Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for August 9, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Frank Urthadar (human evoker/sorcerer/ultimate magus), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger), Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor), and Thoril Songsteel (human thug).

Some of the Mercenaries opted to drink from the Fountain of Fortune’s Folly, while Taravin and Lyrin abstained. Ashkor’s drink produced greater strength, but his left arm withered into uselessness. Frank’s physical frailty amplified even further, but his force of personality greatly rose, making his sorcerous talents even more impressive. Iapetus discovered new insight and understanding with an increased intellect, but he found himself unable to naturally heal injury and resistant to magical healing. Lady Aridarye’s physical resistance to damage decreased, but her sharp mind became more able to repel mental influence. The dwarven cleric, Morak Beardfist, found his reaction times greatly slowed, but his profound wisdom deepened, making him a divine caster of phenominal strength. Syvarious found much of his physical wealth turning to vapor, but his fluid grace to avoid damage amplified. Finally, Thoril’s body surged with new strength, but his reaction times declined.

After their preparations, Malchor Harpell revealed a magical painting that looks in on Kuluth-Mar. Unfortunately, the party had no means to transport themselves magically to the city. Malchor used a powerful spell to send them to the city, and Morak was prepared to use word of recall to get back home later. Once within Kuluth-Mar, a vision filled their minds. They saw the jungle city in its heyday filled with humans bowing before a bethroned man. The chant of “Kyuss” roared from the crowd as the black-armored man stared out across the throng.

The Mercenaries set out cutting a swath through the overgrowth toward the Spire of Long Shadows. Before long, a trio of trolls assaulted the team. The Mercenaries had little difficulty bringing them down and burning their bodies. The most resistance was encountered by the female troll druid who entangled the group.

Finally, the Mercenaries arrived at an obsidian ring rising 30 feet high with the draconic inscription of “Kyuss Forever Bound” around the rim. Syvarious and Thoril flew up to the top and looked out at the ziggurat and rising Spire about 100 feet from the inside of the ring. They noticed a worm-covered figure walking on the ziggurat. The creature seemed to notice them and quickly went inside.

Now, the Mercenaries are all flying at high speed from the obsidian wall toward the ziggurat. What horrors await?

Game summary for August 2, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Frank Urthadar (human evoker/sorcerer/ultimate magus), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger), Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor), and Thoril Songsteel (human thug).

While awaiting the return of Malchor Harpell, the party relaxed in the Gilded Horseshoe. Cymria came by and informed them that Malchor would see them that night in his Twilight Tower. Frank, Aridarye and Morak engaged in a day of heavy drinking in the meantime. The Mercenaries headed out of town toward the tower when night fell.

Not far from town, a group of two barbed devils and four bone devils accosted the party demanding they turn over their fragment of the Shattered Scepter of Calim. Naturally, the Mercenaries refused and drove the devils back into Hell with a brutal fight. Several of the party members were badly weakened by the bone devil poison, but there were no casualties among the Mercenaries.

When the party spoke to Malchor about the attack, he asked to see the fragment. After verifying the authenticity of the item, the archmage retrieved a number of power magic items from his vaults. He offered to trade the Mercenaries these items of power in return for the fragment. They agreed after deciding the fragment would be safer locked away in the vault of an archmage.

The powerful Harpell went on to talk about the origins of Kyuss in the far-off city of Kuluth-Mar in the jungles of Chult. His one-time companion, Balakarde made several trips years ago to the ruins of the city and found it still contained the Spire of Long Shadows where he believed Kyuss ascended to godhood. Kyuss’ power seems to have receeded from the city, although it still teems with the remnants of his followers. Balakarde was unable to penetrate into the Spire and disappeared after leaving some of his notes with Malchor.

It is Malchor’s belief that there are important secrets to find in Kuluth-Mar, perhaps in the Spire of Long Shadows. The party now prepares for an expedition to the ancient city. Before they set out, Malchor has offered them the opportunity to drink from the Fountain of Fortune’s Folly, a powerful relic that grants both a permanent boon and bane. Will any of the Mercenaries partake? Will the choice really result in fortune, or is the use of the device pure folly?

Game summary for July 26, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Pitamian Kalal (human yang monk), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger), Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor), and Thoril Songsteel (human thug).

With the artifacts of Icosiol exposed, Moreto made his play to claim them as his own and rebuild his undead army with the corpses of the party. He attacked with a vicious lightning bolt while his mohrgs attempted to paralyze the group with their deadly tongues. The wicked Marquis took several hard hits and arrow shots, and his lesser globe of invulnerability stopped Lyrin’s initial assault completely. The mohrgs met with no initial success against the party, and Moreto’s body was soon damaged to his physical destruction; however, as his body hit the ground, his spectral spirit remained standing.

The party fought valiantly against the undead, eventually destroying the mohrgs. The spectre of Moreto was incorporeal and difficult to damage, and his deadly touch ripped through the lifeforce of those it brushed against. However, the Mercenaries proved victorious against this ghostly enemy as well. After the brutal battle concluded, the team looted the body of Moreto and took his head as proof of his death. They then rested and used spells such as air walk, the flight ability of the lightning sword, and the power of the cloak of the bat recovered from Moreto to escape the waterfall.

Once back into the catecombs, the team returned to the lair of Cornerweaver and presented the head of the Marquis. True to his (its, their?) word, the spider showed them to the “shiny things” they had missed. Laden with gold and jewels, the Mercenaries returned to the portal and went back to the Whispering Cairn.

A quick stop in Daggerford allowed the group to catch up with Delfen “Yellowknife” Ondabar and find that he had contacted his mentor Malchor Harpell. He urged the Mercenaries to make haste to the town of Longsaddle and meet with his former mentor about the Age of Worms. Setting out to the north, the party encountered a group of refugees from Waterdeep whom they helped with food and protection. Then, they set out toward Secomber to avoid traveling by the chaotic City of Splendors. Several more days of travel moved them through Red Larch, Triboar and up to Longsaddle.

The party discovered Longsaddle to be a bizarre town filled with strange magic. They crossed the upside down bridge and discussed magical theory with a number of residents, including one who offered them a spell to allow them to toot their own horns. The insanity of the place put the characters a bit on the defensive, but they discovered Malchor had made arrangements for them at the local inn, the Gilded Horseshoe.

Soon after, some old acquaintances, Celeste and Dagsumn, arrived along with an elven apprentice of Malchor, Cymria. Dagsumn explained that his and his wife’s bodies were brought to Longsaddle by Celeste and raised back to life by a man named Agath Harpell. Cymria, an eldritch knight known for being the eyes and ears of Malchor when he is away, asked the Mercenaries a number of questions about the Age of Worms. They were standoffish and refused to divulge a lot of their information, which set Cymria in a foul mood. However, they did show her the Apostolic Scrolls, which caused her much concern. She then bid them goodnight and went to communicate with Malchor about the party.

Now the party awaits the return of Malchor from the plane of Arcadia for an audience. Until then, they have room and board at the inn and fairly free run of the town.