Recap: After teleporting to the basement of the Wenches Leg, Hayden, still in excruciating pain from his charred legs, pointed out the taverns secret exit. Kaitlin and her Mage companion quickly took some supplies, wished the adventurers luck and set about escaping Newhaven. She urged them not to tarry long as the inquisitors men would surely search the tavern and reminded the group to seek Hayden and herself out in one week at “The Black Raven” remembering the phrase “all birds are black at night”. She urged the heroes to should camp outside Newhaven and set about their business in the morning as even the Inquisitor's men in such short numbers would venture into the swamps at night.
In the Gromsmarsh, the marsh that surrounds the outskirts of Newhaven our heroes made camp with their prisoner, Captain Eugene Pike. After some interrogation, the party realises Pike has no information about the Inquisition and is little more than a big fish in a small pond. As the group bedded down for the night Corasrov stood watch in a semiconscious state known as a trance, poised with his Elven reflexes, ready to warn the party of danger. The Wizard Greg watched Dharma sleeping standing up, something he often does. The spells he cast yesterday had taken a toll, and he found it impossible to keep his heavy eyelids open. As they closed he found himself standing knee deep in water, looking out across a crystal clear ocean. In his hands, a newborn baby. It turns to Greg and says “you have to remember”. Greg was jolted awake found his fingers drawn towards a pocket he didn’t remember being in his robes. Inside a receipt reads: “Altador Osallius: Fulfillment of order #14456, 50,000 gold. Refer an aquaintance for 10% discount.” Potato was already fast asleep, snoring loudly, Leek the adolescent dire wolf curled up beside him for warmth. The wolf seemed less skittish than when initially found in the Hag’s den. Potato dreams of his homeland to the North, the barren plains home to the barbarian lords. Meanwhile as Ulrich stared into the the campfire flames, a vision of his mentor Loremaster Idorhaah materialised before him: "Ulrich, you have started on a path I once trod. Benedict and Tychondrias are not what they seem, you must proceed with caution. Seek out the head of my order, Loremaster Ascadian, before my death he contacted me". After confirming the correct spelling of Ascadian with Ulrich, Loremaster Idorhaah continued: "He had dire news concerning the so called God of Gods”. As he disappeared the flames formed into a magnificent white winged horse. Ulrich found himself gripping the hilt of his sword, the blade now glowing pure white, holy light shining forth. As Ulrich released his grip, the glow faded. As the sun struggles to shine through the overcast grey skies, our heroes woke, most decided to stay for breakfast, Ulrich heading back to the Orphanage to seek Jacob. The 10 year old orphan however was no longer at the orphanage. Ulrich told Sister Rose he would send word (and cheese) to Jacob at a later date, almost giving away his involvement with the resistance in the process. Meeting back up with the party who were finishing an egg breakfast that Potato had foraged and cooked, the heroes made their way to the Wood of Claws and the Hags cabin. At the hag's cabin, Pike was taken through a trapdoor, his fate sealed. The adventurer's barring the Paladin then took turns to draw from the "Deck of Many Things" a mysterious and powerful relic. Corasrov drew "the key" and came into posession of a blade known as "Nasek, the Serpent Dagger", a magical and sentient weapon from a lost civilisation that seems to have its own agenda...Potato drew "The Throne" and became rightful owner of a keep somewhere closeby, the group would later discover that this keep was "The Overlook" and it was currently inhabited...Finally, The Wizard Greg drew the "Flames" card and caught the attention of a powerful Devil known as Lamoram, who swore to take the Mage's soul. After the mixed results from the cards, the party started to make their way to The Crossroads, although they sensed they were being followed...by Jacob. Travelling towards The Crossroads through a heavy fog and Jacob in tow, the group come across some upturned carts at a bridge. Two farmers come running out of the mist screaming at the party to run. It's soon apparent that the large Troll was the cause of the carnage. During the battle one of the farmers was ripped apart, Greg the wizard kept the Troll from regenerating with a flaming sphere that also cooked one of the farmers Pigs. Said farmer fled screaming “SQUEELY! NO!!!” as the smell of bacon wafted across the misty battlefield. Spurred on by Squeely’s demise, the party made quick work of the Troll with Ulrich severing one of the beast’s legs and Potato slamming his axes into the its head, decapitating it. Ulrich then summoned a brilliant white steed who, along with a reluctant Dharma, pulled the wagons towards The Crossroads. After some successful trading and haggling, especially from Greg who made a tidy sum on some armour (and saw Lamoram's face in a merchant), the group made there way to "The Black Raven". A large tusked creature slid open a peep slot and asked "When is a Pigeon as a Raven as a dove? Remembering the phrase “all birds are black at night” the party successfully made it inside the resistance headquarters. The Half-Orc, Krusk, who let them in seemed particularly interested in Potato and almost immediately challenged the Ranger to an arm wrestled. This was a challenge Krusk would regret after the second round where his broken forearm was no longer inside his skin. The commotion led to the appearance of Lord Finsbury who led the party through a door and down some stairs, the tavern music trailing off. Inside the room a large round table surrounded by chairs. Around the room there were a few familiar faces and a couple that are unfamiliar. Kaitlin Carder, King Edwin’s daughter and heir to the throne was in an intense debate with the mage from Newhaven who opened the portal to safety. Without his hood it was easy to see the slightly pointed tips of his ears giving him away as a half elf. Well dressed, he looked like he is in his late 40s early 50s. Another man dressed in a black leather jerkin and later revealed as Spymaster Brana was reading in the corner. Hayden Glick, sat in a wooden chair with wheels to either side, a thick blanket covering his legs. He was staring into a lit fireplace, poking at it with a vacant look on his face. The heroes were invited to sit as the council of the resistance began. Spymaster Brana explained that "Benedict’s forces grow stronger by the day. Some 12,000 strong his army is. Veritas the holy city is a fortress. However I do have some good news. Benedict has become a recluse of late and relies on four Inquisitor lords to issue orders. One of these lords, one of his key men was slain in Newhaven, his throat slit from ear to ear. Inquisitor Lord Mandrix, head of propaganda and from my understanding tasked with keeping the peasants scared of Benedicts reach, power and wrath". Talk soon turned to securing allies for a potential assault on Veritas. Ebshan Maldir recommended attempting to release the mages from thir island prisin; the mage hold. Hayden Glick suggested recruiting the Elder races; the Elves and Dwarves and even the Barbarian Lords to the North. Tybalt Finsbury suggested support from the common folk and the great houses seeing the fight as a matter for the people of these lands ("not foreigners and migrants!”) Spymaster Brana interjected that before securing support, the resistance would need to know more about Benedict’s plans and Tychondrias and a good way to do so would be to seek Archdruid Ascadian and the druids of the Shifting Woods. When Findsbury, Glick, Maldir and Spymaster Brana leave the room, Kaitlin waited until the doors were shut, lowered her voice. and explained that she believed The Inquisition was too quick to find her in Newhaven: "I fear there may be a Spy in our midst. None of you knew of my arrival and you have proven yourselves in aiding me so despite what my aides recommend I feel I can trust you. Keep your eyes and ears open, the stakes are high for us all”. She also showed the heroes a wanted poster with their names and likenesses as well as providing two potential routes to the Overlook. Finally, the princess gave the party various trinkets for their help to this point. For Greg a Silver ring with a strange gem in the center that seems to continually change colour. Corasrov received some masterwork Ivory Spider Thieves tools Potato Two Large axes with boars carved into the hilts and Ulrich, an Ornate Metal Shield with the Symbol of Pelor overlaid in bronze. The heroes set out for the Overlook by way of the caves through Mount Karn and after a hairy encounter with some Darkmantles in the darkness (with Potato almost killing Ulrich) the party found a hidden way into the fortress. As they worked their way through the Necromancers former home, they released a Brass dragon called Braxanol whose life was being drained to sustain an abomination in the upper levels. They opened the way to the top level by answering a stone golem's riddles: 1. Bury deep, Pile on stones, My mind will always, Dig up them bones 2. You eat something you neither plant nor plow. It is the son of water, but if water touches it, it dies. 3. It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. And empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter. The group also had to fight through many undead, tricking a dozen skeletons into their own flame trap and finally destroying the monstrous creature seeming made of animated bone and sinew. The latter left everyone except Corasrov and Leek incapacitated; the parties toughest battle thus far with many more were to come...
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