Escape from the Green

Date: Month: Coldeven (Common | Snowflowers: Elvish) GodsDay,11th

 The RedWater Fellowship have a decision to make. 3 humanoids - a human, dwarf and orc - are to be sent over in a cage to the waiting undead that are milling around in the Deathgrounds. Doc Holliday hopes to save them, amongst the party whom don't want to alert the BlackRunes to them. The bleachers and seats are probably 1/2 full of BlackRunes,

Wayberry merchants and aristocrats. With a start, they also see the Inquisitor Darakus (DM: blogpost) in the seats conversing with a dwarf. His two 'servants' with him.

 After some debate, the party decides to do it. Graxusas sends his owl familiar up to the rooftops to watch, and the lizardman sorcerer watches the action. Going to the 2nd floor in the end, as the 1st floor is filled with debris and broken timbers and refuse. A group of robed figures - skeletal features visible for a moment and the chant or tone they call out and the Green shield opens for a moment. The crane swings over the cage, and the 3 humanoids tumble out into a swarm of undead. Doc takes out some planks over a window, and tosses a rope and calls out - with a thaumaturgy enhancement from Graxusas - "Run for it!" The 3 figures nearly surrounded start running towards the safety.

 Gothi fires her longbow, expertly taking out a zombie and a skeleton that were advancing on the trio of prisoners. Kantif fires his shortbow to great effect, his sneak attack taking out a zombie. Graxusas notes THE dwarf wizard (was speaking to the inquisitor) they had met in Enstad in the stands and realizes he is about to cast a fireball. Using his sorcery skills he counters the spell. The BlackRune wizard smiles.. the party realizes he could have countered the counter.. but did not. With a crack of a musket shot, Doc Holliday, takes aim and shoots one of the robed figures chanting to hold open the shield. The dead-eye shot knocks the robed creature over and the shield opening starts to close. Meanwhile just before it closed, 4 ballista bolts flew through the hold and hit some of the party. Kantiff is able to deflect some of the damage from one.

 The party sees the dwarf wizard jumps down and stands with the other 3 robed figures, each are an underdark lizard folk with facepaint of a skull. They look to be raising hands and chanting once again to re-open the shield. Meanwhile the party continues to blast with magic - fireball and more, arrows, the undead advancing on the prisoners. The party is able to recover one human, the 1/2 orc is overwhelmed by undead, but they are able to save the dwarf as well, Cedric reaching down to easily pull the battered man to safety.

 Making their retreat, the Fellowship realize that the BlackRune dwarf wizard may have recognized some of them. Parts of the building collapse around them as it seems multiple spells blast the apartment building, coming down in a huge cloud of dust and debris. Dusting themselves off and bandaging minor wounds the heroes vacate the area, looking for a safe haven in the undead infested city streets of the Green. 

As the party sneaks through the streets of the Green, Kantif strikes up a conversation with Thogra. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. What kind of rogue are you? I’m a bit of a swashbuckler.”
Thogra grins toothily at Kantif. "My skills are pretty standard, 2nd storey stuff, I never had the chance to specialize too much. Know a bit about poisons, and of course my skills to my god take up a lot of my time."
He pats the large bag at his side that holds the bones of "Fluffy". [Once the party went stealth, the 1/2 orc told Fluffy to sleep and turned into the pile of bones]
He turns back to Kantif, "you seem to have more talents than just a swashbuckler.." Nodding to the blood stained wraps on Kantif's hands.
Kantif inspects his blood stained wraps, flexing his hands as he nods to Thogra. “Indeed. I’ve been training to become a ninja and use my fists and my body’s ki in combat. In fact, you should feel more quiet than usual since I imbued everyone here with some of my ki. There’s quite a few innate abilities in one’s body that most people have yet to gain control over. I plan to gain more control over these innate abilities as we continue adventuring.”

 Carefully picking a way through the ruins, the party notes an ancient man working in a cemetary. Approaching the elder, they have a dialogue, it seems the cemetary is a garden where he grows a number of different vegetables, herbs, spices and fruits. The party notes the old man's eyes are full black no white. At first there is some concern there was this was the figure from the nightmares.. but then the heroes realize, not. The party barters, wine for the delectable tea, spice, and sugary berries. Kantif looking for poison, is advised on a process for this, the elder calling him an "assassin". The old man seems to be able to see into people's souls or spirits.. and have great insight into each of the group.

 Using a variety of skills, the party is able to find a secluded building - a broken down house - to rest in, after dodging and skillfully avoiding roving packs of zombies and other undead. Taking a short rest, near six bells. They are near the one exit that Declan and others in the Green have advised may be a way to exit. A well, that connects to the river and then to the sewers in the main part of Wayberry. Thogra uses his clerical powers to heal the party, the heroes still unsure on whom the 1/2 orc rogue/cleric worships. the 2 paladins determine it seems possibly the jovial 1/2 orc is a worshiper of some god who's realm is guardian of.. unknown, scorpions and snakes seem to be relevant to him as well. The dwarf and human, are thankful, but decide to head towards Skully town and don't want to try and break out of the Green.

The party then strikes out and heads to this well. The local rumours are that no undead enter the area.. is there something in the well? Reaching the plaza, they tie a rope and climb down into the well. Gothi doing a backflip, slips and falls into the water. Graxusas, able to breathe underwater, confirms there are a few air pockets to the zone of where the green shield is, and letting the party use his ring of water breathing, as well as holding breath, are able to pass it back and forth and finally cross through the holy shield, and are once again in the city of Wayberry in the sewers.

The Fellowship make it through the sewers, and finally exit into a narrow street. The party meets a group of 3 soldiers, drunk. At first they seem to be a patrol, but then the party realize these may be not on duty. With some careful deception, and a few bottles of wine, they are able to pass on. The party then note a shadowy figure going into a shop a Rankin's Meat and Cheese shop. Using magic, and then thieve's cant they try to make contact with the figure but there is no reply. Breaking into the building, Kantif and Doc search. Then a blade appears at Doc's throat. A man behind him seems upset at the intrusion. After a scuffle, and then some very well timed sorcery command spells by Graxusas, they turn the table on this rogue and take him prisoner. It seems after some interrogation, that his name is Isen. He is a member of the Scarlet Spider Syndicate (which seems to owe a favour to the group)! As well, he has heard of this group. They are called The Rat Catchers in Wayberry. Doc leaves some gold for the damage to the Meat and Cheese shop.

Isen agrees to guide the party to the headquarters of the GreySkulls - a destroyed cathedral in the dock district. Some of the party those that don't have a 2nd set of clothes, decide to go to a bath house - suggested by Isen as he holds his nose. A tailors was put up as an option for those that need clothes, but of course this would be a break-in and the two paladins - Cedric and Doc - are against this. 

There are now about 4 days left in the Peace treaty.

As some of the party waits while others go to the bathhouse, Gothi hears a familiar bark & howl from towards the dock.. JawBone!?

Dreams and the Colosseum

[ DM: the RedWater Fellowship go up a level and gain new abilities and spells]

 Date: Month: Coldeven (Common) Moonday,10th [Snowflowers: Elvish]

 The heroes rest and search the warehouse hideout further. Kantif and Graxusas do some investigation and with the sorcerer's detect magic cast search the decrepit and ransacked warehouse rooms. The heroes note a ward around Thogra's room -seemingly divine. the 2 find a flagstone that holds some treasure of worth and then a strange illusion at the base of a pillar in one of the large rooms which defies their attempts to open or dispel.

After this searching, the party then rests. In the Green it seems though that it is difficult for any to rest here, all the fellowship experience nightmares..

Cedric: since in the Green a nagging.. Itch or whisper continues to just be beyond your awareness.  the spirits of the dead haunt your dreams.. As if a procession of everyone hear that has died..  You see a young woman with long blonde hair in a flowing gown. You know her! She smiles at you as she walks amongst the procession of dead that walk thru your mind..

a girlfriend, close friend, a sister..?? You cannot remember!

The scene changes.. She walks with you as you stroll down a lane there are people everywhere.. Live and well. the Spring flowers and trees are in bloom, smiling she looks about and races off into a small park. You chase after laughing.. As you run.. You see the people smile and laughing enjoying the park change.. Skin starts to peel back.. Bone shows, eyeballs wither away into empty sockets.. Flesh is eaten away by maggots and slithering dark creatures you cannot bear to look at. They still seem not to notice as you recoil from them. The girl laughs still racing ahead of you.. There is a bridge over a small stream. She stands on the railing and looks back at you laughing. All around you now the people are either crumbling to dust or walking skeletal or dead flesh walking.. A shadowy creatures stands at the far end of the bridge. Cloaked and hooded.  She does not see it.. She laughs once more and walks the railing teetering left and right with her arms out to balance. With a motion of a long clawed hand, a pulse of force energy hits the bridge.. And the girl slips and falls off the railing.. You run to the railing and look over into an abyss of darkness. The laughter continues for a moment, you look to the far end of the bridge the cloaked figure seems to smile even though you cannot see its features.. The cloaked figure turns to you then and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know you.. It will have you, even.. your past life.. Don't look into its eyes.. as you awake with a start, covered in sweat.

 

Graxusas - you see a young man - looks to be a 1/2 elf - in the shirt and cloak of the famous circus you ran, he asks you a question, and with a nod and grin he races away. You are not sure, but think this may have been one of the staff to assist with tent setup, packing and unpacking the wagons - a roadie - hmm.. there was a family of 1/2 elves in the troupe.. Yes! the Tormins. You see him and his brother and mother laughing as they setup a tent, working away happily. You look forward to the take in coin tonight, both from the people coming to see the show and the marks unaware they will be fleeced. Your grin widens at the thought..

The scene changes.. You see your circus being attacked by Black Rune forces and all the people being put in slave collars, those that did not die to the blades of the dwarves. As you stand there, they file passed, each one looking at you with pleading eyes and words to save them, free them.. You laugh and a Black rune dwarf standing next to you grins and counts large gold coins into your hand.

As you look towards the file of new slaves, you see your circus wagons burning.. Your friends dying.. And in the background.. A cloaked figure stands. One clawed hand grasping the throat of one of your dear friends.. The cloaked figure turns its head to you then and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. Don't look into its eyes.. You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare..

 

Kantif: As you sleep, at first, it is the times with your family, good times, cherished and with your loving mother and brother and sister.

The scene changes. You find yourself back with your old unit in the Black runes in Fax. You enter a small finishing village. The other BR troops lay about killing those whom resist and taking slaves. You try and covertly help a small hobbit boy, hiding him in some hay behind a stack of wood in a barn. But the other BRs are very skilled at finding any hiding from the slave collar. And the boy is taken and joins the slaves, crying.

The scene changes and you see your father.. The shadow assassin. He stands before a tall cloaked figure nodding and then bows. Turning towards you he grins and winks and steps into some shadows and fades away.

The scene changes and you see a prince or duke playing with his family, holding a young girl in his arms. Then a blade appears in the prince's throat. Gagging blood, he stumbles and the child falls from his arms with a cry. There stands your father wiping the long wicked blade on the cloak of the fallen prince. Your father looks to you with another smile and winks again as he turns to the family. Behind, you see the cloaked figure again, then it turns its head towards you and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. It will be able to control you like it does your father…? Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare.. Breathing heavily..

 

Doc Holliday: you sleep, you have not slept this well in many a moon. As you sleep you dream and figures are approaching you.. It is as if you see your self multiple times. Then you realize it is you each one is you. And each one is you at the moment you died. Your eyes blur with tears for a moment and then you see Her. And for a long moment, all the pain washes away as if in a waterfall. It is Her. The Raven Queen. Ravens flitter and fly about her. She seems to be walking away from you towards a shadowy realm, but you can see that mask, that beautiful mask.. All is.. Perfect as she glances back that one time about to look at you?

Then all goes wrong.. The ravens die.. Flesh peeling away, feathers falling to dust, the gentle familiar cawing you enjoy turning to whispers and cackles and gurgles. She turns to face you and it is not Her.. It is a cloaked figure and kneeling before it is your grandfather one large clawed hand comes down to encompass his head. And then the cloaked figure looks up to you.. you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. It will know your whole tribe…it will find them.. None of the Hollidays will ever see the Raven Queen.. Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the nightmare.. Looking about wildly for a moment..

 

Gothi: you sleep.. At your feet is Jawbone, keeping you safe. You see your kin.. You feel the connection to them all through the crystal gem. It has been so long.. years, decades.. centuries..? Since you felt this.. Right. You join with your brethren to the link that connects you all and it is.. Right. In your dream you feel the pulse of the gem in your body and breathe a long sigh content..

The scene changes and you see the dragon.. Trapped under the ice at the top of the mountain lake. Why.. Do you feel you have a connection to this dragon?

The scene changes again No.. Something is wrong.. You see one of your kin - a young man - being captured by black Runes in Enstad. No longer burning.. Burnt trees and destruction everywhere. The young man is in a slaves collar and led to a tall cloaked figure. The cloaked figure reaches out to the boy, it's long claws digging in as the boy cries out. You know what it digs for.. The boys slumps to the ground as the cloaked figure's head turns to you, one clawed hand holding a dripping crystal..  you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know you.. It will be able to find you.. it will find all your kind.. Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare.. Safe.. For now..

 

 All the heroes wake-up at the same time.. each covered in sweat and glancing about. Troubled, most take some

time and move off on their own. Gothi, she needed fresh air - as fresh as it can be in the Green - and headed up top. Creeping carefully amongst the ruins of the mansion, the ranger spies some skeletal figures wandering the grounds of the mansion. Gritting her teeth in anger, she fires off arrows at the undead. At first they are cut down, but then more appear and then more. And then a large lumbering creature starts to push through the group towards the ranger and she realizes it is time to flee. Down into the hideout she runs. The party, meanwhile had time to prepare
for the onslaught. 

The foremost undead looks to be a combination of many humanoids all mashed together. Heads,arms and legs stitched seem to make its massive frame. The party using some of their new abilities and spells are able to defeat the monstrous creature and a horde of smaller skeletons and zombies

Resting a little, Graxusas, decides to smash the giant's hammer on the illusion at the base of the pillar. This does not have the affect that he wanted as the ceiling started to cave-in! Just as he was leaving, he saw the illusion had fallen and a set of stairs going down were visible amongst the falling timbers and blocks of stone..

The party then moves out. Thogra gathers the bones of Fluffy, and puts them in a bag that would not be able to hold that much size and weight. Heading towards the Colosseum, Rigo, the guard of the kobold cleric to Istus - Skrit - is reluctant to come and takes his leave to head to Skully town, with Skrit having decided to join Cedric in the paladin's quest.

Using Graxusas' well as the find the path ability of Kantif's monkish skills, the party is able to skillfully cross a large part of the Green, avoiding wandering undead. 

Coming up to the area of the Colosseum, the Fellowship see what looks to be a large building, three stories high with balconies. Declan advises these used to be apartments, but are now boarded up, the other side of the buildings is the actual amphitheatre.  

Using a variety of skills the party scales the side of the apartment building and breaks in to the rooms overlooking the amphitheatre. A large clear area on this side of the river had a variety of undead milling about.. on the opposite side of the river large sets of seats / bleachers were setup, where it looks like Black Rune dwarves, and other Wayberrians sat in anticipation of the upcoming events. A large crane with a cage that would hold 3 or 4 humanoid sized creatures looks to be able to swing over from the other side of the river to deposit them for battle. Declan shakes his head.. 

"No one usually survives the Deathground" The boys sighs. 

The Fellowship relized they would need to go into Wayberry - perhaps a prison break to find whom they searched for.

Next time.. espionage in Wayberry..

 

Fluffy!

 When we last left our heroes of the RedWater Fellowship...

A heated battle was ongoing with a varied group of undead creatures whom had cornered a group of humanoids. Some now had fallen, the final few were now fighting a battle of dead and dying comrades. The Fellowship was in dire straits as well, Many injured, as well the sorcerer Graxusas had lost much to

a energy draining kiss from a female spectre or shade.

Kantiff looks about standing over a heap of bones and freshly undead dead.. "I can hear more zombies coming. We may need to get out of here!" Saying this the shadowy monk fades into the shadows and starts to search for his enchanted dagger. 

Gothi, just walking down the side of the small house, jumps lightly to the ground and nocks an arrow. "I wish JawBone was here..." She murmurs as she fires multiple arrows into undead in battle with Cedric, Doc and Graxusas.

Doc Holliday yells out, "We have to get out of here!", wiping blood from a gash on his forehead.

As the party prepares to disengage, a horde of zombies and skeletal humans pour into the intersection

they look to be running in front of a massive fell beast. The skeletal three-headed monstrosity pulls a large wagon. With a roar from one of the heads, a 2nd head whips down to bite a skeletal archer's head right off that was preparing to attack the Fellowship. With the flick of a whip, the tall humanoid in hooded cloak stands at the front of the wagon, whipping the zombies and skeletons. Seeming to be herding the undead creatures, as well, the 3 headed.. hydra(?) The Fellowship at first thought the cause was lost to save the small group of humans and kobold and immediate flight was the next step. The creature is covered in blood and gore, it lumbers along pulling the old wagon which has the name Crakin Wine Estate visible through the grime and dust

Then.. Kantif's eagle eye noted something strange.. the cloaked figure was getting the bone hydra to attack the undead and were not bearing down on the Fellowship or the pinned down group. The figure's hood flew off and there standing at the front of the wagon was Thogra!

With a cheer from the Fellowship, the heroes re-doubled their efforts and brought the attack to undead.

At one point the bone hydra loses a head to an attack from a large zombie. At that point, you hear a cry of rage from Thogra.. "Fluuuufffy!" The next moment, the large ogre zombie, is attacked by the 2 remaining heads of "Fluffy"(?) as well as by Thogra and goes down with a groan and moan.

Even though many of the zombies stood up again and joined the attack, between the still-going wall of fire, the attacks Fellowship and finally the Bone Hydra, the undead are destroyed.

Thogra looks over to the party with a big toothy-tusk grin. "By the Wizard's manse.. what are you doing here!?" He hugs each of the Fellowship and after some healing of the now three humanoids, a kobold and a human. Whom seems to be the kobold's assistant or bodyguard. The kobold is a priest of Istus, whom gets into deep conversations with Cedric quite quickly.

Thogra advises the party of the current status of the Green.. 

"Skully Town. This is a stronghold of live humanoids whom scratch and claw out an existence in the Green. humans, dwarves (not BR), gnomes, 1/2lings, goblins, kobolds, hobgoblins, lizard folk, orcs, 1 giant, I hear too.., some ogres and gnolls, etc. Ruled over by an Ogre magi - Arch-Duke Sorbo. supposedly a cruel bastard...

2nd, is the horde of undead. Most of this is mindless masses of zombies, skeletons, ghouls, shades and more. But there is another force at work here as many times these mindless undead seem to have purpose in their attacks on Skully Town and other areas. The rumours are it could be a lich, vampire, ghost... who knows??" Thogra helps load wounded party members as well as the only 2 whom survived.. the kobold and a human named Pedrigo, "Jus' call me "Rigo" a gaunt tall human male in a breastplate, carrying a two-hander and large crossbow, he has one ear missing as well as multiple scars all over his arms and hands.

While Thogra tells the party of the current status, with some remarks thrown in by Rigo on Skully town as well, the 1/2 orc drives the wagon pulled by 'Fluffy' to his 'hideout'. "I found a good place to hide in here", the rogue grins toothily. An estate is reached, the mansion is mostly burned to the ground, a few charred 2nd and 3rd floors still stand. As Thogra pulls the wagon up into what was probably the foyer of a very fine mansion, he jumps off. Both of the two heads of Fluffy turn to him and nuzzle his chest. Thogra chuckles and scratches the skeletal heads behind a horn. "Sorry girl.. I wish I could help you more.." sighing, "Go to sleep, Fluffy." and with a clatter of bones, the monstrosity collapses into a pile of bones on the floor. 

Thogra leads the party over to a secret trapdoor, disarming a few traps on it. Leading the party down a ramp, they enter what was once a large cellar that had a warehouse connected to it. Once the mansion was the home to a merchant of fine paper, vellum and scrolls.

The party rests while Graxusas uses his newly discovered powers to identify a number of items. The party splits of treasure and gets a good rest. At the end of a long rest, Graxusas, feels refreshed the draining power of the spectral woman no longer affecting the lizard (DM: all levels recovered).

What next for the Heroes of the RedWater Fellowship?

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...