• Eomiaje Bemyr'Iomyr - Ranger 1 / Thief 1
• Klort Redbeard - Magic-User 2
• Mirella - Cleric 1
• Yohan - Ranger 2
• Ragnar - Ranger 1
• Voltendo - Paladin 1
• Desmond - Paladin 1

Word has come from the mountains to Criss Antha about this event. A couple weeks back, some pilgrims were traveling from the north west from the village of ERNTA, 20 miles north west of Faier. They traveled south past Maelc to get to Ornholm to have easier travel to High Dell. They were Pilgrims going to the temple of Rook. As they were coming out of the mountains, they past by a crag that had a door in its face. They normally see these type of ruins with their guard up. As they did so, the Sun seemed to fade away from the sky with platinum rays coming down into streams onto the face of this mountain crag. The small group of pilgrims were overcome with fear and awe so they fled. They made it to High Dell where they told the temple there, which reached Voltendo's order. His order is tasking him with investigating this location as it could be a sign from Rook. Sometimes these are divinely connected events. We just need to investigate this place. If he can bring back some report of the location, they will pay for his training. One of the pilgrims has offered to be a guide to the location, he is waiting in Ornholm. The pilgrim will wait for 3 weeks in Ornholm.

We are in Criss Antha.

We decide on doing Voltendo's Quest so will head to Ornholm, population 1,500. Gren has 2,500 people.

Ended on 1/17 last time.

Looking for Mercenaries in Criss Antha

• Heavy Footmen - Splint, Battle Axe, Longsword
• Pikemen x3
• Crossbow Archers x5 and a Sergeant

Desmond bought a light riding horse.

We arrive in Gren and look for Mercenaries.

• Crossbow Archers x3 Hired!
• Horse Archers x1 not hired.

We have one extra riding horse. Yohan buys a Riding Horse for one of the archers.

We arrive in Ornholm by the end of the day. Travel is uneventful.

The pilgrim has not arrived.

Eomiaje buys 1 week of Standard Rations.

We will travel to Maelc to continue the Ruined Tower.

Arrive in Maelc for the day. Head out tomorrow for the tower.

The weather is clear and we will head out for the Ruined Tower.

We have arrived without issue. We can see the heads on spikes are falling off. No living things around the tower. Ragnar, Yohan and Eomiaje all search around the perimeter.

Ragnar comes across a burial. There are 4 graves that look shallow, they were made about a month old. No markers on them. No markers were left at all.

Its uncommon for monsters to bury their dead. Different groups have different customs but in the 6 cities, it is a melting pot. A Dwarf and a Human would bury their dead in the same way.

The burials are 100 yards from the wall of the tower. We discuss exhuming the body while Yohan and Eomiaje look for a sign of a battle. The grass in this area was stomped down by boots, the remnants of the tracks have faded. Earth was dug up by non metal tools or shields. The boot prints are medium sized.

We head back and will go down the trap door.

Mirella and Voltendo both have Continual Light.

Desmond, Voltendo and Yohan are all 3 on doors. Eomiaje has his bow nocked and ready.

We open the door and pull open the Trap Door, we descend to the entrance of the lower level.

Things appear as we left it.

We go north through the door with collapsed chamber and the altar. Then further north into the empty hallway.

We are surprised!

Klort is in the back with AC 10.

He will be hit on an 8. It missed!

Theres a sudden snapping noise and see a single Fire Beetle and has leaped out of the way.

• Desmond charges.
• Eomiaje attacks.
• Yohan charges.
• Mirella attacks.
• Voltendo charges.
• Ragnar charges.
• Klort attacks.

Tied initiative. Eomiaje hits it with a backstab and does x2 damage, 22 DAMAGE! Killing it.

We collect the Fire Beetle glands and then Eomiaje goes to check out the south door. Eomiaje does not find any traps. Klort does not hear anything.

Yohan will try opening the door with his key. None of the keys work.

Eomiaje and Mirella determine that the door is not locked.

We open the door. There is no explosion despite the charred marks on the ground. There is a broadsword lying on the ground. Around the broadsword, like a halo are insect husks, 4 humans, 2 elves, 30 rats, all facing the broadsword in a ring. On the far wall, on the ceiling is the black silhouette of a man. He is bisected where the wall meets the ceiling. It is scorched and ash, plastered to the wall. There are no skeletons in a foot of the blade.

On the other side of the bodies is an iron chest. There are some remnants of wooden furniture. It is all obliterated. The iron chest is whole.

Voltendo does not detect evil. Mirella casts Detect Magic. There is a strong magic on the broadsword and a strong magic in a radius of 1' around the blade. It is a definitive globe. There is no light emanating from the sword.

Eomiaje goes outside to wait.

Mirella can tell there is magic on the sword and around the sword. Its not clear if the orb is caused by the sword or not.

The sword is matte gray steel with purple tint. The ends are flared in diamond shapes.

Eomiaje can tell that this sword has some elven flair, by the construction of the blade.

Not surprised.

• Ragnar draws his bow and nocks an arrow.
• Desmond will try to grab the sword.
• Klort will wait.
• Yohan is receiving a charge.
• Mirella braces for a charge.
• Voltendo gets next to Yohan and plants his naginata.

Tied initiative. We get fully prepared when a group of Giant Centipedes appears, there are 9 of them. Eomiaje fires and kills 2 of them. Ragnar kills a third.

6 of them charge into Yohan and Voltendo. They attack first.

Voltendo and Yohan kill 2.

4 left to attack. One on Yohan and 3 on Voltendo.

Missed Yohan. 1 hit on Voltendo, 1 damage and save versus poison. SAVED!

Desmond goes to grab the sword and is BLASTED with reactive energy and takes 6 damage with no save.

Mirella misses.

The sword has not moved. Desmond is down, he is at -3 hp.

Klort tries to stabilize Desmond. Ragnar charges with his longsword. Eomiaje charges with his sword too.

Yohan did 4 damage. Voltendo kills another.

Yohan is missed, Mirella is hit for 1 damage, save vs poison. Voltendo is missed. Mirella SAVES!

We kill the last one!

Eomiaje checks the sword for Elvish craft. It is pre-severing, over 500 years old. A mix of Elven and Human design. Ragnar takes a look as well, with Yohan, as they are both Armorers. It was made by different craftsman.

Eomiaje leaves as Mirella throws a dead Centipede at it. Both bounce off the invisible globe. Yohan throws an invisible holy symbol of Venha.

Mirella will pray to Venha.

Yohan is not blasted back with the Holy Symbol but there is too much resistance in the globe.

Mirella feels the same resistance.

Eomiaje feels the same force with the Holy Symbol.

Voltendo also has the same effect, finds that there is some resistance.

Eomiaje checks the chest and finds that there is a lock and no traps. He is unable to pick the lock.

Yohan can try a bend bars / lift gates, but fails to open it.

Yohan tries to lift the chest. it weighs around 300 pounds.

Stating the name of the person in the room of the sword does not work, its still blocking us.

We head south and get into the room with the lantern. The pedastal is empty and in the rear of the stone pedastal is the silver plate symbol.

Eomiaje checks the trap and believes it is disabled.

Mirella takes the plate off the altar and there is a click noise in the cabinet, but nothing happens.

We head back up to the room with the sword and rest for 1 turn. Desmond is conscious now.

We are in the room now. Mirella holds up the silver holy symbol and attempts to reach the sword. Feels some resistance and there is a rushing of force in the room, there is a blasting effect that sends the bones away. Everything is pushed up against the wall.

The energy is dispersed and the sword is glowing brightly.

Mirella picks up the sword. It is vibrating softly in her hand. Mirella talks to the sword. “Are you alive?” There is a presence within the sword. It is awaking from a long nap. It emits a groaning noise that we can all hear.

It groans louder and asks “What happened?” in Common. We were sent on a holy quest for Venha. You were surrounded by bodies and were able to disipate the energy. One of our companions was wounded. Mirella, I will remember that name. Where is Dalmoz, the Gray, the Bearer of the Skeleton?

He fought to the last and was destroyed. It can see the shadow on the wall, Dalmoz the Gray was 7' tall, that is not him. The sword asks “This place is no longer under attack?” it is somewhat pensive and delerious as though waking from a hibernation.

Would you let another great warrior wield you? Asks Yohan.

It's purpose is to protect the Sea of Grass and serve a worthy warrior. Delmoz the Gray was a warrior of incredible prowess. He was one of the few non-elven members.

It will not be held by anyone that is a shadow of Dalmoz power. It asks to make haste to a town called Reir'al.

It is called Whirlrender.

Even if centuries have past, its purpose has not changed. It serves the Red Woad. It must be a warrior of prowess. Reir'al has a map to the remaining towers of Emberwatch. Once we have done this, it will allow us to use it. It cannot take up any other quests until that is town?

It is 80 miles to the west.

The sword looks at our map of the 6 cities. It says in a low serious voice, perhaps overcome with emotion, it believes what we say is true, it only recognizes Mombafra. This place is alien.

It will not forget its purpose but it may travel with us for some time.

Yohan says that these towers are long forgotten. The other towers have been forgotten.

Which towers have been located?

The sword cannot help us open the chest. But it wants to speak to the high priest of Venha. It will make counsel with the high priest to make a determination of what to do.

The nearest temple is Criss Antha.

Does the city of Seteris still exist? It is an Elven city but Eomiaje has not heard of it.

Mirella takes Whirlrender. It objects, Yohan offers to wield it. He is willing to protect the Sea of Grass.

“Finally someone with some sense!”. YOHAN TAKES WHIRLRENDER.

The sword is a broadsword that glows 25'.

We continue down the hallway.

Whirlrender asks if we checked for survivors. A cruel fate, Whirlrender says.

The door opens, there is a small bedroom with 2 beds that are flipped over. Two wooden footloackers that have been broken open.

Eomiaje checks for other coins, does not find anything.

• 82 cp
• 1 sp

Is Whirlrender a servant of Venha? It is a servant of the forces of Good. Emberwatch is its home and left to be plundered by insects and gnomes.

In times past, when the towers had not fallen, there was an unruly organization of Gnomish terrorists that caused a lot of trouble for the Temple. It was a rogue organization.

It proudly and clearly explains that the steel of its blade was forged by an elven craftsman that gathered metal from the Elemental Plane of Wind. It has a strong connection to that place.

Were there any holy symbols?

In the next room, we find:

• 47 cp

Whirlrender seeks to visit the body. Dalmoz would want to stay where he fell, defending the tower.

We open a third acolytes chamber. Markings of weapons on the bedframes and blood on the floor.

• 90 cp
• 14 sp

There were no Elves that were part of this order. Dalmoz was one of the few that was not an Elf. He wants to visit the town to the west. It had a hideout of the Red Woad.

We go to leave and Whirlrender stops us, it can sense Kalestras Staff up ahead. It was the cleric that ran the tower. It had the ability to summon a magic shield. It says that there is a natural cave where they used to perform rituals.

We tell Whirlrender about the mushroom. It says we must destroy it.

We can smell the same scent when we go close to the gas cloud before. We cannot see the gas cloud however. The thing goes around the corner and we can see the entrance to the cave.

The thick cloud is giving off some light. There is a red glow in the center of it.

It can sense KALESTRIS STAFF.

We can only see the mushroom cloud, not the mushroom. Voltendo throws a continual light coin. It punches a small hole through the cloud. The glow of the light illuminates the mushroom.

Something is moving, about 1.5' high. It lurches to attention. They begin moving toward us.

• Desmond is incapacitated.
• Klort stays clear of the cloud. He shoots a magic missile in 1 segment.
• Eomiaje shoots the mushroom.
• Yohan shoots at the giant mushroom.
• Mirella casts Cure Light Wounds on Desmond.
• Voltendo braces for charge.
• Ragnar shoots the mushroom.

We lose initiative.

Out of the cloud come 4 Fire Beetles with mustard colored nodules growing on their shells and mandibles.

Eomiaje hits for 1 damage, Magic Missile does 3 damage. Yohan will get a swing at +5 to hit. he does 8 damage to a Fire Beetle and kills it.

4 Beetles attacking Yohan. One hit on Yohan, for 6 damage and he must save versus poison. SAVED!

Feels sluggish for a second.

Eomiaje hits for 5 damage.

Ragnar attacks but misses. The cloud of gas churns

• Klort casts Magic Missile.
• Yohan attacks.
• Eomiaje shoots.
• Mirella lights a torch and yells about the Beetles.
• Voltendo attacks.
• Ragnar attacks.

The cloud of gas is reduced by half the amount, and a stream shoots out at Yohan. Yohan has AC 2. The stream hits him in the face and takes 4 damage from the gas, and loses 1 point of DEX!

Yohans AC is now 3.

4 Beetles attack, 3 on Yohan. He will be hit on a 15. One hit and takes 6 damage, he SAVES!

One attack on Voltendo.

Eomiaje hits twice for 7 damage total. The cloud instantly stops churning and the gas just floats in the air.

Yohan hits for 10 damage, Voltendo hits a Beetle for 5 damage. Klort hits a Beetle for 3 damage.

There are 2 left.

• Voltendo gets into melee
• Ragnar attacks.
• Klort draws
• Eomiaje charges.
• Yohan attacks.
• Mirella attacks.

Eomiaje hits for 7 damage, Yohan did 11 damage. Mirella and Ragnar are attacked. Mirella is hit for 5 damage. FAILS HER SAVE and goes DOWN! She loses 1 hp and 1 DEX. Ragnar is hit for 4 damage. He Saves!

The gas is dissipated and the room is clearing up. There is a big stone bowl in the center. There is rubble of man size or elf size.

We lose initiative.

Yohan and Eomiaje. Yohan is hit for 4 damage, Fails his save and takes 5 damage.

Eomiaje is missed and also misses to hit.

Voltendo hits for 10 damage. Kills one!

There is 1 left.

Klort goes to help Mirella.

We are tied on initiative.

Eomiaje hits for 16 damage with a backstab. The Beetle is killed!

There is a mustard colored mushroom with its orifices.

On the ground is a big stone bowl. There are kneeling benches around the bowl and a golden incense burner.

Eomiaje can see the golden incense burner.

Yohan follow where he directs him to go. He finds a skeleton with plate armor.

Wooden staff and a large shield. Key id 13.

Kalestris staff is best held by a warrior.

The Plate Mail is rusted and eaten

• 480 ep
• 330 gp
• Key id 13
• Kalestris Staff is magic, can produce a shielding affect in times of need, 1/week.

Venha empowered the staff in its time of need, perhaps divine intervention.

DEX points that were lost are now restored.

We return to the room with Whirlrender and the key unlocks the chest. With a creak the chest opens.

480 cp, 1390 sp, 530 ep, 220 gp in the chest.

Eomiaje checks the chest for hidden panels but finds nothing.

Eomiaje is on doors instead of Desmond.

We go up to the top of the tower.

Whirlrender proudly confirms that this is the body of his former owner. Upon inspection of the body, it bids us to look closer. There is unmistakeably a mark at the top of the spine. It was killed instantly.

Eomiaje will attempt to retrieve the scabbard while Mirella prays.

Eomiaje retrieves the scabbard and hands it to Yohan.

We allow Whirlrender its moments of isolation for the sword to contemplate on the body of his past owner.

We have made it back to Maelc.

Sword provides a +5 bonus but the shield does not do anything.

Whirlrender says its not a Holy Avenger.

Golden Incense Burner is 200 gp.

Fire beetle glands x3 21 gp Whirlrender +5, it is Neutral Good. id 194 Golden Incense Burner 200 gp Key 13 Staff id 193 Large Shield Holy Symbol 1010 ep 550 gp

Yohan makes a reaction roll for the sword. It has some measure of confidence but isnt fully trusting yet. It will want to gain some trust in him.

Whirlrender says that the staff can cast Shield 1/week, same as Magic-User spell. It is a +1 Staff.

107 gp each 144 ep each

Voltendo buys the incense burner.

263 xp for everyone. Mirella gets 763 xp 3263 xp for Yohan.

Voltendo heals Yohan for 2 hp.

Desmond and Mirella are incapacitated.

Klort will stay in Ornholm.

Travel to Ornholm is uneventful.

The pilgrim says we can do our errand if we can get back in 2 weeks.

Everyone gets 7 hp on the weeks of rest.

14 hp of Lay on Hands to spread out.

We make it back to Gren and then to Criss Antha

Whirlrender asks to speak to the Temple of Venha. Yohan is allowed to go as well to speak to the Clerics. The Clerics have little information to give to Whirlrender but the Temple agrees that there may be towers of the Emberwatch may still exist.

Clerics confirm Whirlrenders story. Yohan gets the feeling that Whirlrender is headstrong and is measured in his tactical responses. May be careful of how we go about it.

The Temple of Venha is somewhat apprehensive about an unrelated Ranger bearing the weapon. They make no move for the weapon but if the Towers can be found, then the Temple of Venha will subsidize training for any Cleric in our party as a Class Quest, depending on the value of what we bring back.

The temple didnt know that the Red Wode was associated with the Windgrass Emberwatch.

Mirella can level up.

Whirlrender will tolerate the next quest.

Voltendo heads up to meet with Lygan and Jacob, with Timbraun for the Henchmen search.

After some weeks, we will return to Ornholm for Voltendo's quest and meet the pilgrim.

Everyone is back in Criss Antha on the 23rd.

No encounters on the way to Gren and none on the way to Ornholm.

UPKEEP IN ORNHOLM.

Yohan is switching his weapon proficiency to train in Broadsword. He will take 2410 in a loan. He owes 400 gp in upkeep. Whirlrender is not put up for collateral!

Klort owes 2 sets and 200 gp.

Eomiaje pays 200 gp in upkeep. PAID.

Voltendo has a Hippogriff.

We are all set. Desmond takes out a loan.

Mirella has 9 hp.

Yohan has 28 hp.

End of session.

Thorgard gets a discount in Ornholm with Holt. Divinations on the Treasure Map.

Xrith donates 100 gp amber gem to the divinations.

Holt performs the divination:

There is not threat at the location. There is no chance of enraging the deity and the Treasure is a low amount. DL 0.

The fungus we killed was another form of WEEP!