12/15/2022 Virtuous Age Session 30: Return of the Prince, The Great Dome, and Bhishma Round Two

September 18^th. We begin this session stepping out of the Ways through a yawning portal with pillars on each side. We recognize the chamber from the Solarium. Aevum’s amulet device adjusts by itself and confirms we have arrived on our home plane and our time of arrival. (Spell focus now grants +1 CL in the Ways)

Our characters experience brief nausea upon our return, Arcanthorth collapses from the travel. We are all tired. We do not see Kailius either. Eventually we see him as an image in the portal- like he is falling away.

For Tena, she feels the Temple react to her presence; she feels she could cleanse the temple and make it her own.

Aevum also feels a connection to the portal and feels this has more stability to it than at first glance. The prince also feels Arcanthorth has been reckless with his knowledge of the ways.

We ask Arcanthorth about his strange behavior in the presence of Kailius. He maintains that you do not take from the ways especially someone lost to the ways. He was being cautious around an unknown entity. 

After some magical healing, with time being sensitive our characters ultimately decide to press on to the Dome City and the King. 

On the way out of the temple we revisit the statue of Agamotto and are amazed at how it discerns individual morals as well as his or her level of power with light and intensity. Arcanthorth: Chaotic Good with power intensity lower than ours.

We reach the night sky at 10 pm, it does not look like anyone has been up here since our last visit a short time ago. 

Out side the dome we see a large number of tents and military wagons of knolls. About a thousand “Howlers” and to our characters it looks like the dome is locked down.

We skirt around the Dome to find an entrance to see a wide mix of races and activity. Here there is torchlight with groups moving about. The Dome is on lock down. 

Kron separates himself from the group as they move through the crowd hoping out characters aren’t recognized. A woman intercepts Kron with seemingly benign conversation. 

However Kron notices she is armed with bladed scarves and errantly drops is name. At this, Kron attacks the woman and alerts the party who had a group of individuals following them.

Aevum approaches the scene and scolds Kron. Individuals draw weapons in confusion while the woman accuses Kron of being ‘corrupted and killed Talbot’. Other bystanders take to cover.

Our characters are able to leave the area, pass the gate and see a sign that indicates Kron as Talbot’s killer and corruptor of the prince.

Kron surrenders his weapons to his friends, Eabrossi carries Shieldbreaker.

We approach Garlack Greatskull accompanied with troops. They immediately recognize Kron.

Aevum says we have come to talk to the king. Kron is surrounded.

A lieutenant approaches and by the king’s council we are to answer for the accused crimes. Since the prince has approached honorably- the lieutenant will treat Aevum and our characters honorably.

Our characters are guided to a pair of wagons where we are invited to wait until morning. Word has been sent to the King. Watches are set up and soldiers look very uncomfortable.

Kron rests in a prisoner wagon, Zaigan stands watch. Aevum spends time in the extra dimension workshop. Tena sees one of the individuals that was following our group talking with the lieutenant.

Three hours go by when Zaigan hears the gate of the dome opening and closing- enough for one or two individuals to pass through the gate.

Zaigan has a late conversation with a guard named Iston. 

‘Pyerstrider of the Blacktar minotaur clan has pulled his support for the king. Not everyone believes the Prince is corrupted and believe the king is in great peril. It was Garlack who ordered them out here.’ 

Ultimately it is Aevum’s decision to escape or breach the Dome City.

At 6:30 in the morning we are roused, Zaigan buys Aevum one more hour of rest for a complete long rest and we are brought food.

We are led into and the inner dome. Our characters see several individuals gathered in the council chambers. The Lieutenant speaks with someone we realize is a tengu and Kamun the efrit. There are many resolute clan members here as well.

Iston takes possession of the partys weapons and we are escorted to the King’s council where most of the Clan leaders are present. We are greeted by Quovig who thanks us for surrendering peacefully.

The Blacktar minotaur clan with the members of the Luna clan have levied charges against our characters for the murder of Talbot of the Luna clan (rat clan and handsome beasts).

They suggest a trial in two days. Eabrossi presses for a meeting with the King for the Prince.

Formalities are observed and Kron is trusted in our group and we are taken to the Princes chambers at about 9 am. Arcanthorth is here waiting for our characters. Here we can immediately see this area has been searched and will discover an invisible magical wizard eye.

We leave to meet with the King, leaving Arcanthorth in our room. We reach the hall, turn and find the group of ambushers from our earlier disastrous encounter now guarding the door. They did not see us.

Tena casts a spell immunity on Kron to protect him from dominate person and we decide to try our luck with the servant’s access. Along the way our characters come across Iston who wants clarification on his role for us. We decide to have him accompany us.

Bhishma

Through the halls Aevum sees that he has more who adore him than not but Gossip is Aevum’s worst enemy.

We eventually reach the kitchen and the dining room and come to King Saxo. Seated, Saxo invites us to sit down. Zaigan searches the area, the king protests and at the same time Skullarus steps out from behind the curtain. The once King Saxo dissolves into Bhishma, Zaigan’s uncle.

After 3 rounds Kron kills Scelarus and Bhishma escapes into gaseous form for the time being.

12/08/2022 Virtuous Age Session 29: Rope Trick Fallout, a Tooth and a Horn, and the Orcish Vahalla

We begin this week’s session awakened, as our characters are ejected from the rope trick for unknown reason. Around us the terrain is full of crystals trees and fauna, we see the ground is moving and rotating in large (20’ – 40’) whirlpool-like areas. This region is well lit in the area of the ways. We have not had a full night’s rest.

Some of us are cut by tiny flying crystals that fly in the planar currents. This region borders limbo and somehow Aevum is able to discern that in the movement of the ways and the adjacent planes caused our expulsion from the rope trick.

Aevum spots the probable location of the rope trick about 100’ away. Arcanthorth casts levitate on Kron while the rest fly or ride campus back to the rope trick.

The way was tense, Tena was almost pulled into a maelstrom. We took some damage but made it back to the rope trick. Tena heals us including a critically hurt Binki. Eabrossi also heals the small chimp even more.

We are able to finish our rest, we don’t know how much time has passed but we feel completely rested. Time flow seems slowed in this area.

September 20^th.

Before we leave the rope trick Tena casts Lucky Break. When we exit upon the crystalline terrain we hear a beautiful music. On one of the crystalline masses is a tall man playing a flute.

The piper notices Campus and announces, ‘friend or foe- I’m not alone’. Incredibly beautiful man with pointed ears bids us closer.

Eabrossi returns the instrument play and the man bids us ‘come closer to Kailius- I will teach you a song and provide food’

The area he is in is about a 30’ area in the midst of a constantly moving canyon-like landscape where reality from adjacent nodes create a tidal flow of material around us. In the distance there is a large draconic shape in the sky.

Magic is deployed to get us closer to the area Kailius occupies. He has a rapier on his hip and moves gracefully. He seems unbelieving of our presence. He doesn’t know where he is and is confused. He described other creatures we have fought and paranoia from most other travelers.

He is alone and does not know how he got here or how long he has been here. He is from Elysium, one of the goodly planes.

Our characters invite him to travel with us as our path seems to lead toward the dragon shape in the distance.

We travel on when our new companion realizes we are getting closer to the dragon in the distance.

Along the way Kailius talks about encountering dwarves who regarded him with sadness. “said I was from off the path.” We consult Arcanthorth who looks pale and nervous, he simply says “I’m Eabrossi’s manservant.”

Strange thing to say.

In the distance the dragon shape dives into the ground, crystalline debris flies in all directions  

Closer to us, crystalline worms burrow out of the ground- these creatures have a natural confusion effect. These are void worms.

Along the way Aevum is becoming more confident as our characters traverse the Ways and his sure we are becoming nearer.

We come out at a high ridge above individuals trying to avoid the dangerous fauna. The individuals medium sized, probably human half are men wearing chainmail armor or better and the other half being women wearing robes.

Our path will take us near them but they have not noticed us. The men have sinister skull symbols on them.

Arcanthorth gives a subtle word of warning to Tena. We travel down the slope and the 8 individuals notice us and react. Tena recognizes a Summon monster 5 just as 2 rhinos charges.

As this happens a large dragon burst out of the ground. One of the rhinos immediately disappears and half of the fighters attack each other.

The dragon attacks the group and ends his movement near us. The dragon is strange and riddled with void worms. Kron kills the havoc planar dragon. This kill grants Stormbreaker a bane against dragons. Kron and Aevum each take a horn and a tooth. Kron vows to add a jewel to his tattoo crown each time he defeats a dragon  

Our characters turn our attention to the other group. In the crystalline landscape we can see reflections of the group but we have lost sight of them As they have fled. 

Our characters travel onward until we come to a wall of darkness and a border in the ways. Concerning because there is a reality current flowing here as well. Aevum’s amulet activates, and an aperture opens in the darkness.

This next area still borders Elysium with some differences. We all avoid the mythic slow, our first indicator of the mythic quality of this area of the Ways.

We enter a chamber with faded murals of orc battles. The walls are scarred in this chamber that echoes with various strange noises. This location has been lost in the ways.

We are set upon by large horrific destrachan beasts with mouths for faces and orcish wrath priests and giant slayers in the distance. We defeat the destrachans and gain a mythic trial and emerge back at the solarium on the evening of September 18^th at 9 pm. The second mythic trial comes from being in two places at once (mythic achievement). 

12/01/2022 Virtuous Age Session 28: Aevum Takes the Lead in the Ways, Vrocks are Abyssal Tengu, and Little Limbo

We begin this week’s session sill traversing the Ways. Arcanthorth, having lost consciousness in the fight with the Chaos Beasts expresses fear about losing concentration. 

The area our characters are in is stale and silent- darkness surrounds our group as Tena spends a few minutes healing. We’ve been here about an hour.

From here Aevum takes the lead. As a minotaur he feels he is best to lead through the labyrinth of the Ways. His awareness brings prince Aevum and our characters to a direction with slightly better vision th Aevum concentrates on the Agamotto Temple September 13^th, the day our characters became mythic.

Eabrossi keeps time with spellcasting and another two hours will go by. At four hours Aevum is able to lead us to another bubble-like node in the Ways. Here, there is about a 30’ drop.

In this node there is a rolling hot wind with difficult terrain in most places. Where before there was deeper darkness, here the darkness is not enhanced. Tena points out his area is heavily influenced by Abyss. Pockets of poison gasses linger in low areas and tall granite buttes are common features.  

Binki spontaneously draws a wand a restores Eabrossi some Wisdom. Our characters reach a rift and steep bridge. Our characters decide to fly across and were eventually set upon by Vrocks. With great spell work and decisive strikes from Kron our characters are able to defeat one Vrock and run off the second.

It was not long after- about 20 minutes, when three Advanced Unhallowed Bodocks come at us in vicious horrible fashion. 

After the Bodocks a few more hours of travel our character begin to feel tired as the mental anguish of demonic voices echoes in our minds. Our characters know that if we stop or lower our guard something will catch us.

At twelve hours of travel our characters make it to a Ways intersection where the path could go into to border areas. The pathway is unstable but gives us two options. Aevum casts Ally across Time to ascertain the desired direction.

Arcanthorth and the other Avuems across time agree to pass through the left archway. This mystical archway leads our characters to a very small empty space. We experience a loss of time in a short distance and are roused by kindly earth elementals. They tell us we were charmed by 'the empty' and recognize the symbol of Agamotto.

The next area we enter a windy area with explosions creating rifts in the sky. Gravity and all direction is chaotic and chaging. The area is strongly connected with Limbo.

Our characters are tired, Aevum creates an extended Rope Trick for our characters to take a long rest. 

11/23/2022 Virtuous Age Session 27: Downtime On the Plane of Air, Time Travel, and Entering The Ways

We begin this week’s session with the plan of five days of downtime. The first day is a chaotic day, hastened with many callers and gift givers with Eabrossi given air elemental sheet music.

Eabrossi discovers a collection in his research with Ustra. While restricted from the Annuls she does provide Eabrossi with magical copies she thinks is worthy of sharing. She does, however; share access to gift room: the collected gifts to Fallaciter over the eons.

The Collection (she shares) is a salvaged collection of research papers from many sources from our world of antiquity. Today it would be blasphemous because does not recognize Tiamat. If fact it names: Chronus as the titan ruler of the universe and refers to our world and a goddess of the earth Gaea. The author that cites this is Tirit Konol. The Collection also contains a family tree of numerous titan-gods descending from Chronus and Gaea.

Eabrossi discovers in the Gift Room they have entries of visitors that claim to have come from the Cloud Continent and mentioned specific flying citadels that named after titan-gods.

These visitors include Echtur, male cloud giant and Isase a black giant of unknown origin but elf-like in appearance. Buriru a human and Ryn’pol and elf. (None of these names previously appear anywhere on the blog)

An’agei Wor’atay

Aevum observes Fallaciter his leadership style to learn about him. Zaigan spends time renewing his bond to his mount. Kron spends time in meditative training for Iron Will.

On the subject of ways back home: there are ways to barter for transportation to our world- but a direct route to the cloud continent: our characters fail to achieve a way to properly communicate what the ‘cloud continent’ is to our host. 

Deep in the downtime Eabrossi find a notation- from An’agei Wor’atay who seemed to be a troublesome individual to Fallaciter. The entry ends with the successful negotiation to close a portal from here on the plane of air and a flying citadel that An’agei Wor’atay arrived from. The note does not indicate the cloud continent specifically. This was about ten years ago. It was noted An’agei Wor’atay is described as a medium sized humanoid covered by a silver sheen.

When this is shared, our characters realize there are portals to our world. There are a lot of air elementals who are pacted with beings from our world. We also believe that Fallaciter could send us back.

Ralikanthae

When looking for key words Embassy, ambassadors Tena comes up with Ambassador Chraumnys a storm giant and Ambassador Osrad, a human of Bouvldia and Ambassador Orvor an Elf of the Great City. (Newest to oldest entries) Aveum believes Chraumnys and Adele were here at the same time.

Eabrossi searches for wars or conflicts on the cloud continent or maps of such. He comes across a map in the gift room and has the cloud continent on it but the map is in old king’s tongue. The gift was left here ‘so that it wouldn’t be destroyed’. This would indicate the Cloud Continent is in battle with the Evening Isles.

Ustra reveals she has a lead on Tena's father. She found an entry by using Tena's mother’s name. They have a record of her and someone else vising Faliciter castle about 85 years ago. They are on the same line indicating a bond of some kind. His name was Ralikanthae.

Eabrossi learns of a gothic planar-ship that is capable of sailing the planes, in his research on avenues to our home world. Over the years there are numerous entries of visits from this vessel however there has not been an entry for the ship in some time.

Tinold Keleme

Pergoyt of Bouvet Keep, a visited Fallaciter castle looking for Tinold Keleme, and to warn them of Keleme- (possible human, tall thin and red hair); and to be on guard against corruptions (‘sins’ in our world and to our characters) and to beware. This entry was within a year.

At the end of the fifth day Tena reveals her belief Milath Ustra is held in Citadel Coeus. Aevum gains awareness in Fallaciter’s leadership and also discovers a previous unknown ability in his weapon during downtime. (initiative bonus)

On our final day Aevum inquires about a precious metal native to the elemental plane of air. He finds an oddly shaped pearl of power 2^nd level.

An idea is brought to the group about manipulating the time flow in the Ways so our characters recover the past five days of downtime: arriving at the moment we left our home plane. Then it was proposed we arrive on the moring of Talbots death thereby providing an alaby to us being indicated in his assassination. 

Arcanthorth Vigmatto concurs time flows erratically through the Ways and it is possible for Aevum to manipulate time when / if we travel.

Arcanthorth Vigmatto takes Tena aside and says he has prayed to Agamotto and has also made notes and wants to make a confession to cleanse his soul.

On our last day, our characters travel for about an hour from Fallaciter Castle. Arcanthorth takes us to a cloudy archyway. We are followed for the first few minutes. At mist cloaked archway we can feel at least one draconic presence however our characters do not see a dragon. The arch has elven markings along the edge. Arcanthorth takes time to ready and activate the symbols. Aevum, Tena, and Eabrossi pay careful attention to Arcanthorth as he does this.

When the portal opens the space in the archway changes color with sparkles over darkness until a stone pathway materializes.

Arcanthorth and Tena lead us through everyone tied to Campus.

The first area is dominated by darkness and stale air; our voices sound hastened. It was not much longer before our characters are attacked by chaos beasts.

11/17/2022 Virtuous Age Session 26: Fallaciter Castle, Arcanthorth Vigmatto, and The Shrine to Agamotto

We begin this weeks session September 14^th joined in a circle, our characters feel a upended pulling and the sensation of flying. Some of us are shaken, however those with a fly speed feel quite at home. Gwelldar did not make the journey.

Moments later the clouds part and we see a magical tower below. 

Magic envelopes our characters and transports us to a circular room with a red jinn statue holding a trident. 

Emulating the statue is a true jinn looking down upon what looks like a human man held in magical bonds.

“If you gods are real, prove yourself now.” The jinn told the man. 

The man our characters eventually learn is Arcanthorth Vigmatto puts voice to his pleas: "Vishanti Agamotto help me now"

These words are what brings our characters into the audience chamber because when we arrived we could see various figures and races. Some, Tena noticed include people of her own race that bear her house symbol.

Arrived, our characters are briefly disorientated but we soon realize we are on the elemental plane of Air buttressed actually to the plane of water.

The janni looks surprised at us and briefly lowers his trident before regaining his composure. "Arcanthorth Vigmatto has spoken true, release his bonds immediately."

At this command there is an audible swear-word from the crowd and a dark haired individual quickly exits.

Arcanthorth is released by the sylphs who looks coyly at Tena. “I swear I’ve always donated."

Our characters arrived in a containment cylinder but are soon addressed by the jinn. "I assume your intensions are true and do not wish any one harm." 

To that we all agree and eventually The Great Fallaciter welcomes us to Fallaciter Castle.

Eabrossi properly introduces Tena as priestess of Agamotto. This comes as a great surprise as Fallaciter is excited to welcome as Agamotto a new deity.

“Prepare the dining Hall and the Orchestra!"

Fallaciter flies about in preparation and bids us to one of the castle's adjacent flying towers. His sylph attendants offer air elementals to carry us to areas of the castle. 

Our characters marvel at the splendor of the populated castle and our new environment. In the distance we even see dragons at flight. 

Our characters follow Fallaciter who talks incessantly and not just to us but also to other citizens some near, some far and out of conventional ear-shot. 

We and about a dozen others fly into a chamber where our characters see more slylph servants and even briefly see his wife.

We feel honored as we are treated very well. Our characters are given time- two hours to clean and compose ourselves.

But before we could do anything Arcanthorth knocks and wishes to speak to Tena.

Our characters learn Arcanthorth originates from the Evening Isles and a member of group of scholars that do magical research and who works on the North East Continent.

He has been here for a couple of weeks.

He and and a man named Theophrastus came here looking for information. Arcanthorth, an arcanist, claims foul play and and when captured claimed his mission was one of faith. A faith that served his self interest, but a faith that would also appreciate his life-work. So when Arcanthorth’s claim of faith was questioned, and proof was ultimately demanded.

Arcanthorth claims to have done things in Agamotto’s name and in a sense has been his calling in magical research and collection. 

Information he was gathering was in regards to Rilenia. She was a wizard-expert in his area of expertise and he came to see if the line of elementals that Rilena was aligned with- was located here.

Arcanthorth was hoping to question individuals familiar with that time in history. Rilenia was one of the elves that worked on the Ways. Theophrastus was a competing individual.

During our two hours Tena preaches to Arcanthorth the ways of Vishanti Agamotto.

During this time Tena also concludes Fallaciter is a progenitor of Tena's Sylph tribe.

We learn Campus is from here and that Binki was born on the plane of air. 

Our characters learn there is no ruler of the plane of air, but there are city-states. And that elementals have deeper ways of communication and will change their names at will.

During this brief respite Aveum seeks to finish his weapon in his extradimensional repository. During so, Aveum receives a vision as he finishes the weapon of his mother laying in a pool of water, she is unmoving and seemingly giant sized. Aevum completes his +1 keen falchion.

Also during this time, Tena uses mythic power to awaken the ability for Binki to use a wand of healing on Kron. It works but in combat situations a confusion could interfere the process.

A sylph arrives and leads us out, it is here when Campus reunites with Zaigan and again our characters witness a lot of activity.

At the ground floor of Fallaciter Castle our characters are seated at a great table as guests of honor. Many others seated here with Fallaciter to witness the novelty of a new religion. Arcanthorth is also seated with us.

Fallaciter keeps banter light during dinner before the business at hand. We are also treated to an air elemental orchestra- which is splended, emotional, and breathtaking. Whirls and winds create beautiful music with wind instruments that threaten to overfill our characters with emotion.

Various scribes visit each of us and ask us questions to be recorded in The Great Book. Fallaciter likes to document all great deeds, visitors and occurrences. Our arrival is a great ‘mythic’ event.

Almost an hour goes by eating, drinking and socializing.

A sylph woman approaches Tena and introduces herself as Ustra. She is a member of Tena’s tribe. Ustra vows to add Tena’s name to the Annuls and offers to find Tena’s father in the Annuls. She comes to Tena for aid however. She says her daughter Milath Ustra is on our world and in a titan’s castle, a flying citadel. All she has is the name Coeus. 

We have heard that name and eventually we learn Adele also had come here and was more or less treated with the same honors as us.

Eventually Tena is given a moment to preach to the dinner party and have her words recorded by the scribes. She entertains all questions including Fallaciter who is an eager listener.

Eventually he orders a shrine erected to Agamotto and with a ceremony there will be a name day ceremony on the morrow. 

Fallaciter speaks with Kron and gives him a warning about Stormbreaker and not to use it to kill a unique individual. That which there is only one. 

Our characters meet many individuals including the entire elemental orchestra. Almost all of them name them as "of Fallaciter". Our characters also see Fallaciter’s wife organizing the gathering.

Fallaciter identifies Aevum and Zaigan’s bond and probes their relationship with some questions. He then makes the Campus connection. Now the quality of this event has multiplied. Fallaciter asks if Zaigan would honor him with Campus bearing Fallaciter’s royal symbol- the castle. Zaigan agrees. 

Ambrosia is served and by the end of the dinner our characters realize we have all de-aged one-year and permanently gain an ability point. 

After that we don’t remember anything and wake in our guest chambers. We are not hung over but it is the day after the most powerful drink known by the gods. We also gain our second mythic tier.

When our characters wake it is September 15^th – Naming day at The Great Temple.

We are summoned for the morning meal at the ground floor where there are vastly more individuals taking morning meal and curious about the miracle yesterday.

After breakfast Eabrossi digs out the Adele books and searches for a proper song for the naming ceremony for Agamotto’s shrine. Kron upgrades Stormbreaker to a +2 and Zaigan takes campus for exercise. Aevum begins the process of crafting a clockwork device and Tena spends the day supervising the construction of the shrine throughout the day. 

Later that night at the planar Temple we hear music signaling the beginning of the ceremony. Unique togas are brought to us before our characters are led up at the top ring of the tower. Scores of individual attendees are either standing or flying around the area.

Our charcters fly out where above and below an adjacent tower are blue disc shaped auras and lights. We enter a long magical hall lined with countless statues, fountains and shrines to the gods of the multiverse. Our characters are yet in another place.

Mephits carry in pieces of the shrine into the great hall where Fallaciter anoints each piece from the harmful effects of aging.

Playing in the background is an Adele song Eabrossi recognizes as one of her earlier masterpieces- one he now hears in its entirety.

Tena is pleased to see the shrine is given a place of prominence. Aevum vocalizes a prayer to Agamotto at success against the plague of sin on his world. Kron finds the shrine to Stronmaus and presents Stormbreaker activates mythic power and awakens the shrine.

The locals here refer to Kron as Troll King a honor he takes to heart and has a tattoo of a crown placed there by an artesian by the end of the night.

After the ceremony our characters decide to look for Arcanthorth. We eventually find him with all his equipment. He wanted to be sure he was square with everyone before he left for his home plane. Tena asks how Arcanthorth intends to return home. He mentions the Ways- the elven ‘laylines’ of traveling.

We end this week’s session agreeing to spend 5 days of downtime (End September 19th): researching with Ustra. Finding alternative routes to our world that does not involve the Ways and not creating extra travel days. We are also interested in finding direct transport to the cloud continent.

In the five days Tena retrains her dual path feat, Kron trains for Iron Will and completes another 1hp. Aevum retrains a feat. Eabrossi will spend the days in the library with Ustra. 

11/10/2022 Virtuous Age Session 25: Green Soup, You Are Under Arrest, and Polurn Falls

We pick up after our battle with the werewolf gnolls and the demonic minotaurs on the evening of September 13^th.

Our characters recover four +1 scorpion whips, two +1 short swords, one +1 scimitar and one +1 long sword. These blades bear markings akin to an organized guard or unit and were carried by the gnolls.

A dozen masterwork javelins and eight masterwork light steel shields. Four cloaks of resistance +1 (Butch) and two oils of invisibility (Butch). Four potions of barkskin +2 (Kron and Rob),

Even party Split: 20 potions of CLW, 10 potions of CMW, 5 potions of pass with out a trace, 5 potions of protection from good, 10 potions of remove fear, 10 potions of shield of faith +2, 15 alchemist fire, 5 tangleburn bags, 20 tanglefoot bags, 5 tanglefoot bundles. 20 thunderstones. +1 great axe (Polurn). Two rings of resistance +1 (Russ/Campus). Two 10 lbs bags of viridium, similar to obsidian but tainted and toxic.

Added to Party Fund:

Four +1 scorpion whips 2,305 gp ea; two +1 short swords 2,310 gp ea; +1 scimitar 2,315 gp; +1 long sword 2,315 gp; 3 cloaks of resistance +1 1,000 gp.

Everything else- the masterwork items we leave behind and destroy the viridium.    

It is close to the midnight hour as we pick up and begin the trail again. Pairing up again our characters begin to experience an increase in heat and humidity. Gwelldar rides on Zaigan's mount, Eabrossi partners with Tena and Polurn walks with Kron.

We travel for a time and begin to notice large gorilla prints were the path ends and the climb out of the rift begins. Our characters feel eyes upon us. Stepping out in front of us is a grillion who points up and steps back.

Zaigan and Tena fly up to investigate while the rest of us take cover. After a few minutes Zaigan and Tena see Rob’s uncle’s dragon terrorizing the area with flybys. These two fly back and report.

We decide to look around for a place to rest our characters eventually find an old single level building and a barn in the back. Two individuals ride out on horses, they don’t seem to see us. The two riders meander in our direction then head off toward the cavern wall. They had armor and substantial blades on their backs. They soon pass out of sight.

Zaigan suggests our characters keep looking for shelter. Not long after we come to a grain silo that seems ideal. We set up a rotation of watches. On Kron’s watch the dragon performs a flyby. This action incites the animals in the area. This also includes Kron who set a new long distance personal record in his frightened state

Our characters awaken and by 11 am September 14^th. It is hot and humid, there is a mist and eventually a green mossy substance begins to settle upon everything.

The next four hours are slow going but eventually we step out of the Rift, the difference in air quality is immense. On the Steppes it is clearer and much cooler. Our characters hear voices. This is a common passthrough area so the voices hailing us is not uncommon. There are wagons and a number of individuals.

Then one of us hear “I think that’s them.” Scattered about the area is a horrendous harry giant “Blisters” and two females. One wearing some sort of hide armor and an owl. A halfling- he was the one who challenged us “Identify yourselves.” He has a wand. 

There is maybe another human with daggers and no visible armor. This one does not look special at all. Two individuals in breastplate one male and one female armor with bows and swords. They have weapons that bear the same symbol that marked the weapons from last nights encounter. There is another human.

aberrant giant

Erabrosi introduces himself and states our travel intentions. The lady in the Breastplate states clearly. “Prince Aevum you are wanted in the conspiracy and murder of Talbot.” The halfling states wryly, “Looks like you are under arrest.”

Human woman Sharroa Diviri, a wererat conjurer, Hellknight Signifier, aberrant giant, a halfling Arcane Artillerist, a woman Alviana Shadowsworn, and the mysterious Exander Runethorn. 

They completely neutralize Kron in the first few seconds and keep most everyone grappled with black tentacles. Tena retreats back into the soupy climates of the cliffs as Aevum similarly takes defensive actions. A wall of fire further complicated things before ultimately Polurn falls and Kron succumbs to a dominate person. 

Tena cast a spell and we are magically transported away in cliff-hanger fashion. 

10/27/2022 Virtuous Age Session 24: Worgs, Werewolf gnolls and demonic minotaurs

We pick up at around 8 pm on September 13^th in the hill cave of Alrog after gaining our 7^th character level.

As we prepares to move on after our long rest, Alrog exits the cave for a morning routine. Outside it is still raining and when we leave Alrog acknowledges the Prince Aevum with respect and watches us depart- anxious to work off some aggression.

Our characters travel into the rainy evening and into the gloom. Returning to the common path out of the Rift our characters travel without any light. Those of our party without darkvision partner up with individuals capable of darkvision. Gwelldar rides on Zaigan's mount, Eabrossi partners with Tena and Polurn walks with Kron.

Some of us notice a change in the area and find tracks leading away from Laketown. After a time our characters find a location with many prints where mayhap an ambush could be made. We find giant boots, 8 gnoll prints, as well as trail markings higher up indicating flying minotaurs. Portents as to what was to come... 

A group of individuals were waiting here for a time and seem to have given up the wait.

Not much further the foot trail ends, here the area becomes wild and unkept. The wind also picks up in the misty night as we enter an area of old structures and a trio of aggressive worgs. These creatures bayed calling attention to our battle. 

Kron kills one as Aevum’s slow spell spooks the remaining two worgs and they flee. Moments after the slow effect expires the two worgs return but this time around a trio of humanoid flying shapes begin to materialize in the mist. Flying demon minotaurs!

These flying minotaurs come in burdened with invisible werewolf gnolls. They deposit them onto the battle field. Round by round these demonic minotaurs would bring more werewolf gnolls.

Our characters defeated the worgs, two demon- minotaurs and the werewolf gnolls.

We end this weeks session before our characters are able to search our attackers. 

10/20/2022 Virtuous Age Session 23: Cerberi, Kytons and Alrog the Cave Giant (Roghome)

We begin this week’s session at 9 am (…still September 13^th) in the Great Rift preparing to leave the scene after our most recent battle. About an hour of travel we come up on a couple of wagons heading toward us; their scouts spotted us early and our characters easily see these travelers abandon their conveyances and headed for the hills.

Our characters approach the wagon cautiously, one is filled with hay and the other- planks and construction materials. Our characters consider hailing the individuals but tarry no further and move on.

Not long after Aevum’s attention is drawn to a thin line of smoke in the distance and a strangeness in the air- a possible invisible foe in the sky some distance away?

Our characters carry on and enter a glade. We are soon set upon by four vicious Cerberi. Our characters defeat the vicious three headed canines. After the battle our characters notice the ground is tainted where their blood is spilled. It is Eabrossi’s first encounter with tainted material in regards to any possible metamagic gleaned from the Cerberi.

It is about 10:30 in the morning when Tena heals our characters just as two extra-planar Kytons enter the glade.  

During the battle Kron defeats a Kyton in such a display that Shieldbreaker takes on the good-aligned property as the storm cloud symbol of Stranmas appears on the weapon. Eventually Zaigan defeats the remaining shaken Kyton.

Our characters set to building a pyre for the two Kytons, Tena feels that we are being watched. Tena consecrates the pyre while the rest of us debate a long rest or continue out of the rift. Meanwhile the sky begins to overcast. Not far away Eabrossi finds an occupied hill cave.

After a tense moment with the cave occupant, a cave giant, our characters approach the cave in an attempt to palaver and to seek shelter. Eabrossi breaks the ice with talkative banter before we are reluctantly welcomed by the evil cave giant. 

Alrog is his name and he was adamant that he did not break the covenant with the King and not an Oathbreaker. Alrog believes wizards comprise oathbreakers and speaks with Aevum at length about his pact with the Crown. 

We talk to him and find he is over 80 years and loves to hunt manticore.

Alrog

Our characters share information with the cave giant and he confirms there is a temple in the water. Alrog says during dry seasons parts of the ‘temple’ would be exposed but a few years ago what remained fell into the waters. Since then, there was a noticeable increase in weresharks.

(The first to say such a thing was Vale the human from the White Flag Adventurers) 

Alrog also laments the uptick in activity around the area and allows Erabrossi to examine and recreate a map of what Alrog calls Roghome.

Outside an uncommon monsoon storm strikes the land making us glad to have shelter. It lasts about three hours before easing to a steady rain around the time when Alrog begins to cook. 

Our characters complete a long rest and when we pick up next week it will be evening 8 pm on September 13^th.

We gain our 7^th character level.

10/06/2022 Virtuous Age Session 22: Fear Not Dragons Ye People, White Flag Adventurers Agree to Tena’s Request and Introducing Binki

We begin again on the long morning of September 13^th at the Laketown bridge about 15 minutes after our battle with the troll-copy and the Handsome Beasts. Our characters pick through valuables (updated previous review) leaving behind personal items as well as armor and gear not worth the trouble to collect. Besides our characters do not wish to come across as opportunists. 

Our characters, with the remains of Talbot on a liter, cross an empty bridge. Where once it was busy not just hours ago. In the distance we hear cries of ‘Talbot is dead’ and ‘no leader!’. Word was traveling fast. 

Under the lake surface, Kron notices humanoid swimmers. Tena and Aevum notice arcane marks on opposing sides of the bridge. The same arcane marks, Kron notes, from our suites at Four Winds. Eabrossi. The prince and Tena also notices a magical trip wire and suddenly big bats and ravens fly out from behind the bridge pillars.

After Aevum tests the trip wire with a summoned eagle, Tena finds a way to magically shift us past the 20’ area of the bridge where our character suspect is somehow trapped.

On the other side of the lake we find two unknown humanoid bodies stabbed to death. On this side of the lake our characters see folk moving away at the range of about five hundred feet.

Zaigan examines the fallen and thinks them to be fetchlings but likly wererats with armor and weapons. Some items were taken from them- for instance rings on both. 

Meanwhile Aevum grants Eabrossi a clarion’s call and summons the Laketowns folk to palaver.

Eventually boats move in and slowly around 50 people start to gather forth. Eabrossi carries on for about 30 minutes and after that there is more than 100 with about a dozen boats now in comfortable distances. 

Finally we see Cutty who looks to have been injured in combat while protecting his house from a troll-copy our characters later learn. 

Shortly there after we encounter Toomes the werevulture who approaches us and informs our characters there are those who want to know who killed Talbot.

At this time Aevum makes a speech to the masses who have gathered: The Handsome Beasts killed Talbot, those sympathetic to draconic influence. We eventually turn over Talbot’s bodies.

Toomes takes this in and relays the story to mixed reactions. Tena channels some healing energy to emphasize our good intentions for 20 injured individuals.

Two boats approach for some of Tena’s healing. The first being a pair of fishermen but the second was curious apporaching with a white flag: a Dwarf. Elf, human, and halfling. They state that they have been bitten by sharks and they are worried about infection. They state they all come from different places. When they disembark the dwarf stows the folding boat. They are all adventures with the human seeming the most uncomfortable.

Tena heals an area of fishermen and the four 'white flag' adventurers.

Kron and Aevum see that the death of Talbot comes as a shock to many. Cutty informs us that some fights started over differences in opinions. Some of these involved the troll-copies.

As for Talbot, Cutty says a message will be sent to the white wolf clan for Talbots body.

For Tena it is clear the adventurers know who Talbot was and the elf had a reaction of the mention of the White Wolf clan. She also notices the elf Faramel seems to recognize her deity Agamotto.

Eventually Toomes will lead us to a common drinking hooch-house with the White Flag Adventurers:

The Elf is named Faramel, the Dwarf name is Gabbox, the Human was just called Vale, and finally the Halfling is Kofu. Kron goes with Cutty to retrieve Gwelldar and Polurn.

On the side Toomes asks to accompany us on our travels but will later end up staying to help the White Flaggers. 

In the Hooch-house Eabrossi expends healing wand on the injured adventures. Gabbox offers a gemstone for the effort with grudging generosity. Eventually Kofu will speak for some of his friends. He states they operate out of Lowport. Faramel admits that Talbot was his friend; they were on the lake and had a deal with the White Wolf the clan because they do not come this way all the time and the White Wolf was their point of contact. 

As a group they facilitate specialized trade between the Rift and Lowport. They were contracted to find something for Talbot and deliver a magical spade to him.

Tena asks to examine Faramel for lycanthropy and does not believe him to be infected. In the end it is revealed that both Gabbox the dwarf and Vale the human are infected.

As payment for her services Tena would task the quartet, since they were friends of Talbot, to stay behind and supervise the change in leadership until a leader is chosen. (not more than 3 months time) Faramel says he is more than willing to make that sacrifice for his friends; with this revelation rest of the adventurers eventually concede.

Kron arrives about this time with Gwelldar and Polurn just in time to witness Tena use mythic power to remove disease on the Vale and Gabbox. In return Gabbox gives Tena a platinum necklace. Vale passes out briefly and when he wakes exclaims “there is a temple in the water!”

We spend the day connecting the White Flag adventures with Cutty and intend to take our long rest here. It is here when Toomes states his intention to aid the Faramel and is companions and spends the rest of the day acquainting them with the area. 

Kron spends eight hours to retrain a hit point. The rest of our characters write scrolls, work on items and work the community. Tena gives 100 gp to Mrs. Cutty.

Questions of the honor of the four is brought up, Aevum says as long as they act in good faith they should be trusted.

Polurn, after the events of yesterday, is validated  in his assertions about dragons and it is clear Gweldar is anxious and worried about more trolls. 

It is not long before our characters leave behind Laketown, trusting Toomes and the White Flag adventurers. Our characters depart intent on reporting directly to the King and after some travel, around 9 am we encounter a trio of trolls and coming up behind us are two four-armed Girallons under the effects of some kind of disease. 

Our characters are able to kill all the monsters and find a wizards mark (again, the same wizard mark from Four Winds and the Bridge) on the Girallons.

Wizard Mark

It is while this is happening a small monkey appears to Tena attempting to protect her from the gaze attacks of the Girallons. Binki seems to be planar touched in someway and feels a strong bond beginning to form.

We begin next week shortly after 9 am in the rift.

09/29/2022 Virtuous Age Session 21: Gettn Jiggy with the Fire Elementals and Mythic Fits Her

 

We begin later on the same morning of September 13^th in the aftermath of the battle between our characters and Bhishma supported with a wyvern. Only a few minutes has past since our discovery of Talbot and his patsy-assassin. 

Tena channels positive energy, the first being at her maximum power. Link to Mythic Handbook on Google Drive. (If we get a mythic tier between scenes, we gain all our abilities as well as benefits from a full nights rest).

VIA TEXT: This reflects what you learned from encounter. Those of you with knowledge arcana gain a free skill focus feat in Knowledge Arcana and those that don't get a free skill point in knowledge arcana. 

After five minutes we begin to regain our senses and Kron his constitution. Our characters start to hear people outside calling out “they killed him” and cries of that nature. The appearance of a dragon has also worked up the Laketown folk. Word is sure to travel fast.

Zaigain calls for action and at the same time an unknown will save is invoked from all of us. Our characters, still inside the nicest place on the lake get the sense that the building is on fire. Aevum and Tena sense the flames are elemental in nature.

Our characters quickly descend down to the grand hall and encounter four large 16’ long fire elementals. Furniture and finery, shit is on fire everywhere. Zaigan is the first to invoke mythic power and in the battle Kron kills his 50^th enemy. 

After destroying the four elementals we spend almost a minuet quickly putting out fires and gathering the severely wounded together outside. Here we also notice the sounds outside have subsided. We count three dead so far and observe two other structures that have also caught fire thanks to another rampant fire elemental. Tena creates water to save the buildings which takes a couple of minutes.

There are no workers present as before and it seems everyone has fled. Our characters walk down closer to the bridge and the burning buildings and find the sinister Handsome Beasts: a couple of wereboars and weresharks each along with the ‘Joe Bridgetroll’. During the battle Tena notices large bats flying around and many of the folk on the bridge have retreated to the other side of the lake.

We are able to defeat them all including the troll who we threw upon a burning structure. Eabrossi wants to leave the bodies where they laywhile Tena discovers varying degrees of magic on each of the attackers.

On the bloodrager changeling: +1 cruel Morningstar (the lake), +1 human defiant chain shirt (none), cape of free will +2/+3 (mythic item) Zaigan, several scrolls (enlarge person x4, expeditious retreat x4, fear the sun x2, longarm x4, stonefist x2)- split between Eabrossi and Aevum, 320 gp, and a ring of 6 keys. (2 are large door keys, 3 are chest keys and one is a magical skeleton key). 

On the knoll barbarian fighters: adamantine battle axe (Aevum), +1 kinslayer light crossbow (Zaigan), studded leather armor (left on the fallen), cloak of resistance +2 (Kron), gutbite belt (Aevum), 4 potions of enlarge person (Kron), 1 potion of hide from animals, 1 potion of pass without a trace (Kron), 2 potions of protection of good (the lake), and 4 potions of remove fear (all save for Tena), and 3 rubys (50 gp each).

Hobgoblin wereshark barbarian: masterwork trident, chainshirt. (left on the fallen)

Human wereshark fighter: masterwork trident. (left on the fallen)

We pick up next game session about 20 minutes later.  

09/22/2022 Virtuous Age Session 20: Talbot, Bhishma, and The First Mythic Tier

We begin on the morning of September 13^th. Our host Cutty is already at work- left behind for us is a hearty breakfast. We agree to leave Polurn and Gwelldar at the Cuttys.

After an hour and at the end of our preparations we begin to hear an uptick in the daily clamor from Laketown.  Upon reaching the lake we find a large amount of people using sleds being pulled by beasts of burden. These sleds have various logs and building materials for destinations across the stone and plank bridge.

Our characters see most people use the bridge while Cutty seems to be organizing the traffic. There are also carters on hand to transports items across the lake.

We eventually decided to cross the bridge and on the way we overhear a conversation with Cutty and four individuals (members of the Handsome beasts) about supplies and the toll. They seem to deflect and indication Talbot paying a toll. 

Overheard from one of the Handsome Beasts to the Troll was: ‘I better get this back when you come over, give us a couple of hours’ before they begin to cross.

Erabrossi gladly pays for us all (1gp/each). We see on-comers as well as other individuals gathering  behind us paying the bridge toll. Ahead, members of the rat clan can be seen coming towards our characters.

At the half way point we observe the mechanisms that lifts a portion of bridge center. We reach the other side and encounter another toll troll.

On this side of the lake there are crafts men busily working; diggers and laborers who create much of the noise we heard on the other side. To the east is the ‘nicest place on the lake’ and where be believe Talbot to be.

We set our order and arrive to the front door. We are greeted by a plainly dressed woman recovering from her cups from the previous night. She visits several doors and rings a bell at each then quickly leaves us behind.

Erabrossi and Aevum cast magic to clean up the party and eventually a ranger of Pan Tang wakes and doesn’t believe his eyes at first at the presence of the prince Saxo!

Other individuals enter the large main parlor- some recognize the prince, some think Aevum is just a lookalike.

There are a large number of rangers here but after a quarter hour Talbot enters the parlor.

Wearing exotic furs and miles of chest hair he first approaches the prince and bows to Aevum. The prince requests a private audience.

Talbot takes our characters to his upper residence. We break the ice with conversation about the bridge and the village improvements. Talbot jumps to a conclusion that the Prince is here for ‘the Hunt’?

Talbot expresses his support of the Saxo line, he made that clear to the ‘investor’ as well. Our characters are like: what investor?

The Investor is a Noble man by the name of Shamib. Zaigan asks various questions to get a sense if the Investor is in fact Zaigan’s uncle Bhishma.

Our character’s give Talbot the message regarding his assassination. He considers it but seems to be having a hard time with a hangover. Tena tries to help him out with a dispel magic. She is unsuccessful but knows he is poisoned AND under some spell effect.

Aevum levels with Talbot about his condition. Talbot tells us the Investor is staying in a room. Kron begins to head that way. In a very short time our characters hear sounds outside. We head out in turn and before long Zaigan spots his uncle about one hundred out away from the nicest place on the lake. Zaigain can see Bhishma is looking up at a draconic figure in flight.

Bhishma calls the wyvern and mounts up. We fight the two in the air and on the ground and in the end Bhishma and the dragon are too much for us and he escapes. 

Wyvern Forked-Tail

Inside our character finds Talbot dead with a silver crossbow bolt in his chest. The largest member of the Handsome beasts is also here, but was killed by Talbot in what looks like a deadly struggle.

We conclude our sessionhere after the battle. Our characters gain their 6^th character level and their 1^st mythic tier.

08/25/2022 Virtuous Age Session 19: Odd Boy Go-Fer, The Agent of Envy, and Laketown

We begin this week’s session at the mossy stone taking a short rest from our combat heavy travels. Our character ultimately reunite with Gwelldar and Polurn. 

They apologize for being late- they describe a draconic presence at a pond-cave about a mile and a half away. It is there they felt the presence of a large dragon.

So Polurn and Gwelldar backtracked their route for safety and eventually came up behind us. Such movement exhausted Polurn and after granting him some recovery time we continue North on our search for Talbot.

It is 3 in the afternoon on September 12^th.

Our characters eventually come to a ridge where we see two paths decent before us. Kron slides down the rocky slope 25 feet, only to find the slope is actually burrow warrens to hybrid- rats. We are also soon attacked by a pair of trolls.

We scatter the hybrid rats and fell one of the trolls. After the battle Zaigan spots some dark flying shapes in the distance. We break off from the warren-ridge and the troll nests after a brief respite of healing.

Around 5 pm Zaigan calls for a halt in our march and we are soon alerted to a single flying half-fiend minotaur- an agent of ENVY- and a pair of trolls. These are bigger and have two heads. 

Our characters are able to defeat the trio: Kron utterly destroying one troll and chasing off the half fiend minotaur after a critical hit. Zaigan expertly carves up his opponent with three successive critical rolls. Tena chases the flying minotaur with a lantern archon.

We take a short break before we continue north and eventually find some civilized folk about their business while keeping their distance. Before long we are approaching a large lake surrounded by various small docks and supporting buildings and on the opposite side: Laketown.

We approach cautiously and are hailed by an older fella, a ware vulture named Toomes, who warn of us strangers and those are not the Wardens flying about- cryptically referring to the flying half fiend minotaurs. 

Toomes eventually recognizes Prince Aevum which sparks conversation between the Prince who asks about any changes recently. The old fella concurs there are strangers about. The Prince tells Toomes to be careful. The old fella tells us if we get ‘nicked’ to come see him. We are also warned about a dark presence and a degree of paranoia.

We ask about Talbot and the old fella states Talbot is across the lake where the new construction is happening. Just look for the nicest place on the lake.

Our characters make our way to the lake and a bridge where a troll is stationed as well as a ferry for travel across the lake. There is a toll box associated with the bridge. 

A giant tree like being introduces himself as ‘Cutty and offers our characters the ferry across the lake. We decline and decide to take the bridge and as our characters approach the bridge and the troll. Tena observes that this troll seems forewarned of us and is trying to act normal. When we pass the troll immediately walks towards some fishing shacks.

The Root-man Cutty also comes to warn our characters that there are strangers about and even offers us shelter. We accept his offer and before long he takes us to a mound and his cave home.

Here, our characters are well met with Mrs. Cutty who is as hospitable as our characters could have hoped for. Here there is a well, a cave home and an upper loft for us to rest.

Cutty returns to his duties at the lake and leave us to our rest. Tena replenishes their water stores with her divine magic. Mrs. Cutty is grateful but laments her mate has been missing some North end regulars who haven’t been seen in a few days.

The nicest place on the lake. 

We learn that Talbot is in Session for the next few days before the hunt. Mrs. Cutty also mentions the strangers, more traffic at night plus a mysterious noble- a strange and wealthy appearing stranger who was also asking about Talbot.

We are fed and before long Cutty returns and elaborates late news that most fliers would remain close to the bridge and rope line but lately our local flyers are discouraged not to fly around the lake at night. Our characters indicate there is a viable threat of a dragon in the area.

Kron shows them the brand symbol of Envy, Cutty recognizes this symbol and that it was also on crates that were destined for up the Rift. Cutty believes that’s where the gnolls are also going- north further up Rift.

Cutty tells us Laketown is an effort by the White Wolf to create a village and community. Stability in an otherwise chaotic clans.

We rest and pick up the morning of September 13th. 

Luna Clan

Luna Clan: Were creatures ruled by Talbot of the wolf tribe, this clan is a collection of shapeshifters made up of several smaller tribes. They are by far the most difficult clan to rule and frequently find themselves embroiled in controversies. Their primary rivals are the Rock Island and Burning Sky Clans. The Luna Clan is also a primary irritant to any dragon that tries to lair in The Rift. 

Handsome Beasts Tribe

Nightwing Tribe

   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Primevil Tribe

                                                     

Savage Tribe

                                                                                                                                                                             

Ratt Tribe

 

Shark Island Tribe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Tygers of Pan Tang Tribe

   

White Wolf Tribe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Misfit Tribe