Seattle Campaign 2.0: The Stone of Thanuran

2/14/10

--the adventuring party decides to strike directly west from the Valley of Thanuran and head to the small town of Loxian on the Masked River; the plan will be to seek out a river barge to the coast and then a ship northward to take them as swiftly as possible either back to Gilal or to Grand Takare
--the party is deeply concerned about who and what might be after the Stone of Thanuran
--the obsidian sphere is currently be carried by Riseif, packed alongside the sunstone, which seems to keep the sphere's power quieted
--while traveling through darkling lands, they come upon a group of darkling scouts who have recovered one of the party's horses; Wren's horse Rafferty is returned
--on the third night, less than a day from Loxian, the party beds down for the night; order of watches is set
-- Telisa is first, Galen is second, Riseif is third, and Lanthorn is last; by third watch, Galen lays down to go to bed; just as he is about to fall asleep, there is a strange strangled groan/cry and the camp is suddenly flooded by light from the sunstone; everyone wakes to find Riseif unconscious, fallen down next his pack; the pack is pulled open to reveal the Stone of Thanuran and the sunstone
--Telisa's healingcraft cannot wake Riseif; he seems to be feverish and having bad dreams
--Tirdim casts the minor level spell thought reading and yields only choas in Riseif's mind; the spell determines fragments of two battling voices: "No, no, I cannot..." and "...must take you..."; Riseif is in some sort of psychic battle with the Stone
--the next morning, the party binds Riseif and sets him on the horse; they hurry to Loxian
--those with Legend Lore and Magic Lore recall that Loxian played a significant role in the War of the Nightsage (some 300 years ago when the whole Lake Dannion area was under siege by the Powers of Night); Loxian is home to a powerful family of mages, the Loxias family; rumors and legends of the Loxias family include that one of their line had given up his soul to Occus (the God of the Undead) to become a lich (a powerful, immortal, undead mage)
--Loxian is a prosperous woodland town; though remote, the town has been fashioned to look like a larger, more metropolitan city; the town has a low wall of stone and timber; the town strides the Masked River; the buildings here are a mixture of wood, brick, stone; there are a number of towers that rise from the town; because of its magical history, Loxian is favored by a number of scholars, reclusive mages, traders that specialize in the needs of magic users
--experience is awarded
--the party is met at the western gate by a small contingent; four town guard bearing the livery of Loxian:

--with the welcome party is a young Elar woman, dark haired braided in the back, dark eyes, slim athletic build; she wears the embroidered silk and medal of station marking her as an Elar Seneschal; to those in the know, a seneschal for any keep or noble is one who oversees the day-to-day activities, logistics, and needs of the keep; however an Elar Seneschal is specific to powerful (usually Elar) families and mages; Elar Seneschals are decidedly non-mages and often possess (through ancestry) immunities and resistances to many different kinds of magic, particularly magical influence
--the Seneschal introduces herself as Ti'anti, Seneschal of Lord Mayor Tammacar Loxias, who has sent her to welcome and escort the party (and their mission) into the town
--they are taken to the Adventurine Inn, met by the innkeep Ranparlin, a tall, sinewy Takaran man going slightly gray
--they are asked to clean up, provided with rooms and baths, in fact the entirety of the inn has been emptied for their use (and for their safekeeping)
--eventually, a carriage is sent for the party to take them to Lord Mayor Loxias's manor house, just outside of the town
--the meeting with Loxias is a tense one; Loxias seems to know about the Stone of Thanuran; he asks the party their intentions with such a rare and powerful artifact; he says that he has many contacts with the Academy and the Sovereign Temples in Grand Takare; he says that he will help Riseif as well
--in exchange, he wishes the opportunity to study the sphere; for three days, he asks; he will help Riseif and at the end of the three days, if the party wishes, he will send them magically to Grand Takare
--Tirdim asks to be a part of the research on the Stone; Loxias agrees to allow Tirdim to "apprentice" but binds Tirdim under the oath of the Book and the Star, meaning he is bound by the Academy's code of mysteries
--the investigation into the Stone reveals that the Stone has been corrupted, most likely by the wraith in the Valley; the Stone will need to be purified before the power can be safely used
--the party discusses (at length) what to do about the Stone, whether to trust Loxias or not, whether to take the Stone elsewhere
--they attempt to contact Rathkin the Druid and Cobren of Anurl
--the party is visted by a mysterious woman named Rissa, dressed in a traveling cloak and clothes, wearing leather armor, armed like a rogue; she comes to them in the Adventurine Inn posing as a "friend;" she offers the party a deal -- to trade the Stone for various kinds of help or reward -- she seems to know about certain party member's histories; Rissa will not reveal her sources but she tries to cast doubt on Loxias's motivations; she leaves a bag of Sovereign coins as a measure of good faith
--the party also recieves a communication from Rune, a priest of Rune named Lentin from Cavalon, sends a message asking them to keep an eye on Loxias; there seems to be some dissention between the Sovereign Temples on the First Continent and the Sovereign Templs on the Second Continent
--the party feels squeezed by politic-ing
--while Riseif recovers, they discover that someone has "entered" his room but nothing seems amiss
--the adventurers return to Loxias; Loxias tells them that he believes the power of the Stone needs to be used so that it is safer than keeping the Stone or transporting the Stone; he says that the Stone must be purified first; he also recommends that the power be split and given to the party members; in return, they will serve Loxias (and by extension the will of the Temples) for a year and day
--the party deliberates

12/21/10

--and deliberates and deliberates...
--Riseif makes a full enough recovery that he is up and about and able to travel
--the party asks Riseif what he remembers; all he remembers is the last moments in camp when he was just about to start his watch and the suddenly feeling like the Stone was in some sort of danger; he went to check on the Stone and then his memory is blank till he woke up in the Adventurine Inn in Loxian; he has vague memories of troubled dreams; his uncanny sense for when he is in danger seems to be "haywire"
--the party decides that they will take the Lord Mayor Loxias's general offer
--a messenger bearing the livery of Loxian comes to the Inn and delivers a message that the Lord Mayor wishes to see them at the manor
--Ranparlin, the innkeep, notes that he has never seen that messenger boy before; the messenger could be new; the innkeep lends the party some horses to take them to the manor
--arriving at Lord Mayor Loxias's manor, they are met by a concerned Ti'anti; she says that she has not sent for them nor has the Lord Mayor (who is in study); she checks with the house staff and says that no one sent for the party
--before the conversation deepens, Loxias himself teleports from his inner chambers to the front drive of the manor; he commands that the house be secured and that the party enter the house for their safety
--the house is set upon by a group of adversaries, who also appear magically: a tall (7' tall) figure dressed in black flowing robes holding an inky black gnarled staff, flanked by two bestial feline animen, the rogue Rissa (who reveals that she is a Priestess of Ittar, the Goddess of Assassins), a giant darkling wielding a greatsword, and five zombies, one of which is the animated corpse of the necromancer the party killed on the road some weeks ago
--Loxias and the figure in black exchange words, posturing, and accusations; Loxias reveals that the cloaked figure is a demon; Rissa argues that the party should know that they are working for a lich (former?); the demon is only interested in the Stone and will allow the adventuring party to leave safely; Rissa teases the group saying that they should have taken her offer
--Loxias and the demon engage in magical combat; Loxias pulls the demon to him and erects a dome of force around the two of them; the demon scoffs and attempts to leave the dome by teleportation and Loxias holds him binding him to a summoner's circle; magical explosions -- flame, light, stone, fire -- darken the inside of the dome
--meanwhile, the party engages the remaining combatants
--Rissa charms Riseif with love; Rissa and Ti'anti square off; Ti'anti holds her own against Ittar and the two animen; she seems to fight defensively only occasionally stabbing and slashing with her daggers
--Riseif is too busy with the giant darkling and undead to notice that Rissa is in trouble; Lanthorn turns two of the zombies; Wren and Telisa help with the zombies; Tirdim faces off against the necromancer's zombie (who seems to retain his spellcasting abilities), including phasing into the necromancer's sphere to attack him directly
--the giant darkling's attacks are devestating, knocking both Riseif and Lanthorn unconscious; fortunately the healing of Telisa and Wren keep them in them both in the combat
--the zombies are dispatched, mainly by Galen
--the giant darkling is brought down by a group effort
--meanwhile, Ti'anti has successfully poisoned the two animen (who fall unconscious); Rissa realizes that she herself is poisoned and seeing most of her companions fallen, saves herself and magically transports away; in leaving she reveals the name of the demon (though not true name) as Abraxal
--the combat ends with Loxias bellowing from inside the magical dome that the battle must be finished; the dome collapses and both Loxias and the demon Abraxal vanish (ostensibly taking the fight to some other place or plane); a black glassy circle is left burned into the manor's front drive; glass so hard and residually enchanted that it is impossible to break
--Ti'anti rushes into the house to check on things; the party runs in after her but accidentally trigger the trapped floor in the front foyer; Ti'anti deactivates the traps
--Ti'anti asks the adventurers to remain at the house; it is safer
--the party waits for three days and Loxias has not returned; Ti'anti says that she must wait three days before the enchantments that bind Loxias's chambers allow her entrance; she says that Loxias has not returned but he remains "in existence"
--the party deliberates once again about what to do; Ti'anti says that she will help the party travel to Grand Takare (taking the Stone if they wish); she hesistantly provides for them two scrolls of teleportation
--meanwhile, the adventurers receive a letter from Hyuster Moll, the innkeep of the Inn of the Wild Cap in Gilal, Takare and friend of Burnbeard:

Burnbeard's Heroes,

Allow me that conceit, for you are the kind souls and strong arms that Burnbeard valued during his days. May he rest well with his gods. This message will be brief, and I know enough that anything sent even under seal is not always safe: Cobren Anurl is dead. Murdered, I believe, though many blame darklings. Darklings that desecrated Burnbeard's tomb, it seems. I do not believe it so. Whatever quest you are on, I hope all is well. I willd o my best to determine what has happened here, though I have not heard the call of adventure in many years. If you can, I know Burnbeard would want you to help and to know.

Regards in honor,
Hyuster Moll

--the party ponders going to Gilal to find out what happened; they feel responsible for Cobren's death, in some way, and believe that whomever killed the Priest of Anurl is connected to the attack at Loxias's manor
--Ti'anti asks to speak privately with Lanthorn: she asks him as a Priest of Valadarin that he watch the party, that he try to keep the best interests of Loxias, of Loxian, and of the Stone in mind; she gives Lanthorn a magical amulet (a large silver medal set with a broad oval hemisphere of moonstone) telling him that the amulet will allow the party to ask for the wisdom of augury; she secures his word that the amulet will be returned to her (before they travel), that they will use the amulet only to help them in their quest, that they will not use the amulet to inquire about Loxias or against Loxias
--Tirdim identifies the amulet: it invokes median augury, it is not dedicated to any single god though it is an item of the oath and the deed (a curiously rare pantheistic item), and has 9 charges before it is depleted completely
--the party discusses what questions would be appropriate and helpful to ask; Riseif asks for a charge for a personal question; Wren asks for a charge to beseech Possos
--Question #1: What should we do with the Stone of Thanuran? (asked by Galen of Anurl)

Response: Galen receives a startling vision, though brief, of the Stone, atop its original pedastal in the cave, the Stone falls and breaks into seven pieces... then, the Stone, whole, and a crown broken into pieces

--Question #2: What is the easiest way to purify the stone? (asked by Galen of Vessa Lune)

Response: Galen receives a vision of a woman's hand, holding the Stone, then breaking the Stone into seven pieces

--Question #3: What will happen if we take on the power of the Stone of Thanuran (asked by Galen of Rune)

Response: Galen hears these words: "Six will serve the light / Seven will gain the power / One will seek the whole / and attempt to fell the tower"

--Question #4: What should we do with the Stone to best serve you and the Realm? (asked by Wren of Possos)

Response: Wren recieves a vision of open sea, tossed by storm, in the sea are seven large sharks circling something, all take a bloody bite of something they are circling, and then an eighth shark comes and chases after the seven

--Question #5: Where do we go to Purify the Stone of Thanuran? (asked by Telisa of Mannan Aia)

Response: Telisa recieves a vision of the Stone falling to the ground, becoming buried like a seed, and grow into a seven branched tree

--Question #6: Where should we travel next to purify the stone? (asked by Galen of Rune)

Response: Galen recieves three visions: A vision of a tower in the mountains. A vision of a mirror, you (plural) in front of it. A vision of Loxias's chair.

--the party continues to discuss what the final questions will be; Tirdim wishes to preserve at least one charge of the item so that it (as a magical item) is not lost forever

2/28/10

--Riseif uses a charge of the Medallion of Augury to ask about the Arasan mage that killed his wife; he receives a vision of a bright light, like sunlight, and a name: "Arasha."
--the party investigates what the auguries mean and talk about what they should do with the Stone in case Loxias does not return
--while investigating Loxias's chair (in his audience hall), the Lord Mayor suddenly appears, teleporting to his chair; Loxias is severely burned, wounded, with clothes tattered; he is surrounded by a palpable taint and poison, which overcomes some of the party
--Ti'anti sends the party away to tend to her master
--a few days later, the party is sent for by Loxias, who meets with them in his private chambers; he seems still weak, tired, though his appearance seems "fine"
--Loxias's form seems to be covered by an illusion that makes him look whole and hale; the illusion is not perfect, faltering perhaps Loxias himself is weak; whether the illusion has always affected Loxias is not certain
--Loxias tells the party that times are desperate and that he believes the power of the Stone needs to be split and used before the powers that are moving to take it (e.g. the Demon Lord Abraxal) try again
--he proposes an emergency ritual to split the power; he will do his best to protect the party from the Stone's corruption
--the ritual will take a few days to prepare
--Ti'anti speaks to the party in private; she asks that the party implore the Lord Mayor to take a portion of the Stone's power; the power of Thanuran will help restore and help Loxias; she argues that in order to help protect the party and the Stone's power, Loxias must be at his best and the stone's power will help insure that
--the party decides that they will share a portion of the Stone's power with Loxias
--while Loxias prepares for the Ritual of Cleansing and Dividing, the adventurers decide that they will use the power of the scrolls of teleportation (that Ti'anti gave them) to return to Gilal, Takare to investigate the death of Cobren Anurl
--the party teleports to Gilal, just outside of town; they head to the town's graveyard
--they also investigate Cobren's house; they discover the signs of an attack (lots of blood stains, the attack looks like it was a surprise); they also find the Temple coin to Anurl, which has been enchanted to send the party a message (after all of them touch and speak to it)
--Cobren's message tells them that he feared for his life, that he augured his own death
--they party also discovers in the ledgers of the cemetery all of their names entered; investigating each of their "plots" they discover that Cobren left them things to help their investigation
--the party runs into Hyuster Moll (who has taken to help patrolling the graveyard)
--they investigate Burnbeard's tomb finding signs that it had been broken into and looted; they use a scroll of speak with dead left by Cobren to contact Burnbeard's spirit; they ask him what happened to him; Burnbeard's spirit reveals that a necromancer forced him to reveal what he knew about the Stone of Thanuran
--the also use a scroll to speak with Cobren's spirit (after digging him up); they discover that he was killed by Rissa
--the party goes into town and stays at the Inn of the Wild Cap; while at the inn, they spot a young man who has been watching them; they corner the man and get him to reveal that he was hired by Rissa to watch out for the party; he was given a medal of message to use to tell Rissa when he spots them
--the adventurers investigate about Gilal discovering very little
--they return to Loxian