Saturday 18 July 2015

The Medium Version of The Long Game

Hello! We here, at D4sign, have been playing many games and sometimes it is easy to lose track of things. True to its name, we have been playing The Long Game for a long time, and I thought it would be a good idea to provide a summary. If you're new to the game, this should help you catch up, and if you're very familiar with it, this should refresh your memory. I will be updating this as we play and further details can be found in earlier Long Game posts!

I also found that while this was much shorter, it was still longer than the average reader may wish to peruse. Therefore, I have written an even shorter summary here.
Dallas Kasaboski


Character Backstories

Tong zi Gong
  • Human, formerly Victor Whitehelm, prince of Canitia.
  • The Whitehelm Reaping
    • Lost duel with Albus general, he and his men imprisoned.
    • Made deal with devil, Votharxos, received the Edge of Sanity, a sword chained to his back, making him invincible in armed combat.
    • Slaughtered his men, his family, and most of Albus' military strength
  • Met Ting Tang Wong Gong, Canitian monk who defeated him in combat
  • Became Tong zi Gong, dedicated his life to Ioun's search for enlightenment
Alvyn Semanine
  • Gnome, imbued with godly amount of power, accidentally destroyed home and family
  • Captured, experimented on by Aesian scientists leading to destruction of eastern border of Aes
  • Escaped, joined the Doomguard, devoted to preventing apocalypse
  • Associates: Trixie (on/off again relationship), Tribulus (mentor), Leliana
Kalgar Drakeswynd
  • Dragonborn, former naval Commander in Aes
  • Served in Aes' navy his entire life
  • During second tour, learned about superweapon program, tried to dissuade against their use
  • Close comrades - Sora (sometime lover), Ghesh, Kriv
  • Committed treason by faking his own death, leaving Aes
Group backstory
  • Alvyn met Kalgar while trying to steal a superweapon, helped Kalgar escape Aes
  • Alvyn met Tong while trying to steal the Edge of Sanity
  • Kalgar and Tong initially agreed to be Alvyn's assets, helping the Doomguarrd 

The Tomb of the Last Human Emperor
  • Investigated tomb in mountain in Albus
  • fought Invulnerable Guardian, defeated it by dropping down a deep hole
  • found throne room with human remains, and a book about devils and demons
  • mural on wall suggested white dragon took the place of the last human emperor
Killing a White Dragon in Albus
  • Mercury hired us to kill dragon in Albus 
  • Stole dragon-summoning flare from kobolds, summoned dragon in abandoned town
  • killed young white dragon who
    • confirmed his father was the Emperor of Albus
    • mentioned the Long Game
    • warned of the Adamantian invasion
The Doomguard Headquarters
  • Located in Chalybs, city-state in centre of Cyfandir continent
  • Lead by Leliana, and Tribulus Griefblade
  • Mercury was there, warned us to not talk about the Long Game, would explain later
  • Tong began to question weapons vs. tools, pored over book about devils
  • Party convinced to go to Aes, find news of missing Doomguard agent
An Adventure in Aes
  • traveled through Canitia on way to Aes, saw Tong's old temple
  • stopped at Portam Myvillion, northern Aes city
  • booked passage on the Red Sky to go to Suturi, last known location of Doomguard agent
    • first mate: Sirtha, tiefling female
    • Captain Wyrren, dragonborn female
    • sailed through Opal Strait, Kalgar helped Tong with seasickness
  • At Suturi, stopped at the Salty Dragon pub
    • found Doomguard agent, seemingly drunk, who mind was being controlled by a dragonborn member of the Angrimich Shivi
    • bar fight
    • chased dragonborn agent through streets, Alvyn killed him to cover our tracks
    • Kalgar realized Aes was not the home he remembered, Strength must be checked; weakness is its own punishment
  • Tong tried to ease Alvyn's mind, psionic technique reveals a vision
    • In this vision, beings who Alvyn, Tong, and Kalgar felt to be the patron gods, infused Alvyn with unholy power as a baby
    • Alvyn storms off, upset with Tong for interfering, upset with gods for interfering
    • Kalgar and Tong are unsure of truth of vision, keep a skeptical mind toward their gods 
Canitia: The Hunt
  • Great Hunt, 3 day tournament, starts in The Vale, Canitia's capital
  • met members of the Brass Company, famed mercenaries
  • met tielfing Knight Verius, from Ruber, who noticed the Edge of Sanity
    • member of the Knights of Shame, knights who had broken a great vow
    • vigilance against devils and demons allowed him to see the sword
    • said his ruler, a former demon, may help Tong remove the curse
  • Party learned of the Edge of Sanity and Tong's backstory
    • Alvyn had known of the sword but was upset that Tong had originally asked for it
    • Kalgar reflected on the curse of power
    • both had horrible, violent nightmares
    • Tong woke up seemingly charred
  • Tong's meditation showed Kalgar and Alvyn the Reverie for the first time
    • When does a weapon become a tool?
  • met Alia the Stubborn, former brash monk of Canitia, who knew Tong
  • killed mammoth
  • Aleia won the Great Hunt after killing an animal erroneously thought to be the Grey Beast
  • met Shizuka, white dragonborn, samurai from Albus
    • Alvyn challenged him to a fight with Kalgar
    • Kalgar's intimidation struck a nerve, Shizuka saw every failure he had faced in Albus
  • met the Oracle, "The arcane knot will come undone, the Edge of Sanity will be called into action, the thunder god will challenge the storm god, and one way or the other, the game will end."
  • Shizuka decided to travel with the party
Break-in at the Doomguard Headquarters
  • Heading to Chalybs, via Cupro and the Dragon's Waste
  • Hugging the Adamantian border, saw giant wall of inert golems, watched over by warforged
  • met Faulty, the friend warforge, Alvyn gave him a Doomguard contact card
  • Kalgar learned the shifting attack technique from Shizuka
  • Shizuka admitted to knowing Tong's past
  • met genasi praising "The god of thunder" Rayden, at crossroads between Cupro and Adamantina
  • met female dragonborn patrolling border of Cupro
    • gave party directions for quicker passage through the country
    • party had to swear to do her a favour someday
    • led through caverns, past The Screaming Pit
  • Back at Chalybs
    • Plumber's Guild strike was over
    • Sanitation Guild threatening a strike, garbage everywhere
    • Party learned of CWNN, Cyfandir Wizard News Network, and lead anchor goliath Filivus Mountainface. "If you don't like it, you can take it up with my face!"
    • siege commencing in Albus thanks to invading Adamantia
  • At Doomguard headquarters
    • security very tight, place looked ransacked
    • Vex, Doomguard librarian asked for help in sorting material
      • found two scrolls missing: one for summoning a creature, the other for binding it
    • suspected the Brass Company
    • Kalgar and Tong met Trixie
  • Brass Company Chalybs office, Tong and Kalgar took a tour, Alvyn snuck around for intel, found no clues or hint of involvement in Doomguard affair
  • Doomguard decides to move headquarters, and move vault to Aurum
  • Party went to Aurum, to old capital city of human empire Nerath, to see if teleportation circle was still there
  • In Aurum,
    • saw bloodgrass, red grass which affected nearby animals
    • saw ghosts
    • made camp for the night
The Sorrows
  • fought ghosts, Tong's first mention of Discipline Scrolls, Scroll #1 "YOU CAN'T POISON A GHOST!"
  •  found building made of ghost-blocking obsidian
  • found underground vault, guarded by a ghost-dragon
  • defeated it, it vanished, the party took some residuum and some coins
The Fall of the Dwarven Empire
  • On way to Ruber, ghost-dragon appeared, demanded coins back
    • party made deal to bring more coins as long as dragon guarded vault
    • party returned to the Sorrows, dropped off a few coins
  • Alvyn told Kalgar and Tong about his past, see Character Backstory for more detail
    • Asks Tong to consider using the Edge of Sanity should Alvyn's magic get loose
  • At Aurum's Capital 
    • Saw news-cast - Adamantia had wrecked last Albus city using giant mechanical golem!
    • met Mako, male dwarf, scholar, Doomguard friend of Alvyn, at a bar
      • had studied rumoured mind-flayer threat which was said to have fell the empire
      • had group of dwarves ready to lead expedition to learn more
      • party offered to help
    • Alvyn made cloak for Tong, belt and javelin for Kalgar 
  • Mountains outside city
    • dwarves open hidden doors, everything looked old and torn down
    • Illithid killed most of the dwarves, took over Kalgar who almost killed party
    • Seeing Kalgar's anger at the above, Tong took Kalgar to the Reverie
      • Met Ting Tang Wong Gong, earned spiritual tattoo
    • found statue of mind-flayer, underneath were many of the creatures
    • party sealed the city, ran back to Aurum's capital
Onward to Ruber, the Land of Fire
  • Shizuka decided to go back to Albus, to help where he could, gave Kalgar the dragonbone, jade-green katana
  • In Tubetown
    • bought rings of fire resistance
    • had meeting with dwarven merchant, Arthur
      • recommended searching for Tong's answers in Frozen Stacks of Ioun temple
      • told to meet Rilgar, female dragonborn librarian
  • At Frozen Stacks
    • met Rilgar, who offered to help find more information about the Edge of Sanity
    • tiefling in the room became suspicious, Kalgar followed but lost him
    • new book summoned devils, party fought them, bound book closed with rope
    • book had picture of, but not name or description of the devil who made the Edge
    • Rilgar suggested to ask the author, Lady Peryl, a succubus, adviser to Baelfire, lord of Ruber
    • party ambushed by Knight Verius and several Knights of Shame
  • At Baelfire's lair
    • volcanic mountain room
    • Baelfire revealed name of devil, Votharxis
    • summoned the devil
    • just as party was about to fight it, Baelfire asked the devil if he could make more swords!
Ruber: A New Quest
  • Party lost battle to Lord Baelfire, a red dragon
  • Kalgar had near-death vision of armoured knight from the Order of Kord
  • Party reluctantly agrees to collect magic longsword from temple of Pelor
  • Back in Chalybs, CWNN reports that adviser to Queen was fighting to extend the number of terms he could stay in office
A Paladin's Sword and then off to Viridi
  • Party fought and killed priestess and guards of a temple of Pelor, retrieving Posse McToes' undead-vanquishing sword
  • Kalgar and Alvyn sucked into Tong's nightmare
    • Votharxis was there
    • Whitehelm's wife was there, dead but animated, cut in half
  • Envoy from Aurum approached Chalybs, wanted to take the city back.
  • While Tong and Kalgar distracted the tiefling guards, including Verius and Orianna, Alvyn stripped McToes' sword of its power, making a fake replica
    • made Difficulty Spheres for Tong, Bag of Holding, Boots of the Fencing Master for Kalgar, wand holsters, shield for himself
  • The party made its way to Viridi to collect Corellon's Blessed Sword, bane of the drow
Viridi and Corellon's Blessed Sword
  • party fought, and defeated Alufyr, lieutenant of a Viridi fortress, in a non-lethal fight
  • party fought, and defeated Commander Cali, an Eladrin, in a non-lethal combat
    • party told Cali of their reluctant quest to take Corellon's weapon
    • Commander allowed them to see the weapon so they may copy it to fool Verius
    • Party given Black Lotus wine as tribute/reward
  • Alvyn received message from Vex about The Circle, who may be able to help Alvyn with his condition, his spellscar
Dealing with the Curse of Power
  • Alvyn lead party and tieflings to The Circle
  • Party met with Alufar, Alufyr's brother, who said Alufyr and Cali were dead
  • Met Ficktusk, a giant, and The Sea Witch (woman from Aes) in The Circle
    • tried to help him transfer/transform his power, didn't work, said it would take time
  • Tong found the Reverie empty of monks and masters, leaving him very concerned
  • The party summoned Votharxis, to deal with him once and for all, with tieflings' help
    • Votharxis was covered in blood, said it was the blood of Tong's masters
    • Alvyn transformed all his arcane energy to psionic, gave it to Tong
    • Tong, in super-Monk-sayan mode, killed Votharxis
    • Mercury arrived, snapped Verius' neck, killed all the tieflings, killed Vex
    • Tong directed all his new-found energy into the Edge of Sanity, purifying it, the curse was over
    • Alvyn had no more magic, his curse was over
  • Tribulus reported threat in Canitia, ordered the party there
The Student Becomes the Master
  • 2 years has passed since Alvyn, Tong, and Kalgar started traveling together
  • Tong questioned whether he was still Whitehelm, warned that plane of anger still exists
  • Tong vanished into Reverie/Hell - Alvyn and Kalgar followed him
    • conquered souls were feeding off Tong
    • Victor's wife said she forgave him
    • This gesture sent wave of compassion through crowd, they could forgive him
    • It was revealed that there had been previous wielders of the Edge of Sanity
  • Party saw Adamantinan invasion in the mountains of Cyfandir
  • Met with Faulty again, convinced it to leave the wall, explore the Dragon's Waste, Faulty would report what he found to the Doomguard
    • Scroll: Never make a deal with a machine man!
  • In Canitia, party makes it back to temple of Ioun
    • found many monks dead
    • Tong released the souls of the dead
    • Alvyn found a large tome/obelisk
    • Kalgar found Alia the Stubborn, still alive
    • Tong took the obelisk, All weapons are tools, all tools are weapons, Tong took on the quest to restore/lead the monks of Cyfandir
    • Alia decided to journey with the party
  • The party then went to Hyacintho, to investigate a kraken threat
    • country's weather seemed controlled
    • brass rails everywhere, conducting lightning and power
    • found a very large ship in the capital, called the Rayden, party thought it could house a kraken
    • the party disguised themselves, climbed aboard the ship headed for Aes, did not find a kraken onboard the ship
When Storms Collide
  • Party blended in, became popular aboard ship
  • Kalgar earned lightning-resistant bracers in arm-wrestling match with fellow dragonborn
  • Tong experimented with the tome, calling it the Codex Caduceus
  • The Rayden made it to Aesian border
    • met with Vutha Kepesk, Kalgar's old ship
    • Captain of Rayden summoned a kraken
    • the beast held the Kepesk in place, started tearing it apart
    • Alvyn unleased his warpick cannon/multitool
    • The party crossed over to the Kepesk, met with Sora, Kalgar's former lover
    • Sora seemed brainwashed against Kalgar
    • Alvyn's words inspired Sora to fire cannons at the kraken
    • the party disengaged the ships and kraken using explosives, the Rayden went back to Hyacintho
  • Sora gave what remained of the Kepesk to Kalgar, said she would investigate rumours of superweapon program in Aes
  • The party set sail for Hyacintho, to stop the Striking, a Rayden threat
When Gods Collide
  • Party repairs the ship on the way to Hyacintho
  • Alvyn upgrades ki focus for Tong, makes light-weight, sink-proof plate armour for Kalgar
  • Party arrives at Eldengarr, Hyacintho's capital, disables the port of ships
  • Party defeats Genasi priestess of Rayden, Kalgar cuts off her head
  • Party (Alvyn) threatens country, tells them to wake up, take back their own strength
  • Party recovers body of Kord, puts it in Kalgar's bag
  • Tong uses Codex Caduceus to spread scrolls and knowledge of Ioun
  • Party sails to Chalybs
  • Doomguard had successfully moved headquarters to Crimson Fields, Alvyn gets key from Tribulus
  • Party meets Galvin, warforged, High Deacon of the Temple of Kord
  • All agree to lock body of Kord in Doomguard vault
The Ship Hits the Fan
  • Kalgar meets Thunderfood, Battle Priest of the Order of Kord, in Chalybs
  • Giant explains the Order of Kord, group devoted to the god, rank and power bestowed upon those who earn it.
  • Kalgar meets Dwight and Haymitch, delights temple with stories, asks if any want to join him, to meet him at the nearest bar in an hour, or The Crimson Fields in a month
  • Tong entered the Reverie, found it not empty, but with people from Hyacintho, reading the books he had left, including one warforged which disturbed Tong. He momentarily felt compelled to recruit more followers
  • Alvyn had problems with Trixie because he thought she'd spurn him, now that he has now magic
  • Kalgar names the ship, the Shockrosia, party sails around Aerugo, Niger, toward the Crimson Fields
  • In the Doomguard vault, the party sees the cage Alvyn had been kept in at Aes, also discover a crate which makes you forget it as soon as you look at it
  • Many arrived from Hyacintho and Chalybs, including Dwight and Haymitch
    • Dwight received replica of Posse McToes' sword
    • Haymitch received replica of Corellon's Blessed Sword
  • Alvyn and the "scoff" Dwarves repaired and upgraded the Shockrosia into an airship
The Fall of Baelfire and the Rise of the Arbiters
  • The party surprised and defeated Baelfire, who revealed his true form upon death
  • Kalgar put Baelfire's head in his bag
  • Mercury showed up, warned party about their actions, tells them to go to Hiems
    • 100 million gold reward offered for Rime, ice beast of Hyiems
  • Quick stop in Fields of Ruin to cremate Hyacintho dead via lightning
  • Quick stop in Canitian temple, leaving the ship and her crew there
  • Party and Mercury head north to Hiems
  • Met up with mercenary party of 10 000
  • Moving past them, trying to reach Rime, party ambushed by ice giants, while fighting them, Rime appeared (100 ft wingspan cobalt dragon), killed all the mercenaries
  • Rime and Mercury talked, the party learned about The Long Game
  • Mercury revealed that she and Lilianna formed the Doomguard 
  • Inducted Alvyn, Tong, and Kalgar into being Arbiters of The Long Game, marked each of their hands with the Mark of Mercury
Transition to Paragon
  • Party found summoning box, and drums of inspiration, among the mercenary bodies
  • Walking back toward Canitia, Tong stabbed himself with the Edge of Sanity
    • he reappeared in swirling white robes, white hair, wielding a quarterstaff
    • said he had been away for two years, found new plane of existence
      • Ting Tang Wong Gong and other masters were there
      • new place called Eidolon Fortress, Tong now a Mist Knight
  • Kalgar had vision of fighting Hand of Kord, met Kord, became twice blessed by Melora and Kord, grew wings, became Last Scion of Arkhosia
  • Alvyn continued his training, learning how to effectively master his non-magical body. Became more of a leader than ever before, a Twice-born warlord
  • Back at the Shockrosia, the dwarves had made battery for the ship, and box to block Illithid psionic influence
  • Haymitch reveals that Kalgar killed his brother, one of the guards of the Temple of Pelor
  • Tong continued training his ethereal followers, realized he had forgotten about Alia, vowed to continue her training
  • Alvyn contacted Doomguard, no response, contacted Quarion, Doomguard chef
    • Lilianna was saying that Vex's death was Alvyn's fault
    • Alvyn contacted Lilianna, left the Doomguard, and asked to be left alone
  • The Oracle appeared on the ship
    • warned party about Mercury, he wasn't able to see their or her future
    • warned of world going to war
    • claims to want to end the Game, not win it
  • the party decides to go to Aes to steal superweapon to use to slow down Adamantinan army
The Iron Tower Part 1
  • The party changed its mind, headed to Ferrum to investigate the Iron Dragon
  • Saw Iron Tower, were followed by a peryton, winged creature with antlers
  • Tower surrounded by old archaeological camps
  • Party attacked by cadaver-collector and peryton, defeated both, helped by Shockrosia's cannons
The Iron Tower Part 2
  • In hole by tower, Alvyn found a 6 inch cubed cube, with 16 toggles to each side
  • Found holes leading down metal hallways deeper into the ground
  • 5 levels down, found hole into Iron Tower
    • Tong warned: Scroll 877: Plunge through 7 holes and darkness will befall you.
  • Found bridge leading over murky water filled with scary fish
  • Found heap of mutated bodies dropping from centre of tower which had a tube running straight up the centre
  • Party burned heap, climbed tube, which was lined with weird parasitic slugs
  • Found room of discarded furniture, all mimics, party fought and defeated them
  • party found old map of the tower, continued upward
The Iron Tower Part 3
  • party found floor with experimental labs, vials of chemicals
  • found, fought, and defeated, gibbering mouthers
  • on next floor, many prisoners shackled to the walls, tubes coming from their bodies
    • sole survivor, an elf, in great pain and couldn't speak, Tong ended her suffering
  • next floor had many more creatures in tubes with blood pumped in/out, odd chemicals
  • Tong summoned ethereal followers of Ioun, said a war on this type of horror would soon begin
  • Alvyn investigated the internal experimentation done to a creature, Kalgar ended its suffering
The Iron Tower Part 4: The Nightmares of a Dragon
  • Party found cyborg gorilla (BallistApe), and man-orc
  • Tong sensed malice from creatures all directed at him
  • Party finds out man-orc had been experimented on by a dragon, a mutated/modified dragon
  • Party names man-orc Primus, asks him to release as many willing and able mutants and leave the tower
  • Party found several canisters containing 7 bodies identical to Alvyn
    • Alvyn became crazy and obsessive over examining them
    • Kept shouting that they were copies, he was true
    • Finally convinced to keep the bodies as decoys, Tong stored them in the Reverie
  • Penultimate floor contained sleeping, dangerous creatures, which appeared to be mind-controlled, though dormant
  • Iron Dragon on top level, heavily mutated/modified to "make [itself] more formidable"
    • was working to create ultimate predator to kill other dragons
    • Party threatened this predator
The Iron Tower Part 5
  • Confronted the Iron Dragon
    • heavily mutated with elixirs of other animals
    • Tong blocked mind-control of other creatures using his psionic abilities
    • party fought and defeated the dragon
    • Alvyn mutated into many creatures, via elixirs
      • unleashed his fury over clones into his attacks on the dragon
    • Lightning bolt from Kord struck tower, killed Dragon
      • Kalgar cut off its head, put in his bag
    • Kalgar took flight for first time
    • Tower was a giant, angry mimic
Escape from The Iron Tower

  • Party fought mooncalf and beholder on floor below
  • Encountered the cyborg gorilla, BallistApe, having wiped out all monsters on floor below
  • Saved Primus, the man-orc, from a manticore and four-armed giant on floor below
  • Briefly fought mimics on floor below and made a friend of BallistApe
  • Tower had been draining iron from blood of creatures, keeping itself alive
    • Party caught tower's eyeball brain, destroyed it
  • Party escaped the tower, embarked on the Shockrosia
  • Alvyn tried to wash away his grief via a long shower
  • Dwarves had made device to catch the news-cast
    • news-cast was hijacked by Aes' Angrimich Shivi who called Kalgar back on charges of treason, giving him 30 days to return
  • Tong, after spending a night of passion with Alia, breaks things off, she was not pleased by this
  • Mercury lands on ship, warns party that other dragons may come after them
    • also, someone has hired the Brass Company to come after the party
Return to Aes

  • Party decides to go south, avoid Adamantina
  • Kalgar explains charge of treason to crew, gives them a chance to leave
  • Tong contacts 3 very devout followers: Hassim, Kashatriya, and Lenny (the warforged)
    • asks them to expand upon Ioun influence while he was gone
    • for a moment, Tong sensed the same feeling of intense hatred as from the Iron Tower
  •  Party encounters Argentum wyvern knights, who saw ship thanks to skill and magic
    • party warns them of strange, wild animals from Ferrum
    • finds out no real interaction yet between Adamantina and Aurum
    • knights warn of underground creatures which appear to be causing problems
  •  Party arrives to Chalybs to find the city completely under siege by Aurum
    • wanted to steal supplies from Aurum's army, to use in Aes
    • Haymitch advised against it, suggesting getting the materials in Aes
  • Party arrives on border of Aes, encounters a massive storm cloud, coming straight for them
    • despite efforts, the storm attacked violently, mostly destroying the ship
    • party is confident that the storm was the blue dragon from Hyacintho, out to get them
  • Shockrosia encounters Angrimich Shivi ship, the Dauntless, captained by Sora who:
    • agrees to take them in, shelter them
    • sets up meeting with Admiral Draxia, old-fashioned, and willing to listen to Kalgar
    • listens to Kalgar's adventures and spends the night with him
Intrigue with a Side of Indigestion
  • Kalgar ordered Kildrak, Vondal, and Logann, members of his crew, to repair and upgrade the ship, using whatever materials were available.
  • Tong raised concern with Kalgar that the path they tread may lead to Kalgar's death.
    • Kalgar responded that he was doing what had to be done, and that the party was the only group that could get it done.
    • Tong said he has walked away from his own past, could Kalgar not do the same?
    • Kalgar told Tong that the entire world is building for war, if they could create a stronghold, a place to strike out from, take a stand, they could push back against the insanity of the current world.
      • They needed to start fixing things.
      • Perhaps this is the first thing they will be able to..unbreak, Tong responded.
  • Meanwhile, Alvyn had been scouting the island and the outpost.
  • Kalgar asked crew to also attempt to fix up Aesian outpost.
  • Scroll of Mindfulness, "The hard man's soul is like hardtack, impossible to chew."
    • Tong just made up a Scroll!
    • Tong began teaching his followers via the Reverie with renewed energy.
  • Alvyn took an Aesian cannon, handed it to some more of Kalgar's crew, and asked them to "make it better".
  • Alvyn made a cloak for Kalgar from hide taken from the necks of dead dragons, still preserved in Kalgar's Bag of Holding
  • Malark Chenn, one of Kalgar's crew, had been killed.
    • Rescued in the Crimson Fields, Chenn was an entertainer, always able to make someone smile.
    • Chenn's body was ripped open from the inside. A blood trail moved toward the window off the ship.
    • Despite investigation by the party, as well as Sora's only arcane user, Porset, a Storm Genasi, the party was unable to determine exactly what had caused this.
      • Although they were fairly certain it was a monster from the Iron Tower
  • Kalgar told Sora all that he could, excluding any mention of dragons, and asked for her help.
  • Porset determined that the creature may have gone west to some Aesian islands.
    • Sora said she had not heard from her western patrol in some time.
  • The party started to kayak toward the islands
The Caves of Calamity
  • The party found ruins and a tunnel leading underground on one of the islands
    • The tunnel was half-filled with water, and seemed to head back toward the outpost
    • Kalgar remembered that such tunnels sometimes existed between outposts as another means of movement
    • The party found a female Aesian dragonborn, one of the western patrol, dead, floating in the tunnel
      • Kalgar took her along
    • The tunnel lead to an even deeper channel of water, the only way through.
      • Alvyn went first, made it to the other side, jumped up to a stalagtite and hung from the cave ceiling.
      • Tong made it through quickly, couldn't find Alvyn, was very worried.
      • Kalgar was slowed by carrying the guard, and was grappled and attacked by an unseen force underwater. Despite everything he tried, including inflating his special armour Alvyn had made for him, he could not bring himself and the guard through the tunnel. So he had to abandon her.
    • Outside of the tunnel, the party was tackled by a quickly moving creature, which continued down the tunnel toward the outpost.
    • The party realized it would be faster to go back, get the kayaks, and sail back to the outpost.
      • Alvyn used Sending to warn Sora and the outpost
  • The party made it back, the crew of the Shockrosia were vigilantly readying themselves.
  • Inside the outpost, something had grabbed Porset, dragging him down into the storeroom under the outpost
    • Sora and her men were guarding the door, not engaging
    • The party went in, saw much water damage, barrels of oil and blackpowder, and a horrible alien queen creature and many of her children!
The Queen's Lair
  • The queen was laying eggs, while her creatures crawled around the room, climbed the walls
  • One of the creatures killed Porset
  • The party attacked the creatures!
    • Alvyn's new weapon, a rifle made from an Aesian boarding cannon, was quite impressive!
  • The party was surrounded.
The Last of the Aesian Outpost
  • The party killed the queen's creatures
  • The queen stepped forward to attack, while some of her newly-hatching children grabbed at the party's faces!
  • Kalgar's Blazing Brand attack lit the queen, and everything else on fire
  • The party retreated quickly
    • Kalgar bust through a wall
    • Tong evacuated the guards upstairs
    • Alvyn lit the cannon at the top
  • The entire outpost was destroyed
  • Kalgar asked Sora to take him to the Admiral, to explain the situation and take all the blame
The Windle's Landing Massacre
  • The party met with Admiral Draxsha and her ship, The Old Way
    • Kalgar explained the incident at the outpost, keeping out the mention of dragons
      •  Alvyn took the blame, was led to the brig
    • Kalgar explained the reason for his treason
  • The Admiral accepts all of this and discusses plans with Kalgar
    • Plans to give him three ships, The Bilge Rat, The Aquamarine, and The Rogue Wind
    • Kalgar has three problems: charge of treason, superweapon program, and the change in direction of leadership in Aes
      • Kalgar thinks that by shutting down the superweapon program, he can chip away at the other two problems
      • Admiral recommends The Old Law, aka the Law of Challenge, or The Rising Tide
        • challenge must be made face-to face
          • tough since the location of the Capitol is known to only a few
        • Grand Admiral decides how the challenge will be resolved
          • must be resolved only between challenger and challenged
          • must be resolved with witnesses, left/right of the Navy, and Angrimich Shivi
          • challenger must immediately accept the contest proposed by the challenge or the entire thing is immediately defeated
      • Final plans involve investigating Deepwatch Base, where the Admiral thinks the superweapons may be developed.
        • Expose and stop the superweapon program
          • if he does expose it, the Admiral will offer public support
        • Draw out the Angrimich Shivi, with the protests over the superweapons
        • When Kalgar is ready, the Admiral will reveal the location of the Capitol
    • Kalgar promoted to Commodore, given insignia pin
  • Alvyn breaks out, plants explosive on The Old Way, makes his way to Admiral's quarters
    • has conflict with Lieutenant Dirgere, a seemingly ordinary man, member of the Angrimich Shivi
    • Dirgere warns the party that people are looking for them
      • possible Tiefling (Tribulus) asking around in all Angrimich Shivi locations
      • random questioner possibly from The Brass Company
      • monk woman murdering people looking for Victor Whitehelm
  • Crew embarks for Windle's Landing, to find gems to fix ship, help it fly again
  • Tong meditates, cannot find Ting Tang Wong Gong
  • Crew arrives in Windle's Landing
    • finds the gems needed, negotiates for their price
    • encounters bald, young, monk-like woman
      • Tong recognizes her as Karesse, an old Iounian pupil
      • She attacks the party, clearly possessed, burnt skin, clothes, many voices
        • party stops her via combat and Shockrosia's cannons
        • she kills 25 Aesians instantly, turning them to ash, bringing death count to over 60
      • possession leaves her, Tong sends her soul down a spiritual river in The Reverie
Deep Watch Bay (Part 1: On the Way)
  • The party left Windle's Landing, Alvyn wanting not to draw any more attention, and Kalgar knowing that being put in jail would not help their cause.
  • Tong finally connected with Ting Tang Wong Gong, through meditation, in the Reverie
    • Tong's former master said that Tong was the Mist Knight, the one true bridge between the Iodolawn, the Reverie, and Ioun He told Tong to build on the lessons, and to let him go in peace. With that, Ting Tang Wong Gong ascended into The Astral Sea.
  • Alvyn temporarily changed the name of the Shockrosia to Kord's Might.
  • The fleet passed by a few Aesian military ships on the way to Deep Watch Bay without incident.
  • Alvyn, Tong, and Kalgar devised plans for storming Deep Watch Base, including fleet operations and "frog men" (soldiers who could remain under the ship via potions of water breathing) who could be called in as reinforcements.

No comments:

Post a Comment