Esme's letters, 28/6/1480

To the Glintshield Dwarves - sent by dove to Stonefang Tunnel 28/6/1480

"Dear Friends,

I would appreciate the latest location of the Shadovar forces, their numbers, and how they are going about their battle with the Orcs, with Ilmater on your side, we can defeat these evil creatures seeking to take the Vale,

Please trust me in the use of the tools I have at my disposal, throwing two great enemies at each other, might save our beautiful vale! (Has I'm sure the shadowchain, are aware.)

Esme"
_______________

To Lady Moonfire: 

 "Dear Lady Moonfire,

It has come to my attention , that one of your vassals has been preying on children. Killing them and keeping the trophies on her premises, unfortunately, when my vassal found out about the location of where this atrocity occurred, he went ahead and assaulted the Manor of Jeala.

Please accept my apologies for this assault on one of your vassals, however, I would like to hold a trial for Jeala, where she can be held to account for her crimes, it would be held in Llorkh, and I will be Judge and Juror, if you have any objection, please make them to my new Emissary, who has delivered this message to you.

All the best,
  
The Iron Queen

Rylgoth, Azer Foot Soldier (level 11)

Rylgoth, Azer Foot Soldier		Level 11 Soldier (Leader)
Medium elemental humanoid (fire)		XP 600
HP 77; Bloodied 39 Surges 9 Surge Value 19 AC 27; Fortitude 25; Reflex 23; Will 24 Speed 5 Resist 20 fire		Initiative +9 Perception +7
Traits
Warding Flame (fire)
An enemy adjacent to Rylgoth who makes an attack not targeting him takes 5 fire damage.
Standard Actions
m Warhammer (fire, weapon) • At-Will
Attack: +16 vs. AC
Hit: 10 damage plus 5 fire damage (critical hit: 15 damage plus 5 fire damage).
Minor Actions
M Healing Flames • Daily
Effect: Self or adjacent ally may spend a Healing Surge.
Str 18 (+9)	Dex 14 (+7)		Wis 15 (+7)
Con 15 (+7)	Int 9 (+4)		Cha 16 (+8)
Alignment unaligned     Languages Giant
Equipment Forgemail armor, light shield, warhammer
Rylgoth was a slave soldier to the fire giants of King Snurre's hall in the Endless Caverns. When his patrol was defeated in battle he surrendered to the Heroes of Loudwater and, believing Arya to be a Primordial of Lightning, became her fanatically loyal follower. Update M7 1480 DR: After being flung back to Phaervorul from the Web Between Worlds, Rylgoth returned to his people as the first Priest of Arya, preaching of a day when the Lightning Primordial would come to liberate the Azers from their bondage to the Fire Giants.

Session 48: Into Darkness. 23/6-27/6/1480

PCs: 6 - Arya, Jareth, Pealias, Quinn, Dunstan, & special guest star Ardan the Untouchable 

21/6/1480 - Midsummer Ball
22/6/1480 - Lirael & Dunstan visit Baroness Amara. Quin meets Tanara Cothwick. Asks about buying Fishers Friend from Al (no). Asks Marsh Laval about buying Green Tankard (maybe). Karse Portal opened at sunset by Lady Moonfire, green energy arc from Loudwater to Karse. Tigerclaw invade Feywild, spied on by Pealias.
23/6/1480 Quinn in town at FF, makes 'friends' with Pamela Bardew, late lunch with Tanara Cothwick. Pealias to Northwood Manor, meets Ilvanus there, then to town. Visits Tammy. Long Pealias/Quinn chat in Fishers Friend. Thanes come in - Barstomun Thane has hired Ilvanus Tarc. Lirael & Dunstan visiting Downwater Shire Halflings.
24/6/1480 Lirael and Dunstan return to Northwood Manor. Arya & Jareth visit Rensard manor, Arya consults with Lord Myuni over the Red Comet. Myuni speculates that the Death Cyst is a 'Death Pole', an opposite to the Life Pole at headwaters of the Unicorn Run. Arya translates Ammarindar Plates. Myuni leaves.
25/6/1480: Jareth & Arya breakfast at Rensard - Myuni gone - then return to Northwood. Lirael has fallen sick.
26/6/1480:  Lirael very sick. Halvath the Green Regent can barely keep her alive. Death Cyst needs to be closed. Hallomak Stromm Sends to Quinn, asking how she's doing on closing Death Cyst - reached Phaervorul yet? Elf Ranger Ardan arrives at Northwood Manor, with news Death Cyst needs closing, and he can take the party to Phaervorul. Pealias sends message courier with 4,000gp to Tammy Hill to buy the Green Regent. Arya sends a message by courier (2 of Jareth's men) to Queen Esme, apologising that they will not be able to attend Shieldmeet. Quinn sends messenger to Pamela Bardew, asking her to go spy on Rensard Manor as a maid for a few days, for 100gp. Pamela goes to Rensard Manor and gets hired (evening, ca 8pm). Party eventually sets off from Northwood to the Endless Caverns - Arya Jareth Quinn Pealias Dunstan & Ardan.
9pm - Party reaches entrance of the Endless Caverns around sunset, go in. Halvath transfers the Death Cyst Necrotic energy from Lirael into himself.
27/6/1480 DR:
To 3am: Party treks for 6 hours, passing the Underdark tower of the Lich Nolav at about midnight - they sense they're being watched as they pass through his mushroom garden.
3am: Party camps just north of the Lake of Fire.
7am: Party attacked by Fire Giant patrol, defeat fire giants & minions. An Azer, Rylgoth, surrenders and agrees to join the party. He thinks Arya is a Primordial.  On Rylgoth's advice, to avoid further fire giant encounters the group treks on without having rested properly.
12pm: PC Group nears a rift, beyond which lies the deeper Underdark. Rylgoth says that Hook Horrors have been seen in the area, preying on those attempting to cross the bridge over the rift.
8pm: Messengers reach Esmerelda of Llorkh with Arya's message of apology.  That night Esme dreams of her Father.
28/6/1480
3.30am: Kitana & Goblins sack Rensard Manor. 5am - Kitana, Banites, captives & hobgoblins ride east on worgs, making  the 34 miles from Rensard to Llorkh in one day (ca 5am-7pm, 8 hours travel & 6 hours rest in the middle), while skirting Valeris' southern villages.
7pm: Kitana returns to Llorkh with Warlord Delderosh and captives including Jaela Rensard and Pamela Bardew.
9.30pm: Feast in the Great Hall.
 
XP
Roleplay & Investigations: 500
Fire Giant Patrol Group (4 Azers, 3 Hell Hounds, 3 Fire Giants): 9,100/6=1,516 (EL 16) x1.5=2,275
2,775+51,550= 53825
Need 57,000 for 15th level 
Recruited Rylgoth the Azer Minion. Worships Arya as a Primordial. 
Took 3 suits of dwarf-sized lvl 16 mundane masterwork adamantine-alloy chainmail from the dead azers (+9 AC, -1 armour check penalty). It's Forgemail in the PHB and the online character builder.

Lirael is very sick. When the Death Cyst ruptured, it seemed to poison Lirael. Halvath the Green Regent is suffering to a lesser extent. Those skilled in History & Religion (Arya) think it is because a True King is linked mystically to the Land - as the Land suffers, the King (or Queen) suffers. If Lirael dies, the poison will spread outward and poison the Gray Vale itself, eg the children now in their mothers' wombs will be stillborn. Sir Jorah offered to give up his own life to save Lirael - transfer the poison to himself. The Green Regent is channeling healing energy into Lirael working on a Ritual to transfer the poison away from Lirael & into himself - since he also has a mystical link to the Land - with Mielikki's power flowing through him he can survive longer, hopefully. However the best thing would be if someone could close the rupture. Arya had visited the Warlocks Jaela & Myuni and found some hints about that in some familiar looking Ammarindar copper plates that Myuni showed her. The rest of the group has just started into the Underdark, dispatching a Fire Giant patrol.

Re the Ammarindar plates, it looked to Arya that during the original Death Cyst incursion 1,500 years ago, Ammarindar sent 1,000 Dwarven Defenders (Paragon warriors) to aid Erylyndn in closing the Gate. The dwarven spearhead reached the incursion point, but the dwarves could not close the Gate from this side. Around fifty of their best warriors volunteered to enter the Death Gate and close it from the other side. They succeeded - the Gate was closed. The Dwarves never came home; statues were erected to their undying honour in the vaults of Splendarmorrn, beneath Adakmi on the Shining Falls.
According to Myuni, the Death Cyst penetrates from the Abyss through the Shadowfell into Toril. He also talked about a sort of energy 'Life Pole' on the Unicorn Run, and the Cyst as its opposite, a 'Death Pole'. The Elves have similar legends, that 'The Sisters' region just south of the Star Mounts, a stunningly beautiful series of escarpments and gorges created by the flow of the Unicorn Run, is a sacred place, the Womb of the World. The Earth-Mother Chauntea calls the new races of Faerun into being here.

LIRAEL 26/6/1480 DR, sunset: The red light of sunset is coming through the western windows of Rensard Manor, when Lirael's fever breaks. She returns to consciousness quickly but quite quietly, opening her eyes, becoming aware that Sir Jorah Blackthorn is sat beside her bed, face tense and full of concern. He's holding her right hand. In the shadows across the room sits Halvath, the Green Regent. Halvath speaks, in rumbling tone:
"My friend, 'tis done. She should awaken shortly."
Then Jareth sees that Lirael's eyes are open, and his worried face breaks into a relieved smile.
"Lirael!" he exclaims.
As Lirael's low-light vision kicks in, past Jareth's left side she can see Halvath more clearly now. The Green Regent is not looking too green. In fact he looks distinctly... wilted.

 Esmerelda of Llorkh 27/6/1480 DR - six days since the Midsummer Ball, three days after Kitana's departure, and four days until Shieldmeet, two tired looking soldiers on horseback arrive at the west gate of Llorkh, and are taken to Queen Esmerelda's throne room - big strapping young fellows in scale, their tabards show the flaming hand symbol of Jareth, the commander of Lirael's guards. They bow to Your Majesty, and one hands you a sealed letter. It's from Arya the Red Wizard. She apologises very nicely, but unfortunately critical matters in the west mean that the Heroes of Loudwater will be unable to attend Shieldmeet as requested, to oversee the signing of the alliance between Queen Valeris, Queen Esmerelda, and Thane Harvak of the Glintshield. Arya adds: "Lirael is gravely ill, and the matters that hold us from attending relate directly to that, once the matter has been attended to I personally shall call upon you to apologise for our absence."

Amara deTrevani, level 10

Amara deTrevani, Baroness of deTrevani & Fire Mage of Akanul

Level 10 Controller (Fire Mage)

Medium natural humanoid

HP 58; Bloodied 27 (dead at -27) Healing Surges: 7  Surge Value: 13.

AC 23, Fortitude 20, Reflex 23, Will 22 

Speed 6 Initiative +6 Perception +5

Traits

Heroic Effort (free, encounter):  Can add +4 to a failed attack or save, after roll.

Attacks

Dagger (at will) ATT +12 dam 1d4+8 (INT melee training); thrown ATT +11 dam 1d4+9

Magic Missile (at will) Range 20, 11 force damage

Burning Hands (encounter): close blast 5, +13 vs Reflex, 3d6+8 fire damage (crit 1d6+26)

Flaming Sphere (Daily): Conjures sphere in Ranged 10, 1 creature adjacent to sphere, +13 vs Reflex, 3d6+6 damage (crit 1d6+24).   Creatures that enter or end adjacent take 8 fire damage. Move 6 as move action, Sustain minor.

Fireball (Daily): area burst 3 within 20, +13 vs Reflex, Hit 4d6+8 fire damage (crit 1d6+32), miss half damage.

Skills:  Arcana+14   Insight +10  History +14 Religion +14

STR 8 (+4) DEX 12 (+6) CON 12 (+6) INT 19 (+9) WIS 10 (+5) CHA 16 (+8)

Languages: Common, Goblin, Giant, Elven

Appearance: 5'4", slim, brown hair, beautiful, very shapely.  A slavers’ ‘Z’ brand on her left thigh is always concealed.

Equipment: Lvl 1 Magic Orb +1, dagger, noble’s clothes, adventurer's kit, 2 Lvl 5 potions of healing (10hp), and a pouch of coin, ca 4d6x10gp.

Lady Amara is the brave but troubled daughter of Kiris Alkirk (dec’d M6 1480 DR), and heir to the estates of both the Kiris and deTrevani noble families.  She has mastered the magics of the Fire Wizards of Akanul. Raised by Treona the Wise Woman following her murder by Naarash dopplegangers in 1479, she reveres Kelemvor. With her mentor Ashara of Akanul, in early 1480 DR Amara recaptured deTrevani Castle from the Hill Orcs, re-establishing the Barony of deTrevani.

Amara is skilled in both Fire Wizardy and Akanul Portal Magic, knowing the following Rituals:
lvl 1 Hold Portal
lvl 4 Arcane Lock
lvl 4 Knock
lvl 6 Portal Jump
lvl 8 Analyze Portal
lvl 8 Linked Portal
lvl 8 Seal Portal

 "I... I never wanted... All my life... My father wanted me to be a son, a warrior... strong.. To crush our enemies, to take back what was lost. I tried...I was riding... I'm not a good rider... My father wanted me to learn, to be a knight... I was riding out by the river, when the river-pirates... *aaa*  I... I never told him... but I blamed him... for what happened." 

"The Death-Cyst, the Tigerclaw... How can we fight that? I've tried so hard, Lirael. But I can't protect my people... I can't even protect myself. Ashara taught me how to kill, Lirael. We burned the Orcs, slaughtered them here... Even the children. The smell... I wanted to vomit."

"You know the Covere say we're cursed? My grandfather, Aumvor Trevani, he had two daughters. Anwyn was the firstborn, the heir... But she married Velius Covere, against Aumvor's wishes. He disowned Anwyn, made my mother Ama heir to deTrevani... They said she was barren.... She was forty when I was born, after Aumvor was already dead. The Covere - Aryn Blackthorn, Brandini Covere - they say we're cursed, because Anwyn was the true heir, and through her to Brandini Covere. They say the line of Trevan will dwindle and fail."

Portal Jump

Component Cost: 75 gp and 1 healing surge
Market Price: 360 gp
Key Skill: Arcana (no check)Level: 6
Category: Travel
Time: 1 minute
Duration: 2 rounds

Choose one unoccupied square adjacent to you and one unoccupied square within 20 squares of you. You create a teleportation portal to link those squares. Any creature that enters a linked square can teleport to the other square by using 1 square of movement. Whenever a creature teleports in this way, it is dazed until the end of its next turn.
    Ritual Scroll: You can perform this ritual as a standard action when you do so from a scroll. If you do, the portal lasts until the end of your next turn.

Published in Dragon Magazine 405.

Wages & Income notes

Single Adult Subsistence: 3gp/month
Family Subsistence, 2 adults & 3 children: 10gp/month
Middle class lifestyle: 30gp/month
Upper class lifestyle: 100gp/month

Serving maid or scullion, ca 6 hrs/day labour: 3gp-5gp/month (0-2gp, + 3gp value bed & board)
Tavern maid or cook, ca 12 hrs/day labour: 6gp-9gp/month (Green Tankard pays 5sp/day, 15gp/month)
Soldier, Infantry: 6gp-9gp/month (eg Northwood Manor Guard 6gp wage, + 3gp value bed & board)
Soldier, Light Cavalry: 9gp-15gp/month (eg caravan guard 1gp/day temp, or 15gp/month)
Festhall Girl: 20gp-40gp/month (avg 4 clients/day at 1 hr/client, or 1 client for 8 hrs)
Soldier, Lieutenant: 40gp-60gp/month
Innkeeper: 30gp-100gp/month
Master Smith: 60gp-200gp/month 
Soldier, Captain: 100gp-160gp/month

(On wages - 3gp/month is subsistence for a single adult; 10gp/month can support a family of two adults and three children; 30gp allows a middle-class lifestyle, 100gp allows an upper-class lifestyle).
a house maid or scullion typically earns around 3gp a month with accomodation, tavern staff earn more as it's harder work, but 6gp-9gp is typical for a good serving maid or skilled cook. Either Pamela Bardew must be earning a lot at the Fisher's Friend for Algrim to have lured her away from the Green Tankard, or else she just prefers working on her back to working on her feet... (compare Northwood Manor wages - 2gp/month per servant & 6gp/month per soldier, bed & board not counted)
(You can add on effectively ca 3gp per person for your manor staff for effective wage, since they get bed & board covered. So eg where you employ a married couple, effectively it's like 4+6=10gp and they can afford to raise three children at the manor. Historically unskilled castle staff were not paid at all!)
(Marsh's bar staff work 12 hour days almost constant labour, your servants really work more like 6 hour days although they're on call the whole time, so it's not as big a difference as you'd think.)