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

Date At Start Of Game: 10/01/206

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 14th session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

The Temple Of Dark Lady

After a brief planning session the group decides on their normal plan…a frontal assault! Oren takes the lead with the rest of the party right behind. Although Oren gets momentarily trapped in a whip he breaks out then smashes the Ant Kin slavers. Bilby cuts up others while Po and Cillian work in tandem to take down the remaining. After the slavers fall Po goes to work healing the sick and injured. Bucky is very hurt and is quickly healed. Oren and Bilby push the wheel so that others can rest. After arming the freed slaves Po and Cillian lead the survivors to the main cave where Bucky and Grattle Skrak then lead them out of the temple.

At this point the PC try to decide how to proceed. Po detects that the pipe has protection magic. Oren and Cillian think the device is some type of pump that is likely being used to pump lava up to the room above. When Cillian looks up to see where the pupe leads his vision seems to be magnified. In the room above the stone wheel he sees a horrific sight. There is a massive Elephant Kin smith pounding on a thin long sword blade. To his left is a masked woman who appears to be casting a spell at the sword. While all of this is happening other Ant Kin warriors in the room are pouring buckets of blood onto the blade! With that the PC decide to stop turning the wheel and to face off against anyone who is alerted. After a minute or so three Ant Kin warriors emerge from a hallway to attack the PC. Although the PC dispatch them quickly one manages to alert guards in a nearby room. With a few brief hits the PC fell the remaining Ant Kin guards. Thinking fast Oren decides to cave in the tunnel so that others cannot approach. While Oren digs Cillian watches the forge room. He spies the masked woman speaking to the air. In a flash Narduhl appears! She says something to him then he starts to cast a spell and shrink again. Thinking quick Cillian puts a cloth on the doorjam and watches for it to move. He is hoping to see it move when Narduhl goes under the door then he can attack. After seeing the cloth move he attacks but with due to Narduhl’s tiny size he cannot hit him. After missing the tiny mage with their surprise attach the PC decide they better beat him back to the forge. They fling open the door and start running forward at top speed lest they lose the element of surprise.

In the forge room the PC find the large Ant Kin smith which Oren recognizes as Ember Firenose, the woman with the mask who has a scorpion tail, and a single Ant Kin warrior who is covered in golden jewelry. The woman and Ember are trying to work on the blade even though the lava has receeded from their forge. The woman seems to be spirit surging to boost the effects of her spells. Cillian sees flame and earth spirits flying from the walls into the blade where they vanish. As they move to attack Oren taunts Ember Firenose. To his surprise the smith does not react at all…it is as if he does not hear the comment! Oren deduces that the smith might be under some type of enchantment. With that Oren closes the gap on the woman in the mask. She laughs saying that Narduhl told her about the PC. After this she throws a bag of powder on Oren which blinds him. She then tries to sting Oren with her tail but the barb bounces off of his tough atmored hide. Po curses the Scorpion Kin spirit mage from a high vantage. Bilby and Cillian moves in closer. As the PC near behind them two shadow praying mantis traps spring! These are Narduhl’s handywork. With that the Scorpion Kin woman tells Ember to stop working on the blade and to crush the party! He looks up with glassy eyes and moves around the forge. When Ember drops the blade Cillian grabs it and moves it closer using his air spirits which are surprisingly very difficult to summon. When the thin blades reaches his hand Cillian lights up his fire spirit hand and holds the blade. The effect is nearly blinding as fire bursts from the blade! Cillian can feel a sense of power and control that distorts his thoughts but he holds on tightly. The woman screams when Cillian grabs the blade claiming that it was made from “crimson tears of blood in the Dark Priestesses name”. As she is yelling Oren manages to take a bead on her and do some damage but a tough defensive spell protects her from harm. Bilby leaps to the fray but has trouble getting a square hit on the nefarious spirit mage. As Po casts he feels a sense of power and surges his spells while remaining airborne. The Ant King jumps up the wall and manages to smash into Po sending them both crashing to the ground. When Ember reaches Cillian he starts to swing his massive hammer! Cillian dodges the attacks not wanting to feel their effect. When Oren’s eyes clear he swings a massive strike felling both the Scarlet Scorpion and the Ant King! The Scorpion Kin falls into the lava forge where the magma seems to reach up and pull her under. Po recognizes a huge spirit whim backlash taking place and tells the PC that they better leave the area immediately! Cillian briefly considers throwing the sword into the lava but decides that it should instead be investigated once they leave the forge. As they run from the temple Ember, now clear headed, says that the sword cannot be destroyed in the fires of the forge where it was created…he also relays that he only knows of one other place where it might be undone but that reaching this place with be a dangerous and deadly journey…

Date At End Of Game: 10/02/206

Date At Start Of Game: 10/01/206

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 13th session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

The Temple Of Shazartza

After defeating the Ant Kin warriors the PC proceed carefully. Cillian and Bilby take the lead exploring the various side chambers. In one they find a well and in the other they find a posh room that is covered in mold. After checking the side rooms they head down the ramp towards where they saw the Ant Kin “butcher”. In one of the side rooms the PC are shocked to discover many severed limbs and body parts. Alongside the bodies are casks filled with blood. Po gingerly examines the room and notices that all of the body parts are from children, women, and the elderly only. One of the bodies is the Deer Kin archer Miya. Horrified the PC proceed.

In the next area they find a row of cells that are currently empty but appear to be recently used. In one cell there is blood and a red stocking cap. Bilby remembers the red cap on the woman they saw at Raftport. At the end of the hallway is a room with some bunk beds and a table with a warm lantern. When Po enters the room he hears a voice. His spell does not detect any magic but he appears to be the only one that can hear the voice. The voice is walking around the room and orating about the “virtues” of the Dark Mistress! Eventually it starts talking about various torture techniques. Po carefully speaks out to the voice. To his surprise it responds! The voice is from someone named Balthazar who claim to be the once high priest of Shazartza. Wanting to gain his trust Po convinces Balthazar that he is an ally of the Dark Mistress. After convincing the spectral voice that he is an ally Balthazar tells Po that the Ant Kin are minions of the current high priestess. The current high priestess is a woman known as the Scarlet Scorpion. She has been the only other person that has been able to hear him speak in quite a while. Balthazar then tells Po that if he gives a certain greeting and response it will be “deemed acceptable” by accoltyes of the Shazartza. The greeting is, “I travel with a heavy right hand laden with a hammer.” The response is, “May you find the vengeance you seek.”

During this conversation Cillian finds a secret door on one side of the room. On the other side of the door he sees larger natural cavern. Immediately outside of the secret door is a small metal pot with oil and a wick. After watching for a few minutes he observes an Ant Kin warrior approach then listen at the secret door. Cillian tells the party to quiet. When the Ant Kin leaves the PC start to devise a plan. After several different plans are discussed the PC decide to wait for the guard to return then to grab him and rush out to get any others.

The guard approaches and right before he touches the secret door Cillian opens it and Bilby grabs the Ant Kin warrior. He pulls him into the room then shoves him into a nearby cell and locks the door. While this is happening another Ant Kin warrior armed with two crossbows dashes out of the natural cavern to alert others. Bilby heads out into the dark cavern after the Ant Kin warrior. The rest of the PC grab nearby lanterns and head out after them. Eventually Bilby catches up to the Ant Kin but only scratches him with a hit to his leg. The Ant Kin fires his crossbows. One bolt nearly goes through Bilby’s chest! Luckily the rest of the PC are right behind and take down the Ant Kin with some well placed strikes. Po heals Bilby during the combat using his powerful Spirit Magic.

The Temple Of Dark Lady

With that the PC head into the large natural cavern. They can see many footprints leading down the cavern but only Ant Kin tracks are returning. After almost a mile of trekking through the cavern it narrows to a man made tunnel hewn out of stone. Carefully Bilby and Cillian scout ahead. Bilby hears a distant sound of mechanical gears in the distance. The first room is round and is flanked by two stone effigies of Shazartza with a hammer in one hand and flame in the other. Cillian looks through the statues and finds that they are doors that slide to one side. After carefully searching them he finds that they are trapped if opened the wrong direction. When he listens at one door and is startled when the status speaks to him, “The Dark Mistress asks how you travel in her temple?” He answers with the greeting, “I travel with a heavy right hand laden with a hammer.” The status replies with, “May you find the vengeance you seek.” With that Cillian opens the door. Inside one room is a mushroom garden. In the other is a well with some glowing fungus.

Opposite the entrance the PC find 3 doors. Behind the left door the PC hear Ant Kin speaking. Behind the center they don’t hear anything. Behind the right they hear mechanical gears. They decide to carefully check the right door. Inside the room is a stockade for 3 prisoners and some whips. Down a set of stairs Cillian finds a larger natural cavern that bends to the left. At the bend he finds a cage with waeary prisoners. At the far end of the cavern Cillian find 5 Ant Kin warriors whipping a set of prisoners who are turning a large cog. One of the prisoners is a large Horse Kin. The gears appear to be some type of bellows that are feeding a pipe.

What is all of this for?!?

Date At End Of Game: 10/01/206