On the Top of the Hill

There was very strong wind on the butte.  The surface was smooth and glassy, with runes carved into the non-reflective surface.  Bazyl studied the notes on the ritual.  It required a witch and a companion, whose blood must be drained out onto the surface until they were disabled.  Cham volunteered to be the companion.

Cham and Zewthra conducted the ritual with Bazyl nearby.  Oobleck watched the ritual.  Ezzerkash kept watch.  Clouds rolled in and it started to rain.  The wind increased and the rain fell harder.  Ezzerkash saw the centaur they encountered before come trotting up the path.  He alerted Oobleck, but the druid could not see him until he reached the base of the butte.

Oobleck interposed in the centaur’s path and greeted him.  The centaur greeted him as  “champion of slime.” He said that the world would suffer for releaving Zewthra of her curse, as two other centaurs approached.

The centaurs were primed to attack, so Ezzerkash let loose his lightning breath to little effect.  Brynjar drew his sword and moved the block the entrance to the butte.  Bazyl advanced to Brynjar’s position.  Zewthra chanted with her eyes closed.  Cham drew her bow while she chanted.   One of the centaurs bull rushed Brynjar, who struck it in the process before he was pushed back.  The other centaurs followed, and the leader struck Oobleck with his great sword.  The druid went down unconscious.  Slimy slammed the centaur back so hard that he was deafened.

Ezzerkash charged in to defend Oobleck and bit the one fighting Brynjar.  Brynjar hit is as well.  Bazyl drew his morningstar and hit the same one.  Zewthra continued chanting with her eyes closed.  Cham shot at the third centaur but missed and continued chanting.  The leader centaur was struck by Slimy again and grabbed him before he could move away.  The lead centaur hit Brynjar.  The leader centaur broke free from Slimy.  The third centaur moved up and attacked Bazyl.  Slimy slammed the leader centaur again.

Ezzerkash finished the lead centaur.  Brynjar dropped the leader centaur.  Bazyl cast Cure Light Wounds on Brynjar.  Zewthra chanted with her eyes closed.  Cham chanted and shot at the remaining centaur.  The centaur attacked Ezzerkash and disabled him with two hooves and his great sword.  Slimy advanced and smalled the last centaur.

Ezzerkash withdrew but remained in the path to the butte.  Brynjar attacked and wounded the remaining centaur.  Bazyl cast the Healng Hex on Oobleck and moved to the leader centaur.  Zewthra and Cham continued chanting.  The centaur felled Brynjar.  Oobleck cast magic stone.  Slimy attacked and missed.

Ezzerkash cast the Healing Hex on himself.  Brynjar bled.  Bazyl cast the Healing Hex on Brynjar.  The centaur ran toward the ritual.  Slimy slammed the centaur and disarmed him.  Then Ezzerkash bit him and the centaur crashed to the ground just short of the ritual circle.

Bayzl stabilized the two surviving centaurs and healed Ezzerkash.  Ezzerkash cast the Healing Hex on Brynjar and Oobleck to close all their wounds.

The Ritual Completed

Eight hours later, Zewthra and Cham finished the ritual.  The clouds rolled away and the sun shined down.  Zewthra was happy and contemplative.  Bazyl channeled positive energy and healed the party and the centaurs.  Without a word, the two centaurs gathered up their fallen comrade and left.

Suddenly Bazyl cried

When the Crimson Crystal of the Apotheosis reaches,
A great gross collection of heroic spirits’ screeches.

Zewthra thanked the team for performing the ritual and defending her from those who would stop it.  Brynjar asked why they wantged to stop her.  She replied that all the Witching Sites were now linked and she could draw power from all of them from this site, whcih was known as Avatar’s Landing.

When asked what she would do now, Zewthra said that she would accompany the team back to town and learn to acclimate to a society.  She also mentioned that she had discovered a witches treasure hoard in the Leafless Wood.  She led them there, where they found:

  • A woven vest of reeds held together by iron thread with runes:  Defense, Song, Repraisal, and Witchery.  Cham knew that they were a high honor usually bestowed on witches.  Once per day it created an ultrasonic pulse that dealt sonic damage to the weapon that hits it.
  • Tabard of Altruism – This apparently pristine tabard upon closer inspection bears barely discernible small runes that almost match the color of the fabric (the color of the fabric changes to match the garments of the wearer.  The runes are altruism, blood, cause, heal, light, oath, name and truth. The Order of the Golden Monkey finds great favor in those who use these as they care more for the common people than rulership of the Land.  No one is really considered to own these items as it is considered an obligation to both wear and carry one. As such, he who wears it is considered the rightful owner unless he is an oath breaker.
  • Six Arrows of Disorientation – These arrows bear a rune of chaos carved into the shaft, in a spiraling circle. The fletching comes from three different colored bird: one black, one white and one red.  Part of a the Immortal Emperor’s hoard, stolen by an infamous thief and phoenix-child, now dead and buried in the far south of the Lands of the Last Warlord. Harrid will risk a great deal if a cache of these arrows becomes known. It is one of the few items of magic they will not drain of their power for they have offered twice their value in magic for their return.
  • Hilt Wrapping of Riposte  – This appears to be a decorative leather hilt wrap, set with ornamental runes.   The runes are wit, repartee, parry, and riposte.  These items go for twice the normal rate in the city of Questhaven; to join the Cleaver Blade Academy of the Blade Saints in Questhaven requires their applicants own one.  At the festival of Bladesong, it is customary for bearers of these to give a performance against all beardless boys who can lift a sword.
  • The Hammer of the Witches Forge – This appears to be a blacksmith’s hammer made of crystal. The head and handle are both marked with runes.  The runes are armament, craft, ritual, and sacrifice.  These hammers were crafted in the lands beyond the home of the sun, in the giant’s original homeland. Few of them made their way during the giant’s voyage west. Giants and their servants consider these treasured heirlooms of their homeland and will often pay twice their value to possess one.
  • The Harrowdeep Quiver – This appears to be a non-descript leather quiver with a section of the Dire Weald forest known as the Harrowdeep laid out like a map upon its surface. Inside the quiver is a small ring of runes.  The runes are believe, fey, gods, Harrowdeep, new, real, and revelation. The sibling fey rulers of the Harrowdeep are known to give these as gifts to the Rangers of the Hawk that watch over the Harrowhand.  Harrowdeep fey often invest the powers of a constable or military scout into those that bear these quivers, especially those who are also Rangers of the Hawk as they assume they are watchers of the Harrowhand.
  • The Dragon Staffshods – These two iron caps appear made to fit over the ends of a staff. The top of each cap has a single individual rune.  The runes are subdue and dramojh.  The Cult of Bitter Respite finds great favor in those who use these, as they avoid the risk of killing and damning souls to eternal torment.
  • Amulet of Travellers Fortune – This is the leg bone of a small animal on a leather cord. The bone is marked with a single rune.   The rune on the bone means “safe.”  A charm created by hag magic for general protection. They are often given to a hag’s servants or minions.
  • Nem’s Wand of Identify – This appears to be a simple wand of an unusual wood with two runes repeating in one straight line down its length.  The runes are lore and object.   This item is a wand of identify. Some four score of these were crafted as gifts from the Cynmark Dynasty to the stonewarden gargyles in appreciation for the construction of The Gorgon Wall’s around Questhaven.
  • A Bag of 50 Platnum Pieces.

Upon uncovering this treasure trove, Bazyl cried

The unworthy  who must witnrssand suffer the end

Shall see the uncrowned prince of Noisome Vale ascend.

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