http://www.dwarvenautomata.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=MrHusband&feedformat=atomRPG Campaign Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T08:39:24ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.39.3http://www.dwarvenautomata.com/wiki/index.php?title=Session_Five_Summary_(Graveyard_of_Empires:_After_the_Fall)&diff=696Session Five Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)2020-07-30T16:48:32Z<p>MrHusband: /* Session Summary */</p>
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<div>== Session 5, July 29 2020 ==<br />
[[File:Pjimage-38.png|left|200px]]<br />
=== Introduction ===<br />
''The party prepares to depart the hidden grotto where they discovered an exiled Montoan shaman and her altar for practicing blood magic. It is the morning of the 5th of Tenrilden ...<br />
''<br />
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=== Session Summary ===<br />
Session 5, July 29 2020<br />
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Rallion leads the party and refugees westward into the rainy morning. Rallion and Bavmorda forage as they trek. They meet the Messenger sitting in a 6’ diameter circle where the rain does not fall and the sun shines upon it’s grey cloaked shoulders. Addressing Rallion by name, the Messenger offers an alliance with an anonymous rival of Asmodeus in exchange for enchantments, spellcasting and escape from Media to the City of Brass after an impending conflagration threatening our world. It refuses to demonstrate or illustrate its or its client's ability to bestow said gifts or to identify itself or its benefactor. Rallion doesn’t commit and leaves the messenger by continue on our trek west to Montoa.<br />
<br />
Kauri consults Tik Tok. He explains everyone contends against Asmodeus and that no two rivals are strong enough to challenge him. Tik Tok lamely offers to leave his clock and survey other DVLs but it’s obvious to Kauri he has no intention to follow through.<br />
<br />
After the trail descends below the tree line, into jungle, the party discovers a clearing of wantonly felled trees obviously ransacked for fire wood but done antithetical to environmental conservation. The path of destruction offers a quicker route which the party follows until pitching camp. During their watch, Laris and Vikram patrol along our path and discover a camp of 30 orcs. <br />
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On the morning of the 6th, Rallion leads the party around the slumbering Orc camp while Vikram invisibly monitors the Orcs. We are now travelling cross country directly for Montao. Laris tasks Vikram to investigate plumes of smoke to the north. He reports a gaggle of DVLs massacring a nest of duck billed dinosaurs. We trudge along keeping westerly straight for Montoa. <br />
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When Alea confirms we are two hours away from Montao, Vikram is sent ahead to investigate the village remains. He fails to report back to Laris. An hour away from Montoa, Alea agrees that she, Peronell and Bavmordo with a little help from the roadies should investigate Monoa before escorting all the refugees home. She suggests approaching Montoa from the west via wooded foot paths. The party splits between two parallel paths to keep each in view. As we approach we see some ten souls patrolling about the village center scanning the surrounding jungle. Alea and Rallion agree the occupiers are Shemites that deserve iron edged justice, now.</div>MrHusbandhttp://www.dwarvenautomata.com/wiki/index.php?title=Session_One_Summary_(Graveyard_of_Empires:_After_the_Fall)&diff=621Session One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)2020-07-08T00:27:05Z<p>MrHusband: </p>
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<div>== Session 1, July 1 2020 ==<br />
[[File:Aee996a82ffd21d70cc8867a9ea64531.jpg|left|200px]]<br />
=== Introduction ===<br />
''As the space station XenoTel<sup>2</sup> plummets toward the atmosphere, the party shadow steps down to Meidia on their quest to close the portal linking their world to Hell and defeat the devils raining down on their homeworld ...<br />
''<br />
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=== Session Summary ===<br />
==== Rallion/Larry's Account ====<br />
1st of Tenrilden (October) at 12:00 pm noon. 1 year and 12 hours since the beginning of Graveyards of Empires<br />
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Clear Day, c. 80 degrees/27 C, in rough terrain near Old Greybeard, home of the four matriarchs.<br />
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We worked our way to the path up the mountain. We traveled all day and set camp in a gully with a lookout near the top. The DVL in the countdown clock is still there and says he is waiting until we find out about the next apocalypse so he can count down once again.<br />
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The next day we continued and finally came to the bottom of the trail and left an offering of food via Vikram.<br />
<br />
At the next totem, there was a sphinx resting under a rock outcropping out of the rain. Rallion greeted her, but did not have an offering she liked. Kauri gave her a golden torc and told Kauri that she can't help restore magic to the de-magicked items. the rest of the party was ready for combat, but we avoided a fight.<br />
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The next totem we left another food offering from Vikram and then saw the golden shiny eagle on the next totem. The eagle kept one totem ahead of us, and settled on the rock outcropping that is eagle shaped over the cavern entrance where the stream tonight.<br />
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Azra was keeping watch and lowered her bow when she recognized us. She was glad we returned. She told Timon we were there, he greeted us. He told us that the village of Montoa was razed and the survivors came here. Not sure if Shem or Hizou did it. Kaliha is the shaman and in charge. Druetta was a Montoan and came with us, but was lost to the undead infection.<br />
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Timon introduced us to the deep gnome Braadler and his cave fisher pack animal. Braadler was sent by someone or something he called "Clickthump" to find us. We are not sure what that is. We have welcomed Braadler into our group.<br />
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We went to one of the now many repaired buildings to drop off our extra gear and the dwarven make stuff to avoid offending the Matriarchs before going to visit them. Vikram stays behind to watch out stuff. <br />
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We go into the maze and have many disagreements about which way to go, and only made it part way in. We left off with a puzzle of a lever that could release death if we don't interpret it correctly.<br />
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==== Bavmorda/Ray's Account ====<br />
Session 1 July 1st, 2020<br />
<br />
1st of Tenrilden at 12:00 pm noon. 1 year and 12 hours since the beginning of Graveyards of Empires.<br />
<br />
The party shadow steps to the southern foothills of Old Greybeard in the vicinity of the cockatrice lair. The survivors, Bavmorda, Kauri, Lambertus, Oxkhar, Peronnel and Rallion find themselves nearer the cavern of the dead than the peaks of Old Greybeard. They are accompanied by Vikram the DVL and the tacit Apocalypse Clock DVL. The day is warm, the air crisp. Above the horizon, gouts of linear flame in the atmosphere herald Media’s newest immigrants. Grimnly reminding the terrestrial natives the latest calamity to fall upon their home. Vikram voices his consent when the party decides to ascend northwesterly. Apparently, he is eager to visit the Matriarchs as much as Rallion and Bavmorda. <br />
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The northwest trek to Old Greybeard is uneventful for hours. While everyone scans the terrain for familiar totems, individuals examine their possessions for residual enchantments. All the nano carbon items are depowered, Kauri confirms their DVLs are absent. Those with Drow items are disappointed to discover the adamantine has decohered to a sand like silt that crumbles away when jostled. Moans, groans and expressions of disappointment or resolve are shared among the adventurers. After hours of ascent, an encampment is established in a hidden depression in the foothills.<br />
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A watch is manned overnight. Oskar, Laris, Bavmorda and Rallion sentinel the camp. As he sups, Kauri notices the apocalypse clock DVL is still present. When asked, the clock DVL explains he has stayed with the clock for so many eons, he doesn’t know where else he should be. Jovially he volunteers to mark time for an unnamed expectant heretofore unknown apocalypse. In the night sky the Constant Star still sits though the party knows the Crystal Palace is no more. This night, the Constant Star twinkles not, its shine constant and somewhat brighter than before. It must be the star gate, irised open by the will of Azreal. The rain of fire has abated greatly but the night sky is occasionally pierced by other spits of flame.<br />
<br />
Laris confers with Vikram during his vigil. Their conversation was their own. Perhaps the discourse was about the weather, the party’s ambition or Vikram’s purpose? Whatever it was, Laris kept their conference in confidence.<br />
<br />
The 2nd of Tenrilden begins clear but true to the tropics, the sky turns overcast and leaden with little warning. The change in the weather intensifies when Rallion discovers the first Totem. Before proceeding past the Totem, Rallion dumps his adamantine dust onto the ground. Upon contact with the falling the rain, the decohered adamantine dissolves into a grey green sludge ‘more goopier than quicksilver’. Though the downpour has increased, the adamantine sludge doesn’t flow away but rests where Rallion poured it.<br />
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Next Rallion polls the party for a suitable offering to no avail. Vikram volunteers to create fresh fruit as an offering. Rallion drops the DVL offering into the plate at the foot of the totem. Rallion leads the party to the next totem. A sphinx guards this totem. Rallion negotiates passage unsuccessfully until Kauri offers a golden torgue. The torgue delights the Sphynx who retreats to a shallow cave. Rallion beseeches Vikram once again for an offering. As we depart, the Sphynx admonishes Rallion. It explains that it is unwise these days to hand out names. Doing so can give power to others. Then it reassures Rallion that a friend is just ahead. <br />
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To keep up our paces, Rallion enlists Vikram to create an offering of fruit for every totem offering plate along the trail. After ascending for 20 minutes, another totem is passed, then another 15 minutes later. That is when we see a glowing avian perched on the next totem. Now the rain is a torrent. Rallion announces with glee that he knows this bird as the bird of his glowing feather. As the party ascends, the glowing avian alights to the next totem, then the next. Doing so, it heralds and escorts simultaneously.<br />
<br />
The path levels. Cascading water from above diverts to the left and right of an outcropping of rock that wreaths a cave entrance. The water pools on either side of the entrance before draining away. The sun has moved two hours past its zenith. Bavmorda waves to an archer observing the party. The archer, an older woman, waves in reply. <br />
<br />
The archer is Azra, she stands watch over lots of native islanders. There are wailing children,adults cooking and others industriously repairing and furnishing caves for residence. On a shelf of rock there are numerous fresh graves. Azra invites the party within and explains Timone is helping new arrivals to the Gray Beard refuge. She is happy to see the party has returned. A stooped wizened man happily greets us, effusly shaking hands with some of the party. Azra tells the story of refugees fleeing razed Montoa. How they followed their shaman for the promised safety on Grey Beard, their trek escorted by warriors calling themselves the Matriarch's Daughters. Azra is summoned to speak with Kahlea the shaman. Before leaving, she offers accommodations for the party and introduces the party to a physically disfigured deep gnome.<br />
<br />
The deep gnome introduces himself as Braadlur Quartzwarper, a Servant of the Prism. His saga began in the underdark of Media where he had some sort of relationship with an earthen entity he calls ClickThump. He says ClickThump is a leader of the Stone People, a race of elementals that defend deep gnome communities. ClickThump prophesied the loss of clerical magic then commissioned Braad to find people with answers on the surface. Despite ClickThump’s accurate prophecy, Braadlur is nonetheless alarmed by the flashes of flame in the sky and dismayed by his loss of clerical power to heal. Though unclear as to how long he means, Braadlur implies it has been years since Czizek-Jagartha, the First of the Prism, trained his nascent clerical talents. Somehow convinced we are the people ClickThump sent him to find, he offers his help and that of his insect pet. A pet the size of a large dog, covered front to back in chitinous armor and seemingly well trained to respond to Braad’s whistles with a variety of behaviors. During the interview, Braad insists Drow magic still functions though he admits his people avoid Drow and the Silence when they have a choice.<br />
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After Braadlur’s introduction, the party stows the remaining DVL items in the tent allocated for their use. During our deliberations, Vikram enquires about our destination. He is confused that we continue to discuss ascending the mountain though from his point of view we are not at the foot of a mountain but a level plain stretching to the north west. When asked to validate the existence of the cavern entrance or the diverted waterfall, he denies them. Then his tone shifts to uncertainty. Saving face, he suggests standing guard over the DVL items. We enthusiastically accept his offer and surrender those items to his care. The apocalypse clock is also left with Vikram.<br />
<br />
Sans Vikram, the apocalypse clock and many DVL and non DVL items, the party passes through the ascetic chamber into the entrance chamber where the following inscription is found:<br />
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*''Those who Pass Beyond these Doors''<br />
*''Shall Face Tests to Prove whether they are Worthy''<br />
*''To Enter the Presence of those Matriarchs''<br />
*''Who Stood Against the Outsiders''<br />
<br />
<br />
*''Cerida (North), with Logic as Cold as the Northern Ice''<br />
*''Brita (East), As Vigorous as the Dawn’s Symphony of Bird-calls''<br />
*''Feldma (West), Protector of Wisdom’s Dying Light''<br />
*''Oswitha (South), Warm Bloom of Southern Isles’ Compassion''<br />
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<br />
*''When Those from Beyond Threaten the World''<br />
*''The Way shall be Revealed in Cataclysm''<br />
*''For New Guardians of our Inheritance and Home''<br />
*''To Claim the Shard of the Mother from its Resting Place''<br />
<br />
<br />
After the entrance our pathfinder is unsure of his path. Faced with a door to the north and another to the east, Braadlur volunteers to investigate alone. Impressed by his bravery (foolhardy or not) we watch as he disappears down the eastern cavern for ten minutes. He reports the cavern collapsed and suggests we take the northern door. Brilliantly Braad leads the party successfully to another intersection 20 feet beyond the northern door.<br />
<br />
The next intersection heads either east or west. Ten feet to the west there is a door with the following inscription: “''Cerida’s Gifts, / Reason Incalculable, / Will not be Divided''”. Forty feet to the east the cavern has collapsed exposing a cavern below the level we are on. Heeding the Western door warning, we suggest Braad investigate the cavern below via rappelling since the hole gapes without any sides. There he discovers a cavern running north to south, its southern end obstructed by loose debris whereas the northern end is finished construction capped with another closed door. After joining Braad below, Laris reads it’s inscription: “''First Brita’s (East) Courage and then Feldma’s (West) Wisdom, Look then to Cerida (North) and Oswitha’s (South) Sacrifice is Unnecessary''”<br />
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Laris opens the northern door and discovers a thirty foot diameter circular room decorated by a lone central lever jutting from the floor. The lever sits evenly between cardinal points on the periphery. The ceiling is mostly ten feet above the floor, however there is ten foot to the side square cut out looming above the lever another 10 feet higher. Quite the stage for a suspenseful act. <br />
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The time is 5:10 pm, an hour after Rallion lit his lantern.</div>MrHusband