Session One Hundred and Thirty-Three (Graveyard of Empires Summary)
Session 133 November 30, 2016
6:00 pm, 20th of Tanrilden, returning to the Jolly Gorgon.
AD Clock reads 00.00.04.26
We notice two cloaked men loitering by the Jolly Gorgon’s dock. The night cap tells Chuq that the two are looking for the Starchie Boys – Ashton, Axel, Chuq, Finkelmur, Orion or Thorfus. Leaving everyone else in the shadows, Thorfus approaches the two alone. The pair, Chik Rasorer and Rowley Feiffer, are militia the Starchie Boyz rescued from Grimtooth’s Gnoll pack. Along with all the other captives, we safely escorted the two to Vargen where we booked their passage to Midmark so they could report for duty and deliver Thorfus’ first report to Lord Thorton. Now that their enlistment is finished, they want to sign on with Thorfus. At the Jolly Gorgon, Thorfus assigns them to Kotar’s mercenary squad. Kotar is pleased to see familiar and friendly faces.
Ronan suggests we acquired the last two items we left at the Merendur temple poison cabinet tonight. It’s hoped they will help when dealing with the Mermen and Devil Fish. Before we make the attempt, he runs a personal errand at the Marlborough gambling house. Rolf tells Ronan that the streets have no rumors about Ronan’s first heist at the Merendur Temple. Ronan purchases some dog froth before leaving to meet the party by the Merendur temple.
Edan decides to stay on board the Jolly Gorgan to continue his research, so it is only Axel, Chuq, Ronan and Thorfus that collect near the Salty Judge later that night. Axel and Thorfus enter via the front gate asking for help to deal with the Keeper Estate hauntings while Chuq and Ronan swim in the Tarwater to the tower proper. The plan is for Chuq to shadow step the swimmers via Thorfus’ or Axel’s view of the interior using the night cap. The plan is put on hold as Chief Librarian Chartain Beltram, the cleric Calle poisoned during our last infiltration, is introduced to the dwarves and proceeds to escort the two to his office, enthused to research ancient lore about ghostly hauntings.
In his office, outside of the ink room, Beltram excuses himself to collect some text. Axel and Thorfus position themselves so that as Beltram returns through the door Chuq can shadow step behind him into the ink room. His infravision allows Ronan to lead Chuq across the ink black room to the poison cabinet door. At the door, Chuq uses the continual light Starchie badge to examine the door for traps. Then Ronan uses his key to unlock the door and the two enter the cabinet as the Starchie badge is stowed away making the room dark again.
During this time, Beltram explains that imperial text tells of a place in between places where sometime souls can be trapped there due to injustice at death or unrealized ambition in life. There is mention of a banishment ritual, a little ceremony of the bell, book and candle. A cleric arrange candles in a petragram within the locus of the haunting, but a missing text needs to be chanted as a golden bell is told. The spirits will likely fight during this ritual. To discover the missing text, he suggests a cleric of the Dragon Emperor or a sage with knowledge of religious customs. Beltram doesn’t fully comprehend the passage that says the spirits are trapped in the realm of transpatial energy. Edan would definitely like to learn this! Thorfus beseechs the librarian for more help, Chartain promises to continue his research during the night. He records Axel’s and Thorfus’ names so that he may send word to the Jolly Gorgon by midday day hence.
Before they leave the office, Thorfus asks Beltram what he knows of the Mad King. Surprisingly there was a Champion of Lysander known as the Mad King during the ancient dwarven rebellion. Beltram promises to research this further during the night.
Within the poison cabinet, Chuq fails to pick the display case lock so Ronan has to yank it off. The net and jug are snatched. Ronan pauses to examine some scrolls but none seem worth stealing. As the two cross the doorway with the Starchie badge aloft, a massive tendril of ink slams into Ronan’s chest. He feels himself slipping away but by force of will resists. Looking over his shoulder, Chuq step the pair across the room. This allow him to contact the stalling bungling Thorfus’ mind. Asking for a quick exit, Thorfus shows Chuq a view over the water between the temple tower and the harbor. The thieves step 10 feet above the water and plunge into the surf. Ronan swims away with their loot as Chuq loiters under the covered causeway to support Axel and Thorfus if necessary. The dwarves are escorted out without incident though they can hear a commotion occurring within the temple behind them.
Axel and Thorfus walk to the Jolly Gorgon while Chuq and Ronan swim to the mill house, where they spend the night. On route, Thorfus alerts Edan of the nights events via the broachie talkie. Edan cast invisibility with the Merendur wand in his possession. A short while after the dwarves are on board the Jolly Gorgon, Almeric wakes Thorfus because the Harbor Master is calling for the Captain.
The harbor master is accompanied by several acolytes of Merendur and Chartain Beltram. Thorfus greets the crowd from the gunwale. Thorfus resistance to the ship being boarded or searched spurns the harbor master to seize the ship. The crew and all their possessions are searched as they disembark. Since they are looking for a cloak, everyone, including the captain, are forced to relinquish theirs. Thorfus sends the crew and mercenaries to drink the night away as he keeps an eye on the ship from the dock. Eventually the harbor master retires with his lackeys left onboard searching. As he leaves, Chartain tells Thorfus that he and all his companions are banned and are anathema. He hopes we don’t take any sea voyages.
After dawn, 21st of Tanrilden.
AD Clock reads 00.00.04.25
Acolyte Cicily Hands over a rolled up parchment from Father Gyldenbollicks:
To the Keepers of the Council: First, let me offer my most sincere apologies for failing you at the Grell Estate yesterday. After the recent miracle with Patriarch Darvo, I had become overconfident in Evenkeel’s favor and too quick to forget how little we know of the realms beyond this one we call home. Second, let me apologize for not sharing some key information with you immediately: Arden Grell was not consigned to the lye pits outside of the city, but rather taken in secrecy to the family estate in Seabreeze and interred there by friends in the admiralty. I have spoken with a young cleric involved in these irregular proceedings and he has provided the enclosed sketch of the grounds showing the location of the unmarked grave. Perhaps this would appease the restless spirits of the house? If not, I have been discussing the issue all night with the Patriarch and his closest advisors and there may be a way to forcibly eject the spirits – apparently the ritual in question is imperial in origin! The mainland seems to have (correctly) held onto what the Ark has labeled superstition in error. If you would like to try that route instead, I should be prepared by tomorrow afternoon. With my sincerest apologies and condolences for your deceased comrade, Father Habreham Gyldenbollockes.
Thorfus sends the still invisible Edan to warn Chuq and Ronan to stay hidden since the search continues. Edan takes the broachie talkie with him. When Edan joins Chuq and Ronan at the mill, Ronan’s mind is touched by Drays the Devil Fish. Drays wants the repair for the Sword of Dagon and offers to examine Ronan’s mind for the same tampering he sensed in several city guardsman and his lackey Owen. Ronan refuses the examination politely then excuses himself to confer with Chuq and Edan. They leave the mill beyond Drays influence and discuss their options. Edan has already written false found research of the repair. No one, including Serithas, is interested in Chuq’s plan to confront Drays in the canal or to force an violent encounter right now.
Returning to the mill, Ronan invites Drays into the Mill claiming he wants to see who he is dealing with. Drays agrees only if Chuq leaves. The monk acquiesces. After Drays enters the Mill, Ronan reads the repair sporadically so that he can prompt Drays to answer some questions. Drays tells that the “Mad King” was a hero of the DevilFish during the ancient dwarven rebellion, also known as the !!Lord of the Night Court!! that had disappeared. Drays also agrees to collect the skull of Calle since Ronan is willing to negotiate without being so forceful and rigid like others. After Drays departs, Edan and Ronan decide to keep their Mad King revelation secret from Chuq and by extension, the Night Court.
Edan returns to the docks to tell Axel and Thorfus of the Drayz meeting. Since we have the skull, and know the location of Grell’s body, we decide to visit Sea Breeze. Later, the harbor master clears the Jolly Gorgon allowing Thorfus to set sail. Although the harbor master offered to waive our dock fees because his searchers ruinously soiled Thorfus’ most fancy cloak, we leave too soon for any real recompense. As the Jolly Gorgon crosses the Tarwater, the swimming Chuq and Ronan shadow step aboard.