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

Session 26, January 6 2020

Introduction

We continue at 7:40PM on the 17th of Tenrilden with the party having just returned to the Temple of the Winter King to rest after their encounter with winter wolves ...

Session Summary

We rest eight hours in the Temple of the Winter King. Rallion heard shuffling on his watch. Brendil heard whispers saying his name, that soon ceased. The other two watches were quiet.

Lambertus used one of his stones and re-learned spells. He healed Aubrey, Lungmold, and Oskar. Rallion gave Lambertus his last healing elixir.

Velkin searches the chest of Jarlana and avoided a trap of poison gas and finds everyday drow clerical vestments, a holy symbol, and a sticky web-like handkerchief that unfolds and seems to be a portal to another place as a breeze came out of it. We suspect it is a portal. Also inside is a book and a fancy scroll case. The scroll case are fragments of parchment that discuss the Winter King and Summer King. The book is Jarlana's journal that starts with the end of magic.

Jarlana's Journal:
Jarlana had a messenger from Lolth, whom we suspect to be the demon in the yellow hat. This messenger knew how to track those with the box of infinite spiders....

Lambertus asked the corpse of the sacrificial victim two questions with Speak with Dead.

Where were you killed?
Answered in Old Elvish close to Drow.
I died in the Halls of the Winter King beyond the snowy forest and old cabin on the other side of the Veil before being brought to these contested lands.

How do we find the Summer King?
The Lord of Summer can be found in the Elysium Fields beyond the Veil; he will come soon to fight his mortal foe and claim his kingdom in these Contested Lands.

The winter wolves lead us to their "master" the Winter King, but Rallion convinces them to lead them to the Seneschal of the Winter King.

First to a door that is the "dangerous way." Then the safe way, past the Winter King.

Wolves lead us to a door. (We will pass through the Master's Forest. Master is in the cabin.)
As in an enchanted space, /
Trees stood in the vapor rootless, /
While the stag flew onward, footless /
Yet unwearied by the chase.

We enter a huge room that turns to a snowy forest. Lungmold detects a mind to the North, that we assume is the Winter King.

We come to a door and hear moaning. We open the door and there are zombies, but Lambertus turns them and they fall to pieces.

We come to a statue in a semi-circular alcove with an articulated arm. Moving the arm opens a door. The wolves lead us through.

At an intersection the wolves are worried. Lungmold senses animal minds. He telepathically asks them "What is your purpose?" and they get active and come towards us. At least 3 bluish giant toads. We get through a door and two pivoting walls beyond. We spike the door and both pivoting walls and head in the direction Lungmold detected the frogs.

It is now 10:30 AM the 18th of Tenrilden.