Category: RPG

Personal Correspondence of the Cursed Crusaders

Overview

While the heroes were in Old Llygad, James spent some time rummaging through the personal items of the cursed crusaders. Here is a collection of personal correspondence he was able to find and read.

Correspondence

Personal

  • Family update from a wife of a knight who is lording over their hold

My brave lord-husband,

I write a brief missive to you to inform you that all is well at the Wyvern’s Nest. Your son is learning to ride, and your two daughters are being instructed in dance and archery. All three send their love and encouragement.

Your wife has spent the last few wiks gathering this Þrimilce-mōnaþ taxes from the villagers. They all send their warmest regards and yearn for your return. (Though not as much as I, dear husband.) Most have gotten used to an eastern lady collecting the taxes instead of their usual, stalwart mountain lord, and those that failed to get used to it had the house guards to contend with. I believe you would be proud of me.

The granaries are running low, but in a mōnaþ or two, when the harvest comes in, we should have enough for our people to get through the cold months, while still having some to trade for livestock with Lord Grimsby. We could use some more goats after our flock got attack by two Vrocks soon after your departure. Don’t be afeared; the men fought them off with only two fatalities, though I’m afraid guard Will has lost the use of his sword arm, and guard Mira’s mind may never recover.

But rest assured as you ride for Gwenllygad, that your lands and family is in the capable hands of your lady-wife. I might not have the gusts of mountain wind running through my veins, but since our marriage I feel it running through my soul.

Lady Miranda Proudwing

  • Love letter between knight and her suitor

My dearest beloved,

Once more I watched you ride from the Roost to battle forces of darkness and tyranny, and my heart could not swell up more with pride. My soon-to-be wife has been knighted and now dons the lapis lazuli of the Order. You always said that you’d be tapped on the shoulder before I would and I could not be more proud of you for beating me to it.

As you ride off for Gwenllygad, I have been called to fly out with Master Commander Wentworth and lend aid to the defence of Blue Harbour which has been besieged by a horde of all consuming evil lead by Barazod the Fiery Dread. The Order of the Lance has rode out from the west while the Order of the Shield sails across the inner sea from the east. If I prove myself on this theatre, I hope to be knighted before Midinváerne and perhaps we can be married in Æster-mōnaþ, when the grass turns green.

I never thought that after all I have lost, I would ever find someone to care about again.

Jonathan

  • Friends going into business together

Colton,

I never made a better choice than to leave Gryphon’s Roost and start hiring myself out protecting cargo back and forth to the coast. I’ve been asked to bring cargo for others and bought myself a cart, but it’s hard being on the lookout while driving an ox. I could really use your help. You’re good with a sword and you’re good on a cart. The silver is good and there is a steady flow of work because there are plenty of people to protect; the Order can’t protect everyone. They can’t chase down every demon and there are plenty running around the wilderness harassing merchants and common folk. You know where to find me.

Laura

Strategic

  • The order of the shield redeploying troops liaised to gryphon upon completion of expedition

Ser Gregorian,

Upon completion of your next expedition your orders are to lead the members of the Order back home as we will have committed a large part of our forces to the western shore in order to support the other orders in their fight to control the area around Blue Harbour. It has been a long time since you’ve rode across the causeway and through the gates of Dunagore.

Your wife is well and your son is growing up strong and tall, like yourself. He is beginning to take his first steps and is eager to meet his father. Tell Dame Marianne that her sister, Dame Catherine, sailed for Blue Harbour and is to be the personal guard to the Knight Primarch, a great honour. And more gravely, please inform knight lieutenant Morden that his grandfather, Lord Barrow, has passed away defending his holdfast against a harpy attack. He is to take up the mantle as Lord of Felwind Rock. Offer him my condelences.

Ever proud to be your father,

Ser Seraphian, Grand Master of the Shield, Lord of Dunagore

  • Orders to investigate possible collaboration of knights with the savage warriors of the north

Ser Winslow,

After the expedition to Gwenllygad, you are given the temporary rank of Knight Lieutenant and lead a group of four hand picked knights with able griffons who have not received any follow up orders, and fly north, across the Thoradun mountains and east to the coastal settlement of Marburg and meet with their leader who is called Marduk. (For Paladine’s sake, don’t pick Dame Josephine.)

They say Marduk commands a force of two thousand savages and has been able to protect ten times that many people. He and his savages could be valuable allies. One thing you should know is that his tribe don’t believe in the gods. They believe in one god and one adversary, like they do on the plains of Selos. They say he is surrounded by a glow of radiant light and that wings have grown from his shoulders, like an angel.

Report back to me as soon as you have taken a measure of the man, his forces, and the state that Marburg is in. I want to know what, if anything, of the rumours are true, and how valuable he might be in the wars to come.

Dame Hanrietta, Senechal of the Gryphon

  • Armsmen ordered to go support knight lieutenant in the defence of a shipment of grain coming in from the eastern plains of Selos.

Ser Reginald, after the expedition you are to take your squire, sergeant and armsment and ride south to meet along the coastal trail with knight lieutenant Gareth and help escort a large shipment of surplus grain from the eastern plains of Selos, bound for Newport and Blue Harbour. If fighting continues at Blue Harbour, lend any assistance you can before returning to the Roost. As by the command of knight commander of the 7th cavalry regiment, Ser Robert Tolliver

  • Mission to Ard Thoradun to plead the mountain dwarves for aid

Ser Lothar, after the expedition you are given the temporary title of knight lieutenant in order to take your men and commission one other knight and their armsmen and ride for Ard Thoradun to appeal to the mountain dwarves one final time for shelter and aid. Do not bother taking Ser Karagan, since they have refused him on several earlier occasions. Take a noble, like Dame Josephine, or someone known, like Ser Estienne. As by the command of knight commander of the 7th cavalry regiment, Ser Robart Tolliver

Scholarly

  • Correspondence with one of the priests of Pholtus on treating wounds sustained from a demon.

Dear Callum,

I received your letter late last mōnaþ and in the two wikon since, I’ve managed to use the recipe you sent me on two of the nights after they fought a Balor and sustained terrible burns to their skin. Their recovery was remarkable! It is true that in the westerlands dreamfoil and owlsblood is rare, but I’ve got every apothecary scouring the forests for them on their foragings.

As a token of gratitude, I would like to share with you the antidose we have devised against the poison that the wicked Quasits carry on their claws, for it has paralysed many of our knights. The poison does not last long, but just a few drops of this solution and it will greatly enhance their ability to withstand its effects.

Mix equal parts silversage, garlic, mandrake in a pot, together with half a part of ghost mushroom. Add an equal amount of water and let it stew until it turns an even shade of green, like that of wild spinach, and the smell turns sour. Let it cool off. It will thicken as it does, but that makes no matter. Take the slightest drop of paralytic poison and dilute it a hundred times in purified and boiled water. In the westerlands we used the saliva of the owlbears, but I’m positive that the sting of a wyvern will do much in the same way, though you might need to experiment with the dosages. Mix the two liquids together and strain it through a sand filter.

The optimal time to take the antidose is minutes before engaging. We have seen some success in taking it after the wounds were sustained, but the results are unreliable.

May the light be with you,

Rasmus

  • A letter sent to one of the armsmen about his daughter potentially being one of the first recruits to a new school focusing on wizardry, on the northern coast of the inner sea.

Artillery specialist Riordan of White Hills,

I write to you on this auspicious day that the we at the Senhadrim council have divined that your daughter Moira, of seven winters, has great arcane potential. We have since confirmed this as a fact through communication with the knight secretary of the order you serve. We would like to invite her to be formally trained at a newly established school of arcanists at the coastal city of Newport. There, she will be introduced to each of the different circles of magic to see to which she has the greatest affinity and then let her specialise in that circle. Eventually we hope that she will graduate from the circle and start her apprenticeship under one of the Senhadrim and serve the Silver Crusade. We understand that you will have to talk this over with your order, with your wife, and with Moira herself. We are looking forward to hearing from you and for Moira to join us at the circle in Newport. We hope you appreciate the gravity of the opportunity we are offering young Moira.

Rusalka the Red, Head Mistress of the Circle of Enchantment

A Mother and Son Reunited

Previously, the Heroes of the White Eye had managed to capture Kalina and separate her from the rest of the bandits she was hiding out with, only to come under attack from a group of shadowy creatures as they regrouped at the Scatterfoot farm. While the creatures were defeated, the Silesian bandit was killed by one of them. The heroes took her body and returned to Kingsport, preparing to bring the body to the day master together with what they had learned, hoping that it would be enough to liberate James’ mother from captivity.

Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262

(Silvermoon in high sanction. Bloodmoon in high sanction. Darkmoon is waxing.)

While Astrid and James had taken the cart carrying Kalina’s body to an abandoned shack in an anonymous part of Kingsport, Luca, Quentin and Emrys arranged for one of the luxurious rooms at the Careless Wanderer. Astrid and James eat their last remaining rations and shared a bottle of Pinefall brandy, and the others ate Ramsey’s wonderful food.

Astrid and James fell asleep in their clothes, warmed only by a small fire. Luca sat a small writing desk and read and studied Kalina’s prayer book. Quentin sat cross legged in front of the fire while he cleaned his blade while meditating; softly reciting the litanies and oaths of knighthood, slowly becoming one with the blade and the complicated spirit within. Emrys enjoyed the luxury of a four-poster bed, with his eyes closed; vast asleep.

It was deep in the night before Luca fell asleep, slumped over the writing desk he had been studying at. Before succumbing to fatigue, he had learned that the prayer book, written almost completely in the infernal language of Ba’ator, the lower plane of devils. It was called The Disciplines of the Dark Queen, which described all matters of worshipping Takhisis.

Sixth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262

(Silvermoon in high sanction. Bloodmoon in waning. Darkmoon is waxing.)

After Astrid and James woke up, took a piss, and left the shack together with the horses, cart and morbid contents, they spent some time wandering the streets around Steward Square, finding some food for breakfast and enduring the weather.

Luca, Quentin and Emrys woke up and enjoyed breakfast in their room while they spoke about what Luca had learned from The Disciplines of the Dark Queen. One of the remarkable things that Luca had noticed is that besides the religious iconography of Takhisis, occasionally, the hooked pentagram of Asmodeus showed up; the adversary in the monotheistic religion of the Daerlan empire, Mazuria and most parts of Silesia.

At noon, when the pale sun stood highest in the dark, cloudy sky, Astrid and James made their way to the Careless Wanderer. Astrid stayed with the cart while James went inside to look for the others. He found the Wanderer was busy, but not rowdy, with many people still visiting for the angling competition which was about to commence. Durham, the friendly barkeep, directed James up to the rooms when he noticed the young elf looking around for his friends.

A quick plan was made to take the cart and transport Kalina’s body to the butcher shop on Fleet Street and negotiate for Jeanne’s release. Luca would come with James while Astrid, Quentin and Emrys remained outside, ready to either make a fast getaway, or be prepared to storm the shop in force. James would remain in contact with Quentin using Lauriel’s Earrings of Whispers.

On their way across town, while crossing the river at the Queensbridge, James spotted the reddish-haired town crier, Goodman, who hailed James. James stopped briefly and crier Goodman shook his hand, telling him it was good to see him again. During that exchange he surreptitiously passed James a note. As they rode on James read it; “Sold the horses, still in town,” it read, a note from Dick.

As they got closer to Fleet Street, the conversation became more detailed and intense, and people wanted to know just how dangerous the situation could become. It was clear to James that while his companions were all familiar with violence, they had no experience with the level of violence that an criminal organisation like the Steady Hand could bring to bear. In fact, he never had to deal with it, considering he had never stood in opposition to them. It took everything ounce of his acting ability for James to not let his discomfort and fear show.

When they arrived at the butcher shop, a corner store on Fleet Street, between the Street of Spices and the river, there were many guild members about, keeping an eye on the place. Inside, civilians were doing their groceries. James and Luca, who were disallowed from bringing their weapons inside the shop, carried Kalina’s wrapped corpse through the shop to the back. They were directed down the stairs into the basement and through a door, into a mostly empty room.

The day master was there with two of his guards, and James found his mother still tied to a chair, still in her filthy underclothes. Her skin was dirty and she was carrying many shallow wounds and bruises, and she had a bandage on her head which covered her left eye that hadn’t been there before. While the bandages were new, they had already been soaked through with blood and sweat, and it was hiding a grotesque swelling.

When Kalina’s body was unwrapped, the day master was dissatisfied and demanded an explanation. James explained everything that happened, and made it a point to recite, word for word, the conversation that he had heard Kalina had with her mysterious father back in the caves; a conversation he had not even shared with the rest of his companions.

Kalina: Father, are you displeased with me?

Unknown: Glasya, your attempt to draw the guild master out has not been successful. To say that I am pleased would be a lie. The only thing which comforts me is knowing that you understand how important it is to expose the Upright Man and to find his vault. You also understand that I can only keep your failure from the Dark Queen for so long before she will find out. I can only impress upon you that you must try again before she does.

Kalina: He exposed himself when he killed Lydia…

Unknown: Yes, but you were not there to capitalise on it, and from what you told me not much of her remained behind. Your attempt to have the day master assassinated also failed. You better think of another way to find the Upright Man! I MUST GET INSIDE HIS VAULT.

Kalina: But father…

Unknown: Silence! Do not disobey me *daughter*, or else you will be Xazax’s next victim.

Kalina: Father? Father!?

There was something about this conversation that seemed to rock the usually unflappable day master. James suspected that it was the revelation that Kalina and her father knew about the Upright Man being responsible for the death of Lydia, the dangerous leader of the Sunken Knuckles. There was more here, but James had other priorities.

While James explained the rest of what happened at the Reaverhaunt caves, Luca inspected James’ mother and her injuries. The day master still had a few questions about Kalina’s allegiance, if it wasn’t to the night master and the rest of the guild. Luca and James explained that the jewelled daggers were used by assassins who had been striking throughout eastern Lyria, which was something the day master had heard of, and that it likely had something to do with the Upright Man being in the possession of a a set of ancient tablets that this cult was after.

The day master seemed satisfied with the explanation and dismissed one of his guards to arrange for a meeting with a certain John for that evening. James knew that to be John Sharpe; also known as the night master. If the Upright Man was the leader of the Steady Hand, then the day master was his left hand, while the night master was his right hand.

The day master instructed to take Kalina and his mother, but pressed upon James that his mother was to leave Kingsport and never return, which James took in stride. Luca and James took both and walked through the front of the shop, through a wave of curious patrons, out the door.

Astrid gave Jeanne her cloak since she was barely clothed and the weather was miserable. Emrys drove the cart while James gave him directions to the Temple of Pholtus. On the way, James applied some of father Devon’s healing ointment to the most trouble parts of Jeanne’s skin, which immediately started to heal up. Her head wound was too grievous and would abate.

Once at the clinic, Jeanne was carried inside and father Devon was called for. He immediately took charge and called for several nurses to help out and for Mother Superior Arwyn to be called. James made sure to let father Devon know that no expenses should be spared, and the holy man told James to make an appropriate tithe at the temple. Which he did while the followers of Pholtus worked on healing his mother, leaving one of the gems he had received from the Sheridan estate in the tithe bowl.

When father Devon finally came to speak to the heroes he explained that Jeanne would be okay, but that she was still recovering. He showed a small ceramic jar in which he showed a curious slug with multiple eye stalks extending and retracting all over its body. He claimed that he had removed it from Jeanne’s eye, where it had lodged itself like a parasite. Unfortunately, it meant that Jeanne had lost her eye. She would recover, but it would take a little while.

James take his mother in his care once again when she was able to be moved, and the heroes went to the Careless Wanderer. They stayed in their luxurious room, deciding to stay away from the crowd downstairs and not draw any attention to themselves and allowing Jeanne some much needed rest. She had remained quiet and shell shocked, and had fallen asleep on the bed.

While Jeanne slept, James recalled what had happened in the basement underneath the butcher shop that afternoon. He also revealed that he had been holding on to one of Atilesceon’s journal pages which mentioned the Upright Man;

None of our agents has been able to get close to the Upright Man for a very long time. The last time anyone of ours got close they disappeared… but not before confirming that they didn’t have one, but two of the tablets in their collection of antiques. It has proven nigh impossible to get anyone close to the situation since. If I can get close to one of their underlings, however…

Luca started theorising that likely Melchior, the man he thought was Kalina’s father, had likely retrieved tablets from Kalauranthalasis’ hoard, since Atilesceon wrote the following about the dragon in his journal;

That poisonous wyrm has been taken prisoner by those fanatics, and word has reached us to confirm that it was in possession of two of the Tablets of the Elemental Eye. If it wasn’t for my experiments here, I would seek them out to swell the collection of the Dark One. Perhaps there are those willing to compensate me for this information?

Not for the first time the heroes felt out of their depth; not knowing what it all meant, what to do with with what they thought they knew, or how to move forward. As they had done before several times, they decided to put it to rest, feeling small and powerless in the face of it. Astrid turned the topic to more practical matters; what was James intending to do about his mother, to which James responded that it was up to Jeanne to decide what it was that she wanted, but that he could ask House Sheridan to give her a place among the staff at their estate.

With that, they had a plan for the following day and their attentions turned to what to do afterwards. Quentin reminded everyone that he had given his word to the Lady Commander of the Crownsguard, Dame Miranda Ravensbourne, that he would find his way to her ancestral lands to see about helping her family deal with the orc invasion.

Conjunction of Planes Recaps

Overview

Below is a list to each of the recaps written for the overarching Conjunction of Planes campaign. Sometimes they’re written from a particular character’s perspective, but most of the time they are a matter of record keeping by the Dungeon Master.

Recaps

Session Timeline Title
136.5 Third Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Sly and Subtle Folk
136 Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Last Minute Errands
135.5 Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Calling in the Cavalry
135 Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Certainty is for the Dead
134 Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Prayer, Communion and Visitation
133 Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Battle at Kinbrace Bluff
132 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Good Sisters’ Rebuke
131 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 An Unexpected Gift
130 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Heresy and Zealotry
129 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Draconic Journal Page
128 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Meeting Kasia
127 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Arrival of a Scholar
126 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 From One Mother to Another
125 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 A Five Count to Escalation
124 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 A Sudden Change in Direction
123 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Blood of Alban
122 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Difference Between Urgent and Important
121 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Farewell to the Dead
120 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Dreams of Summer
119 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Naming of Cats
118 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Recovering the Plumes of the Duskmaven
117 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 A Day of Visits
116 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Kingsport and Its Environs
115 Seventh Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Source and Origins of Magic
114 Sixth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 That Empty Feeling
113 Sixth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Struggle, Survival and Succession
Fiction: A Plague Upon Kingsport
112 Sixth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Newport Vault
111 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Out of the Frying Pan
110 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Stumbling Upon Conflict
109 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Chaos in the Headquarters of the Night Master
108 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Infiltrating the Headquarters of the Night Master
107 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Finding the Headquarters of the Night Master
106 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Over a Fucking Fish!?
105 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Old Relationships
104 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Finding Stable Ground
103 Third Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Xarrombus
102 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 A Crown of Flesh
101 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 The Aberrant Lords
100 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Infiltrating the Dark Delirium Operation
99 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Grim, Soot and Dark Delirium
98 First Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Grimsdown Observation
97 First Day, First Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 Tracking Down Hamish Black
96 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Feather White and Black
95 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A New Course of Action
94 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Escape from Arkenward’s Sanctum
93 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Venoxxis
92 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Third Tablet of the Elemental Eye
91 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Ghastly Menagerie
90 Ninth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Defeating the Sanctum Guardian
89 Ninth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Entrance of Arkenward’s Sanctum
88 Ninth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Abjuration and Divination
87 Ninth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Dreams and a New Direction
86 Eighth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Two Friends, One Lost and One Found
85 Eighth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Sacrifice and Forgotten Memories
84 Seventh Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Reviving a Friend
83 Seventh Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Gods and Monsters
82 Seventh Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Death of a Queen
81 Sixth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Cost of Breaking Curses
80 Sixth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Towed Back to Kingsport
79 Fifth Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Down the River Ivel
78 Third Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Return to Rivermeet
77 Third Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Vault of the Senhadrim
76 Third Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Defeating Xamael the Dreadlord
75 Third Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Confronting Xamael the Defiler
74 Second Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Hall of the Senhadrim
73 Second Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Exploring the Senhadrim Quarters, The Final Stretch
72 Second Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Exploring the Senhadrim Quarters, Continued
71 First Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Exploring the Senhadrim Quarters
70 First Day, Third Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Arrival at the Sunken Temple
69 Ninth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 To Wyrmblood Lake
68 Eighth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Good Sisters of the Grove
67 Seventh Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Blackbough Downtime
66 Sixth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Graveyard Consequences
65 Sixth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Blackbough and its Villagers
64 Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Arriving in Blackbough
63 Third Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Ignis Fatuus
62 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Mud and Missed Opportunities
61 First Day, Second Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Arrival in Eastray
60 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Curious Child
59 Tenth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Firebrand Sermon
58 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Escape from the Carceratum
56 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Rats!
55 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Rebel Lords
54 Ninth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Preparing to Liberate the Rebel Lords
53 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Orchids, Flowers and Thorns
52 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Investigating the Sick Queen
51 Eighth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Khazra Skull
50 Sixth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Mother and Son Separated
49 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Mother and Son Reunited
48 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Bringing in a Bounty
47 Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Kalina’s Ladder
46 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Chase in the Dark
45 Fourth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 The Reaverhaunt Caverns
44 Third Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Remembrance and Reward
43 Third Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Fierce Reminder of Old Friends
42 Third Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Hot Pursuit!
41 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 In Preparation for Departure
40 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 Meeting an Old Friend While Tracking Down an Enemy
39 Second Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 On the Silesian Trail
38 First Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262 A Kingsport Homecoming
37 Highharvestide, 1262 A Swift Return to Kingsport
36 Highharvestide, 1262 Highharvestide Celebration
35 Highharvestide, 1262 New Beginnings
34 Third Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade A Great Sacrifice
33 Third Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade Atilesceon the Artificer
32 Second Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade An Inevitable Confrontation
31 Second Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade Broken Curses and Cycles
30 Second Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade Escaping the Madness
29 Second Day, Third Wik, Æftera Līþa (Pasture Mōnaþ), 736th Year of the Crusade Dreams of Dying
28 Third Day, Second Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Exploring the Crimson Tower
27 First Day, Second Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 The Tower At Last
26 Tenth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 A Simple Lock of Hair
25 Tenth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Welcome to Pinefall
Emma, Session 25
24 Eighth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Through the Silverpine Hills
Emma, Session 24
23 Sixth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Travel to Pinefall
Emma, Session 23
22 Sixth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Liliana the Instigator
21 Fifth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Battling the Procyon
Emma, Session 21
20 Fourth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Council and Consequences
Emma, Session 20
19 Fourth Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 A Time of Contempt
Emma, Session 19
18 Second Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 The Allenham Pogrom
Emma, Session 18
17 Second Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Egremont to Blackbridge
16 Second Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 The Old Queen
Emma, Session 16
15 First Day, First Ride, Summer Flame, 1262 Alfred Barnaby’s Pest Problem
Emma, Session 15
14 Tenth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Lyrium and Lore
Emma, Session 14
13 Ninth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Arrival in Bournemouth
Emma, Session 13
12 Eighth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Broken Faith
Emma, Session 12
11 Seventh Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Departing Kingsport
Emma, Session 11
10 Seventh Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Running Errands, Making Friends and Gaining Information in Kingsport
9 Sixth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 The Royal Ruse
Emma, Session 9
8 Sixth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Of Orcs and Men, Jail Break!
Emma, Session 8
7 Fifth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Of Orcs and Men
Emma, Session 7
6 Fourth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Closing the Portal and Returning to the Estate
Emma, Session 6
5 Third Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Finding the Source of the Infestation
Emma, Session 5
4 Third Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 Return to the Catacombs
Emma, Session 4
3 Second Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 The Return to House Sheridan
Emma, Session 3
2 Second Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262 A Descent into Darkness
Emma, Session 2
1 First Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262
Summer Solstice
In Service to a Mysterious Noble House
Emma, Session 1

 

Bringing in a Bounty

Previously, the Heroes of the White Eye found their way into the Reaverhaunt caves, the old hideout of Admiral Dapperfang, where Kalina and her crew of horse thieves had been hiding out. They confronted Kalina and pursued her when she was trying to make a run for it, all the while being harassed by a strange, winged shadowy creature whose attacks withered and crippled. Eventually they captured the Silesian bandit and brought her to the Scatterfoot farm for interrogation but before the heroes had the opportunity to question her the farm was attacked by multiple shadows lead by the winged shadow creature. The heroes beat them back, but in a last act of aggression, the winged shadow creature attacked and killed Kalina, turning her into a shadow, which the heroes ultimately also struck down.

Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262

(Silvermoon in high sanction. Bloodmoon in high sanction. Darkmoon is waxing.)

After the fight with the shadows came to an end the group decided they would need some rest. It was decided to move Kalina’s withered body out of sight by wrapping her in in blankets this exposed that Kalina had a tattoo of a crescent moon on her chest, just below her left collar bone. Quentin vigilantly stood watch, while Dick, James’ enormous friend, stayed awake to keep him company.

In the following two hours, the wind and rain picked up, pouring in places through the leaky, thatched roof of the farm house, but people managed to get rest. The strength draining withering the shadows had inflicted on the heroes had subsided and especially Emrys, who could barely keep himself from collapsing under his own weight, felt infinitely better afterwards.

It was Quentin’s turn to sleep while it was James’ turn to sit watch. Dick came to sit with him to ask what the plan was, clearly out of his depth and trusting his friend to think his way out of the situation. James wanted to go back to the caves, wagering that the shadows that showed up at the farmhouse were those ripped from the bandits in the caves by the winged shadow that seemed to be leading the assault on the farm. He hoped that it meant that the caves were free to explore and that they would be able to find some incriminating evidence on Kalina that would help exonerate his mother. If not, perhaps he could buy his mother’s freedom with something valuable, or perhaps rescue his mother, but that would obviously mean that he could never return to Kingsport.

Dick tried talking to James about his time away from Kingsport. James casually deflected his attempts and kept bringing the conversation around to the present. The only thing that James would let go was that he’d been to hell and back, which Dick took to mean figuratively. When James impressed upon him that he meant it literally, Dick obviously didn’t believe him, and was disappointed and a little sad that James wouldn’t be straight with him.

When the morning came and Quentin was rested as well the conversation again turned to what the day master might accept as a payment in return for Jeanne’s freedom. James said it could be anything of value, particularly books, ancient magics or similar antiquities. Quentin also raised the possibility of letting Dick guard the Reaverhaunt caves so that guild member could come to inspect them and see for themselves what Kalina had been planning.

Shortly after, the heroes confirmed that indeed the caves were now empty as they thoroughly inspected the areas that they hadn’t been to yet. They found the bandits in a dark room, some having tried to flee, some having been killed in their cots, each of them withered looking, with skin as thin as paper, their face a terrifying death mask. The room they were in revealed some personal belongings as well as a door leading to a chamber that was used to store valuables. They found a locked and trapped chest which held many items of value, including a lot of coins. James decided to blindly take all of the valuables but leave the coins behind.

Once the heroes were satisfied that they had discovered all tunnels and chambers in the cave, they went back to the room where they’d found Kalina. They searched it thoroughly and James even went to dive into the pool that connected the chamber to the tunnel beyond to make sure they hadn’t overlooked anything. Initially nothing could be found, but when asked, Luca shifted his gaze and tried to perceive any magical energy. He found none, but he did notice that there was a vaguely lingering aura of magic on the bloodstained, copper scrying bowl that had been laying on the floor.

It seemed as if Luca was mumbling to an unseen person, which most found a little unnerving and strange, but James had seen this before, when Luca had been talking to himself, outside, at night, on the road at the Inn at the Crossroads. It was as if the voice he was talking to helped him find Kalina’s prayer book, which she had carefully hidden on the bottom of one of the cots.

It was a small, black, leather-bound book with strange, curious scribbling which Luca recognised to be the infernal script of devils. It held the teaching of the Dark Queen, and on the inside cover, it read; “To my daughter Kalina. May the Dark Queen teach you the way. Forever your father, Melchior.”

The heroes returned to the Scatterfoot farm and gathered their things. It would take half a day to get back to Kingsport. Dick took his horse and lead the bandit’s horses behind him. He was clearly not so comfortable in the saddle yet, but he managed. Astrid rode with Luca, which allowed him to investigate the shield that Quentin had taken from Ser Fulton, the dagger that Bran had won from Kalina, as well as the identical daggers that they had taken from her after the fight. It turned out that the dagger that Bran had won was not magical, but the other two held exactly the same properties as the Tooth of Thalasis that James carried on him since they helped Alfred Barnaby in Bournemouth; the same dagger that got him in trouble in Blackbridge.

Ser Fulton’s shield seemed to have some curious properties as well; it was capable of temporarily summoning the vipers on the shield to aid the wearer in combat. It could do so three times every Night of Violet Eyes, when the Bloodmoon and Darkmoon stood at high sanction together.

Late in the afternoon, cold, miserable and drenched by rain, the heroes arrived back in Kingsport. Entrance into the city was made easy by Quentin’s presence; the crownsguard waved the nobleman and his companions past without inspecting the cart they brought or wandering why they had so many horses with them.

Dick split off from the group and decided take the horses directly to the Kingsport Manège to be sold. He didn’t know what the next few days would bring, but he suspected he might have need of gold.

Astrid and James decided to take Luca’s cart, together with Kalina’s body, and hide out in the city that night. This would allow them to keep a low profile away from the rest of the heroes. They agreed to meet up again at noon the following day.

Quentin, Luca and Emrys left for the Careless Wanderer where they found a place by the hearth and sat together, drinking wine and eating supper. Quentin wanted to speak to the mistress of the inn, Magda, but did not see her around. Instead, he spent his time writing a letter to his father, about the coming of a new conjunction, sharing something about his struggles. He also shared that he wanted to be the herald of the new Silver Crusade, to bring honour to his name and his house.

The young Beauclairois knight told Emrys and Luca about his ambition. Speaking it out loud would make it real, and would allow him to gauge how it sounded by seeing the reaction on his companions’ faces; whether they would think it foolish or sagacious. Emrys smiled and told Quentin he would want to be there as a witness, and be the first to write a ballad about it. Luca merely nodded gravely, with a mad glint in his eye.

Quentin also wrote a letter to Gwenaëlle, the contents of which he kept to himself.

Kalina’s Ladder

Previously, the Heroes of the White Eye found themselves at the Scatterfoot farm where they met Dick, James’ childhood friend who helped them find the Reaverhaunt caves, the hideout the bandits were using to lay low. Aided by Emrys’ arcane abilities, the heroes had explored the caves and had found a well-stocked armoury, a large cave with a bunch of resting bandits, and a separate room where Kalina had been hiding out. When discovered, Kalina had attacked and grievously wounded James before escaping into the darkness. Meanwhile, a strange apparition made of pure shadow had been following the heroes, keeping out of the light, but had since attacked Emrys and drained him of most of his strength.

Fifth Day, First Ride, Autumn Red, 1262

(Silvermoon in high sanction. Bloodmoon in high sanction. Darkmoon is waxing.)

James opened his eyes and felt the fog of unconsciousness receding together with the burn of the poison which had turned his nervous system on fire. He quickly assessed the situation and realised that Kalina had made her escape. Astrid had wasted no time to bolt into the darkness to follow the fleet-footed Silesian bandit, but James heard her gasping out a strangled breath that told him his Helmarker friend was in trouble.

Once James had regained consciousness, Luca spoke an arcane command and opened a portal that allowed him to travel small distances in the blink of an eye. He put his hand on Emrys’ shoulder and pulled the sorcerer through with him. The two teleported through the dark portal, eerily reminiscent of the portal through which the Skaven had poured into the catacombs underneath the Sheridan estate. The instantaneously reappeared at the mouth of the cave, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the two immediately stood face to face with the dangerous bandit, they would have noticed the unstable flickering of the portal through which they came.

Despite the strange, ethereal jaunt through the unstable portal, Luca and Emrys reacted swiftly and unleashed a barrage of enchantments on Kalina designed to restrain her; including the most difficult of magics; polymorphism. Emrys turned Kalina into a sheep, which could easily be leashed.

While Luca and Emrys easily subdued Kalina, James and Quentin rushed to Astrid’s aid and found her being attacked by the strange shadow creature. Like Emrys, Astrid was severely weakened. Between the three of them, together with the help of a torch, they managed to drive the shadow creature off and deeper into the cave, towards where the bandits had been spotted.

Once everyone had reunited a decision was made to lead the still polymorphed Kalina back to the Scatterfoot farm, intending to take the horses and head back to the abandoned mill near the Sheridan estate.

Dick was happy to see the heroes returned in relatively good health. Emrys reverted Kalina back into her normal form and James decided to strip her down to her skivvies  and take all of her gear, in case she had any more tricks up her sleeve. When he went out to find Stubbs’ body in order to have Kalina change into his clothes, he noticed more than half a dozen shadowy creatures slowly descending down upon Scatterfoot farm.

Rushing back inside to inform the others, the heroes started to look at ways to keep the shadows at bay; torches, lanterns, candles and anything that could be improvised. Dick wasted no time to smash up one of the old, wooden tables and turn it into kindling. The farmhouse was old and the wooden walls and thatched roof was full of creaks and holes, but the light would hopefully drive the shadows off.

For a few hours the shadows, which were distinctly different from the shadowy creature which lead them, could be seen moving in and out of the light, prodding and probing the heroes’ defences. During this time the heroes rested and bandaged their wounds. The strange withering which the shadowy creature had inflicted on Astrid and Emrys had faded and they felt much better.

But deep in the night, when the moons disappeared behind stormy clouds, the shadows came for them, creeping through the cracks in the walls and assaulting the door, which had been guarded by Quentin. The fight was very chaotic, with shadows coming at them from all sides, draining their strength from their body and proving to be very difficult to defeat. Kalina, though bound, was causing trouble for the heroes as well. Luca shot bolt after angry bolt of eldritch energy, but found that he was hit by vicious feedback from Blackstar.

When the shadows started draining one of the heroes of their strength, it appeared almost as if a new shadow was trying to separate itself from the very essence of the person that was being drained. As if a dark version of their souls was angrily thrashing, trying to escape the bonds of the hero’s body.

Kalina was pummelled into unconsciousness so that she could no longer prove a problem, but while the numbers of shadows were dwindling, the shadowy creature who lead them swooped into the house and set upon Kalina, draining her until she withered and expired. As the shadowy creature tried to escape through the gaps in the thatched roof, Luca ran outside and threw bolts of eldritch fire at it until it dissipated.

Having lost Kalina, James wasn’t sure what the next steps should be to get to the bottom of the situation, or what to tell the day master.