Session Sixty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

Session 62, September 15 2021

Introduction

We continue at 5:30AM on the 25th of Laurilden (00.000.10.06 on Apocalypse Clock) with the party having entered the web portal to meet with the Winter King after battling some Devils on the lower slopes of the Mikhel Peaks near Hdrasta. Injured and doubtful of their chances of success sieging that fortress/lair, the group now seeks help against One Horn from the mysterious elf lord.

We go through the portal and see Druul with a Winter Elf in white with red trim. He is Sir Ferthald of Gerathmiel, Warden of the Eternal Storm's Eastern Border.

He tells us that Master Enrilden of the Magisters is in a temporary camp nearby, on the way to the Winter King.

Ajax folds up the portal and is to take it to the Lakeshore near Montoa and open it in two days.

Ranarth takes off the head of the DVL and wrap it in one of the wings. We drag the body to the camp. We get winter cloaks to fend off the cold. All the webbing is coated in ice. We leave the orcs & hobgoblin prisoners at the camp.

Velkin learns from Enrilden, who is covered with many intricate blue designs that magic is back. Kauri can sense magic from elsewhere, similar to that of DVLs. It just took pledging allegiance to the Winter King. Lolth and her loyal priestesses, including Jarlana and the Dark Lord fled to Lolth's fortress in the home of the DVLs. All the magisters and some of the priestesses pledged loyalty to the Winter King. They Drow are descendants of the force the Winter King left behind to guard his interests and they "lost their way" due to the influence of Lolth.

Enrilden alerts us to ensure Ferthald knows we are on a time limit as the Winter Elves can tell the flow of time and ensure we aren't gone longer than we intend.

Sir Ferthald leads us to the Winter King. We come to the tiny cabin most of the party encountered when we fled the Underdark. Inside the cabin is a large fireplace. The fireplace is a portal to the realm of the Winter King.

We take part in a feast and after the feast petitions are heard.

The first petition are two Winter Elves complaining about who killed a hart. The Winter King suggests they share it, but their hatred blinds them and they refuse, so the Winter King turns each of them into large white harts.

The second petition if from a father and son. The father presents his son to join the Winter King's household as a servant. The Winter King accepts.

The third petition is the Wardens of Medeia. We explain our plan to unite forces to fight the DVLs. The Winter King takes note that the Summer Lord, his enemy, is already fighting the DVLs in the "Contested Lands" the surface. The Winter King is content to let that continue as Malgrim is ready to fall, and next he plans to defeat The Silence before worrying about the surface.

Lungmold pledges fealty and wins the good graces of the Winter King and is now Sir Lungmold of the Malgrim Mycelians. Lungmold will be given some retainers to go with him when we leave.

Brendil also pledges fealty and wins the good graces of the Winter King and is now Sir Brendil of the Cloak from Vargin.

The ranger the party found in the jungles near Jargin's, Ranarth Quinn, also pledged fealty and is now Sir Ranarth Quinn of Gharmarost [City in Dragon Empire] (pledge family and all the deceased in his family)

Kehlratha steps forward and says he has no honor but asks to borrow a weapon that can hit DVLs so he can regain his honor. This was a mis-step as now Khelratha has to fight in a joust against "Old Man Winter" to prove he has honor. This joust will be mounted on wolves.