For the first few hours it is hard to completely relax when
we learn of the steady flood of deep sea water that continues to threaten the low-lying areas of Paola; it was prudent to stay alert for a possible city wide evacuation. But after a couple hours the Boxers watch the
water recede and finally it was time for our characters to rest. Carlo, while resting, feels a
telepathic scream while the rest of us hear all manner of chaos outside.
When our characters, along with Ahumm, Lermang and Evagara,
awaken about twelve hours later we our characters see the safe house is
fuller with more people and equipment. It is about 8 in the morning. Some of
these newcomers claim of have seen strange creatures: drauger, hippocampus, sea
hags, disturbing descriptions of a winged man with a rictus wooden mask; they
describe a battle with a gibbering mouther, several flying manticores, and
finally three individuals people thought were injured people would then
transform into warerats.
In regards to IL-Kataniz, Wally suspects Chomson betrayed
IL-Kataniz explaining Chomson’s odd trade connection with the Black Druid.
Nevertheless Tiamat Inquisitors were seen in Zebbug and assumes IL-Kataniz;
Chomson was a known trader with tengu.
We leave about midmorning disguised, first heading toward
Borg house. Along the way our characters see first-hand the damage and the
looting that occurred throughout the night. We hear with delight the Bard
College has reopened and have organized a relief effort.
We also hear how most people are angry with the Seven
Churches. Lex takes this opportunity to cultivate this hatred and color our character
as heroes. Cian has been restored status. And awating their fate there are
callers for a People’s Trial captured are high priest Kassok, Rudjek. Two
individuals that look like the Aldus; on that came through the portal and
another that was captured later. Zallas is missing. An individual, who claims
to be here by request for the Finnish church was known to have come back
through the portal.
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| Cian |
Most people in the city feel like they’ve been lied to their
entire lives. Even people who were never on trial just sent through the portal
had come back to fuel the insulted folk. These people are upset with the Dragon
church, the Babylonian, and the church of Otherwere mostly. Closer to the docks
we learn the rush of water from the portal created a break in the Egyptian ship
blockade. Cian is well spoken for as he was not part of the Seven Church’s charade.
When we arrive at the Borg house our characters find it
borded up and after a key knock at the right place we are led in. We find they
are tending 4 individuals that were sent through the portal. Two of the
individuals have horrible tentacle sucker wounds and unseen physiological
wounds. They complain of the physic intrusions from the night before, but Carlo
reassures them the jailer is dead. Initially they are overjoyed and realize they don’t have to be as secretive
in the future since they are no longer being hunted by the aboleth. The Borg do
not have any news for us and have taken it upon themselves to care for these 4
survivors.
Carlo asks about the occupation and is told they came about
two weeks ago; they shut down the Bard College while the inquisitors canvased
the city looking for our characters and pirates. Many people believed what they
were being told. There is concern for Nogamon as he has not been seen since
before these events.
Our characters get to the docks and find many ships on fire,
the Bonded Mind is docked and not on fire and hear that many around here
boarded hastily and attempted to flee Paola. When the riots reached the docks
the violence spread to two Egyptians ships as well as the prisoner transport ship.
There are signs at certain berths that say ‘NO EGYPTIANS’, ‘No Crows’, or ‘Paola
Only’. There is a universal outcry against the Seven Churches.
Our characters locate a longboat and row out to the Bonded
Mind with news from Paola for the crew. Ahumm will remain on the ship to bring
it in as our characters talk of finally dropping our disguises and going public
at the Bard College. When we get to the Bard’s College we feel again the
sensation of being watched and notice the crystal tower has a crack in it.
When our characters arrive we hear that Cian is here helping
with the relief effort. When we drop the façade there is a general gladness as
we are led to Cian and the severely injured. Along the way we see steps are
being taken to see invisibility and foil any magical disguises. Cian, while exhausted,
is glad to see us. He shares his experience and tells us the missing priest End'hin
is looking over captured priests in a different building; and on a different
subject he knows the Aulus that came through the portal is the real Alus. He
admits he does not know what the other Aulus is. In the meantime our characters
offer Cian some much needed rest.
 |
| End'hin |
Checking on the captures priests are Lex, Lete, and Evagara and
Marco while the reaming characters tend the wounded. Kassok, Rudjek and the two Aulus’ who are being kept unconscious with the aid of drugs; Kassok and Rudjek
are kept unconscious with physical means. The area is kept secret for fear
there would be folks trying to kill the captured priests. Besides these
individuals there are other clerics and such including some Norse followers
including the betraying Meeka, all told there are about 20 prisoners.
Our characters meet End’hin and some four or five rotating bards
who are securing the prisoners and an alchemist named Linure who is keeping the
prisoners drugged. All looked in order.
We advance eight hours of help at the Bards College Cian
finally awakes with the intention of making our statement to the citizens of
Paola. He gathered the callers and suggests something akin to the “Heroes of
the bonded mind have returned to restore truth.” We take sustenance as we make plans. Melissa
seems excited to see Lete ;)
During the evening meal we are truthful and candid about our
experience of the portal and how we were framed for piracy through the night.
We advance to the next morning after a night at the Bard’s
College. We meet with Cian who states he wants a week before the people’s trial
and second he suspects the churches are likely being looted. He cannot spare
anyone but if we need anything it is up to us to seek out healing ourselves.
Our characters decide to head to the Seven Churches to find
evidence of damage much of it from mass amounts of ocean water. The dead have
been gathered in a pile, all of their valuables gone. The Babylonian temple has
been completely looked and set to flame. The Egyptian church looks to be actively
being looted with individuals surrounding the church. Some churches, like the
green faith and Finnish have not been bothered; the Greek and Roman churches
have taken some water damage and has suffered minimal looting. There is a bard
guarding the entrance to the Finnish church; the Norse church took water damage
as well but no looting. The Otherware temple has attracted a lot of attention
but no one will go there, warning us of warerats and other strange creatures.
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| NEVERMORE |
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