Spirit Storm Session Log: Epic Tale #9 – Donovan’s Mate – Session #23
Date At Start Of Game: 1/3/207
[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 23rd session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]
Dinner At The Palace
After finishing up some business about town the PC head to the palace for dinner with the Empress. They are led to a room by Yotsu who asks them to wait for a bit. While waiting Oren asks Yotsu for a letter from Empress Nokidara that will give them access and any needed support on their trip to visit Cragspine. Yotsu says he will arrange the paperwork. After leading the group into the dining hall Empress Nokidara enters in a yellow silk dress, nods to the PC, then rings a small bell to start dinner. Dinner progresses normally with Po and Meigi arriving late and partly drunk. Yotsu give the pair a dirty look when they sit down to dinner late. During dinner the PC tell tales of their meeting and journeys as avatars of the Great Tree keeping out only small bits. As dinner closes the PC really get a chance to see Empress Nokidara in a less formal setting. They find her charming and very well spoken. Her fascination with their exploits almost makes them think that she really does not want to be in her current position but is doing so because of her love of Tokaji and the people. Her biggest fear is that the northern provinces will do something aggressive as she has received reports that they are building up their fleet which is already quite impressive. Finally the Empress thanks the PC for dining with her.
Trouble At The Mines
The trip to Oshin along the rugged eastern coast of the Golden Isles is uneventful so the PC arrive in Oshin in roughly 2 days. At Oshin they ask for the Mining Guild Master and are directed to the mine-head. At the mine-head they see a group of miners who tell the PC that there is an incident in the mines. One of them is injured so Po takes a look. He finds that the wound is from a sword. At that point the miners say that some Dog Kin people have blockaded themselves into a cave claiming it to be their families. In the commotion there was a cave-in and some of their companions are trapped. With that the PC venture into the mines to get a closer look.
At a small passage the PC see a burly Badger Kin wearing chain mail looking over a pile of rocks. He notices the PC and asks who they are as they do not appear to be miners. Oren explains that they are emissaries from the Empress. At Mining Guild Master Kirikaro’s feet is a silent Gray Fox Kin sitting in a lotus position. Po senses that she is using a clairvoyancy spell of some type. Suddenly the Gray Fox Kin, Urei, comes to her senses and tells Kirikaro that there are 8 of them. They are Hyena Kin and surprisingly look quite capable. In a passage on the right there has been a cave-in that has trapped the legs of one of the miners. If the trapped miner does not receive attention soon he may die. With that Oren confronts the Hyena Kin who he thinks might be the Cackler Clan, a group of cut throat mercenaries from the area. After bartering with the leader of the pack for some time Oren is able to convince them that if they back down he will get them a fair hearing with the Empress. After showing them the letter with the royal stamp they agree. Quickly the PC unearth the trapped miner and Po heals him with a miraculous healing spell that mends his crushed leg almost instantly!
After dealing with the Cackler Clan the PC speak with Kirikaro and Urei in a local drinking establishment called Three Silvers. The PC explain that they could use a guide and some advice on finding Cragspine. Urei says that she has experience in the mines and can give them direction. On urging from the PC she reluctantly agrees to join them on their trip. Urei seems intrigued at visiting Cragspine.
Attack Of The Gem Eaters
Taking advice from Kirikaro the PC gather up lots of climbing gear and head into the mine. The path is very rugged but with Cillian and Urei’s ability to see ahead and Bilby’s expertise underground the PC make fast progress and avoid areas that may contain monsters. After roughly 10 hours of travelling Bilby thinks he hears something on a nearby ledge. He sneaks over the ledge and is surprised when a nearby boulder stands up and attacks him! The cavern is full of strange insect creatures that are the same color as the rock and can somehow sense Bilby even with him sneaking! The creature hits Bilby in the head with his pincers nearly killing him. He will need help soon or he may bleed to death. Kanga jumps up to the ledge and is surprised by two more. Po is caught in a pile of rocks when the creature who attacked Bilby turns on him. The creatures can somehow control stone! Cillian is attacked next with a stone spike but is protected by Oren who balls him up. After taking the defensive briefly the PC go on the attack. Kanga starts downing them quickly taking out one per shot! Cillian shots one with a crossbow bolt and stabs another in the head. Oren takes down one attacking him with a ferocious blow. Po entangles one of the insect creatures with an ice stone then Kanga finishes him off. Once the PC take the offensive the creatures are quickly felled. After the last creature falls Po casts a powerful healing spell on Bilby.
Date At End Of Game: 1/4/207
