12/23/15 Virtues Session 32: Death of the Inquisitor

“Evacuate? In our moment of triumph?” Zaid Aclair asked his associate incredulously. In the distance the Inquisitor could hear Ghair struggling to play his instrument. The man to whom Zaid spoke to only shrugged.

“I think you overestimate their chances.” The Inquisitor stated confidently. 

---

Riev Stone

We begin the week at Hollow Mount where the tone is subdued as many seem in a perpetual state of alertness. We are escorted to the castle and are received by two interrogators named Liend and Echn (5^th and 3^rd followers respectively), who questioned Skelp and undertakes the bulk of our questions before finally meeting with the Admiral.

The primary question being.. where was Ziad Aclair, the Inquisitor? There is a settlement- Riev Stone, administered Ghair Riev. The settlement was once larger wealthy retreat but now has dwindled down in size to a bard college/ monastery/ academy to the performing arts. What Skelp heard from the Chief of Staff was that Zaid would be in Riev Stone on this day; because someone, either a daughter or loved-one is located there.

At last the Admiral arrives and invites us to ask the prisoner our own questions, but we are anxious to be on our way and immediately begin planning ways to travel to Riev Stone. As an amazing stroke of luck there happens to be a stage replica at the bard college here, the ‘Northern Lights’ (glass blowers and lenses that reflect light off mineral deposits for mythic light shows) also has a painting of Riev Stone that should help aid in magical travel targeting.

Not only does the Riev Stone painting help, Dramen discovers its true purpose and it immediately able to transport everyone, sans Liend and Echn, to Riev Stone. (there was a wizard symbol on the painting) Dramen teleports us and we immediately feel the pressure air change from being in high altitudes to now more dense air. We begin to take stock of the area and Kyras beast shapes into an air elemental to canvas the building and areas beyond.

 

Rydin Mierdarel

We see dozens of horses outside the walls, many with the Kierkin symbols; past Riev Stone four wagons have arrived, barred and covered containing prisoners; inquisitor’s guards; the wife of the bailiff Abriana Arcool; beyond those six more are due to arrive a few hours out.

The building is secure but there is a relatively unused entrance because of its obscurity. Dolgrin detects evil and Syrendross casts a divination to locate Zaid as others begin their preparations for assault. Approaching under the cloak of invisibility, when we finally find the inquisitor we begin with a barrage of dispel magic spells before bringing an end to the inquisitor and his hold over his thralls.

We destroy many of the other inquisitors guards but free the person of interest Ziad was here to renew his charms… the missing Knight of the Order of the Lynx. Many of the count’s men flee before us but not before we learn the Count is set to arrive to Bouvet Keep after the vote that elects the new duke- after his honeymoon.

We are awarded 10,000 xp and the completion of one mythic trial; we pick up next week on how to approach the prisoner wagons and to expect another six wagons after that. 

12/16/15 Virtues Session 31: There's a Gate in His Chest

“It took me a while to piece everything together, but it was the Chief of Staff that hired me to kill Admiral Nelandrach Olithir.” Inasia said while in a ‘we’re all friends here’ combat stance motioning to the Chief of Staff Carvanatos Tramore’s unmoving body.

Above the politicians room, where they were gathered had been going through some extensive refurbishing, to what ends it was hard to discern when on high alert.

“Go on.” Dolgrin bayed the woman, careful not to put too much faith in the words of an assassin.

“You may not be aware of it but Count Keirkin is involved and is supposed to become the new Duke.” Inasia continued not knowing this news was well known among the heroes of Virtue.

“Why did you attack Count Vyt?” Syrendross asked the assassin.

“I believed him to be under some kind of compulsion and hoped a slight injury would snap him out of it.” Inasia said in perfect honesty.

On the floor Carvanatos’ body began to tremble subtly then it exploded from the ground slamming against the nearest wall as unearthly wail issued from his distended jaw. From Carvanatos’ center mass a swirling maelstrom opened in his chest creating a portal between this world and the abyss.

---

 After destroying Carvanatos once and for all, his body folding in upon itself, the drow anti paladin and the rest of the demons flee. Dramen was successful in teleporting everyone including Inasia to the Dwarven Temple. Inasia thanks us and vows to leave Bouvet Keep; she tells Syrendross to tell Admiral Nelandrach she believes in him and hopes he becomes the new Duke. She also makes a statement that she and Kyras would cross paths again.

We decide to rest and in the morning we are given a message from Admiral Nelandrach that the prisoner Skelp indeed knows where Ziad the Inquisitor will be today.

We are awarded 12,800 xp and will start next week’s session at Hollow Mount with a meeting with the Admrial. 

12/09/15 Virtues Session 30: The Politician's Room

Bloody and weary the heroes of Virtue rounded the exquisite stone sitar case and into a private office where to individuals were addressing each other. The first individual, a man, the heroes recognized at once- Bouvet Keep Chief of Staff Carvanatos Tramore the other individual, a woman no one recognized until she spoke.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, along with Pergoyt, the Carvanatos greeted us with a sadistic smile but before he could begin his monologue and explain his end game and how we were too late...

The woman drove a blade through the man quieting his words forever. The known as Inasia looked up and saw us take up arms and begin spellcasting but before that...

"Wait let me explain."

---

Our session began with an uneasy reception from Countess Decara Zhaynd and her retinue the monk Klang, Moed and ETone (blue markers); Count Idar Tan, Pergoyt and Ywary (green markers); Count Vyt and Daviar with the individual Sireff attempting to kill Vyt before following Carvanatos Tramore up the Politician's Stairs (yellow markers); and finally Count Wydimore, Zyg, Dr. Ceuth, and Aomy (red markers). 

The battle was short and we were able to take prisoners, and before we hastily vaulted after Carvanatos our sympathizers Count Idar Tan, Ywary; Count Vyt and Daviar, agreed to look after our prisoners. 

Surrendered; Jaip, Freen, Kimp (Black Hawk Guards), and Moed and ETone 

Escaped: Srp, Usitt (Black Hawk Guards) as well as Count Wydimore, Zyg, Dr. Ceuth, and Aomy (technically, although they did send two guards to aid us as they departed the Politician's Room.)

We were awarded with 7,250 Xp. We begin next session with Inasia's explanation. 

12/02/15 Virtues Session 29: And the Taming of the Great Waterwall

Syrendross

“You want to know about the Inquisitor? Oh yea, sure and I want to make sure I live long enough to not regret what you’d have me tell you.” Skelp said through black teeth that were sharpened to points. 

Behind the cultist Syrendross had a handful of the man’s black tangle of hair exposing Skelp’s neck to the dagger in Syrendross’ other slim hand. It was the dagger he had used to kill Bleem after discovering the taint in Bouvaldia, and the drow was ready to take another if deemed necessary.

“We will remand him to Admiral Olithir,” Dolgrin said looking from the cultist to the vessels in the bay wondering where the Admiral was at this moment. With these words from his dwarven friend Syrendross released Skelp rudely to the rocky scree where he sprawled out gouging his head.

“You will want to know what I know Drow elf,” Skelp said as he was beginning to laugh revealing his black teeth. “I know where Zaid Aclair will be tomorrow.”

---

We begin on a rock littered sandy shore about ten minutes after relieving the barge of its evil burden; darkness approaches suitable for low-light perception. We question our prisoner, Skelp who clearly wanted to live. Elsewhere in the bay snapping and breaking sounds echoed across the water reminding us that there was very likely still a battle to be fought and won.

Deeming it possible to teleport directly to Admiral Nelandrach Olithir’s attack vessel, when we arrived it was utter chaos as if the Ways had been breached. Thrashing about on the broken deck, as water rushed in, some of us were knocked prone or washed off the deck. Around the Admiral’s ships several more boats were being pulled from their berths toward the swirling and growing vortex.

After some tense moments we all eventually retreated into ‘rope tricks’ along with Admiral Nelandrach Olithir and 14 other survivors of various mixes where we rest for the next eight hours. During this time we see unfathomable swaths of debris being pulled down into the water below our extra-dimensional sanctuaries. Slowly the destruction ebbs and by the sixth hour the water finally seemed to calm, however a quick test showed that there was still a swirling current hiding below the tranquil surface.

The Admiral informs us of his battle, like using a water cannon poisoning water-breathing creatures, his attack was a surprise but fighting them in their natural environment and their adept ways of summoning aid was too much to overcome.

Day three (of five until the Inquisitor’s expected return). Upon exiting the rope tricks and making our way to the mountain pass we see that every ship, dock and boardwalk had been swept up and devoured into the vortex and presumably into the Ways. But that was not the greatest surprise- the Great Water Wall was gone and after some speculation it was intuited that the breach in the Ways and the Water Wall, created by the Evening Isles’ movement, reached equilibrium.

Elsewhere in Bouvet Keep, total lock-down, preparing for the worst many fled back to the mountain keeps. We break from the Admiral who takes Skelp to Hollow Mount where we may find him; but as he took Skelp we over hear him saying he knows where the inquisitor will be ‘tomorrow.’ We ask Admiral Olithir to leave any information he finds out to leave it as the Dwarf Temple. It was also made clear that these 14 survivors will be followers of Rydin or Dolgrin’s.

Carvanatos The Chief of Mad

7am. Invisible we teleport near the Duke’s Castle and into a climate of readiness and high alert; a mild chaos of unknowns in the wake of the erasure of the docks and the absence of the Water Wall. Dozens of Duke’s men cluster questioning witnesses and deeper into the castle, work rooms filled with scribes busy at water breathing scrolls and other preparatory measures. Deeper into the castle past the war room was the ‘politician’s room’ were we find the Chief of Staff Carvanatos Tramore, guards bearing the Hawk as well as two other individuals- Count Idar Tan, Pergoyt, and Countess Decara Zhaynd.

Kotri makes some observations and immediately does not trust the Countess and sees that the Hawk-guards recognize our group. Introductions all around as Kotri again notices a trap door, propped open under a table. We present ourselves and offer our help because it was us that ended the cultists on the barge and killed the bitch Marleen. Seeing his mother’s murders before him, Carvanatos could not contain his rage and ordered his men to destroy us.

We begin next session with it being on like honkey dong.