Session One Hundred and Twenty-Six (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

11th of Ten’Relden – Around Midnight

Spite, Perette, Elfred, the Lord Mayor and Boris – I write these names first – to remind me what hubris and overconfidence can cost. On a more gruesome note, in case we’re not successful and someone finds this journal.

I’m sitting in a crypt – waiting for Thorfus and the others to open the grate to the sewers below to make our escape. I’ll explain quickly.

It started with a simple plan – take the Sword of Dagon and the Undying Cubes to the ship. Leave them, Sturloc and the henchmen behind. Then head to the Ark Temple where the Chuq’s compatriots would join us to confront the false Thornton. Take him down, and possibly gain more insight.

{the following is written in a mixture of regular and short-hand script}

The plan started well, we travelled with little issue to the ship, and after some instructions for Sturloc (gave him my com. brooch) we left for the Temple & Courthouse. Again – little trouble. A few questions here and there but nothing serious. Sounds of riots echoed throughout our travel.

In the courtyard we were met by the two master monks, Archambault (Master of Dragons – ironically) and Adhemar and two junior monks, Elfred and Juhel.

We hoped to gain an audience with Thornton by telling the guard captain that we had some critical information for him. The guard the captain sent returned to tell us he could not and was in conference with the Lord Mayor and did not want to be disturbed.

Chuq insisted – reminding the Guard Captain that the Lord of Spring was with them. That got us in – in hindsight we should have realized it was too easy. Overconfidence blinded us.

We made our way to Thornton’s small office, there we made our accusations and tried to subdue him – I while invisible the others in full view.

Thornton tossed Axel like a sack of oats as the young dwarf attempt to grapple the man and withstood a pummeling from the rest of us. All while he tried to kill the Lord Mayor – thankfully Thorfus shielded the poor man.

We fought, but nothing seemed to hurt him and with some guttural words I could not understand he stuck the floor and unleashed a fiery explosion – sending us all towards the walls.

With one spell (I assume it was a spell, I hope that was a spell) he killed those I mentioned earlier and nearly killed Ronin and the others – was it not for the quick actions of my companions.

Margin note: How did he survive & escape? Ronin – mentioned a mirror? An illusion maybe – secret passage? Must investigate.

As the guards entered the room I realized Thornton was gone, I came invisible, seeing me there would have been complicated to explain so I used the smoke and ashes to blend in with the on-rushing guards. Boris’ remains in my hands and Chuq’s words echoing in my mind – get healers.

So I hurried to fetch the priests of the Ark Temple. Davro called upon his fellows and headed across the courtyard as I attempted to clean myself up.

In hindsight so many things should have warned us of this possibility. A Grey Cloak I passed on my way to the temple hinted at a monk plot. Oh had we seen it earlier – we had fallen into a trap!

Not long after I saw the priests enter the courthouse they emerged with Thorfus, Chuck and the others (all healed- thank the healers) – arguing with the guard and Grey Cloaks – I assume that Chuq and Thorfus explained what happened to Davro and he believed them – disputing the missive sent by Thornton from another location. Logically its clear – guards saw him with us here, yet here’s a missive from him from another location.

I saw that it wasn’t going well and began to plan my escape to the ship when suddenly the Grey Cloaks moved forward swords drawn. Moments later Chuq and the other monks appeared behind me at the temple doors with the others and something – else :

(sketch of the following description : Bipedal torso, roughly ape-like. Its short, narrow body is covered with pinkish, warty, and bumpy skin. It has a tail and vomit odor. Atop the body is a horse-like head, adorned with ruff. Four small, multi-faceted amber eyes bespeckle a skeletal visage. It has huge human-like ears. A trunk-like nose completes the portrait.)

I don’t what it was, or why it stepped through but Thorfus took it down using the Probability Sword – its body melting into the floor – revealing dwarven 1’s and 0’s tattooed over it’s body.

Margin Note: Ask Kalg.

With that we ran into the temple and closed the doors behind us. We then headed for the crypts where we are now. Apparently the others have been here before and know we can use the sewers to escape. Chuq tells me he told Davro that we were heading to the roof as a red-herring.

It’s time – must go… may fortune and fate guide us.