Negotiations & the Demon Crow

 

15th of Planting, Low Summer

When last we left our heroes, they were in the midst of discussions with the monk of the monastery. A demon summoned/created from the corpse of a Githyanki, with Heste and Roxxberry arriving in the wagon.

Once the dust had settled the following had happened:

• the demon was now outside the monastery, content to await his contract to be completed - destruction of the kobolds
• Roxxberry had decided to leave - not wishing to associate with those whom summon/create demons. Well wishes on both side, the young paladin went off to find the army of Overlord Romack and rejoin her unit
• the monk - 5th - was found and coaxed out to continue  discussion re: the illusion on the monastery, possible alliance.. and more

The monastery was intact, which was partially true.. The leaders indeed are dead, but the majority of the  monastery stands fine and intact. A glamour/illusion covers the area. 

Negotiations are broached re keg, allies vs. kobolds, the 5th shrugs and advise the kobolds "we’re not allies.. But also were not enemies."

The grizzled older man then looks up to a high mountain pass.

‘If.. Hmm.. “ he seems to ponder a difficult choice then sighs and continues, “there is a creature of IUZ that has taken over our high pastures, one reason we keep the illusion ongoing. It has killed all our sheep and some staff." The old man grimaces and continues, "If you will deal with this threat.. I will allow a quartet of Crescent monks join you in your attack on the kobolds. But only this. Once your aggression is complete they will return home. What say you?”

Asking about IUZ’s creature, they call it ‘spawn of IUZ’. A giant demonic bird-like creature with multiple arms and massive crow like head and wings. Can easily pickup a man, even a horse with greater effort..

 A gondola is required to get to the high pastures. Still operational from below, the 5th advises, he assumes the caretaker at the top is dead or has fled the demonic creature.

So the 5th can assist with the gondola ride up, but someone will need to take the similar controls for return. The gondola is a large 10’x20’ long walled box - open top with a locking gate at front and rear. A very thick cable apparatus attaches to the top. The 5th has a turnstile with a set of large rock weights he can control to start the gondola upwards. The elder advises there is a similar setup at the top and this allows the gondola to go up and down with little effort by the controller.

“Once you reach the top, there will be 2 small buildings. One is the caretaker’s home - Dizzg. He is a sullen old dwarf - at the best of times, but a friend. I hope he still lives.” The 5th looks up into the sky as clouds are starting to roll in.

There are two pastures, a fork in the path a 5 minute walk from the gondola. The right goes to our high vineyards - the snow globes.” Many in the party have heard of these, they make one of the Crescent Moon Monastery’s best wine.

“The left goes up to the pastures for sheep”  The 5th looks seriously at the group. “Do not underestimate this creature. It is fast, powerful, and shrugs off many attacks, seems to have some innate resistance to some magicks as well.” Grimacing the monk continues. “I saw it bite the head off one of our mercenary guards with one chomp of his long beak.”

He points up, “the pastures are a set of connected high glades, protected on all sides by high mountains and tall fir trees. The spawn of IUZ has seemingly taken a liking to this area.”

The adventurers prepare a trap and using cantrips (Skrit using Thaumaturgy and Vencer using prestidigitation) the sounds of sheep are heard near the gondola station. For a while nothing, then a perceptive Pyra sees the giant flying creature diving towards the echo of Irakul. 

The rogue warns the party as a screech vibrates down from the demonic creature. 

Back and forth the attacks go, and in the end, the giant demonic crow, crashes to the ground and only black dust remains.

Victorious, the party determine to find the creatures nest.

Trekking up into the pastures, they discover bones of dead sheep, deer, bears and a mountain lion, amongst he bones of dead humans in tattered robes of the monastery.

In the middle of a glade, a large nest, nearly 50' across is found. All feel a dread coming close to it, but steeling their nerves, they move up until sounds of squawking and chirping are heard. The demons young are awake and in the nest!

Preparing again, battle is engaged with the demonic young of the Spawn of IUZ. A shorter battle and the young demonic birds are destroyed. Also turning to black ash and dust. Some treasure is acquired, amongst the trees, broken furniture - even 1/2 a rowboat.

Making their way back down to the gondola, they take a moment to look out over the -now- peaceful valley and monastery - which still looks to be a wreckage, under the glamour still.

Taking the gondola down, they meet with the 5th. Whom is delighted at this news. A quartet of young monks 2 humans(male), 1 dwarf (male), and 1 half elf (female), stand ready to go with the heroes to the next leg of the journey and quest.

The Siege of Drekarr!