Date At Start Of Game: 10/02/206

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 15th session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

Escaping The Temple And Returning To Raftport

After the Scarlet Scorpion falls into the lava forge the mountain starts to shake. Fire spirits dart into the volcano after her in a swarm of choatic fury! The PC and the still grogy Elephant Kin, Ember Firenose, make haste out of the inner temple across the large natural cavern dodging falling rocks as they move. After emerging from the temple they find Grattle Skrak waiting with the freed slaves and his Stone Mountain avatar compatriot Bucky. The PC then lead everyone back to Raftport where they are met by villagers who are excited to see family members who they thought lost. The party then gets a room at the only inn in Raftport called the Rusty Tiller. Although Oren is anxious to speak with Ember he asks for some time to shake off whatever drugs he was given by the Scarlet Scorpion. In the meantime Cillian and Po head upstairs to examine the sword, Crimson Tears, while the rest of the PC start celebrating their victory.

Examining Crimson Tears

The blade is thin and slightly tapered. It feels delicate and light to the touch. The blade is marbled gray and black like current day Damascus steel. Po does a detect spirit spell and senses incredibly strong fire and earth magic. He also senses a transformation spell like that found earlier on the tile. Along both sides of the thin blade are a set of strange symbols that look just like those found on the tile. Po can read them and translates them as follows:

Blood and hate forge an arm of black,
Incomplete yet corrupting in its touch,
The enemy strives for illumination,
But darkness falls on wave and rock,
Swelling a rise in iniquitous power,
The Dark Lord has his storm.

After translating the text the PC discuss it as a group with Grattle Skrak. Their first conclusion is that the “arm of black” is Crimson Tears. During this time Oren notices that Po smells like festering meat and comments on his lack of feathers. The taint from the tile seems to be covering his entire right arm. After talking about it for a bit Kanga comes to the conclusion that “arm of black” refers not to the sword but to Po and his infection. These revealations set the PC on edge and tests their trust in their Raven Kin shaman.

Bar Talk With Grattle Skrak And Ember Firenose

Grattle Skrak tells the PC about some of the terrible things that the slavers did during their imprisonment. When one of the workers tired they would take them away to be killed. It was done slowly and painfully. After the act Ant Kin slavers would return sucking on limbs from their slain comrades. He realized the wheel was some type of lava pump but it took over a week for him to realize that the purpose was to fuel a forge. Grattle then says that he plans to nurse Bucky back into travelling shape then the pair will return to the Great Stone Mountain to retrieve the rest of their team. He also lets the PC know that he will handle the kidnappers that they spied in the woods.

After a couple of hours Ember comes back downstairs looking more refreshed. He orders some food then answers Oren. He says that he knows of only one other spirit forge that would be powerful enough to unmake Crimson Tears. Ember describes a rocky fortress called Granite Head near a place called Once-Romu. This place is now considered haunted. Ember says that a swift and strong blow to a blade heated by the full fury of the Granite Head spirit forge should destroy it.

Oren knows more about Granite Head and proceeds to tell the following story. Granite Head was used as a fortress and smithy by a noble family that lived in the area during the Spirit War. During the war Granite Head was assaulted many times but it never fell. Always the fortress survived and was able to distribute arms made in their forges. Finally one shrewd Albion Horse Kin commander, General Damacles, decided to starve out the inhabitants. He used spirit mages to cast spells that would destroy the food and potable water inside the fortress. The result was not exactly what the General intended. The inhabitants decided that in lieu of surrendering that they would cast their lot with the Dark Lord. General Damascus was victorious but he was not willing to claim Granite Head due to a proliferation of angry spirits that now haunted the fortress. This battle became known as the Siege Of Sorrow due to the wails of the dead and dying that rang from the fortification during the final days of the siege.

After listening to Oren’s story Po uses the stick. It points due west confirming their destination, Once-Romu and Granite Head. The next morning the PC head off on a their journey to Granite head. They decide to take passage on a merchant ship to speed their journey. As they are boarding the ship Po comes on board with a rapier painted black. This again gives Kanga more fuel for his theory that Po is the “black arm” in the sword text.

Spirit Storm Session Log: Epic Tale #7 – Aerie Of The Dark Lord – Session #15

Ill Met In Granite Head

As the merchant ship carrying the PC nears Once-Romu the weather takes a turn for the worse. The captain decides to let the PC off about 2 hours north of the city as the shoreline and tides are less trecherous. After leaving the skiff the PC head towards Once-Romu with Po and Bilby leading the way. As they come over a ridge that leads into the city they met with a fantastic sight. A huge storm rages over a rocky coastline. Out in the inlet a rocky spire justs out of the water. On the top of the spire is a cylindrically shaped tower. The ruins of Once-Romu sit on the rugged coastline in front of the spire. The city is decimated by rock pillars and deep crevasses that criss-cross the area. Carefully the PC make their way down towards the ruins.

As they reach the outskirts of the city they are surprised to find a small wooden house with a light on and smoke coming out of the chiminey. They knock on the door and are answered by an older Ape Kin man and his son. Oren explains that they are cold from the rain and wish to enter. The armed man seems wary and first asks why they are venturing to Once-Romu. Oren explains that they are here to rid the Granite Head forge of the evil that has infested it. With that the man lowers his sword and allows the PC to enter. When Po enters the small cottage the boy lowers his sword and yells out, “Why is there a Raven travelling with you!?! You are NOT welsome here!” After calming the boy the PC learn that recently a group of Raven like humanoids have been killing their sheep. These fouls creatures emerge from Granite Head to fly around at night. Also in the cottage the PC find several shields hung on the walls from various noble house that once ruled the area. When Oren prompts them about the shields the father explains that they are the only known survivors of Romu. They want to carry on the traditions of the city as it is the only place that they have ever called home. For the past several years they have been eeking out an existance. Slowly they are exploring the ruins to recover anything of value that might remain. They also tell the PC that there are stairs up the spire that lead to the tower. These stairs are entered through a grotto near the waterline. They ask the PC to stay in the ruined city of Once-Romu for the night as they are still wary of them. As the PC leave Po mocks them by telling them that he hopes they receive the same welcome that he has received.

That night the PC hear the caws of Ravens from the rocky spire. Po says that he wants to investigate but the rest of the PC are not sure it is a good idea to go out at night. Oren then suggests that Po should not be left on watch alone. Kanga agrees to stay up with him. Po takes offense at the comment from Oren and argues. Oren then grabs Po shouting that he will tie him up for the night! After giving his word to stay in the shelter Oren release Po. The PC spend a tense night in Once-Romu.

The next morning the PC head out to to Granite Head on a small rowboat. When they reach the grotto the waves are rough but with Bilby’s help they are able to lead the rowboat into the grotto. Inside the grotto is a set of wet stairs leading out of the cave up the spire. When the boat nears the stairs Bilby and Po spy a large shape moving under the boat. Out of the water in front of the PC erupts a huge crab. Bilby stabs the crab in the eye dealing a massive blow. Po starts cursing the crab with his powerful spirit magic. Balancing on the boat Kanga takes aim at the other eye and start shooting. Oren takes a hit from on of the pincers then jumps over the crab to the stairs before the PC manage to fell the beast. As the crab sinks into the grotto the PC head up the wet stairs into the storm…and the unknown…

Date At End Of Game: 10/21/206