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--- paldegora:session_67_the_password [2026/02/23 10:20] – davidm
+++ paldegora:session_67_the_password [2026/02/23 10:25] (current) – davidm
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 On the docks between the two vessels, **Cal-El** turned over his bound father, **John Laroque**. Recognition flashed across the older man's face. "Well, if it ain't the girly boy of mine," **Laroque** mocked, noting that his son seemed to have finally become a man. **Cal** looked down at him with disdain. "I see you're still alive. You've always been good at surviving, usually by drinking and bullying people while others pay the price." **Cal** warned him that **Captain Hawthorne** did not value men like him and would cut him loose the moment he was no longer useful.
-**Laroque** noted that Cal had finally found his voice and suggested they join forces to "teach all these bastards a lesson." **Cal** rejected the offer immediately, pointing out that his father had just tried to kill him. **Cal** demanded information about the kidnapping of **Princess Seraphine Valoris** and the fortress called the **Rook’s Eye**.
+**Laroque** noted that **Cal** had finally found his voice and suggested they join forces to "teach all these bastards a lesson." **Cal** rejected the offer immediately, pointing out that his father had just tried to kill him. **Cal** demanded information about the kidnapping of **Princess Seraphine Valoris** and the fortress called the **Rook’s Eye**.
 **John Laroque** attempted to bargain, asking for a skiff and his freedom in exchange for everything he knew. He noted that **Cal** was now the "arbiter of his demise" and expressed a twisted sense of pride in his son’s newfound strength. He warned that having the princess captive gave the **Cult of Sahn** and **House Umbridge** significant leverage against the **Grand Council**. He also mentioned that while many were "scared shitless" of **Jesse Jack Johnson**, he feared no one.
-The **Company** finalized their deal with **Laroque**. He described the **Rook’s Eye** as a black fortress built on a jetty where the seas were perpetually rough. It consisted of four tiers—a dungeon basement and three floors—resembling a dark pyramid. He detailed the defenses, noting the main gate was heavily guarded but that a cave in the southeast allowed for supply boats to enter. He warned of a **"weird jailer"** in the depths and confirmed that **Captain Hawthorne** had stayed ashore ever since **Jesse Jack Johnson** had nearly caught him. He added that **Aphobis** was desperate to hold the princess as a tool against the Council.
+The **Company** finalized their deal with **Laroque**. He described the **Rook’s Eye** as a black fortress built on a jetty where the seas were perpetually rough. It consisted of four tiers—a dungeon basement and three floors—resembling a dark pyramid. He detailed the defenses, noting the main gate was heavily guarded but that a cave in the southeast allowed for supply boats to enter. He warned of a **"weird jailer"** in the depths and confirmed that **Captain Hawthorne** had stayed ashore ever since **Jesse Jack Johnson** had nearly caught him. He added that **Aphobis** was desperate to hold the princess as a tool against the **Council**.
-They prepared **Captain Hurst's** ship, the **V.H.S. Seeker**. They took a skiff from the **Sea-Bitch** as well as the flag, in case it could come in handy. They also loaded a another little boat with a sail on it for the deal that **Cal** had made with his father. **Seaman Gumby** agreed to stay behind and guard the prisoners until the **Valdernost Navy** arrived in two days. **X’or** gave **Gumby** 50 gold pieces for his service.
+They prepared **Captain Hurst's** ship, the **V.H.S. Seeker**. They took a skiff from the **Sea-Bitch** as well as the flag, in case it could come in handy. They also loaded a another little boat with a sail on it for the deal that **Cal** had made with his father.  **Seaman Gumby** agreed to stay behind and guard the prisoners until the **Valdernost Navy** arrived in two days. **X’or** gave **Gumby** 50 gold pieces for his service.
 As they set sail, the party spent the first day identifying captured magical items. These included a **Wand of Fireballs**, **Bracers of Defense (AC 2)**, a **+3 Scimitar** named **Wave Cleaver** that allowed breathing underwater, a **Ring of Protection +2**, and a **Ring of Spell Storing** containing two **Lightning Bolt** spells. They also examined an unusual **Wand of Quiet Elements** made of petrified driftwood, which **Symon** determined could manipulate air, earth, water, fire, and static electricity using **Sylvan** command words.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 Using his **Helm of Comprehend Languages**, **Symon** read an inscription on the wand's case:
-**"Five muted wards in salt-wood lie,
+**"Five muted wards in salt-wood lie,**
-Each drinks the sigh where dragons die.
+**Each drinks the sigh where dragons die.**
-When hue'd destruction seeks its prey,
+**When hue'd destruction seeks its prey,**
-The quiet word turns death away.
+**The quiet word turns death away.**
-The stolen gale within the stone
+**The stolen gale within the stone**
-Awaits the voice to claim its own.
+**Awaits the voice to claim its own.**
-One draught per venom, frost, or spark—
+**One draught per venom, frost, or spark—**
-Then silence falls, the jewel goes dark."**
+**Then silence falls, the jewel goes dark."**
 After a day at sea, **Cal** brought his father to the deck. He provided him with clothing for warmth, a small sword, a dagger, and supplies before lowering him into a skiff. He damaged it's sail so it would not work as well as it should. **Laroque** expressed pride in **Cal** one last time before sailing away into the mist. **Symon** watched the skiff disappear, jokingly remarking that he wouldn't have been breaking the truce if he had turned the old man into a fish.
-**The Seeker** reached the islands known as the **Three Eyes**. Following the map, they targeted the southern island where the **Rook's Eye** stood. **Jesse Jack Johnson (Lady Jessica Primrose Smythe)** planned to draw **Hawthorne’s** warship away while the **Company** approached the fortress from the western side. Hopefully this had worked and **Hawthorn** and his crew were not there.
+**The Seeker** reached the islands known as the **Three Eyes**. Following the map, they targeted the southern island where the **Rook's Eye** stood. **Jesse Jack Johnson (Lady Jessica Primrose Smythe)** had planned to draw **Hawthorne’s** warship away while the **Company** approached the fortress from the western side. Hopefully this had worked and **Hawthorn** and his crew were not there.
-They anchored at daybreak and rowed skiffs through the rocks to the shore. After an eight-hour trek through the rugged terrain, they arrived at the massive black fortress as the sun began to set. **Symon** used a **Levitate** spell to lift **X’or**, who carried **Eryn** up the forty-foot sheer walls.
+They anchored at daybreak and rowed skiffs through the rocks to the shore. After an eight-hour trek through the rugged terrain, they arrived at the massive black fortress as the sun began to set. **Symon** used a Levitate spell to lift **X’or**, who carried **Eryn** up the forty-foot sheer walls.
-As they ascended, a **Specter** materialized from the stone, demanding a password. After the were unable to give it an acceptable answer, the **Specter** attacked **X'or**. It did manage to hit **X'or** for some damage, it didn't succeed in draining his life force. **Eryn** attacked the creature with her sword. **X'or** was unable to attack as he had to try and hold **Eryn** stable so she could. Eryn did hit on a second attack. Symon immediately began lowering them back to the ground. Angelique rushed forward and used her holy power to turn the undead, forcing the Specter to retreat into the wall.
+As they ascended, a **Specter** materialized from the stone, demanding a password. After the were unable to give it an acceptable answer, the **Specter** attacked **X'or**. It did manage to hit **X'or** for some damage, it did not succeed in draining his life force. **Eryn** attacked the creature with her sword. **X'or** was unable to attack as he had to try and hold **Eryn** stable so she could. **Eryn** did hit on a second attack. **Symon** immediately began lowering them back to the ground. **Angelique** rushed forward and used her holy power to turn the undead, forcing the **Specter** to retreat into the wall.
-The Company decided not to attempt the levitation on front of the fortress and instead moved east to the corner looking for stairs to climb. They found a long set of stairs leading to a door in a small square building. They could see another set of stairs coming out of the west side of that building heading to the fortress. They began the long climb. As the were getting close to the door, another Specter appeared, again demanding a password. Eryn didn't waste time and immediately attacked. The group defeated the creature.
+**The Company** decided not to attempt the levitation on front of the fortress and instead moved east to the corner looking for stairs to climb. They found a long set of stairs leading to a door in a small square building. They could see another set of stairs coming out of the west side of that building heading to the fortress. They began the long climb. As the were getting close to the door, another **Specter** appeared, again demanding a password. **Eryn** didn't waste time and immediately attacked. The group defeated the creature.
-During the chaos, Cassandra had attempted to leap onto a stone railing but slipped on the wet, slimy surface. She fell forty feet into a dark chasm below. Symon used his levitation spell to lower X’or into the darkness to find her. X’or swept the injured Cassandra into his arms, and Symon raised them both back to the safety of the landing. Angelique applied Keoghtom’s Ointment to Cassandra’s wounds, healing her almost entirely.
+During the chaos, **Cassandra** had attempted to leap onto a stone railing but slipped on the wet, slimy surface. She fell forty feet into a dark chasm below. **Symon** used his levitation spell to lower **X’or** into the darkness to find her. **X’or** swept the injured **Cassandra** into his arms, and **Symon** raised them both back to the safety of the landing. **Angelique** applied **Keoghtom’s Ointment** to **Cassandra’s** wounds, healing her almost entirely.
-Below them, on the other side of the stair case, they spotted a cave. This must be the cave that Laroque had mentioned. They decided they should shift and make their way to the cave to enter the fortress.
+Below them, on the other side of the stair case, they spotted a cave. This must be the cave that **Laroque** had mentioned. They decided they should shift and make their way to the cave to enter the fortress.
 This is where the session ended.
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 Exp: to be dispersed later
 **Detail**
@@ Line 110: / Line 109: @@
 Each drinks the sigh where dragons die.
 When hue'd destruction seeks its prey,
-The quiet word turns death away.
+The quiet word turns death away.**
-The stolen gale within the stone
+**The stolen gale within the stone
 Awaits the voice to claim its own.
 One draught per venom, frost, or spark—