Spirit Storm Session Log: Epic Tale #7 – Aerie Of The Dark Lord – Session #18
Date At Start Of Game: 10/21/206
[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 18th 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 – Level 2
After the unholy earthquake subsides Po and Cillian spring into action. Po starts healing Oren while Cillian finishes off the smith’s dogs. When the PC check the door to the forge they find that it has been thrown from it’s hinges by the quake! Expecting an attack Po hurries to wake up Oren. Once Oren is awake he collapses the stonework above the door which has been weakened by the earthquake. This traps the PC inside the room but also prevents the mutated Raven sentries (aka the Rooks) from entering. After recovering from their recent attack Bilby ties up the smith and put him in an adjoining bedroom. Later Oren collapses the doorway to the bedroom leaving him trapped inside.
At this point only Cillian can observe what is going on outside of the room using his earth vision. While the PC are trying to decide what to do Cillian provides updates on the actions of the temple forces. After a few minutes he spots three figures who appear to be leading the Rooks. The three figures appear to be Narduhl, a Raven Kin in a dark green cloak, and a gaunt looking Ape Kin in a gray cloak. To Cillian it appears that the men are in an argument. Specifically he thinks the Ape Man and Narduhl are in an argument with the Raven Kin. After a few minutes the Raven Kin approaches. Narduhl tries to argue with him again but the Raven Kin chastises him. With that Narduhl and the Ape Kin return to the depths of the temple. At this point immediately outside of the forge room Cillian sees two Rooks cast spells! One puts up a shield with circling Ravens and the other summons black magical talons. The Raven Kin directs them to take down some of the stones that are blocking the door. Once a small opening is present the Raven Kin calls out do see if Xander is ok. (The PC realize that Xander must be the Pit Bull Kin smith.) When there is no answer the Raven Kin then says that he can sense others in the room and tells them that it is useless to hide. Po then recognizes the voice of the Raven Kin as his son Kai! When Po emerges and speaks to his son in Raven Kin it is apparent that Kai has also been tainted with the same Dark Lord curse. After some discussion the Rooks take down some stones blocking the doorway and Kai, who now insists on being called Malotoch, enters the room. After entering the room Po asks him what happened. Malotoch relays the following story…
“I guess I should tell you about what happened that morning all those months ago. I was having a fitful night’s sleep when I heard something moving in our home. I saw Father leaving and decided to follow. He flew to where a nearby army was preparing for battle. Planning on having a jest Father weakened the ropes on their siege weapons. The next morning he watched in hiding to see his “joke” play out. When the army attacked their weapons failed. They still ended up winning the battle that day but they were not happy with their losses. Their commander put a bounty out on ravens and Raven Kin. The warriors decimated our village then took the heads from the dead to claim their rewards. In the chaos of the attack I lost track of Father and flew as fast as I could. Eventually I found shelter in an old set of ruins. I had nowhere to go…I could not return to my village and I could not return to Father. As I contemplated ending my life on my own terms I found a loose tile in the ruins. This tile gave me a purpose for living…it was obviously calling out to me. It says…”
A father’s jape goes the way of sin,
Sending his son to the edge,
From vengeance malevolence is reborn,
The Dark Lord’s heart beats once more,
This child’s taint will linger on,
Festering for all eternity.
At this point Malotoch asks Po to join him in serving the Dark Lord. He tells Po that he can grant him even more power than he has already felt. Po tells him that he does not serve evil but instead serves those that protect the land. Malotoch changes tacts and asks the PC to return his sword. Convincingly Oren lies and tells the Raven Kin high priest that they have already destroyed it in the forge. At that remark Malotoch tells Oren that he hopes he is lying as all of their lives depend on delivering Crimson Tears. Oren rebuffs him with a stern reply. At that point Malotoch shakes his head and quietly walks away. As he leaves the forge room Malotoch tells his Rook acolytes in Raven Kin speech to kill everyone in the room. With that the Rooks advance…
Date At End Of Game: 10/21/206
