In Camp

On the second watch, Ezzerkash saw halfling-sized, fin-backed saber-tooth creatures ripped an eye out of Brynjar, Zewthra and Vethkar.  The others woke up.  Ezzerkash bit the one attacking Brynjar.  Cham missed her attack.  The creature started to run off with Brynjar’s eye, and Ezzerkash killed it.  He collected Brynjar’s eye.  Another tried to dig out Zewthra’s other eye.  She cast an incantation and fire burst forth from it eyes and mouth and collapsed in a husk.  The third creature ripped out Vethkar’s other eye.  Brynjar cried out in pain.  Bazyl attempted to pull the creature off Vethkar, but failed.  Oobleck cast Club and hit the last one.  Slimy slammed it as well.

Ezzerkash lunged at the last creature, but missed.  Cham sliced the creature in half.  Bazyl stabilized the wounded.  Ezzerkash returned Brynjar’s eye to him.  Cham and Oobleck took up the watch, and the night passed without incident.

In the Morning

Before entering battle, Bazyl shouted

The mortal worlds shall suffer the Dark Intrusion
Until the Devourer gathers thrice for inclusion.

Oobleck identified the direction they needed to go, and then a vertical line appeared in the air, there was a loud pop, and a collossal diabolic dragon made of magma flew through the portal and landed face down in front of them with a crash and a furrow.  Then the portal closed and disappeared.  Ezzerkash and Cham heard a whisper from the dragon, “avati.”

Brynjar identified the dragon as Ardon-Nue, which meant “the Breaking Fire” in Draconic.  Brynjar used the delving rod to try and learn more, but did not pick up anything.  Vethkar produced some manacles connected by silk rope, which he said were in case he needed to restrain Zewthra.  Cham noted that she was writing in the sand, but did not recognize the language.

Bazyl cast Comprehend Languages and read the passage.  Zewthra somehow knew about the dragon and related that the dragon was nearly indestructable and was plotting the downfall of the Questor Society, but would not destroy things he thought were of value. Vethkar proposed shackling the dragon.  Bazyl recognized the manacles as created to do away with senseless executions by providing a beautiful prison.  It had two charges left, and could only be used on a helpless or willing creature.

Cham took the manacles.  She learned that there were two charges left and that the victim was put into an extra-dimensional space until released.  She put them, which grew as she applied them, on the dragon’s forepaws.  She burned her hands in the process. The dragon disappeared and Cham was holding the manacles.  Bazyl Channeled Positive Energy to heal her.

Bazyl reoriented himself, and started moving in the direction he thought was correct.  The others followed.  The passed through the high grass and started into the rolling hills.  Suddenly Vethkar fell to the ground.  Oobleck discovered that he was dead. Bazyl cast Detect Magic, but Vethkar did not have any more.

Zewthra tried to revive him.  Oobleck realized that Vethkar was supposed to take Zewthra through a ritual when they reached their destination.  Who would perform it now?

Bazyl knew that the Verrick custom was cremation.  The party collected dry grass and made a pyre.  When Zewthra realized what they were doing, she helped.  Searching Vethkar’s body, Bazyl found notes on the ritual and the deed to Plunging Stream Manor.  Bazyl conducted the Verrick ritual in Common, and Zewthra repeated it in Verrick.

They set up camp.  Brynjar and Cham took the first watch.   Cham heared two creatures approaching discussing the nature of a comet in the sky.  They were a reptilian humanoid with a glowing staff and a centaur.  As they noticed Cham, the reptilian raised its hood, and the centaur waved in greeting.  Cham introduced the party and awakened him.

Bazyl groggily spouted a prophecy about the Negative Energy Plane and went back to sleep.  When Cham mentioned  her name, Zewthra awakened.  The centaur eyed her lustily, but did nothing.

The Centaur asked what the party thought of the Harbinger Comet.  The reptilian believed it to be an omen.  The Centaur thought it was vessel of some kind.  Brynjar said that he heard that it was an omen of the coming of the Breaking Fire.  He added that the party was headed for Black Sky Butte.  The centaur said that they were on the right path.  He also warned that a Witch Raven had taken roost in the Leafless Wood, and to avoid a mire if they came across one.  They took their leave, and the centaur offered his companion a ride.  The centar told Zewthra that it was foretold that they would meet again.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully.  On the road, they noted the strong smell of jasmine, and then came upon a party of eight armed men leading a bound and muzzled jade gargoyle.  One of the men appaered to be a noble.

Bazyl shouted

The unworthy who must witness and suffer the end
Shall see the uncrowned prince of Noisome Vale ascend.

Brynjar knew that Questhaven was knows as the City of Gargoyles, and they were still within its protectorate.  The noble was of a minor noble of a legacy house,  Cains Dottier.  He knew that there were hunter gargoyles and guardian gargoyles.

The group yielded the road and the party passed by.  A woman on horseback came running over the next hill.  Then something leapt onto the horse’s neck and it fell dead.  The creature was about the size of a horse with feathers, with a rune on its head that Cham recognized as the rune for Hunt.  Bazyl knew that a rune animal was blessed by the pantheon.

Ezzerkash charged ahead and put himself betwen the creature and the woman.  Four of the men at arms dropped their chains and readied their weapons.  They shouted “Save Lady Cains Dottier!”  Bazyl joined Ezzerkash between the creature and the woman.  The creature clawed Bazyl twice and he went down.  Cham ran up to pull the woman out of danger.  Oobleck moved up with Slimy and shouted not to hurt the creature.  Brynjar Magic Missled the creature, but nothing happened.  The rune glowed brightly and then faded slightly.  Three of the guards charged forward in heavy armor.

Ezzerkash pulled Bazyl out of the way.  Bazyl cured himself.  The creature leapt up and landed on Cham, clawed her head viciously, and nudged her body out of the way.  Cham grabbed the woman and pulled her away.  The creature snapped menacingly at her.  Oobleck tried Wild Empathy, but there was no apparent effect.

The Party

  • Ezzerkash the Distracted – Cloud Dragon Wyrmling
  • Cham – Aasimar Taskshaper
  • Oobleck – Halfling Ooze Druid with Ochre Jelly companion, Slimy.
  • Bazyl – Human Oracle
  • Brynjar – Human Magus