Sidrea12 - Snake in the Grass
The session begins with the companions a mile from the East Gate into Arthadan. Although the companions survived a deadly encounter with a demonic arachnid, it was a hard-fought victory and the group decided to rest and regroup prior to their attempt to infiltrate the city.
Using his rope-trick spell, Haeythir managed to create a safe area for the companions – where they rested for the night and recovered their magical abilities. The next morning, the companions approached the gate.
The walls of Arthadan are imposing – more than 40-feet tall, the gate is guarded by flanking towers. The sharp eyes of Haeythir and Dalrick picked out several lizardman sentries on the wall and within the guard tower.
It is clear that although the drawbridge is down, the gates are closed with a heavy iron portcullis.
After some argument, the group decided to send Dalrick and Zerkestor over the walls with invisibility and spider climbing. Once over the wall, Zerkestor will create a distraction while Dalrick locate and use the mechanism that would open the gates for the rest of the group to enter.
Dalrick managed to slip over the walls undetected. However, Zerkestor, walking toward the gate, clanking in his full-plate armor, immediately drew the guards’ attention. Although they could not see Zerkestor, they could hear him just fine.
While Zerkestor held the guards’ attention, Dalrick slipped into the guard station and found the mechanism that would open the gate. The lizardman had apparently jammed the cogs of the mechanism with a few small logs. Dalrick then moved to pull out one of the log. Only then did he notice, too late, a small rune carved on the log.
The rune of confusion took effect, and Dalrick first gibbered for a while, then ran out. Meanwhile, Zerkestor was fighting the two lizardman sentries. The might of Zethunor was with the cleric, as his mighty morning star sent one lizard man flying like a rag-doll, and hammered the second into the ground.
Meanwhile, Berek, waiting outside the city, was getting impatient. After seeing the sentries disappeared from the wall, he rushed forward. Utilizing the spider-climbing spell that Seleth (his cohort) had given him, he climbed over the wall. Then, he entered the guard station. Failing to detect the trap, Berek triggered the rune and was similarly confused.
Dalrick, by this time, was just behind Berek. Berek simply turned around and cut his companion down! Still under the effect of confusion, Berek then ran off gibbering.
Finally, Zerkestor arrived at the guard-station. The cleric managed to figure out the problem with the cogs and got the gates open. The companions then managed to enter the city.
Apparently, the companions made an incredibly astute move – for the entire area around the East Gate was lightly guarded. The lizard men sentries on the walls had been all the resistance that the companions encountered. Soon, the companions arrived near the Temple of Alioch – the Sword Saint and God of Military Expertise.
The entire temple was built like a fortress and there was a killing field around the temple, where no structures were built. The entire fortress was shielded with a glimmering field of dispel magic. Even as the companions watched, several squads of lizard-men rushed toward the temple, only to be incinerated by lightning bolts.
Realizing that they would be considered as enemies unless they prove themselves to the priests of Alioch, the companions sent Dalrick’s eagle ahead, carrying a note explaining their presence. Apparently the note was well received, for the companions managed to make safely into the walls of the fortress temple.
Once inside, the companions were escorted to the second level of the temple, into a grand council room, where they met the Delshan Oracle. The oracle turned out to be a tiny halfling woman named Oiolossa. The oracle revealed that her meeting the companions means that the time of the prophesy is now at hand.
She explained to the companions that they are the Godborn – those who descends from the younger gods and in whom, the divine power flows strongly. It was why the Atroans had picked them for their school – for the secret purpose of the school was to train and guard the godborns so that they may fight the enemy.
Haeythir is the godborn of Baccob – the uncaring archmage of the gods.
Soyoko is the godborn of Eleema – the goddess of night and dreams.
Berek is the godborn of Moradain – the god of dwarves and the soul forger.
Zerkestor is the godborn of Zethunor – the god of seas and weather.
Dalrick is the godborn of Trinity – of equal aspect of Pelor (Sun) / Eleema (Night) / Selene (Moon)
Together – the companions are the child of yesterday – who were foretold to be the champions that would protect the child beget of violence and lust (Amathyya). Only with the crowning of Amathyya – and her growing power with the Words of Creation could the mortal children of the younger gods (humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc.) stand against the re-awakening of Merrshaulk.
Merrshaulk will re-awaken in the next lunar eclipse, which is nearly a year away…
The oracle has apparently been eagerly awaiting the companions – for she mentioned that Dethira (the mistress of combat arts under whom the companions studied in the Atroan School) had been scrying upon the companions. This got the companions quite suspicious as Dethira entered the chamber with her escort – a big burly man named Valien.
The companion greeted Dethira and made some arrangement for the night when Valien leaned over to Dethira and whispered a few words.
Before anyone else could react, Dethira cast a spell and turned invisible. Valien then drew sword and charged the companions.
Things quickly went from bad to worse for the companions as Dalrick fell under Valien’s blade and Berek fell under Dethira’s domination spell and turned on his companions. Seleth, Berek’s follower, was slain by her own master’s sword. Haeythir made an attempt to defeat Dethira’s spell by using protection against evil to block out Dethira’s mental orders.
The companions managed to kill Valien. However, Dethira had summoned three fiendish dire wolves to her aid. She enlarged them and the wolves set upon the companions. Berek managed to take down two of the wolves before Dethira dispelled Haeythir’s protection from evil spell. Berek, once again, turned on his companions. Soyoko fell below Berek’s sword before Berek managed to gather enough will power to break the spell.
Dethira, however, then tossed a confusion spell into the middle of the companions. Both Haeythir and Berek were confused. Although the mage’s feeble melee attacks were of little concern, Berek’s attacks are another matter altogether.
Meanwhile, Soyoko had summoned a hell hound, whose scent ability finally pin-pointed Dethira’s location. Dalrick (who had been healed by Zerkestor and is now back on his feet) managed to put an arrow in the wizardess before turning around to see Berek bearing down on him.
Even as Dalrick went down, the table turned against Dethira, as Soyoko hurt her with a fireball. She fled out the room, with the hell hound on her tail. Zerkestor and Soyoko follow the hell hound, only to find the hell hound barking at a wall of force that Dethira used to ensure her escape.
Meanwhile, a gibbering Berek amidst dead bodies and smashed furniture greeted some Knights of the Sword that finally entered the council chamber…
The Knights of the Sword mounted a search of their fortress for the traitor, but found no trace of her. Dalrick, despite his tracking skills, also found no clue of her whereabouts.
Exhausted, the companions rested for the night – only to be greeted next morning with a new conundrum. The oracle had requested and received divine guidance regarding the whereabouts of the Serpent Gate that was teleporting the lizard men into the city. The reply was in the form of a riddle:
A mine shaft into the ground
That produces neither metal nor gem;
Yet at the seas where no oars dip,
Its produce is worth more than seams of gold.
By way of the mine-shaft in the temple of the prince of swords, thou should seek out the aid of the rock-eater.
What would the companions do next?
Using his rope-trick spell, Haeythir managed to create a safe area for the companions – where they rested for the night and recovered their magical abilities. The next morning, the companions approached the gate.
The walls of Arthadan are imposing – more than 40-feet tall, the gate is guarded by flanking towers. The sharp eyes of Haeythir and Dalrick picked out several lizardman sentries on the wall and within the guard tower.
It is clear that although the drawbridge is down, the gates are closed with a heavy iron portcullis.
After some argument, the group decided to send Dalrick and Zerkestor over the walls with invisibility and spider climbing. Once over the wall, Zerkestor will create a distraction while Dalrick locate and use the mechanism that would open the gates for the rest of the group to enter.
Dalrick managed to slip over the walls undetected. However, Zerkestor, walking toward the gate, clanking in his full-plate armor, immediately drew the guards’ attention. Although they could not see Zerkestor, they could hear him just fine.
While Zerkestor held the guards’ attention, Dalrick slipped into the guard station and found the mechanism that would open the gate. The lizardman had apparently jammed the cogs of the mechanism with a few small logs. Dalrick then moved to pull out one of the log. Only then did he notice, too late, a small rune carved on the log.
The rune of confusion took effect, and Dalrick first gibbered for a while, then ran out. Meanwhile, Zerkestor was fighting the two lizardman sentries. The might of Zethunor was with the cleric, as his mighty morning star sent one lizard man flying like a rag-doll, and hammered the second into the ground.
Meanwhile, Berek, waiting outside the city, was getting impatient. After seeing the sentries disappeared from the wall, he rushed forward. Utilizing the spider-climbing spell that Seleth (his cohort) had given him, he climbed over the wall. Then, he entered the guard station. Failing to detect the trap, Berek triggered the rune and was similarly confused.
Dalrick, by this time, was just behind Berek. Berek simply turned around and cut his companion down! Still under the effect of confusion, Berek then ran off gibbering.
Finally, Zerkestor arrived at the guard-station. The cleric managed to figure out the problem with the cogs and got the gates open. The companions then managed to enter the city.
Apparently, the companions made an incredibly astute move – for the entire area around the East Gate was lightly guarded. The lizard men sentries on the walls had been all the resistance that the companions encountered. Soon, the companions arrived near the Temple of Alioch – the Sword Saint and God of Military Expertise.
The entire temple was built like a fortress and there was a killing field around the temple, where no structures were built. The entire fortress was shielded with a glimmering field of dispel magic. Even as the companions watched, several squads of lizard-men rushed toward the temple, only to be incinerated by lightning bolts.
Realizing that they would be considered as enemies unless they prove themselves to the priests of Alioch, the companions sent Dalrick’s eagle ahead, carrying a note explaining their presence. Apparently the note was well received, for the companions managed to make safely into the walls of the fortress temple.
Once inside, the companions were escorted to the second level of the temple, into a grand council room, where they met the Delshan Oracle. The oracle turned out to be a tiny halfling woman named Oiolossa. The oracle revealed that her meeting the companions means that the time of the prophesy is now at hand.
She explained to the companions that they are the Godborn – those who descends from the younger gods and in whom, the divine power flows strongly. It was why the Atroans had picked them for their school – for the secret purpose of the school was to train and guard the godborns so that they may fight the enemy.
Haeythir is the godborn of Baccob – the uncaring archmage of the gods.
Soyoko is the godborn of Eleema – the goddess of night and dreams.
Berek is the godborn of Moradain – the god of dwarves and the soul forger.
Zerkestor is the godborn of Zethunor – the god of seas and weather.
Dalrick is the godborn of Trinity – of equal aspect of Pelor (Sun) / Eleema (Night) / Selene (Moon)
Together – the companions are the child of yesterday – who were foretold to be the champions that would protect the child beget of violence and lust (Amathyya). Only with the crowning of Amathyya – and her growing power with the Words of Creation could the mortal children of the younger gods (humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc.) stand against the re-awakening of Merrshaulk.
Merrshaulk will re-awaken in the next lunar eclipse, which is nearly a year away…
The oracle has apparently been eagerly awaiting the companions – for she mentioned that Dethira (the mistress of combat arts under whom the companions studied in the Atroan School) had been scrying upon the companions. This got the companions quite suspicious as Dethira entered the chamber with her escort – a big burly man named Valien.
The companion greeted Dethira and made some arrangement for the night when Valien leaned over to Dethira and whispered a few words.
Before anyone else could react, Dethira cast a spell and turned invisible. Valien then drew sword and charged the companions.
Things quickly went from bad to worse for the companions as Dalrick fell under Valien’s blade and Berek fell under Dethira’s domination spell and turned on his companions. Seleth, Berek’s follower, was slain by her own master’s sword. Haeythir made an attempt to defeat Dethira’s spell by using protection against evil to block out Dethira’s mental orders.
The companions managed to kill Valien. However, Dethira had summoned three fiendish dire wolves to her aid. She enlarged them and the wolves set upon the companions. Berek managed to take down two of the wolves before Dethira dispelled Haeythir’s protection from evil spell. Berek, once again, turned on his companions. Soyoko fell below Berek’s sword before Berek managed to gather enough will power to break the spell.
Dethira, however, then tossed a confusion spell into the middle of the companions. Both Haeythir and Berek were confused. Although the mage’s feeble melee attacks were of little concern, Berek’s attacks are another matter altogether.
Meanwhile, Soyoko had summoned a hell hound, whose scent ability finally pin-pointed Dethira’s location. Dalrick (who had been healed by Zerkestor and is now back on his feet) managed to put an arrow in the wizardess before turning around to see Berek bearing down on him.
Even as Dalrick went down, the table turned against Dethira, as Soyoko hurt her with a fireball. She fled out the room, with the hell hound on her tail. Zerkestor and Soyoko follow the hell hound, only to find the hell hound barking at a wall of force that Dethira used to ensure her escape.
Meanwhile, a gibbering Berek amidst dead bodies and smashed furniture greeted some Knights of the Sword that finally entered the council chamber…
The Knights of the Sword mounted a search of their fortress for the traitor, but found no trace of her. Dalrick, despite his tracking skills, also found no clue of her whereabouts.
Exhausted, the companions rested for the night – only to be greeted next morning with a new conundrum. The oracle had requested and received divine guidance regarding the whereabouts of the Serpent Gate that was teleporting the lizard men into the city. The reply was in the form of a riddle:
A mine shaft into the ground
That produces neither metal nor gem;
Yet at the seas where no oars dip,
Its produce is worth more than seams of gold.
By way of the mine-shaft in the temple of the prince of swords, thou should seek out the aid of the rock-eater.
What would the companions do next?
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