Chapter Four: The Sword Coast - Session 32 - Good news from the Sword Coast - part 3

It's been a while since I ran last session, but some personal and professional issues were keeping me from updating blog. Next meeting is planned on August, 7th due to holidays and guys' vacation plans.

Session began with PC's plans on topic, how to depose body. The key factor was how to do it, without alerting high-ranking officials. If the become aware of situation, especially changes in books text, minor librarians would face sever consequences. As always, Bag of Holding came handy and heroes smuggled body out. Young clerks assured they are able to "repair" books. With their help and extensive as well as very fast and productive library search, heroes learned that book "My year of life in Netheril" was written by geographer and cartographer, Andru the Wizard. He was one of many wizards but at some point was able to gather vast hoard of treasure and settled on his own private island.

Meanwhile librarians contacted heroes with Cetus, a sage, researcher and wizard of much renown among academicians, who was looking for company to travel far away from Candlekeep. He proved to be valuable party member and wise person, what came evidently when researching information on Time Gates to Netheril, conditions concerning travel back in time or material components required for casting Time Conduit spell.
All in all, it became obvious, that Andru's island is first step of research, as it was relatively close to Candlekeep.

"Sky Mill" climbed up in air and flew north. Meanwhile heroes dropped body of Cyric's emissary to sea. Two days later ship arrived at harbor of Andru's islands. Local villagers greeted heroes warmly but informed them, that master Andru is absent, due to extensive research he conducts. His wife sometimes comes to village to buy food or needed supplies. while speaking of her, master of village, Morg, became fearful and suspicious. He confessed some dark things are happening. She was seen staring at windows of some houses and people living there, especially children, died. Heroes agreed to investigate matter in secret.

Party quickly climbed up hill, to reach the tower. After arriving at top of the hill heroes were immediately attacked by a twisted treant who was hiding between trees. After quick fight he was defeated. Cetus released his pseudo-dragon familiar to look around but she was able to see nothing out of ordinary. Tower was silent and apparently deserted. Door was locked, windows shut and nobody answered from inside. While Ren jumped at top of the roof, Jarod checked windows for traps but forgotten to do it in case of doors. A lightning struck him, while opening locks. Once again he was hit while fumbling with mechanism, but finally opened them. Tower was small but clearly habited. There were rooms like study, kitchen, dining room or bedchamber. Ren was descending from top, while rest party climbed up by stairs. While they were searching room after room, he was attacked by terrible creature, that turned out to be a night hag. She cast a Silence spell, so Ren could not cry for help. Moreover, his hits was apparently not affecting her. Finally party met at top of the tower and defeated villain. In room next to smashed study, the found Andru, binded and starving. He confessed he was betrayed by one, whom he considered true friend, a love of his life, which in true was monster in disguise.

Andru was not able to help with travel to Netheril. He said, he was given a scroll with time Conduit spell as a reward for his help and services for City of Brass. He was longing to go back to "those truly wonderful, but alas, lost times!". Heroes decided to seek a time gate located in Vilhoon Reach and set off.

Behind the Screen
- We have a new player, a Paweł. He chose to play wizard and I'm glad, as he read rules and learned them by the heart. Contrary to former wizard, he was able to learn his spells correctly, choose feats so they were logical and helpful for party. I'm glad to have decent and nice fellow in group.

- The adventure I ran was taken from Castles&Crusades quick start. It was nice, short scenario, that consisted some mysteries, combat and exploration.

- No mistakes in combat!

- I ordered final, printed version of Pathfinder Core Rulebook and Bestiary as well.

Chapter Four: The Sword Coast - Session 32 - Good news from the Sword Coast - part 2

After defeating Elemental Overlord, heroes saw other outsiders withdraw to their's home plane. The only trace of their existence were rebuild quarry and six gems, that were means to summon earth creature to do it's master bidding.

Heroes returned to Candlekeep and issued report to captain of the Flaming Fist watch. After a conversation about who or what wanted Tower of Knowledge being push down to the sea, part went to search for shipwright to repair damaged hull. The found one and made an agreement, so they were free to explore great libraries. Topics they were concerned with were various and different, ranging from Netheril's history, Karsus endeavors, Spellplague's portents and informations about Abeir. Connal, Jarod, Ren and Avelon with Gorma sat down to discuss research strategy. It was obvious field of work was wide and they had little experience. Most of all, time was running fast, as one can enter libraries only for one tenday a month. At first heroes thought of hiring a scholar, who would be given time for his or hers own research but no trustworthy candidate was chosen. Finally group decided to search for knowledge on it's own.

As it turned out, books were scattered around whole library complex, so the had to work in smaller groups. Avelon researched portents, Gorma and Jarod Netheril's geography, while Connal and Ren concentrated on arcane and planes knowledge. Heroes managed to meet with Bookkeepers and in exchange for help they allowed copy a mysterious scroll, that was able to bring a past to life.

Research was fruitful. Avelon discovered that Spellplauge was supposed to be magical disaster, caused my Mystra's death at hands of Shar and Cyric. Heroes were dreaded but prophecy was so cryptic and unclear, they were not able to learn details. Gorma meanwhile learned with Jarod's help some details of Netherill's geography, nature of floating domains and some other things. Connal and Ren discovered that in fact they are not seeking Karsus but his mentor Iolaum. While Karsus was most powerful of all Netheril's archwizards, it was Iolaum who was considered the wisest one and created most amazing feats of long gone magic arts. It was he, who discovered mythallar, elected first flying enclave, wrote down many spells. Most of all, Iolaum was the longest living human in whole Toril's history.

During the research, heroes learned of other scholars, studying in Candlekeep's library. some of them were researching knowledge connected with party's deeds and interests. among most intriguing were:

Sassuth - Red Wizard of Thay in search of some occult knowledge.
Korvos - a warlord from the North.
Koja - a Tuigan monk-historian, lama from mysterious Red Mountain.
Askeban Grimm - priest of Bane, openly displaying his faith.
Istriel, an an elf on quest for knowledge concerning Nordmen raiding his homeland.
Old  Chestnut - a tree-like druid searching for information about Trees of Life.

It was eight day of course, when Connal discovered his notes and books were different. It was surprising, as he remembered clearly, what has he written previous day. He mentioned it to one of elder library monks but dismissed his saying. Then Ren was approached by one of lesser clerks who demanded to stop inquiries or he  and his coworkers will be punished. He revealed, some books are being changed, their texts altered and warped. Connal and  Ren began look around and soon discovered that meaning of most of them was to make Cyric a great, omnipotent, omnipresent and most revered deity in all world and in all time.
In Candlekeep crime against book is more grievous than treason against human. Punishment is served quickly and without remorse and falls upon both offender and guardian, who let text to suffer. So it was clear that whole intrigue was to be dealt with silence, patience and care.

At first heroes tried to identify "infected books". With whole list, they compiled another list, this time with names of people, who read, burrowed or even flipped them. It provided few names: Avelon, Cyric's servant and priest of Bane among them. Than heroes began to closely watch suspects but were not able to identify offender. It was obvious that process of altering books takes place in night, when no one is allowed to stay there. With a help of clerks, party hid in private reading room and at night emerged to look for a forger.

Indeed, the found him at main desks with hands on two tomes. A dark illumination glowed around them, as he was reshaping history written on their pages. Jarod and Ren allured enemy and assaulted him, while Connal charged. Despite being outnumbered, K was fighting fiercely and once again Connal's healing power saved his friends from death. Cyric's chosen was a fierce and experienced combatant, learned also in ways of backstabbers, so he stand firmly. In the end he was defeated and fallen down, bleeding from wounds, giving his soul to his dark master.

Behind the screen
- Connal reached 13th level of experience.
- Combat was adequate: not too long, not too short. I designed enemy as a "critical striker", but alas, my bad luck with rolls smiled upon me and was not able to inflict more than one hit.
- We will have a new player in group.

Chapter Four: The Sword Coast - Session 31 - Good news from the Sword Coast - part 1

Honestly speaking, I didn't believed we will meet in May, but we managed to catch-up and play. It was fun and good session for me, with few challenges, competitive and moderate combat, brain storming, some role playing and short visit to spa.

We began with little resume of what happened during last session. Guys remembered cooking soup with Storm, heroic child nursing, talk with Elminster, advices they received and of course combat with drow elves. Surprisingly no one mentioned Avelon's channeling that killed Kyril. This is what I call gentleness! Connal raised him from dead that same day and whole company went back to Shadowdale.

Heroes returned to "Sky Mill" and began to ponder, what should the do next. It was obvious, somebody should prepare "plan B" in case their quest fails. After quite long discussion it was decided, that Xandos, Kyril and Rainer will travel to Averwest and begin prepare it's inhabitants to coming disaster. In the meantime Ren, Connal, Jarod and Avelon will search for clues how to stop magical plague and collision between Abeir and Toril. Moreover, a new member of party had to be hired, as only wizard would go with Xandos. something as casting was announced and three participant showed: a maid from Old Skull Inn, "working wizard" travelling upstate and mercenary mage. Of that candidates Gorma Lureshadow was chosen, a s she proved to be capable but lo level wizard and was able to read scroll taken form apes' city, claiming t is able to raise a place out of dead, creating it's shadowy image for one night.

Finishing that task, heroes flown to Baldur's Gate. During journey both Ren and Gorma tried to pilot ship and she became an obvious choice of pilot. After five days of voyage "Sky Mill" landed on river and later anchored at city's harbor. Connal visited Moradin's temple and took part in ceremonial armor smithing. Meanwhile Avelon and Ren went around city, haggling, shopping and eventually drifted to bathhouse, where ordered all the beauty caring oils, bubbles etc. But the best shot belonged to Jarod, who did not know what to do, so cashed his part of treasure and went to gaming house. He returned quite drunk and smiling with large and officially-looking parchment under his belt. Next day it turned out, that he won in a card game a house in Waterdeep, with all household items, land and other items. One lucky night and he acquired wealth, that set a comfortable life for a rest of his life.

Next day heroes said farewell to Xandos, Kyril and Reiner and set sails for Candlekeep. When "Sky Mill" vanished form eyes view, ship climbed hight and headed toward fortress of knowledge. En route heroes saw strange white rocks jutting out of sea. When ship was close a Candlekeep, I read aloud an introduction text from Baldur's Gate and described great library,:gardens and city itself. Before "Sky Mill" landed in harbor, a group of shapes approached. It were five knights, a wizard and cleric, all riding pegasi. The demanded what heroes are doing and what are their business and warned travelers that Candlekeep is under siege. Stubborn heroes decided to land and help guards to defend city. To their surprise the found Candlekeep quiet and peaceful, although some houses were ruined or damaged by strange rock formations.

After paying a fee in form of books, party moved to Flaming Fists headquarters to ask for assignment. The were met captain Hostburn, who explained that for about two months. unusual phenomena took place. At different and odd places rock were jutting from under earth, elementals were roaming the countryside and attacked people and from the east a wave of stones, earth and rocks was approaching, threatening to push city from cliff to sea.

Heroes decided to inspect sea rocks in case a second wave was coming from ocean but their suspicions were false. "Sky Mill" turned around and headed inland, to a quarry, which was nearby. The thought, correctly, that workers were responsible for angering earth spirits. During the travel tehy saw an earth wave slowly moving toward the city and decided that task should be finished as quick as possible. Fortunately, they hoped, the had an experience in dealing with earth spirits.

Upon arrival it was clear, that something was wrong in quarry. Elementals were replacing stones that were quarried and workers were caged in a prison of high, sheer walls. Many of them were dead, apparently. Connal tried to talk with one of elementals but at some moment creature.was possessed and by a powerful earth spirit and attacked him..He escaped and heroes decided to move with force.

Heroes descended and moved through quarry and later softened wall around prisoner. An angry elemental overlord appeared and attacked party. Fight was tough and deadly. During combat Jarod as killed but Connal revived him with Breath of Life spell. Once again Avelon used her negative energy channeling ability, this time with full force, raising once again suspicion toward her power and allegiance. In the end elemental was defeated and crumbled into pile of stones, while rest of his kin returned to home plane of existence.

Behind the screen
- I was totally surprised with an idea of spellcasters casting.
- Final fight went smooth and almost without troubles. But there was one misunderstanding and from that point on, there is no "wait, I should hit, may I still roll the damage" situations. You finished your turn, it is over.
- Jarod was killed for 63 pints of damage and did from massive injuries. It was a critical hit.
- We still look for one or two more players and I invited Ania, a good friend of us. She told me she will consider proposal, so keep the fingers crossed.