the Royal Guard rest overnight in the dwarven gatehouse, and are joined by Dru-Arael. Next day they use the Lever Automaton to raise the stone gate and pass through to the southern part of the Stonefang Tunnel, finding no orcs present.A mile or so south, a dead dwarf props open a concealed door into a chamber of orc and dwarf corpses. As the party examine the chamber, more orcs arrive. The PCs defeat them, and head downstairs to a magical pit chamber, defeating an orc shaman, his pet ogre, and orc archer lackeys. They investigate the glowing magic circles arrayed around the pit.

S19 26/9/1479 DR
Shawna & Dru are tired and rest, while Esmerelda is recovered and the group is joined by a half-elven cousin of Lirael's. Investigating tunnels north of the pit chamber, they hear chanting and a dwarf cries out: "Beware, the orcs lie in wait!". This is true, and the party are assailed by a strong force of orcs, defeating them after a bloody battle. All but one of the four dwarves spent the fight chanting inside a magic circle. 

S20 27/9/1479 DR

The party rest and talk to the dwarves, led by Gwendar, leader of the Shadowed Chain cult. The Earth Titan Stonefang is stirring, his missing bits must be recovered and placed in the binding circles before he escapes the Pit of Doom. The party hand over Stonefang's Hand.
After resting they continue south along the Stonefang Tunnel, emerging at dawn above the north bastion of Citadel Yaunaroth. They attack and defeat the orc guards, led by a powerful boar-riding champion, and see a white dragon atop the tower - they enter the tower before it can fly down to them. Inside, they head upstairs, disable a magic trap, and find four dwarves chained to the wall - Thane Harvak, his son, and two wives. They free the dwarves and attack the orcs next-door, seeing Stonefang's Seeping Heart atop a table... 

Party XP tally: 10,000+650+500+400= 11,550.
Need 13,000 for 8th level.

Session 17 episode summary. Reach level 7.

S17 25/9/1479 DR
Vale runs out of the tunnel, sees Lirael & Dru-Arael, and bluffs Lirael into going into the tunnel to assist her friends.  Vale flees north towards Llorkh, where it's rumoured there is a portal to the Zhentarim fortress of Darkhold.
Lirael enters the tunnel, heading south, and joins the main group past the site of the battle with stirges & spiders. They head south through the tunnel for nearly 15 miles (ca 6 hours) to the enormous stone slab that bars the tunnel. Entering the gatehouse, Lirael is menaced by traps, iron cobras, & hammerer automatons, but they defeat the ancient defenses and Arya uses the Lever Automaton, a huge dwarf-shaped golem, to pull the lever that raises the slab. Orcs rush in; Arya drops the slab and crushes 6. On the gatehouse steps a bitter battle ensues; the three Zhent soldiers are killed but Lirael, Arya and Valeris' Royal Guard Karvol defeat the orcs, taking a strange magic stone hand from their leader's corpse.

Session 16 Episode Summary

S16 25/9/1479 DR
The party are attacked by hippogriffs, one is killed. Karvol the Royal Guard is knocked into the river by archer fish, but Shawna distracts them by pushing the dead hippogriff into the river, and he is able to reach the shore.
The party reach the north entrance of the Stonefang Tunnel; Lirael and Arael/Dru scout dwarven patrol footprints heading west, while the others enter the tunnel. Some distance into the tunnel the party battle stirges, then a small earthquake opens a cleft from which pours spiders.  During the fighting the Zhent Black Sun Adept (Cyricist) Vale tries to kill Arya, but in turn is attacked by the other three Zhents, Banites. He blasts them with the power of the Black Sun and flees south, back down the tunnel.

Sessions 1-15 are here.

Session 15 NPCs list

NPCs who appeared:
Tollun, merchant with river barge, you took a trip with him upriver to Orlbar
Jarvis, Orlbar merchant, argued with Tollun over price for 60 casks of 'not really-'58 vintage' Amnian wine
Valeris, Queen of Orlbar
Toruvas, Valeris' Twilight Incanter
Emesha, leader of the Light of the Sun
Karvol, one of Queen Valeris' Royal Guard sent with you, tall and stoic.
Boris, Bandit King of Llorkh
Vale, Boris' mysterious robed spellcaster(?).
Joran, Matt & Dylan - three of King Boris' best warriors, sent with you.
Rangrim - dwarf of Clan Glintshield, son of Prince Thorvil, grandson of Thane Harvak
Lord & Lady Sevrym - nervous rulers of Timbervale, in Llorkh territory
Sir Galtos - Lord & Lady Sevrym's 18 year old son
(Sevilla - Lord & Lady Sevrym's 22 year old daughter)  

Arya, human female renegade Red Wizard of Saruun

Arya is a descendant of a separatist Red Wizard cult, the Saruun, an offshoot group who came into being as Szass Tam drove the other Zulkirs from Thay. As such this group was not affiliated with the bulk of the Red Wizards during their move from powerful wizarding organization to their current more trader like position. The Saruun separatist group instead kept with more malevolent traditions. They were permitted by the Darkhold Zhentarim to establish a tower north of Darkhold overlooking Skull Gorge on the Chionthar river, protecting the Zhents' northern flank with Evereska.  The Thayans of Saruun also provide valuable, though expensive, sorcerous support to the Zhents in their border clashes with their many enemies - Cormyr, Elturgard, Evereska and Netheril.

Arya herself however, through sheer coincidence found her moral compass pointing in the opposite direction of those she was surrounded by during her formative years, including Orontor, her arrogant older brother, a senior Wizard of the Order. Having started her magic training under such cruel masters her power is largely melee based, focused on inflicting pain more than less harmful control. Though this is not the direction she would have headed in were her background different it's help in her later quest for knowledge is undeniable, causing her talents to be skewed from even to a certain extent her own desires. 

Having realized at a young age that she did not wish to maintain her place within the society she was part of she fled.  Fleeing north through the forests of Evereska, she passed west over the Dawn Pass into Gray Vale. Avoiding rumoured Zhent agents in the ruins of Llorkh, she eventually reached Orlbar (spring 1479 DR), where she joined the Light of the Sun order who worship the god Amaunator. Though striving to attain the personality required in her worship (law abiding not being something common in the regime under which she grew) she finds religion a way of striving to be the person she wishes she was. She is still very much haunted by the ghosts of her past as it were, and numbed somewhat to her current actions feeling unable to alleviate past sins. Currently her goals are to further her own constitution of knowledge, both in worldly (historical, political etc) and arcane practices and to atone for her past in anyway she or her God sees fit. Being still very much numbed to her past the Red Wizard cult she has come from is locked away in her mind, though this may not always be the case...

Darkhold, Fortress of the Zhentarim: 

Information on the Giant-built fortress of Darkhold

Character Goals

Character Goals- list from White Dwarf 54. Choose up to 4 goals from the list below or suggested by player and agreed by GM. At the start of an encounter/scene, declare if you are acting in pursuit of one of your goals. Each PC can declare one goal per encounter/scene. If you then act* in accordance with goal I will award at least a Minor Quest XP award, or more depending on particular achievement, roleplay etc. You can replace a goal each level.

*For some goals such as Battle Glory and Wealth this may require going beyond D&D's default 'Kill Things & Take Their Stuff' play mode.

Furtherance of Scholarly Studies - history, linguistics, customs etc
Furtherance of Art - music, architecture, craft etc
Furtherance of Science and Technology
Wealth - finances or hoards of treasure
Earthly pleasures - wine women drugs etc
Romance - true love
Power over others - political, religious, criminal etc
Fame - renown far and wide
Rank - social, military etc
Preservation of status quo - inc 'Balance'
Preservation of Nature
Preservation of Order
Comradeship - friendship, feasting etc
Risk - physical or financial
Commercial business - set up trade caravans, run merchant ship etc
Collecting - jewelry, antiques, weapons, paintings etc
Religious Service
Battle Glory
Image Cultivation - distinctive appearance, vehicle, style etc
Freedom - personal or for others
Chivalry - mercy, fairness etc
Honour - duty to liege, family, friends or own dignity
Mystical Power - finding new spells, magic items etc
Patriotism - acting in country/tribe's best interests
Discovery - bringing new knowledge to own culture/civilisation
Experience wonders - travel through strange lands, other planes etc
Intrigue - secret scheming & plotting
Materialism - have & care for horses, castle, private island etc
Welfare of others - 'Good'
Responsibility - to care out task, take care of charges etc
Expansion of Civilisation - pioneering spirit
Wanton Destruction - Chaotic Evil
Cruelty - Evil
Persecution of Evil
Competition - relish race to complete quest etc
Personal Feat - hunting great beast, climb mountain etc 'Because it's there'
Creation - make new magic items, design vehicle etc
Self-Discipline - ascetism, managing without, self-control
Trickery - thwarting authority, practical jokes etc.