10/26/16 Virtues Session 64: No One Wants Any

We begin this week’s session with the battle against the serpentine and shapely cloud dragon daughter of Lust who was alluring despite her draconic aura. Her defeat came as a surprise to her as well as how her body was consumed by fire then sucked away was to our characters. Silence enveloped the inner fortress as we learn the Ring of Fire Cabal was successful in defeating the cloud dragon’s allies in battle: thirty winged minotaur as well as a strangely scarred giant.

Assessing the scene, our characters realize the magical crystal that creates the flying tower force effect took damage setting Dramen’s progress back a day and extending the time it would take to repair the item. However, being the mythic crafter Dramen is he set about fixing the large magical crystal in a day and a half.

Meanwhile Rydin, Syrendross, and Kyras exit the fortress and head towards the slave pens. Outside, in the flying tower’s inner valley the three heroes encounter no resistance. Syrendross is finally reunited with Gazalcia who, along with information from Barlie, expand on our growing knowledge of the Cloud Continent. Gazalcia explains that her blue-skinned giant captor was not from the Cloud Continent but seemed familiar with navigation terms and comfortable with getting to places she overheard; her proximity sometimes allowed her to overhear some things… She at one time heard the gnome warlord mention Castle Mistvale, she assumes it is on the Cloud Continent.

Among the fifty captured individuals was a possible tiefling, catmen, and other exotic races who admit to being treated well despite their situation.

Garsaul

Soon, Rydin, Syrendross, and Kyras are greeted by a stone giant named Garsaul who, after getting our attention outside the fortress, reveals himself and fifty others who recognize the rules of warfare and surrender themselves and their resources to us, the dragon slayers. Twenty giants, ten winged minotaur, and twenty various others including ettins (one being an Eye Member Dramen teleported to Trusk), trolls, ettin-trolls and two unique individuals we meet the next day as we agree to meet each day at this time outside the fortress.

Inside, Barlie expands on what she remembers about the Cloud Continent and its geography. Much of it is featureless with much of the inhabitable areas honeycombed within the billowy layers of clouds. Much of what she explained echoed of the elemental plane of air in that most direction was relative and that one must possess great navigational knowledge to traverse the realm. Terrain and landmarks are rare and sparse with massive deserts proving especially difficult to conquer.

Rydin spends a goodly amount of time with the rune-caster offering her friendship and his spellbook to copy spells. This act of generosity is disarming and overwhelms her personally.

Meanwhile Syrendross prepares a sending to Wood Weist King of the Evening Isles and with a little help from his friends sends this... “Tower captured; is being recalled to the Citadel we believe. Can fleet meet us over This Landmark in Blank days?”

Information: the flying Citadel is 150 miles NW of Naper’s Dawn and 100 miles NE of Somenhiem.

A response comes back: “King’s Ship will meet you. Kriet’s ships will replace our own with better ships and better skills. War at standstill, we are holding.”

Kuir, Half Black Dragon

Day 2 of repair/ Day 178. Garsaul the stone giant returns, meeting Kyras, Syrendross, and Rydin, outside the fortress with two new individuals: a half black dragon named Kuir and a pale ogre named Duz. Kuir is respectful of our power and pledges his double axe and provides us information on the flying citadel. Duz claims to not actually be a ogre, but a humble man from a coastal Dark Continent town.

During the midday Dramen fixes the tower’s crystal stopping the ‘recall’ and giving our character’s full access to the tower’s features. We discover the crystal is the center of the force effect and with the map now projected on the navigation wall, Syrendross is able to determine the second flying tower is near Trusk.

This prompts a second Sending to the King. “Second flying tower, also connected to the Citadel is over Trusk. Ainau is alive and well and we are on course to This Landmark.”

The quick response: “If you have full control then we shall send King's ships to Trusk and Kriet’s ships will meet with you instead.”

We are awarded with 10k exp and 1 mythic trial. We start the next session meeting the skyfleet from Kriet Oppenshire. 

10/19/16 Virtues Session 63: The Battle Continues II

We begin the session moments before a couple of giant rogues, bolstered by outside rune-casters, came down from the west, outside minotaur roared in harmonic fury. Immediately Rydin moved to command the crystal to close all doors about the flying structure. The battle continued, Ring of Fire Cabal, working as a team, aided us as our characters fought and defeated the two giant rogues. Silence dominated the sealed violet crystal control chamber.

We learn that Exander Runethorn, a dwarf of the Ring of Fire, reached out to Dolgrin during the fight and offered aid- inspired by our heroics. Rydin offers his hand in friendship to Barlie, who confirms the work of Keltischer Sanger here and with the crystal. We gather valuables from our fallen enemies and are eventually introduced to the Ring of Fire members by Maradrell. They explain after our previous interactions, they could no longer ignore the rising tide of war and sought our our characters to find allies in the fight.

During our brief reprieve we decide to rest and recuperate. Dramen begins studying the crystal and learns one must attune himself to the crystal and after twenty-fours by expending mythic power and using the use magical device skill the user could control many aspects of the tower much like a mage's mansion. Concentration would be required as would multiple users (a minimum of two). The crystal is a product of Sanger's studies and is also a gate between this flying tower and the flying citadel we are gong to use to eventually transport us and Evening Isles flying ships to the Cloud Continent. Dramen believes it will take him three days to fix the crystal and then begin the process of controlling the tower. While the tower is broken, it is also cut off from the flying citadel.

A total of fifteen hours after the fight a lone 'male' figure walks down, fury in material form. In a female voice, "Interlopers, do you know I had to query my mother for a wish to reclaim what is mine?!"

We begin next session with the fight with a dragon-daughter of lust.

Unclaimed items: quarterstaff of vaulting (sheds light), pauldrons of the watchful lion, +1 armor/shield with a +1 ability, ring of jumping improved, +1 armor with a +1 ability, ring of the troglodyte, juggernaut pauldrons.

10/12/16 Virtues Session 62: The Battle Continues

The drider who got away. 

This week our characters continue our battle to win the flying tower against huge driders, drow in mechanized suits controlling the flying tower's movements, as well as a gear-smith, a clockwork mage and a host of other golems.

Much resources were expended including several fireballs, the first one originating from Rydin's Staff of Power.

Outside the flying tower's interior fortress, agents from the Ring of Fire took advantage of our attack and waged their own battles against the minions of the slave pits.

Next week the battle continues as more enemies are expected to descend ramps and wide staircases from the west.

The Ring of Fire

Maradrell 

Maradrell finished her speech reporting to the other twenty five members of the Cabal. It had been a thorough recounting of her and Markalis Cryssal’s tribulations under the mental domination of the Illithids along with their liberation by the Bouvaldian Ambassador’s. The chamber was silent as the masters thought over a multitude of new information.  No one spoke for several minutes while Maradrell provided the script of her speech to Master Secretary Grintus who would be responsible for entering it into their archives.

Lipton

“Before we discuss this further, do we have any other witnesses among us?” Master Lipson inquired. 

The disturbing rumble of the Catman’s voice responded, “Not yet a member, we have a not only a witness but a petitioner Ornap Caroom to apprentice among us.” 

Master Lipson nodded his understanding, “Before we bring in the petitioner, I think its obvious that we need to discuss the possibility, no , correct that, the probability that our ancient enemies have found us.  Without the heroic actions of the Ambassadors, two of our members would have been stripped of all secrets by the planar wordsmith, Cothar.”

Other voices concurred, one adding, “Even if they hadn’t outright killed Markalis and Maradrell they would have probably ended up in the Jailer’s prison.”

Maradrell shivered and Markalis resonded, his voice dark with dread, “No, we felt the illithid’s desires, he,” Markalis sobbed before continuing, “IT fed on our magical energies…they call our heads apples, our very minds were to be consumed!”

For several moments silence retook the chamber, all members of the cabal considering the Cryssal’s recent suffering and the ramifications to their ancient order.  Fowler, the apprentice Catman that had spoken earlier raised a clawed hand, signaling Master Sevanius who signaled it was permissible to speak, “Masters and fellow members, we have been in hidings for so long.  Our purpose is not served in cowardice.  If we are to die to an enemy let us die in effort not in hiding.  Our original mission is to protect our world from catastrophes like the one that destroyed the ancient world but our thought if not our focus is too narrow.  What protection do we offer if while monitoring volcanoes we fall to protect ourselves and others from the monstrous threats that plague our world?”

Fowler

As was their common practice, moments of contemplation were provided over whatever words were offered.  Fowler knew his words were bold but was confident that the other members would be receptive to honest dialogue.  Soon several masters were nodding and conversations grew in the chamber.

Master Lipson eventually raised his voice, “Let us hear from Ornap Caroom, he too interacted with The Ambassadors and I am in need of a new apprentice.”  

10/05/16 Virtues Session 61: The Enemy Has An Avatar

Syrendross

We begin this week’s session battling Rune giants, rune-spell casters, the gnome Larosse Se-MarQuay, as well as the great war dogs inside the flying tower’s inner fortress. One by one giants fell to our spells and weapons including Larosse who, when defeated, left behind a shroud of skin like an Avatar would. A gust of air foreshadowed the presence of a dragon; not just any dragon, but a daughter of the dragon of lust.

In the final moments of battle one of the rune-casters, Barlie- a female, surrendered to Dolgrin who promised leniency and freedom in return for information and help. She explains her people are indentured to Caelum Rex for a period of ten years in exchange for training and exotic magic by the Master of the Word.

Kyras notes the chalk maps drawn on the walls, in a giant scale, that seem to indicate nautical maps of the cloud continent’s path and where and when it intersects with the Evening Isles. Rydin flys to where the dragon originated from looking for an advantage to find a chamber that reeked of a feminine dragon. 

Rydin

We regroup and using information from Barlie we magically travel to the first level, as undead appear, arriving in a magically darkened chamber protected by guards and wards, but not before we watch the dragon make calculated passes over the hundreds of winged Minotaur and giant-kin agitating and terrifying them all into a frenzy.

After dispelling the magical darkness and the wards our characters see about in various and adjacent rooms a half dozen gnomes, stone and storm giants, troll-ettins, plus a chamber containing several members of the Ring of Fire Cabal. Then we see in the map/navigation room,  contains a massive crystal hanging from the ceiling, as well as collections of maps and scrolls, surrounded by three giant drow wearing cone head-gear as well as giant driders as large as elephants.

It is here where we begin next session. Recovered from the remains of Larosse Se-MarQuay: Oil of Keen edge, eyes of the eagle, 5 CLW potions, and 5 CSW potions. 

The War Report

Concupiscentia

Concupiscentia,  known as the Consort Tentigo among the giants,  found it difficult to be around any creature that wasn’t overcome with desire for her therefore Duke Amduscias always made her uncomfortable.  Concupiscentia’s time in this world had released her skills of seduction from eons of misuse in her mother’s hellish domain, the respect of mortals a given either through desire or intimidation.  The Duke, a war general with over two dozen companies of Devils at his command, could not be tempted by her variations of danger, flesh, or  fantasy.  It had been many months since their last consultation and the daughter of Tiamat was experiencing a true rarity, someone that could speak contemptuously to her and live.  To Amduscias’ credit, the plan was almost entirely his and brilliant in its execution, however his contempt for her contributions to their partnership was troubling.

Duke Amduscias 

“So far our attacks have not revealed any of the Virtues, save one on the South Central Coast protecting Labiatar, your little gnome trick is working quite well actually” Duke Amduscias explained, never pausing for question or comment, “Our attacks have caught the leaders of the island unprepared and we have been spectacular in our successes, the Virtues will soon be forced to act. Gillespie informs me your little warlord ordered him to move against some of the crusaders who have entered the fight against us, I hope you have more warlords available because I have given Gillespie different orders..”

Gillespie 

At this news Concupiscentia interrupted, “Couldn’t you send him some help? It’s the resources rather than the overall cost that troubles me, I’m sure some of your men would relish the chance to slay some idiot mortals in search of glory before attacking the one Dragon of Virtue we know of?”

Duke Amduscias grimaced but nodded before continuing with his report on the first stages of their war.