Flight to Enstad and encounters along the way

 

7th of Reaping

The party, inflight over the mountains towards Enstad have been intercepted by what appears to be a BlackRune wyvern patrol. Wanting them to land for further discussion, the Fellowship have a quick yelled and signal discussion and agree.

Looks to be 4 small white dragons from a distance, then they realize all are wyverns of the BlackRune Katsarlash Dragon Flight. A BR wyvern unit based out of Enstad on patrol.

These are wyverns stained or painted white with one stained blue. [Kantif make history check to glean knowledge of wyvern units that each have a dragon as their name and based on colour stain the wyverns same]

After some discussions and negotiations, the party drink and eat with the BlackRunes. The leader an albino orc named Aramez, seems eager to hear any news. She advises that the BlackRunes have retreated further, basically using the Lortmill mountains as the new front with the demonic forces of IUZ.

North, the forces of Overlord Romack have retreated eastwards further now the front is near the Kron hills, much of the North is now under the Demonic lord's control.

[DM: left of red line is under IUZ control]

1. DragonKeep town

2. Fellowship current location

Aramez, asks the party if the Fellowship can do her a favour as well as pass on the news of the High mountain outpost. Doc and Kantif agree, she passes them a satchel with a scroll tube for a "Lord Siginar". Kantif knows this person is a Dragonborn, navy, from the south of Fax. Interesting - or strange - that a Navy commander of the BlackRune fleets is in Enstad. [DM: Kantif does not advise rest of the party]

Kantif asks if this information is secret, which seems to raise some suspicion in Aramez. Kantif has to decide quickly and provides a name of a Flight unit from Wayberry - BlackRune Dassinar Flight.

A keg is uncorked and some of the party partake in some drinks, Doc does lay of hands [expunging poison], a pungent mulled plum wine, one of the most powerful drinks Doc has tasted. Gothi does not partake. Aramez advises this will keep a drinker warm and Kantif realizes it seems to have a magical property to keep one warm.

The BlackRune flight takes off, saluting the heroes. The party travels onwards and make it over the peaks and down the East side of the mountains seeing large areas of forests as well as darker areas.. these are the once beautiful forests now burnt to the ground. The party makes camp. Gothi does some hunting and takes out a moose and the party dines well on moose meat. 

Graxxuzzaz checked the satchel from Aramez, the lizardfolk does not Large "BR" on both clasps. There does not appear to be any visible magical traps on it. None detected. Laying the bag on the ground, uses a magehand cantrip to open the satchel. Copper metal scroll tube, with a wax seal. The party decides to leave it for now until further tools are acquired. 

Gothi has a dream about F.E.R.A. and the colossus seems to speak with the ranger, "Gothi, I will always be with you.." With a start Gothi wakes up and everything looks to be transparent, she blinks her eyes and shakes her head as a pain shoots behind her eyes. 

During the night watch, about 3AM, Doc receives a message from Skrit. "The Marshall has taken over he town. We are all safe in the mines or hills travelling back to Crescent Moon Monastery. The Marshall has new allies, strange 4-armed creatures, I have never encountered or heard of these. We prepare a counter-attack to retake our town! I hope you all are doing well. Salute."

Doc replies and then morning comes. Flight continues towards Enstad.

The Fellowship see 2 wagons along a track zigzagging up into the mountains.

2 wagons pulled by mules as well as a single horserider can be seen following a narrow track going Southwards off the main road. A closer look will with high perception show both wagons are full of furniture, boxes, and people. One wagon has a broken wheel. 1 wagon is 2-wheeled [not covered] pulled by 3 mules. Stacked high with boxes, chairs, a table, and even what appears to be a large harp wrapped up in a tarp. 4 people huddle on top as well. 2 children, a woman and a lizardfolk holding the reigns. 2nd wagon is 4-wheeled pulled by 5 mules and what appears to be a warhorse in barding. Also stacked with bags, boxes, and furniture, covered. A large heavy crossbow is mounted at front. 2 drivers, human and a dwarf. 

The party land nearby and approach. At first, both parties are wary and then after some greetings, it seems these are refugees from the area in or around, were going towards

The refugees are coming from Enstad when the explosion mushroomed up it destroyed the mountain pass so they have had to turn back and found a small path - they hope - will taken them over the mountains south. The city of Enstad is at WAR.

There appear to be 2 factions:

One is the BlackRunes and the other is a large Undead infestation that surprisingly appears to be well directed and controlled by some intelligence…

The Black Runes hold about just under 1/2 the city. Engaging with undead as and when needed to hold them off but other than a sometimes blocked river causeway, are cut off from outside. The approaching forces of IUZ from the Kron hills to the North is a major concern to all...

The refugees advise they are not associated with the BlackRunes or others. Just trying to get away from the war and all the horror.

After helping with the wheel they hear of a wounded knight in the group.

Keernik [H-M] Keernok [D-M] they are aware of the joke on their name and have worked together for many years as a crew. "Not related" is their 1st comment giving names. 5 other people huddle in back amongst the furniture and boxes. 2 children, 1 baby a teenager and a wounded elf male.

Boen and Boek [twins human boys], Spring [H-F baby] Şefika [H-F], Ser Brancin Tolinnar Zinotrris and ELF male.

Ser Brancin is wounded with a necrotic wound in his chest - a large open wound into his lung that he wheezes and coughs to breathe - defending the refugees.  A gaping hole in his chest shows his beating heart - a powerful undead attack - specter, wight or powerful ghoul. standard magical or normal healing would not be able to have any effect on the powerful curse or similar. Obaz and Doc assist the knight to the point where he is stable but still slipping in and out of consciousness. Gothi is able to provide a poultice as well to assist with his healing. 

The refugees are very grateful. They hear of the town the Fellowship have created and advise on how to get there. They will travel the back roads to try and get there, but it looks like a difficult road but the best option. 

The two lizardfolk meet, as Graxxuzazz recites his many titles, the other - Sillissar is tall and thin. All stop working as the sorcerer listen to the vast list of titles. Sillissar advises he has seen the circus and it is still there! It seems the circus is not quite as good, trying to escape, but due to the exotic creatures and moving them is difficult. They reside at the Golden River Inn [DM: BlogPost].

Kantif asks if any of the refugees have a forgery kit then backtracks to a 'writer's kit'. None do. The party moves on flying again.

That night, they come upon some ruins and make camp. 

During watch, Grax and Kantif hear voices in the dark. Speaking in giant, far from the dark. "Light ahead.. let's take a look."

The head of a giant peers at the group and then battle is engaged and rocks start to fly through into the party in the camp fire.

At first attacking from the dark the party is hampered but then lights and sunlight spell lights up the area. The sorcerer turns one giant into a chicken!

Graxxuzazz polymorphs into his other favourite form - fire giant. gunfire from Doc blast the giants, arrows cut deeply into giant and troll flesh from Gothi's bow. Kantif attacks using sneak attacks and monk abilities to great effect. 

The giants realize to late this is a lost battle and are defeated, except for a shaman whom flees.

The shaman is trying to hide, but Graxxuzazz - in giant form - sees him and lobs a rock at the shaman smashing into his back. Kantiff shadowsteps and races ahead.

Seeing the three coming at him, the giant sees no escape, holds up his large hands and yells, "Truce!"

"Let me live." The giant pleas. 

Graxxuzazz takes negotiations while Doc holds rifle levelled. The shaman, undoes a belt with a shortsword and backpack (dagger and pouch for giant sized). They hand over the chicken - giant. 

They advise the name of the Fellowship and Graxxuzazz lists off his titles to the bemusement of the giant. Honeycomb [Imperial honeycomb 4 chunks - eating this allows is equal to a short rest], various coins and a armlet, crystal in a headband - belt for humanoid size creatures.

Crystal of darkvision [30' vision]

Shortsword of speed, +2

Armlet of intellect, +1 intelligence

Keg of whiskey - Duchy of Ulek

Necklace of tethers of hair from 15 different creatures

The party moves to a new camp and then finishes resting for the night. Flying again, they near Enstad.. 

Fera and the Insectoid Swarm

 6th of Reaping

The heroes have a little time to converse and realize that Khore-1 had control over FERA. Gothi is able to heal JawBone.

All take some time to catch their breath.

Gothi advises the party of her vivid but strange memories flooding back of her culture and more. It seems FERA was a servant, construct created by the Foreclaimers. It seems overtime, FERA had become a god to the caretakers.

FERA seems upbeat and different now no longer under control of Khore-1. She seems wounded or still troubled by something.. perhaps it is the insectoids infesting her body. FERA advises that she is dying. as the insectoids had taken over 95% of  her body.

Doc puts forth an idea to have FERA take over the flying keep, but at this point with unfortunately 

At this point, Obaz and Graxxuzazz hear sounds coming form the two long walkways behind them.. Swarmers. A LARGE number of swarmers are coming quickly.

FERA advises Gothi of 2 options. 

"All you need is your Khore, Gothi. You can fight as FERA. Or I must destroy myself." At this point a shard of pulsing blue crystal dripping gold comes out of the golden sphere. Gothi reaches out and touches it. It disappears into the ranger. Gothi is fully healed, rested and looks better than she ever has!

FERA advises that the battle would take years to remove the insectoid infestation. Also, Gothi realizes FERA can remove the anti-magic area around her. At this point, Swarmers start to flow up both walkways. All party members feel a rush as they have full access to their magic. Full access to spells, magic AND their gods.

"Gothi you must decide."

Gothi feels that the self-destruct will destroy all of FERA as well as surrounding area. Including the outpost and area.

FERA needs time to prepare the self destruct, transporting the party out of the area.

Battle.

A spikegrowth from Obaz on one walkway, and then a web from Graxxuzazz across a large area of the 2nd walkway slow down the insectoids drastically allowed the party to destroy many of the creatures as they move closer and closer.

Doc and others target one of the Masters, and this slows the hordes of swarmers down. Doc moves up to take what looks like the core from what was Khore-1.

Kantif and Graxxuzazz uses spells and bow to take out the insectoid flies as they avoid the dangerous areas. Some of the swarmers make it through but so far the party is holding them off. 

Obaz summons some zombies using a magic item from Grax and send them forward to slow the horde down. Hybrid insectoids are firing the Foreclaimer blaster pistols. Grax fires a lighting bolt frying two of the flying insectoids. [DM: a summoned rat is also in battle!]

All are low or out of spells, low on hit points and the swarmers continue to come. The flow of them increases..

And then the Insectoid Queen arrives.

Tendrils coming out of the all extremities, mouth, eyes, nose, ears, she jumps forward over 40 feet. A blast of energy vibrates out and hits all the Fellowship coming from her. Gothi continues to assist FERA in preparing the self-destruct and teleport.

The Queen focuses her attacks on Gothi. Necrotic energy blasts hit the ranger and as the swarmers nearly are about to overcome them..

..the party is transported OUT of FERA into the wilderness on a ridge. Looking down at the outpost. Blue light shoots out of the cracks in the ice and for a moment the party have a view of the top part of FERA's body as waves of insectoids flow over and through the colossus. A MASSIVE blue sphere blasts out in all directions blinding the party and all get knocked back. WHHHUUUMMMPP!!

A mushroom cloud of debris and dust is seen and settles slowly. A vast crater now is located where the outpost, lake, and where FERA and the insectoids were. All gone.

They had done it. Gothi is holding on to a large glass blue scale or shard as well from the outer body/armour of FERA.

After a long rest, the party hear from Skrit and the BETA crew at their town. It seems they had no contact due to the magic block in FERA. It has been under attack by the Marshall Drogarr. [DM: BlogPost ]. Skrit and crew are able to escape into the mines for now. The party decides they need to finish their mission and let the BETA crew take this challenge on to retake their town! They ask Skrit to stay in touch. [DM: ahead we will have a return of the BETA crew!]

it the party contact the mysterious voice through the coin. Grax casts identify on it to activate the audio connection. It seems this entity knows where the Heart of Enstad. After some discussion they find out this is a Professor in Fax. They get some interesting information from this man. Perhaps a visit if they make it to the town of Fax. They confirm the Heart of Enstad has not moved, it is located in Enstad and the Sea of Dust. It seems it is still being used to flow water into the Sea of Dust where there is an expedition of Black Runes. It is in a central area there. Passing on the scale or shard armour to the professor by placing the coin on it and it disappears. 

Taking flight, the Fellowship move towards Enstad. While flying they see a flight of what look to be small dragons or wyverns. It seems to be a Black Rune patrol. Yelling back and forth the Fellowship advise they are mercenaries under employ. The leader female 1/2 orc, motions for the party to land..  

Until next time..