Stealth and devastation in the Green

 Doc Holliday whispers, "Kantiff should take the lead on this infiltration this seems like his kind of move. I don't think we can talk our way into the lines. Maybe we can talk our way into the green but not past the trenches."

 Nodding the rogue/monk, murmurs “Good plan Doc, maybe if we do well in this mission we can try negotiating with the Controller for a proper power source for our tower. By then we would’ve proven our usefulness so it would be beneficial for them to give us one to scout with our smaller tower” 

The party agrees with this in muted murmurs and nods. They were trying to be very quiet as they were in a dangerous and precarious position. The Fellowship were all in a large crater no doubt caused by OverLord Romack's powerful attacks from his flying fortress/city. Less that 50 feet ahead was the trench walls of the troops outside the Green of Wayberry. A mixture of goblins, humans and at least one

BlackRune dwarf guarded. A steady rain poured down making the former farm field muddy and treacherous. 

Nearby one of the Controllers guides a human whom called himself "Runner Arkos", lay in the mud, pointing out the guards whom interestingly, mostly faced towards the Green and NOT out at Romack's besieging forces. Between the strongpoints, they learn magical wards cover much of the fields, so the heroes decide to bypass the BlackRune forces using stealth and magic.

Kantif uses his shadowy monk abilities to make the party near invisible (DM: pass without trace). The party moves forward up to a hastily built barbed wire and mixture of long spikes. Then along past a large dead tree, which looked to be have been blasted by fire. With a few close calls when one or more of the party were not quite as silent as needed. A BlackRune dwarf assumed the noise was some animal and tossed a rock over the crawling party members.

Finally with some deft thaumaturgy by Gaxusas to put out the fire and some spooky sounds which freaked out a number of the guards, the party is able to successfully make it to the walls of Wayberry, after taking out one formerly sleeping goblin in a tent. The party takes the goblin's body planning to dispose of it in the Green.

A large section of the wall is crumbling and destroyed but the holy forcefield encompassing the Green. Using the rod provided by Controller, the Fellowship the party finally enters the Green.

The party come down in what appears to be the large gardens and fields of a mansion. The gardens are untended and overgrown, plants and grass long with weeds abounding.

Ignoring the mansion which looked to be locked up - but with many windows smashed - the Fellowship enter the crumbling streets of Wayberry. Once the influential and area lived in by the merchant leaders and other aristocrats.

As they stealthily creep down dark streets, they hear shuffling and scraping ahead. Graxusas sends hos owl familiar up to scan the ruined city under the glowing holy shield. Plotting a course through the streets, they tactically avoid a number of mobs of undead creatures. A skeleton in rags, is bent over and seems to be continually grasping handfuls of black dust that it then swallows - it seems - and the dust falls and settles back into the pile. Doc and Kantif shrug and scuttle up behind the undead and then with a giant strength punch by Doc and the martial arts strikes of Kantif, the skeleton is pulverized. They gather some of the strange dust -which smells like cherry.

Moving on, the party is about to cross over to another shadowy ruin, and Doc hears the whimper and cry of a child. Investigating, the Fellowship enter the former shop of Zanig. Using stealth and subterfuge they explore the rooms and finally encounter a young boy named Declan holed up and hiding in one of the rooms. Formerly a drummer boy in the Yeomanry 3rd light archers, they learn the remains of his unit were put in the Green after battling the BlackRunes, South of Wayberry. The party realizes that one oft he main reasons the boy had survived was a wondrous item from his brother - a Periapt of wound closure - this allowed the boy to survive a number of deadly encounters.

Declan is a wealth of information on the Green and is most willing to go with the Fellowship if they are leaving the Green. Learning of their plans, Declan suggests some  underground and above ground routes to get to the arena -where prisoners and more are set upon by undead formerly for Wayberry aristocrats and possibly now for the BlackRunes.

Avoiding a number of groups of undead, the party then hears the sounds of battle off down a street. Declan implores the party to follow- but Doc and Cedric charge off to the sounds of battle. 

A mass of undead have cornered a group of humanoids, looks like 3 humans, (2 men and 1 woman) a kobold and another cloaked figure. 

Preparing, the Fellowship of RedWater attack the undead horde with surprise. A wall of fire appears

between the 5 humanoids and burning the horde of undead, Kantif, Doc and Cedric rush forward, their attacks cutting down skeletal and zombie dogs on chain leashes and the handler of one group. Gothi marks one of the undead horde, her arrows doing massive damage as they hit.

Lighting bolts from Graxusas carves a path through a row of undead. Then a winged shadowy female tries to charm Kantif but his elf blood helps him resist the charm. The battle is turning the wall of fire protects the group of 5 and kills many but then the party hears more creatures coming from down one street.

Then two of the 5 fall, and the shadowy floating female reaches out to Graxusas. The lizardman is unable to resist the necromantic energy and feels drained of energy! (DM: 3 levels drained, but they think his power and energy will return after a long rest.. he hopes!)

 

 

 

 

The battle continues next session... it is not looking too good for the Fellowship!

The Tower and the Controller

Kantif ponders, “Figuring out how to power this will be troublesome. How are we going to show it to Romack if we don’t have enough power to fly?”

Doc Holliday nods, "Lukkan belives us to have enough power to make it to Wayburry. I'll offer my power if we lose it before we arrive. We need Romack I think. His attack is possibly killing innocent folk and we need to end it fast. Perhaps we could lead a small elite force and take out key targets." Sigmund turns to Cedric. "Do you think you can raise the Bard's of Hell like we discussed before we leave?"

“I’m not sure, I’ve heard a bit about them, but I’d have to do some research and look into it” Cedric has a flashback.. he thinks to a previous life to a trio of mountains East of Enstad that the party had sailed by on the river - North of river, probably a days ride - which seems so long ago. The paladin is quite sure the Bard's of Hell are entombed there.

The party - Graxusas - sees a small 6" humanoid scaley figure darting behind books in the library. But decides not to follow-up on the creature as the party has priorities at this time.

The party rests, some doing research others like Doc ventures into the tomb his his ancestors. He discovers at the 'Y' intersection there may possibly be a secret door. His skills are not in the area so goes back to get Kantif for his roguish skills.

Kantif undergoes the ceremony of joining the Raven Queen. The 1/2 elf is now marked by the goddess. Using his skills the 2 determine there is complex set of 4 triangular blocks at the location that if pushed in the correct way, will open the door. After some testing and multiple blasts of electrical energy, they determine how to open. Both rogue and paladin have smoking and burnt clothing and hair in the end. A ramp heads down into darkness. 

Doc heads down and is enveloped and is walking towards a red glow, that slowly gets larger. It turns out this is a massive eye in a porcelain mask. the 1/2 orc realizes it is for a massive figure 100 feet high. Kantif follows and sees the same.

They are able to get by and come upon a tomb, investigating, Doc finally finds the armour of his ancestors. An heirloom of his orcsih heritage.

Back to the tower, the party makes ready to leave as a new flight of Overlord Romack's griffons arrive. The party decides to travel with the griffons, leaving Jawbone, Vencer and Kaleer at the tower, to research and discover more of the flying tower's secrets.

Wayberry is under siege. A truce is currently in effect, so no battle is ongoing when the Fellowship arrives flying through the air, seeing the glint and flicker of many numbers of campfires all around Wayberry.

The gnomes advise the party to be careful. They will meet the controller head of Romack's espionage forces.

The Controller is a tall over 6', woman who has blueish black skin, long pointed ears, long hair in a pony tail down her back. A massive wolf sits near her side, glowing yellow eyes, never leave the party, watching their every move. A massive 2-handed sword leans on the desk next to her.

The party comes in she is busy with stacks of papers and scroll tubes littering the 3 tables near her.  There are two guards behind the fellowship and the woman continues working on those papers, signing documents and scanning others and making notes in a small black leather tome.

As the party stands there she snaps her fingers and a small drake - with glittering green and gold skin flies out from a open tent flap at the back. Landing on the desk, it allows the woman to attach the scroll tube to al leather harness. With a wave of a hand, she dismissed the creature and it darts off zig-zag between the party members out the open tent door.

Then she goes back to work scanning and noting items into the small black tome. After a few minutes, Gothi and Doc start to speak, the guards will prod back with a spear and just shake his head then she sighs. Stretching and flexes shoulders and hands with some audible cracks.

 "So.. You are the crew that have found one of the fabled elf cloud towers.. And brought it to Overlord Romack." more a statement than a question. Discussion continue with the party about the flying tower and how if they want to keep the fine tower they will have to do something for Overlord Lord Romack. She does not believe the BlackRunes are true to their  word of a wanting peace.

To allow the Fellowship to keep the tower, she wants the Fellowship to find out what is going on in Wayberry are doing so a covert mission to enter Wayberry  find out what is going on and return this

information within the next four days. She provides them a rod that will allow passage through any holy shield - the best way in is through the Green as it does not seem to be well defended. Some healing potions and basic equipment top up the needs of the Fellowship,

The party prepares and heads out. A black leathered and cloaked human accompanies them to take them to the front-line and through the pickets the BlackRunes have set. Outside the walls of the city are trenches and bunkers circling the city. A great force of goblins, orcs, humans, and hobgoblins defend. along the Green there is a lighter force, this is where the Fellowship plan to enter undercover of night and subterfuge. Getting within 50 feet or so (#1 in photo) the party sees a force of goblins hobgoblins, a few BlackRunes are a picket defense of Wayberry (#2). The green glow of the holy shield around the undead infested area of Wayberry can be seen..

Demons and Griffon riders

 Doc Holliday sighs, "Seems we got lucky coming out here. My apologies that we have been focused on my business so much recently. I plan to pay you all back rightfully when that time does come." Advising the party of the message from his Grandmother on the siege of Wayberry.

Kantif asks, “So what will our plan be regarding the siege of Wayberry? Should we try assisting Romack's siege or wait until it’s over then ask to work for him?”

The party discusses a variety of options but does not come to a final consensus until they know more on what is going on. The party recovers and speaks further to the ghost of the elf girl monk, Sarrah. She seems to have an affinity to the 1/2 elf, Kantif and implores him to stay with her, but he decides to stay with the party. She seems interested at 1st with Kaleer, but he being a clone of a 1/2 elf, but not a true 1/2 elf. 

Graxusas, no longer has the symbol of the goddess and it appears on Kantif's forehead and his wounds now starts to regenerate instead of the lizardman. Leaving her alone in the monastery, she weeps, but the Fellowship promise to return and either put her soul to rest or rescue her.

Kantif decides to go back and do some treasure hunting in the room's sarcophagus. The party waits and some traps and treasure are recovered.

Exiting the Monastery, the party takes the switchback ledges down the side of the cliff. They return to where they had stabled the horses and find them long gone. ties broken most likely after investigating. The party realizes after some discussion, that the time outside the monastery had passed much faster than while they were inside. It seems that over 4 days had passed while they were in the complex for 4 hours.

Traveling back on foot to Doc's camp and Wayberry, the party keep an eye out. Then, Gothi sees far int

he distance a flight of griffon riders. Graxusas send off his owl familiar to try and get their attention. After some hooting and hollering, and cantrip booming the sounds louder.. the Griffon riders - 2 gnomes per griffon - circle the party and then land.

After some wary questioning, the party has been found by a flight of Overlord Romack's army. Doc and the Fellowship mention the Flying tower that may be of help to the Overlord's cause.

Katch, the larger sergeant of the flight, offers to escort the party - as they are not 100% sure of their story, sending the griffon riders back with word and for further discussion. 

Travelling back by foot, the party learns more of the siege which has decimated Wayberry. The Overlord's flying fortress/city was right above the city, with a host of magic - fire, lightning, cold and more turning large areas of the city into a desolate ruin.

That night, camp is set and the party rests. Discussion on how the war goes on takes up much of the campfire discussion. The Scarlet Brotherhood are mentioned working with the BlackRunes as well as evil forces from the North have pushed back Romack's forces. Part way through the night the noises are heard and then a

demonic forces attacks. It seems the forces of IUZ, are striking, being allies - of a sort - with the Black Runes. A massive creature what looks to be a horned devil -but the 2 paladins feel this is a demonic creature.. looms from one side while a small scaly creature attacks from the other.

The Fellowship are prepared and are able to do devastating attacks on the two creatures.

Back and forth the battles go, Gothi's bow and Jawbone attacks doing great damage while the blasts of Doc's guns echo around. Cedric is able to block many of the blows with his great defensive skills, until a devastating blow to Doc takes the gunslinger /paladin down. Kantiff uses his sneak attacks as well as monkish abilities to great effect, while Graxusas' spells are quite effective. Cedric has the killing blow on the powerful demon.. or devil?

Defeating the 2 creatures, Doc lays dead on the ground. Katch the gnome griffon rider lies unconscious as well. Gothi is able to use the skeletal hand of the saint to cast a revivify spell on Doc and he is alive, but unconscious. The unique item crumbles to dust after casting this spell.

Doc Holliday has a dream or vision of his goddess the Raven Queen where she does not accept him to her realm yet, it seems she still has work for the 1/2orc to do. The next day, a wagon of Romack's army arrives to take the party faster to their destination, the Doc Holliday camp.

Arriving at the camp, they get Doc's father into the care of Grandmother Holliday and then the party takes Katch the gnome to the tower, which is hidden under the shield. Calling to Lukkan the former archmage now only a journey level wizard. The wizard allows them in to the tower and tells the Fellowship of what his research had uncovered. He takes the party to the main control chamber. A secret trapdoor is there, to a circular room below, where there are six racks with shackles arranged around the room. It appears the tower is powered by life force. The demonic power that runs this tower is similar to the power that cast the great spell to gate all elves to the Bright desert. There is a black sphere in the middle of the room that drains the energy. Lukkan looks to be gaunt and extremely drained of power. It seems the elves of the tower also had a pact with demonic forces.

The Fellowship have choices to make..

The Black Wine Monastery

The RedWater Fellowship, having finished destroying the undead, they bind wounds and look to gather spoils.

Doc Holliday, reloads his pistol, "Keep your wits about you fellows. This place has me weary. Anyways we should be leaving Wayburry once we explore the Green to many people know us."

Cedric looks about, “I agree, once we start getting too well known, people may start coming to look for us.”

“Where did all these undead even come from? What kind of plague happened?” Kantif says, surprised from how many undead there were.

Graxusas can be barely understood being a wyvern says, "Onsssse were donsss everysssssing we needssss to do outsss here we cudsss hedsss backsss outsss towardsssss ensssssstad"

Gothi has a dream about being a dragonborn paladin named Arjhan and hopes to enjoy it again sometime...

Moving onwards, the party - with Graxusas still polymorphed into a wyvern - and decide to do some

scouting from on high.. Doc Holliday climbs on and the 2 swoop up into the air. Ahead are high cliffs with

a waterfall crashing down, probably over 100 feet up. It looks like the monastery was carved into the side of the cliffs, with 3 or 4 levels, and on top a large square building can be seen with high walls. A set of ramps zigzag up the side, wide enough for a wagon and horses.The various buildings are in disrepair, with buildings and areas have greenery growing on the ramps and more. Looks to be unused for many years. Many of the wooden ramps were falling apart, the bridges across the front of the misty waterfall looking treacherous.

Doc pulls out his elven spyglass. The wondrous item bringing the terrain into clear vision. No creatures or activity can be seen. Circling, the two scan down the main monastery. There is a large garden area with a large fountain - statue.

No life can be seen, dead vineyards spread out in all directions, the vines and plans all dead and black.

With a final circle, the two heroes fly back and inform the party. Meanwhile, Gothi, using her ranger skills, has found tracks of 4-6 riders that head towards the monastery.

Deciding to take the horses part way, up the Fellowship head up the ramps. Passing a number of ramshackle buildings, they decide to tie up the horses and move onwards. Find a larger building entrance, this one looked to be able to take wagons in. A ramp cut into the rock looked to lead upwards into the dark.

The doors, one hanging off one hinge and the other smashed inwards by brute force. An arrow is in the lintle above the doorway, shot from further sleuthing most likely further in. Perhaps something smashed the door in and one of the riders fired the arrow. Doc realizes the long arrow has his Father's mark on it..

Finding some old crates and tools, (Doc takes some of the tools) a single bottle of wine is found. Has the Black Wine Monastery symbol a sunburst with bunches of grapes and the wording: Silasin. Those whom could read Evlish, know this means "Black" or "Dark". Thinking back, Doc Holliday recalls the grapes in the region make a very dark purple to back wine and that was why - it is said - the monastery name came into use....

Strange sounds, bells ringing, and lights can be seen off in the dark. Doors slam.. strange music..

Traveling up the party comes out into the courtyard gardens of the monastery at the top of the cliffs.

Three bells can be heard to ring

A large statue 1/2 destroyed looked to be the elvish goddess Tilissa - goddess of Light. The fountain is long dry. The party searches around and finds the long grass in the area is razor sharp. Some is gathered up. Continuing to follow the tracks, of what they think are Doc's father and the husband of Ophelia Crakin, the party enters the monastery.

Searching through a variety of rooms the strange sounds continue, doors slam, a head can be seen peek out and disappear.

The party comes to a assistant to the Abbot, and searching further come upon grim findings. A room filled with torture equipment, cells, stains of blood and more.

The Fellowship see a head appear far behind in the dark, a bolt flies from Kantif's crossbow and hits, a female voice cries out. Graxusas steps into mist and appears beside the robed figure. Stepping back the door closes. The female elf - a spirit possibly - warns the lizardman of the creature that haunts the place, at 1 bell it will come for all, then she touches his forehead and a glyph appears there and then she is

gone.

Two bells can be heard to ring

The party finds a way down into the catacombs under the monastery. Hundreds of skulls line the walls, Coffins and tombs are set near and go off into the dark.

The party continues onwards following the tracks. They reach a point where walls have caved in a narrow crack - one person at a time can pass - goes into darkness. The party continues forward.

One bell can be heard to ring

Then a massive beastly growling and shuffling can be heard from behind as the party reaches a large room. Once probably a ceremony chamber, now a flow of water cuts through the room, a large table or tomb is in centre, with a humanoid skeleton on top. At the far end, the robed elvish woman looks to be crouching over a body on the ground.

The party quickly tries to disperse into the room and prepare for the crashing and growling coming from behind. some are able to react more quickly and prepare, others are slower. Then battle ensues as a 15' tall jet black beast, with massive claws - like short-swords - bursts into the room. A volley of attacks from the party hits the beast, barely slowing it down.

JawBone, Gothi's monstrous mount jumps across the streams to the centre and at that moment the skeleton rises and attacks.

Kantif gets multiple critical hits. The attacks of all the party do incredible damage.

The beast is incredibly strong, its swings knocking

back party members easily. Critical hits seem to all focus on one of the creatures legs, making it very difficult for it to move, but in the end that did not slow it down, as it had the ability to step through the shadows. Swinging mighty blows, multiple party members go down - Gothi, Vencer and Kaleer - but in the end the party defeats the creature.

Graxusas, is able to ensure Gothi and Vencer don't die. At first Kantiff did not seem to care if his clone - Kaleer - lived, but the party decides to save him.Although Graxusas did not notice, the glyph on his forehead was glowing and he had been slowly regenerating.

The robed woman looks to be administering to Doc's Father, seems to be in a coma. A priest's skills will be needed for him to recover.

Perhaps the curse of the Black wine Monastery is now set to rest...

As Doc Holliday cradles his father's head and breathes a sigh of relief..

"Sigmund!" Grandma Holliday's voice sounds in his mind, "Wayberry is under siege!" Doc looks about at his friends, his jaw dropping.. "A cloud castle.. or fortress in the sky is attacking!"

OverLord Romack's legions had engaged the BlackRunes and Iuz's forces at Wayberry...

The Bazarr and Tidings of 2 Fathers of the Red Water Fellowship

The RedWater Fellowship stand once again in the bazaar near Noose's guild of thieves.

As some of the party start looking about talking with merchants, Kantif goes up to Hagrahoc once he’s alone. “Since we finished this mission successfully, I’d like to discuss what you had in mind with finding Advull (Kantif’s father).”

The large dragonborn looks down at the 1/2 elf with a toothy grin. He asks the rogue/monk for some treasure and would supply the details,

"I think we should get clean before we take Ms.Crakin home, hate to smell up the place," D

oc says as he tries to wipe grime off himself. The party are all covered in sewage so head off to a side cavern where they find a small natural stream and waterfall. There the heroes clean up. Gothi's pet dinosaur (?) Qtyp - seems to have become a scavenger and goes out looking at night or when the party rests. Finds a broken spear, but the spear head seems to be majicked.. Vencer is able to detect the magical aura on a number of spoils of battle the party had gathered and then with Graxusas spell-use able to determine what they are. Entering the bazaar, the party find some unique items barters with a number of strange merchants and even find a gate to another plane..(?) Cedric can feel the souls or spirits of a large host from a black gate or door. Declining to pass through even though he felt a pull from the portal.

Doc Holliday gets some nice clothes, while others acquire some new items. The party then encounter a strange tiefling.. Thurr Tynne (DM: pronounced "13". This merchant the players had encountered before - Laughing Moons campaign )

A number of the party acquire the green flaming red pickles and enjoy their effects. Graxusas the rotund sorcerer becomes quite athletic. Gothi cooks one, and gets thrown around like a rag-doll. Kantif eats one and a duplicate/clone of Kantif appears!  After some discussion and persuasion, Clone - Kantif-2 decides to stay with the group now going under the name Kaleer.

Meeting up with Noose - guild-master of the Scarlet Spider Syndicate, a pleasant meal and drinks are had.The Master is pleased with the outcome and the removal of the rat cult. His plans to expand further under the city could now continue.

He agrees to the provide the guide to the Green where the heroes can continue their quests to find Thograa as well as the member of Doc's tribe. The party decides to take Ms. Crakin back to the Crakin estate first, and then go to the Green. Noose tells Hagrahoc he will accompany the heroes to the Green. The dragonborn does NOT seem to be happy about this.

Kantif learns his father was working for the Black Runes.. possibly an assassin or a scout or undercover espionage over a month ago in Wayberry early on in the invasion. He may be moved on West or Southwest if still with the BlackRunes. It seems he reports - most likely - to the Inquisitor Darakus that rules the local area.. which the party had met previously.

Leaving town, getting some gear and their horses, they leave town for the Crakin estate. They arrive at the estate, under guard by some Crakin escorts. Meeting some of his childhood and teen years enemies: Dunbirk, Tyler and Kristin. and the patriarch of the Crakins, Ophelia Crakin.

After some tough and go negotiations, Doc and the fellowship learn that Doc's father and Ophelia's husband went out to together and she holds a extreme grudge.. as her husband perished. This was to find the plague that was affecting the Duress estate. So it seems Doc's father is held in a church or monastery to the North, once a rival winemaker as well.

Doc had a deep urge to go find and hopefully save his father so that was the next step after the party votes.

Traveling the party crosses a massive canyon with a long rope and wood bridge. The horses get restless and then skeletal hands burst out of the ground, pulling a horse down and the party is attacked by undead. After an eventful battle, the undead defeated, the Fellowship bind wounds and take a breath.

Next time, the old monastery..

Rest, treasure and an interesting turn of Events

 As the RedWater Fellowship rest and recuperate, they search for treasure and wake the remaining skaven. It did not seem the ratman spoke common so they set a guard on him and started searching further.

Kantif turns to Doc, upset from the recent events. “You were too reckless in that fight. We almost lost you and we almost died trying to save you too. You have to be more careful next time.” Doc lays in a pool of his own blood heaving and smiling "My time came for me, that rat had to die and I would have gone down either way. I have accepted my fate, it's coming sooner rather than later I know that. All of us aren't going to make it through this war." 

Using the golden scarab to find treasure, it scuttled into a crack in the wall. Kantif investigates and is able to find a secret door. After dealing with locks and traps, they are able to enter the small room.


 What looks to be a bedroom is quite well decorated, there are three tapestries, show the 3 Elvish brothers continuing their quest.
One tapestry shows the second brother defeated by a large 3-headed scaly creature. Another tapestry details the third brother was falls to a host of infernal minions. The 3rd tapestry shows the last of the four brothers walking up a long path to black castle with two towers, with a sea of bones surrounding. The Fellowship decide to take the 3

tapestries for future study and possibly selling or display in the flying tower.
Some interesting items are found, and the Fellowship decide to take a rest and recover as all are tired and wounded.
The 2 captives recover and speak with the party.   
One is named Vencer, whom is a wizard and had been captured by the skaven. The other.. a young woman named Penelope Crakin, daughter of one of the three Crakin brothers Doc Holliday knew

well and the party had met outside the Duress estate. (DM: see blog entry: Reunions, old friends and enemies) She is Tyler Crakin's daughter.
 

Doc Holliday and the rest of the party look at each over in shock and there are many plans forming as the Crakin clan are merchant opponents and enemies as of late.. There looked to be some possible evidence that Doc's father was being held by the Crakin clan. The young woman does not seem to recognize Doc or the name of Holliday, and seems oblivious to the war between Duress and Crakin.

The prisoner is interrogated and they determine the rat warrens where the creatures lived. The party lets the skaven leave as it had fulfilled the bargain to point out the way out and the rat warrens. Searching they find some more treasure amongst the rooms. They are able to find some of Vencer's gear as well as Penelope's. The party decides it is prudent to get Penelope back to the Crakin estate, thinking there may be an option to negotiate.
Leaving the former rooms of the Rat god, they encounter what seems to be traps that would have hindered any coming into the rooms. Passing those, the party come across a number of false doors, and old storage rooms. These lead out to a different secret door entrance into the sewer near the underground bazaar. Hagrahoc, is quite certain these new ways into the complex will be very useful

to the thieves guild.. his grin is toothy and wide.
 
(DM: a short session this time due to technical difficulties)

Temple of the Galixtik the Spiny Rat God

Our Heroes barter with the strange gnome tinker whom paddles with sewers under Wayberry. The party trade for a number of interesting items. Eli, seems to have minimal to no interest in gold.. mumbling in his high-pitch voice "Got lot's of that!"
He is quite interested in a number of the monstrous body parts and fluids the party has acquired, as well as magic items they have. Mumbling and exclaiming as Gothi pulls out giant spider eyes and then Doc Holliday shows the gnome: remorhaz blood and fins.
He shows the party how to use a few of the seemingly technology and magic fused devices, they decide to trade for.

Doctor Holliday, offers the gnome artificer a welcome at his family tribe stronghold, hoping the small gnome - he is just over 2' tall - a job and describes the wondrous flying tower. Eli's eyes light up at this and the RedWater Fellowship think they may have another joining the ranks of the ragtag crew..

Taking their leave, the party moves off into the gloom and starts exploring more towards the thrumming and murmuring sounds of the rat god cult to Galixtik. The sewers continue, the putrid smell no better here than before. Tracking the skaven, they are able to determine the creature has taken a tunnel where the flow waterfalls down into the gloom. Successfully traversing the slippery and dangerous space, the party moves on. Passing a large flow whirlpooling down a drain, the murmuring and thrumming is getting louder as they reach another waterfall of

sewage coming down into the passage.. Doc Holliday and Gothi climb up - trying to stay dry but are soon covered in filth - to a large grate where the flow of sewage pours down.
A massive room comes into view as the murmuring as now chanting in a strange squeaking tongue that ends in this heavy thrum.
A shiver runs up heroes' spines as they gaze into a large chamber. A strange glow that lights up a vast room does not seem to emanate from any one point. There are 6 massive pillars, 3 on each side. Dominating the room is a shimmering yellow 1/2 translucent (one can see through it) giant statue on a steep set of stairs at the far end - now you know it is an idol to the Spiny Rat God, Galixtik. Standing over 70  feet high, the lifelike statue hunches over a group of worshippers.
A swirling amber and green putrid fluid pours out from the

chest, oozing down the steps over 4 bound humanoid captives, tied down to shadowy black low tables struggling in their bonds. The ooze flows over them and then into many holes in the steps. This seems to then flow into the sewer.  A putrid and slow moving flow of sewage water flows from under the stairs and the idol, in a channel on each side of the room through each of the 6 pillars. It ends in a whirlpool in a central pool that the party assume further down to whence they came.
There are a probably 20 to 30 of the Rat like humanoids - skaven - in the room. Most seem to be kneeling or crouched in worship, swaying to the music and a strangely soothing voice..
The party note at the massive clawed feet of the idol, the female quarry! One of 2 skaven they have been hunting. She slowly dances facing out to the group as if in a trance, singing in a very soothing voice that seems to affect the rats..

The party prepares, and unleashes a mass of attacks on the skaven. Shots ring out, arrows fly, a Silence spell nullifies the female skaven. Her singing stopping seems to lessen the powers of the rats. Then a web spell holds her in place from Graxusas. The shot and blows of Doc Holliday pierce and cut down many, as he jumps forward into the thick of the rats prostrated on the floor with masses of rats at their feet. Cedric attacks a massive hulking rat that had been drinking from the sewer as well as skaven that are in full platemail, shield and sword. Kantif uses his sneak attack to deadly affect, Gothi, walking up the side of the nearest large pillar, shoots her bow hitting many of the rodent humanoids.
With surprise over, the battle is engaged. The massive hulking skaven attack and smite down on to paladin Cedric. Doc Holliday now fully surrounded is swarmed by masses of rats and skaven trying to bear the determined 1/2 orc to the ground.
Hargrahoc, is able to sneak attack as well, using his eldritch knight skills to good effect, as does Gothi's warlock henchman, Asagron, eldritch blasts hitting many skaven while the rangers mount, JawBone, tears into masses of the swarming rats.
The battle continues until the ancient priest appears and it looks bad for the RedWater Fellowship.
Then tragedy.. Doc Holliday falls to the ground a deathly pallor to his already greyish skin. Having already used his orcish endurance to battle back, the paladin lies dead.
The party is able to get a revivification potion to bring back Doc Holliday and the tide turns.. just in time. Seeing the battle turning, the high priest steps through the gate to the Shadowfell where the putrid essence is pouring forth from.
Standing over the masses of dead rats and skaven, the party takes a breath and binds wounds and

wipes brows covered in sweat and blood.
Realizing this is the location to do the ceremony to stop the rat gods coming, the 2 paladins work together to allowing Doc Holliday to pray and reach out to the Raven Queen to power the ceremony.

 For a moment, Doc Holliday sees a shadowy castle and a figure at a
window, as the figure walks by it briefly looks out at the paladin, then turns and walks out of view.
Cedric, feels as if a wave of fate washed over him, seeing his goddess Istus. As she fades from view,  Cedric sees a battlefield. It looks to have been a pyrrhic victory between a host of dwarves - dark skin even black - and a smaller contingent of humans and elves. Cedric feels as if he is floating above and sees a young soldier with heraldry of 2 tall trees wrapping around a large sword dripping with green blood.
The young soldier, multiple arrows in his back oozing blood looks up and Cedric is shocked to see the dying soldier seems to see the paladin.
One blood covered hand raises as the soldier says.. "Santislar".. then the soldier's hand drops the eyes glaze over and life fades.. and Cedric is once again standing in the temple to the former Rat god..



The Skaven and masses of rats are dead or scattered, except 1 skaven which slept through the whole battle courtesy of a sleep bolt from Kantif.  Of the four captives, two are dead from a last blast of a spell from the old priest skaven, but the party rescued two, still unconscious, but alive.