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Session 42 – 2021-11-13

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Session Summary

Session 42 – The search for the Mad Mage

After dropping off our equipment to be repaired, Rinn went over what Misty had told him, about the room above the Abby. When they were at the Abby earlier in the day, Misty had snuck in and gone up the stairs. There was someone playing music and something else. She reminded him that she had seen a corpse, or something that looked like a corpse, under a sheet on a table nearby the creature playing the music. He had gotten distracted when she told him about it originally and only just remembered it. She described it again to everyone and we started discussing how to learn more about it. We decided that Rinn and Misty could sneak back in and see what was under the blanket. A plan was forming.

Kyanna, was staying behind. Haldar could use pass without a trace to get us there. We could come through the main gate to the outer wall. The gates is broken and there are no guards. We could move around the to the back of the Abby where the wall joins the Abby and climb up to the walkway inside the structure where the fake guards were placed. Once there, they could try and gain entry into the Abby’s second floor directly.

Snoggly, Haldar, Dain, and Zanfyr were waiting nearby in the trees. Everything went well until we reached the walkway. There were a couple of people in the main courtyard. It was about 9:00 in the evening. We listened and could hear the music playing. Rinn messaged Haldar to ask if he could see light coming from the upstairs windows. He said he could. We decided that we’d have to just sit quietly and wait till the music stops, maybe they’ll go to bed soon. We listened for a while. He took a short break and then started back up. Haldar asked what was taking so long. Rinn replied that the musician was playing in, what Misty remembered to be a single room. He told him that if we opened the door, it is very likely that we will be seen.

Haldar suggested trying the roof. Okay, Misty attempted to climb onto the roof but lost her footing as she tried to negotiate the overhang. She managed to hold on and Rinn moved under her reaching up to give her feet something to push off of. She felt the added lift and reached up over onto the roof but the tile broke away send her and some of the tile to the walkway with a crashing sound. Rinn hid and regained her composure and hid as well. Rinn summoned Boo and then had him fly around up there attempting to make it look like a simple incident with the bird. They didn’t buy it.

While they were arguing about who would go up to check, Misty attempted to escape over the wall. They caught site of her and yelled to her as they bolted for the Abby doors. As the door opened, and closed, Rinn slipped over the wall and dropped down behind Misty and the moved around to the back of the Abby to hide. We decided to vacate the Abby completely and left. We made our way back to the Baron’s house and turned in for the evening. The following morning, we arose to the smell of breakfast and went down to partake. They tell us that they have a team arriving today, to White Claw’s hideout.

As the day gets a little going, we headed to Greggory’s blacksmith shop to pick up our Weapons and armor. The weapons and repair is not the best, but it’s serviceable. After paying him, we headed off to the Swyft house to see the Tailor. Gunther and his wife offer a morning drink. Dain asked about the beads and items he wanted to decorate his beard with. Gunther brought out a drawing of some of the ideas he had for him. They were interesting poses, some stately while others depicting him in action. The pictures looked good but brought to mind the images of Clangeddin. None of those images included items woven into his beard. He decided that, as a Paladin of Clangeddin, it would be a little too ostentatious to wear such items and opted not to be adorned this way. Dain thanked him for his time and they left.

We finally decided it was time to go to Lady Kates Wonder Emporium. Hopefully, she will have some healing potions. As we enter, it first appears to be a cluster of unmatched stacked in haphazard fashion around the shop. We lost Misty very quickly as she became enthralled by the site of so many items. The dark haired lady behind the counter was colorfully dressed in clothes that reminded use of the Vistani. Rinn approaches her and says “Good morning!”. She recognized us as the adventurers that ended the White Claw issue and seemed happy to have us in her shop. She introduced herself as the Kate but her full name was Katerina. She asked if we were seeking any particular item. We asked about healing potions but she said she doesn’t have that sort of thing. She suggested that we speak to the Abbott about getting some from him.

When we couldn’t find potions there, we began to find out what else she might have. Snoggly went for the Stone of Gravity Detection. She thought for just a second and realized what he was talking about. She offered to find him stones like that for only a gold piece. Then she picked up a colorful stone next to her and dropped in on the desk. It fell and clattered and she pointed at it and said, “See, it works!”. That’s when we really started down the magic item search. She did have an odd flint that she claimed, when used, the fire it creates is purple. With that, Misty perked up and asked about it which spawned a, “What are you?” conversation. After handling that, Misty worked out a trade of some silverware that she’s picked up along the way.

Kate finally produces a star map, depicting the stars that can’t be seen anymore because of the clouds. She still owed us 5 silver but offered to sell the map to us for 5 gold. Misty produced a set of pan pipes and traded it for the map. We discussed the map and remembered where we had seen a star map before. In the tower on the ceiling of one of the floors. Kate looked for more stuff we might be interested in. She finally produced a map of the Underdark. We decided that it would be handy to have, and Haldar picked it up. Kate produced hair from a Drow in such a way that Misty couldn’t resist it. Zanfyr asked if she had any knowledge of Drow, had she ever seen one. She hadn’t. We finally decided to move on and thanked her and moved on.

We begin heading out toward Lake Zarovich to the East. We are looking to go north of their in search of the Mad Mage. Victor said that the Mad Mage has been reported being seen on the north shore of Lake Zarovich. They believe he resides in Mount Baratok or the Slovak Woods near Mount Baratok. The whole region north of Lake Zarovich is Mount Baratok where the woods are the foothills leading to the mountain. It’s good that we remembered to purchase cold weather gear before leaving Krezk. In looking at the map, e decided that the road leading toward the mage tower would be a good route.

We crossed the Raven River late in the afternoon and pushed onward. By 8:00 we had made it as far as the crossroads with the tower and decided to spend the night there. We made our way in, knowing the gestures needed to appease the gargoyles. Once inside we started making our way to the top where Kyanna activated Kazan, the mechanical suit of armor, and brought him back downstairs to stand guard. Of course, we had to listen to the elevator music. On the way up, Snoggly, Haldar and Zanfyr stopped the elevator to compare the star map to the ceiling of the third floor where we had seen a star map before. Haldar and Zanfyr do find some commonality between the map and the ceiling. There was much speculation as to why this room existed but no definitive answers. Looking from the fourth floor windows using the spy glass, Misty can see Argynvosthold’s light, to the north she sees that the area is shrouded in mists. We can see some lights coming from the area of Vallaki. We spent the night here. Misty tested the flint in the stove to see what the purple fire was like.

The next morning, we prepared a meal using the stone. We noted that the light of the campfire seemed to be less bright but heated the same. We don’t know if the fire has any other properties. We headed out and proceeded down the road to the east. At some point, Haldar picked a point to cut through to the lake. We finally come to the lake which is actually quite large. We headed north and around the northern side of the lake until we reached a stream heading north. It was late so we camped along the shore of it, in a tiny dome. We set up watch. Around midnight, Misty noticed steaks of lightning in the mist. This goes on for about an hour, off and on. Misty traded off with Kyanna in the middle of the evening and she noticed a light, in the distance, on the lake, guessing it to be about the center of the lake. Misty and Kyanna compared notes on what they saw and when Misty mentioned the lightening, Snoggly suggested that we should probably head that way.

We start heading up off the map that we have following the stream. After about a mile, we start heading upward, slowly into the mountains. As we are moving along, Rinn spots, to the west, a clearing with a sort of structure. It’s maybe a half a mile to our west. Rinn move towards the structure and when he is close enough, he sends out Boo to fly around it. Looking through his eyes he is able to see a structure that is crumbling from disuse and age. As Boo flies over it, he sees, in one of the rooms a fountain or well of some sort. It appears to be in remarkable shape compared to the area around it. Boo lands on the wall and doesn’t see anything moving. He does see carvings on the wall. Symbols that remind Rinn of ones he had seen in the swamps of Badda Lassaga, of the Rosanna, the Ladies Three, The Eye of the Seeker, the Tree of the Weever, and Wolf of the Huntress. Rinn retrieved Boo and headed back to fetch everyone else.

We headed back as a group to investigate properly. We circled around the building until we found an opening. The air in the mountains is colder and as we look around, there is no evidence if anyone being here in a long time. As Zanfyr enters the room, he recognizes it as a temple to the Seeker. The eldest of the three ladies and the Goddess of the mountains. The fountain is definitely in remarkable condition considering the condition of the rest of the building. Zanfyr investigates the well. He senses a power or energy emanating from it. For good or bad, he can’t determine. Doc tried to look at the well, but since he’s not really hear, Snoggly decided to check it for him. He was able to determine that it radiates a form of magic but not what form. Kyanna checks it out as well but doesn’t discern anything more except that this appears to be a place where travelers would stop by and pay homage or leave an offering before heading into the mountains.

The well is full of very clean and clear water. Kyanna takes the first sip. Nothing happens until she rolls some dice and then she feels a vitality that makes her feel like she can roll better saving throws. Dain takes a sip and rolls up some extream speed as if he were hasted for the next 12 hours. Dain collects empties his water flasks and filles them from here. Snoggly took a sip and was also hasted. Misty took a sip and gets +1 to attack rolls for the next hour. Rinn drinks and loses one point of strength for the next 12 hours. Haldar drinks and his strength is down 4 points for 12 hours. Boo drinks the water and his saving throws increase by one for the next 12 hours. Zanfyr finally breaks down and drinks from the fountain as well. He is poisoned for the next 12 hours. His hit points are reduced by 2d8. Dain is able to recognize that he has been poisoned and uses his healing skills and removes the poison. Victor studies the situation and finally decides to take a sip. After a moment, he becomes invisible. Dain heals Zanfyr back up to full health as well.

That’s it for this week folks!