Session 44, Death By Snowflake
Paldegora
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Session 44 – 2025-01-11
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Summary
The group began their session at Tinkle's shop, where they inquired about gear and potions. Also their were Silverstein and Beatrice, Angelique's Grandfather and Mother. Tinkle provided each member with a vial of Extra Healing potion and an antidote. Angelique, now also a wizard, asked for spell components, which Tinkle freely provided. He then invited them to stay at his guest house, located somewhere in the multiverse. They accepted, and Barry activated summoning circles to transport them there. During lunch, they discussed Company Clandestine's plans to find Captain Ambrose Hurst in Port Ahn, acquiring the ship known as The Blade, and then acquiring the Heart of the Dragon. Tinkle provided a letter to of introduction to Captain Hurst with his seal to aid them in their quest.
Tinkle advised them to travel back to Three Points and then to the coast. He assured them that there were no Draconians in the south and explained that their were six command words needed to control the Rod of Dragon Detection/Rod of Soul Trapping but neither he or Silverstein knew what the words were. The pendants given to Angelique and Eryn could no longer be used due to changes in magic, which could make their messages traceable. They were warned to limit their use of magic to avoid being tracked by Aphobis, his allies, and the Emperor Dragons.
After lunch, Barry delivered letters summoning Tinkle to a meeting of the Grand Council of Spires in Silverspire and Beatrice to Greyspire. Tinkle suspected Aphobis's involvement but was unsure of his intentions. Tinkle and Beatrice left, advising the group to rest and prepare for their journey. Silverstein gave them a tour of the guest house, and Eryn and Cassandra took the opportunity to relax and heal. Angelique had a conversation with her grandfather about her father's secret life as a powerful wizard and scholar.
Symon spent time in the library researching Port Ahn and other topics of interest. He discovered that Tim Montague, a member of a notorious pirate family, had become a master mage. The group eventually turned in for the night, feeling secure in the guest house. The next morning, they enjoyed breakfast together and discussed their plans. Silverstein received a note from Tinkle requesting his presence in Silverspire. He took a moment to share his insights about each member's inner selves before leaving.
The group stayed another day to heal and prepare for their journey. They were returned to Tinkle's shop where they left Barry. They traveled south towards Frosthaven, encountering a storm and battling Jack Frost creatures along the way. Symon used his Tiny Hut spell to provide shelter, and they continued their journey after the storm passed. Upon reaching Frosthaven, they observed the town and sent invisible Eryn to gather information. Guards in the town wore unfamiliar green uniforms. The Temple of Phi had been ransacked.
The people she saw wondering around the town seemed normal so Eryn decided to visit Kira's store, where she found Kira and an unknown woman. Eryn tried to communicate with Kira without revealing herself, but accidentally startled them. Meanwhile, the rest of the group, concerned that Eryn did not return readily, approached the town gates and were questioned by the guards. Lieutenant Harris was fetched and recognized them and suggested. They were allowed passage in. Harris wanted to catch up over drinks at the Dogg Butt.
On their way there, Harris informed them about recent events in Frosthaven, including the ransacking of the Temple of Phi and the disappearance of Father Nathanial. He also mentioned that Dan Longmire was now the mayor and that the town was being secured by SeaSpire soldiers. The group decided to visit the magistrate. The magistrate turned out to be Elmer, who provided them with packages they had received for them recently. The packages contained items. Elmer then explained the situation in Frosthaven. They were interrupted by two men from the Adventurer's Guild, who delivered a letter from Allistar Finch.
The letter informed the group of their expulsion from the Adventurers Guild of Paldegora and the arrest warrant issued by the Grand Council of Spires. Despite the shock, they understood the reasoning behind it and prepared to face the challenges ahead. The bounty on their heads would make their journey more difficult, but they were determined to continue their quest and address the allegations against them honorably.
Detail
They started this session in Tinkles wagon/shop. They asked if he had some gear to sell them but Tinkle told them he was low on gear. When asked about Extra Healing potions, he managed enough for 1 vial for each of them. He also came up with on vial of antidote for each of them as well. It turns out that drinking a potion of antidote will counter the fish poison that Morgan and Marlena were using on people. Angelique asked about some spell components. Now that she is also a wizard, she needed them to cast those spells. He freely let her and Symon have whatever they needed.
He invited them all to stay at his guest house, somewhere in the multiverse. They accepted and Barry activated two summoning circles to send them all to Tinkles guest house. They sat for lunch and talked some about their plans. They needed to find Captain Ambrose Hurst in Port Ahn. Symon thought they needed some sort of letter of introduction to take with them. Tinkle snapped his fingers and a letter appeared with his seal on it. They would have to use Captain Hurst to find the Blade and Captain Jesse Jack Johnson. They would have to convince him to take them or take the ship from him and have someone else, maybe Captain Hurst, sail them to the island. They also needed to acquire the Heart of the Dragon.
Tinkle told them to travel back to Three Points and then continue on from there to the coast. Symon asked if there were Draconians this far south that they would have to deal with. Tinkle told him no, that he had not heard about Draconians down here at all. He said, it was a shock to hear that Draconians were back. Most people didn't think they existed. They learned that there were six command words to control the Rod of Dragon Detection/Rod of Soul Trapping. It still had 4 charges to use to trap dragon souls but not 5. No one knows what the command words are.
When Angelique brought up the pendants that Tinkle had given her and Eryn, both Tinkle and Silverstein told them that they would not be able to be used anymore. In fact, they should return them. They returned the gems. He and Silverstein told them that magic had changed and the change may have made it easier for messages to be tracked from source to sender or sender to source. Sending messages this way could give away their location and make it easier for them to be found. They will be hunted, by Aphobis and his allies as well as the Emperor Dragons. They needed to travel under the radar, limiting their use of these magics.
After lunch, Barry came into the room with a letter for Tinkle and a letter for Beatrice. Tinkle's note summoned him to a meeting of the Grand Council of Spires, in Silverspire. Beatrice's note was from Lord Eric Uttdain of Greyspire. He was King Lundor's cousin. She was summoned back to Greyspire. Tinkle felt that this motion was being called by Aphobus but to what end, he didn't know. Also mentioned in the conversation was that Aphobis is over Blackspire in Nox, Tinkle is over Brightspire in Glipliset. And The Lord of Valdernost and Lord over Silverspire is Lord Aldric Baloris. He is over the Grand Council. He is not to be confused with Lundor's mage, also name Aldric.
Silverstein asked Tinkle if he wanted him to come with him. Tinkle felt like that would stir things up too much and asked him to let him get the lay of the land. “Just to be ready. I'll call on you if I need to.”, Tinkle said. Symon asked, “Who on the Council knows about us, other than Aphobis?”. Tinkle felt that no one else should know about them. Obviously Aphobis might have let his allies know about them. Tinkle hoped Aphobis would play his hand and then he would know what was coming. “We should get a good sense of who is on who's side with this meeting!”, he added. Both Beatrice and Tinkle left after he told everyone to stay for as long as they wanted. They should get rested and healed. They should prepare themselves for the task they were to undertake.
Silverstein gave them the full tour ending upstairs where there were plenty of bedrooms for them to choose from. Eryn and Cassandra each took over a bathroom and soaked in the tub, cleaning their bodies and even healing the spirit some. They left and returned to their rooms. Well, Eryn got a book of short stories from Tinkle's library before returning to her room, reading it for a while before drifting off.
Angelique went to her Grandfathers room and sat for a time to talk. She always new her father as a scholar. Angelique asked her grandfather about him. “Was my father really a wizard?”, she'd asked. Silverstein told her that yes he was a very powerful wizard and a scholar. She wanted to know why he didn't tell her. He indicated that he was basically undercover. He did a lot of research and went to a lot of places that were dangerous. He was more accepted as a scholar than as a mage. He told her, “We have a lot of enemies as you might have determined by now.”, he added. He took time to tell her more about her father.
Symon had been in the library every since they had come up stairs. He looked up books that might provide more information about Port Ahn. He also found other notes and books in a more private study area of the library and poked around in whatever Tinkle was interested in. This included the diary that they had left for him to keep safe. He had been reading it and studying it. It appeared to have been the main focus of his research in this room for some time. He had been reading books on history and on Tim Montague as well. Symon stayed for a while and read what he could.
He read how Tim was a member of the Montague family of notorious pirates. They had become famous like Jesse Jack Johnson. Their time came to an end when they were hunted down and hung. Tim had managed to avoid that end as he was not actively functioning as a pirate. He became a servant until he discov4red his magical ability. From that point on, his fame grew. He became a master mage, the master of all schools of magic. No one knows how but only that he did.
They eventually all turned in and the next morning met up downstairs at the dining table again. Barry was setting out food and drink. They ate and enjoyed this time together. They remarked how they'd had such a great sleep. They weren't worried about setting up watches as this was probably the most secure place they'd ever been in. When they looked out the windows, all they could see was swirling colors that meant they were not likely in a place that anyone could find.
Silverstein entered the room at one point and told them that he had a note from Tinkle requesting his presence in Silverspire immediately. He took a moment to give everyone his insight into there inner selves. One by one, he went around the room.
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Cassandra - I fear a choice will soon be upon you as to what path in your life to take. Your courage, loyalty, and determination do you credit. Learn to reflect more and control your impulse to anger and channel it. It will make you stronger and more focused in battle and will aid you in the trials ahead of you whichever path you choose.
Eryn - it’s very difficult to be an outsider in an unknown land where things you are familiar with and come to understand work a bit differently. Thieves are not generally known for their insight or wisdom, yet you do possess both. Your prior choices have been of some consequence. Your station in life is important and I think it will matter more than you even realize in the near future. Consider your steps carefully and what is most important to you. Ask yourself what is it you truly left behind or more importantly what are you now truly looking for?
Cal-El - My silent friend. I’m afraid I see much darkness and pain ahead for you. For one such as yourself the past is sometimes difficult to escape. We all struggle with it. Keep true to yourself when faced with it. Don’t let your heart sway your path toward bitterness and resentment. Remember your choices determine who you truly are inside and what you will have become and achieved.
Xor - You are truly remarkable for one of the barbarian race. I have only known a few of your people. Your natural distrust of people in my profession is understandable. Yet you have learned to controlled it with wisdom. You have already experienced more than most of your kin will ever know in a lifetime. You will have the strength, courage and intelligence to forge your people into one great nation some day. They will have such need of you in the dark times to come. The world will need them as well. Keep your blade sharp and your eyes wide!
Simon - You had a very humble beginning. Such a quiet reflective soul at heart and a deep and private thinker to be suddenly thrust upon with awesome potential. Power is its own curse. It causes jealousy, fear, rivals, envy, hatred and of course greatness. Learn to discern a true friend from foe. Politics I am afraid will be inevitable. Even If you avoid it it will seek you out on its own. It can destroy you if you are not prepared. Believe in yourself always and do not hesitate. Learn to look beyond your feelings and find the true reality. Be warned. Power always creates a thirst for even more of it.
Angelique - It would appear two distinctly separate disciplines have been forced upon you. That of a Priestess of Naa and also now the Mage. The inevitable conflict between the two has the potential to destroy you and tear your inner self apart leaving you confused and unsure of yourself. The pressure from one over the other will be great if you view each of them separately. I say to you rather see it as a completion of who you truly are. Two of the three that make up the hole. Conquer them all and harmonize them together as one and you will be unstoppable. Beware the temptations that will always come from the third.
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When he was done, Angelique got in one final hug. He wished them all well. If he and or Tinkle can somehow help them, they will try. He said, “I must leave! Farewell to you all! I hope to see you again soon!”. He flailed his arms in some sort of arcane gesture and disappeared.
The group stayed for another day and night and by the next morning were mostly healed. Cal-El used some of that time to practice his whistling. The next day, Phiday morning, they had Barry return them to the wagon so they could begin their journey. They thanked Barry and left the wagon, heading back to the road and then south towards Frosthaven. They did notice that there had been some extra traffic on the road, more than normal. It didn't matter much to them, it was time to get on with their task. It was a gloomy day. The temperatures were cold and as they travelled they eventually ran into some sleet and some snowfall.
As they continued on, Cal-El used his weather sense and decided that this storm would get pretty bad. They began discussing using Symon's new Tiny Hut spell when Xor noticed something peculiar. He noticed these weird little snow flake creatures. Symon tried to talk to them but they didn't respond. Several of the company had become mesmerized, unable to respond. Angelique, Eryn, and Symon stayed un-mesmerized. Everyone else was stopped in their tracks.
At that point, they changed into a more ferocious cloud of ice. That's when they attacked. They attacked by blasting them with extreme cold. Each attack did a lot of damage. After two such attacks, Symon was down. Others were brutally injured. When they hit the members of the company that were mesmerized, they were knocked out of that state and began to fight back. After the second attack in this form, the monsters changed again into something less threatening but they still climbed up each of them and bit them, causing damage and even frostbite. Where ever they bit, that area turned numb. Angelique got off a Produce Flame spell. They definitely didn't like the flame. They defeated them in this lesser form and then Angelique got Symon back up. I think they were called Jack Frost creatures.
The area where people were bitten were starting to turn black, an obvious sign of Frost Bite. They each drank a doze of extra healing to heal those areas. They did some more healing and then decided they needed to stop and wait out the storm. As they started looking for a place to set up a tent, Symon told them he had a new spell that would provide them much greater safety and warmth. They looked for a spot to place it and then he cast a Tiny Hut spell which created a sort of shelter, big enough for all of them that stayed warm and kept out the weather.
They slept and woke as the Tiny Hut spell ended. The storm was still raging so he cast it again. Angelique did a lot more healing and then they stayed through another 8 hours resting. When they woke up after this, the storm had stopped. They set out again, south. The thick blanket of snow on the ground really slowed things down. They travelled most of the day and around 6:00 that evening, exhausted, they set up camp again. They cleared a little area and built a fire from wood they'd gathered from some dead trees. They set up a tent and turned in for the evening. The evening passed without any issues.
As they progressed further south, the snow lessened and they were able to walk more freely. They eventually spied Frosthaven from a good distance and picked a spot to watch it. They were trying to see what it was like there now. The last they'd heard, it had been overthrown by Theo and a mob of people. They knew they had killed Theo when they had found and killed Grish-ta-nak, but figured someone had been left in charge. They could determine little from their vantage point except that their were guards at the gates, wearing green uniforms. The town appeared to be busy. No one recognized the green uniforms as matching any military they'd observed before.
They decided to make Eryn invisible and have her go into the town and check it out. She approached the town but quickly realized the snow and damp muddy ground showed her footprints. She would not be able to go in through the front gate. She instead found a spot of the wall where there was a little cover from the trees and hopped the wall. She snuck into the town and looked around. Everyone seemed to be going about their daily business as if everything was normal. The town did seem busier than she remembered. Beyond the prison, she spied a lot more people, and a busy market up ahead.
She continued into the town, moving to the road and following it around the prison. She came upon the Temple to Phi and this gave her the first signs that maybe everything was not what it seemed. The temple had been ransacked with statues and symbols of the religion having been toppled and/or destroyed. She felt uneasy and moved back out into the town. Looking around, everything seemed okay. There were no symbols to Phi, Naa, Sahn, or Ahn. Nothing to indicate the guards alliances either.
She remembered Kira and decided to see if she was still there. She moved down to her store and decided to slip in. She flung the door open as if a gust of wind had caught it, and darted in and out of the way, hiding in a corner. Kira was there along with someone else that Eryn didn't recognize. Kira rushed over to close the door, remarking about how strange that was. The other woman was sitting by a fire and reading. Kira went back behind the counter. Eryn waited, hoping the other woman would leave so she could talk to Kira. Other customers came and went but the woman stayed sitting and reading.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group was getting a little worried since Eryn had not returned. Symon suggested that they may have to move up to the gate and see what happens.
Eryn had an idea that maybe she could scribble out a note on some paper on the counter for Kira to read. Maybe that was a way to start a conversation without revealing herself to this other person. When she reach for the ink with the quill, she knocked over the ink bottle, spilling the ink. She backed away quietly again when Kira voiced her surprise, startled at the event. The other person sat up and moved over to her side calling her “sis”. That was surprising as Eryn understood her sister to have been in the prison. Based off what she had been told, everyone in the prison was killed.
The rest of the company decided they should just walk up to the guards and see what happens. They did have Cassandra in the group and she did live in Frosthaven. She has a home in town. They approached the gate. The guards seemed calm and business like. They held up a hand and ordered them to halt. One of the guards asked another guard if he recognized these people. The guard replied, “They look like the one's that left!”. The guards asked who they were and what their business was in Frosthaven. Symon told them that they were traveling from Stonebridge.
That seemed the strike the guard as odd. Two of the guards back away and talk. After a moment, one of them was sent off to retrieve someone. They told them that it would be a moment. They offered them something warm to drink while they waited. During the small talk about the cold weather, they mentioned how they didn't like this cold and snowy stuff and couldn't wait to get back to the coast. Symon questioned them a little about not being from Frosthaven. They told them that they had been ordered here. Symon tried to sus out where they were from.
After some time, the guard returned with a man on horseback wearing a helm. They recognized him quickly as Lieutenant Harris. He was quite surprised to see them and told them that he'd figured they were dead. Symon told him that they'd thought the same about him. The guards allowed them to pass. Harris suggested that they go over to the Dogg Butt and throw back an ale or two and catch each other up. When asked about the guards, they were told that they were from Seaspire.
Harris asked is they'd come from the north and if they seen Captain Wright? They had come from the north but had not seen Captain Wright. He told them that Wright had taken some adventurers and some of the Seaspire men and gone to Stonebridge looking for Theo and his bunch. He was going to secure Stonebridge. Cassandra told him that Theo and Roger were already dead. Harris told him, “That was the best news he'd had all week. Time for some Ale!”. They started walking through town while Harris told him that he was promoted which was great but then they put him in charge of the prison. It was the last job he wanted.
As they passed the Temple of Phi, they noticed that it was damaged. Harris told them that no one knew what happened to Father Nathanial, only that he is missing and Theo and his bunch ransacked the place. They'd guessed he'd been done in but no one knew for sure. Symon asked about the sewers under town. Harris told them that they'd cleaned it out and secured it. They checked it out regularly to ensure no one had moved in again. They continued on through the market. People seemed a little concerned and backed away from them a little bit. The people here were dressed differently than they remembered and none of them seemed to recognize Cassandra.
Eryn took a chance that this was the sister from the prison and spoke up saying, “Please don't be startled, Kira”. She was invisible when she said this. That scared the crap out of Kira and her sister. They became frantic, screaming. Eryn tried to tell her to be calm but by then, they were running out of the back of the store freaking out. Eryn followed them out but they had taken off north. She went back in and scribbled out a little note explaining that she was sorry to have scared her. She wrote that it was Eryn and she was trying to stay invisible while making contact. “I was concerned as to whether it was safe to expose myself to anyone in the town. Again, I'm sorry!”, she wrote. She headed out and went around the other side of the back of the building and made her way north.
Meanwhile the rest of the group saw Kira and he sister run up to Lieutenant Harris and told him that something was in her store. “They broke in and scared us both half to death. We don't know what it is!”, Kira said. Angelique called out to her and she seemed glad to see her and the rest of the group again. Angelique explained that what she'd seen was probably Eryn. She was invisible, she was scoping out the town to find out how things were. Kira introduced her sister Fran. She'd been the one that was in prison. They both were happy to see Cassandra.
They asked about Shea and Harris told them that it wasn't for him to talk about. He suggested that they talk to the magistrate. He said he didn't see everything that went on as he was in the prison. The next thing he knew was that, in came Dan Longmire with some of his people and they freed me. Some of his clerics healed me up. By then all of the fighting was over with. Symon asked if Dan Longmire was here. Harris told him that Dan was the Mayor now. Lived in the big house.
They were putting some of the prisoners on trial today. Symon asked if there were any people of note being tried. Harris said most of the people he would think of as being “of note” are dead already. Theo got away but you've told me that he's dead now which is great. “That creepy fucker, Mott, he disappeared. No one knows where he went.”, Harris added. Symon told him that they hadn't seen him. Blackmoore was gone. That story wasn't really his to tell. He wasn't involved in all of that. Everything here was looking up until that fucking thing came through here. When asked, “What thing!”. Harris described it as a wave of energy or an earthquake. He didn't know what it was.
When that came through here, that freaked everyone out. People started talking about Dragons coming back and everyone was scared half to death. People are coming and going. Running but he didn't know where they were running to or running from. When it went through, it made him sick to his stomach. Two of his guys passed out. One of them pissed his pants. Anyway, you probably need to talk with the magistrate about Blackmoore and everything else.
Symon asked who was the magistrate. Harris told him the magistrate was Elmer. Everyone seemed surprised to find out that Elmer was the Magistrate. Harris told him that he's done. Great job at it. Maybe a little too lenient but he should be over at the jail. They decided to go see him. Harris told them to seek him out at the Dogg Butt when they are done. They went to the jail/courthouse and entered on the courthouse side. Eryn revealed that she was walking with them. She stayed invisible though.
This is where we took a bathroom break and the recording ended. From here on out, it's by memory and remember, I don't have a memory.
So they went inside and ran into Elmer. He was thrilled to see them. They talked a little, catching up and then he remembered that there were packages waiting for them. They had arrived a little while ago and had their names on them. He took them to the front room where they stored confiscated weapons and such and they each opened a box labeled to them. I remembered that Angelique received some Bracers of Defense. Cassandra and Eryn each received rings. I don't remember what everyone else got.
They went back to the courtroom and sat to talk a while. Elmer explained how he and his wife barely escaped to Harkinbridge and there with the help of a mage friend he contacted Allistar at the guild. Told him of the murder of Sir Charles and the threat growing from the goblins, hobgoblins, and gnolls being organized into an army under the banner of this Grish-ta-nak. Told him you had gone north to confront the threat and Frosthaven needed securing from the pending invasion and to put down Theo's brutal revolt and take over.
Allistar sent adventuring groups and a platoon of SeaSpire soldiers to help out. I reminded him he owed me as the last member of the Silver Swords. We organized together, me, Dan Longmire, and his exiles along with Blackmoor with his group of men that stayed loyal and took back Frosthaven. Some of Theo's captured men are in prison awaiting trial for treason. The rest fled north. Blackmoor resigned as warden and left with his men to the south. Dan was made mayor.
They also learned that Blackmoor and Shea had fallen in love, married, and she went with him. During the conversation, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Two men entered in the Black Cloaks of the Adventurer's Guild. They were seeking out Company Clandestine. They passed on to them, a letter from Allistar Finch. They left after making the delivery. The letter read as follows:
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Dear Company Clandestine Members,
It is with regret that I write to inform you of your immediate expulsion from the Adventurers Guild of Paldegora. After thorough review and grave consideration, the guild has determined that your actions in the Realm of Paldegora have violated the core principles and ethics by which our organization stands.
The Grand Council of Spires has issued an arrest warrant for your capture, with a significant bounty on your head. As such, your continued association with the Adventurers Guild of Paldegora poses an untenable risk to our members and integrity.
Effective immediately, all benefits and privileges associated with guild membership are revoked. You are hereby instructed to cease representing yourselves as members of the Adventurers Guild of Paldegora.
We wish you luck in your future endeavors outside of our guild and urge you to address the allegations against you honorably.
Sincerely, Allistar Finch, Esq. Allistar Finch, Esq. Grand Guild Master Executor, Adventurers Guild of Paldegora Seaspire
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There was a little shock at receiving this but it seemed reasonable considering their task ahead. The bounty on their heads isn't going to make things easier but it was a likely action for the enemy to take, considering they are, at least, part of the power structure of Paldegora.
Exp: 3000 + 300 = 3300