Session Forty-Six Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

Session 46, May 26 2021

Introduction

We continue at 7PM on the 10th of Laurilden just after the party has established a camp for the evening just uphill on the north shore of the Vargwater River. The group is making good progress towards the Mikhel Peaks and Old Greybeard and should be entering the foothills of the range around noon on the next day. That's assuming, though, that their travels are uninterrupted by the ferocious inhabitants of Curmidden's inland jungle ...

We found a place to camp - no fire and all watches were uneventful.

Continuing West near the river the ground started getting soft and the river slowed due to a depression that grew marshy/swampy as we continued. We headed NW to work our way around the swamp and spotted bridges across the swamp and they seemed to go straight through the swamp on the dry ground, so we took the bridges.

Rallion found tracks of wolves, monkeys, and snakes. We travelled a long ways and to the South in the mist spotted glowing orbs, Will-O-Whisps and avoided them. We soon saw figures on the opposite end of a bridge. Rallion approached and used his scepter's ability to speak with them. Their faces peeled back revealing snake, but they were friendly and too us to Clarissa.

We entered a crude village of mud huts resembling beaver dens with more wolf creatures and monkeys with octopus arms, about 30 creatures total. Then a woman with the human sized head of a duck comes out, and is Clarissa. Clarissa knew Canis' wife who helped her reject brutish ways. When Jager's illusions fell, they left. They only want to be left in peace. Clarissa was a washer woman in Midmark sold into slavery by Judge Grell to Jager. She was glad when we told her Grell was dead, and relieved that the slave trade was disrupted.

We told her of the current state of Jager's valley and the DVLs and that there are remnants of humans from Midmark, Vargen, and other settlements trying to organize against the DVLs.

Kauri then gave her a recipe and ingredient list so that they can make their own healing potions and cure poison potions. Rallion said that if the West is safe, we may be able to get word to them. If they don't hear from us, then don't go West. Rallion did not give his name.

We continued on and as we went we were soon at the end of easy travel in the swamp and had to slog through mud for a while.

Finally, we reached the end of the swamp and the edge of the broken ground around the mountains.

About 4:00 PM we came across a statue of a woman with the following inscription:

The Lady of Revolutions, Who Stood on the Precipice of a New Age’s Rebirth, Irritant of XenoTel

We realized that this is Prixithalma. One hand pointed generally South in the direction of Xen Khel and moved a bit. The other held a hear that was half realistic and half stylized.

Velking searched and found that the letters of the inscription were like buttons. We tried several words and it re-set on the 5th letter. We then tried 4 letter words, finally settling on Prix which opened a secret compartment in the plinth with a vial of blood and a piece of a bat wing. It is a piece of dragon wing, and a vial of dragon blood. Inside the compartment was written:

Myrientaxus

We believe this means that this is a piece of Myrientaxus, the dragon who gave his life so the recently resurrected Prixithalma and the party could flee. [See Session 163 of first campaign. Need formula 3 vials of dragon blood, piece of the dragon, and sacrifice of several sentient creatures, plus the ceremony.]

We camped nearby and only one snake was found and quickly dispatched.

The next day as we continued we find the source of the Vargwater that is a series of cascading falls that enter a ravine. The West wall of the ravine has a carving of one of the Four Mothers, Brita. IT is placed such that it looks like the morning sun will strike it. We decide to stop here even though it is Noon and overnight here. We climb down as we see there is room to camp behind the waterfall in front of the face.

Rallion stands before the face with the glowing feather and it glows twice as bright. He touches it to the face.

Soon a hawk circles down and lands. Rallion ask if it speaks the tongue of humans and it just looks. Rallion uses the scepter to speak to it and learns that there will be the first Parliament of the Birds in many centuries. It will be held in the nest of one of their greatest on top of the grandest and tallest of mountains in two days. Rallion knows he means Greybeard, but speaks not the name. Rallion does not exchange names with the hawk, the hawk says it will know Rallion when next they meet.