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02:08, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest.

Posted by DM PawnFor group archive 0
Eoni Daflin
Player, 734 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 15/24
Sun 2 Dec 2018
at 00:10
  • msg #527

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"I'm sorry we didn't reach you sooner," the Sister said sadly, laying a gentle hand upon the nameless elf's head.  "May Avandra guide your way.

"We'll take him to the Tiri Kitor.  Maybe they'll know who his people are.  Let them know he died fighting."


Regaining her composure, she wiped at her face and continued, "We'll take the chest as it is.  Maybe find someone who can open it along the way.

"If the rider left this behind, he may have left the rest,"
she said, looking toward the room she and Marklin had first flown into.  "There was some armor, a mace, and gold in there."  She nodded in the room's direction.  "We should see if we can reach it.

"Do you remember anything else, Marklin?"

Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 634 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Sun 2 Dec 2018
at 06:38
  • msg #528

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Valthur bows his head at the sight of the battered elf. "Poor little squirrel," he mumbles. "Rest in peace."

His sunken heart perks up a bit when he hears Eoni speak of gold. "Aye. We should definitely see if we can reach it!" His eyes turn hopefully to Marklin for more details.
Marklin
NPC, 6 posts
Fighter
AC: 2 | HP: 10/19
Sun 2 Dec 2018
at 19:10
  • msg #529

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Marklin shakes his head in the negative. "I was standing guard, not looking around for trinkets," the surly fighter says.

"But if you mean to dig through the ruins trying to find whatever might have been left behind, we best get started...and hope we don't stir up more trouble in the meanwhile."

The fighter shrugs. "Up to you. No skin off my back."
Sarah
Player, 528 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Mon 3 Dec 2018
at 13:28
  • msg #530

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Sarah helps with the excavation effort, and seems disturbed by the mangled elf-corpse.

[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: Nonetheless, she searches the elf-corpse when the others are occupied with the box, to see if he has any knick-knacks or other items of interest to the thief.]
Kane Taerix
Player, 226 posts
Halfling Hero
AC 1 (0) HP 20/22
Mon 3 Dec 2018
at 20:35
  • msg #531

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Taerix finds a spot where he can keep watch on the outside while the others hunt for the treasure they saw earlier.
DM Pawn
GM, 926 posts
Mon 3 Dec 2018
at 23:53
  • msg #532

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Several party members sift through the wreckage and ruin but, save for the iron coffer, find nothing that piques their interest. If the place could be described as dilapidated when the adventurers first arrived, after whatever battle took place here, it is now more accurately characterized as decrepit and condemned.

Large sections of wall appear as though it would take little to bring them down and, Valthur is easily able to discern that anything more than a cursory excavation is likely to result in danger to anyone within the crumbled ruin.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 735 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 15/24
Tue 4 Dec 2018
at 00:42
  • msg #533

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"I hate to leave something we could use," Eoni admitted straightening up from their excavation, "but this is taking too long.  Maybe someday we'll be able to come back and spend more time looking.  It was quite a pile of gold and jewels along with the mace and armor.

"Lets wrap up the body in one of those loose pelts and get him to the Tiri Kitor."

Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 635 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Tue 4 Dec 2018
at 05:13
  • msg #534

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"A pile of gold and jewels?" Valthur sighs at Eoni's description. "It breaks my heart to leave that behind, but these ruins were nothing but trouble when we first arrived and they're even more dangerous now. We've dealt with that vile brood of razorfiend eggs and still have our skins intact. I'm willing to call that success enough."
DM Pawn
GM, 927 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 14:02
  • msg #535

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Given the danger involved in digging through the treacherous ruins in hopes of unearthing treasure, the party eventually decides to depart for the Tiri Kitor village of Starsong Hill. Wrapping the slain elf in Marklin's cloak and loading his body into the reed canoe, the group pushes off and is soon paddling across Lake Rhest. Fortunately, they are not attacked by lizardfolk and arrive on the distant shore with little incident.

Similarly, the adventurers must surely now be in Avandra's good graces, for the next few days or travel are likewise uneventful, if not miserably uncomfortable. Fortunatly, the adventurers are able to locate Starsong Hill and arrive three days later, tired, but alive.

***

At Starsong Hill, the party meets again with the leader of the Tiri Kitor, Sellyria Starsinger. She is quite interested to hear details of their adventure, but unfortunately does not know the slain elf but nonetheless offers to see to his funerary rites, in the custom of elf-kind.
Sellyria Starsinger
NPC, 7 posts
Speaker of the Tiri Kitor
Wild Elf
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 14:07
  • msg #536

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"You have the gratitude of my people, the Tiri Kitor, for your bravery in ridding the lake of its fell influence," the Speaker says. "May that victory, the Gods willing, lend your people succor against The Red Hand."
Eoni Daflin
Player, 736 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 15/24
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 16:39
  • msg #537

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"If we could ask two boons of your people," the Sister requested with a deep bow to the Speaker.  "We have secured a map detailing the Red Hand's march on Brindol.  It would be of utmost urgency if one of your warriors could deliver it to Brindol with a message from us.

"The second boon would be fast passage as far as you could spare in the direction of Vraath Keep.  We now head for the Thornwaste for allies and are ill suited to moving quickly across the Fens."

Sellyria Starsinger
NPC, 7 posts
Speaker of the Tiri Kitor
Wild Elf
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 20:02
  • msg #538

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Eoni Daflin:
"If we could ask two boons of your people," the Sister requested with a deep bow to the Speaker.  "We have secured a map detailing the Red Hand's march on Brindol.  It would be of utmost urgency if one of your warriors could deliver it to Brindol with a message from us.


Sellyria asks to study the map first, before committing to aid the adventurers. However, assuming the party agrees to these terms, she agrees to deliver the map to Brindol's leader, Lord Jarmath, whom the wild elf seems to be familiar with.
quote:
"The second boon would be fast passage as far as you could spare in the direction of Vraath Keep.  We now head for the Thornwaste for allies and are ill suited to moving quickly across the Fens."


Sellyria seems intrigued by Eoni's mention of travel to the Thornwaste. "What allies do you hope to gain in that desolate domain? There is little to be found there save for a maze of broken hills, briar-choked ravines and a few tribes of roving, feral barbarians incapable of coherent speech!"
This message was last updated by the player at 20:02, Wed 05 Dec 2018.
Sarah
Player, 529 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 21:25
  • msg #539

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Sellyria Starsinger:
Sellyria seems intrigued by Eoni's mention of travel to the Thornwaste. "What allies do you hope to gain in that desolate domain? There is little to be found there save for a maze of broken hills, briar-choked ravines and a few tribes of roving, feral barbarians incapable of coherent speech!"


At Sellyria's description, a cross between a groan and a whine escapes from Sarah.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 737 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 03:21
  • msg #540

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Ignoring the lamentations of the peanut gallery, Eoni presented the map and added, "The elf they'd captured was looking for a phylactery.  He said Azarr Khull was using it to force an alliance with the Ghostlord of Thornwaste.

"We now have the phylactery.  If we can get it to the Ghostlord in time, we may be able to derail this alliance.  Then Brindol will face only the Red Hand in battle.  They'll have a fighting chance to save the Vale."

Aldara
Player, 437 posts
Human Enchanter (M-U 5)
AC: 8 | HP 15/15
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 14:05
  • msg #541

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"Lovely..." Aldara seems just as displeased as Sarah at the elf's description of things.  Her glamers and phantasms would not be of any use against such terrain!  But, they could be of use against the inhabitants.
Kane Taerix
Player, 227 posts
Halfling Hero
AC 1 (0) HP 20/22
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 19:08
  • msg #542

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Taerix keeps his mouth shut and his ears open as the others discuss the party's next move.
Sellyria Starsinger
NPC, 8 posts
Speaker of the Tiri Kitor
Wild Elf
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 00:05
  • msg #543

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

The wise-looking and ancient wild elf purses her lips and scowls when she hears Eoni say she intends to deliver the phylactery to the Ghostlord. She lets Eoni continue the thought before replying.

"It seems to me that would be quite a gamble," she says. "The being now known as the Ghostlord is rumored to be quite powerful..."

Then, she proceeds to relate what she knows about the Ghostlord. It seems the Ghostlord was a mighty druid who dwelt in what used to be the verdant plains south of Rhest. There, he led several tribes of nomads who were said to have built a massive lion of stone in honor of this great druid, who taught them the ways of the lion and how to leave at peace with these proud, majestic creatures. Yet, when dark times fell on Rhest, their shadow likewise fell upon the lion's plains.

"Dignitaries, from the Courts of the Rhestilar Lords, traveled to the plains to establish trade relations with the people of that realm," she continues. She goes on to say the nomads befriended the nobles but were soon betrayed when the visitors hunted down and killed a lion monarch for his pelt and claws. The nomads responded with violence, slaying the Rhestilar nobles to a man. A conflict between the two sides ensued, with the nomads no match for the full weight of Rhest's armies. The warriors of Rhest confronted and slew the druid between the paws of his own massive stone shrine.

"But the night after the warriors returned to theit city, doom came to Rhest," he says in an omenous tone. "Ghost lions prowled the streets, stalking and killing anyone thay came across. When dawn came, the entirety of Rhest's cavalry, including families, servants, and squires, lay dead." she says.

"Rhest never recovered from that dreadful night of terror. This, marked the beginning of the decline of that once-proud nation."

After a few moments of silence...

"Very dangerous for you, indeed," she cautions.

Still, she offers her support, should the party wish to be flown to The Thornwaste. Additionally, she says she has a general idea where the Ghostlord's lair is located.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 738 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 22:40
  • msg #544

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"Your wisdom is welcome," the Sister said, accompanied by another bow, "but we have to try.

"If we return the phylactery, at best, his forces will turn on the Red Hand.  At worst, he'll withdraw his support and take my life.

"Both allow the Vale a chance to survive."


There was no reason for the others to accompany her on this possibly final leg of their journey.  It might even be best if they accompanied the map to Brindol with her letter.

She accepts the longer flight to the Thornwaste.  She'd thought it too far from their home to ask such a favor from the first.
Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 636 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Mon 10 Dec 2018
at 11:34
  • msg #545

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

"Wait a minute," Valthur whispers to Marklin as he puts two and two together. "Is she proposing we give that filliac... foliac tree... whatever it is in that box to somebody called the ghost lord? That sounds like suicide!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:34, Mon 10 Dec 2018.
Marklin
NPC, 7 posts
Fighter
AC: 2 | HP: 10/19
Mon 10 Dec 2018
at 11:37
  • msg #546

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Marklin nods in agreement.

"Yeah. She aims to kill us all," he says in disbelief.

"Ah, the hell with it! From one bad idea to the next. Let's be on with it...if we're fixing to die anyway."
Sarah
Player, 531 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Mon 10 Dec 2018
at 16:58
  • msg #547

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Sarah looks very reluctant to leave for either destination.
Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 638 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Tue 11 Dec 2018
at 04:15
  • msg #548

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Marklin:
"Ah, the hell with it! From one bad idea to the next. Let's be on with it...if we're fixing to die anyway."

Valthur nods and then sighs. "Moradin help us all."
Sarah
Player, 532 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Tue 11 Dec 2018
at 14:19
  • msg #549

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

Valthur Ironhelm:
Marklin:
"Ah, the hell with it! From one bad idea to the next. Let's be on with it...if we're fixing to die anyway."

Valthur nods and then sighs. "Moradin help us all."


Sarah's anxiety clearly increases, and she looks like she wants to scream.  Instead, she turns to Aldara with a pleading look in her eyes.
Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 640 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Thu 13 Dec 2018
at 05:53
  • msg #550

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

As the planning continues, Valthur begins to compose a letter in his head.

My dearest Darna,
I write this letter to you, quite possibly my last, as we head off to the Thornwaste, a treacherous land, in search of someone called the Ghost Lord, an undead being of unrivaled power. We have something of his, a filliac? fillatorio? We have an item belonging to him that we recovered from a hoard of more than 30 evil razorfiends who we defeated thanks in great part to the work of my new axe (Hobgobsmacker? Valthur's Edge? Razor's Bane? just call it your new axe). It is our hope to trade the item for his help in protecting the vale. I'll be honest, our chances of success are about as good as the chances of your father giving me his favorite anvil (you know the one - with the markings on the base). Anyway, it's more likely that this ghost lord will simply destroy us, but I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you before I met such a wretched ending ... anyway, hope all is going well back there... wherever you are. Tell your father I said hello - no wait, that sounds stupid. I hope you still like the bracelet I bought for you.

Love With sincerest thoughts,
Valthur Ironhelm

This message was last edited by the player at 06:01, Thu 13 Dec 2018.
DM Pawn
GM, 930 posts
Thu 13 Dec 2018
at 11:35
  • msg #551

Re: Chapter 12: The Ruins of Rhest

The ancient leader of the Tiri Kitor, Sellyria Starsinger, agrees to lend her aid to the adventurers. She arranges for her people to bear a message to Lord Jarmaath in Brindol and to transport the party to and from the Thornwaste aboard the majestic giant owls.

Within the Thornwaste, the adventurers hope to seek counsel with the Ghostlord, perhaps persuading the mysterious boogeyman to break his alliance with the Red Hand, in exchange for the return of his phylactery. A risky gambit to be sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Having already trekked through the tangled tracks of the Witchwood and the flooded reaches of the Blackfens, the adventurers might think they have already come up against the most inhospitable terrain possible...but they are sorely mistaken...
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