The party traveled to the Court of the Silver Twilight at first light, journeying nearly a week through idyllic late summer days. It turned out that the chain, “Moonlight’s Durance,” had actually been forged by King Ithilias in his youth nearly 1,000 years ago–the maker’s mark was his, though long-abandoned–and given to the Marchwardens around T.R. 250. The king was particularly interested in King Conor Kenrick, especially his temperament and mien, although he counseled Fath “not to live a life not his own.” This applied as well to news of the temple: Ithilias suggested it be brought to the attention of the humans of Baerun’s Watch, as it didn’t directly concern the Elves. Finally, Elinithil, seeming somewhat subdued and distracted, told of his travels a few centuries before with Dominio, a priest of St Marten who was convinced that the temple-site needed cleansing, and the two of them entered it to find a scene of horror, but no apparent danger. Nevertheless, the elf watched as the priest sealed the doors and prayed many prayers over them. They parted ways soon after; Elinithil saw his friend buried three decades later, and thought that the priest’s journal of the trip had been left to the monastery. On their return journey, a briefly-lost party came across an abandoned barrow mound. They dispatched the hideous creature within and took its grave-goods back to town. On their return, Tormas informed the group that a wizard of some type had moved into an old villa near the Watch. Scarcely pausing to rest and regroup, the party headed out again, this time to the cellar of Arbogast’s castle. Fath discovered that a new knight dressed in sea-blue armor blocked the tunnel; the tunnel to the cellar was clear, the barrel of coins gone, and the secret door wide open. A fireball and some quick sword-work took care of the knight, even as a magical voice shouted “THIEF! YOU HAVE ENTERED MY CASTLE TO YOUR DOOM!” Fath left post-haste, rejoining his friends and heading to Oakwell to spend the night. There was discussion of seeking the sword Glassleaf, last seen deep under the earth at the old Rhael fortress.
Previously On Orcless Nerdfest…
Recap
Previously On Orcless Nerdfest (35)
Heading deeper into the tangled forest of the hills north of Crowhame, the party encountered an enraged bear who attacked without warning. Aoife the ranger was disturbed by its behavior, although she didn’t believe it was mad. Further on, the party found another dead bear, even larger, that had been torn in half. Its bones seemed pitted and burned like those of the sheep.
As they approached a large ruin, they stumbled across the bodies of Aoife’s comrade Marchwardens, right as a huge wyvern attacked. They slew the beast and discovered both Tarunas and some lost gear, including a legendary suit of elven-made chain and a Thaarn greatbow. She also said that she identified the tracks of at least two other wyverns, and they were fresh.
The group entered some kind of temple or dungeon beneath the upper ruins; Drake turned a group of skeletons, and when they were slain Fath discovered a torn journal page on one of the bodies. They also found a secret door with a disturbing statue–a smaller copy of the one presiding over a deep well in the main nave, except its head was a single gaping mouth. A chained door behind the statue had a scroll leaning against it, with an elaborate warning about breaking the seal. Continuing to explore on the level they were on, they encountered some hideous creatures who stank of the grave. Drake sent one flying with the sign of the Hammer, and they slew three more; but one lunged ahead and struck the paladin into total paralysis. As they edged forward after the creature that had run, they saw a massively fat man, bloated and leering, step into the edge of their circle of light…flanked by perhaps a half-dozen more.