Battle Maps - DragonKeep

 

DragonKeep Mine areas:

The Marshall lounging at his table..

Overhead views

Battles and Negotiations

 

Battles continue in the mines at DragonKeep. 

Skrit summons the powers of his goddess Istus, blasting the serpent with a guiding bolt. Gets a critical hit. in the scaley creature's mouth. It seems shaken by this and looks vulnerable to attacks. [DM: all get advantage]

Irakul, the echoknight does take this advantage, his echo moves up next to one of the trogs stuck in the webs and multiple chops with the Giant's Handax cut into the trog futilely just trying to escape the webs.

Pyra stealthily moves back and forth on the raised balcony near the bridge. She cocks the dwarven crank crossbow and spies a flying trog moving towards Vencer. A bolt flies out of the dark catching the trog through 1 wing and into its chest. The trog is near death, barely able to fly.

Vencer meanwhile pulls out a vial of alchemists fire and tosses it at at the large serpent. It splashes on the snake as well as the putrid undead [DM: summoned by Faust].

The serpent attacks the  putrid and with one wide jawed gulp, swallows the zombie like creature whole!

The trog near Irakul's echo slashes through the manifestation and another one is destroyed [DM: quite a few echoes destroyed so far in campaign!] The trog scurries out of sight down to the 2nd level. The flying trog swings around the pillar in the canter around towards Faust.

Some of the trogs in the webs continue to try to escape, but appear to be very stuck.

Vencer's owl familiar screeches and distracts the large snake.

Faust summons eldritch energy and one is a complete miss while the 2nd beam hits it full on it had been trying to escape Pyra and Irakul. It screeches and falls into the dark below. 

Vencer calls out to the townsfolk below that a trog was heading down the ramp. A shout back of acknowledgement echoes back up. 

At that moment a high pitched whistle echoes from outside. All the remaining trogs appear to hear this, but the party is unsure what it means.. could it be an alert to the whole town or some other signal..?

LEVEL 2

Townsfolks guarded by 2 militia hold out in the South end of level 2 & 3.

Level 3

The Battle continues..

Skrit cast Spiritual Guardian and attacks the serpent with his spiritual weapon. Irakul summons a new echo and mentally moves it through the webs next to a struggling trog. Slashing and hacking into the trog nearly killing it. Pyra moves to the other side and spying the snake in battle still aims carefully and fires. The bolt flies perfectly [DM Nat20] Taking the snake as it reared back to strike, in one eye. The serpent lolls around, nearly dead.

Vencer jumps forward, his shadow blade slicing clear through the skull of the snake and it crashes to the ground.

The trogs all start to retreat out of the mines - or try to. Yelling out to each other in an unknown language.

The party hears commotion outside. Vencer hears wagon wheels, shuffling and the voices of the trogs outside. All the trogs invading the mines are dead or have retreated. The party discuss as they rest and wipe sweat and blood from body, cleaning weapons. Pyra sneaks forward and smells smoke. Vencer's owl sees more.. A fire has been set along the entrance in front of a wagon and crates and boxes barrier. A head peering around from cover can bee seen on occasion, there looks to be at least 2-3 trogs watching.

The party move up and keep an eye out. The smoke is billowing in to mine entrance. Irakul summons his echo outside the smokey fire but it is quickly cut down by multiple missiles.

Faust - not needing to breathe - moves up to peer out as well. A 3 bladed missile hits the warforged and cuts into him. The warlock retreats back into the smoke. Irakul takes one of the clay pots of rotgrubs [DM: see blog post]. With the smoke, throw goes wide hitting the wagon.

Vencer crawls forward avoiding much of the smoke and casts frost fingers into the fire. Woosh! Huge amounts of smoke billow out as much of the flames are put out, all are having difficulty breathing. 

It seems the battle is at a standoff. The party discuss options, other entrances and more. Skeenie, one of the kobold miners who went searching with Pyra, comes forward frantically, and tells the heroes there is no other entrance to this area.. except a tunnel through the small lake. It goes to one of the other mines, which had been opened by the stone giants assisting the town the previous week. If there are any kobolds with the Marshall, he will most likely know of this. The trogs could be coming that way to attack the groups rear!

AS the party discuss options, a voice calls out from outside, the Dragon Marshall. 

Negotiations take place. The Marshall willing to discuss options only if he rules, with the adventurers guidance. While this goes on, Vencer puts poison onto a blade, Irakul checks his invisibility potion.

Vencer stands with Faust looking out whispering of using fireball and hypnotic pattern

The voice changes and the Marshall offers, "We could rule together."

"We shall discuss." Faust calls out.

"You have 1 candle." The Marshall shouts back.

The party discuss more, it appears that the Marshall is of 2 minds, perhaps bathing in the blood of a cursed goddess may be affecting the draconian.

Fuel is not being added to the fire so the smoke recedes.

As the party discusses, Pyra hears combat from below in the lower levels of the mines! The Marshall calls out again.. 

The group are torn.. and finally decide to collapse this entrance and head below. Vencer casting and Faust reading from a scroll, dual fireballs hit the entrance beams. BOOOOM! Smoke billows out in all direction, rumbling and then the whole area starts to shake as dust and smoke billows as support beams break and rocks falls down blocking the entrance.

It appears the combat is on the 3rd level, only way to get down to the lowest level is a wooden elevator. Vencer has his owl fly down to look.

 Irakul heads down using his boots of speed and echo while Pyra climbs down. At one point nearly slipping but acrobatically recovering.

Below on the 3rd level a number of trogs can be seen in the dark coming out of the lake.

A large 12' tall trog accompanies groups coming out of the water. Their reptilian skin glittering with water.

Irakul and Pyra engage in battle, Pyra attacking from high up only having come part way down a rope, hanging and swinging back and forth, the assassin has an excellent vantage point to snake attack the trogs below. Her bolt hits with devastating effect on the giant trog.

A mass of vegetation crawls out of the water with long slippery tentacles emerge from the mass of rotting vegetation. Irakul's blade is turned twice seemingly having no effect on the mound.

The wooden elevator comes down slowly, guided by Vencer, as Faust blasts the large trog with eldritch energy. Vencer fires an orb of chromatic energy from a wand at the large trog dealing heavy damage.

The battle continues as more trogs come out of the lake. With the assistance of the a few of the town militia, the heroes are able to defeat the trog invading force, finally killing a trog witchdoktor compelling them forward. a few trogs retreated back along the tunnel.

It seems the trog force had come into the mines [DM: Left #6] trying - but failing - to catch the BETA crew from the rear.

The water filled tunnel is about a hundred feet in length, but there are two spots where air pockets along the way. With the assistance of the non-breathing Faust, the party make it to the other mine complex. Although, Irakul in armour is hindered greatly. Pyra stealths ahead, but finds no sign of trogs in the area, an oval room with a waterfall she comes up behind. 2 exits, Southern goes through some tunnels. Pyra knows, and exits in town, while Northern goes deeper in towards where the collapsed area and the Cursed dragon goddess lies.

The party creep forth and South down the tunnel. The adventurers had directed some of the townsfolk into this mine complex. A small boy is found hiding near remains of their short stay are found, it seems the rest of the folk were taken by the Marshall's forces. The party creep closer to the entrance. Faust does not like the sunlight preferring the shadows - no doubt due to holding the Shadow Lantern artifact. Faust casts find familiar to summon his imp familiar, Mephisto, the imp is promised a soul or spirit as payment, the imp wants to train and enslave one as a pet for itself. Skrit and Pyra escort the lad back to the other townsfolk. Vencer casts flock of familiars and sets them out to scout. It is after 4pm in the afternoon, sun still fairly high in the summer sky.

The owls fly out, and up, Vencer sees Dragon Marshall standing - arms crossed - with two other trogs. One trog reaches for a sling with a spiked bullet, but the Marshall reaches out to the trog and puts a clawed hand to one shoulder and shakes his head. All three watch the owls fly up and out. It is hard to tell if he is smiling or not.

The owls are able to spy small patrols of trogs moving through the town, as well as the captured townsfolk were gathered at the large crater - partially built into an arena and militia training area. Trogs guard around the area keeping a keen eye on the folks in the crater. A count shows the total trogs to number about 30, with also two larger trogs and 2 of the carrion crawlers.

An hour passes, Skrit and Pyra are back, the owls are keeping watch in the trees outside the town. The party talks about sending an invisible Mephisto up to the top mine entrance where some of the townsfolk may be still hidden. Skrit counters that none would like to see an imp. So they decide to have the imp polymorph into a raven and go invisible.

Mephisto flies out and sees a strange site. A carpet has been laid out - from the townhall - a large table spread with food and drink, the Marshall sits in a large chair enjoying a sip of wine, while 1 trog serves, while another carries a large fan sweeping it back and forth to cool the Marshall. The raven jostles a few ropes hanging down at the entrance. The Marshall holds up his goblet on a toast to the raven flying up.

 Mephisto flies up floats up to the top mine entrance the imp sees 2 troglodytes came out of the entrance. One has a backpack and the other a large sack over one shoulder walking down the path to town. The party know this entrance only goes in about 50 to a hundred feet in, this mine complex had not been recovered yet. No townsfolk are found by the imp, with Faust controlling him through his senses.

"Fellowship! Come dine with me and let us discuss terms. I have all the townsfolk. I don't wish to kill them, I wish to work with you!", The Dragon Marshall calls out.

The party confers on options.

6 militia available

Skrit casts sending to the giants, as well as the monks of the 3 Crescent Moon. Both groups reply and agree to come as soon as possible!

Kobolds working with Poet still live near the lodge at the South end of the valley. 

The tentative plan: By dawn, the 2 stone giants, some monks as well as Poet and some kobolds could be at the camp. The heroes will go out to negotiate and have the townsfolk moved to the Fighter stronghold for their safety. Spell books and divine spells are discussed. The Marshall did seem to have good magic resistance.. then attacks from multiple sides..? 

As they discuss strategy..

A scream of pain is heard out at the entrance. a bellow of rage. Skrit is watching and alerts the rest of the heroes. One of the troglodytes has been cut in twain at the waist. The Marshalls' long bastard sword dripping blood lying on the table. The Marshall bellows down to the town, "Get me more wine!" The voice seemed to be similar to the Cursed Goddess. The party wait.. perhaps the dual personality will change back. Skrit tries to hide.. but as he tries to find a comfortable spot sends a spray of rocks out from under one foot. 

The Marshall calls out as he peers into the mine entrance spying the blue kobold, "Come out kobold! Come talk to me." The Marshall sips at his goblet of wine, the other troglodyte waving the fan frantically looking over his shoulder.. assumedly hoping more will bring wine to their master..

Until next time..

Enstad - since the great fires

 

DragonKeep - the Fall & Battles in the Mines

 We move the camera and roll back the clock a little to DragonKeep where the BETA crew are continuing the work of rebuilding the town of DragonKeep [formerly the mining town of Drekkar]

Updates on the rebuilding of the town:

1. Gate and keep rebuilt - 100%

2. New tower built - 100%

3. Recovering farmlands for food - 1 field ploughed and planted. 2nd field 50% ready

4. Roundtower [with 2 cannons] - at 50%

5. Walls at 80% [all walls along main road and grasslands: complete, walls along river still to be done]

6. 2 mine entrances are now open - one being explored by Pyra and her crew. No further work on mines done as town rebuilding is priority

7. Fighters stronghold - 50%

• The mist is cleared from the large crater. Irakul starts work to turn the crater into an arena for use by the town, with stands, seats and more. Also for training the militia.

The BETA crew:

• Skrit now the patron Saint of the town while he rebuilds the town. Continues to oversee the rebuilding. Daily casts Sending to stay in touch with Fellowship. The kobold also assists Irakul with the demonic contract.

• Pyra the Mayor, current focus mostly on rebuilding her wagon and supplies of curios, magic and unique items. She decides to head into the mines, she has 3 kobolds attend with her. 2 miners and a foreman [Skreenie]. They assist her to search the tunnels. Pyra discovers interesting items in the mines. She discovers a secret door to an unexplored gnome/dwarf area. She finds the following:

• An empty bottle of cough syrup with residue at the bottom.
• Stale bread, hard as wood.
• A dead, mummified mouse.
• A rusty corkscrew with a cork still on the end.
• The Book of Sigil's Library: A photo book showing a series of decrepit bookshelves, along with locations in a library located in the city Greyhawk. [adds advantage on history, arcana, religious rolls while in the library]
• Book: From Ghouls to Ghosts: The book is chaotic and hard to understand, written in an unknown dialect which makes it very slow to read. Contained within are the studies of a powerful necromancer on how interplanar travel might be used to achieve functional immortality.
• Magical item: Teapot that can make four pots of tea daily.
• Double-bladed dagger, dull & rusty. 1 blade is silver while 1 blade is cold iron. Useful against lycanthropes, demons and devils. Suitable for magical enchanting once repaired.

• Vencer works on researching a new spell (3rd level spell portal spell) 100% complete, the wizard also assisted with research on the lantern and demonic contract.

• Irakul organizes the town militia, while also studying the demonic contract he had made. Reading it seems there are sections where it notes, Irakul and descendants would be servants/slaves of the demon - Tregartchiskar - 2 weeks until the demon returns [DM: BLOG post]. Irakul's arm, which had faded partially now returning to 'normal'. Graxusas assisted with finding a lawyer to look at the demonic contract. The lawyer - Jacksill Greenbottom 1/2ling - arrives from Rastor and confirmed the contract is binding and extremely beneficial to the demon

• Faust seems to be turning translucent or linked to the Shadow plane due to the artifact he still is attuned to - Shadow Lantern. Quite fascinated by this, he allows it to continue. Looking to do some research on how it is happening. The warforged does not know much about the Shadowplane but realizes he is becoming a creature of the ShadowPlane. Not enjoying light of the sun as much but definitely likes shadow. Research is needed - but to do this a library or similar is needed. At this point, Faust does not want to give up the lantern - "My Precious" - does not go out in sunlight or any light if at all possible. Anything more than torch is painful and hindering in many ways.

The Festival of Growing - mainly due to the new crop fields being tilled and planted took place on the evening of the 5th of reaping - late but still a good start. A party late in the evening took place. Guards were lax and then an attack...

Before the new yearly Festival of Growing, the party decide to surprise Faust to take Shadow Lantern from him as he is showing strange tendencies and sometimes does want it and other times does not. 

The party prepares, with Pyra expertly picking the Warlock's door lock quietly while Faust is is in a rest mode - though still aware.

Multiple spells go off:

Skrit does hold person that Faust saves against

Vencer casts Enlarge on Irakul and the echoknight leaps forward to grapple with Faust.

With the EchoKnight's large size he is able to hold down the warlock and Vencer carefully takes the lantern and secretes it away from Faust whom at first goes through some withdrawals from the removal of the artifact. 

In the end, Irakul carries in a box every once in a while getting a slight feeling of the lantern's presence in his pack.

After the joyful and wonderful festival, where drinking food, dancing, and games took place, many slept deeply that night. Guards lax and dozing until horns sounded. Alert! The town was under attack. Reptilian bipedal creatures with 4 arms led by an old foe. The Dragon Marshall! [DM: see Blog Post]

DragonKeep is overrun, many being captured whil;e other townsfolk retreating into the mines led and guarded by the heroes.

Taking stock of the situation, the party decide to scout at night to find out what is going on.

Pyra sneaks out to listen to the Marshall [spells: tongues and invisibility] Mephisto [ Faust's IMP familiar] on shoulder.

The two expertly dodge patrols and make it to the abode of the Marshall [DM: #7 on map above]

the tiefling rogue is able to listen in on a conversation where it seems the Marshall is being berated by another.. after sometime Pyra realizes it is 2 voices, one person. It seems the draconian has 2 personalities one definitely in charge that wants to take over the town but kill ALL. The other personality seems to want to save the townsfolk and work with the Fellowship.

Returning to the party after dodging more patrols, the rogue advised the group and after discussion with Vencer and Skrit, both more knowledgeable on these topics.. It seems that bathing in the blood of a cursed goddess has deeply affected the Marshall!

Vencer's owl does some scouting and sees the majority of the captured townsfolk being held in the large crater [partially setup as an Amphitheatre].

Troglodyte patrols approach the mine entrances the next day to ferret out the rest of the townsfolk. So the heroes prepare an ambush with traps and illusions. A carrion caroler leads one group and attacks

Faust whom had delayed to cast a minor illusion to try and block the passage [DM: unfortunately the spell effect was too small to do this] FORTUNATELY for Faust, he is immune to poison so is able to retreat even after being hit multiple times! He then uses eldritch blast as his imp familiar Mephisto attacks while invisible, the imp's poison effective against the trogs.

Venturing in, they see ghostly figures [Vencer's silent image spell] and the trogs retreat from that path to encounter full on defenses and spells being lobbed at them. With webs hitting areas from Vencer as he teleports in and out of combat, Pyra firing her dwarf crank crossbow, sneak and assassin attacks doing great damage. Faust's putrid undead creature as well as the ghostly illusion of ghosts fully stops one side of attack and funnels the trogs down another side. the one the party wants.

Irakul uses his echo to attack and destroy the carrion crawler. A large snake is being herded in as well, and multiple attacks on this are effective, but so far the large reptile is still surging forward.

Vencer is aglow with spells [ Armour of Agathys, mage armour, Vencer's Amythest Portals, mirror image, conjure scimitar ] as he attacks with spell and blade.

A trog shaman whom gets caught in a snare left by Pyra, is targeted and retreats heavily wounded.

Vencer uses a wand and puts a web spell blocking one area catching 2 flying trogs and 2 trogs trying to move towards Irakul's echo.

Mephisto is killed and returns to his infernal realm with a screech and curse. Skrit summons a Spiritual weapon to continue to hold the one side the heroes block.

The defenses seem to be holding.. for now.

Until next time!

DragonKeep Town

 Updated since work has been done by the Fellowship and allies.

some crop fields planted and more being prepared. Buildings, towers and main walls repaired, Having the 2 stone giants and a contingent of monks from the 3 Crescent moon monastery helped dramatically.

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..